1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5:1

NOt and elder] In reprehensions we must have regard to the degrees both of ages and sexes, and consider all as in a spirituall consanguinitie with us.

1 Timothy 5:2

with] Gr. in.

1 Timothy 5:3

Widows indeed] Hee speaketh of such widows who were servants to the Church, and appointed to be maintained by the publique contribution: such as were past all other labour, and destiture of all comfort both of husband, and of children, and nephews, or any other kinne of allies, to relieve them.

1 Timothy 5:4

Shew pietie at home] Or, kindnesse. Let those children and nephewes in a thankfull dutie indeavour to repay their parents care and love: which the Greeke elegantly expresse by a Metaphor taken from the Storke (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) which feedeth her aged parents, and carrieth them upon her shoulders, and in that regard, in Hebrew is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, pious and mercifull.

1 Timothy 5:6

in pleasure] Or, delicately.

dead while she liveth] Such a widow is a kinde of monster halfe dead and halfe alive, dead in respect of the actions of the spirit, though vigorous, and alive in respect of the flesh, or alive to the world, but dead to God. In a like ambiguous sense wee are to understand those words of our Saviour, et the dead burie the dead, Matthew 8:22. that is, Let the the dead spiritually, bury the dead corporaly, as the Jewes in that their elegant 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Cum ego a te discedo vivens morior, at cum tibi adhaereo moriens vivo.

1 Timothy 5:8

house, Or, kindred]

denyed the faith] Though not in words, yet in his deeds, and hath cast away both humanitie and religion, and therein is worse then an infidell, who take care of their owne, and love those that love them. Matthew 5:46.

1 Timothy 5:9

taken] or chosen.

wife of one man] That is, which hath had but one husband at once, or if her husband had sent her a bill of divorce upon his repudiation of her, hath married no other.

1 Timothy 5:10

washed the Saints feet] This was an office of courtesie performed to strangers in those hotter countreys. Genesis 14:32. and 43. 24. Luke 7. 44.

1 Timothy 5:11

younger widowes refuse] Take them not into the colledge of widowes or deaconisses, which are to be maintained at the Church charge.

1 Timothy 5:12

Having damnation] Or, being liable to just censure.

cast off their first faith] Or, former, as Revelation 2:4. Making themselves lyable to just censure and blame, because they have violated that promise and engagement, wherein they bound themselves to doe the continuall service of the Church.

1 Timothy 5:13

busie-bodies] See 2 Thess. 3. 11.

1 Timothy 5:14

yonger women marry] I ordain that the younger women be left to their libertie to marry, and not tied by covenant or agreement to the publike service of the Church.

to speake reproachfully] Or, for their railing.

1 Timothy 5:15

turned aside after Satan] They have been led by him to wanton courses, to the great scandall of the Church.

1 Timothy 5:17

Elders that rule well] See 1 Corinthians 9:14. Galatians 6:6. He meaneth not Elders in age, but in office, that is, Bishops, or Pastours that are imployed in the government of the Church, as well as preaching.

double honour] Both of reverent respect, and comfortable maintenance (stipendia honoraria) as appeareth by the verses following.

labour in the word] In the originall it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifieth a toylsome labour, and hereby he commendeth those who besides their care and paines in governing, diligently, and constantly preached the Word.

1 Timothy 5:18

Thou shalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth, &c.] See Deuteronomy 25:4.

Oxe that treadeth] In the Eastern Countries it was not the manner to thrash out Corne as we doe, but their Oxen trod it out; to which the Apostle allegorically compares the laborious Pastours of the Church, who expounding the Scriptures, after a sort crush out that Corne of which the bread of life is made, 1 Corinthians 9:9.

The labourer is worthy of his reward] See Matthew 10:10.

1 Timothy 5:19

an elder receive not] or presbyter. Do not only not condemn him without sufficient witnesses, as thou oughtest not any man according to the Law of Moses, Deuteronomy 19:11. but do not so much as receive an accusation, or give any credit to it; the reason is, that such men being in publike offices of governing the Church, in which they must exhort and admonish every one, and correct those that are unruly, they may easily get the ill will and hatred of many. Also the receiving an accusation against them, maketh them to be suspected, and it tendeth to the scandall of the Church. Besides, their sacred calling is to be held in reverence, and they who have been thought worthy of it ought not to be suspected of any notorious default or guilt without very good evidence and strong proofe.

Before] Or, Ʋnder.

1 Timothy 5:21

without preferring one before another] Or, without prejudice.

1 Timothy 5:22

Lay hands suddenly on no man] Admit not any into the Ministery without sufficient examination and good proof both of his sufficiencie in learning and godly conversation.

partaker of other mens sinnes] Either of those that would make choyce of an unfit person into the Ministery, or of the Ministers themselves, who if they prove ill and unworthy of that sacred function, the blame will light upon thee, who by the laying on of thy hands admittedst them into the Church.

pure] Or, chaste.

1 Timothy 5:24

Some mens sinnes are open before-hand] Or, manifest. Either these words are referred to the last judgement, as the ancient Fathers understand this Text, and then the meaning is, that some mens sinnes are notorious, and may bee judged and censured in this life, others are secret and hidden, the judgement whereof is reserved to the last day. Or, they relate to the examination before admittance into the Church, and then the meaning is, some there are who offer themselves to ordination, whose scandals are or may be known before-hand, who are to be repelled from the Ministery; others offences are not known till after they be ordained; on the other side the learning and good parts of some are so well known that they may be received at the first meeting without feare of doing amisse in it; but if there be any who are not so well known, a small delay or pause will not hinder them, or obscure their vertues, but rather after full and exact tryall of them, make them more conspicuous.