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PREACHING One; not merely to ordain others to that laborious fervice, and to overfee them therein. For, in the fecond chapter of the epiftle, the apostle proceeds to give him fome directions concerning the discharge of that duty; and the regard which he was therein to have to perfons of different ages, fexes, and fiations in life; admonishing him to adapt his inftructions to them refpectively. Alluding to the deceivers, and vain talkers, fpoken of in the former chapter, he begins the fecond thus: "But fpeak thou the "things which become found doctrine." And, what things thofe are, we will, if you pleafe, leave the apoftle to explain for himfelf; as he does in the following verfes. He immediately fubjoins; "That the aged men be fober,

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grave, temperate, found in faith, in charity, "in patience." Thefe then, are fome of the things which become found doctrine. What are the others?" The aged women likewife, "that they be in behaviour as becometh holi"nefs; not falfe accufers*,not given to much wine, "teachers of good things.?' Of what good things?"That they may teach the young "women to be fobcr," as the apostle goes "to love their husbands, to love their children, to be difcrete, chafte, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own huf"bands, that the word of God be not blafphemed." But how were the elder women to teach the younger fuch good things as thefe ? Doubtless, by their own exemplary practice, and

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private counfels, as opportunity prefented: For the apostle allowed not women, except infpired, to teach in any other, or more public manner§. Thus it is then, that the elder women were to teach the younger thefe excellent things; amongst which are good Oeconomy, and a prudent, difcrete and virtuous behaviour in their families *; as for other reafons, fo particularly, left" the "word of God fhould be blafphemed" : i. e. left the gospel of Chrift fhould fall under the .contempt and reproach of men, by reafon of the ill conduct of women profeffing godliness; whether old or young.

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THE apoftle goes on; "Young men likewife " exhort to be fober-minded". And he immediately fubjoins [ver. 7.]" In all things fhewing thy felf a pattern of good works", &c. Intimating to Titus the great importance, the abfolute neceflity, of taking heed to himfelf, as well as to his doctrine; and of being an example of that fobriety, that godly and virtuous converfation, which, by his preaching, he was to recommend to others. The apoftle then confiders the fate and duty of fervants; enjoining Titus to teach them" to be obedient unto their own mafters, "and to please them well, &c. that they might "adorn the doctrine of God' our Saviour in all

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things". And thefe duties of the old and young, male and female, bond and free, the apoftle fuggefts to Titus, fhould be inforced upon them refpectively, by motives drawn from the the nature and defign of the gospel of God's grace."

See Cor. xiv. 34. and 1 Tim. ii 11, 12.

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grace." "For the grace of God that bringeth "falvation unto all men", [fo it might, and, I think, ought to be rendered] "hath appeared; teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lufts, we should live foberly, righte oufly and godly in this prefent world; looking "for that bleffed hope, and the appearing of the glory of the great God, and our Saviour Jefus "Chrift; who gave himfelf for us, that he might "redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto "himself a peculiar people, zealous of good "works. Thefe things fpeak and exhort, and re"buke with all authority. Let no man despise "thee." Thus ends the chapter.

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AND from this curfory view of the chapter, we may form a good general idea of what the apostle intended in the beginning of it,by "found doctrine", and the "things which become it": viz. more especially the plain, obvious, and indifputable doctrines of the gofpel, refpecting the redemption of mankind by the Son of God,and his appearing in glory hereafter to judge the world; together with the practice of fobriety, righteousness and godlinefs; thofe duties, the excellency and the obligation of which, are in fome measure apparent from the light of nature, thô more clearly made manifeft, and more forcibly taught, in the gospel of the grace of God; in the faith of which they are to be performed. And this account of the things which become found doctrine, may receive both illuftration and confirmation from the fame apoftle's first cpiftle to Timothy, written on a fimilar occafion with this

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to Titus—“The law is not made for a righte ous man", fays he, "but for the lawlefs and "difobedient, for the ungodly, and for finners, "for the unholy and prophane, for murderers of "fathers, and murderers of mothers, for manflayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile "themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured perfons, and if there be a NY (6 OTHER THING THAT IS CONTRARY TO SOUND DOCTRINE, acccording to the glorious gofpcl," * &c.

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HERE then, you have the Apostle's idea, both of the things which become, and which are contrary to, found doctrine. But, alas! how different a conception have many perfons, concerning the gofpel, its great defign, and the things which become found doctrine? Are there not multitudes in the countries fubjected to the papal tyranny, who think that the things which more efpecially become fuch doctrine, are, telling beads,going on pilgrimages, croffing themfelves, kifling and worfhipping images; and other fuch-like foolish and abominable practices, many of which are directly contrary to found doctrine? And among the proteftants, the reformed, are there not many, in whofe yet-depraved, and un-reformed opinion, fome of the appendages, and the circumftantials of religion at beft, have ufurped the highest place and eftimation, as the things that more particu larly become found doctrine; while the infinitely more important and indifpenfable duties of morality are defpifed, perhaps, as "weak and

1 Tim. i. 9, 10, 11.

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beggarly elements"? Are there not many proteftants, in whofe yet-unreformed and depraved judgment, hardly any thing merits the honourable appellation of found doctrine, befides the fubtleties and refinements of fpeculative men, refpecting certain abftrufe, and, at beft, very doubtful points? Such as, One may fafely fay, very few people can even underftand, and fewer ftill were, probably, ever the better for; tho' it is likely very many have been the worse: If not the worse, merely by believing them, yet by getting their minds foured about them, and embittered against their chriftian brethren, who were fo unhappy, or, perhaps more properly, fo happy, as not to fee with their eyes. For my own part, I cannot but think it much more fafe, to form my conceptions of found doctrine, and the things which become it, by this apoftolical account thereof, than by the writings of any uninfpired, felf-conceited and arrogant men whatfoever: Efpecially men, who were hardly ever cafy, but when they were either coining fome new, unfcriptural definitions and diftinctions, in the ungolden mint of their own brain,or imperiously impofing this droffy, counterfeit coin upon their neighbours; hereticating and perfecuting, curfing and murdering all, who would not receive it as true and genuine, unlefs when fomething else proved a more efficacious reftraint with them, than either the fear of God, or the love of man endeavouring to engage heaven and earth, and, with more fuccefs, probably,to move hell in their quar

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