V°el'I!. 3-11, 19, 20.-The heretic. We have in these verses some of the charac- teristics of heresy very graphically port.rayed. First, there is the teaching of other or different doctrine from tb~t ~hich they lrnd _rec~ived. The Fathem always lay 11tre88 1 1pon novelty as charnctenst1c of heresy, wl11le 1t was characteristic of the Church to tea.eh the old truths which had been handed down to them by those who went before them. And they are right. "I delivered unto you that which I also received," is the spirit of sound teaching. To invent new doctrines, and to preach things of one's own choosing, is the spirit of heresy. Then, again, it is characteristic of heresy to start curious questions, not with a view to real edification in the faith of Jesus Christ, but for the sake of displaying subtlety in disputing, and keeping up controversy and a war of words, and factious partisanship. The unity of the Church, and loving agreement amongst the brethren, is the last thing that heretics think of. Puffed up with self- importance, desirous of being leaders, despising others, treating with contempt all who will not follow them, they turn the Church into a bear-garden, and substitute vain jangling for the words of truth and soberness. Especially is arrogance combined with ignorance a leading feature in the heretic; and in his method of handling Divine truth he makes a display of both. Another feature may be noted, as set forth in ver. 19, viz. the divorce between conscience and faith. The heretic handles the things of God aa matter for mere intellectual contests, apart from reverence and godly fear. He dispute8 about God and about Christ, and thinks it unimport-ant whether his own heart is pure or impure. He walks in open disobedience to God's commandments, and yet thinks himself competent to judge of God's nature and attrihutes. He darkens his own soul by sin, and yet dares to approach the mystery of godliness. Lastly, it is characteristic of the heretic that he rarely, if ever, repents, and returns to the faith which he denied. Hymenieus and Alexander, in spite of the godly discipline ministered to them for their correction, are still found subverting the faith of many, and withstanding the apostle of Jesus Christ, in the latest mention of them. They were in this respect like their brethren in heresy, Simon Magus, Cerinthus, Marcion, Valentinus, Montanus, Manes, Arius, Socinus, and many more. The shipwreck of faith is, for the most part, total and irremediable.
VerB. 12-18.-.77ie apostle. The character of the apostle and true.minister of ta• gospel stands out here in striking and glorioll8 contrast with that of the heretic. Called by the grace of God to the ministry of the Word, not self-appointed; enabled by the grace of God, not trusting in his own cleverness; seeking the glory of God :ind the salvatfou of soulR, not aiming at his own self-exaltation ;-the apostle and minister of Christ move• altogether in a different plane from the heretical leader. A humble sense of his own unworthiness, instead of arrogant self-conceit; a lively apprehension of the mercy and love of God to his own soul, instead of a self-sufficient reliance upon his own intellect; 8 faithful delivery of the truth committed to him, instead of a presumptuo\18 fabricatio11 of new doctrines ; and a glowing faith and love, with a growing apprehension of the glory of the central truths of the gospel, instead of a vain reaching after new things, and an itching for exciting fables,-mark off the true servant of Christ from the pretentious heretic by unmistakable distinctions. Well were it for the Church if these charac- teristics of the true bishop of soul,; were more distinctly visible in all her ministers. Questions, and strifes of words, and fables, and speculations, which tend to division more than to unity, may be found in the teaching I\DC. writing of professing Churchmen, as well as in those of avowed heretics. Let "the faithful 11aying ~ hold its supreme place in the heart and in the teaching of the Church's ministers, and the unity as well as the holiness of the Church will be proportionately incrc~ Its streugth to resist heresy will be increased in the same degree.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AU'l'HORS. Ven. I. 2.-Ap<1at,oli.c address and gre.eting. As this Epistle was designed to bear an ofticie.l character, it was necessary that its :\dJ.re~s should set forth the authority wider whwh the apr6tle gave his instructions concerning Church oriier and Chriltiu work. OIi. 1. 1-20.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 9