t:
"Hold fast the form of sound words."

This passage of Scripture is a part of the fatherly instruction Paul
gave his spiritual son Timothy. God's works and man's works in the
conversion and regeneration of man are so blended, so connected and
identified one with the other that Paul sometimes speaks of doing what
none but God himself can do. Thus to the Corinthians he said: "For I
have begotten you through the gospel." And to Philemon he said: "I
beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds."
These passages show how clearly the true child of God stands connected
with the Holy Spirit, in his blessed work of regenerating man and
qualifying him for heaven. The conjunction of effort may be compared
with what we see and know to exist in husband and wife. When the twain
are really one flesh, one heart, one mind, what is done by the one is
regarded as done by the other. It must be in a sense somewhat like
this that Paul calls Timothy his son. The aged John also says: "I have
no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." He here
means spiritual children. He calls them his children from the love he
has for them, and the fatherly care he has over them, and the fatherly
instruction he gives them. They are near to him, as children are to
their own parents, and when he sees or hears that they receive the
truth and walk in it, it gives him joy.

When Paul addressed the words of my text to Timothy, most of the New
Testament had been written. It is to the New Testament Scriptures that
he calls Timothy's special attention, where he says: "It is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works." Here, in these Scriptures, is to be
found the FORM of sound words which Timothy is admonished to hold
fast. This instruction harmonizes with what was said to the angel of
the church in Thyatira: "But that which ye have, hold fast till I
come." And in the last of the book of Revelation there are awful
warnings given against adding to or taking from what God has spoken.
The temptation to skip over, misquote, and misinterpret the Scriptures
must be very great, as it is to these three sources that nearly or
quite all the denominational differences among professing Christians
can be traced.

Brethren, it becomes us to be very careful here, "lest Satan should
get an advantage of us; for we are not