Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 8 · Verse 23
VERSE 23. And not onelyonly they, but our ſelues alſo which hauehave the firſt fruits of the Spirit. Euen wee our ſelues, groane within our ſelues, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the *Luc. 21.28.Redemption of our body.
IN this Verſe is the Application of the former Example. The words hauehave no difficulty, if wee vnderſtand to whom the Application is referred.
Wee: Some expound, Caietanus.We Apoſtles, which (Apoſtles) had the firſt fruits: that is, the Riches of the Spirit. As the firſt fruits are moſt precious; ſo they receiued Grace, both before others, and in greater meaſure, and then the Argument is from the greater to the leſſe. Aretius.If we Apoſtles, which are ſydera, as ſtarres, if we ſigh and grone, then much more inferiour Chriſtians.
But it is rather to be taken of Chriſtians in generall: the Apoſtle neither in the precedent or ſubſequent verſes ſpeaking of himſelfe as of an Apoſtle, but as of a Chriſtian: as in the next verſe we are ſaued by Hope: which is not the prerogatiue of Apoſtles, but of all Chriſtians. We then; that is, we Chriſtians, both of that, and all times. So here is an Argument from the leſſe to the greater, thus. If the Creature which hath not ſuch ſenſe of the glory to come as we hauehave, do abide the Lords leiſure, expecting a day of deliuerance, then much more ought we to waite, &c.
In this verſe are two things: Firſt, a practice of Chriſtians. Secondly, a reaſon of the practice. The practice is ſet downe in two words; 1. Grone. 2. Wayte.
1. We grone. Among our ſelues, ſay ſome, Beza.but better in our ſelues. And ſo it is an Amplification from the manner or meaſure of Groning. That is, our Grones come from our very heart roote, (as we ſay.) There is a reioycing which is but in the face and appearance; ſo there is a groning, but in appearance, therefore he ſaith, in our ſelues, 2. Cor. 5.12.to note the Greatneſſe and the Truth of it, that it is not fained, but without hypocriſie; or to ſhew that there is matter within the beſt of vsus to make vsus mourne.Pareus. Anſel.
The ſecond practice, We wayte: amplified by the thing we waite for, The Adoption; which is expounded, The Redemption of our bodies; theſe words being added by appoſition.
But we are the ſonnes of God: why then ſhould we wayt for that which we hauehave already? The anſwere is, wee hauehave the Right, but not the Complement. Wee hauehave the right of the Inheritance, Habemus Ius haereditatis non poſſeſſionē Iuris.but wee ſhall not hauehave the full poſſeſſion of our Right, till the Reſurrection of our bodies. But why of the bodie? becauſe all miſeries are conueyed to the whole man by the bodie: or rather, becauſe the body is ſubiect to death; corrupting and rotting in the graue, when the ſoule is in Heauen; it is the laſt is redeemed, and all wayt euen for that.Luk. 21.28.
The reaſon is, becauſe we hauehave the firſt fruites of the Spirit, which breeds ſighes and grones in them which hauehave it.
The firſt fruites: that is, the Prelibation: A ſay, or taſte, which we receiue here in righteouſneſſe, peace, and ioy, being but a ſip, in compariſon of the full draught we ſhall hauehave hereafter. Saint Paul here alludes to the law of the firſt fruits, which were a pawne to the offerer of Inning his whole crop: Leuit. 23.ſo the firſt fruits of the Spirit which we receiue here in remiſſion of ſinnes, is as a pawne to vsus of receiuing the whole maſſe of Glory promiſed.
doctrine The Children of God, becauſe they hauehave receiued the firſt fruits of the Spirit, doe grone for the preſent corruption, expecting the Redemption euen of their bodies from the ſame, Epheſ. 4.30. 2. Cor. 5.2,3,4,5. Phil. 3.20,21.
Vſe 1.The power of Sinne brings death of body, goes with it to the Graue, remaines with it, turnes it into duſt, and neuer leaueth it till the day of the Generall reſurrection.
Vſe 2.Gods children now mourne, yet they are called to Ioy, and Ioy they ſhall hauehave, going from the vale of teares to the Mountaine of Ioy. Heauineſſe may endure for a night, (the time of this life) but ioy commeth in the morning; Pſal. 30.5. Illo Mane. Pſal. 49.14.in That morning which ſhall hauehave no night to ſucceed it. And this with as vndoubted aſſurance, as the firſt fruites, aſſured of the whole crop, and as the earneſt aſſureth of the bargaine. Now the firſt fruites of the Spirit are the earneſt of future glory.Epheſ. 1.13.
Ʋſe 3.We hauehave no perfection in this life, for we hauehave but the firſt fruites: and hence the diuell would deceiue vsus, perſwading vsus that we hauehave no faith, no ſanctification, not the Spirit at al, becauſe we hauehave not al faith, perfect ſanctification, and the fulnes of the Spirit. Well Remember that God requires according to that he giues: he knows thou canſt hauehave no grace but from him, and therefore he expects obedience no farther then he giues. Haſt thou much grace? He expects from thee much obedience. And a man is accepted according to that he hath, not according to that he hath not. Be humbled for thy wants, but deſpaire not.
Vſe 4.He that hath the firſt fruits of the Spirit, grones to be deliuered from the power of ſinne, not onelyonly to condemne him, but alſo to rule and raigne in him. Where are thy ſighes and Teares for thy ſinnes, and manifold faylings? The godly are eueryevery where brought in in their mourning apparell. Dauid waters his couch with his teares. Pſal. 6.6.Iobs mourning came before his meat; Iob. 3.24.and Paul cries out lamenting.Rom. 7.24.
If then thou liueſt in drunkenneſſe, whoredome, &c. and neuer lamenteſt, how art thou like any of the Saints? Paul had no ſuch ſinnes in regard of the outward act to anſwer for, yet he laments; How then canſt thou which art notoriouſly guilty of theſe and the like ſins, reſtrain thy eyes from teares, yea, thy heart from breaking? Thou couldſt not if thou hadſt the firſt fruites of the Spirit: Canſt thou bee thus guiltie and laugh? Remember what was the end of Diues his mirth. Mourne, mourne, for Luk. 6.21,25.woe be to them which laugh, and bleſſed are they which weepe.
Ʋſe 5.Our Griefe for ſinne, and deſire of deliuerance muſt bee hearty and earneſt. Wicked men grieue becauſe of that day, which ſhal render into their boſomes the fruit of their waies: The Saints grieue for the delay of it: neuer receiuing ſatisfaction till that day ariſe vponupon them.
When Paul had been rapt into the third Heauen, 2. Cor. 12.his note was euer after: Phil. 1.23.I deſire to be diſſolued and to be with Chriſt. And therefore the Church in the Reuelation from the ſenſe of Gods louelove, in the firſt fruits of it here receiued, cryeth, Reuel. 22.20.Come, Lord Ieſus, come quickely, praying not for the delay of the end, as ſome of olde, Tertul. Apol. aduerſ. Gent.but for the haſting of the ſame.
Euen as hee that hath taſted a little honey, longeth for more, ſo the deſire of the Saints hauing once taſted the ſweetneſſe of Chriſt, remains vnſatisfied till they bathe themſelues body and ſoule in thoſe riuers of righteouſneſſe and pleaſure, which are at the right hand of God.
The children of God pray for the accompliſhing the number of the Elect, the comming of Chriſt, &c. Pſal. 16.11.No maruell. For heere they are ſtrangers, then ſhall they goe to their owne Countrey. As home is ſweet and deſired of him that is in a ſtrange and barbarous Countrey, ſo is that day to the Saints.
No woman with childe doth more exactly count her time; No Iew more earneſtly lookes for the Iubilee; No ſeruant more deſiredly wiſhes for the end of the yeere, then the Saints the comming of the Lord Ieſus to Iudgement. The wicked deſire it not, but tremble at the remembrance of it: neither doe they deſire things ſpirituall, becauſe they neuer taſted of their ſweetneſſe; as a Horſe hauing Hay and Prouender deſireth no better, becauſe hee knowes no better. Haſt thou taſted of the Spirit? Shew it in thy reioycing in it, in thy mourning for thy wants, and corruption, and in thy deſiring increaſe of grace; and longing for the Day of the ſecond comming of thy Lord Ieſus.