Do not take up too sharply and roundly those, that are ancient in years; but entreat them plausibly and gently, as thy fathers in age: neither be too harsh to the younger men; but treat with them, as with brethren.

V. 3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.

Give due respect to those widows, which, under thy charge, are appointed to be maintained by the public contribution of the Church: such I mean, as are widows indeed; and therefore, for their condition, duly capable of this maintenance.

V. 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

But, if any widow have children and nephews of sufficient ability to provide for her, let those children or nephews learn to shew their piety and love to such their parents or aunts; and to requite those loving and chargeable offices, which, in their younger times, they received from them.

V. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. Now she, that is a widow indeed, fit for your relief, is she, that is utterly destitute of other helps, that is religiously given, trusting in God, and spending her time ever in holy devotion, both night and day.

V. 6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. But she, that lives in pleasure and delicacy, pampering herself so much the more by occasion of her freedom, and giving herself over to wantonness; though she live in the body, yet in soul she is dead, dead in her sins and trespasses.

V. 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

But, if any shall willingly neglect to provide for those that concern him, and especially for them of his own family and near kindred, that man, together with humanity, hath cast away religion also; and makes himself, in this foul and shameful incivility, worse than an infidel.

V. 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

Let not one be taken into the number of those widows, who depend upon the maintenance of the Church, and are employed by it to charitable services in attendance of the sick and ministration to the Saints in their travails, under threescore years old; and such an one, as hath given good proof of her modesty; having so been the wife of one husband, as that she hath not, upon repudiation, married to another.

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V. 11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have be gun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

But do not admit of younger widows to this condition and service for they, after that they have betaken themselves to this ministration, and by this means have as it were married themselves to Christ, when they grow pampered and wanton, will be

casting off these resolutions of their serviceable attendance upon the Church of Christ; and will marry, perhaps to infidels; for those, who are the sons of the Church, will not easily give way to match with persons so devoted;

V. 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

And so, by this means, run into the just danger of damnation; because, to please their new husbands, they cast off their profession of the faith of Christ; at least, in marrying, they do vio late that promise and engagement, wherein they bound themselves to do their continual service to the Church.

V. 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry.

I will, therefore, and ordain, that the younger women be left to their full liberty to marry.

V. 15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

For some are, already, through their wanton courses and known fornications, miscarried by Satan, to the great scandal of the Church.

V. 17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Let those Bishops or Pastors, that rule well, be counted worthy of all due respects, both of honour and maintenance; but espccially those among them, which, besides their care and pains in governing, labour diligently in teaching and instructing their people.

V. 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Against a Presbyter, whose function is sacred and whose scandal may be more dangerous, receive not an accusation, unless it be proved by two or three witnesses.

V. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. But those Presbyters, which give manifest offence by their sin, do thou rebuke and censure publicly, that others also may fear.

V. 22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

Do not rashly lay thy hands upon any man, to ordain and authorize him to the holy function of the ministry; neither do thou admit of any unworthy man; nor, by this means, through thy partiality, make thyself a partaker of other men's sins; but keep thyself holy and untainted.

V. 24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

Some there are, who offer themselves to ordination, whose scandals are known beforehand; and run, before their tender of themselves to this holy function, into just censure: others' offences are not known, till after they be ordained.

V. 25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Likewise also, on the contrary, the good works and holy car

riage of some, that put themselves forward to this holy calling, are well known and approved beforehand; so as thou needest not make scruple of laying thy hands upon them: and, as for them that are otherwise, if thou do diligently enquire after their demeanour and conversation, they cannot be hid from thy notice; so as thou mayest refrain to admit them.

VI. 1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour.

Let those Christians, which are under the yoke of servitude, so carry themselves to their masters, though infidels, as accounting them worthy of all honour; not derogating ought from their obedience, because themselves are called to the knowledge and profession of Christ.

VI. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, be cause they are faithful &c.

And, for those that have believing masters, let them not think they may abate ought of their due respects and observance to them, because they are their fellow Christians.

VI. 3 And consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And consent not to the true and saving doctrine of the Gospel. VI. 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, &c.

He is proud, knowing nothing, indeed, of what he ought to know; but vainly distempering himself about idle and frivolous questions and quarrels, about words whereof, &c.

VI. 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness.

Perverse and peevish brabblings of disputations of men of corrupt and depraved minds; void of all care and love of truth; aiming only at their own filthy lucre, as supposing gain to be the best and only godliness.

VI. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

But I say, contrarily, that godliness is great gain; and such as may give a man all-sufficiency in himself, if he have a heart content with his estate.

VI 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.

But they, that set down their rest and resolution that they will be rich, must needs fall into many temptations, and be miscarried with them; and cannot but be entangled in the snares of Satan, and drawn into many covetous desires.

VI. 10 Which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Which while some have immoderately coveted, they have been drawn to renounce their Christian profession, and have wounded their souls with many sorrows, and have brought infinite mischiefs upon themselves.

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VI. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. Fight thou that good and happy fight of a true and faithful champion of Christ, for the maintenance of his faith and Gospel, which thy true faith in him shall enable thee unto and crown thee for; and lay hold upon that blessed reward of eternal life.

VI. 13 Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. Who before Pontius Pilate made a just and undaunted profession of his Messiahship; telling him, that for this cause he came into the world, that he might bear witness of the truth.

VI. 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto.

Who only hath perfect and absolute immortality, as in himself; dwelling in that increated and infinite glory of Divine Majesty, which our weak and dark apprehensions cannot conceive or reach

unto.

VI. 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Laying up in store for themselves, through the grace and acceptation of God, a good foundation of assured comfort, against the evil day, even the day of death; that they may, upon his merciful remuneration, obtain eternal life.

VI. 20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

O Timothy, keep thou, sure and carefully, that precious treasure of sound and wholesome doctrine, wherewith thou art entrusted; avoiding those profane and vain janglings about idle questions, and those bootless quarrels of sophistry, which carry a shew of learning and knowledge, but indeed have nothing but frothy os

tentation:

VI. 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thec. Amen.

Which some professing, have been drawn into gross errors and mis-opinions concerning religion.

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY.

I. 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.

I do not only remember thee often; but I thank my God, whom I serve in that true religion which I received from my forefathers being in substance the same which I now profess, that he puts into my thoughts the remembrance of thee: for I take so much pleasure in recalling thy virtues and graces, that I hold it a great favour of God, that he hath given thee a place in my devotions, both by day and by night.

I. 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, &c.

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith, wherewith thou art, amongst other graces, eminently endued; and that true piety, which was at first notably apparent in thy grandmother Lois, &c.

1. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou quicken and stir up those gifts and graces of God, which were given thee by the imposition of my hands; not suffering them to go out, for want of use and excitation.

I. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

But exercise them boldly and cheerfully for God hath given us his Spirit, to enable us and bear us out in these holy services; which Spirit of his is not a Spirit of fear and cowardice, but a Spirit of power and resolution, a Spirit of fervent love to his Church, a Spirit of sincerity both of judgment and affection.

I. 8 But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Be thou a cheerful partner of those afflictions, which follow the profession of the Gospel; not out of any strength of thine own, but out of the mighty power of God, upholding and encou raging thee therein;

I. 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;

Who hath saved us from sin and death, and hath vouchsafed to call us effectually into the state of saving grace, even to holiness and newness of life; not for any merit of our works, but for his own mercy's sake, upon his own good purpose and grace, which was decreed to be given to us, in and by Christ Jesus, before the world began;

I. 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light, through the gospel.

Which hath taken away from death all that power and tyranny, which he exercised over mankind; and hath made a clear way to life and immortality, for all that believe, through the Gospel.

I. 12 For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

For I well know what a powerful and merciful God and Saviour it is, whom I have relied and cast myself upon and I am fully persuaded, that he is infinitely able, against all the powers of hell, to keep and safeguard that my precious soul, which I have committed to his care and custody; and to bring it forth glorious, at that great day of his appearing; and to perfect that salvation of mine, which he so graciously hath undertaken.