John Trapp on 1 Timothy 6

CHAP. VI. Verſe 1. Count their own masters]

ANd not under a pretence of Chriſtian liberty, and becauſe in Chriſt Jeſus there is neither bond nor free, ſeek to ſhake off the yoke of obedience that God hath hung upon their necks, See 1 Pet. 2.28.

That the name of God and his doctrine, &c.] Be traduced as a doctrine of liberty. Heathens[illegible: 1 letter]ly at the catch, 1 Pet. 2.12. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. ſpying and prying (as the word there ſignifies) and imputing all publike judgements to Chriſtians miſcarriages. Nunc malè audiunt castigantur que vulgò Christiani (ſaith Lactantius) quod alitèr quàm ſapientibus convenit vivant, & vitia ſub obtentu nominis celent. Lactan de opiſ. Dei ad Demet. Chriſtians are very hardly ſpoken of at this very day, becauſe their converſation is not as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, but they think to cover their faults with the fig-leaves of profeſſion.

Verſe 2. Partakers of the benefit] i. e. Of Chriſt, who is here called the benefit, as Joh. 4.10. the gift of God.

Verſe 3. If any man teach otherwiſe] Diſcover himſelf Heterodox, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. out of affectation of ſingularity, &c. as divers doe in this licentious age; broaching things different from the received doctrine, as holding it with Phocion, a goodly thing to diſſent from others.

Conſent not to wholſome words] Words that have a healing property in them. The Scripture (as that library of Alexandria] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. may be properly ſaid to be the ſouls phyſick. By the reading of Livy, Curtius, Aventinus, and other Hiſtorians, many are ſaid to have been recovered of divers deſperate diſeaſes.Joh. Bodin. de utilit hiſtoriae. O facile & beatum curationis genus, ſaith mine authour. But the reading of the holy Scriptures doth a far greater cure then this upon the ſoul.

Verſe 4. He is proud] Gr. He is blown up, big-ſwolne. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Swelling is a dangerous ſymptome in the body; but much more in the ſoul. Pride and ſelf-concit is a baſtard (ſaith one) begot betwixt a learned head, and an unſanctified heart: which being once conceived in the ſoul, cauſeth it to ſwell till it burſt aſunder with unthankfulneſſe to God for the beſtowing, with envy, ſcorn and diſdain of men in the imparting of ſuch gifts, as may be to them beneficiall.

Knowing nothing] ſc. Aright, and as they ought to know, 1 Cor. 8.2. See the Note there. The Gnoſticks boaſted, that they knew all things knowable. Irenaeus ſaith, that they were ſo beſotted with an opinion of themſelves, that they accounted their own writings to be Goſpel. Such ſelf-admirers alſo were the Illuminates (as they called themſelves) the Manichees, the Novatians: And ſuch are now the Jeſuites, the Sectaries, &c.

Do[illegible: 1 letter]ing about queſtions] Gr. Queſtion ſick. As the Schoolmen, and our new Queſtioniſts.

And ſtrifes of words] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Frivolous queſtions and quarrels. The wit of heretikes and ſchiſmatikes will better ſerve them to deviſe a thouſand ſhifts to elude the truth, then their pride will ſuffer them once to yeeld, and acknowledge it.

Verſe 5. Perverſe disputings] Endleſſe and needleſſe diſcourſes and exerciſes, oppoſite to thoſe above, Chap. 4.13, 14, 15.

Of men of corrupt mindes] That want not time, but waſte it, Aliud agendo.

From ſuch withdraw thy ſelf] Gr. Stand off, keep at a diſtance, as you would from one that hath a plague-ſore. [non-Latin text not transcribed].

Verſe 6. But godlineſſe with contentment] True piety hath true plenty, and is never without a well-contenting ſufficiency, a full ſelf-ſufficiency. The wicked in the fulneſſe of his ſufficiency is in ſtraits, Job 20 22. Contrariwiſe the godly in the ſulnes of their ſtraits are in an all-ſufficiency.

Verſe 7. We can carry nothing out] But a winding-ſheet, as Saladines ſhirt, which he commanded to be hung up at his buriall, a bare Prieſt going before the bier,Carion Chron. and proclaiming, Saladine the mighty Monarch of the Eaſt is gone, and hath taken no more with him then what you ſee. M Rogers Trea. of love. Indeed I reade of one that being ready to die, clapt a twenty ſhillings piece of gold into his mouth, and ſaid, Some wiſer then ſome: If I muſt leave all the reſt, yet this [illegible: 2 letters]le take with me. Turk Riſt. But this was none of the wiſeſt men you'l ſay: As that great Chaliph of Babylon was none of the happieſt, that was ſtarved to death by the great Cham of Cat[illegible: 1 letter]ia, amidſt the infinite treaſures of gold, ſilver and precious ſtones that he and his predeceſſours had moſt covetouſly heaped together, whereof he willed him to eat and make no ſpare. It is with us in the world (ſaith one) as it was in the Jewiſh fields and orchyards; pluck and eat they might, while there, not pocket, or put up. Or as boyes, that robbing an orchyard meet with the owner at the door.

—modò quem for tuna fovendoDe Annibald Silias [illegible: 2 letters]al. Congeſtis opibus doniſ que refer ſit opimis, Nudum tar tare â port ârit navita cymbâ.

Verſe 8. And having food and raiment] Houſes are not named: for that then they were to ſtand ready to run from place to place, and to leave houſe and all behinde them. Food and raiment, [non-Latin text not transcribed], as Iſidore elegantly here obſerveth, Food not junkets, raiment not ornament, garments quaſi gardments, to gard us from the cold air. Nature is content with a little, grace with leſſe: As, Not to ſtarve, not to thirst, ſaith Galen. Cibus & potus ſunt divitiae Chriſtianorum, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Gol. Greenbam. Aelian. ſaith Hierome. Bread and water with the Goſpel are good cheat, ſaith another. Epicurus could ſay, That he would think himſelf as happy as might be, Si aquam haberet & offam, if he could get but a morſell of meat, and a mouthfull of water.Cic de finib, 1, 2. This was ſtrange from Epicurus. But Epicurci mihi videntur m[illegible: 1 letter]liùs facere quam dicere, ſaith Tully. Epicurus and his followers practiſed better then they held. A little of the creature will ſerve turn to carry a man thorow his pilgrimage. Inſaniae igitur damnandi ſunt (ſaith Vives, qui tam multa tam anxie congerunt, quum ſit tam paucis opus. He is little better then mad, that heaps up ſuch a deal, when far leſſe will do the deed.

Verſe 9. But they that will be rich]Dives qu[illegible: 1 letter] ficri valt, & cito vult fieri, Juvē. Prov. 28.20. That are reſolved to have it howſoever, —rem, rem, quocun que modorem. He that haſteth to be rich, ſhall not be innocent.

And a ſnare] As the Panther, which ſo loveth mans dung, that if it be hang'd a height from it, it will leap and never leave till it have burſt it ſelf in pieces to get it.

Drown men in destruction and perdition] [non-Latin text not transcribed] Such a drowning as is deſperate. Ita demergunt ut in aquae ſummit[illegible: 1 letter]to rurſùs non [illegible: 1 letter]bulliant, ſo as they never ſhew themſelves above water any more. We ro[illegible: 1 letter]d of the inhabitants of Oenoe, a dry Iſland beſides Athens, that they beſtowed much labour to draw into it a river to water it, and make it more fruitfull. But when all the paſſages were opened, and the receptacles prepared, the water came in ſo plentifully, that it over-flowed all: and at the firſt tide drowned the Iſland, and all the people. So fareth it with many covetous caitiffs, who ſeem to be of Neveſſan the Lawyers minde, He that will not venture his body ſhall never be valiant; He that will not venture his ſoul ſhall never be rich. Hubertus, an Engliſh, Cormorant, made this will, I yeeld my goods to the King, my body to the grave, my ſoul to the devil.

Verſe 10. For the love of money] Phocylides ſaith the ſame, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Covetouſneſſe is the mother of all miſchief.

The root of all evil] As there is life in the root, when there is no ſap in the branches: ſo covetouſnes oft liveth, when other vices die and decay, as in old men; who becauſe they are likely to leave the world, ſpet on their hands, and take better hold.

They have erred from the faith] Selling themſelves to the devil, as Judas, Ahab, that Pope for ſeven years enjoyment of the Popedome.

And pierced themſelves thorow]Aul. Gel, lib. 30 cap. 1. Ʋndi que transfixerunt, They have galled and gored themſelves. The covetous man hath his name in Hebrew of a word that ſignifieth ſometimes to pierce or wound, Pſal. 10.3. with Joel 2.8. He that will be rich takes no more reſt then one upon a rack, or bed of thorns: when he graſpeth earthly things moſt greedily, he embraceth nothing but ſmoke, which wringeth tears from his eyes, and vaniſheth into nothing. Three vultures he hath alwaies ſeeding upon his heart, Care in getting, Fear in keeping, Grief in ſpending and parting with that he hath: ſo that he is in hell afore-hand.

Verſe 11. But thou ô man of God] If Timothy were that Angel of the Church of Epheſus, Revel. 2.1. that left his fiſt love (as ſome think he was) this counſel was but needfull. Chriſt cautions his Diſciples to beware of worldlineſſe, Luk. 21.34.

Flee theſe things] R[illegible: 1 letter]mis veliſ que , with all thy might, that thou be not tackt with them, taxt for them.

Follow after righteouſneſſe] Theſe be notable counterpoiſons againſt covetouſnes. Paul ſhows him a better project.

Verſe 12. Fight the goodfight] Not only follow after the former graces, but fight for them, rather then fail of them.

Luy hold on eternall life[While others lay hold on wealth, honours, &c. Catch at the crown, which is hang'd up on high, as it were, and provided for conquerours only, that ſo fight as to finiſh, 2 Tim 4.7, 8. Tempus eſt nos de illa perpetua jaw, Cie. ad Attie. lib. 10. non de bac exigua vita cogiture, could the Heathen Oratour ſay. 'Tis high time now we ſhould think of heaven. Catch at the opportunity, as the eccho catcheth the voice.

Verſe 13. Who before Pontius Pilate] Not diſſembling the truth, though jeared by Pilate, who ſcornfully asked him,Joh 18.38. What's truth? q. d do you ſtand upon your life, and yet talk of truth? Julian and his Heathen inſtruments had ſet out certain fooliſh and falſe relations under Pilates name, purpoſely to caſt dirt upon Chriſt: which are refuted by Augustine and Cyril.

Verſe 14 Without ſpot] Of foul ſins, Deut. 32.5.

Ʋnrabukeable] So as no juſt exception can be laid againſt thee for allowance of leſſer evils.

Ʋntill the appearing] Illuſtrem illum adventum, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. as Beza renders it: the bright, clear or radiant appearing. St Paul would have Timothy ſo carry himſelf, as if Chriſt ſhould then come: and to remit nothing of his zeal, though he ſhould live till that time.

Verſe 15. Which in his times he ſhall ſhew] Let no man therefore ask, Where is the promiſe of his coming? Though he be ſlow, yet he is ſure: and his time is the beſt time, wait, Jam. 5.7.

The bleſſed and only potentate] A lively and loſey d[illegible: 1 letter]ſcription of God, whom yet none can poſſibly deſcribe. One being asked, What God was, anſwered, Siſcirem, Deus eſſem.

Verſe 16. Dwelling in the light] So that the Seraphims in their addreſſes to him, clap their wings on their faces, Iſa. 6.2. as men are wont to do their hands, when the lightning ſlaſheth in their eyes.

Nor can ſee] We can ſee but Gods back-parts and live; we need ſee no more that we may live for ever.

Verſe 17. That they be not high-minded] The devil will eaſily blow up this blab, if we watch not. Should the Ant think her ſelf ſome great buſines, becauſe gotten upon her hillock?

In uncertain riches] Riches were never true to any that truſted to them.Mim[illegible: 2 letters]. Vitrea eſt fortuna: cùm ſplendet, frangi[illegible: 1 letter]ur.

Who giveth us all things richly to enjoy] Thus riches cannot do for us. The covetous enjoyes nothing, not the ſick, nor the diſcontented, nor any elſe unleſſe with riches God give us himſelf.

Verſe 18. That they do good] Not the richer the harder; as the Sun moveth ſloweſt, when it is at the higheſt in the Zodiack: or as the Moon, when it is fulleſt of light, gets furtheſt off from the Sun.

Rich in good works] This is to be rich in God, Luk. 12.21. When our works are good, Quoad fontem & quoad finem.

Ready to distribute]Diod. Sic.l. 1. A vertue much commended in the Kings of Egypt; practiſed by the Pythagoreans, Eſſenes; but eſpecially by thoſe primitive Chriſtians, Act. 4.

Verſe 19. Laying up in ſtore] As wiſe merchants, happy uſurers, parting with that which they cannot keep, that they may gain that which they cannot loſe.

On eternall life] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Or as ſome copies have it, Of life indeed. Aeterna vita, vera vita. Aug.

Verſe 20. That which is, &c.] viz. The treaſure of true doctrine, eſteeming every particle of it precious, as the filings of gold.

Verſe 21. Which ſome profeſſing] Gr. Promiſing, as the Gnoſticks, and other heretikes.