them. The extent of it ought to be well considered, that so it may not be said, that we are only against persecution when it lies on ourselves; for if it is a good defence to some, it is as good to others; unless we own that we do not govern ourselves by that rule of doing to others that which we would have others do to us. In the next chapter we find the right education of this bishop, and that which furnishes a clergyman, to perform all the duties incumbent on him: From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus: (2 Tim. iii. 15, &c.) That is, the Old Testament well studied, by one that believed Jesus to be the Messias, and that was led into it by that faith, did discover to man the great œconomy of God in the progress of the light, which he made to shine upon the world by degrees, unto the perfect day of the appearing of the son of righteousness; and to this he adds a noble character of the inspired writings: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instructing in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. The apostle goes on and gives Timothy the most solemn charge that can be set out in words; which is understood, as belonging to all bishops, as the whole church of God has ever done must be read by them with trembling. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing, and his kingdom, preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine (that is with great gentleness in the manner, and clearness and strength in the matter of their instruç

tions) and a little after, watch thou all things, endure affliction, do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of (or fulfil) thy ministry; and as a consideration to enforce this the more, he tells what a noble and agreeable prospect he had in the view of his approaching dissolution: The time of his departing drew nigh, he was ready to be offered up as a sacrifice for that faith which he had so zealously and so successfully preached; and here we have his two great preparatives for martyrdom: The one who looking on his past life and labours: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. The other was looking forward to the reward, that crown of righteousness which was laid up for him, which the Lord the righteous Judge would give him at that day; and not only to him, but also to all those that loved his appearing, and certainly more especially to those who not only loved it themselves, but who laboured so as to dispose others also to love it. To all these considerations, though nothing needed to have been added, one upon whom they made so strong an impression as they did upon Timothy, yet one comes after all, which ought to teach us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, since St. Paul tells Timothy that Demas, one of the companions of his labours, had forsaken him, and that which prevailed over him was the love of this present world.

These are the rules and charges given by St. Paul to Timothy, and in him to all the bishops and pastors that were to come after him in the church. Some of these are again repeated in his epistle to Titus, where we have the characters set out, by which he was to prepare and examine those elders or bishops, who were to rule the

house of God: That those being well chosen, they might be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers; (Tit i. 6.) and that he might do his duty with the more advantage he charges him to shew himself in all things a pattern of good works; in doctrine, shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity; and using such sound speech as could not be condemned. (Tit. ii. 7, 8.) That so those who are of the contrary party (the Judaizars who were studying to corrupt the christian religion by making a medly of it and Judaism) might have no evil thing to say of him; and after a glorious but short abstract of the design of their holy religion; he concludes that part of the epistle in these words, These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority: To which he adds a charge, that may seem more proper to be addressed to others, than to himself, Let no man despise thee: The same is likewise in his epistle to Timothy, with this addition, Let no man despise thy youth; (1 Tim. iv. 12.) But these words do impart that it is in a bishop's own power to procure que esteem to himself; at least to prevent contempt; since a holy and exemplary deportment, and faithful and constant labours, never fail to do that. In the conclusion of the epistle to the Hebrews, we find both the characters of those who had laboured among them, and had ruled them, but who were then dead; and also of such as were yet alive. Remember them who had the rule over you; who have spoken to you the word of God whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation: (Heb. xiii. 7.) They had both lived and died, as well as laboured in such a manner, that the remembering of what had appeared in them, was an

effectual means of persuading the Hebrews to be steady in the christian religion: For certainly though, while a man lives let him be ever so eminent, there is still room for ill nature and jealousy to misrepresent things, and to suspect that something lies hid under the fairest appearances, which may shew itself in due time; all that goes off, when one has finished his course, so that all appears to be of a piece, and that he has died as he had lived. Then the argument from his conversation appears in its full strength, without any diminution. But the charge given with relation to those who then had the rule over them, is no less remarkable, obey them that have the rule over you; and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls: As they that must give account: That they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you: (v. 17.) Here obedience and submission is enjoined, upon the account of their rulers watching over them, and for them; And therefore those who do not watch like men that know that they must give account of that trust, have no reason to expect these from their people: Of a piece with this is St. Paul's charge to the Thessalonians, we beseech you to know (or to acknowledge) them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love, for their work's sake: Here both the submission and esteem, as well as the acknowledgment that is due to the clergy, is said to be for their works sake: and therefore such as do not the work, and that do not labour and admonish their people, have no just claim to them. There is another expression in the 2d epistle to the Thessalonians, that is much urged by those who have writ on this head, That if any will

not work he should not eat, which if it is a rule binding all men, seems to lie much heavier on the clergy.

I shall conclude all that I intend to bring out of the scripture upon this argument, with St. Peter's charge to the elders of the churches to which he writ; which is indeed so full, that though in the course of the New Testament it had not lain last, it deserved by the rules of method, to be kept last; for the closing and enforcing all that has gone before, and for giving it its full weight. St. Peter descends, 1 Epistle, 5 Chap. 1 ver. to a level with them, calling himself no better than a fellow elder and a witness of the suffering of christ; and also a partaker of the glory which was to be revealed. Feed the flock of God (says he) which is among you, (these words will bear another rendering as much as lieth in you) taking the oversight thereof not by constraint (as forced to it by rules, canons, or laws) but willingly, not for filthy lucre, (for though God has ordained that such as preach the gospel should live of the gospel; yet those who propose that to themselves as the chief motive in entering into holy orders, are hereby severely condemned), but of a ready mind, neither as being Lords over God's heritage (or not using a despotic authority over their several lots or divisions) but being examples to the flock, not tyrannizing it over their people; but acquiring their authority chiefly by their own exemplary conversation. The conclusion of the charge, is suitable to the solemnity of it in these words: And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall likewise receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

With this. I make an end of citations from scripture: I think it is as plain as words can make any thing, that

G