Observe here, that in those early days of Christianity, great scandal was brought upon religion by the undutiful carriage of servants and subjects towards their masters and magistrates; and this upon. false notion of Christian liberty, advanced and propagated by the false apostles, judaizing teacher... [ Continue Reading ]
Calumny and evil-speaking has been. reigning vice in all ages, and. greater guilt is contracted by it than men apprehend; every man ought to be as just to his neighbour's reputation as his own: if what we report of another we know to be false, it is downright lying; if what we report of others we... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. very weighty reason laid down by our apostle, why Christians should be found in the practice of the forementioned virtues of equity and lenity, of patience and charity, of meekness and long-suffering, one towards another; namely, because before their conversion they themselves lived in... [ Continue Reading ]
As if our apostle had said, though in our heathenish and unconverted state we were as bad and vile as any, yet no sooner did the loving-kindness of God to fallen man appear, by the illumination of the gospel, and the communication of his grace, not for any good works or deserts of ours, but of his m... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, which Holy Spirit was in its gifts and graces plentifully poured forth upon us, and dwelleth in us, not essentially, but energetically, illuminating, guiding, strengthening, and confirming of us: and the end of God herein is, THAT BEING JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE, that is, by faith in his Son,... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having in the foregoing verses spoken of justification by grace without works of righteousness, doth here immediately give. strict and solemn charge to Titus, to press the necessity of good works upon those who did believe and embrace the gospel, on purpose to prevent all mistake and abu... [ Continue Reading ]
We have the same charge given to Timothy. 1 Timothy 1:4 See the Note upon it. And learn hence, That disputes about matters which only serve to beget strife and contention, and tend little to our edification in faith and holiness, are vain talk and unprofitable disputes, to be declined and avoided by... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, Avoid and shun, and refuse communion with, him that doth obstinately persist in dangerous errors and heresies, and accordingly let him be excommunicated. Learn hence, 1. Who is an heretic in the apostle's sense; even he who is preverted from the true faith, and holds opi... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having finished all such common precepts as respected the whole church in Crete, he now passeth to such private affairs as did more particularly respect the person of Titus and himself. First, he desires Titus to come to him to Nicopolis from Crete, but not before he had sent thither Ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. second private affair which is given in charge to Titus, namely, that he help forward on their journey Zenas and Apollos, both apostolic men, the former an expounder of the law of Moses, the other an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures; both these cleaved to St. Paul, and theref... [ Continue Reading ]
LET OURS, that is, either, 1. Those of our order, the ministers of the gospel, or 2. those that are our converts, such as are Christians, let them study to excel in good works, be diligent in the labours of their calling, that they may have wherewith to supply the necessities of others, to the in... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THAT ARE WITH ME SALUTE THEE. --By these words St. Paul gives Titus to understand, THAT all the Christians that were then with him did embrace him with an endearing and loving affection, and would have their mindfulness of him witnessed by. kind and familiar salutation. These salutations had mor... [ Continue Reading ]