A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 2 · Subpart 7
VERSE 9, 10. Doe thy diligence to come shortly to me. VERSE 10. For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present World, and is departed to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
WE are now come to the second part of this Chapter, wherein the Apostle treateth of many private and personal affairs.
1. He desireth Timothy to come speedily to him to Rome, the Apostle had once some thoughts of going to Timothy, 1 Tim. 3.14. but since he was shut up in prison and deprived of that liberty, he now sendeth for him to come to him, having many things to impart to him before he died, probably touching the weighty affaires of the Church, or else that he might be helpful in promoting the Gospel in Rome, Italy, and in the places adjacent, since he wanted other helpers. What ever it was, it was no mean matter which made the Apostle send for Timothy beyond Sea, from his charge at Ephesus in Asia minor to come to him at Rome.
foreign, da operam; festina, genuinè.Doe thy diligence, or hasten to come to me, he was near his end, and therefore he biddeth him hasten, and come speedily before winter, Verse 21. q. d. defer not thy coming till another year, but come speedily before I die.
1. Observation.
Nil mihi rescribas attamen ipse veni. Ovid.1. Personall presence is to be preferred writing. The Apostle doth not say, Write unto me, but come unto me. Letters (we say) doe not blush, yet they cannot expresse the lively affections of our breasts, as when men are present face to face with us.
Vox Hominis, Vox Leonis.Writing, is more general and flat, but the lively voyce and quickening presence of a friend worketh more effectually upon us, Proverbs 27.17. Acts 18.5. When the Apostle would comfort the Romanes he telleth them that he will come to them, (Romanes 1.11, 12. and 15.24. 28.29.) that he might be comforted by them, and might comfort them.
So Iohn will not write to his friends but that he might the more effectually comfort them, he promiseth to come and speake with them face to face, that their Ioy might be full, 2 Iohn 12. and 3. Iohn 13.14. Paul will not write, but he will see the Thessalonians (1.2, 17, 18.) There is more Vigour in the Voyce, then in dead Letters. Writing doth well, but lively conference doth much better.Habet nescio quid latentis energiae vivae vocis, actus, & in aures Discipulorum De Authoris ore, transfusa fortiùs sonat. Hieron. ad Pavlin. The speech of good men doth whet and excite men to love and good workes, Hebrewes 10.24. it doth Minister Grace to such as keepe company with them, Proverbs 10.11. and 15.4. Ephesians, 4.29.
2. Observation.
2. The society and help of good men is much to be desired. There is much comfort and good to be gained thereby. Paul would never have sent so many hundred miles for a Timothy if there had not been more then ordinary sweetnesse in his society. Man is a sociable Creature, and God hath ordained mutual society for the quickning and increasing of his Graces in us.
We want much of our comfort in the want of a good friend, which made David so sadly to lament the death of Ionathan, and to complaine that he was desolate, Psalm 25.16. and this made Paul to rejoyce in the recovery of Epaphroditus his Friend and fellow Souldier, as a great mercy, Philippians 2.25, 26, 27. Solomon telleth us that two are better then one, Ecclesiasticus 4.9. As Oyntments and perfumes delight the senses, refresh the Heart and quicken the Spirits, so the faithful Counsel of a loving friend is very precious, Prov. 27.9.
Hence this communion amongst friends is called sweet Counsel, Psalm 55. 15. We are subject in this World to many Tryals: Now God hath ordained the society of his People as one speciall *See Capel on Temptation Lib. 1. Cap. 6. Page 104. Edit. ult.means to comfort us in them, Malachi, 3.16. Iames 5.16. This made Christ to send his Disciples out by two and two that they might have mutual Comfort and Confirmation of their Doctrine, Luke 10.1. Unsociable men are like blunt and rusty iron unfit for service. Solitarinesse and strangenesse is not good: Solitary Birds are Birds of Prey: Communion is a means to breede and increase brotherly love, and to inlarge the Church, Acts 2.46.47. They were all together with one accord, and then it followeth, The Lord added to the Church dayly such as should be saved. This is an Article of our Faith; we beleeve, a Communion of Saints, and oh that we did live as a People that beleeve our Principles.
Tis Communion with the Saints on Earth is a glimspe of thy Eternal society which we shall have with them in Heaven, when we shall all be gathered together into one Body, 2 Tessalonians 2.1. as the society of wicked men in their wickednesse is a glimpse of Hell.
3. Observation.
3. The strongest Christians, sometime, may be helped by weaker. A Paul may stand in need of a Timothy. There is not a member in the body but is some way serviceable to the head.
4. Observation.
4. A Minister upon weightie and just occasions may lawfully be absent from his flock for a time.
1. It must be but for a time. 2. The cause must be weighty. Timothy cometh from his charge to Paul (yet Tychicus supplies the place the while) who had great things to impart to him for the Churches good 'tis noted as an act of cruelty in the Ostrich, that she leaveth her Egges, Lam. 4.9. Bishop Latimer wondred how men could goe quietly to bed, who had great cures and many of them, and yet peradventure never preached in any of them constantly. It were easie to confute and confound these by Scripture, Reasons, Fathers, Councills, &c. But 'tis so fully done already by Master Blaxston in his Remonstrance against Non-Residents, and blessed be God 'tis so well purged out of the Church that I need say no more against it.See Bishop Iewels Sermon on Iosh. 6. In the end of his Apology, Page 170. and Master Bowles his Sermon, Iohn 2.17. Page 20.21.16.43.
5. Observation.
5. We may love one friend more then another. Timothy was Pauls beloved Son in the Faith, 1 Timothy 1.2. He was one whom he had taught and seasoned, he knew Pauls manner and course of life, he was one that Paul durst trust with his secrets, and so more fit to come to him and to serve him. Christ himself when he was upon Earth, and as he was man and lived amongst men as man, he was more familiar with some then others, and loved them more choicely. Christ loved all good men, but Lazarus, Mary and Martha, he loved more peculiarly Iohn 11.5. Christ loved all his Disciples, Iohn 13.1. But he loved Iohn more especially, and therefore he is called by way of Eminency and special propriety, That Disciple whom Iesus loved. Iohn 13.23. and 21.7.10. To him Christ revealeth his secrets, he telleth him who shall betray him, and after revealeth the Revelation to him.
As Iohn excelled in Purity, meeknesse, sweet disposition and love to Christ. So Christ loved him accordingly. Parents doe so, they have a more tender affection to one childe then another, and friends doe so, and we doe so. True, we may not contemne any, no not the weakest, where we see but aliquid Christi, any glimpse of Christs Image, we must love it, but where we see most of Christ, we may lawfully love most. According to the divers measures of Grace, so may the measures of our love be proportioned, hence we reade of love and singular love, 1 Thessalonians 5.13. and though Pauls care were for all the Churches, yet was his love more aboundant to that at Corinth, 2 Cor. 11.28. and 2.4.