William Burkitt Notes and Observations - 1 Timothy 4:4 - 4:4

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William Burkitt Notes and Observations - 1 Timothy 4:4 - 4:4


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Here our apostle assigns a reason why Christians are not forbidden under the gospel to abstain from particular meats, namely, because the distinction of meats (clean and unclean) is taken away, and every creature of God is good in itself, and clean to us, and nothing to be refused, as unlawful or unclean, if it be received thankfully from God's hand: For it is sanctified by the word, that is, by the gospel; it is made clean to us, that having taken off the difference of meats, and to the pure made all things pure.

Note here, 1. The quality of all God's creatures as they come from him, and are given to us, Every creature of God is good.

Note, 2. The use of God's creatures consisting in their lawfulness unto us, and our liberty unto them, Nothing is to be refused; so that there is no sin in the use of them, nor no religion in the forbearing of them, or abstaining from them; this liberty was given us by God, and restored by Christ, therefore we must not suffer our Christian liberty to be impeached by Judiasm.

Note, 3. A condition necessary on our part, lest the creatures, otherwise good and lawful, should become unto us evil and hurtful, and that is, thankfulness: If it be received with thanksgiving, with the thankfulness of the heart expressed by the language of the lips.

Note, 4. The way and means by which the creatures become clean and sanctified to us; namely, by the word of God and prayer.

1. By the word of God; here observe, a threefold word of God, by which the creature is sanctified, namely, the word of donation, the word of benediction, and the word of promise. By the first he bestows his creatures upon us, by the second he blesses the creatures to us, and by the third he confirms his blessing in Christ; in whom, and by whom, we have a covenant right unto, and a sanctified use of, all the mercies which we do enjoy.

2. By prayer; namely, as it obtains from God, first, a right improvement, and secondly, a comfortable enjoyment of all that we do receive; or thus, the creature is sanctified to us by prayer in the procurement of it, in the fruition of it, in the review and recognition of it, and God's mercy in it, with thanksgiving and praise, loving it after God, and for God, and in subordination to God. Thus then is every creature of God good, and nothing to be refused, being sanctified by the word of God and prayer.