An expositon of all St. Pauls epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude : wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened. / David Dickson ...

The Third Part of the Chapter.

Vers. 17. Let the Elders that rule well, bee counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

The third part of the Chapter concerning Presby∣ters contains five Precepts.

Precept 1. That an honourable stipend bee afforded to the Presbyters, who well discharge their duty in feed∣ing the Church. And it is said, Let them hee accounted worthy, because if perhaps in some poorer Churches, the maintenance bee not sufficient, or if it shall seem good to some Elders, upon reasons known to themselves, to serve the Church freely, in such a case it is fitting, that they bee accounted at leastwise worthy of double honour, or a liberal stipend, whether they exact it or not.

Especially] Hee makes two orders of these Elders, one that labour in the word and doctrine, such are Pa∣stors and Doctors: Another of those that rule well▪ i. e. That endeavour to govern the Church in life and manners, but labour not in the word and doctrine, such are Elders, which are called Rulers, 1 Cor. 12.28. Rom. 12.8. Hee would have both these kindes of Elders, rightly managing their Offices, accounted worthy of double honour, but especially those that labour in the word and doctrine, because they are wholly set apart to the word and prayer: Therefore it is fitting that they should bee liberally maintained. Hee calls the stipend given them by the name of Honour, because of such moment is their work, that it cannot bee valued at any rate: And because the stipend which is allowed them, is to bee given not upon the account of wages, but an Honorary, or an honourable reward.

Vers. 18. For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the corn; and the labourer is worthy of his reward.

Hee layes down two Reasons of the Precept; (1) From Deut. 25.4. Where from the Allegory of an Oxe, treading out the corn with his feet, God commands that the Pastors of the Church should bee maintained, rea∣soning from the greater to the less.

Worthy] 2. From Levit. 9. or Luke 18.7. Where from the Precept of giving a due reward to the labourer, it is gathered from the less to the greater; Honour is much more to bee repayed to him, who is not an hireling, but a Father, and a laborious Pastor.

Vers. 19. Against an Elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Precept 2. That an accusation against an Elder bee not received, or taken for true, unless upon the testimony of three witnesses, or at the least two, (worthy of credit) it bee affirmed: And that which is here spoken to Ti∣mothy alone, is spoken to all that sit in the Presbytery, because other where, judgement is committed to the whole Presbytery; yea what is spoken here to Timothy, is

spoken to the whole Presbytery at Ephesus, touching the administration of the whole Discipline of the Church, Act. 20.28. Timothy the Evangelist, in the mean time might exercise extraordinary power, as hee was an Evan∣gelist, and the Apostles Legate.

Vers. 20. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Precept 3. Of avoiding scandals; If the Elders, or any other in the Church should offend openly, that they bee publickly reproved: The reason is, That the rest may bee afraid, being admonished by their example, and may take heed to themselves that they do not offend.

Vers. 21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Iesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Precept 4. In which (by way of Epiphonema) hee most gravely charges Timothy, and in him all Ecclesiastical Judges, that nothing bee done in Church affairs, or censures, with pa••tiality, or that nothing in these Pre∣cepts bee altered upon the accepting of any mans per∣son.

Vers. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man; neither bee partakers of other mens sins: Keep thy self pure.

Precept 5. That hee do not rashly receive any one into the sacred Ministry, without mature deliberation, and examination preceding, hee do not lay hands (which was the sign of Ordination) upon any one: Hee gives two Reasons of it.

Neither] Reas. 1. Lest if hee should ordain one un∣fitting, in this very thing hee should communicate with him in his sins, and by consequence in his punish∣ments.

Thy self] Reas. 2. Because thou oughtest to keep thy self pure from defilements; and therefore from the or∣daining of an unworthy man; If happily the rest of the Presbytery at any time shall determine to admit an unfit man to the Ministry, or one that is not approved, keep thy self pure, neither consent thou, but labour by all means so to preserve purity and holiness, that thou keep off from all affinity with sin, as much as in thee lyes. Hee explains the parts of this Precept in the two next follow∣ing verses, the meaning of the latter part, of being himself pure, vers. 23. and shews the meaning of the former part, vers. 24.

Vers. 23. Drinke no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomachs sake, and thine often infirmi∣ties.

As to the latter part of the Precept, of keeping him∣self pure; because the Apostle knew that Timothy by reason of his earnest endeavours after purity and chasti∣ty, had been injurious to his own health, therefore by the way hee adviseth him, that hee do not so understand the Precept of keeping himself pure, as to neglect his health and render himself unfit for the works of his Calling, but use an holy prudence, and in subduing his body, by drinking of water, to use a little wine as it were phy∣sically, and for the necessity of health, lest if hee should proceed in not favouring his weak stomach, and his body labouring under often infirmities, immediately the ta∣bernacle of his body should fall to decay, and the Church should bee deprived of so profitable an instru∣ment.

Vers. 24. Some mens sins are open before hand, going before to judgement: And some men they follow after.

As to what concerns the meaning of the former part of the Precept, Lest hee should partake of other mens sins; hee shews that hee spake of open sins, which may bee known, and avoided, not of private, which fall not under observation; and that hee beware, lest hee par∣take of other mens sins, and in laying hands rashly on no man; hee shews in this, that using examination, and tryal, the open sins of any one that is unworthy may bee known, as also the open virtues of men meet to bee admit∣ted to the Ministery of the Gospel. For the sins of some Candidates of the Ministery are so manifest, that they prevent the examination and judgement of the Church, that they may easily bee rejected. For before the judge∣ment of the Church can determine about them, there is matter in readiness, in their open sins, for their condem∣nation, or rejection from the Ministery, by the opinion of the Ecclesiastical Senate: And the sins of other••, upon examination premised, and the judgement of the Church concerning them being given, are brought forth into the light.

Vers. 25. Likewise also the good works of some, are manifest before-hand, and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

In like manner the virtue of some that are Candi∣dates to the Ministery, and their good works, are so ma∣nifestly known, that it is easie for the Church to judge them fit to bee admitted. But the works of those that are otherwise, or upon examination had, and inquisition made, are not manifest, or so secret, that they cannot bee known of men, they are to bee left to God, nor can they long bee hid, but in their own time will bee brought to light, that if the Church cannot prevent, but those hy∣pocrites are admitted to the Ministery, yet care may bee had, where they are already made manifest, that they bee dealt with according to the Discipline of the Church.