a Timothy (as was faid before) was left at Epheſus to manage the af- fairs of the Church there in the abſence of Paul, who in this Epiſtle di- res him as to this managery. Firft he exhorts him to ſee that Prayers ſhould be made for all men. Je194s, ſupplications for ſupply of wants, b Prayers, ae9TwWwyass ſignificth much the ſame 3 ſome will have it to fignifie Petitions" tor the conſervation or increaſe of what good things we have, © &feuZes Interceſſions, Prayers for others, whether for the averſion ofevils from them, or the collation of good things upon them, d And bleſſings of God for good things beſtowed upon our ſelyes, or others. Theſe Paul wills ſhould be made, Vp ayJoy which may be of all men, or, for all men, but the next verle plainly ſhews that it is here rightly rendred for all men, for there were at this time no Xngs in the Church. - Paul here eſtabliſheth Prayers as a piece of the pub- lick Miniſtry in the Church of God, and a primary piece; therefore he ſaith, he exhorts that Firſt of all; not in ſeſpett of rime ſo much, as principal'y ; intimating it a great piece of the publick Mini- ftry which he would by no means have negletted, And he would have theſe Prayers put up for all ocdersand ſorts of men (ſuch only excepted of whom St. Fobn ſpeaks, 1 Foh. 5. 16. who had finned that fin, for which he would not ſay Chriſtians ſhould pray. )
2 For kings, and for all that are in || authority e ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable lite, in all goodlineſs
and honeſty f.
e The Kings of the Earth at that time were all Heathens, and ene- mies to the Chriſtian Religion, ſo (generally) were thoſe who were 1n 2 ſubordinate authority to them,yet the Apoſtle commands that Pray- ers ſhould be made in the Chriſtian Congreations for them, What the matter of their Petitions was to be, is not expreſſed, but doubtleſs not to be limited by the next words, for that were not to have prayed for them, but for themſelves. Prayers for Magiſtrates ought to be di- rected by their circumſtances. If Magiſtrates were [dolaters and perſe- entors, they were to pray for their converfion, and the change of their hearts, However they were to pray for their life and health ſo far forth a5 might be for God's glory, and for God's guidance of them in the ad- miniſtration of their Government, and their ſucceſs in their lawful Counſels and undertakings, &c, f The latter words that we may 11ve 4 quict and p-aceable life'"tn all godltneſs and honeſty, contains the reaſon why prayers ſhould be made for Governours, and the good effett 0 chem. For *tis for this end that the ſupreme Lord hath ordained the office and dignity of Kings and Governours, that being arm'd with Authority and Power, they may preſerve Publick order and peace, by puniſhing evil-doers,and proteQting and encouraging thoſe that do well. "Thus under the Old Teſtament the Fews were commanded to pray for the peace of the Nation, or City whither they ſhould be carried Cap- tives, for in their peace they ſhould have peace, Fer. 29. 7.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the ſight of God our Saviour 7. |
Z To pray for all, as well our Enemies as our Friends, eſpecially for Princes, and ſuch as are in Places of Magiſtracy and Authority, is
good, being according to the Will, and Commandment of God, and
F2Pct. 3:5»
acceptable to God, as all atts of obedience to his Will are, The word Saviour may either be underſtood with reference to the Divine Being, God being our Preſerver, who maketh his Sun to ſhine, and his rain to fall upon the juſt and unjuſt, which Mar. 5. 45. our Saviour brings as an argument to inforce his precept of Love to our Enemies : Or with a ſpecial reference to Chriſt, to whom the Title of Saviour with reference to Eternal Salvation more ftriftly belongs, who alſo by his death, when we were enemies, reconciled. us to God : ſo that ſuch a charitable office muſt be acceptable to God, becauſe in doing it we both ſhew our ſelves the children of our heavenly Father, and alſo the followers of Chriſt,
4 * Who will have all men to be ſaved, and to come to
the knowledge of the truth h.
þ The Apoſtle produces a clear convincing reaſon, that the duty of Charity in praying for all men, is pleaſing to God, from his love ex- tended to all, iz his milling their Salvation, and their knowledge and belief of the Goſpel, which is the only way of Salvation, From hence our Saviour's Commiſſion -and Command to the A- Poſtles was univerſal, Go and reach all Nations, Mar, 28. 19, preach the Goſpel ro every creature, that is, to every man, Mark 16, I5. he excludes no people, no perſon, And accordingly the Apoſtles diſcharged their officeto their utmoſt capacity; Col. 1. 21, 23. But a queſtion ariſes, how can it be ſaid that God weuld have all men ſaved, when that the moſt of men periſh ? For the reſolving this difkculty, we muſt obſerve that in the ftile of Scripture the will of God fome- times ſignifies his eternal Counſel and Decree, that things ſhould be done either by his immediate efficiency, or by the intervention of means : Or ſecondly. his commands and invitations to men to do ſuch things as are pleaſing to him. The Will of God in the firft ſenſe al-
i
I. TIMOT HY.
counſel ſhall ſtand, I will do all my pleaſure, 1/4, 46. 10. for other. wiſe there muſt hea change of God's Will and Counſel, or a defect of power, both which aſſertions are inipious blaſphemy. But thoſe things which he commands and are pleaſing to him, are often not performed
without any reflection upon him: either as mutable or impotent, Thux he declares, that he wills things that are pleaſing to him z as, 1wi! no: the death of a ſinner, but that he ſhould turn and live, Exeb. 93, 11, and ſometimes that he mil! not thoſe things that are diſpleaſing to him, 2c contrary to holineſs, though he did not decree the hindering of them : thus he complains in Iſa, 65, 12, Te did evil before mine eyes, and dig chuſe that wherein I delighted nor. This diftin&ion of the Divine Win being clearly ſet down in Scripture, anſwers the objettion ; for when