Timothys Task, Encomium
AD MAGISTRVM ROBERTVM de magna villa Apostrophe.
MAgna sonas, & magna facis, (vir maxime) rebus
Quam benè conveniunt nomina saepè suis!
Terrae parva haec villa dedit sed non nisi parva,
Coeli villa potest praemia magna dare.
foreign T. V. M. A. C. R. O. S.
TIMOTHIE HIS TASKE: OR A CHRISTIAN SEA-CARD.
1 TIMOTH. 4. 16.
Take heed vntounto thy selfe, and vntounto learning, continue therein. &c.
THey are the wordes of a spirituall Father,1 Tim. 1. …. to his sonne, in the faith; Paul now aged to young Timothie, whom hee instructs in things that concerne his function as a Teacher, his conversation as a Christian. The former hee doth from the 6 to the 12 verse. The latter, from the 12 vntounto the 16. In which hee coucheth and combines both. Let no man now thinke admonition vnnecessarie (not though he be the best of many.) For Timothie is heere exhorted to follow that which by the Apostles owne testimonie,Verse 6. hee had followed constantly. Let no man despise youth in a Minister if it bee authorized with competent gifts,Wisd. 4. 9. for wisdome is the gray haires, and an vndefiled life is the old age.
This Scripture doth branch it selfe into two parts. 1. An advice or exhortation. Take heed &c. 2. A motiue, or inducement inforcing the same. For in so doing, &c. In the exhortation, each word riseth into a head. One doth opus imponere▪ enjoyne a taske of attention or Christian watchfulnesse, and that sollicite with a care & circumspection, Cave, Take heed or attend. An other points at the immediate obiect whereat this watch must begin, and that ordinate, orderly and answereable to the rule of Charitie which begins at home. Cave tibi, take heed to thy selfe. The third doth onus apponere, annexe a further charge of feeding others, inferred by a necessary particle of connexion, & doctrinae, and to learning.
The last toucheth the omission or intermission of this duty, he must neither tyre, nor retyre, but manly march on, and stoutly hold out to the last gaspe. Permane in istis, continue therein. Thus Timothie is stirred vp and set on his way as Elias was foure times by the spirit.1 Kings 14. First to a diligent warynesse, and wary diligence, lest while the husbandman sleepes,Marke 13. 25. the enemie come & sowe tares amongst the wheate. 2. To an eminent and more then ordinarie sanctitie of life, for sedes prima, and vitaima, the best place, and basest life sort not well together. 3. To the care of a pastorall cure, whereof Paul saith, Quis idoneus ad haec? who is fit for these things? 4. To perseuerance in the good begun, for he beginnes ill, that goes not on; therefore hauing put thy hand to the plough,Gen. 19. 26. looke not backe, behinde thee stands a pillar of salt.
The first thing is the care which Timothie must take,…. Take heed. or the watch, he is to set. The word imports in the originall a bent of mind, an intention of will, ioyn'd with a care and contention of the whole man, that his workes warre not with his wordes, and his deedes disgrace not his doctrine, whence this collection may be made, That vigilancie or heedfulnesse is a necessarie companion to all such as seriouslie commence a spirituall course, chieflie to Pastors and Superintendents as Timothie was. A doctrine which wants not the commendation of a threefold commoditie. 1. It is a gratious preseruatiue against sinne, deceiuing vsus. 2. It is an antidote against troubles and crosse occurrences, lest they vnsettle vsus. 3. It instils strength and pith into all other duties, and parts of Gods worship; without which, they be either wholly omitted, or but hoverly done, by which they are quickned, cheered, and well ouerseene. These three things in their order handled, you hauehave my purpose in this first head.