Annotations upon all the New Testament philologicall and theologicall wherein the emphasis and elegancie of the Greeke is observed, some imperfections in our translation are discovered, divers Jewish rites and customes tending to illustrate the text are mentioned, many antilogies and seeming contradictions reconciled, severall darke and obscure places opened, sundry passages vindicated from the false glosses of papists and hereticks / by Edward Leigh ...

CHAP. V.

Vers. 1. REbuke not an Elden] Doe not handle him roughly, and as it were strike him,* 1.1 as the Greek word signifies.

Vers. 3. Honour widdows that are widdows indeed] He alludes (say Calvin, Estius, à Lapidè,* 1.2) to the Greek name for a widdow which comes of a Verbe that signifies to be destitute and deprived. Those widdows which were destitute of humane help and comfor, the would have sustained at the publique charge of the Church, which is ter∣med honour because they terrified thereby the vertues of those so sustained.

Vers. 4. Any widdow] Any mother or father.

Have children] That is, those which come immediately from their own bodies.

Nephews] Grandchildren or great-grandchildren.

Shew piety] To perform duty to parents is pious.

And to requite * 1.3] That is, doe one good turn for another.

For it is good] That is, morally, a commendable vertue.

And acceptable before God] pleaseth God wonderfully.

Vers 6. But she that liveth in pleasure] That makes it her element, all her businesse is to take delight;* 1.4 so Iames 5.

Is dead while she liveth] That is unprofitable; a life led in pleasures is a death. The Ancients call idlenesse a buriall of a living man.

Vers. 8. He hath denied the faith] He takes not faith in a full latitude; in that par∣ticular he shews himselfe to be no believer.

And is worse then an Infidell] He that is worse then an Infidell is neere to the divell; there is no worse thing then an Infidell. But the Apostles meaning is, he commits a sinne greater in some respect then they doe which remain in infidelity. He is worse then an Infidell in this point, because he by the very light of nature knows this to be a duty. Hac parte fidelis, si curam suorum non habeat, infideli deterior est; absolute de∣teriorem esse non est necesse. Estius. Gerhard.

Vers. 9. The wife of one man] A woman which hath not had two husbands at once; having so been wife of one husband,* 1.5 as that she hath not upon his repudiation mar∣ried to another. Dr. Halls Paraphrase.

Vers. 10. If she have brought up children] Nourished her children; or word for word,* 1.6 if she have fed her children.

Vers. 12. Having damnation] That is subject to the censure of the Church, say some. Calvin saith Paul terrifieth them with the damnation of eternall death.

Because they have cast off their first faith] That is, either the faith and promise which

was made to God in their Baptisme, or the faith and promise of service and releife,* 1.7 to be performed to the poore.

Vers. 13. And not onely idle, but tatlers also, and busie bodies] The Apostle coupleth these two together, idle and busie bodies; those which are idle in their own duties,* 1.8 are most busie bodies in other mens.

Three things (saith Calvin) are here fitly joyned together by Paul; idlenesse, cu∣riosity which proceeds from that; and garrulity, which is the fruit of curiosity. Per∣contatorem fugito, nam garrulus idem est. Horace.

Vers. 17. Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine] Some learned and late writers conceive that this place makes for the Lay-Presbyters; others say here are not two sorts of Elders,* 1.9 one to governe, the other to teach, but two duties of each Presbyter, viz to teach and governe. The illation of t••e former is this, there were elders that ruled well, and laboured besides in the word of God; therefore there were Elders that ruled, and laboured not.

It is imagined that two kind of Presbyters, as well as two parts of their Office are expressed; one of Ministers of the Church, another of the people; one perpetuall,* 1.10 the other ambulatory for their time; both alike interessed in the government of the Church, the office of Preaching charged upon the one. How little of this is set down in the words of the Apostle, were the sense of them that which is pretended, let all the world judge. But of this, See vindication of Presbyteriall government p. 37. &c.

Be counted worthy of double honour] By which he meaneth maintenance, as appea∣reth, vers. 18. It should be such maintenance, so free, so liberall, as may testifie that you honour him in your hearts; such as may keep him from contempt. Mr. Hilder∣sam on 51. Psal. the honour of countenance, and maintenance, Dike on Philem.

Peradventure the Apostle hath respect to the Law of the first-born, Deut. 21.17. in which a twofold portion is commanded to be given to him. The first borne was the chiefer, more excellent and honourable person of all the family, whence Elisha as the chiefest of all the Prophet Eliahs disciples desired a double portion of the Spi∣rit, 2 Kings 2.9. To the same purpose, the Apostle here seemes to declare that those who rule well, as the first borne, and the most excellent, are worthy of a double por∣tion of honour and reward. De Dieu in loc. that is ample maintenance, & officii & doctrinae Jerome. duplex, & reverentiae & subsidii. Aquinas, sibi & suis saith another; double not in comparison with any Lay-governours, but in regard of widdowes and Deacons.

Especially] Sheweth not divers persons, but parts of their callings saith one.

Vers. 19. Against an Elder, receive not an accusation] By an Elder understand Mi∣nisters, civill governours, and all superiours; and if we must not receive, muchlesse may we frame an accusation against them. Perkins.

Vers. 20. Them that sinne] That is, openly and with scandall.

Rebuke before all] The whole Assembly of the Church, Matth. 18.17. 2 Cor. 2.6.* 1.11

Vers. 21. Doing nothing by partiallity] The Apostle chargeth Timothy, that he doe nothing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, by titing the ballance of one side.* 1.12

Vers. 22. Lay ha••ds suddenly on no man] By a part is here manifested the whole Act of ordination,* 1.13 because hands were imposed upon them.

Neither be partaker of other mens sinnes] This is diversely interpreted. First, as if this were the meaning, there are many will ordaine rashly, doe not thou fall into such mens sinnes, so as to be like them. Secondly, there are many that will importu∣nately desire such to be ordained, who may please their humours; but doe not thou yeeld to such importunity, least thou partake of their sinnes. But thirdly it may have reference to the persons ordained, that if Timothy were not diligent to examine them, both for their doctrine, and conversation; all the wickednesse these Ministers should afterward commit in the discharge of their duty, would be accounted as his; and he should answer for them.

* 1.14Keep thy selfe pure] That is from sinnes, that thou beest without blame.

Vers. 23. Drinke no longer water] There are but two words in the Greeke, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Paul 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doth wholly forbid Timothy to drinke water, but to drinke it onely, for so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies.

Vse a little wine] That is, but a little wine; we sold the land for so much, that is, but for so much, Act. 5.8. drinke wine, sed modice, hoc est medicè to cure thine infirmities, not to cause them, pro remedio parcis, non pro delicius redundantius. Ambrose.

Paul prescribes Timothy to drinke a little wine for his stomacks sake, and often in∣firmities; yet he never prescribed him but a little preaching, nay though a weake sick∣ly man; yet he charges him before the Judge of quick and dead, to preach in season, and out of season. Dike.

Vers. 24. Some mens sinnes are open before hand * 1.15] Some there are who offer them∣selves to ordination, whose scandals are known before hand.

And some men they follow after] Others offences they are not known, till after they be ordained.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ne rigidè eum tractate, & quasi plagam ei imponite. Vorstius. vide. Cornel. à Lap.
• * 1.2

  Alludit ad ety∣mon 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quod est à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, id est, destituo, desolor, arbo; sic & La∣tinè vidua à viduando dicitur. Vide V. 5. à Lapidè.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vicem rependere, in praebendis sc. alimentis. Gerh.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 significationem habet pruritus. Est ergo lasciva & procax. Iac. 5.5. Aug. quae in delitiis agit. Cyprian. Quae delicata est. Gerh.
• * 1.5

  Hoc est, quae sua culpa non tran∣sierit ad secun∣das aut tertias nuptias, puta per divortium, aut repudium aliquod illegitimum. Vorstius.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, si filios suos piè educavit in timore Domini. Gerh.
• * 1.7

  Perkins. Primam fidem dici fidem Baptismi, quae scilicet in Baptismo prima suscipitur, neque veteres neque recentiores Theologi mihi persuadent: quando quidem in Baptismo non promittimus nos vel à primis vel à secundis nuptiis abstenturos: & lascivia invencularum viduarum ad secunt∣das nuptias prorumpens, & in iis m••rbi interniremedium quarens, pro insamia quidem, at non pro fidei Christianae rejectione habita fuit. Sculterus.
• * 1.8

  They are not onely called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 because not busie about what they should, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or in∣tent on things they should not, Thomas Goodwin.
• * 1.9

  Dicit qui la∣borant; quia doctrinam sa∣cram tradere sicut oportet non parvi laboris. Estius. Vbi manifestè duo Presbyterorum genera statuit Apostolus, interprete Ambrosio & aliis veteribus, & ex nostris fere omnibus. Bullingero, Martino, Calvino, Zanchius in quartum praeceptum. Saravius against Beza, Sculteus in loc And Bishop Bilson in his perpetu∣all goverment c. 10. goe the other way. Here two Elders are mentioned; but the difference whether officiall, or personall is very doubtfull; one office may comprehend both these duties, and the comparison may be in their perso∣nall excellencies, one may excell in the governing part of the office, and the other in the doctrinall part. Husseys Plea for Christian Magistracy. Vide Blondellum de jure plebis in regimine Ecclesiastico. p. 80.81.
• * 1.10

  Thorndikes Service of God at Religious Assemblies, Chap. 4.
• * 1.11

  Id est palam & in publico con∣ventu ecclesiae, graviter ac severè sunt increpandi. Estius.
• * 1.12

  In alteram par∣tem inclinando. See 23. Exod. 2. Metaphora sumpta est à bilance. Gerh. Vide Bezam. 22.24.
• * 1.13

  As though hee had said more largely, use all the circum∣spection thou canst, yet some hypocrites will creep in••o the Ministery: some are in∣wardly pro∣phane, and such close sin∣ners thou canst not discerne, till afterwards they manifest themselves; others are open sinners, of which thou maist judge aright; these latter thou art to hinder; the former reclaime, or seasonably remove, and so salve up the soare againe. Doctor Taylor.
• * 1.14

  Vide Calvinum & Estium. Est stomacho la∣borantibus assi∣auus aquae po∣tus inutilis Celsus l. 1 c. 8. praecipitque similiter stomacho laborantibus ut vinum adhibeant. Sculretus.
• * 1.15

  q. d. Quamvis quorundam pec∣cata sunt mani∣festa propter quae ab ecclesi∣astick officijs eos excludere in proclivi est; tamen aliorum peccata sunt oc∣culta, quae tem∣poris progressu in lucem prose∣runtur; ideo ad ordinationem non est temerè & praecipitanter accedendum. Glass. Philol. Sac. l. 1. Tract. 3. Haec tota sentenua cum versu 22. & praece••entibus connectenda videtur: quippe in quo ratio redditur illius praecepti de cavenda commu∣nione altenuorum peccatorum. Vorstius.