A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Paul adjures Timothy to preach opportunè, importunè: ut obsecret, increpet, 2 Tim. 4.2. i• season, out of season, to reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering. We read Matth. 13.25. that while men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares. Let the Preachers but sleep a little, how quickly will Satan cast in the seed of errors! Let Moses be non-resident forty days, though he went to fetch the Law; yet in this while Israel hath calved an Idol. There is nothing more easy than to decline, if Christ set not watch-men over us, to put us always in remembrance.

Paul adjures Timothie to preach opportunè, importunè: ut obsecret, increpet, 2 Tim. 4.2. i• season, out of season, to reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering. We read Matth. 13.25. that while men slept, the enemie came and sowed tares. Let the Preachers but sleepe a little, how quickely will Satan cast in the seed of errors! Let Moses be non-resident forty dayes, though he went to fetch the Law; yet in this while Israel hath calved an Idol. There is nothing more easy than to decline, if Christ set not watch-men over us, to put us alwayes in rem••brance.

Of these things.] [Greek or Hebrew]. This is the last praise of his diligence; whereby he hath fitted, directed, and applied it to matter of the best consequence. Herein we observed his Sincerity; These things, that is, such as may save your souls. He aims at nothing, but that concerns their salvation. The Minister must not labour Pro stolida aurâ, nec pro solido auro; neither for praise nor for purse, but for conscience. Oportet esse Piscatorem, non decimarum, sed animarum: he must fish for souls, not for riches. Some fish without nets, some with broken nets, some with whole ones but not clean, some have nets, whole, and clean, but cast them not: others have nets but not clean, and do cast them, but not on the right side; They like well to fish, but only where they are sure with Peter, to draw up a fish with silver in the mouth. These are far short of Saint Peters Integrity: they mind many things, but not These things. There are three things in the Ministry; Work, Reward, and Honour: the good Minister embraceth the first, minds not the other, only refuseth them not if they come. To desire it for the Honours sake, or for the wages sake, is not good. There is Desiderium boni, and Desiderium bonum: a desire of good, and a good desire. The thing may be good, yet is ill to desire it, if it be not fit for us, or we not fit to desire it. Simon Magus had a desire of good, but not a good desire; when he offered coin for the Holy Ghost. His intention damned his petition: