Titus 3

Titus 3:1-7

under the influence of a corrupted heart, and the wiles of Satan; firing divers lofts and pleasures; perfect slaves to our sensual appetites, the balest of all fervorate: living in malice and envy; possessed and governed by these diabolical passions; regarding others, who were more prosperous in the world, with a malignant eye; and pleased with any miseries which befel them. Hateful to God, and all who bear his image, because of these abominations; and hating one another, with implacable resentment. What a fearful description! yet in this glass may every enlightened honor discover his own features, and own the humbling resemblance; for as face answereth face, so doth the heart of man to man.

[2.] The kindness and love of God to them in their miserable estate should engage them to shew the like pity and compassion towards others. *But after that, vile as we were, the kindness and love of God our Saviour, notwithstanding, towards men appeared, most illustriously displayed in his glorious gospel; not by words of righteousness which we had done, for all our works were the very reverie, and merited only wrath to the uttermost; but according to his mercy, in the most admonishing manner extended to the miserable and the desperate, he hath saved us, freely, sovereignly, and for ever, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, who is the glorious agent of the divine change wrought in regeneration; cleansing our souls from the power of corruption, quickening us to a life of grace and holiness, maintaining and carrying it on day by day, till it is perfected in glory; which Holy Ghost he shed on us abundantly, both in his gifts and graces, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, the purchaser of every blessing for his redeemed people, and the dispenser of this Spirit unto them; that being justified by his grace, and through faith of the operation of God brought into a state of pardon and reconciliation, we should be made here of glory, according to the hope of eternal life, which he hath given us in that aboved Redeemer, who hath obtained a compleat salvation for us, not only from all the miseries of sin, but unto all the blessedness of eternity. Nate, (1.) The salvation of the sinner is entirely of grace, from the beginning to the end: pardon, holiness, and hope of life eternal, are all the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Saviour. (2.) Though we are justified freely, not for any righteousness of our own, but of God’s mere favour; yet do we from that moment become different men, and new creatures, by the Spirit of our God renewed in our minds, and preparing for the glory which is prepared for us.

8. *This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works: these things are good and profitable unto men. 9. But *avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10. A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject: 11. Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinners, being condemned of himself.

9. 8—11. The apostle here, 1. Inculcates the doctrine which Titus must preach. This is a faithful saying, all that I have above declared of the duties incumbent on believers, the misery from which they have been redeemed, and the amazing grace of which they have been made partakers, is to be stedially believed and embraced: and these

10. He cautions him what to shun. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, which the judacting teachers affect, to the great prejudice of Christianity; for they are unprofitable and vain; tending to no one useful purpose, but sowing discord in the church, and corrupting the simplicity of the gospel.

11. A man that is an heretic, who openly professes and maintains doctrines subversive of the fundamental articles of faith, after the first and second admonition, reject; if he continues obstinate in his errors, remove him from your communion, and acknowledge him no longer as a brother: knowing that he that is such is subverted, apostle from Christ, the only foundation; and sinners willfully, being condemned of himself; openly broaching his sentiments, departing from the confession of faith which he formerly made, and avowedly separating himself from the church of God. Nate, They who refuse to be reclaimed from their errors by repeated admonition, must be cut off from the body of the visible church by excommunication.

12. When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or *Ty. Chicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. 13. Bring Zenas the lawyer and *Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. 14. And let ours also learn to *maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. 15. All that are with me failure thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

13. 12—15. We have here,

14. Some particular directions given to Titus. (1.) When I shall send Artemas unto thee, to supply thy absence, or Typhicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. (2.) Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them, but that they be supplied with every necessary for their travels, when they remove to preach the gospel in some other place. (3.) And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful, but adorn the profession which they make, diligent in their several employments, and liberal according to their ability in the maintenance of their ministers, or in assisting any of their brethren who may need their support.

15. He concludes with falunations and his apostolic benediction. All that are with me failure thee affectionately. Greet them that love us in the faith, and are one in sentiment and heart with us. Grace be with you all, in its most abundant fruits and richest manifestations, Amen! so prays your faithful friend, confident that God will hear and answer his petition for you.

VOL. II. 9 M T H E EVANGELICAL EXPOSITOR; OR, A PRACTICAL COMMENT Upon the EPISTLE of St. PAUL to PHILEMON.

THIS epistle to Philemon is placed the last of those with the name of Paul to them, perhaps because the shortest, and of an argument peculiar and different from all the others; yet such as the Spirit of God, which indited it, saw would, in its kind, be very instructive and useful in the churches. The occasion of it was this: Philemon, one of note, and probably a minister in the church of Colosi, a city of Phrygia, had a servant named Omsimus, who having purloined his goods, ran away from him, and in his rambles came to Rome, where Paul was then a prisoner for the gospel, and providentially coming under his preaching there, was by the blessing of God converted by him; after which he ministered a whole to the apostle in bonds, and might have been further useful to him, but understanding him to be another man’s servant, he would not, without his consent, detain him, but sends him back with this letter commendatory, wherein he earnestly sues for his pardon and kind reception.