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,

Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, appointed by God to declare the promise, which Jesus Christ has made of eternal life;

especially when I reflect upon the sincerity of your faith, and the attachment your grand-mother Lois first show'd, and then your mother Eunice, examples which I am persuaded you will follow.

For which reason I remind you to exert the divine gifts you received, when I gave you the imposition of hands.

for the spirit, which God has given us, is not a spirit of timidity, but of fortitude, of benevolence, and of moderation.

be not therefore asham'd of the testimony of the Lord, nor of me who am a prisoner upon his account. but share with me in the afflictions, which attend the gospel, supported as you are by the power of God,

who has saved us, and by the gospel hath called us to holiness, not in consideration of our works, but in pursuance of his own resolution, and the favour, which having been promised us by Jesus Christ several ages ago,

Keep that form of sound doctrine you receiv'd from me, which consists in christian faith and charity:

that valuable depositum do you preserve by the holy spirit, which resides in us.

for which I suffer even the chains of a malefactor: but the word of God is not so confin'd.

I therefore bear with every thing for the sake of the converts, that they may obtain that salvation, which Jesus Christ has procur'd us, even eternal glory.

These things represent, conjuring them by the presence of the Lord, to avoid disputes about words, which only serve to pervert the audience.

of which they wear the appearance, but disclaim its influence. have no intercourse with such.

But be you attach'd to the doctrine you have learnt, with which you are intrusted, considering by whom you have been instructed:

and that from your infancy you were acquainted with the sacred writings, which point you the way to salvation, by believing in Christ Jesus:

which, while they are deaf to the truth, attentively listen to fables.

I have nothing more to do, but to receive the crown of virtue reserv'd for me, which the Lord, the just judge, will give me in that day: and not only to me, but to those also, who have long'd for his appearance.

when you come, bring the cloke and books, but especially the roll, which I left with Carpus at Troas.

Paul a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to declare the faith which recommends men to the divine favour, and to convince them of that truth, which leads to piety,

and gives the expectation of eternal life, which the God of veracity promised so many ages ago;

and has in due time manifested by the preaching of his word, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our saviour:

who ought to be curb'd, who pervert whole families, teaching things which they ought not, for sordid lucre.

he saved us not in consideration of any virtuous actions which we had done, but out of his meer mercy, by the baptism of regeneration, he form'd us anew, by the plentiful effusion of the holy spirit,

so that the christian faith, which you have in common with us, displays itself to the observation of all good men about you.

for to which of the angels did he ever say, " thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be his father, and he shall be my son?

But to which of the angels did he ever say, "sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?"

how shall we escape, if we neglect that salutary doctrine? which was first published by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those that heard him;

God also giving an additional testimony both by signs, by prodigies, by divers miracles, and gifts of the holy spirit, which he distributes as he pleases.

'Tis not therefore to the angels that he has subjected the gospel state of which we are treating.

for both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all deriv'd from one: for which cause he is not asham'd to call them brethren, saying,

and again, "I will put my trust in him." and again, "behold, I, and the children which God hath given me.

but as the architect is of much greater dignity than the house he has made; so the glory which Christ received was greater than that of Moses.

but Christ govern'd his own house in quality of son and heir, and 'tis we that are his house, provided we stedfastly persevere unto the end in the publick profession of that hope, in virtue of which we glory.

which is imply'd by, "to-day since ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as at Meriba."

Whereas 'tis we who have believed that shall enter into rest, as he said, "wherefore I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my rest." which is different from that rest, at the beginning of the world, when the work of creation was finished.

of which in a certain place relating to the seventh day, 'tis said, "and God did rest the seventh day from all his works."

Since there remains then a rest which some are still to enter into, for they to whom the promise was first made, did not enter in, because of their incredulity;

he pointed out another time in the words, which were spoken by David, a long time after their going into Canaan, in the passage just now quoted, "today since ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

which shows that the people of God have a sabbath still to come.

of which we shall treat another time, if God permit.

for the earth which drinks up the frequent show'rs that fall upon it, and produces plants fit for the use of him that cultivates it, is stiled heavenly land:

but that which bears thorns and briars, is look'd upon as lying under a curse; whose end will be to be burnt.

for God is too just to his promise not to regard your piety, and the love which you have shewn to the christian religion by the assistance ye have given to the saints, and still continue to give.

but we desire that every one of you may shew the same concern, continuing to discharge the condition upon which your hopes are founded: that ye be not unactive,

that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to deceive us, we, who have no other refuge to fly to, but to maintain our present hopes,

to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of the whole booty: first, being by the signification of his name king of justice, and in fact king of Salem, which is, king of peace;

If therefore the Levitical priesthood, concerning which the people received a law, could have given perfection, what further need was there that another priest should rise, to be named after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron?

since it is evident that our Lord sprang out of the tribe of Juda, to which Moses never ascribed the priesthood.

for the law made no man perfect, but this was effected by introducing a better hope, which brings us nearer to the divine presence.

for the law appointed frail mortals to be high priests, but the oracle pronounc'd with an oath, which was since the law, established the son, who is crown'd with immortal perfections.

a priest of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord made, and not man.

which office he could not discharge here upon earth, where priests are already establish'd, who offer gifts according to the law:

and officiate in the sanctuary, which was a gross representation of that in heaven, agreeable to the order given by God to Moses, when he projected the tabernacle, "be very exact, said he, in following the model which was laid before thee in the mount."

nor for that reproach, which was made to our fathers, where 'tis said, "behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new alliance with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda:

and beyond the veil, was the second part of the tabernacle which is called the holy of holys;

over the ark were the cherubims of glory covering the propitiatory with their wings, of which we cannot now enter into a particular detail.

the high priest only enter'd, and that but once every year, when he carried the blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.

This type subsists to the present time, both gifts and sacrifices being still offered, which cannot purify the mind of him that officiates

only in matters relating to meats and drinks, and divers baptisms, meer external rites which were to subsist only till the time of reformation.

and for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that, the transgressions that were unexpiated by the first testament, being expiated by his death, they who are called might receive the eternal inheritance, which was promised.

saying, "this is the blood of the testament which God has made in your behalf."

and indeed according to the law almost every thing is purified with blood, without the effusion of which, there is no remission of sins.

as then it is appointed that men should die but once, after which the judgment ensues;

For the law being only an allusion to a future dispensation that was more excellent, and not an exact imitation of such a state, cannot by the anniversary sacrifices, which are offered, entirely purify those that present themselves.

in consequence of which WILL we are sanctified by the oblation which Jesus Christ has made once for all of his own body.

While the high priest in his daily administrations frequently repeated the same sacrifices which could by no means expiate sin;

by a new and living way which he has first open'd for us, thro' the veil, that is, thro' his flesh;

Let us stedfastly maintain the hope which we have avow'd, since he is faithful that has promised:

for if we wilfully apostatize, after having received the knowledge of the truth, it is as a sin for which there is no sacrifice appointed.

and nothing is to be expected but that dreadful judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour all such adversaries.

Call to remembrance the former times, in which after ye were illuminated, you were forc'd to struggle with sufferings,

don't therefore quit that resolution you have, which will be attended with so great a reward.

'Twas by faith that Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he was declared righteous, God himself having testified that he accepted his offering, and after he died for his faith, he was not silent.

'Twas by faith that Noah being divinely warned of unforeseen events, with a religious concern built an ark to the preservation of his family; whereby the world became inexcusable, and he obtained the reward of that righteousness which is by faith.

'Twas by faith that he who was named Abraham, showed his obedience in travelling to a foreign country, which he was afterwards to inherit; and began his journey without knowing where he was going.

so that even a single person whose vigour was gone, gave rise to a posterity as numerous as the stars of the sky, or the sands on the sea-shore, which cannot be numbred.

By faith they passed thro' the red sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting to do, were drowned.

by faith they made the tour of Jericho for seven days, in consequence of which the walls fell down.

Wherefore, since we are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every incumbrance, and the sin which does so easily embarrass us, and let us pursue with constancy the course that is proposed to us:

have you forgot the exhortation which is address'd to you, as to children? "my son, despise not thou the chastning of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

but if you were exempted from that discipline which others are subject to, then are you bastards, and not sons.

clear the way for your feet, lest that which is lame should be quite out of joint, instead of being redress'd."

seek peace with all men, and sanctity of life, without which no man shall see the Lord:

nor to the sound of trumpets, and the voice which pronounc'd such words, that they who heard, intreated they might hear it no more.

to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the aspersion of that blood which cries for pardon, and not for vengeance as that of Abel.