THERE are two things that God values more then all the World besides; the Church, and the Truth: the Church, that is the Pillar and ground of Truth, as it is in the former Verse; the Truth of Religion, that is the Seed of the Church.1 Now the blessed Apostle S. Paul being to furnish his Scholar Timothy to ⟨p. 2⟩the Ministerial Office, he doth it from two grounds especially; from the dignity of the Church, which he was to instruct and converse in, and from the excellency of the Mysteries of the Gospel, that excellent Soul-saving Truth: hereupon he doth seriously exhort Timothy to take heed how he conversed in the Church of God, in teaching the Truth of God. The Church of God, it is the House of God, a company of people that God cares for more then for all mankind besides; for whom the World stands, for whom all things are; It is the Church of the living God, the Pillar and ground of Truth. And for the Truth of God, that must be taught in this Church, that is so excellent a thing, that we see the blessed Apostle here useth great words, high stiles, lofty expressions concerning it. As the matter is high, and great, so the holy Apostle hath expressions suitable; a full heart breeds full expressions. As no man went beyond S. Paul, in the deep conceit of his own unworthiness, and of his state by nature; so there was no man reached higher in large and rich thoughts, and expressions of the excellency of Christ, and the good things we have by him: as we see here; setting forth the excellency of the Ministerial Calling, being to deal with Gods Truth towards Gods people, he sets forth Evangelical Truth gloriously here; Without controversy, great is the Mystery of Godliness; God manifest in the flesh, &c.
THERE are two things that God values more then all the World besides; the Church, and the Truth: the Church, that is the Pillar and ground of Truth, as it is in the former Verse; the Truth of Religion, that is the Seed of the Church.1 Now the blessed Apostle S. Paul being to furnish his Schollar Timothie to ⟨p. 2⟩the Ministeriall Office, he doth it from two grounds especially; from the dignitie of the Church, which he was to instruct and converse in, and from the excellencie of the Mysteries of the Gospel, that excellent Soule-saving Truth: hereupon he doth seriously exhort Timothie to take heed how he conversed in the Church of God, in teaching the Truth of God. The Church of God, it is the House of God, a companie of people that God cares for more then for all mankind besides; for whom the World stands, for whom all things are; It is the Church of the living God, the Pillar and ground of Truth. And for the Truth of God, that must be taught in this Church, that is so excellent a thing, that we see the blessed Apostle here useth great words, high stiles, loftie expressions concerning it. As the matter is high, and great, so the holy Apostle hath expressions sutable; a full heart breeds full expressions. As no man went beyond S. Paul, in the deepe conceit of his owne unworthinesse, and of his state by nature; so there was no man reached higher in large and rich thoughts, and expressions of the excellencie of Christ, and the good things we have by him: as we see here; setting forth the excellencie of the Ministeriall Calling, being to deale with Gods Truth towards Gods people, he sets forth Evangelicall Truth gloriously here; Without controversie, great is the Mysterie of God•linesse; God manifest in the flesh, &c.
- 1The scope of the words.
