or trouble their heads with fables and endless genealogies, which rather promote disputes than the gospel-dispensation:

such a charge will produce that charity, which arises from purity, from a good conscience, and a sincere belief:

for want of which, some have lost themselves in frivolous disputes,

with the salutary doctrine of the gospel of immortality, which the blessed God committed to my trust.

but the favour of our Lord display'd itself by that faith and charity, which was wrought in me by Jesus Christ.

This charge, my son Timothy, I recommend to you, agreeably to the prophetic gifts heretofore conferr'd on you, by virtue of which you might carry on a successful warfare,

interdicting marriage; and the use of animal food; which God created for the repast of the faithful, who embrace the truth with thankfulness.

If you represent these things to the brethren, you will appear to be a true minister of Jesus Christ, brought up in the institutions of faith, and the true doctrine to which you were attach'd.

exercise yourself in piety: for those exercises which relate only to the body are of little consequence, but piety is of absolute use, having the promises both of the present life, and of the life that is to come.

don't neglect the gift you have, which was given you with the ministerial charge, when you receiv'd imposition of hands from the presbytery.

for which they are much to be condemn'd, because they violate the engagements they had before enter'd into:

themselves to temptations and snares, and to many foolish noxious passions, which plunge men into ruin and perdition. for the love of money is the root of all evil:

which some having obtain'd, have revolted from the faith, and brought upon themselves variety of piercing pains.

exert yourself in the glorious cause of faith, and secure the prize of eternal life, to which you were called, when you made that excellent profession of faith before so many witnesses.

who alone is essentially immortal, dwelling in that inaccessible light, which no mortal ever saw, or can see: to whom belongs everlasting honour and empire. amen.

O Timothy, keep what is deposited in your care, avoiding the prophane empty declamations and objections of a spurious science, which some have profess'd,