I. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Hold fast both the substance of sound Christian doctrine, and the form of expressing and delivering of it, which thou hast heard of me; the sum of which doctrine is our faith in God through Christ, and our love to him and our brethren.

I. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

That good and precious treasure of the Gospel of Christ which was committed unto thy care and trust, and those singular graces which God hath bestowed upon thee, see that thou keep and maintain, with a happy increase; not out of any power and virtue of thine own, but by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in thee. I. 18 In that day.

In that day of the last and general Retribution, when he shall come to reward every man according to his works.

II. 1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Thou therefore, my son, be courageous and strong, in the maintenance of that Gospel of Christ, which thou hast received, through the grace that is given thee, by the same Lord Jesus

Christ.

II. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

And the same things, which thou hast heard me deliver unto thee, not in a corner, but publicly before many witnesses, as a truth worthy to be averred; even the same things do thou preach, and deliver over to faithful men, that may communicate them unto others; that so this blessed message of the Gospel, may be both diffused abroad, and transmitted to posterity.

H. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Thou knowest thy calling, that thou art by thy profession a soldier of Jesus Christ, serving under his colours; resolve thou therefore to do and endure that, which belongs to thy place; be content to suffer and undergo all hardness, for his Name's sake.

II. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

It is not, therefore, for thee, to be taken up with other cares and employments: no man, that gives himself to the wars, while he is in that service entangles himself in the affairs of his husbandry or bargainings; but devotes himself wholly to the military business which he hath in hand, that he may please his captain or general.

II. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

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And, as it is in wrestling, every man, that strives, is not presently graced with the garland; but he, that wrestles skilfully, and according to the laws of that exercise: so it is in this holy station; not every Bishop is crowned and rewarded of God; but he, that manageth this calling gravely, holily, faithfully.

II. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

The husbandman must first labour and take pains, in ploughing and sowing, ere he can be partaker of the fruits of his field; and, when he hath bestowed this profitable toil, he is well worthy to be the first, that shall eat of his own labours.

II. 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

I am persecuted, as an offender, for that I preach the Gospel of Christ; and am imprisoned, and put into bonds and fetters, for this only cause: but, howsoever they may bind me fast as they do, yet they cannot bind up and fetter the Gospel of Christ: that word of his, both is and shall ever be free; for even in these bonds of mine, I do and will preach it unto all comers.

II. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake. Therefore, I endure affliction for those good offices, that I do towards the furthering of the salvation of the elect.

II. 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

And, if we believe not, he loseth nothing by it; the misery and damage is ours; but, for him, he is the same he was (whatever become of us) just, and faithful in all his promises and undertak ings he cannot be less than his word; but will certainly do whatsoever he hath spoken.

II. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus;

And the doctrine of these profane heretics spreads abroad as a canker doth in the flesh; of which sort, are Hymeneus and Philetus;

II. 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Who have erred in a main point of faith; saying, that there is no other than a spiritual resurrection, to be received; and that this spiritual resurrection is passed, while we live here on earth; and, by this means, have perverted and overthrown the faith of some.

II. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But, howsoever some fashionable professors of Christianity do thus fall off; yet, nevertheless, the foundation of God's graciousand eternal election remains sure and unmovable, and is shut up inviolably under this scal of his; The Lord hath eternally fore-known those that are his: yet not so, as that, presuming upon an absolute decree, we should live as we list; but, on our parts who are thus mercifully fore-known, there is required a holy and conscion

able obedience, so, as that every one, that professes the name of Christ, must depart from iniquity.

II. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

Neither need we to be troubled, to see some fall away from Christ for, as we see it is in a great house, there are vessels of all sorts and metals, and of all forms and for all uses; some precious ones of gold and of silver, which are for honourable uses; others again of wood or of earth, which are destined to baser uses so it is in the great house of God, the world; all are not faithful, all are not set apart to glory.

II. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

And, if any man therefore shall keep himself pure and clean from these false doctrines and heretical teachers, he shall approve himself to be a vessel of honour, sanctified and set apart by God, for the glory of his mercy, and by him prepared and enabled to every good work.

II. 22 Fly also youthful lusts.

Avoid thou those impetuous desires and passions, to which youth is commonly subject.

II. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid.

But foolish questions, and such as tend to no edification, and can give no furtherance to our knowledge by assoyling them, do thou avoid.

II. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive.

And it is not for a servant of the Lord, to quarrel and brabble about slight and worthless matters.

II. 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Endeavouring that, by this means,God, if he have so decreed, may give them repentance, and grace to acknowledge that truth, which they have gainsaid;

II. 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

And, that they may seasonably recover themselves from their heresies and errors, which are the very snares of the Devil, wherein they are entangled, and held captive at his pleasure.

III. 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Making an outward and formal profession of godliness in words, but in their deeds denying the power thereof; so living, as if godliness were but a mere name and a matter of fashion, without all force and efficacy: have nothing to do with such kind of men. III. 6, 7 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and

lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Of this sort of dangerous hypocrites are they, which, under fair pretences, insinuate themselves into men's houses, and seduce poor silly women; which are the more apt to be misled, for that they are formerly vicious, being light housewives, and those tirat are given up to lewd and wanton courses; Which indeed are fit disciples for such teachers, as those which are curiously enquiring still into every novelty of doctrine, and never care to attain unto sound knowledge of God's saving truth.

III. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Now, as of old, Jannes and Jambres, which were Pharaoh's sor. cerers, resisted Moses and contested with him, in the message that he brought from God; so do these false teachers, at this day, resist us, in delivering the truth of the Gospel; being men of corrupt minds, desperately erring in the main points of religion, and framing their belief according to their own fancies and af fections.

III. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

But they shall not prevail, to the seducing of any more: for God shall lay them open, and display the foolishness of their doctrine, and shame them, as he did those sorcerers; who were so restrained by the hand of God, that they could not so much as make lice, in emulation of Moses.

III. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The godly are afflicted and persecuted; but wicked men and seducers are at full ease, and grow on, from one degree of sin to another; deceiving others, and being themselves deceived by Satan.

III. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is prefitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

All Holy Scripture is given by inspiration from God, not being dictated or penned by any human device; and is fully available, as for matter of doctrine and for confutation of errors, so also in respect of manners, both for correction of misdemeanours, and for instruction and direction of our holy and righteous carriage.

HII. 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

That a Divine or teacher of God's people may be made complete; throughly furnished by it unto all the services of his profession.

IV. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.

Be earnest and diligent in preaching for there will arise false teachers, who shall so bewitch the minds of men with their plausible fancies, as that they will not endure sound doctrine, but shall multiply to themselves great variety of pleasing teachers; having itching ears, that affect altogether novelty and choice of doctrines, and curious speculations.

IV. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, 'and the time of my departure is at hand.

For I am now ready to be offered up, as a sweet sacrifice to God, in my martyrdom, for his name.

IV. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

My life is a warfare; and, behold, I have fought a good fight, having striven for the Gospel zealously and effectually my life is a race; and I have run my course, even to the very goal, constantly and happily: I have maintained and defended the truth of Christ's Gospel inviolably:

IV. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous

ness.

And now, from henceforth, I comfort myself with the expectation and assurance of that crown or garland of immortality and glory, which, upon the gracious promise of the righteous God, is laid up

for me.

IV. 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.

For Demas hath given over to attend me in my affliction, any longer; rather choosing to take his own ease, and to provide for his own safety and profit, than to minister to me in my bonds. IV. 11 For he is profitable to me for the ministry.

For he may be of great use to assist me here in my ministry, which I labour in, though a prisoner, continually.

IV. 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. At my first answer before Nero's tribunal, I was forsaken of all, which formerly professed favour to me; out of a weak fear of danger and persecution: whose infirmity I so far pity, that I do earnestly pray to God, that this tumorous shrinking of theirs may not be laid to their charge.

IV. 17 And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And I was delivered from the tyranny of that cruel Nero.

IV. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.

And the Lord shall deliver me still and ever, from every evil work, that might blemish this my holy profession; from all cowardly fears, and sinful revolts, and whatsoever else may be offensive to God and his Church.