The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-11

This last letter Of St Paul drops from his tri-
umpnal chariot like Elijah's mantle. As Timothy
received it, he might well have cried with admir-
ing regret in the very words of Elisha, my
father! my father! Thou chariot of Israel! Thou
horseman thereof. No doubt Timothy priced
highly and made effective of the sheepskn
epistle as Elisha did Of the sheepskin mantle
Here is ideal installation charge TO a
Christian minister. The honor. scope and solemn
issues of the pastorate outlined by a master
hand. Nor was the fruit of a long experience
unrivaled to this day in width and variety. In
these eleven a whole library of pastoral
theology is condensed 1t is the preachers wade
mecum. If any one imagines that the
minister's commission is narrow one, let him
dwell upon these comprehensive terms: preach,
Teprove, rebuke. exhort, watch, endure, evan
gelize. The transition from general ex-
hortation to his own experience is natural. He
has consciously reached 1.-THE fnish,' and in
stinctively looks back the course and then
turns his eye to the crown which awaits him.
He laments the infidelity of his COM
panions, manifest in their absence at his recent
arraignment. How completely he had caught the
spirit of one to whose death he consented as an
official witness. is manifest in his of Stephen
very words that it be not laid to their charge.
= He rejoices in the stay in his trial af-
fording him additional opportunities of preaching
He is confident also of deiverance from
the evil work of the lapsi chose who denied the
hears the gates Of the heavenly kingdom swing
open to receive him. he reaches a true cimactic
point in the doXology ITO him be glory unto the
ages of ages!''
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
1 charge thee: This is the apostles last charge
to Timothy. he therefore puts it in the most SOL
form.-Fairbairn.
Who shall judge: Nothing is more fitted to fill
the mind with lofty fervor than the thought Of
the accounting which shall be made before his
judgment-seat.--Van Oosterzee.
Appearing and kingdom: Each has its place in
the adjuration-his coming, at which shall
stand before him; his kingdom, in which we hope
to reign with him.-Alford.
Preach the word; Sound it forth herald.
Be instant: Stand by fast In season, out: Let all
Reprove: Bring to proof. Rebuke: Stronger than
reproof, blame with expression Of repugnance.
Van OosterZee.
Exhort: Persuade men to repentance. And doc
trine: Not creed. but teaching of truth. The
Christian should exhort and counsel though no
heeds him; fountains flow, though one
draws and rivers run. though no one drinks.
of results. Our rule is laid down by God the
lover OF men whose part is never to slacken
-Chrysostom
Time. will come: Necessity is shown for this
faithful ministry. Ready to be offered: Events
occurring in Rome made it morally certain he
Fought a good fight: Have completed the
glorious contest: gone over the whole course-C
Henceforth: AS to the rest, coronation only re-
NAMED Crown of righteousness: Appropriate re
spread the principles Of honess.-Barnes.
NV first answer: Probably condemned on charge
of introducing religion. F. B.
Preaching might be known: In his defense took
occasion to preach the gospel.-Clarke.
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
/. Here as in a mirror one sees the whole of
Pauls life What he exhorted Timothy to be-
he was himself What he babe him do, he had
already done. He is at the peerless teacher
and exemplar of pastoral theology.
2. There will probably always be, as in Tim
othy's day, gangs of doctrinal tramps who
cording to their varying tastes. will heap one
teacher top of another. Already discarded
each superstition, each successive exagger-
ated and distorted form of doctrine will be a
pleasant fad for them.
3. The Christian of death is suggested by
the expression, time of departure" The soul is
not snatched away, the heathens say so
many of their mortuary marbles. 1t Just slips
its cable and steers for the shore of the eternal
world.
4. Paul claims monopoly of the crown. 1t is
not the prize peculiarly of the martyr All who
love the Savior's appearing may have it.
5. The dying hours of Edward PaysOn, in their
Joyous triumph not unlike those of Paul He
dated letter from Beulah Land, and said: 1.-The
Sun of righteousness draws nearer, the Celestial
City is in full view