CHAP. IV. As the Apostles withdrew, fo Bishops came over the Presbyteries in their ftead. Timothy and Titus had not their charge till S. Paul left thofe parts. His journey from Ephefus through Macedonia into Greece. By the way he left Titus in Crete. Why he wintered at Nicopolis. At fpring be returned by land into Macedonia. There and then Timothy undertaketh the Church of Ephefas. Timothy an Evangelift. The prophecies that went before of him, and the grace he received. Titus and he over many Presbyteries. Bifhops over each afterwards. The Angels of the feven Churches. Ut as the Apostles began to wear out, or otherwife as their occafions gave them not leave to attend in perfon upon the Churches of their care, care, reafon required, if but in correfpondence to the ftate of government that had hitherto rested in some Apostle and the Presbyteries of particular Churches, there should be inftituted fome heads of these companies of Presbyters, to whom the name of Bishops hath been appropriated ever fince: and certain it is, that during the time of the Apoftles inftituted they were. This agreeth extreme extreme well with the charge and inftructions of the Apoftle to his Difciples Timothy and Titus, over the Churches of Afia and Crete: whom as all Ecclefiafticall writers, after Eufebius, acknowledge to be made Bishops of Ephefus and Crete, fo muft we not fail to obferve here, that this was not done till it was revealed to the Apoftle that from thenceforth the Lord would imploy him in the Western parts of the world. The bufineffe is most an end end agreed upon on all hands: yet because the observation is fo effectuall to this purpose, let me take leave to inlarge it by clearing the whole paffage of the Apostles laft voyage, from Ephefus, through Greece, and back again. Acts xix. 21. we reade at that time Paul refolved by the Spirit, having passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Ferufalem, saying, When I have been there I must also fee Rome. In 2. Cor. i. 15. he writeth to them, that he had formerly purpofed to go first to Corinth, thence into Macedonia, from Macedonia to Corinth again, and of the Corinthians to be brought on the way for Judea: When I then purpofed this, faith he, did I ufe lightneffe? or what I purpofe do I purpofe according to the flesh, that with me there fhould be yea, yea, and nay, nay? fignifying, that not taking up his refolutions upon humane confiderations, it was no lightneffe in him to balk his intended purpose, to follow the direction of the holy Ghoft, in going firft through Macedonia, God having fo ordered it, it seemeth,for the reason that followeth. The first Epiftle to the Corinthians was fent from Ephefus about this time: From Ephefus it is plain it was fent, though fubfcribed from Philippi, (for those subscriptions, it is well known are of no credit) by the falutations he fendeth, 1. Cor. xvi. 19. from the Churches of Afia, from Aquila and Prifcilla, which dwelt there, Âcts xviii. 19. And after his firft refolution was changed, because he faith 1. Cor. 16. 5. that he meant to paffe through Macedonia. In the 2.Cor. ii. 12. the Apostle relating one paffage of that voyage, not mentioned in the Acts, When I came to Troas, faith he, to preach the Gospel of Chrift, a doore being opened me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking leave of them I departed thence into Macedonia. Titus he defired to meet with,because he defired to hear from Corinth by him that was coming from thence, 2. Cor. vii. 6. for as he protefteth 2. Cor. i. 23. it was to spare them that he came not yet to Corinth: not yet, as being directed by the Spirit to go first through Macedonia, and to fpare them, that is, not to be ingaged to proceed rigorously against them, in cafe they gave not due refpect to his former Epiftle. From Macedonia he dispatcheth Titus to Corinth again, about the bufineffe fpecified 2. Cor. viii. 6, 16. and it is moft like, upon thefe circumstances, that both those Epiftles were fent by Titus, whatfoever the subscriptions bear. To go on with the Apostle in this voyage, Acts xx. 2. we reade, that having gone over the parts of Macedonia, and given them much exhortation, he came |