2 Timothy 2

Branch 3. Christ first suffered and then was exalted: see hence that sufferings must go before glory. Many desire to be glorified with Christ, but they are not content to suffer for Christ (2 Timothy 2:12): If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. The wicked first reign a…

Theodosius thought it a greater honor to be a servant of Christ than the head of an empire. Servire est Regnare — Christ's servants are called vessels of honor (2 Timothy 2:21), and a royal nation (1 Peter 2:9). Serving of Christ ennobles us with dignity: it's a greater honor to…

Therefore murmur not at God's dealings; His work goes on, nothing falls out but what he has wisely decreed from eternity; every thing shall promote God's design, and fulfil his decree. 2. Comfort to the godly in regard of their salvation (2 Timothy 2:19). The foundation of God s…

This argument stands like Mount Zion which cannot be moved. Insomuch that some of the Papists hold that such who have absolute election cannot fall away (2 Timothy 2:19): The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. The foundation of God…

While there are two seeds in the world, expect to be under the black rod. The gospel tells us of reigning, but first of suffering (2 Timothy 2:12). 2. It informs us that affliction is not always the sign of God's anger: Israel the apple of God's eye, a peculiar treasure to him a…

This case is sad and dismal to be thus in the house of bondage under the power and tyranny of Satan: When David would curse the enemies of God, how did he pray against them, that Satan might be at their right hand (Psalm 109:6)? He knew he could lead them into any snare: If Sata…

God values not any by their high birth, but their holiness. 4. Holiness is the [illegible], the only thing that differentiates us from the reprobate part of the world: God's people have his seal upon them (2 Timothy 2:19), the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The…

Where can we rest our faith but upon God's faithfulness? There is nothing else we can believe in, but the truth of God; we cannot trust in an arm of flesh, we cannot trust in our own hearts; this is to build upon the quicksands; but the truth of God is a golden pillar for faith…

If the head be tainted with erroneous opinions — that believers are free a Lege Morali, that there is no resurrection, that we may do evil that good may come of it — what sin will not this lead to, or keep your head? Error is a spiritual gangrene (2 Timothy 2:17), which spreads,…

5. Before the kingdom of grace be set up in men's hearts, the kingdom of Satan is set up in them: They are said to be under the power of Satan (Acts 26:18). Satan commands the will; though he cannot force the will, he can by his subtle temptations draw it: The devil is said to t…

The Lord has two heavens he dwells in, and the holy heart is one of them. 5. Sanctification is the only thing that differences us from the wicked; God's people have his seal upon them (2 Timothy 2:19). The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knows them that…

The true saint is as Luther says, Haeres Crucis, heir to the cross; affliction is his diet drink, but here is that which may be as a bezoar-stone to keep him from fainting — these sufferings bring a kingdom. The hope of the kingdom of heaven, says Basil, should sweeten all our t…

Or else 3. when this ordinance is not in the case of such sins administered, then God himself (who works without an ordinance sometimes the same effects that with it) does excommunicate men's spirits from his presence and gives them up to Satan by terrors to whip them home to hi…

And therefore all young persons must have care of these sins of youth, and watch the more against them, because they are so incident to their years. Now, the way to avoid them, is to follow Christ's example, Luke 2:52, to labour to grow, as in years, so in wisdom and grace: and…

But some will say, God cannot do some things which man can do, as God cannot lie, nor deny himself: and therefore he is not omnipotent. Answer. Although some have thought that God could do even these things, and that he did them not, because he would not: yet we must know and be…

Or the magnificent, as Junius renders it; they are the spiritual phoenixes, they are the cream and flower of the creation; they are purior pars mundi, the purer part of the world, double-refined (Zechariah 13:9). 4. God calls them vessels of honor (2 Timothy 2:21). Though they a…

General abuses are those which concern repentance wholly considered, and they are these. The first is that they place the beginning of repentance partly in themselves and partly in the Holy Spirit — or in the power of their natural free will being helped by the Holy Spirit — whe…

When sufferings for religion grow hot, then blessed is he that is not offended in Christ. Troubles are then at a height: first, when a man's nearest friends and relations forsake and leave him — Micah 7:5-6; 2 Timothy 4:16; second, when it comes to resisting unto blood — Hebrews…

I shall shortly give you some few grounds from Scripture to clear and confirm this truth; the first of which is taken from the names that the people of God get, and from the expressions that are used in making mention of them in Scripture, which will infer all that has been said…

Much for training on of young beginners, and much for advancing and carrying on in their Christian course such as are entered into it, and have made any tolerable progress therein. [reconstructed: In a word], he does in a great measure approve himself to God as a workman that ne…

2. Indeed, to say we see justification more clearly, when we see no sanctification, is to make the water and the Spirit (1 John 5:8) dumb or false witnesses, that either speak nothing, or tell lies. 3. It is against the office of the Spirit, which is to make us know [illegible],…

Grace is born in heaven, and came from the inmost of the heart of Christ; it has neither seed nor parent on earth, therefore the Lord challenges it as his own (2 Corinthians 12:9): "The Lord said to me, My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Timothy 2:1) "The grace that is in Chris…

I know them, and they know me. Sure it is relative to that: 2 Timothy 2:19: Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knows them that are his. Sure, the sheep that Christ dies for (John 10) are the sheep that he gives his life for (verse 11) and…

And then it is no matter though God commit all power to the Son, and that the Son though he has all power, must ask all of the Father, for to be sure whatever he asks, the Father has not power to deny; for they have but one will and power. They are one; so as if God deny him, he…

In the midst of sorrow you find some comfort, if your life in Christ makes your saddest times joyful and comfortable to you; and so in outward afflictions, though afflictions may seem to be grievous, yet wait a while, and you shall see the more weight and burden that lies upon y…

Adam lost the day before he had any offspring, so Christ wins it in his own person before he does solemnly begin to preach the Gospel, and call disciples: and therefore here was the great overthrow of the adversary. 2. In regard of Satan who by his conquest got a twofold power o…

(3.) His holiness, (2 Timothy 1:3) "I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers, with pure conscience." (2 Timothy 2:22) "With them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

1. Because he cannot overcome you without your own consent. The wicked are taken captive by him at his will and pleasure (2 Timothy 2:26), because they yield themselves to his temptations, like the young man (Proverbs 7:22): He goes after her straightway, as an ox goes to the sl…

Christ himself, beside the sermons made to the people, trained up and taught himself his 12 apostles and his 70 disciples. Paul commands Timothy to teach that which he had learned to such as shall be fit to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2). Furthermore, this teaching is of great use…

(Psalm 1): The Lord knows the way of the righteous, that is, knows, and approves it. (2 Timothy 2:19): The Lord knows who are his, that is, he knows and chooses them. (John 17:2): This is eternal life to know you the only God, that is, to know and acknowledge you for our God.

The scribe that would have followed Christ for gain, was repelled with this answer, that Christ had not so much as a place where to lay his head (Matthew 8:20), and to preach for by-respects, is to make a merchandise of the word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17). The second is, that m…

And it has three parts. The first is, bondage under Satan, who keeps unrepentant sinners in his snare according to his own will (2 Timothy 2:26), he rules in their hearts like a God (2 Corinthians 4:4), and has power to blind them, and to harden their hearts, till he have brough…

Again, as meekness is necessary for every Christian (Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:2), so it is most necessary for him that would fruitfully and effectually reprove. Hence it is that the Apostle commands us, to Instruct them in meekness, that are contrary minded (2 Timothy 2:25). Mot…

But the scripture speaks thus, when men by their unthankfulness care not to defraud the Lord of his due, as we have seen in chapter 5: I looked that it should have brought me forth grapes, but behold, wild grapes. He speaks not of God's secret counsel, but speaks after the manne…

From this passage in our Lord's discourse Paul seems to have taken what he says to Timothy, The Lord knows who are his: and, let every one who calls on the name of Christ depart from iniquity, (2 Timothy 2:19) The former clause is intended to prevent weak minds from being alarme…

When Paul, referring to the example of soldiers, exhorts the ministers of the word to be free and disentangled from every hindrance, and to devote their labors to the church, he says: No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please the commander,…

"Se fondant sur une passage ou il fait mention de son Evangile;" -- "founding on a passage in which he makes mention of his Gospel," (according to my gospel.) (2 Timothy 2:8.) As if what follows did not make it clear that Paul is speaking of his whole preaching, and not of a sin…

To this effect is the saying of Paul, The Lord knoweth who are his; and let everyone that calls on the name of the Lord depart from iniquity, (2 Timothy 2:19.) The preaching of the Gospel is justly compared to a net sunk beneath the water, to inform us that the present state of…

Let us not flatter ourselves with the empty title of faith, but let every man seriously examine himself, that at the final review he may be pronounced to be one of the lawful guests; for, as Paul reminds us, that the vessels in the Lord’s house are not all of the same kind, so l…

Although, then, the charity of many, overwhelmed by the mass of iniquities, should give way, Christ warns believers that they must surmount this obstacle, lest, overcome by bad examples, they apostatize. And therefore he repeats the statement, that no man can be saved, unless he…

We are taught, at the same time, that we who are his disciples ought to worship God with sincerity; for the apostasies, which we see every day, excite us to fear, and to the cultivation of true godliness, as Paul says, Let every one that calls on the name of God depart from iniq…

For if we will live with him, we must die also with him. If we will reign with him, we must also suffer with him, as Saint Paul says (Romans 6; Colossians 2; Ephesians 4; Hebrews 12; 1 Corinthians 6; 2 Timothy 2) and in many other places. That when his glory shall appear, you ma…

That all are not so, is a meer Effect or preventing grace, and not at all from themselves. This the Apostle respects in his charge; 2 Tim. 2. 22. Flee youthful Lusts; such Lusts as work effectually and prevail mightily in those that are young, if not subduced by the Grace of God.

Every man that has this hope in him purifies himself; 1 Joh. 3. 3. Psal. 119. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 20. and the like Expressions of this Duty occur in other places. Sect. 2 (4) Answerable to these Promises and Precepts and in the Confirmation of them we have the Institution of the Ordina…

Wherefore, as our Life depends upon it, so do all our Comforts. To this Purpose speaks our Apostle, 2 Tim. 2. 19. The Foundation of God standes sure, having this Seal, The Lord knowes who are his.

But there is no need of understanding these as two distinct conditions of salvation, but the words are explanatory one of another: it is to teach us after what manner we must repent, namely, as believing the gospel, and after what manner we must believe the gospel, namely, as re…

Acts 8:22: 'If perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.' 2 Timothy 2:25: 'If perhaps God will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.' However sinful a person is, and whatever his circumstances, there is nonetheless a possibility of his salvation.

We now understand, what a critical and dangerous season Youth is, the wonderful proclivity of that Age to every thing that is evil. Why else are they called Youthful lusts? 2 Timothy 2:22 When David asketh, Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? it's plainly enough implyed…

Satan does lead men captive at his will, while they are as they conceive conquerors, riding in triumph, doing their own will. These Sabeans came to execute their own designs, but Satan had a design upon them, he brought them thus to spoil the estate of Job (2 Timothy 2:26). But…

Now they get this name for their resembling foxes, in three things, 1. In their abominable nature, for which they are called foxes, wolves, dogs, etc., and such like, which are abhorred and hated of all men, and so are these most hateful to God, and so ought they to be with all…