An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Paul, though an Apostle, esteemeth of Timothy as a brother, though in other respects, he was his son, begotten by his Ministry. The truly godly, and the wicked, they are discovered by their spirits. The spirit of pride and ambition is in all corrupt teachers; And therefore when Austin the Monk was sent over ⟨p. 38⟩by the Pope for the conversion of England, as they call it, the Monks that were then in the Land opposed him, concluding he had not the Spirit of Christ in him, because he was so full of pride and lordliness; but all the true Officers of Christ, they are endowed with that Spirit which Christ himself had. Now the holy Ghost descended in the form of a Dove upon him. And he bids all learn of him, for he was lowly and meek. Hence he tells his Disciples, That he will not any more call them servants but friends. Yea after his resurrection he saith, Go tell my brethren. The Apostle aggravateth this great condescension of Christ, Heb. 2. 11. That though he was the only Son of God, yet he humbled himself to become man, and so was not ashamed to call believers brethren. Therefore there cannot be a clearer instance of this humility and condescension then was in Christ himself. Now all the godly they are followers of Christ in this, as well as in other respects; in so much that it is a certain qualification in all the godly, that though God hath never so much above others, yet they become condescending to the lowest Christian: Even as Christ himself disdained not the least that came to him. Hence you have that command, Mind not high things; but condescend to men of low estate, Rom. 12. 16. Even the poorest and meanest that are godly, are to be cherished and nourished by those that are more eminent. The head must not despise the foot, because both are in the same body. Hence also at the tenth verse in that Chapter, you have a paradoxical exhortation, In honour to prefer one another; How can that be? Even because there is no godly man, though never so excellent, but a weaker and meaner Christian may exceed him in some things. Thou hast more gifts, more abilities, but it may be another hath more sincerity than thee. Besides, every godly man, though in the highest form, is acquainted with those infirmities and corruptions that are in his own heart, which he thinketh such, though far inferior to him, are not guilty of;