they would be true to the interest of their Mafter, to do their utmoft towards the reforming of chriftianity in this particular, in order to prevent and remedy the aforefaid evil, viz. of mens relying upon Christ to their deftruction. I fhall proceed no farther, but only renew my addrefs to the clergy, that they would be honest, and carful, and diligent, in this matter, as they regard the falvation of mankind; as they tender their allegiance to our common Lord; and as they will answer it at the great and dreadful day of Judgment.

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DISSERTATION,

CONCERNING

The Sense and Meaning of St. Paul's Words, Titus iii. 10, 11. A man that is an heretick, after the first and fecond admonition, reject: Knowing that he that is fuch, is fubverted, and finneth, being condemned of himself.

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HE great and ultimate end of the christian. revelation, or that revelation of God's will which was made to mankind by the miniftry of Jefus Chrift, is the faving of finners. The immediate end, or the end to which it is immediately directed, and by which it becomes a means to the former, is the reforming the vices, and rightly directing and governing the affections and behaviour of mankind.* And by this means the gospel becomes the miniftry of reconciliation betwixt God and his finful creatures, by rendring all those, who are fo wrought upon by it as to answer the true intent and purpose of it, the proper objects of God's mercy and kindnefs. And whoever

*And that the gofpel of Chrift is excellently adapted to anfwer this purpofe, is fully fhewn in my difcourfe, entitled, The true gospel of Jefus Chrift afferted.

under

under the profeffion of the chriftian religion vicioufly and wickedly, that is to, anfwer vile purposes to himself or others, teacheth fuch doctrines, or annexeth to and blendeth with that religion fuch principles, as naturally and apparently tend to render the gofpel of Chrift inefficacious, for the reforming the vices, and rightly directing and governing the minds and lives of men; fuch an one is not only fubverted, or turned out of the right way himself, but he also fubverts the gofpel of Chrift, by turning it away from that end, which was defigned to be answered by it, and to which it ought to be immediately directed, and by making it fubfervient to other and contrary purposes, for which it was not intended. And this was the cafe of fome of thofe, who profeffed and taught chriftianity in the ifle of Crete.

The inhabitants of Crete had rendred themfelves juftly contemptible, by that grofs hypocrify and diffimulation, which had prevailed among them. And this had been fo notorious, that it had given occafion for a writer of their own to give them the following character, viz. The Cretians are always lyars, evil beafts, flow bellies, Titus i. 12. This charge St. Paul acknowledged to be juft, not only of the Cretians in general, but alfo of fome of thofe, who profeffed and taught christianity among them in particular; and therefore he exhorted Titus, to rebuke them (that is, the blameable chriftians) fharply, in order

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order to their reformation, verfe 13. And as this was the cafe at Crete, viz. there were there many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcifion, who had fubverted whole boufes, teaching things that they ought not, for filthy lucre fake, verf. 10, 11: fo St. Paul's epiftle to Titus feems to be occafioned by it. St. Paul had not only been inftrumental in converting the Cretians to christianity, but he had alfo left Titus with them to affift them in fettling the affair of christian affociation among them. And as there were rifen up among them men of perverfe minds, who, to anfwer vile purposes to themselves, had fubverted christianity, by teaching fuch falfe doctrines, as tended to render the gofpel of Christ inefficacious for the faving of mankind: fo St. Paul wrote this epiftle to Titus in order to remedy the aforefaid evil, by directing him what to do, and how to behave towards the Cretian chriftians under thofe circumstances.

St. Paul begins his epiftle by addreffing himself to Titus under the high characters of fervant of God, and the apoftle of Jefus Chrift: he alfo profeffes his ftrong hope in God's promifes, which promifes he had been imployed in the promulgation of: he likewise reprefents himself as a spiritual parent to Titus, and wishes him the participation of all heavenly bleffings, verf. 1, 2, 3, 4. Paul a fervant of God, and an apostle of Jefus Chrift, according to the faith of God's elect, and the

acknow

acknowledging of the truth, which is after godlinefs: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lye, promifed before the world began; But bath in due time manifefted his word through preaching, which is committed unto me, according to the commandment of God our Saviour: To Titus mine own fon after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jefus Chrift our Saviour.

St. Paul having addreffed himself to Titus in the manner before mentioned, reminds him for what intent he had left him in Crete, viz. that he might affift and help the Cretians in forming their christian societies, by appointing a perfon (whom the apoftle af terwards characterized by the term bishop) to be a guardian, or watchman, and a common inftructer to each particular congregation of christians in that ifland, and by doing whatever elfe was neceffary towards the answering all the valuable ends of chriftian affociation among them, verfe 5. For this caufe left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst fet in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.

Next the apostle sets before Titus the proper qualifications of a perfon, who fhould be thus fet apart to watch over, and to be an instructer to the rest of his brethren, viz. that he ought to be of an unspotted and blameless character; one, who has a due government of his appetites and paffions; one, who is not wrathful nor dogmatical, but of an eafy and a peaceaF 2

ble