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 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…

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…

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…

It is observed, that when the people of Israel had got Aaron to make the Calf, and they set down to drink, and rose up to play, they offered burnt-offerings, but no sin-offerings were thought of: These beset the heart, and make it even uncapable of any spiritual good. St. Paul s…

This is the charge that the Apostles lays upon the Romans, For your sake is the name of God blasphemed: we had need look to ourselves in this. Mark what charge the Apostle lays upon women, 1 Tim. 5. 13, 14. that they should take heed of tatling, and carrying themselves unchristi…

I need not spend many words, to open the nature of this sin to you: we all grant, that there is a lawful use of Wine and strong Drink, to support Nature, not to clog it; to cure Infirmities, not to cause them. Drink no longer water, but use a little Wine, for your stomachs sake,…

The law does not only permit a widow to marry again: but if her husband died before he had any children, it commanded the next kinsman that was living and free to marry her, that he might raise up seed to his deceased brother: which if he refused to do, a penalty of ignominy was…

The care of many husbands is in this respect commended in Scripture, as of Abram, of Jacob, of Joshua, of David, the Ruler at Galilee (Joshua 4:15), and of many other (Psalm 101:2, etc.). That the wife also ought to be a help to him therein, is very evident: for the Apostle lays…

4. To bring up children while they are young, with the like. These therefore ought he with a general consent to refer to her discretion: with limitation only of these two cautions (1 Timothy 5:14; Proverbs 31:21-22; verse 15; Genesis 16:6; 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 2:4; 2 Kings 4:19…

My Mother, says Solomon to Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:20). I find also the title of Sir or Lord, used: a title of honor (1 Samuel 24:12; 2 Kings 5:13; Judges 18:19; 2 Kings 6:21; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Timothy 5:1; Genesis 22:7; Genesis 27:18; Matthew 21:30; Genesis 31:35). 2. By using…

These two circumstances imply that it pertains to a mother to nurse her children (Exodus 2:7, etc.). 5. The Apostle lays this down as a note of a good woman, who in her place has been careful to do her duty, and thereupon fit to do service in God's Church (If she have nourished…

2. Common equity and justice requires as much: for wages is as due for labor, as money for wares. Christ takes it for an undeniable principle, that the laborer is worthy of his hire: so also does the Apostle (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18). This duty is to be performed to such as ar…

A Christian that has God and Christ, and his wonderful and precious benefits to talk of, and so many occasions to give thanks, he cannot want matter to discourse of when he comes into company; therefore we should avoid vain discourse. Or, 3. We talk of other men's matters or fau…

If there are many doubts about the true Religion, why they are occasioned by the scandalous lives of professors; we reason from the artist to the art itself. Look as there is a correspondence between the stamp and the impression, the seal and the thing sealed; so should there be…

It argues that you are not seriously through with God, if you should break with him after some profession of his name; now your motion should be more earnest, more strong towards him. I speak this, because we are so apt to cast off our first faith (1 Timothy 5:12), and to lose o…

2. Take heed of immoderate liberty or vanities of the world, or pleasures of the flesh if you would not lose this quickening. The Apostle tells us (1 Timothy 5:6), the woman that lives in pleasure, is dead while she lives. Pleasures have a strange infatuation, they bring a brawn…

And there are many, not only vain, but unruly talkers (Titus 1:10), that a man had need of more patience to hear them, than to hear the beating of an unbraced drum. And, alas, it is not only the chat and tattle of idle gossips (such as in 1 Timothy 5:13) who spoke unbecomingly,…

Take heed of being an occasion of, a partaker of, or but accessory to other men's sins. God forbids it, that it may not be (Ephesians 5:7-11; 1 Timothy 5:22), and sharply reproves and punishes it, where he finds it to be (Psalm 50:18; 2 Samuel 12:9; 1 Kings 21:19), in which two…

They take account of our vows (Ecclesiastes 5:5-6): better it is you should not vow, than vow and not pay, because it is before the Angel. The Apostle charges Timothy, not only before God, but before the Elect Angels, to be strictly conscientious (1 Timothy 5:21). They are witne…

6. Take heed of idleness: every man should have a calling to follow, and follow his calling, which is an excellent preservative from evil thoughts: idle persons have no business but to sin, and they that follow their callings have no leisure to sin; their thoughts are too intent…

If custom and a seared conscience seem to deny the sense of such regrets, yet that argues the case the worse; for what pleasure can that be that benumbs a man, and makes him not only stupid, but dead? And they that live in such pleasures are (by the infallible truth declared to…

The devil did not abide in the truth, but left his first love, life, and estate (2 Peter 2:4 with Jude 6). Hence Judas is called Devil (John 6:70), and apostates are said to turn aside after Satan (1 Timothy 5:15). As converts are turned from Satan to God, so apostates return fr…

If the public scandals and evil which have broke out in our practice to the offence of others, and stumbling of the weak, the grief of the good, the encouragement of the wicked, who may be provoked in the like conduct or confirmed in them by reason of our example; then it is req…

(Romans 6:6) Our old man is crucified. No, they are our very lives (1 Timothy 5:6): they that live in sin: our very heaven and happiness; the young man went away sorrowful when he should exchange his possessions for the Kingdom of Heaven. So that first the corrupt will must ceas…

Now those upon whom legal terrors and these restraining strokes are laid for [illegible] and the like ends, in the counsel of the Lord: in the issue the strength of their corruptions (like waters that are stopped) break out with greater violence, the Lord lets loose their distem…

But, is any man discontented, how shall he pray? Lift up pure hands without wrath (1 Timothy 5:8). Discontent is full of wrath and passion; the malcontent cannot lift up pure hands; he lifts up leprous hands, he poisons his prayers; will God accept of a poisoned sacrifice?

And (Genesis 22:17), in blessing I will bless you. And when the Lord says (Isaiah 19:25), blessed be Egypt my people; he should mean, he would bless Abraham, not his seed, and that he minds to bless the aged of Egypt, and of Assyria, but not their seed and infants, because they…

8th Commandment: You shall not steal. He breaks this commandment: who lives in no calling (1 Thessalonians 3:11); who neglects his calling (Jeremiah 48:10); who spends his wealth in riot and provides not for his family (1 Timothy 5:8); who is not content with his estate but seek…

When the scriptures say, that men are dead in trespasses and sins, no man understands the expression to mean annihilation. The same may be said of the apostle's words in 1 Timothy 5:6, "She that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives." Therefore, since the scriptures do often…

'For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and hidden that shall not be known' (Matthew 10:26). And the apostle assures us (1 Timothy 5:24-25) that they that are otherwise cannot be hidden. If men's works are not good, it is impossible they should be hidden long.

Therefore let no man be afraid of mortification, and the duties that lead to it. Indeed, let me say to you, look — as you see it is with a man in his carnal estate, when he thinks himself most lively, he is then a most dead creature, dead in trespasses and in sins (Ephesians 2:1…