A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 1 · Subpart 7
VERSE 7. VVhichWhich [Women] are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
THe Apostle goeth on to shew what women they are which are brought into bondage by seducers. viz. such as are unconstant, unsetled, and given to seek after novelties and curiosities; they are not content with plain truth revealed in the Scripture, they must have novum aut nihil some new light, some new-found doctrine, or else 'twill not down with them; this unsettles them, and makes them run hither and thither,Magno conatis magnas nugas. after this and that man, but all in vain. They make a great adoe, but to little purpose; they are alwayes learning, yet learn nothing which they should learn. Now the Reason's of their Non-proficiency are.
1. Either because they have no better Teachers; they follow false Prophets and blinde Guides,If conscience begin to stirre, they take the Op…um of some errour, and so quiet all again. and when the blinde shall lead the blind, no wonder if both fall into the ditch. These may seem wise in their own eyes, when in truth they know nothing, because they know not the truth, which is the foundation of all knowledge.
2. They thrive not for want of a right disposition within. They love their lusts better then the truth, and this barres the heart against holy Learning. Intus existens prohibet alienum. When their judgements are blinded with lusts, and their hearts hardened through sin; how should such thrive? 2 Tim. 4.3.
3. Or else they seek not after sound and saving truth, but all their enquiry is after some curious novelty, they love to heare and learne nothing else, in this point being true Athenians. Acts 17.21. Well they may toyle and take a great deal of pains for some aery notions,Confused knowledge is no knowledge, disti…ctest knowledge of God not being aff…ctive, is reputed ignorance. foreign non est qualiscunque, sed experimentalis cognitio, viz. activa illa quae rebus ostenditu…; ut videre est, Ephes. 1.17. & 4 13. Colos. 1.9 Philip. 1.9. and empty speculations, that they may come ad foreign to some kind of knowledge; but never ad foreign (the word in the Text) to such a knowledge as brings forth an acknowledgement of the truth in the power of it.
4. Oft times they are meer Scepticks in Religion, they are ready to question every thing, but they believe nothing, they have no foundation, no resting place, they lay out their mony, but not for bread, and therefore 'tis no wonder if they spend their labour without being satisfied. Error cannot satisfy the soul, we must enquire for the good old way of truth and Holinesse, if ever we would find rest for our souls. Ier. 6.16. God who is the great Lord of all, will have his commands obeyed, not questioned. He loves Currists, and not Quaerists.Iubent heri, non disputant. Aristo… Amat Deus Curristas, non Quaeristas Luther. Disputandi pruritus fit Ecclesiarum scabies. Spiritus Sanctus non est Sceptie…s, nec dubia aut opiniones in cordibus nostris scripsit, sed assertiones ipsâ vitâ acomni experientia certiores ac firmiores. Luther. Fides est certior scientiis tum certitudine cognitionis tum certitudine adhaesionis. Baronius Exercit. 3. art 8. Sect. 4. He prefers obedience before disputes. We have disputed so long, till we have almost disputed all Religion out of doores. We should study rather to live well, then dispute well, therein lyes our happinesse. Mat. 7.24.25. Iohn 13.17, The Spirit of God writes not Notions but Assertions in our hearts, it establisheth them so with grace, that the gates of hell cannot prevaile against it; though such may (by the violence of a tentation) be moved, yet are they like Mount Sion, which can never be removed out of its place. Heb. 10.23. and 13.9. [Against Scepticks and Seekers. See that excelent Tract of Mr. Gelaspy his Miscelanies. cap. 10, 11.] yet how many delight in giddinesse, and count it a bondage to fixe a belief; affecting free-will in thinking, as well as in acting. And though the Sect of the Phylosophers of that kind be gone, yet there remain certain discoursing wits which are of the same veines, though there be not so much blood in them, as was in those of the Ancients. The Scepticisme and Affectation of Novelties, is the great sin of England at this day. As many are much taken with new Fashions, so many are much taken with new Opinions, new Doctrines, new Teachers, and new Expressions. Yet the Apostle doth not blame these women simply for seeking after knowledge (for the wiser sort of Heathens have commended that) but he blames them for hunting after Novelties,Senesc… non segnesco semper aliquid addiscens. Dixit Solon. Nec discere vituperatur sed absque fructu discere, discere & non perdiscere, discere & non intelligere. Espencaeus. and vain speculations, and in the meane time neglecting the sound and saving truths of the Gospel. This is (celeris cursus extra viam) a swift running to destruction. 'Tis true, all the godly are learners, the knowledge of the truth is not Innata, Vera pietas non discit perpetuò, operatur autem perpetuò quae didicit compendio.but acquisita, not born with us, but attained by means; yet they are not ever learning, they know the truth in which they firmly rest, and from which they suffer not themselves to be moved: and never till then have we profited in our learning, when we are made so able to discern the truth as that we are satisfied with it, and our consciences are at rest by it, even in the saddest dangers. Ephes. 4.13, 14. 1 Thes. 1.5, 6. 2 Pet. 1.12.
2. I wish this were not the sin of silly men, as well as of silly women, to be alwayes learning, yet never come to the knowledge of the truth, how many are men in yeares, yet children in understanding. 1 Cor. 14.20. and when for the time they might have been Teachers,Turpis & ridicula res est Elementarius senex. Seneca. they had need to be taught the elements of Religion. Heb. 5.12. though the knowledge of the best in this life be imperfect, and we are alwayes learners here, yet we must strive forward toward perfection, and not alwayes stick in the place of bringing forth. Hos. 13.13. nor be like a horse in a mill, still going round in the same place; or like a Picture that growes not, but is the same now, that it was twenty yeares agoe. Such barren trees are nigh to cursing. Luke 13.9. and such unprofit able learners are left by God justly to the power of seducers, as malefactors are to Jaylors. This is the true cause of all those Errors and Sins amongst us. Psal. 95.10. Ier. 9.3. Matth. 22.19. As for our selves, let us enquire for the good way, and when we have found it, sit not still, but be walking from knowledge to knowledge, from grace to grace, and from strength to strength, till at last wee come to our Celestiall Sion.
3. Since seducers are so ready to seduce women, how carefull should that Sexe be to shunne conversing or disputing with them. When Eve once fell to disputing and questioning the Truths of God, the Devill soon overcame her, and was too subtle for her. Genes. 3.1. do not therefore tempt the Lord by entertaining disputes with Serpentine disputants; for though every one be bound to make an open and sincere profession of the truth; yet to be able to defend it against a subtle adversary, and to answer their Cavills, is a gift that is given but to a few. Let every one know his own strength, and if he be wise, keep within his onw bounds.
Sirenes usque ad exitium dulces.4. Since women oft times are Satans Instruments by which he seduceth many, take heed of women; let not those Syrens enchant thee so, as to leap into the depths of errours. Consider how many of thy betters have fallen by them. Adam (at first) the best man. Solomon the wisest, David one of the holiest, and Sampson one of the strongest; all deceived by women; and at this day how many wise, and seemingly holy men, have been drawne aside to errors by their wives. Stop then thy eares against these allurements, and in this sense be as the deafe adder, which stoppes his eare against the voyce of the Charmer, charme he never so wisely. Whosoever they be that seek to draw thee from thy God, let thy heart and thy hand be against them. Deuteron. 13.6, 8, 9.