A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 2 · Subpart 18
VERS. 20. Erastus abode at Corinth, but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sicke.
ERastus is a Greek name, and signifieth Amiable and lovely. He was Chamberlain of the City of Corinth, Romans 16.23. he was one that attended on Paul, when he sent with Timothie into Macedonia, Acts 19.22. Whilest Paul was prisoner at Rome he did abide at Corinth (as appeareth by the Text) waiting on his publick Office, it seemeth he was a great man, the Treasurer of the City, yet neither his riches nor his great place could keep him from loving the Apostle and the people of God.
1. Observation.
Hence Observe, There are some great men that are good men: not many, yet some, 1 Corinthians 1.26. Lot and Abraham, two great men and yet good men,Pauci, non quod Evangelium ullius sortis homines à se abjiciat, sed quod arctam viam facilius ingrediamur minus sarcinati. Grotius. Genesis 13.2, 5, 6. and 24.35. So was Iob (1.3.) and Zaccheus, Luke 19.2. David died full of riches and honour, 1 Chronicles, 29.28. Nehemiah a Courtier and Cupbearer to a King, yet one that feareth the God of Heaven. Neh. 1. ult. So in the New Testament we read of a noble Theophilus, foreign, matrona dives & honorata.Luk 1.3. and of an Elect Lady that loved the Truth, 2 Iohn 1.2. and of a Ioseph of Arimathea and Sergius that embraced the Gospel.
1. The Lord hath so ordered it to stop the mouths of wicked men who are ready to say as the Pharisees (Iohn 7.48.) do any of the Rulers or great ones believe in him? q. d. there are none that follow Christ but a few simple people, and illiterate fishermen, &c. Yet God hath some Kings and Queens, some Lords and Ladies, some of the great ones, and some of the fat of the earth that worship him, Psalm 22.29. He hath a learned Nicodemus and Paul with an eloquent Apollos to defend his truth.
2. The Lord calleth some such that they may draw on others, who are apt to be led by great ones. They are the Looking-glasses of the Countrey by which many dress themselves.
3. For the greater conviction of wicked men, when they shall have the light of such and such great men who have broke through great temptations, and denied themselves many lawful liberties that they might be the fitter for Gods service, when many that had not the Tythe of these Tentations and hinderances, yet would not serve him.
4. For the greater manifestation of Gods Almighty Power, though it be a very hard thing for a rich man to be saved, and with men it is impossible, by reason of the many snares and impediments which lie in their way, hence the Apostle telleth us that none of the Princes of this world have known Christ, (id est,) almost none, very few, 1 Corinthians 1.8. yet Christ can pare off this Camels bunch, and so untwist this cable rope that it shall goe through the eye of a needle.
Trophimus have I left sick at Miletum.
This Trophimus was a Citizen of Ephesus, a Disciple of Pauls, and his companion in his travels, Acts 20.4. and 21.29. Paul travelling through many places after his first imprisonment at Rome, leaveth this Trophimus sick at Miletum, a City in Asia not far from Ephesus, famous for its wooll and cloathing.
Question, But would not the Apostle work a miracle, and so heal him as he had done other sick persons:
Answer, It was not in the Apostles power to work Miracles when they pleased, but onelyonly when there was a necessity for the conviction or conversion of unbelievers, then the Holy Ghost enabled and excited them to it, Acts 3.12.
2. Observation.
2. Sickness may seize even on good men. As they are subject to death, so to sickness also which is the fore-runner of death. Epiphraditus a good man (whose recovery Paul so greatly rejoyced in) yet was very sick and nigh unto death, Phil. 2.27. and so was Paul himself, 2 Cor. 1.8. Hezekiah and David two holy men, yet sick of the Plague (as it is conceived) the Corinthians were chastned by the Lord with the same violent disease (as 'tis conceived) that they might not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.30. But this needs no proof, for we experimentally see that all things come alike to all, and sickness is the portion of good men as well as bad; only the wicked are punished in wrath, their sickness and pains here are but praeludia futuri judicii, fore-runners of greater pains, besides they are hardned and made worse by them, as Pharaoh and Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.22. God rains snares on wicked men, if they be in health, 'tis a snare to them, Psal. 69.22. Prov. 1.32.) if sick 'tis a snare to them, their sin is drawn out, discovered and ripened by it.
'Tis Luthers Observation, that after long journeyes, and long sicknesses few were better: Cast a stinking weed into the fire, and it smelleth worse; but cast a sweet Herb into the fire, and it smelleth the better. God punisheth the wicked as a Iudge, but he correcteth his children as a Father? For their good to bring them nearer to himself, and to fetch home his Prodigalls which wander after the creature; and to bring their sinnes to remembrance.
In prosperity men cannot awhile to think of their sinnes, but when sicknesse cometh they shall have time enough, night and day they shall have no rest by reason of their sinne. We reade of some Psalms whose Titles are, A Psalm to bring to remembrance. So we must say of many diseases, A Feaver to bring our sinnes to remembrance, a Consumption to bring our sinnes to remembrance. As Pharaohs Butler said sometimes, I remember my sinnes this day, Genesis 41.9. So those sinnes which lay long forgotten, a sicknesse may bring them to your remembrance; God could remove all sicknesse and all infirmities from his people, but he is pleased for good Ends to exercise them therewith, that the Saints might be kept humble in themselves, and we might not Idolize them, giving the Honour which is due to the Creatour to the Creature.
Hence Moses hath a stammering speech, Paul a Messenger of Satan to buffet him, and Luther some dreggs of Popery abiding in him.