Turn with me in your Bibles to Paul's epistle to Titus, chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. And for those of you that are trying to follow along in the Revelation series, we have finished our sermon series in Ezra, in Virginia, and so next week we will take up Revelation 1.1. If you are following in Matthew Poole, you'll want to read 1.1 and perhaps even chapter 1 verse 2. At our text this evening, Paul's epistle to Titus chapter 2 beginning in verse 1. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine, that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The age women likewise that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded, in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters and to please them well in all things, not answering again, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. Paul paints for us a picture of harmonious body life, harmonious relationships and the benefits that come from that. If we are to have harmony as a body, everyone must stand in their place in calling and do the duties of that place and calling. But then we see in this text the benefits of doing so, which we could say are at least two. First we see here the happiness and edification of the body. The relations are happy in the sense that everyone is working harmoniously and there are no jarring relationships. There's a reciprocal relating, a mutuality here, no jarring relationships. But in addition to happiness Notice it says that there's an adorning of their profession of faith. It's a beautifying of it. If you think of our body, it's like dressing our body up in the precious ornaments of righteousness. Precious jewels as it were. It is a good witness to the world. I wanted to point out these things going a little bit beyond the verses we're going to cover tonight, but notice what is said to the young women. They are to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands. To what end? Let the word of God be not blasphemed. If these virtues are not maintained, then the reputation of God himself is going to be sullied. Also for ministers, verse 8, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. So here there is a sort of speech that must be of such excellence that it cannot be condemned. Or any attempt to condemn it will make the opposing party ashamed. And then more positively, We want to do good credit to the name of God, and we see this in verse 10, instruction of the servants, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity to what end? That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. Adorning, beautifying, ornamenting the doctrine of God. And so we see that much is at stake in a harmonious body life. We want to adorn our profession before a lost and dying world with good works and harmonious relating. Tonight we're going to take up the place and calling of the younger women. Look at the text with me again. We'll begin at verse three. The aged women, likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Strictly speaking, verses three through five, if you'll notice, are instructions for the older women, the aged women. But in verses 4 and 5, we have what they are to be teaching the younger women, and hence the duties of the younger. Over the next several Lord's Days, we're going to take a two-fold outline. We're going to get a start on the first part. First, as we look at the young women, we're going to look at some aspects of good character, good Christian character in a general way. And then we're going to talk about the relative duties that are laid upon young women, how they relate to certain other parties, their homes, their husbands, their children, and so forth. So we're going to look at some aspects tonight of good character in general, but with a particular view to younger women. This is one of the few times that I get to address the younger women, I suppose, in a very particular and pointed way. Tonight we're going to look at just two aspects of this. Next time we're together, we'll look at a third and then look at the relative duties. First, in verse 5, we want to look at the virtue of discretion. In Greek, sophronos which is a root that we've already seen several times in the first two chapters. Basically it is the prudent and thoughtful aspects of self-control. The kind of thoughtfulness that leads to self-control. This is not something that is unique to the young women because this is something that is emphasized for almost every class of person that Paul has been talking about and will talk about. Here, when we talk about the thoughtful aspects of self-control, what is it exactly that we are controlling? And here, no doubt, the appetites and passions are in view. Human appetites and passions, in and of themselves, are good, even though they have been corrupted by sin. And we need to be very careful when we think about these and talk about these things, but the appetites and passions of man are good and are aspects of a good creation. When you think of the appetites, you might think of things like hunger, thirst, sleep, and sex drive. All of these sorts of things are appetites. God created us this way because he wanted us this way. Our bodies tell us when we need food, and that's a good thing. They tell us when we need drink, and when we need sleep, and so on. These are all good things, good appetites as created by God, but of course they have been corrupted, twisted, perverted by sin, and so they become immoderate. One of the great problems with fallen man is that the appetites end up governing the man rather than being governed by him, by his rational soul, by the word of God. So they end up driving him along rather than him employing and making use of them. You think also of the passions, the affections, the emotions, joy, anger, grief, and so on. Again, these things are good. God did not create us to be stoics, dispassionate philosophers, but he created us with all of these affections and emotions. We are to rejoice in God and in his righteousness. We should be angry about sin. This is how we have been constructed by God. But again, our passions have been corrupted. by our fallen nature. And so again, they become immoderate. They govern the man rather than being governed by the man. But we know that our conduct is to be governed by what? By God's Word and not by our passions. And we'll talk some more about this. But first, a use for all. And here I just say very briefly, you remember the Apostle Paul said that he brought his body into subjection. That he would buffet it as it were and beat it down because he said that he would not be governed by any of these sorts of things. So these things are good and are to be used in a good way. But Paul refused to be governed by them. And so we must all learn to bring our bodies, our appetites and our passions under subjection. But if I might, I thought that I would address the young women in particular. First concerning appetites. When we think of the drive to eat and to drink, if we would apply discretion, that means we must make a thoughtful use of meat and drink. A thoughtful, considered use. meeting the needs of the body so there's going to be some consideration of what the body needs in order for its proper functioning and then thoughtful consideration on how to meet the body's needs but more than that food and drink have also been given for joy so it is appropriate to have an eye to taste and rejoicing and in all of these things we ought to be careful not to harm the body through dietary imbalance or a lack of moderation in the food that we take and the drink that we consume. I think most of us if we consider ourselves carefully would have to say that we are guilty in some measure of not making a right use of these things. I know that in my life, with respect to amounts, I've done pretty well with respect to food and drink, but not always with respect to balance and having an eye towards the needs of the body. And this is a sin. It's a lack of discretion, as it's described here. Not thoughtfulness. Self-control in the use of these things. But we should also be careful not to harm the soul. Poor stewardship of the body is a sin all by itself. But as we have observed in previous sermons, an unhealthy body certainly can affect your soul. And so we ought not to be naive or mystical in this regard, as if the spirit had no relationship to a body. With sickness come great trials, spiritual trials, spiritual temptations. And we ought to spare ourselves as much as we can with a good diet and careful consideration of what it is that we are eating. Second, we ought to use good discretion with respect to sleep. Again, this means meeting the needs of the body. And this helps the soul. Have any of you ever cut the sleeping hours a little too short only to find yourself out of sorts, grumpy or inattentive in your labors and these sorts of things? You see there, you didn't meet the needs of the body properly and so it was some measure of harm to the soul. We have to always observe that Body and soul are united in us and they affect one another. So we must meet the needs of the body and I think that we should rejoice in sleep. Scriptures do commend it as something that is sweet to the laboring man. We should be thankful for it. But we should also avoid sleeping too much. The Proverbs talk about a certain kind of loss of productivity that comes if we love the bed overmuch. I paraphrase, but as Solomon says, a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and then poverty will come upon you like an armed man. You lose your productivity and your livelihood. A bit more of a delicate subject. The sex drive is a good thing. Created by God, He created us like that because He wanted us that way. Adam, when he saw Eve, was quite pleased with what he saw, and it was a good thing, a happy thing. And in that state, a pristine and pure thing. And we ought never to call these good things that God has made evil. as Paul says in 1 Timothy chapter 4, to call such good things evil is a doctrine of devils. But these are part of the created nature that God made and declared very good, and we should never say anything else that these things are good. Only I would commend this to the young, and particularly to the young women, before marriage, be careful not to stir it up too much. Because once it begins to burn, it's very difficult to get it back in the box. That is something that experience has taught man for a long time. But even after marriage, once again, a thoughtful, moderate, and disciplined use of the marriage bed. And again, we're thoughtful and considerate in these. something that can be a bit under-emphasized in reform circles, the Lord has given this great and precious gift for meeting the needs of the marital relationship. So we ought not to discount the fellowship and the joy that husband and wife experience there. There is probably quite a bit of difference of opinion there, but I would say that this is the primary use of the marriage bed even before the production of children. That it was given for fellowship and for joy and for the support, furthering and deepening of the one flesh union. So we make use of the marriage bed to meet the needs of the marriage and also for the production of children. But in the use of it we must learn to maintain discipline, because both nature and scripture do put limits. And so we must ever be practicing a disciplined use. Especially it is wise to practice a disciplined use because there might be seasons in God's providence where it becomes impossible. And we will be very grateful for discipline if that season comes. He said, well what are these limits that you talk about nature and scripture put on it? I remember studying through the book of Leviticus with old Andrew Willett. And he was talking about, you remember the scriptures say that a man was not to come near to a woman during that time in her monthly cycle. And he raised the question, is this simply a ceremonial law that passed? with the coming of Christ, or perhaps with the state of Israel? Or was this something that was taught by nature? And not being able to see anyway that this pointed forward to Jesus Christ, and considering the sense that even natural man sees it as being a bit unclean, he saw it as being natural and moral, that a man is not to come near to his wife during that time. And so what you find is that the Lord has built in a monthly discipline. Every month, the man is going to have to leave off for a week. And that becomes part of the discipline. In the Old Testament legislation, childbirth would present another time. You remember either 40 or 80 days, depending upon whether or not it was a man child or a female child. But we will be very glad that we have observed this scriptural discipline if illness should ever make such things impossible for a season. You've got to practice discipline. You've got to practice controlling the appetite and keeping it within bounds. These biblical cycles were given to foster self-control and moderation, if I might say so, a discreet use. exercise of discretion in the use of the marriage band. We'll talk about this a little bit more under the second virtue that's mentioned here, which is chastity. But before we go there, let us talk a little bit about the passions. And again, in youth, the passions, the emotions can be particularly strong. I remember in my own teenage years, I would have great highs and great lows, I could get very angry very quickly and then I could cool off also very quickly this is a common thing in youth but if you would be wise as young people, if you would be wise as young ladies you will learn to rule over your passions and over your emotions early on so that they do not rule over you Solomon says, He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh his city. Solomon says we must learn to rule over our spirits. And it's an excellent person that is able to keep the emotions and the passions in check. It's good to begin this early, to discipline the emotions in youth and to develop good habits. it will yield a lifetime of benefits to develop good habits. And I do know, I grew up not disciplining my passions, and so now they are kept in check, but only with great difficulty. I feel that burning in my chest, you see. So they have to be kept under my force. But I have hopes that if we train the children rightly, they won't feel that same. burning, at least not quite as early and not as intensely as Daddy felt these things. And they will be much happier people if they can learn it very early on. In disciplining the passions, I would commend to you two questions to think about. When you feel your blood beginning to boil or grief welling up or even great joy, Think about what is going on around you and ask yourself this question. How does the Bible teach me to feel about these things? Because it is a complete myth that our emotions cannot be governed. They just are what they are. Like we fall in love. It's something that happens to us, you see. This is a complete myth. The Bible expects us to bring our emotions, our passions under subjection, and to conform them to the Word of God, to bring every thought as it were captive. So we ought to ask ourselves, how does the Bible teach me to feel about this? Should I be rejoicing and giving thanks because of what has happened? Should I grieve over what has happened? Should I be angry? But don't stop there. Then ask a second question. What does the Bible tell me to do about this? Because our actions are not to be governed by our feelings, not even when those feelings are in conformity with the Bible. But again, our actions are to be governed directly by the word of God. So you have to ask both both of those questions. How does the Bible teach me to feel about a situation like this? And then what does it teach me to do? The second virtue that we are going to take up tonight is chastity. Agnes in the Greek, chaste, pure, clean. Chastity we normally think of with respect to body, but here it could be much broader. Cleanliness, both in body and in mind. I find it very interesting that it follows discretion. Discretion and chastity. And it does appear that there is a connection between these two virtues. With discretion, the passions and the appetites are under control. But chastity speaks of a purity of affections and actions. And these are very much connected. A couple of practical things, especially for young women, but things that are important for all of us. In Scripture, we want to put the primacy or give the first place to internal chastity. The Proverbs say this, keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4.23. If you can keep your heart, if you can keep your mind pure, then the actions will follow. It's like if you have a pure spring, then the water that rushes out of it is going to be pure. In the same way, purity in heart and in mind will produce pure actions. As the Lord Jesus said, good trees produce good fruit. In the same way that a clean heart will produce clean actions. And so I'm going to begin there and put the emphasis there. To those that are very young, be careful to keep those unclean affections from even starting. Because as I mentioned earlier, once they start, it's very difficult to stop them. So maintain your self-impurity, maintain a pure internal life from the very beginning, and it will be much easier every day. To teenagers, these are very challenging years with respect to purity. Why is that? Because both our bodies and our hearts and our minds begin to gear up for marriage, which in and of itself is a good thing, but it is challenging Because our sinful nature is always going to want to pervert those things. But remember, desiring marriage is a good thing. Marriage is a good thing. Desiring it is a good thing. Adam desired marriage without any sin. So this is a good thing. But sin can take advantage. And you look at the history of mankind, I think we see what one of my favorite sections from C.S. Lewis, he pointed out that The better a thing is in and of itself, the more monstrous it becomes when it goes wrong. And so it is with these desires. They are a good thing, a great thing. Marriage is a great thing. One of the high points of God's creation. A desire for it is a good thing. And yet if it goes wrong, it can become monstrous and a great evil. And when you think of the great evil that has been done in the world through Seventh Commandment violations, particularly among the young, we see that it is a terrible evil indeed. So what can we say about this? First of all, we need to exercise self-control. Your bodies and your hearts and your minds are gearing up for marriage, but it's important that we not let these feelings burn out of control, especially when there is not yet any outlet for them. So self-control, moderation, discipline, keeping these things in check. But having been a young person, I know just how difficult this is. You have another tool that is available to you that I wish that I had known more about, or had more carefully observed. Your parents have been given to you as that great safety net in this matter. I'm going to propose something to you that will sound so difficult that you will not want to do it. But as your bodies are gearing up and getting ready for marriage and that next stage in life, you need to speak very honestly with your parents about what is happening in your mind. and in your hearts. And as you do that, they will provide a measure of safety for you that you cannot provide for yourself. And that is part of the function of parents during that part of your life. They are God's gift of help to you. It can be very practical things like You know, we've talked about this and you've told me what's going on in your mind and in your heart and I think it's important that you not spend time alone. But come home and we'll spend time here. Don't worry, it'll be fine. Those kinds of things can be invaluable. An invaluable help and safety net. And I know that it's awkward and I can't, when I look back on my childhood, I can't imagine doing it with my parents. But if you would be safe And if you can preserve yourself in chastity, then parents are the great safety method that have been given for that. It is well known in the annals of man that there are few things that can rob a young man or a young woman of their good sense in quite the same way that a romantic relationship can. But if you'll hold fast and cling to your parents in that, They'll not be robbed of their good sense, and they'll help you keep your bearings, keep your head on straight, and keep you safe when you get a little loopy during those times in those years. So make use of the gifts that God has given. It will have a secondary benefit. You won't believe me, but it will be true. It will greatly deepen your relationship with your parents. So don't draw back. I know it's awkward. Don't draw back and don't be afraid. There's great blessings in store. Next time we gather, we will talk about the goodness of young women as well as their relationships to their wives and their husbands. I thought we might conclude this evening with Psalm 119 verses 9 through 16 to the tune St. Paul. When we look at the territory that we have covered concerning discretion and how is it that we are going to keep our hearts and our actions directed in the right way, prudently self-controlled. We do this by keeping our attention on the Word of God. By what means shall a young man learn his way to purify if he according to thy word thereto attentive be. do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do By what means shall a young man learn his way to purify? If he according to Thy word there to attend it be. Unfeignedly thee have I sought with all my soul and heart. O let me not from the right path of Thy commands depart. Thy word I in my heart have hid, that I often not be. O Lord, Thou ever-blessed art, Thy statutes teach Thou me. The judgments of Thy mouth, each one, my lips declare it hath. More joy Thy testimonies way, then riches o'er me give. I will thy holy precepts make my meditation. and carefully I'll have respect unto Thy ways, each one. Upon Thy statues, my delight, shall constantly be said. And by Thy grace I never will Thy holy word forget. This Reformation audio track is a production of Stillwater's Revival Books. SWRB makes thousands of classic Reformation resources available, free and for sale, in audio, video, and printed formats. Our many free resources, as well as our complete mail-order catalog, containing thousands of classic and contemporary Puritan and Reform books, tapes, and videos at great discounts, is on the web at www.swrb.com. We can also be reached by email. by phone at 780-450-3730 by fax at 780-468-1096 or by mail at 4710-37A Edmonton Alberta, abbreviated capital A, capital B, Canada, T6L3T5. You may also request a free printed catalog. And remember that John Calvin, in defending the Reformation's regulative principle of worship, or what is sometimes called the scriptural law of worship, commenting on the words of God, which I commanded them not, neither came into my heart. From his commentary on Jeremiah 731, writes, God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since He condemns by this one phrase, I have not commanded them, whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions than that they are not commanded by God. For when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to His commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the papists, all those fictitious modes of worship in which they absurdly exercise themselves would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the Papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying his word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The Prophet's words, then, are very important, when he says that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind, as though he had said that men assume too much wisdom when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew.