accordingly was sent to fulfil this office at Ephesus, Titus in Crete— and probably many other appointments took place, together with what we now call consecrations, by the laying on of the hands of the Apostles. Two letters, to Timothy and Titus, have been preserved by inspiration, in which St. Paul gives them directions for the government of their Churches. They are called the Apostolic Epistles.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope,

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into donia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not ;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

COMMENT.-The letter to Timothy was written from Macedonia, and begins by telling him the objects for which he was placed at Ephesus, on one side to oppose the Judaizing false teachers, and on the other the Gnostic, with their endless genealogies of beings invented by Simon Magus. Then after some words on the great and eternal foundation of the faith, the defence of which was committed to Timothy, St. Paul gave a direction for the public worship of the Church, which is still carefully observed, namely that prayers should be made for the welfare of the king, i.e. at that time the emperor, and for all 'the local authorities. The Church has ever deemed it her duty,.as taught by St. Paul and St. Peter, amplifying the words of their Master, to "render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's," and to be loyal to the State, under what

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ever form of government she may come. "All men" are also to be prayed for. The prayer for the Church Militant is one way in which our Church fulfils this command, as well as in the Litany, and in what are called the State Prayers. He grounds these prayers for all men, heathen as well as Christian, on Christ having redeemed all mankind, and thus being the One Mediator before the One God for all men, who are therefore both to be interceded for and to pray for themselves, in every place, not only as our Lord had told the woman of Samaria at Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim, but in every place, secure that He will present their prayers before the One God and Father of all.

LESSON CII.

THE CHARGE TO TIMOTHY.

A.D. 65.—I TIM. vi. 6-21.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. :

Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy ;

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. thee. Amen.

Grace be with

COMMENT.-Unwillingly we omit St. Paul's charge to Timothy for the regulation of his clergy, only observing that those who are here called bishops were plainly elders or priests. The words had not become fixed in their meaning, and bishop, meaning an overlooking shepherd, was applied to the presbyters or elders, as long as the Apostles themselves existed. Their immediate successors were sometimes called angels, sometimes retained the title of presbyters. Even St. John calls himself by the latter name (3 John 1), and in this epistle St. Paul (ch. iv. 14) speaks of the "Gift bestowed on Timothy by the laying on of hands of the presbytery," whereof it is clear that he himself was one. Only in the third generation of the Church were the chief pastors termed Episcopoi, or bishops; and the second order Presbyteroi, presbyters, priests or elders; while the third were from the first known as Diakonoi, deacons or servants. There was also an order of holy women called deaconesses, to whom Phoebe of Cenchrea belonged, and for whom St. Paul here gives directions, though our translation incorrectly calls them deacons' wives.

He also gives rules for the lives of persons in the flock, some of which have been mentioned in the comment on the Epistle to the Ephesians themselves, and he gives Timothy himself advice on his conduct to them, rules of beautiful courtesy. Aged men* and women are to be treated like parents; young ones as brothers and sisters. Helpless widows had been supported on the alms of the Church from the very first (Acts vi. 1), but St. Paul warns the newly-appointed bishop against taking a widow into the number if she had children or grandchildren (nephew means the second degree of kindred), whose first duty was to show "piety at home." This is a memorable piece of counsel, for in all times there has

* Elders is here used in that sense.

been too much disposition to shift off filial duties towards the old and helpless on any fund of charity.

The conclusion of the Epistle concerns us all. It puts the question of worldly wealth in its right light. Timothy is not to require of the rich to lay down all their wealth like Barnabas, but to "be ready to give and glad to distribute, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation," i.e. having treasure in Heaven, and making friends with the mammon of unrighteousness. At the same time, they are not to trust in uncertain riches, and both rich and poor are warned that the love of money is the root of all evil, and that the true gain is godliness with contentment, since our real needs are only food, raiment, and shelter.

Then he addresses Timothy himself directly, as a man of God who has left behind him all these worldly things, and has already made open confession of the faith. He charges him to fight the fight in the Name of Christ, the first of all martyrs, and to keep his charge blamelessly until His coming again in glory.

"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust," namely, the Christian Faith in full confession, untainted by the babblings of science, falsely so called, by which Gnosticism was then meant. But it is the charge to every Pastor, nay, to every Christian, to keep fast and firm the faith once committed to the saints, and all science that opposes that faith is but science falsely so called.

LESSON CIII.

THE EPISTLE TO TITUS.

A.D. 65.-TITUS (abridged).

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee..

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

...

To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

For we ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

But avoid foolish questions and genealogies, and contentions, and striv ings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.

Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

COMMENT.-Titus, the companion of St. Paul, even from the time when they went up together from Antioch to the Council of Jerusalem, was made the chief shepherd of the island of Crete,