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…

(8) To attend with diligence, skill and wisdom to the discharge of that authority which in the rule of the Church is committed to them. (1) 1 Timothy 3:10, 11, 13; chap. 4.12; 2 Timothy 2:3; Colossians 1:24; Philippians 2:17; chap. 3.17. (2) Hebrews 13:17; Acts 20:28.

Answ. It is so, both on the part of the elders or ministers themselves, of whom that duty is strictly required, and who principally therein labor and watch for the good of the flock; and on the part of the Church, for the furtherance of their faith, and obedience, by instruction…

Hence Luther had his major as well as his minor Catechismus: and Beza his larger confession of the faith as well as his shorter. Yes, the Apostle Paul (whose example was now precedential, as being indeed authentic and binding to imitation) he committed to Timothy a platform of s…

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…

Romans 10:29: The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 2 Timothy 2:19: The foundation of God remains sure, and has this seal, the Lord knows who are his. Second grace is either imputed or inherent: imputed is in justification, a part whereof is remission of sins.

Furthermore, the prescience and purpose of God are by the holy Ghost put for one and the same thing. 2 Timothy 2:19: the foundation of God remains sure — the Lord knows who are his. Romans 11:2: those whom God foreknew are said to be elected according to the election of grace (v…

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…

It is therefore the duty of stewards in the house of God, to give to his household their proper portion. This is the blessed advice our Apostle gives to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:15): Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, [〈 in non-Latin alph…

(2) Others there were, who not daring to oppose themselves directly to a principle so generally received in the Church, they would still allow the expression, but put an allegorical exposition upon it, whereby they plainly overthrew the thing intended. They said the resurrection…

A due consideration of this sovereign spring of all grace and consolation will greatly influence our minds in and to all the principal duties of obedience. Such as thankfulness to God (Ephesians 1:3, 4, 5), humility in ourselves (1 Corinthians 4:7), compassion towards others (2…

Such things as will give exasperation to the spirits, or advantages to the temptations of men, ought to be avoided, or treated on with that wisdom, gentleness, and meekness, as may be no prejudice to them. This way of procedure does the same Apostle expressly prescribe to all mi…

Hence he styles himself in particular (Philemon 1) the bondman for Christ, and gloried in his bonds as his peculiar honor (Acts 26:29), an Ambassador in bonds (Ephesians 6:20). So (Philippians 1:7) and 12. 13, 14, 16; (Colossians 4:3) which he desired the Church to remember him…

Even among them that were called in those days this twofold state was found. No small number there were who were then falling into apostacy, but they were a certain determined number which that plague should prevail against (2 Timothy 2:17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22). They were appoint…

They were his people by eternal designation, antecedently to their effectual vocation, and therefore he will have the Word preached to them. And in the hard work of his ministry the same Apostle who knew the end of it, affirms that he endured all things for the Elect's sake (2 T…

[in non-Latin alphabet] is often used by our Apostle for an experience upon trial (Romans 5:4; 2 Corinthians 2:9; Philippians 2:22), as [in non-Latin alphabet] by Peter (1 Peter 1:7). Hence is [in non-Latin alphabet], one that upon trial is approved, found sound, and therefore i…

And when the Apostle bids Timothy, turn away from such; does not this simply that they were scandalous persons, and apparently wicked? It is not likely that the Apostle would else have commanded to turn from them, sith he himself did so lovingly converse with so many sorts of me…

That the Church is said not to have spot or wrinkle, in respect of the life to come. That when the Apostle says; In a great house there are not only vessels of gold, &c. but some to honor and some to dishonor (2 Timothy 2:20); by this great house he does not understand the Churc…

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…

1. Such an one is bound not to join with any church or society where any fundamental article of faith is rejected or corrupted. There may be a fundamental error in a true church for a season, when the church errs not fundamentally (1 Corinthians 15; 2 Timothy 2:18). But I suppos…

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…

3. It noteth designation to any public office for God's glory; those that do more eminently or more nearly serve God in some peculiar office, are called his servants; as Magistrates (Romans 12:4), he is the Minister of God for your good: and verse 6, God's Ministers attending co…

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…

But whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, we must think of these things (Philippians 4:8). It c…

And how many rocks are there that were never broken — hearts of stone, never turned to flesh — to whom sin was never bitter, nor wrath terrible, nor Christ sweet. 3. They that allow themselves in any known sin (2 Timothy 2:19). They that have sound and saving faith do faithfully…

The true inference therefore from this ground, from man's inability to perform, were this, that therefore a man should not enter into Church Covenant in his own strength, for that was Peter's fault in promising not to deny Christ, but to die with him rather: but Church-Covenant,…

Salmasius to take advantage from those Epistles, both against Episcopacy, and the Epistles themselves, finds in the Laurentian Copy [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], spoken of Damas's Episcopacy, hence he infers that Episcopacy was there styled a new order, and that the Epistles were w…

And "the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true" (1 John 5:20) — as if, forsooth, we had not been furnished with one before. At least He changes it to such a degree that it becomes capable of rightly performing its proper office:…

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…