guards by whom the emperor is surrounded, and the officers of his household, have caught the bland infection of the heavenly doctrine, and even obtrusively transmit their affectionate regards to their brethren in the faith, of other regions: "Wherein," says this same Apostle, in another place, “I suffer “ trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds ; "but the word of God is not bound." Thus then St. Paul continued at Rome for "two whole years," as St. Luke expresses it, writing and preaching the word of truth. Yet still he was a prisoner, and his appeal to Cæsar from the Jews undecided. His first hope of liberation is thus expressed in his Epistle to the Philippians : “ But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timo theus shortly unto you, that I also may be “ of good comfort when I know your state; "for I have no man like-minded, who will 66 naturally care for your state; for all seek "their own, not the things which are Jesus “ Christ's : but ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath 42 Tim. ii. 9. 66 66 served with me in the Gospel. Him, "therefore, I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me: "but I trust in the Lord that I also myself "shall come shortly." In the Epistle to Philemon he speaks with more confidence: "But withal prepare me also a lodging; for "I trust that through your prayers I shall "be given unto you'. The Epistle to the Hebrews presents its author at liberty, and in motion: he speaks not either of Cæsar's household or of the inhabitants of Rome. 66 66 t They of Italy," it is said, "salute you'." And, "know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you"." It is obvious, therefore, that after his two years' abode at Rome he was dismissed, and returned to the East in the discharge of his Apostleship. Of the duration of this period of freedom nothing is known; but the second Epistle to Timothy, which is evidently the last of St. Paul's works in point of date, presents him Phil. ii. 19-24. t Heb. xiii. 24. s Philem. 22. see also ver. 10. " Heb. xiii. 23. to us again as in prison, and at the point of suffering death: "For I am now ready 66 66 to be offered, and the time of my de parture is at hand:" and it also appears that he had been recently in the enjoyment of freedom; for he directs an object of almost daily use, left at Troas, to be brought to him, which it is not likely he would have sought to reclaim after a period of some years had elapsed, if it had been deposited before his first voyage to Rome. Though not certain, it is also highly probable, that Rome was the place of his second confinement. And now he may have been brought into the presence of the emperor Nero: Nero, not as at the beginning of his reign, but when that bane of princes, absolute power, had corrupted or only developed the natural propensities of his heart. "At my first answer," says he, “no man 66 stood with me, but all men forsook me: "I pray God that it may not be laid to "their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord "stood with me, and strengthened me, that * 2 Tim. iv. 13. 66 by me the preaching might be fully known, " and that all the Gentiles might hear; and "I was delivered out of the mouth of the 66 lion"." Though his fate was decided, yet time appears to have been allowed him for preparation; perhaps in hopes also that, through the frailty of human nature, he might be induced to renounce the dangerous doctrines of which he was the promulgator, rather than become a martyr to their truth. And to what are his thoughts directed during the fearful interval between the sentence and its execution? To the preservation in unsullied purity of that religion which it had been the object of his maturer years, and more sacred conviction, to plant in the earth: "I charge thee, therefore, before 66 God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who "shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the 66 66 66 66 word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine "." 'Only Luke," says y 2 Tim. iv. 16, 17. 66 z Ibid. 1, 2. he, “is with me. Take Mark and bring him "with thee; for he is profitable to me for 66 66 66 the ministry." Here is no mention of St. Peter; no prophetic hint of his appearance or future arrival at Rome; still less at his establishing there a dominant church, and being the first of an uninterrupted succession. Tychicus," he says, "have I sent to Ephesus" and twice he charges Timothy "to do his diligence to come to him shortly;" and "to come to him before the winter;" probably wishing that beloved disciple to witness his execution. He likewise gives him an injunction, in a preceding chapter of this short Epistle, which I must cite to you, as evincing his extreme anxiety to guard the sacred truths of Christianity from the slightest intermixture of error on their first promulgation. "Thou, therefore, my son," he says, "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 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"." 66 66 66 66 |