Titus 1:7-9 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker… 1. Meditate — (1) On God's commandment (Proverbs 23:4; Matthew 6:25). And reason there is, that seeing distracting and solicitous thoughts are the ground of covetous practices, the care of a Christian must be to walk diligently in his calling, but leave all the success and blessing of it unto God. (2) On God's promises (Psalm 55:24; 1 Peter 5:7). Make these promises thy purchase and possess them by belief, and they shall be instead of a bridle unto all covetous and greedy desires of gain. And thus the apostle dissuadeth it (Hebrews 13:5). Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with things present. They might ask, but how shall we attain hereunto: have we not cares and charges upon us? True; but you have where to lay them: for He hath said, "I will not leave thee nor forsake thee."(3) On thy own deserts: whereby Jacob in want stayed his mind, "I am less than the least of Thy mercies."(4) On the inordinancy of thy desire: for how little is nature con tented with! and a very little above a little choketh it: and yet grace is contented with much less: it careth not how little it see about it, for it believeth the more, hopeth the more, trusteth the more, prayeth the more, and loveth the more. All the labour of a man (saith Solomon) "is for his mouth"; the mouth is but little and strait, soon filled, "yet the desire is not filled": noting it to be an unnatural desire in many men, who labour not as men who were to feed a mouth but a great gulf fit to swallow whole Jordan at a draught, or such a mouth as the Leviathan which receiveth the cart and drawers of it. 2. Practise these rules following(1) Carry an equal mind to poverty and riches, and aim at Paul's resolution, "I can want and abound," I can be full and hungry, in every condition I can he content. If the world come in upon thee, use it as not using it; if it do not, yet account the present condition the best for thee, because the Lord doth so account it: and the way to get wealth is to give it up into God's disposition, as Abraham by offering up Isaac to the Lord kept him still. (2) Turn the stream of thy desires from earthly to heavenly things, makings, with David, God thy portion; then shalt thou be better without these than ever thou weft or canst be with them. (3) Thou must go one step further, daily to cross the affection directly(a) By daily seeking the assurance of the pardon of sin. (b) By daily prayer against this sin especially. (c) By daily reading the Scriptures, which are the sword of the Spirit to cut off such lusts, wisely observing and applying such places as most cross it. (d) By being ready to do good, and distribute, and exercising liberality upon all good motions and occasions. (T. Taylor, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; |
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