be tormented with the desire of it, for nothing so much causes the desire of wealth, as the possession of it. But it is not so with respect to lust, but many who have been made eunuchs have not been freed from the flame that burned within them, for the desire resides in other organs, being seated inwardly in our nature. To what purpose then is this said? Because the covetous is more intemperate than the fornicator, inasmuch as the former gives way to a weaker passion. Indeed it proceeds less from passion than from baseness of mind. But lust is natural, so that if a man does not approach a woman, nature performs her part and oper- ation. But there is nothing of this sort in the case of avarice. 537 “That we should live godly in this present world.” And what is this hope? what the reward of our labors? “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing.” For nothing is more blessed and more desirable than that appearing. Words are not able to represent it, the blessings thereof surpass our understanding. “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour.”1498 Where are those who say that the Son is inferior to the Father? “Our great God and Saviour.” He who saved us when we were enemies. What will He not do then when He has us approved?1499 “The great God.” When he says great with respect to God, he says it not comparatively but absolutely,1500 after Whom no one is great, since it is relative. For if it is relative, He is great by comparison, not great by nature. But now He is incomparably great. Ver. 14. “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people.” “Peculiar”: that is, selected from the rest, and having nothing in common with them. “Zealous of good works.” Dost thou see that our part is necessary, not merely works, but “zealous”; we should with all alacrity, with a becoming earnestness, go forward in virtue. For when we were weighed down with evils, and incurably diseased, it was of His lovingkindness that we were delivered. But what follows after this is our part as well as His. Ver. 15. “These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.” “These things speak and exhort.” Do you see how he charges Timothy? “Reprove, rebuke, exhort.” But here, “Rebuke with all authority.” For the manners of this people were more 1498 This is the meaning, as Middleton has shown. The English Version, “The great God and our Saviour,” is ambiguous. 1499 Edd. οὐκ εὐδοκιμοῦντας λαβών. The order does not admit the sense, “Seeing He received us when not approved,” so that this would be, “how will he not punish us if he finds us not approved;” but B. has not the negative, which Downes had rejected. 1500 ἀπολύτως. 929 Titus 2:11-14