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 Second Part of the Chapter.

Vers. 10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers, and deceivers, especially they of the Circumcision:

The second part of the Chapter follows, wherein hee gives an account of what diligence and care ought to bee used in the choosing of Pastors, viz. Because false Teachers did at that time abound: Hee also describes those whom hee would have rejected from this Office, whereof are, (1) unruly or refractory, who will not bee reduced into order, casting off the yoak of subjection, or of the Eldership, or of any other lawful jurisdiction, whether they bee such as withdraw themselves from obe∣dience to Authority, either Natural or Civil, to whom they ought to submit in the Lord. (2) Vain talkers, who given to vain boasting, follow after vain subtilties, or frigid and trifling speculations, which conduce no∣thing to holiness, and the fear of God. (3) Deceivers, or seducers of mens mindes, who either by their corrupt Doctrine, corrupt the Gospel, or by their fair rhetorical speeches so inchant (as it were) the mindes of men, that they will no longer admit the sound way of teach∣ing: Of which sort, for example sake, hee points out the Jews Doctors to bee, who dwelt in Crete.

Vers. 11. whose mouthes must bee stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake.

Hee advises him that these are not onely to bee refuted, but forbidden to preach either publickly or privately; whereof hee gives seven Reasons:

Reas. 1. Because they draw whole Families from sound Doctrine, and drive them to perdition, and that either by teaching errours, or by ill applying the general Doctrine, to foment the lusts of men, and that for filthy lucres sake.

Vers. 12. One of themselves, even a Prophet of their own said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

Reas. 2. Because they followed the disposition of their Nation, lyars, given to idleness, serving their own in∣temperance, and bellies, like beasts, which hee proves by the testimony of the Cretian Poet, Calimachus or Epime∣nides, to which Testimony Paul himself assents.

Vers. 13. This witness is true; wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may bee sound in the faith.

Reas. 3. Because a severe reproof of this kinde of Teachers, and the Cretian Disciples cleaving to them, was very conduceable to the procuring and maintaining of their soundness in the faith: Therefore they were se∣verely to bee reproved.

Vers. 14. Not giving heed to Iewish fables, and com∣mandements of men, that turn from the Truth.

Reas. 4. Lest otherwise the Cretians should attend to fabulous traditions, and Jewish fictions, touching Legal Ceremonies, and the Precepts of these kind of men, who could not beat the pure Doctrine of Christ, but indea∣voured to corrupt it with their leaven.

Vers. 15. Unto the pure all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled, and unbeleeving, is nothing pure: but even their mind and conscience is de∣filed.

Reas. 5. Because the truth of Christianity hath deter∣mined contrary to the Precepts of these Judaizing Teachers, asserting, That to the pure, all things are pure, i. e. to Christians, purged from their sins by Faith in Christ, all meats, and other creatures, which were un∣clean by the Ceremonial Law, were now lawful after Christ was exhibited, that the faithful may use them with a good conscience.

Defiled] Reas. 6. Because the same 〈…〉〈…〉, that nothing can bee used purely by them, who are not justified by Faith in Christ, but that their minds and consciences which falsely acquit them, being not renewed, are polluted: and so hee convinces them of vanity, who from the observation of Ceremonies endeavour to attain to holiness.

Vers. 16. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and diso∣bedient, and to every good work reprobate.

Reas. 7. Because although those Teachers did pro∣fess themselves worshipers of God, yet in works they de∣nied him, because they were enemies to the Righteous∣ness which is by Faith, and to the fruits of the Spirit, wherefore they were abominable hypocrites, rebells a∣gainst the Truth of God, and unmeet for the perfor∣mance of any good work: From which reasons it is ma∣nifest, that those false Teachers are to bee restrained, that they teach neither in publick nor private.