Titus 3

It is more pains to some to follow their sins, than to others to worship their God. While the sinner travails with his sin, in sorrow he brings forth; it is called serving various lusts (Titus 3:3). Not enjoy, but serve: why so, because not only of the slavery in sin, but the ha…

If God does not turn away our prayer, then he does not turn away his mercy. 11. God shows mercy in saving us (Titus 3:5): According to his mercy he saved us. This is the [illegible], the top stone of mercy, and it is laid in heaven.

Question. But are not works required in the covenant of grace? Answer. Yes (Titus 3:8): This is a faithful saying, that they which believe in God be careful to maintain good works. But the covenant of grace does not require works in the same manner as the covenant of works did.

Quest. What are the signs of sanctification? Resp. 1. Such as are sanctified can remember a time when they were unsanctified (Titus 3:3). We were in our blood, and then God washed us with water, and anointed us with oil (Ezekiel 16:9).

Fifthly, God remembers all our deeds of charity, and takes them kindly at our hands. Hebrews 6:10. God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love which you have shown toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints. The chief butler may forget Joseph's kindness,…

Justification is free (Romans 3:24): Being justified freely by his grace. Salvation is free (Titus 3:5): According to his mercy he saved us. Say not then I am unworthy, for mercy is free: If God should show mercy only to such as are worthy, he should show mercy to none at all.

It is not always a sin to be angry, and therefore it is said of Christ (in whom was no blemish of sin) that he was angry, yet we must look that our anger be moderate, not continuing overlong, as Paul says, "Let not the sun go down on your wrath." The fifth fruit of the spirit is…

Objection. Remission of sins, regeneration, and salvation is ascribed to the sacrament of baptism in Acts 22:16, Ephesians 5, Galatians 3:27, and Titus 3:5. Answer: Salvation and remission of sins is ascribed to baptism and the Lord's Supper as to the word, which is the power of…

The proportion of the argument required that Saint Paul should have said: The reward of good works is eternal life, if life everlasting could be deserved, which cannot be: because it is a free gift. Again (Titus 3:5): We are saved not by works of righteousness which we have done…

The first is this, when we speak of the peculiarness of the way of faith's concurring in justification, so as no other grace or work does, we design not to weaken, or cry down the necessity of repentance, and of other graces, nor of good works, the very thoughts of which we abho…

I shall therefore, in a word or two, explain it, by comparing the two covenants. The righteousness of the covenant of works is an inherent righteousness, as it is (Titus 3:5): "Not by works of righteousness which we have done." It is a righteousness of our own doing, made up of…

6. But for the ground, reason, and cause on Christ's part of drawing, it is free grace, and only free grace, which are held forth in these positions. Position 1. As there is no merit, good deserving, work, or hire in the miserable sinner dying in his blood, dead in sins, out of…

Christ can make me a King, therefore I'll be drawn to him. Poor Adam out-witted himself, turned distracted, he studied an apple, so while he studied all his posterity out of their wits, and now we are born [illegible], mad fools (Titus 3:3). What is the Gospel? but a mass, a sea…

Object 6. "All men" here in 1 Timothy 2:6 intentionally, expressly, principally and especially is meant of the first sort, for natural men, sons of Adam, sinners, unbelievers. 1. Because this sense includes all, at first all men, having some in which they are such, and neither b…

the heirs of salvation. They are described (Titus 3:7), That being justified by grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. They are not ministers of conversion and sanctification; to this ministry Christ has called men, not Angels; but in preserving th…

This is not done by changing of a garment, or by any laws or works, but by a new birth, and by the renewing of the inward man, which is done in baptism, as Paul says: All you that are baptized, have put on Christ. Also: According to his mercy has he saved us by the washing of th…

For it serves to make us to live to God, that is, to the honor and glory of God. And we live to God by living wisely, godly, justly (Titus 3:12). Wisely, in respect of ourselves: godly, in respect of God: justly, in respect of men.

Cor 6:11. Tit 3:5. The dipping of the bodie, signifies mortification, or fellowship with Christ in his death: the staying under the water, signifies the buriall of sinne: and the comming out of the water, the resurrection from sinne, to newnes of life.

And Paul says (Ephesians 2:10), We are not saved by works which God has ordained, that we should walk in: and these are the best works that are or can be. Again (Titus 3:5), Of his mercy he saved us, and not of works of righteousness. By this text we further see, that we and the…

There is great reason why men should restore their brethren in all meekness: for without it there is nothing but swelling, and faction, but troubles, and tragedies. Again, as meekness is necessary for every Christian (Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:2), so it is most necessary for him…

But the discussing of this argument, whether Timothie were an Euangelist properly so called, and whether the same man could not be an Euangelist, and a bishop, requirs a longer discourse, then can be affoarded to this short treatise. Lastly, the postscript of the Epistle to T[•]…

We are admitted by adoption into the family of God, that we, on our part, may yield obedience as children to a father. For “the kindness and love (φιλανθρωπία) of God our Savior toward man,” (Titus 3:4,) “has appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and world…

If any one is tickled "Si quem titillat major curiositas." — "S'il y a quelqu'un chatouille de curiosite qui en demande d'avantage." — "If any one is tickled by a curiosity, which asks for more of it." by a keener curiosity, I remember Paul's admonition, and prefer sobriety and…

"Si leur repentance est vraye, et si c'est it bon escient qu'ils vienent k luy." -- "If their repentance is true, and if it is in good earnest that they come to him." It ought to be observed, that good works (Titus 3:8) are here called fruits of repentance: for repentance is an…

On the contrary, we are all by nature unholy, and prone to rebellion. The remedy of salvation must be refused to none, till they have rejected it so basely when offered to them, as to make it evident that they are reprobate and self-condemned, (αὐτοκατάκριτοι,) as Paul says of h…

As it was the design of Christ to withdraw his disciples from a transitory joy, that they might glory in eternal life, he leads them to its origin and source, which is, that they were chosen by God and adopted as his children. He might indeed have commanded them to rejoice that…

I pass by general figures, which occur frequently in Scripture, and only say this: whenever an outward sign is said to be that which it represents, it is universally agreed to be an instance of metonymy. If baptism be called the laver of regeneration, (Titus 3:5;) if the rock, f…

But at the commencement of the gospel God was far more clearly revealed in Three Persons; for then the Father manifested himself in the Son, his lively and distinct image, while Christ, irradiating the world by the full splendor of his Spirit, held out to the knowledge of men bo…

And to the same Purpose is Isaiah 65. 25. Accordingly we find, that in the primitive Times of the Christian Church, Converts were remarkably changed in this Respect: Titus 3. 3, etc. 'For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers Lusts and P…

As the Clouds filled with a moist vapour pour down Rain, Job 36. 27. until it water the Ridges of the Earth abundantly, setling the Furrows thereof, and making it soft with Showers; as Psal. 65. 10. which with the things following in that place, v. 11, 12, 13. are spoken Allegor…

And because there is in it a Communication of a new Spiritual Life, it is called a Vivification or quickning, with respect to the State wherein all Men are, before this Work is wrought in them and on them, Ephes. 2. 1, 5. which is the Work of the Spirit alone; for it is the Spir…

Isa. 4. 4. chap. 44. 3, 4. Titus 3. 4, 5. But it is the Nature and Manner of his Work herein, with the Effect produced thereby that we are to enquire into.

But we need not go to the writings of other penmen of the Scripture; but if we will allow the apostle Paul to be his own interpreter, he when he speaks of our own righteousness as that which we are not justified or saved by, does not mean only a ceremonial righteousness, nor doe…

Such the Church never wanted, such are required to watch (Acts 20:24) against wolves, and such in the Church of Ephesus are commended (Revelation 2:3-4) for putting this direction in execution. 2. The duty here required is to take them, as men use to hunt foxes till they be take…

(2 Timothy 2:14) Charge them before the Lord, that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. And (Titus 3:8) these things I will that you affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God, be careful to maintain good works: these thing…

Receive not any accusation against your neighbors without good proof; drive away backbiting tongues with an angry countenance; and if you must hear of others' faults, let love conceal them as much as may be from the knowledge of others; rather speak to themselves what you hear,…

Therefore take Paul's advice: refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourselves rather to godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). Strivings, though they should be even about Scriptures and the law, may come to be unprofitable and vain (Titus 3:9). Great triflers are no good treas…

Fiery passions without repentance, bring men to the fiery furnace. 3. They are violent for their lusts (Titus 3:3). Serving various lusts.

When poor Job was brought to that dismal plunge that he could no way trace the footsteps of the divine providence; but was almost lost in that labyrinth (Job 23:8-9), how quietly does he sit down, verse 10, with this thought, But he knows the way that I take, when he has tried m…

4. We must show all meekness to all men. This is one of the subjects which Paul directs a young minister to preach upon (Titus 3:2): put them in mind to show all meekness. It is that which we have need to be often minded of.

O sad change! how sadly may we look back towards our first state! and take up the words of Job, O that I were as in months past, as in the days of my youth; when the Almighty was yet with me, when I put on righteousness, and it cloathed me; when my glory was fresh in me, Job 29.…

I have obeyed the voice of every lust and temptation. Titus 3:3. But Conscience has lost its Authority with me▪ Ah Lord! what a sad condition am I in, both in respect of sin and misery? My sin receives dreadful aggravations; for rebellion and presumption are hereby added to it.

Had not God set forth the Lord Christ, all the angels in heaven and men on earth could not have apprehended, that there had been any such thing in the nature of God, as this grace, of pardoning mercy. The apostle asserts the full manifestation, as well as the exercise of this me…

Our peculiar communion with the Father is in love. 1 John 4:7-8, 2 Corinthians 13:13, John 16:26-27, Romans 5:5, John 3:16, John 14:23, Titus 3:4, opened to this purpose. What is required of believers to hold communion with the Father in love.

But that which is eternally antecedent to our being must needs be absolutely free in its respects to our well-being. Romans 9:12, Ephesians 1:3-4, Titus 3:5, James 1:18. Third, it is unchangeable.

Now by this righteousness, grace, and inheritance, is not only intended that righteousness which we are here actually made partakers of, but also the end, and accomplishment of that righteousness in glory, which is also assured in the Third place; they are heirs of salvation (He…

He is the Spirit of holiness — holy in himself and the author of holiness in us. He works it in us, Titus 3:5, and persuades us to it by those motions of his which are not to be quenched. This in the first place grieves the Spirit: when he is carrying on in us a work so infinite…

Such were some of you, but you are washed, you are sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11). So also (Titus 3:3-5), he has saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. How far this original, habitual pollution is removed, need not be disputed.

His whole work upon us, in us, and for us consists in preparing us for obedience, enabling us thereunto, and bringing forth the fruits of it in us. He does this in opposition to a righteousness of our own, either before it or to be made up by it, Titus 3:5. The fruits of the Spi…

And this is that second thing expressed in the manner of his communication: he is sent by authority. He is said to be poured out, or shed on us (Titus 3:6), that Holy Ghost which he has richly poured out upon us, or shed on us abundantly. And this was the chief expression of his…