34

Reflections on St. Paul's behaviour on the views of death.

SECT. vi.

iv. 6.

7

IMPROVEMENT.

BEHOLD this blessed man, this prisoner, this martyr of Christ, appearing in his chains, and in the near views of a violent Chap. death, more truly majestic and happy, than Cesar on his imperial throne! Blessed man indeed; who could look upon the pouring forth of his blood, as the libation of a sacrifice of thanksgiving, on which he could call for the congratulations of his friends, rather than their condolence; who could loosen from these mortal shores, and set sail for eternity with a shout! O may we all be excited by his example to fight the good fight, to finish our course, to keep 8 the faith, in the view of that crown of righteousness, which is not reserved only for Paul, or for ministers and Christians of the first rank, who have been eminent for the most distinguished services, but for all who love Christ's appearance, and whose hearts are thoroughly reconciled to his government!

Chap.

May we therefore be watchful in all things. May we endure every affliction which God shall lay in our way, and fill up with proper services every station in which we are fixed. Let the mi1nisters of Christ attend to this solemn charge, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge both the quick and the dead, at his appearance and in his kingdom. They are as much concerned in this judgment as Timothy or Paul; their own eternal state is in question, and none can have greater reason than themselves to 2 be impressed with it. Let as many therefore as are called to it by Divine Providence and grace, preach the word with zeal and fervency, as well as fidelity; let them be instant in season, and out of season, with a resolution tempered with gentleness, and supported 3 by firm faith in him, who entrusts them with the message. And let the petulancy of men, which indisposes them to endure sound doctrine, yet makes them need it so much the more, be considered by them as an engagement to greater zeal, rather than an excuse for remissness.

That they may be animated to it, and furnished for it, thoroughly furnished for every good work incumbent upon them, as men of God, a becoming reverence is to be maintained for the divinely in spired scriptures, apparently profitable for doctrine and reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. Let us all esteem 15 it our great happiness, if from children we have been acquainted with them; let us study them diligently, and take faithful care to deliver them down to those that arise after us, as the oracles of that eternal wisdom by which we and they may be made wise to salvation.

SECT.

Paul urges Timothy, to come to him, and bring Mark with him. 35

SECT. VII.

The Apostle concludes with requesting Timothy to come to him, giving him an account of the manner in which he had, in his late appearance before the heathen magistrate at Rome, been deserted by men, but supported by Christ; and adding some particular salutations and directions. 2 Tim. IV. 9, to the end.

2 TIM. IV. 9.

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto

me.

2 TIMOTHY IV. 9.

I MIGHT add much more on this occasion, but the hope I have of seeing thee ere long, makes me the easier in omitting it. I cannot but be very desirous of such an interview. Endeavour therefore by all means to come to me 10 For Demas hath here at Rome as quickly as possible. For I forsaken me, having need the assistance and company of such a faithworld, and is departed ful friend, as I have met with very unworthy unto Thessalonica; treatment from some who ought to have acted Crescens to Galatia, in a very different manner. And I must parti

loved this present

Titus unto Dalmatia.

SECT.

vii.

2 Tim.

IV. 9.

10

cularly inform thee that Demas hath forsaken
me, having loved the present world, and fol-
lowed another way, as his secular views invited
him. In pursuit of these, he is gone to Thessa-
lonica, as Crescens is to Galatia, and Titus, for
whom thou knowest I have a very high regard,
is gone to Dalmatia. Luke alone, whose faith-11
ful friendship I have long experienced, is still
with me. I desire thou wouldst take the first op-
portunity of engaging the company of Mark,
[and] bring him along with thee, for he is useful
to the advancement of my ministry among the
Gentiles, having often attended both Barnabas
and me in our progress amongst them,
Thou 12
wilt perceive, by what I have just been saying,
what reason I have to wish for the society of an
approved Christian friend and brother, at a time
when I am left thus destitute: yet preferring the
edification of the church of Christ to any per-
sonal consideration of my own, I have sent Ty-
chicus to Ephesus, where I some years ago left

36

vii.

Paul was deserted by all in his first apology;

SECT. thee, to take care of the flourishing church which I planted there, and with some of whose members I have had so long and intimate an acIV, 13. quaintance. When thou comest hither, as I

2 Tim.

14,

b

13 The cloke that

hope thou quickly wilt, I desire thou wouldst I left at Troas with
Carpus, when thou
remember to bring with thee] that cloak
comest, bring with thee
which I left at the house of our friend Carpus, in and the books, but es-
the parch-
Troas when I passed through it the last time. pecially
And bring also the books which I have left there,
but especially the parchments .

ments.

14 Alexander the

much evil; the Lord reward him according to his works.

When I speak of these parts, I cannot forbear telling thee, that Alexander the braziere copper-smith did me has brought many evils and mischiefs upon me. And I doubt not but the Lord, who exercises a guardian care over me as his faithful servant, will sooner or later reward him according to his works. May it be an instructive and merciful discipline, to reform rather than to destroy him. 15 Against whom, in the mean time, be thou also particularly upon thy guard, or thou mayest receive much detriment from him; for he hath words. not only done me a great deal of personal injury, but hath greatly withstood our words, and taken every measure in his power to prevent the progress and advancement of the gospel, which is indeed wounding me in the most tender and sensible part.

16

15 Of whom be thou ware also: for he hath greatly withstood our

16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forme; I pray God

In my first apology before the prefect of the
city, no man of all the Christians here at Rome,
appeared with me, for my countenance and sup- sook
port, but all, either through treachery or cow-
ardice, forsook me1. May it not be charged

to

1 Tim. 1. 20; but what is here said of this brazier agrees so well with this last passage, that I think it probable it refers to the same man. What we know of Paul's character must lead us to conclude, that if he meant not the following words as a mere prediction, he did not however wish evil to him, as evil, but only that he might be so animadverted upon, as to prevent the contagion of his bad example from spreading in the church, and bring him to repentance and reformation, that so he might be preserved from final destruc

tion.

But Christ strengthened and delivered him.

17 Notwithstanding,

the Lord stood with

me; that by me the

of the mouth of the lion.

vii.

37

God that it may not be to their account, as an instance of unfaithfulness SECT. laid to their charge. to our common Master! Yet I was not left entirely destitute, but can say it with great plea- 2 Tim. me, and strengthened sure, that the Lord Jesus Christ stood by me, and IV. 17. preaching might be ful strengthened me with that inward fortitude of ly known, and that all soul which no human support could have inthe Gentiles might hear: spired; that by me the preaching [of his gospel] and I was delivered out might be carried on with confidence, and [that] all the nations might hear; for I made my defence in a manner that will, I doubt not, be taken notice of, and reported abroad, much to the advantage of that sacred cause, which is dearer to me than my life. And though this plain and faithful testimony did indeed expose me to great danger, yet I was for the present rescued, like Daniel, out of the mouth of the lion; so that fierce as he was, God did not suffer him to devour me, when he seemed to have me at his mercy. And I am confident, that the 18 And the Lord Lord, whose power and faithfulness are always every evil work, and the same, will rescue me from what I fear much will preserve me unto more than any thing this body can suffer, even his heavenly kingdom; from every evil work; will strengthen me against the most pressing and violent temptations, so that I shall do nothing unbecoming my Chris

shall deliver me from

to

ed through the world; (Rom. i. 8.) He salutes a vast number of illustrious persons by name, and mentions many of them as his particular friends, (xvi. 3—15); and we may assure ourselves, that, during the two years he spent there in his hired house; when access was granted to all that desired it, the number, and probably the zeal of Christian converts would be greatly increased; as indeed be expresly assures the Philippians that it was, and that some of Caesar's palace was added to them. (Phil. 1. 12—14; iv. 22.) We are ready to say, How then was it possible he should be thus forsaken? But there is a material circumstance, seldom taken notice of in this connection, which accounts in a great measure for what might otherwise appear so strange. Clement, the companion of Paul, informs us, that he suffered martyrdom under the governors, (as Bishop Pearson and L'Enfant explain paglugnas Ta ;) that is, as they understand it, when Nero was gone into Greece, and had left the government of the city to Tigellinus and Sabinus, prefects of the prætorian guard, and that monster Helius. If this be allowed, it fixes the death of Paul to A. D. 66, or 67. But the cruel persecution, which Nero had raised against

tian

the Christians at Rome, in which they
were worried in the skins of wild beasts,
and burnt alive for a kind of public illu-
mination,) was, according to Tacitus, at
least two years before this. It is possible,
therefore, that many of the excellent per-
sons mentioned above might have suffered
death for their religion, or according to
our Lord's advice, (Mat. x. 23,) have re-
tired to a distance from Rome. The Asia-
tic Christians, who came with Paul, as it
seems, to rally the broken remains of this
once celebrated church, acted a mean part
in deserting Paul, as the other Christians
of the place did. But it is less surprising
upon the supposition above, than it would
otherwise would have appeared; and it
might be among the first-fruits of that sad
apostacy which Vitringa (as was elsewhere
observed,) supposes to have begun in the
time of Nero, and continued to that of
Trajan. See note a, on 2 Tim. iii. 1.

g Carried on with confidence.] So
the original wanpopopnen, here signifies.
Calvin truly observes, that it was a glori-
ous testimony to the honour of Christiani-
ty, that the apostle could thus courage.
ously maintain it when all his friends for-
sook him, and his enemies were so fiercely
raging against him.

hPriscilla

18

38

He desires Timothy to salute his friends.

SECT. tian faith, or ministerial office, and thus will pre- to whom be glory for vii. serve and conduct [me] to his heavenly kingdom ever and ever. Amen. 2 Tim. with peace and triumph; to him therefore [be] IV. 18. glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19 Salute Prisca and

20 Erastus abode at Corinth; but Trophi

mus have I left at Miletum sick.

19 I must conclude with desiring thee to salute Aquila, and the house, Priscilla and Aquilah, those dear friends, with hold of Onesiphorus, whom I have had so agreeable an acquaintance and intercourse these many years; and also the family of good Onesiphorus. In my last journey through Asia and Greece I had the affliction to part with some of our common friends, whose conversation and company would have been very 20 desirable, had Providence permitted it. Erastus in particular abode at Corinth and Trophimus, I left sick at Miletus:* nor did the Lord, who hath made me an instrument of miraculous healing to so many strangers, permit me at that 21 time to be so to him. Endeavour therefore as I am deprived of these agreeable friends, and to come before winter, surrounded with so many dangers and enemies and Pudens, and Linus, Eubulus greeteth thee, which threaten my life, to come to me before and Claudia, and all winter. Several Christians here at Rome the brethren. desire I would send their commendations to thee; and in particular Eubulus salutes thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and indeed 22 all the brethren in general. My heart is as at all times full of the tenderest affection for thee;

h Priscilla and Aquila.] This has often been urged, as a conclusive argument, to prove that Timothy was now at Ephesus, because it was there that Apollos met with them, (Acts xviii. 26;) but they might have removed from thence, as they did from Corinth, to which place they came when first banished from Rome. Ib. ver.2. i Erastus abode at Corinth, &c.] It is probable this was his native city, or at least a place where he had a stated charge. See Rom. xvi. 23. It seems, by this clause that he was in Paul's company when he parted with Timothy, as it is likely Trophimus also was. And, as none can suppose Paul would have mentioned those things to Timothy in this connection, if they had happened many years before, (Acts xix. 22,) I look upon this as a very material argument to prove that he returned into these eastern parts, between his first and second imprisonment at Rome; though probably, if he ever saw Ephesus again, most of the ministers of that and the neighbouring places, with whom he bad the celebrated interview at Miletus, mentioned Acts xx, were either dead or removed. See ver. 25, note f, and ver.

which

21 Do thy diligence

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spi

rit.

38, note r, Vol. VIII. p 209, and 213.Compare the Introduction to the first epistle to Timothy, Vol. IX. p. 566.

k Left sick.] It has been very justly argued from this text, that a power of working miracles did not always reside in the apostles; and indeed, if it had, one can hardly imagine that any good and useful man would have been sick, and died under their notice, which would have been quite inconsistent with the scheme of Providence. Timothy's frequent infirmities afford a farther argument to the same purpose. Compare Acts viii. 21, note d, Vol. VIII. p. 22. But such good men as these did not need the miraculous cure of their own distempers, to confirm their faith in the gospel.

Bishop

1 Come to me before winter.] Lloyd in his Funeral Sermon for Bishop Wilkins, p. 6, comparing with this text Heb. xiii. 23, concludes that Timothy did come, and was seized at Rome, and confined longer than Paul himself; but it seems much more probable that the epistle to the Hebrews, was written during Paul's first imprisonment, and consequently seve ral years before this.