2 Timothy 3

So he makes the doctrine of free grace a key to open the door to all licentiousness. 5. Another thing to unsettle Christians, is persecutors (2 Timothy 3:12). The Gospel is a rose that cannot be plucked without prickles.

It is easy to commit idolatry with the creature. 1. Some make a god of pleasure (2 Timothy 3:4): [illegible], lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Whatever we love more than God, we make a god.

It is very suspicious where there is no growth, there wants a vital principle. Some instead of growing better, grow worse; they grow more earthly, more profane (2 Timothy 3:13). Evil men proficient in Pejus, shall wax worse and worse.

Because he loves his estate more than God, and so he makes it his God: though he does not bow down to an idol, yet he worships the graven image in his coins; he is an idolater: that which has most of the heart, that we make a God. 2. If we love our pleasures more than God, we ma…

How many mercies have we to allure us to obey! Miracles of mercy; therefore the apostle joins these two together, disobedient and unthankful (2 Timothy 3:2). And this dyes a sin of a crimson color.

Answ. The Word of God (which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (2 Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, etc. By Scripture is understood the sacred book of God — it is…

Matthew 10:16. Be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. The Apostle says, All Scripture is of divine inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16). God's Word is compared to a lamp, for its enlightening quality (Psalm 119:105), and to silver refined, for its enriching quality (P…

3. The third counterfeit of Sanctification is hypocrisy; when men make a pretence of that holiness which they have not. A [reconstructed: comet] may shine like a star; such a luster shines from their profession as dazzles the eyes of the beholders (2 Timothy 3:5). Having a form…

Austin says his mother Monica traveled more for his spiritual birth, than his natural. Timothy's mother instructed him from a child (2 Timothy 3:15). She did not only give him her breast milk, but the sincere milk of the Word.

The word written comes with authority; it shows its commission from heaven: Thus says the Lord — It is of divine inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16). The oracles of Scripture must be surer to us than a voice from heaven (1 Peter 1:18).

Think, O Christian, what affliction leads to, it leads to Paradise, where are rivers of pleasure always running; may not this make us cheerfully submit to God's will, and say, Lord if there be so much kindness in affliction, if all you do is to make us happy, Your will be done.…

Every bird that has fine feathers has not sweet flesh. All that shine with the golden feathers of profession are not saints: (2 Timothy 3:5) [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], Having a form of godliness, but denying the power. What is a lifeless form?

I answer first; We refuse no traditions, which are agreeable to the Scripture, and analogy of faith: but such as are agreeable to one of these, we receive them, though not as Scripture. Secondly, if the Apostles in the New Testament do add anything in any story, which is not in…

Thus he dealt with his servant Job, though there were none for piety like him in his time, through all the world. Now, God has his servants among us: for the trial of whose faith, we may persuade ourselves, some tribulation shall come upon us; For, all that will live godly in Ch…

Hence Paul says, That we must come to heaven through manifold afflictions, Acts 14:23. The Lord knows what is best for his servants and children: and therefore he has set down this for a ground, that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:…

Now, howsoever it may be thought but a small fault, not to profit in Religion: yet undoubtedly it is a fearful Judgment of GOD, when the hearers of the word in any congregation are daily taught, and do not profit thereby: and therefore the holy Ghost noteth those women to be lad…

Testimony 4. 2 Timothy 3:16-17: The whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, and to instruct in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, being made perfect for every good work. In these words are contained two…

A seventh reason is from the deceitfulness of our heart, and the natural corruption that sticks to us; there is naturally in us, pride and self-conceit, we are disposed and given to think anything that is our own, though it be but a show, is as good as others' reality; to think…

Or if you shall read them and not make conscience to improve them to your souls' edification and advantage; which contain more genuine, pure, sincere, solid, and substantial Gospel than many thousands have heard it may be in an age, though hearing preachings much of the while. E…

Nor does the growing in grace which lies on us, by an obligation of a command, stop the way to the journeying toward perfection and heaven, nor shorten the cut to heaven, because heaven is not attainable in this life; but on the contrary, if perfection were attainable in this li…

The Spirit is free, why will you control and rule it by the Law, whereas the nature of the Spirit is freely to conform the heart and life to the outward rule of the Law without the help of the Law, as a crooked thing is made straight according to the line and square, and not by…

It would deliver his soul, if he did but consider that there was a lie in the other way, and he flatters himself in his good estate before God, and considers not the truth of the thing; he thinks he is as fair a dealing man as any of them all, but his heart deceitful, and desper…

The third point is that they which are to be teachers must first be taught, and they must teach that which they have first learned themselves. "Abide in the things which you have learned" (2 Timothy 3:14). Christ taught that which he heard of the Father; the apostles that which…

5. On the contrary, they are wretched and miserable that live without the Gospel (Proverbs 29:18; 2 Corinthians 4:3; 2 Timothy 3:7). 6.

Let us here observe diligently that the prophecies were not written for the men of one age alone, but also for their children and all posterities which should be instructed, to the end they might learn to shun that hardness of heart which was in their forefathers (Psalm 78:6-8)…

I confess the doctrine of the holy Scriptures has many other uses. For they not only contain in them matter that is meet and profitable to comfort the weak and afflicted, but also sharp rebukes and threatenings against the obstinate (2 Timothy 3:16). But Isaiah here shows, that…

Accordingly, by this mark Christ distinguishes his own martyrs from criminals and malefactors. I now return to what I said a little before, that as, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus "(Paul informs us), shall suffer persecution," (2 Timothy 3:12,) this admonition has a ge…

Thus Paul brings a charge against the false teachers of his age, that they lead captive silly women laden with sins, (2 Timothy 3:6.) 15. For you compass sea and land.

It is even now at hand, they shall not escape. As Saint Paul also says (2 Timothy 3): Their madness shall be evident to all men, that they may be confounded. God open their eyes and grant them grace to turn to him by true and earnest repentance, and to forsake and detest these t…

And Enoch also the seventh from Adam, prophesied of such, saying, Behold the Lord comes with thousands of his Saints, to give judgment against all men: This place is not anywhere read in the Scripture: which is another reason why some of the ancient Fathers would not admit and r…

True Religion is evermore a powerful Thing; and the Power of it appears, in the first Place, in the inward Exercises of it in the Heart, where is the principal and original Seat of it. Hence true Religion is called the Power of Godliness, in Distinction from the external Appeara…

Read the Word as a book made by God himself. It is [illegible], given by divine inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the Library of the Holy Ghost.

But what was borrowed, or the naked ground. O melting consideration! that the glorious Son of God, Ioh, 1. 14. The Lord of glory, Iam. 2. I. The brightness of his fathers glory. Heb. 1. 3. Who was rich, 2 Cor. 8. 9. And it no robbery to be equal with God. Phil. 2. 8. who from al…

God has expressly foretold what will be the fate of those times. So for desolation (2 Timothy 3:1): in the latter times there shall come hard or perilous times [illegible], times of great difficulty and distress. 2. In its evening or latter part, which is bright and glorious, an…

Since the days of John Baptist the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force, Mat. 11:12 this is ordinarily taken for the greediness of the peoples embracing Johns Ministery, but it rather seems to be spoken of another kinde of violence, namely, the vi…

§. 57. Of natural self-love. Object. Lovers of themselves are condemned in God's word, as (2 Timothy 3:2; Philippians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Romans 15:1). Answer. There is a double loving of a man's self.

If parents be careful to draw those principles, wherein they instruct their children, out of God's word, they shall be sure not to poison their souls with any error, heresy, superstition, or idolatry. 2. When children begin to read, let them read the holy Scripture: so was Timot…

Isaiah 8:20. 2 Timothy 3:16. of [illegible]. The [illegible] that accompanies the voice of God.

I grant that the first and grand Design of their Studies and public Labours should be to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God and Reconciliation by Jesus Christ, and to make the necessary Articles of Faith and Practice plain to the meanest Soul: But a Minister is also required…

And both these are as large as the sphere of this calling, not only servants and others of a mean condition, that lying low, are the more subject to rigors and injuries, but generally, all that are called to godliness are likewise called to sufferings. 2 Timothy 3:12. All that w…

Hence are all the wickednesses of our hearts, and lives, which are no other but in place of obeying, and pleasing God, a continual sacrificing to those Gillulim, those base dunghill gods, our own lusts. For this the Apostle gives, as the root of all those evils (2 Timothy 3:2) —…

Though all the sins of former ages gather, and fall into the latter times, this is pointed out as the grand evil, uncharity. The Apostle Saint Paul (2 Timothy 3:2) tells that in the last days, men shall be covetous, slanderers, lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God: but h…

He that will be rich, falls into temptation, and a snare. And what is said of riches, the same is true of pleasure; he that is vehemently addicted that way, will soon come to put God out of the throne, and make his belly, and his pleasure, his God (2 Timothy 3:4). Lovers of plea…

A kind of a riddle — before we are able to speak, we speak lies; namely as we are prone to error and all manner of carnal fancies by the natural temper and frame of our hearts (Isaiah 58:2). And therefore from our very tender and infant age we should be acquainted with the word…

The use and profit of it should make us look after more acquaintance with it. Consider the great use of the Word for informing the understanding, and reforming the will: for informing the understanding (2 Timothy 3:7). The word of God is able to make the man of God perfect, and…

Those are intended in (Romans 2:20): An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which have the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law. And such are described (2 Timothy 3:8): Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. It is not to be imagined that…

Indeed here's the question, How far the word of God is a counselor to us in such perplexed and doubtful cases? 1. The word of God will help him to understand how far he is concerned in such an action in point of duty and conscience; for otherwise it were not able to make the man…

Ask where is the good way, and walk therein, and then you shall find rest for your souls; you must not only so understand and form your opinions aright; not only see what's the good way, but walk therein; keep that way which you find to be the way of truth, renouncing all others…

I say they fell from God as envious, false, and wishing ill to them; and by the devil's instigation turned to the creature to find happiness in them, against the express will and command of God. As the first man was infected, so are all men wholly perverted, for sin still consis…

But on holiness, which is more high and noble, and is truly good, and of greater nearness to our chief good than those other things are, we cannot exceed — there the faculty is rightly placed. When we are hasty and passionate for these other things, the heart is corrupted, it is…