John Trapp on 2 Timothy 2

CHAP. II. Verſe 1. Be ſtrong]

TOgether with the word, there goes forth a power, as Luk 5 17.

Verſe 2. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Commit them to faith full men] No talent is given us for private and proper uſe, but that we be trading and tranſmitting it alſo to others. Syn[illegible: 1 letter]ſius ſpeaks of ſome, who having a treaſure of abilities in them, yet would aſſoon part with their [illegible: 1 letter]earts as with their meditations, &c. the canker of whoſe great skill ſhall be a witneſſe againſt them.

Verſe 3. Endure hardſhip] Never dream of a delicacy: think not to finde God in the gardens of Aegypt, whom Moſes found not but in the burning-buſh. Many love Canaan, but loath the wilderneſſe, commend the countrey, but look upon the conqueſt as impoſſible; would ſit in the ſeat of honour with Zebedee's children, but not drink the cup of afflict[illegible: 1 letter]on. Theſe deceive themſelves.

As a good ſouldier, &c.] Chriſt ſaith to us (as the black Prince his father ſent to him,Hiſt. [illegible: 1 letter]f France, p. 1, 6. ſighting as it were in bloud to the knees, and in a great diſtreſſe) Either vanquiſh or die.

Verſe 4. With the affairs] Or, Gainfull negotiations: with marriage-matters, ſay the Pap[illegible: 1 letter]ſts here, but without all ſhew of ſenſe. The Councel of Chalcedon ſtrictly forbiddeth Miniſters to m[illegible: 1 letter]ddle in worldly matters.Ca[illegible: 2 letters] 3.

Verſe 5. Except he ſtrive lawfully] Tam circaciborum quàm contiacati[illegible: 2 letters]ac h[illegible: 1 letter]n[illegible: 1 letter]statis rationem, ſo[illegible: 1 letter]ch Caſſianus,

Verſe 6. The huſh and man labouring ſi[illegible: 1 letter]ſt] Sp[illegible: 1 letter]s alit agricolas, Noilli falſi ſunt (ſaith Saluſt) qui diverſiſſimas res expe [illegible: 2 letters]a it, [illegible: 1 word] vol[illegible: 1 letter]ptatem & prami[illegible: 1 letter] virtutis. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. They are utterly out, that think to have the pleaſure of ſloth, and the guerdon of goodneſſe.

Verſe 7. Conſider what I ſay] Apply to thy ſelf theſe forementioned ſimilies, and ſo buckle cloſe to thy buſineſſe.

And the Lord give thee] Unleſſe God open Hagars eyes ſhe cannot ſee the fountain that is hard by. Rebecca cooks the Veniſon, but Iſaac only bleſſeth.

Verſe 8. Remember that Jeſus] Remember it for thine encouragement; that Chriſt, for a reward of his ſufferings, was both raiſed and exalted, Phil. 2 9.

Verſe 9. But the word of God is not bound] It runs and is glotified, 2 Theſſ. 3.1. being free and not fettered. I preach, though a priſoner, ſaith Paul: ſo did Bradford and other Martyrs.Act and Mon. fol. 1457. Within a few daies of Qu. Maries raign almoſt all the priſons in England were become right Chriſtian ſchools and Churches (ſaith Mr Fox:) ſo that there was no greater comfort for Chriſtian hearts, then to come to the priſons to behold their vertuous converſation, and to hear their praiers, preachings, Ibid 1.8 2. &c.

Verſe 10. That they may alſo obtain] viz. By my pains in preaching, though bound, and by example of my patience in ſuffering bonds, &c.

Verſe 11. It is a faithfull ſaying] A found and a ſure aſſertion, Rom. 8 17. Afflictions are the praeludia triumphi.

If we be dead] As Chriſt, ver. 8.

Verſe 12. If we ſuffer] No wearing the crown, but by bearing the croſſe firſt.Epiſt ad Mel[illegible: 1 letter]m[illegible: 1 letter]th. Ne Jeſum quidem audias glorioſum, niſi videru priùs cruciſixum, ſaith Luther. Chriſt himſelf was not glorified, till firſt crucified. Q. Elizabeth is ſaid to have ſwam to her crown thorow a ſea of ſorrows: ſo muſt we.

If we deny him] See the Note on Mat. 10 33. God uſually retaliates, paies men home in their own com, proportions jealouſie to jealouſie, provocation to provocation, Deut. 32.21. Iſa. 66.3, 4.

Verſe 13. If we believe not] See the Note on Rom. 3.3. Some ſenſe it thus: Though we prove perfidious, yet hē is no loſer by us, as having all within himſelf. Howbeit hereby we ſhew that we have no intereſt in Chriſt; for he cannot deny himſelf, though we can deny him.

Verſe 14. Strive not about words] Either out of novelty, or nicen[illegible: 1 letter]ſſe. As Longolius who would not uſe the word Eccleſia, but in ſtead thereof Reſpublica Chriſtiana. Another Italian Biſhop for Epiſcopus took up the Heatheniſh word Flamen: So Caſtalio for Angelus hath Genius, J[illegible: 1 letter]h M[illegible: 1 letter]nl[illegible: 1 letter] loc. con. Lu[illegible: 2 letters]Vives. &c. And Pomponius Laetus was full of ſuch like fooleries, aiery conteſtations, and empty ſtrifes.

Verſe 15. Study to ſhew thy ſelf] There are crept into Gods Sanctuary ſuch Levites to divide the word, that are not worthy the place of Gib[illegible: 1 letter]onites to cleave wood: like thoſe unlearned Logicia us in Plato, Lacerant doct[illegible: 1 letter]inas, ſicut caniculi panniculos, ſaith he: They tear up a text, and torment it, they wreſt the Scriptures and wrong them, ſet them upon the wrack, and make them ſpeak what they never meant. Theſe ſhould be driven from the work, as thoſe baſtard Levites were by the Tirſhata, Ezra 2.63.

Rightly dividing the word of God] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. The Syriack renders it, Rightly preaching the word. Aeſchines ſaith, An Oratours oration, and the law (ſo a Preachers Sermon and the Word) muſt be uniſons. And it Galen could ſay, That in anatomizing mans brain, Gol. de uſu par. lib 7. P[illegible: 1 letter]yſicians muſt carry themſelves as men doe in the Temple: How much more muſt Divines do ſo, in dividing Gods holy Word?

Verſe 16. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. But ſhun] Gr. Go round about them, viz. to ſuppr[illegible: 1 letter]ſſe them on every ſide. St Peter cals them bubbles of words, full of winde, 2 Pet. 2.18.

Verſe 17. Eat as doth a gangrene] Which preſently overruns the parts, and rakes the brain, pierceth into the very bones, and if not ſuddenly cured by cutting oft the part infected, kils the patient. Loe ſuch is hereſie and errour: which made Placilla the Empreſſe earneſtly beſeech her husband Theodoſius Senior not to confer with Eunomius the heretike,Sozom. l 7. c. 7 leſt he ſhould be perverted by his ſpeeches.Jac Revius de vit. Pont. Anaſtaſius ſecond Biſhop of Rome, anno 497. while he ſought to win Acacius the heretike, was ſeduced by him.

Verſe 18. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Have erred] Gr. Have miſſed the mark, as unskil[illegible: 1 letter]ull Archers: or as inconſiderate Mariners, by miſreckoning of a point, they have miſled the haven, and run upon the rocks.

That the reſurrection is past]Epiphan baereſ. 41. Theſe were (likely) the progenitours of Marcion, who taught that there was no reſurrection of the body to be believed, but of the ſoul only.

Verſe 19. Nevertheleſſe the foundation] viz. Of Gods election, which is here compared to a ſealed book: on the one ſide of the ſeal is written, The Lord knoweth them that are his. On the other ſide, And let every one that nameth, &c. This the Apoſtle ſetteth forth, for the better ſetling of ſuch as were ſhaken by the fall of Hymenaeus and Philetus, two ſuch forward profeſſ[illegible: 1 letter]urs.

The Lord knoweth them, &c.] In reſpect of the freeneſſe of his election, and immobility of his affection. Howbeit this knowledge that God hath of his, is carried ſecret, as a river under ground, till he cals and ſeparates us from the reſt.

That nameth the name of Chriſt] He may have an infallible ſeal of ſalvation that but nameth Chriſts name in praier, that can ſay no more then, Ah Father, deſiring and reſolving to depart from iniquity.

Verſe 20. There are not only, &c.] Wonder not therefore, murmure not that there are a mixture of good and bad in Gods houſe. He knows how to ſerve himſelf of both, Rom. 9.20, 21, 22. Neither be offended, that ſome of great note fall away, as did Hymen[illegible: 2 letters]s and Philetus: God hath his veſſels of all ſorts.

Verſe 21. Purge himſelf from theſe] From theſe ſeducers, or arch-heretikes, thoſe veſſels of diſhonour, whoſe doctrine defileth worſe then any kitchin ſtuff, or leproſie.

He ſhall be a veſſel, &c.] You know (ſaid John Careleſſe, Act. and Mon [illegible: 1 letter]ol. 1743. the Martyr in a letter to Mr Philpot) that the veſſel before it be made bright, is ſoiled with oil, and many other things, that in may ſcour the better. O happy be you that you be now in this ſcouring houſe: for ſhortly you ſhall be ſet upon the celeſtiall ſhelf, as bright as Angels, &c.

Verſe 22. Fly alſo youthfull luſts] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Fly them he muſt with poſt-haſte, though ſuch a chaſte and chaſtened piece, as he was. Youth is a ſlippery age, ſlippery as glaſſe, eaſily contracting duſt and filth, as the word uſed by David importeth, Pſal. 119.9. and ſhould therefore cleanſe its waies, by cleaving to the Word. [non-Latin text not transcribed] erveo. Youth is a hot age, as the Greek word ſignifies; a black dark age, as the Hebrew word noteth, Eccleſ. 11.10. Therefore put away evil from thy fleſh, ſaith the wife man there out of his own experience. St Paul repeats and inculcates this precept upon his ſon Timothy, as men do not only anoint their fleſh, but rub in the ointment. He knew that all was but enough. Summopere cavendum divino praeconine dista factis d[illegible: 1 letter] ficientibus crubeſcant. Nihil turpius peripatetico claudo. ſaith one.

Verſe 23. But fooliſh and unlearned, &c.] Vitiligatorum naenias devita. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Shift them off, ſet them by as ſeeds of ſedition. Shake off vain queſtioniſts, as great triflers: Such were the Schoolmen, in det[illegible: 1 letter]ſtation of whole vain jangling, and doting about queſtions Luther ſaith,Luth tom 1. oper. l[illegible: 1 letter]t. cp[illegible: 1 letter]. 7. Propè [illegible: 1 letter]ſt, ut jurem nullum eſſe Theol[illegible: 1 letter]gum Scholasticum qui unum cap[illegible: 1 letter]t Evangelij intelligat. I could almoſt ſwear that there is not a Schoolman that underſtands one Chapter of the new Teſtam[illegible: 1 letter]nt. One of their Doctours ſaid, That he had publikely expounded the book of Job. But by that time he came to the tenth and eleventh Chapters,Joh, M[illegible: 2 letters]l. loc. [illegible: 1 letter]on pag 473. he did ver[illegible: 1 letter]y believe that Job was torne and tortured by his interpretations, then ever he had been by his botches and ulcers.

Verſe 24. Muſt not ſtrive] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Scold, wrangle, Nerixandramit tatur veritas, ut ferè ſit, leſt by ſtriving about the truth we utterly loſe it. Facta est files Evangeliorum, files temporum: & cum fides una eſſe d[illegible: 1 letter]beat, [illegible: 1 letter]ò poe[illegible: 1 letter]è ventum eſt ut nulla ſit. A ſad complaint of Hilary. Eraſmus obſerveth, That in the primitive t[illegible: 1 letter]nes there were ſo many ſects and hereſies, and ſo much pretending to the truth by them all, that it was a witty thing to be a right believer.

Patient] [non-Latin text not transcribed] Su, tine, a[illegible: 1 letter]ſtine. Or, Tolerant of evil both perſons and occurre[illegible: 1 letter]ces: he ſhall have his back burden of both, and muſt bo[illegible: 1 letter]h bear and forbear.

Verſe 25. Thoſe that oppoſe themſelves] Though they ſhould deal as abſurdly with us, as thoſe that deny the ſnow to be white, &c. Ariſt Topi[illegible: 1 letter] 1. [non-Latin text not transcribed] Arguite di[illegible: 1 letter]utatos. Sic Lorin[illegible: 2 letters] ver[illegible: 1 letter]it. Ariſto[illegible: 1 letter]le forbids to diſpute with ſuch. But Chriſt commands not only by force of argument to convince them, Jude 22. but alſo to hand[illegible: 1 letter]e them gently, and in meekneſſe to inſtruct them.

If God xill give them, &c.] Repentance is Gods gift: neither is it in the power of any to repent at pleaſure. Some vainly conceit, that theſe five words, Lord have mercy upon me, are as efficacious to ſend them to heaven, as the Papiſts that their five words of conſecration are to tranſubſtantiate the bread. But as many are undone (ſaith a Divine) by buying a counterfeit jew[illegible: 1 letter]l: ſo many are in hell by miſtake of their repentance.

Verſe 26. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Recover themſelves] Put away their ſpirituall drunkenneſſe, 1 Samuel 1.14. and go forth and ſhake themſelves, as Sampſon out of ſins lethargy.

Taken alive] But to be deſtroied, 2 Pet, 2.12. [non-Latin text not transcribed] Taken alive, and in hunting without repentance unto life, Act. 11.18.