through preaching, which is committed unto mee, ac∣cording to the Commandement of God our Sa∣viour:
(8) That the charge of preaching this Gospel, by special Ordination and deputation of our Saviour Christ, was committed to him: And this is the description of Paul the Pen-man of this Epistle: The description of Titus to whom hee writes, follows; Hee is called Pauls own Son, not according to the flesh, but first, after the common faith, which hee received from the Doctrine of the Apostle, whose Disciple hee also was, and his con∣tinual auditor, being alwayes in his company: Again, because hee had fully received the impression of the faith preached by the Apostle, and expressed it to the life in his Doctrine. Lastly, because hee resembled Paul, as it were an image, in his manner of life and conversa∣tion.
Vers. 4. To Titus mine own son after the common faith, Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ our Saviour.
In his salutation hee blesses Titus, from God through Christ, wishing and applying to him, First, Grace, i. e. That is the gifts of the Holy Ghost, both necessary to his own salvation, and his calling in the Ministry. Se∣condly, Mercy, i. e. Remission of sins, or infirmities, in the exercise of the gifts bestowed upon him. Thirdly, Peace, i. e. Happiness from the fountain of Grace, by degrees to bee accomplished.
Vers. 5. 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.
This Preface being premised, that hee might instruct Titus about the choosing of Ministers, in the first place, hee repeats three general Precepts which he gave to Titus, when hee went from Crete. First, That Titus finish, in the Constitution of the Churches, that which the Apostle had begun; Then that hee appoint Elders (i. e. all ordinary Governours of the Church) in every City, wherein the faithful, lately converted, dwelt. Thirdly, That in this business hee carry not himself after his own will, but follow the rule set him by the Apostle, as hee had or∣dained.
Vers. 6. If any bee blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly.
In the second place hee sets down three things requisite in Elders, or Governours onely, or of Teachers also: (1) That they bee not defamed, to the derogation of their Authority. Again that they bee not guilty of Po∣lygamy, too frequent in those times: And lastly, That their whole family bee a mirrour of honest and chaste Discipline, i. e. That their children bee brought up in the faith, accustomed to temperance and frugality, free from profuseness and luxury, and patterns of obedience: For hee esteemed it very necessary that the family of an El∣der should bee rightly ordered, if the wife and children understood, that upon conjecture of their evil manners and conversations, the Master of the Family might bee cast out of his Ecclesiastical Office.
Vers. 7. For a Bishop must bee blameless, as the steward of God: not self-willed, nor soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.
In the third place, because amongst the Elders, they that labour in the Word and Doctrine are the chief; the properties of this Elder, whom hee calls a Bishop, are twelve, whereof hee spake in the former Epistle to Timothy. (1) Hee ought to bee free from any just blame, lest his Authority be diminished, yea so far from blame, that nothing bee found in him unworthy the steward of God, who ought to bee so much the more blameless, by how much his office is more holy. (2) Hee ought not to bee self-willed, or such an one that obstinately pleases himself, for hee that is too self-willed, is ready to dis∣please all others. (3) Not soon angry, for hee that is so, cannot bear with the infirmities of the people of God, or regard them. (4) Not given to wine and drunken∣ness. (5) Not contentious; No striker. (6) Not given to filthy lucre, free from covetousness.
Vers. 8. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate,
This hee confirms, because it is requisite, that accord∣ing to his abilities hee bee ready to receive strangers, or the banished servants of God. (7) That hee esteem and love good men, such as excel others. For it is the sign of a man of little honesty, to hate those that are good, upon any pretence. (8) That in all things hee bee modest, sober, of a sound minde, or prudent. (9) That hee bee just, desirous to restore every man his own. (10) That hee bee pious and holy, who by his life and conversation may teach others. (11) That hee bee con∣tinent and temperate, having dominion over his affecti∣ons 〈…〉〈…〉.
〈…〉〈…〉. Holding fast the faithful word, as hee hath been taught, that hee may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort, and to convince the gain-sayers.
(12) That hee bee not a Divine onely, but that by faith hee cleave to the truth, not onely able to feed the flock, but to stop the mouthes of barking Wolves.
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.