Ver. 15.-The summary of the gospel,. This statement is grounded on his own experience of God's saving mercy. I. THE TRUTH AND CERTAINTY OF THE GOSPEL REVELATION. "Faithful is the Word, and worthy of all acceptation." Five times does this phrase occur in the pastoral Epistles. It was a sort of formula or watchword of the early Christian Churches. 1. The tioctrine of salvation is entitled to all credit. It is certain that Christ came to save sinnel'B. 2. It is to be received by all sorts of people, with hearti'IV'.,ss and gladness, as a doctrim S'IJ,itable to the necessities of all men. With what zeal it ought, therefore, to be set before men ! II. THE SUBSTANCE OF THE GOSPEL REVELATION. "That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1. This language implies Chrisfs pre-e:,;istence. He left the glory which he had with the Father before the world was (John xvi. 28). 2. lt implies that he came voluntarily of his own free will. It i~ true that God's love is manifest in the sending of Jesus, but Christ's love is equally manifest in his advent. It was neces~ary that he should come into the world, because he could not otherwise suffer and die in our stead. The fact that he came as man in the fulness of time implies that the mere forth-putting of spiritual power from heaven did not suffice. A man's work had to be done that God's mercy might reach us. 3. It suggests the tnse design of his coming. "To save sinners." (1) This implies the revelation of God's will to man. (2) The impetration of salvation through Christ's suffering and obedience. (3) The application of the salvation to the objects of it. (4) That sinners need salvation. and are lost without it. (5) That the greatest sinners have no right to despair of salvation-" of whom I am chief." (a) The apostle speaks of himself in the present tense, not in the past, for he still feels himself to be but a believing sinner. (b) The language recalls his frequent allusions to his persecutions of the Church of God. God had forgiven him, but he could never forgive himself. , He places himself in the very front rank of transgressors because of his share in the devastation of the Church. (c) The language implies his deep humility. It was an element in his spiritual greo.t- ne&B that he had such a sense of his own sin. He calls himself elsewhere " less than the least of all saints" (Eph. iii. 8). (d) It is well to be mindful of our sin in a way of godly sorrow, as a means of keeping ue humble and thankful for the rich grace of the gospel dispensed to us.-T. C. Vere. 16, 17.-The apostl,e an example of the Divine long-suffering to all ages. Tllere was an economical purpose in the salvation of the .Apostle Paul. I. 'l'HE EXEltClSE OF THE LORD'S LONG-BUFFERING TOWARD THE APOSTLE. .. How- beit for this caUBe I obtained mercy." 1. The mercy tal,es the form of long-suffering; for the Lord bore long with the ways of this fierce persecutor of the saints, when he might have cut his career short in judgment. 2. le toolc the fcrm of positwe deliveran~ OB. L 1-20.] THE FIRST F.l'ISTLE Tu TIMOTHY.
from guilt a,nd Bin and denlh. How often "the long-suffering of the Lord i1 to uswari I salvation " (2 Pet. iii. 9) ! II. '!'HE DESION OF THIS REMARICADLE EXHIDITION OF MERCY. .. That In me ~ the chief Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering. for a pattern to them wh .. should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." 1. The long-.m.ffe,·iny is ezerciRtd by the Lord himself. It is he who is wounded in the persecutions of his member,. "Saul, Saul I why persecutest thou me?" Yet it is he who shows mercy. 2. Th, greatest persecutors may not despair of mercy. The Lord will tarry long with them if peradventure they may repent and turn to him. 3. The case of Paul-" the ehiej of ,inners "--{JU[jht to encourage sinners of every class and sort to exercise ~ and trust in the Lord, as well as to meet the misgivings of those who think they havr sinned too much to warrant the expectation that the Lord will have mercy upon them. 4. Trust in Jesus Christ necessari1y bri:ngs 1"ith it eternal l,;fe. There is nothing needed but faith for this purpose. "He that bath the Son hath life." ill. ABCBIPTION OF PRAISE AND THANKFULNESS TO Goo FOR BIB MERCY. 1. Con- sider the titles by which God is arldressed. "Now to the King of the ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God." (1) He is King of the ages, as hi, kingdom is called the kingdom of all the ages (Ps. cxlv. 13); because as God. knowing the end from ~e beginning, he fixes the periods or stages of the development through which this worlrl is destined to pass, shaping all events according to his pleasure, and making all things work together for good to them that love him. (2) Incorruptible; because "he only bath immortality" (eh. vi. 16). (3) Invisible; for no man hath seen him at any time, as he dwells in light inaccessible. (4) The only God; in opposition to the false gods of tµe heathen, or to the multitudes of angels and principalities and powers. 2. Consi,d,er the doxology. "Unto him be honour and glory for ever and ever." (1) They already belong to him alone. (2) They will belong to him to all eternity. (3) The thought of the overruling wisdom and mercy and goodness of God in his case leads to this devout acknowledgment.-T. C.