A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 2 · Subpart 15
VERS. 17. Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that by me the Preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion. VERS. 18. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil worke, and will preserve me to his Heavenly Kingdome; to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.
HEre we have. 1. Pauls Commemoration of that experience which he had of Gods love to him in his deliverance past: But the Lord assisted me; though I had but cold comfort on Earth, yet I had comfort enough from Heaven.
2. Here is the end for which the Lord assisted and delivered him, viz. That he might preach the Gospel to the Nations.
3. Here is the greatness of the danger from which he was delivered, viz. From the mouth of the Lion, (i.) from the hands of Nero that cruel Tyrant.
4. Here is Pauls confidence and full assurance built upon this Experience for time to come, v. 18.
1. That the Lord will deliver him from every evil work.
2. That he will preserve him to his Heavenly Kingdome. Q. d. Though the Lord will not deliver me from suffering, yet I know he will deliver me from sin, and that not from some few, but from every evill work: and though he will not preserve me from death and danger, yet I am sure he will preserve me beyond them to a state of everlasting glory, even to his Heavenly Kingdome.
5. He concludes with a sweet Doxology, his heart being inflamed with the sence of Gods Love to him in his deliverance past, and mercies to come, he taketh nothing to himself, but ascribeth all to God. To him be Glory, and that for ever. And this he sealeth up and confirmeth with the usuall Particle of Asseveration and Ratification. Amen, so be it.
The Explication.
But the Lord stood with me, or *foreign adfuit im… astitit, ut Act. 27.22, foreign astitit mihi hac nocte Angel…s Dei. Gerhard.by me, and assisted me. Against the desertion of men he opposeth the aid and assistance of Christ, though he was forsaken of all and had no comfort nor help from man, yet Christ assisted him by the gratious presence of his Spirit, and strengthened him (that he might not faint in his trials) according to that promise, Luke 21.14, 15.
Question, Who is the Lord here?
Answer, By Lord here is meant the Lord Jesus appeareth plainly if we compare this Text with Acts 23.11.
Question, But what doth Christ do for his?
Answer, He doth not stand by as a meere Spectator of their conflicts, but he is with them to assist them with wisedome, Prudence, and Courage, and to *foreign, Corroboro, confirmo, conforto.strengthen them under all their burdens that they be not despondent, nor sink under them. That by me the Tò foreign, praeconium, foreign vocat Evangelii praedicationem, Beza.Preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear.] Q. d. I was strengthned by God, for this end that the Gospel preached by me might be more fully and freely known to the world.De V. foreign. V. V. 5. Rome at that time was the Queene of the world, and in its most flourishing condition; people flockt thither from all parts, and when they heard and saw Pauls Erat non vulgaris Ministerii ejus confirmatio. quòd cum totus mundus furiosè in eum insaniret, & humana omnia praesidia ipsum deficerent, invictus tamen steterat. Calvin. in locum.constancy and boldness in confessing and professing the Gospel before the Tyrant, it must needs work on them, and the fame of the Gospel thereby be spread over all the world.
And I was delivered from the mouth of the Lion.
Some conceive these words to be a Proverbial speech, noting some eminent, present, devouring danger. Q. d. I was delivered from the extremeest hazard of death, even as a man that is rescued out of a Lions mouth, and pulled from between his teeth. This is true, but most genumely and properly by the mouth of the Lion, is meant Nero's rage and cruelty, who for his Potency in preying on the flock of Christ, is here fitly compared to a Lion which devoured and destroyed the sheep of Christs Pasture. Tyrants and potent enemies of the Church are frequently so called in Scripture, Psalm 35.17. and 91.13. Ier. 2.15. Ezekiel 19.2.
Question. How dares Paul call Nero a Lion, when the Scripture condem…s speaking evil of dignities, Jude 8. and forbids us reproaching them, Exodus 22.28. it telleth us that all Power is ordained of God, Rom. 13.2. and that even Tyrannical Magistrates and Hypocritical Rulers are sent in wrath by him for the sinnes of a people,Qui dedit regnum Mario, ipse & Caesari; qui Augusto, ipse & Neroni, qui Constantino ipse & Apostatae. Juliano. Aug. De Civitate Dei, Lib. 5 Cap. 21. Job. 34.30. and Christ telleth Pilate that he had no power but that which was given him from above, John, 19.11. How then dares Paul give Nero so harsh a Title.
Answer, 1. Paul was a Minister of Christ, and Ministers by vertue of their Office may and must doe that which a private person who wants that call may not do.
2. Paul had an extraordinary measure of the Spirit, he knew the haunts and courses of men and so might the more boldly reprove them. Thus Christ calleth Herod a Fox. David calls cruel men Dogs and Lions, Psalm 22.13.21.22, Solomon calls a wicked Prince, a hungry Bear, Prov. 28.15.
Observations.
1. All men forsooke me, But the Lord stood by me. Hence, Observe, That mans extremity is Gods opportunity, or when mans help faileth then God appeareth. He then cometh in as an Auxiliary. So he did to Paul when he was in prison, Acts 23.11. and so he hath promised to be with his Ministers especially to the end of the world, Matthew 28.20. Christ is a friend …ha… sticketh closer then a Brother. He goeth with Paul to the Bar, and stands by him and strengthens him there. God doth never totally and finally forsake his people, leave them he may for a time to try them, but never so as to forsake them.
He may delay to help them,Deserit ne deseratur. but it is for their good to bring them into nearer communion with himself, Hos. 5.15. Call over the Catalogue of the Saints, and they will all tell you that God never failed them in their distre…. Aske Noah, Lot, Abraham, Iob, Daniel, Paul, and they will all tell you that nothing hath failed of all the good which God hath promised, Ioshua 23.14. Creature-comforts indeed are vain, and will fail and forsake us in our troubles.
In time of War Riches will leave us, in time of sicknesse health will leave us, in time of Famine bread will faile, and in time trouble Friends will fail. The Lord onelyonly is immutable, he never faileth his at their need.
Gods people are never less alone then when they are most alone;Solus non est cut Christus▪ never less forsaken then when then are forsaken of all. When Iacob hath nothing but stones for his pillow, then hath he the sweetest Visions of God, Genesis 28.11, 12.13. when the Prie… and the Levite past by us, then comes the good Samaritan with his Oyle and Wine to comfort us; when Father and Mother forsake us, then is Gods time to take us up, Psalm 27.10. when the Pharisees excommunitate and cast out the blinde man, then Christ receives him, Iohn 9.34, 35. when the Disciples could not doe the cure then cometh Christ and doth it, Matthew 17.17.
God could deliver his people without this deserting of them, but he is pleased to let things come to extremity that he may have more praiers and prayses from us. He could have delivered Israel as soon as ever they came into Egypt, but he lets them lie some hundreds of years in deep distress, tha… so his Glory might be the more perspicuous in their deliverance, Exodus 14.13, 14. When Gods people lie in captivity so long till they are as so many d…y bones without l…fe, then God comes and breaths upon them, Ezekiel 37.11. to 15. When it is Evening with Gods people, and we can expect nothing but night to follow, then God causeth light to appear, Zach. 14.7. At Evenining it shall be light.
When Creatures fail in point of Prudence,Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses. and cannot advise and in point Power and cannot help, then is a time for God to help, Psalm 60.11. All the fenced Cities must be taken, and the enemy come even to the walls of Ierusalem, then and not till then doth God appear, 2 Kings 18. 13.17. so Micah 5.5. when the Assyrian is entered the Land, and is ready to destroy all, then Christ brings Peace to his People. When Ishbibonob the Gyant is ready to seise on weary, fainting David, then God sends Ahishai to his succour, 2 Samuel 21.16, 17. Ionah must lye three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly (till in all humane probability he was drowned) and then he is saved, Lazarus must lie till he stink before Christ will raise him.
Pine not then away ye seed of Iacob, there is yet corn in Egypt, there is help enough in God, onelyonly doe him the honour now to trust him. Blessed is he that believeth, and hath not seen, Si vides, ubi Fides?John 20.29. What ever then the distress be, whether it be Personal, Domestical, or National, yet command thy soul to wait on the Lord, who though he come not at thy time, yet he will never fail his own;Raah is not simply to see or looke as Nabal, but it signifieth to see plainly and wonderfully even to ravishment and admiration. In the mount will the Lord be clearly and wonderfully seen, Gen. 22.14.
[See more Doctor Preston, and Master Mocket, on Genesis, 22.14. Mason his Cure of Cares, c. 4. p. 41. Dyke on Iohn 4.46. p. 341. Brinsly on Exodus 14.13. p. 100. Hicks fast Sermon on Isay 28 5. p. 5. &c. Preached 1644. June 26. Burroguhes on Contentment, p. 311. Master Bridge his Sermon, 2 Vol. page 154.174.192. Door Reynolds, on Hos. 14.2, 3. 2 P. p. 62.63.
The Lord assisted me. 2. Observation.
2. Christ is the Lord. He is the Lord, the Jehovah, the true and the living God, coessential and coequal with his Father. Neither is the Title of God and Lord given to Christ Secundarily, Improperly and Metaphorically as they are given to Angels and Magistrates as the Socinians affirme,: … yea Catachristically and abusively, Idols, Devils and mens bellies are called their gods. But the Title is given to Christ Primarily and properly as the Creator and Preserver of all things, the Lord Paramount of all the World, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. But of this at large before. V. 1.
And strengthned me. 3. Observation.
3. Strengthning grace is the gift of God. He doth not onelyonly give us Renewing grace and then leave us to our own free-will, but he giveth us persevering grace also. As he is the Author of our grace by Vocation, so he is the finisher of it by preservation. He confirmeth and establisheth us unto the end, 2 Cor. 1.21. Hence David calleth God his Rocke, Psalm 18.2. and we are commanded to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might, Ephes. 6.10. It is he that doth enable us and strengthen us with all might in our inward man, 1 Coloss 1.11. 1 Timothy 1.12. A little strength will not doe, because we have no little enemies to encounter, but we must be strengthned with all might, and with all Patience, that we may doe all the good we can, withstand all the evil we can, and patiently suffer when we can withstand no longer. Rest not content that you are Babes in Christ and have grace begun, but grow till you become strong men in Christ. To this end we must be *Multos impedit à firmitate praesumptio firmitatis, nemo erit à Deo firmus nisi qui à seipso se sentit infir…um. August. See the Excellency of Spirituall strength. Doctor Preston on Ephesians, 3.16. and Doctor Hill.sensible of our own exceeding weakness, nothing stronger then Humility that goeth out of it self, nothing weaker then Pride that rests on its own bottom.
That by me the Preaching might be fully known. 4. Observation.
4. Whilest God hath any work for his servants to doe, he will assist and uphold them in despite of all oppositions. Though Nero rage against Paul, and all men forsake him, yet God will assist him that he may preach the Gospel to the world. We need not fear the Foxes and Furies of the times; we have our day and to morrow to work in, and till that time which God hath allotted us be expired all the Devils in Hell, and all the Dogs in the world, cannot remove us, Luke 13.32. How long was David vext with ungodly men yet he slept not till he had served his generation, Acts 13.36. Herod sought to kill Peter, but at the Prayers of the Church the prisoner is rescued out of his hands, yet when he had finished his work and was ripe for Martyrdome then he falls with ease, Ahab and Iezabel seek the life of Elijah, yet was he preserved till he had finisht his work, and then was he translated.
Luther, was oft cursed by many Popes, yet he finisht his course and died in Peace. Queen Elizabeth was also cursed by many Popes, but God turned the curses of those Romish Balaams into blessings, for she outlived nine or ten of them, and at last died in her bed full of dayes, riches and honour.
Our comfort is, that our times are not in our enemies hands but in the hands of a gracious God, who best knows how long it is good for us to live, and when to die, Psalm 31.15. when we have finisht our course he will take us to himself in glory, Iohn 17.4, 5. Let us then faithfully discharge the duties of our several places, and commit the success to God, in whose hand is our life, and all that we possess.
And that all the Gentiles might heare. 5. Observation.
5. God would have his Truth revealed to the sons of men. He would have the Gospel known,Bonum quo communius eo melius. fully known to the Gentiles, to all the Gentiles, yea to all Nations whether Jewes or Gentiles, Mat. 28.19. Truth is good, and the more common it is, the better; where it getteth ground, Satans Kingdome falleth like lightning from Heaven suddenly and irresistably, Luke 10.18.
Let none then hide their Talents,Mr. Anthony Burgess, on Iohn 7.17. Lect. 93. but as the Sun freely communicateth its light and heat to us, so let us freely impart our gifts unto others. See eight quickning considerations to this duty.
And I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion. 6. Observation.
6. The Churches enemies oft times are Lions. Lions for Potency, Lions for *Astuta ingenuum vulpes imitata Leonem. Horat. Sermon 2. See eight excellent resemblances between a Lion and a Tyrant in Master Caryll on Iob 4.9. p 62.3, &c. and Franzius De Animalib. l. 1. c. 6. Tis an excellent little Tract of the Nature of most Creatures.Policy, Psal. 17.12. Lions for cruelty, Lions for Terror. Hence they are so oft in Scripture called Lions, Psalm 10.9. and 22.13. and 35.17. Prov. 28.15. Ier. 2, 15. Ezek. 19.2. Such we are all by Nature (in our places and degrees) till grace change us, Isay 10.7. and then we shall be Lions for Christ (i.) magnanimous and couragious in his cause, Prov. 28.1. the righteous are bold as Lions, which good in the Creature we should imitate, which evil shun. Be Serpents for Policy and not for poyson, Lions for prowess and not for rapine.
2. Be not familiar with these Lious, come not near their dens lest they make a prey of you, have no fellowship with such unfruitfull works of darkness, but reprove them rather.
7. Observation.
7. God many times suffers his dearest children to fall into the mouths of these Lions, so that to a carnal eye they seem hopeless and helpless, even as a Lamb that is in the pawes and jawes of a hungry Lion is given up for lost.Consule Tacitum l. 15. Vbi plura Neronis flagitia reperias. Et Pezelii Mellif. Hist. p. 2. De Nerone. p. 335. &c. This was Pauls case, he was not onelyonly in the den, but in the vere jawes of Nero that proud Potent, furious Lion, who killed his Master, slew his Mother, crucified Peter, made foul havock of the Church, and at last to save himself from the fury of the people, he slew himself saying, Dedecorosè vixi, turpiùs peream. My life was base, and my death shall be answ…rable.
This was the case of Israel in Egypt, the Jewes in Babylon, the Primitive Christians in the dayes of the persecuting Emperours, and ever since by Antichrist, yea since the dayes of Abel to this day the people of God have been as so many Lambs encompassed with rageing Lions, who on all occasions have laboured to make a prey of them, yet the Lord maketh a Treacle of this Viper, by this means he purgeth his people from their dross,V. Irenaeum adversus. Haeres. l. 5. c. 28. and fits them for his Kingdome, as Ignatius said sometimes, Dei frumentum sum, &c. I am Gods corn, and I must be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be pure Manchet for my Lord and Master. Gods wayes to his Church are mysterious wayes, Isay 45.25. He hath a wheel in the wheels, and when we think they go backward and all makes against the Church,See Master Strong 31. Ser. p, 657. yet he makes them go forward and promote their interest, Ezckiel 1.16.21.
8. Observation.
8. That God will deliver his from this great danger. He that brought thee into the mouth of the Lion will bring thee out again, Dan. 6.22. God is omnipotent and omniscient, he hath both skill and will to deliver his people, though we know not which way, yet it is sufficient that he doth, 2 Peter 2.9. to him belong the issues from death, Psa. 68.20. when we be in extreme danger and in the jawes of death, yet he hath many secret passages and back doores to conveigh us out at.
He hath a thousand wayes to deliver us, by Means, without means, by weak means, by contrary means. Sometimes he changeth a Lion into a Lamb, as Saul into Paul, or else he stops the mouths of these Lions by restraining their cruelty: Or by setting one Lion against another, as the Philistines against Saul, 1 Samuel 23.27. The Turks against the Papists, he divided the Pharisees and Saduces amongst themselves whilest Paul escaped, Acts 23.6, 7. Or else he makes his children Lions to their enemies. So that the dread of them falls upon them, Hester 9.23. or else he breaks the teeth of these Lions, So that they cannot do the mischief they intended, Ps. 3.7. This may comfort Gods people in their deepest distress, [though these Lions may be too strong for us, yet there is a stronger then they, Isa. 31.43. There is no Protector like this great Protector of us all. He is El-shaddai, God Almighty and Alsufficient to supply our wants, and help us in our straits: though others may forsake us, yet he hath promised that he will never do it, Heb. 13.5. There are five Negatives to assure us of the truth of that promise.foreign. Nequaquam te deseram. 'Tis as if God had repeated the same promise five times over, I will not leave thee, and again and again I tell thee over and over for thy comfort, that I will not forsake thee. Bohemus Medit, 16. p. 46. Vbi plura. q. d. I will not, no I will not, I will in no wise leave thee, no… forsake thee. And it is worth observing, that in Scripture there is some Title or other of Gods that answers to all our necessities. Ergo are our enemies fierce as Lions, why God will come as a Lion against them, Isay 31.4. Do they come upon thee as a mighty storm? why he will be a covert to thee? are they as a schorching heat? he will be a shadow. Isay 4.5, 6. and 25.4. Art thou a poore shiftless sheep? why, he will be a sheepherd to defend thee, Psalm 23.1. Art thou a Dove and in danger of Birds of prey? Why God will be a Rocke to hide thee from them, Cant. 2.14. Isay 33, 16. The Church is Gods Vineyard, and he will keep it night and day, Isay 27.3. 'Tis his City & he will be for walls and bulwarks to it, Isay 26.2. His House-hold, and he will provide for it. His children and nature teacheth us to defend them, and will the God of Nature think you leave his? The Members of Christs mystical body, and never any yet hated his own flesh. The Apple of his Eye which is guarded with a five-fold covering, Zach. 2.8. Psalm 17.8. Christ is King over his Church, Ad domandum & dominandum, to subdue his enemies, and make them his footstools Psalm 110.1.
Let the wicked plow long furrows on our backs, yet God will cut their Treaces that they shall plow in vain, Psalm 129.3, 4. The rod of the wicked may be on the back of the Righteous but it shall not rest there; sufferings may be their condition, but See Doctor Boltons Ser. on Lament. 3.26. Preacht 1646. Barlows Sermon on Psal. 40.17. at the end of his Comment, on Timothy, p. 38.deliverance is their Portion; Iehovah jirel the Lord seeth and is seen in the Mount both Actively and Passively for the help of his people, Genesis 22.14.