1 Timothy 5

10. Serpents are great lovers of wine. Pliny, who writes of Natural History, says, if serpents come where wine is, they drink insatiably: In this be not like the serpent; though the Scripture allows the use of wine (1 Timothy 5:23), yet it forbids the excess (Ephesians 5:18): Be…

Were it not for the ministry, you would be destitute of the two seals of the covenant, Baptism and the Lord's Supper; you would be infidels; for faith comes by hearing; and how shall they hear without a preacher (Romans 10:14)? 2. Honor the ministers, these spiritual fathers, by…

Some have been under temptation; Satan has suggested, they are such sinners as do not deserve a bit of bread, and so they have been ready to starve themselves. This is contrary to this sixth commandment, You shall do no murder; it is implied, we are to use all means for the pres…

Quest. Is it not lawful to lay up for afterwards? Does not the Apostle say, He who provides not for his family is worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8)? Answ. 'Tis true, it is lawful to lay up for posterity, but our Savior has taught us to pray, Give us this day our bread, for t…

And (2.) some temporary appointments relating to gifts in the Church, bestowed only for a season in the first plantation of the Gospel, are ceased. But (3.) no institution or command of Christ, given to the whole Church, relating to the evangelical administration of the New Cove…

Sometimes bishops or overseers (Philippians 1:1; Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5). Sometimes elders (1 Peter 5:1; 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17). Sometimes guides (Hebrews 13:7, 17).

(4) Acts 14:23. (5) Acts 13:2; 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Timothy 4:14. Explication.

(7) Acts 20:18, 19, 20, 25, 26; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Timothy 2:24, 25. (8) Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 5:17. The answer is full and plain.

(6) To abide with, and stand by them, in their sufferings for the Gospel, and service of Christ among them. (1) 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13; 1 Timothy 5:17. (2) Hebrews 13:17; 1 Corinthians 16:16.

Quest. 31. Are there appointed any Elders in the Church, whose office and duty consist in rule and government only? Elders not called to teach ordinarily, or administer the Sacraments, but to assist and help in the rule and government of the Church, are mentioned in the Scriptur…

Quest. 42. To whom is the power and administration of this Discipline committed by Jesus Christ? Answ. As to the authority to be exerted in it in the things wherein the whole Church is concerned, to the Elders; as to trial, judgment and consent in, and to its exercise to the who…

(4) In exhorting, comforting, and restoring to the enjoyment and exercise of Church privileges such as are recovered from the error of their ways; all according to the laws, rules, and directions of the Gospel. (1) (Matthew 18:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Titus…

Q. What are widows and their works? A. They are godly and aged women, left desolate and destitute of outward support, who are to attend the sick, and such like offices as are more suitable to be performed by women than by men (1 Timothy 5:9-10; Romans 16:1). Q. What persons must…

Q. May the rest also fall away, and perish with the devils? A. No, because they are elected of God, and so for ever upheld in that good estate (1 Timothy 5:27).

And if they be bound by all bonds of nature and religion, to provide for the bodies of their children; let reason judge, how much more straightly they are tied to look to their souls. But Saint Paul says, He that provides not temporal things necessary for his family, is worse th…

So (1 Thessalonians 4:8; Jude 8). Sometimes it respects things (Galatians 2:21; 1 Timothy 5:12). But commonly it respects a law, and is applied to them who are absolutely under the power of the law, or such in whose power the law is.

3. Men deny Christ, when they profess him, and walk unworthily and dishonorably to their profession: actions are the best image of men's thoughts; now their actions give their profession the lie (Titus 1:16): they profess they know God, and in works they deny him. So (1 Timothy…

Subjection and obedience is commanded, as due, not only to Civil, but to Spiritual Governors, to those that are over us in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:12). So (1 Timothy 5:17), Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honor. (Hebrews 13:7), Remember them which…

Opportunities to manifest more love to God, more dependence on him, the perfection of the soul. (1 Timothy 5:5) Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusts in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; there is a ground of more exercise of trust in G…

If he shall say, you have nothing to do to pass sentence or censure upon me, I am none of your Church, but of another Church; suppose in Holland, in France, &c. and I am only here now for merchandise sake, or upon some other occasion: what shall they say to stop his mouth, if th…

It has four different significations: 1. It notes age; 2. antiquity; 3. venerability; 4. an office. In the first signification, Elder is opposed to younger, as (1 Timothy 5:1) Rebuke not an Elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren, (1 Peter 5:5) Likewi…

THE office of Ruling Elders is not only maintained by [illegible] Cartwright, [illegible], Bucer[illegible], and others whom our opposites will call partial Writers, let him who pleases read the commentaries of Martyr, [illegible], Gualther, Hemmingius, Piscator, Paraus upon (Ro…

Our answer to this is: 1. We have showed already the certain bounds of the power and vocation of ruling Elders. 2. It was not necessary that the Apostle should severally set down canons and directions: first, touching Pastors, then Doctors; lastly, ruling Elders, since they are…

8. Some of all estates in the commonwealth voice in Parliament, therefore some of all sorts in the Church ought to voice in Councils and Synods; for de paribus idem judicium, a National Synod is that same to the Church, which a Parliament is to the commonwealth. 9. Those Elders…

The ruling Elder does neither of these, but labors in the government and policie of the Church only. The Apostle has distinguished these three sorts of Elders (1 Timothy 5:17): Let Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the Word and…

To the fourth wee answer, That though it be ordinarily most convenient, that the office of attending the sicke bee committed to women, yet it is not essentially necessary to the office: and as Aretius noteth upon the place, wee may under [in non-Latin alphabet] comprehend not on…

Our fifth argument is taken from a clear place, 1 Timothy 5:17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

There is one place of Ambrose which clears it sufficiently. He writing on 1 Timothy 5:1, Rebuke not an Elder, says, Vnde & Synagoga, &c. Therefore both the Jewish Synagogue, and after the Church had Senior or Elders, without whose counsel nothing was done in the Church: which by…

Now there are good reasons why this popular government or exercise by jurisdiction by all can not be admitted into a Congregation. First, in every Christian Congregation, there are some Rulers, some ruled, some Governors, some governed, some that command, some that obey, as is m…

2. That expression if not exactly, yet competently is somewhat mysterious. 3. Ruling Elders are expressly distinguished from those that labor in the word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17), and from these that teach or exhort (Romans 12:7, 8). 4. If ruling Elders shall teach publicly…

The second degree is, when as men are not so active that way, but yet are dead in pleasures, ambition, covetousness, and the like. There is a generation of men which trouble not themselves to oppose God and the saints, but give themselves to pleasures, and like those widows (1 T…

So we must desire more the presence of God in the life to come, than his favor in this life (1 Corinthians 1:7). And love, and reverence more the teaching Elders, than governing only (1 Timothy 5:17), etc. For the better doing of this, is required perfection, sobriety (Matthew 1…

The second, of those which are governed in the same. 1 Timothy 5:8: If one care not for his own, especially those of his house — which shows an especial rule of mutual duty between these two. Also the wisdom of the holy Ghost, in setting down mutual duties to them: Proverbs 31;…

If good men be offended at the sins of the wicked, as Lot's righteous soul was vexed from day to day with their ungodly deeds (2 Peter 2:8), much more are these holy spirits, especially when all things are irregularly carried in the worship of God (1 Corinthians 11:10). For this…

Whereas we should not open our mouths to reprove, till we have certain knowledge of the fault. Moreover, public persons, as magistrates and ministers, have their privilege, that an accusation is not to be received against them, without there be a proof by two or three witnesses…

If adultery, which is the breach of wedlock, be a work of the flesh, then damnable is the decretal of Pope Siricius, that marriage itself was the pollution of the flesh. It may be objected, that young widows by marrying have damnation, and break the faith of baptism (1 Timothy 5…

Secret I call those that are known only to God, and the conscience of the doer: or only to others, but not to us. This was practiced by Saint Paul (Galatians 2:14), who reproved not Peter, till he was thoroughly informed of his offense: which condemns the common practice of the…

Silly ambition has filled the world with apes, from superstitious persons seizing, with more "zeal" than "knowledge" (Romans 10:2), every thing that they hear praised in the saints: as if the distinction of rank did not render a selection of employments necessary, that each pers…

As to the loud and open rebuke, which was administered to them in presence of all, it was for the sake of others; and that is the reason why Luke mentions, that it was addressed to multitudes, (Luke 3:7.) Though the persons whom John reproved were few in number, his design was t…

For if any man offends against the whole Church, Paul enjoins that he be publicly reproved, so that even elders shall not be spared; for it is in reference to them that he expressly enjoins Timothy, to rebuke them publicly in presence of all, and thus to make them a general exam…

This God complains of in the People of old; My People are foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish Children, and have none understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledg, Jer. 4. 22. (2.) In the Choice and preferring of any other Life befo…

Thus we lean on our Relations, and the inward thoughts of our hearts are, that they shall be to us so many springs of comfort to refresh us throughout our lives; but God will shew us by his Providence our mistake and error in these things. Thus an Husband is smitten, to draw the…

Verse 13. And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake. 1 Timothy 5:17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. 1 Peter 5:5. Submit yourselves to the elders.

The holy Angels of God looked on, rejoicing to behold how gloriously they acquitted themselves in the work and ministry committed to them. And to this end does he charge Timothy before the elect Angels, to look to and discharge aright the work of an Evangelist (1 Timothy 5:21),…

So he himself has told us, (Luke 10:16) He that despises you, despises me; and he that despises me, despises him that sent me. Sixthly; superiors in any gift of divine providence, whether of riches, or of age, or of knowledge, and the like, are to be reverenced and honored by us…

You have work enough at home, within your own heart, and in your own house; and if you are careful to manage that well, you will scarce have either time or inclination to receive or divulge bad reports of others. And therefore the Apostle joins idleness, meddlesomeness, and tatt…

Remember the command (Titus 3:2): Speak evil of no man. And take heed of the sinful practice of the women described (1 Timothy 5:13): They learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ough…

Under the law, God rejected the snail and the ass (Leviticus 11:30; Exodus 13:13). And under the gospel, he allows no sluggish lazy professor (1 Timothy 5:11, 13). Sleepy duties are utterly unsuitable to the living God; he will have the very spirits distilled and offered up to h…

Proverbs 23:19. Hear you my son and be wise, and guide your heart in the way: it's grace that guides the heart in the way, but the graced heart also guides itself, in its manner of working, in the way of God. 1 Timothy 5:22. Keep yourself pure. 2 Timothy 2:15. Study to show your…

Ans. Sure, Jesus Christ must be the meritorious and fountain cause of such influences. For 1. We suppose that Christ is the head of the elect Angels: God having purposed to save man of grace, he gave this mighty separating influence distinguishing the standing and elect Angels f…