regret by exulting remembrance of the expansive inherent force of divine truth,-except we be really, in some tolerable measure, doing our best for her, so far as we are at liberty. The sense of our own responsibility, and of our faithfulness to it, must lie at the root of all true and solid consolation.

To this, therefore, as the one thing needful, both for the cause and for himself, the Apostle most emphatically bespeaks his disciple's attention. He loses no opportunity of reminding him of the таракатαðýêη, the charge, trust, deposit, which had been left jointly in both their hands, and in the hands of all commissioned as they were. Observe how naturally, with what dexterity of affection, he passes from the mention of his own trust to that of the same trust as committed to Timothy "I am not ashamed, for I know in Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep my deposit, τὴν παρακαταθήκην μου, against that day. Hold fast the form," or, " abide by the pattern or standard, of wholesome words which thou hast heard from me, by faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing committed unto thee" (literally, the good and noble deposit) keep, by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”

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Surely these are words in which we ourselves are concerned, as deeply as he was, to whom they were first written. We are so far in Timothy's case, that we are full of sorrow and perplexity at the condition in which we find the Church and

Body of Christ Jesus: we would fain lay hold of Timothy's and St. Paul's consolation: let us first see to it, that we neglect not the warning given. To the companion of Apostles that warning was plain and simple. The duty imposed on him, paramount to all others, was simply to keep safe and entire a certain trust committed to his charge; to that one vital object all considerations of present expediency, temporal comfort, visible, apparent edification, were to give way. What that treasure was, Timothy could not be ignorant; nor yet could he be doubtful as to the celestial aid, by which, if not wanting to himself, he would surely be enabled to preserve it. But in both respects some consideration is requisite, before we of this day can fully apply the case to ourselves. It is not obvious at first sight, what this trust or treasure was: nor (of course) whether we are partakers of it: and even supposing those points settled, there might still remain a doubt, whether we have the same help for the faithful discharge of our trust, the Holy Ghost dwelling in us. The consideration of these points in their order may not unfitly employ us on the present occasion.

1. And, first, as to the exact notion which we are to attach to the word παρακαταθήκη, “ trust or deposit," in this place: I observe, that the very use of so general a word with the article implies that it had been by that time received among Christians as a term (if one may so speak) of their

own, a part of the vocabulary of the holy Catholic Church. A diligent eye may detect, in St. Paul's Epistles, many traces of the like use of language: current sayings, or senses of words, or formulæ, which the Apostle only just alludes to, as well known to all his readers. For instance, the expression, "This is a faithful saying," which occurs repeatedly in these latter Epistles, indicates, in all probability, so many Christian proverbs, familiar in the mouths of that generation of believers. Thus in the first Epistle to Timothy, we have, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: This is a faithful saying, 'If a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work;' This is a faithful saying, That therefore we both labour, and suffer reproof, because we trust in the living God, Who is the Saviour of all men, especially of them that believe!”” In the second Epistle", "It is a faithful saying,' If we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us."" And to Titus, after a brief summary of the Gospel way of salvation, which by the exact rhythm and order of its members might almost appear to be part of a primitive hymn", St. Paul adds the same clause, " Faithful is the saying." From all which I argue, that there ' Ch. iv. 9, 10. " See Note (B) at the end of this Sermon.

iCh. i. 15.

m

Ch. ii. 11.

k Ch. iii. 1.

was a certain set of "sayings" current among the Christians of that time, to which any allusion or appeal, however brief, would be presently understood. Nor will it be hard to find examples of single words, which had evidently acquired by that time a Christian sense; so that, even when used absolutely, they could only be taken by Christians in a particular relation: such words, I mean, as Tò μvσтýρiov, for "the scheme of supernatural τὸ μυστήριον, truth revealed in the Gospel, and more especially in the doctrine of our Lord's incarnation;" o éx@pòs, for "the evil spirit;" odòs, for "the profession of Christianity." These, and other examples which might be mentioned, make it surely not incredible, that ἡ παρακαταθήκη, "the deposit, trust, or charge," conveyed to Christian ears in those days a peculiar and definite, I had almost said, a technical, meaning.

Now both this word and its kindred term, ǹ ἐντολὴ, "the commandment," are mentioned in connection with errors to be avoided in doctrine. Thus, Timothy is warned" to "keep the deposit, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called." Again, on mention made of the "good confession," made by the same Timothy "before many witnesses," at the time of his first calling to eternal life,-which "good confession" can only mean the Apostles' Creed, or some corresponding formula, recited at baptism,—

St. Paul proceeds thus: "I exhort thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that thou keep the commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." Does not this appear as if "the confession" in the former verse had suggested the caution about " the commandment" or "commission" in the latter? and if so, what more probable than that "the commission" means the same treasure of doctrine which we know to have been embodied in the Confession or Creed?

This interpretation of the noun παρακαταθήκη, "deposit," is confirmed by the repeated use of the kindred verb, παρατίθεσθαι, 66 to entrust, or commit," in reference to Christian doctrine. For example, "This commandment I commit unto thee, son Timothy, that thou mightest charge some that they preach no other doctrine." Elsewhere (a passage which seems to be sufficient alone to warrant the proposed interpretation) Timothy is instructed concerning the things which he had heard from St. Paul," before many witnesses," that is, as it should seem, at a kind of public charge at his ordination:-these he is directed to commit or entrust "to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also"." Ability to teach is the thing required: it is plain, therefore, that the test related principally to doctrine".