Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 10 · Verse 15
VERSE 15. As it is written, How beautifull are the feete of thoſe which preach the Goſpell of Peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
IN theſe words, and in thoſe of the 16. verſe (which are by ſome included in a Parentheſis) is an amplification of the preaching of the Goſpell to the Gentiles: of which are two parts.
The firſt is a Confirmation of it, in theſe words. The ſecond is an anſwering of an obiection, in the next verſe.
The proofe is taken out of Eſay, chap. 52.7. From the effect of the preaching of the Goſpell, which is ioy and reioycing in them which heard it. So at Antioch there was great ioy; ſo in Galatia, and in diuers Cities and Townes it was entertained as with clapping of hands, which ioyfull imbracing of it, proues it to be of Gods ſending.
This effect is ſet forth vnderunder a Compariſon of the leſſe; for Eſay ſpeakes of the Royall receiuing of the Meſſengers of Iſraels deliuerance from the captiuitie of Babylon, of vvhichwhich when News came, they were ſo rauiſhed, & filled with laughter, that they thought it had not beene a truth, but a dreame. If then the tidings of ſuch temporall deliuerance was ſo welcome, much more muſt be welcome the glad tidings of the Goſpell: and as thoſe meſſengers were from God, ſo much more theſe, it being a great deale more likely that the Iewes might be deliuered from that bodily ſeruitude, then that the world ſhould be deliuered from the bondage of Satan, by the bloud of God.
In theſe words are two things. Firſt, a commendation of the Goſpell; How beautifull, &c! Locus laudatorius Sarienus.Secondly, a Reaſon, becauſe it bringeth peace, and good things.
How beautifull, &c! He ſaith not ſimply, they are beautifull, but vſeth an explanation, How beautifull! as if he were not able to expreſſe ſuch beauty.
How beautifull are the feete! Some take feete for men: ſome for the affections, being that to the ſoule, which feete are to the body: theſe affections appearing in the Apoſtles, by their ſweet deliuery and vtterance. Some interpret the velocitie of the Apoſtles in conuerting the world. Some their conſtancie and courage. Some take beauty for the holineſſe of the Apoſtles; ſome for a fleſhly beauty by ornaments, as ſlippers imbroidered with Gold and Pearle; as this Scripture is abuſed to the conſecrating of the Popes toe. But the plaine meaning is, that the comming of the Apoſtles with the glad tidings of ſaluation was acceptable: he ſaith, feet, becauſe they are the inſtruments of going; as wee familiarly ſay of poore men. They get their liuing by their fingers ends, which are the inſtruments of their labour.
Beautifull. Naua ab Aua, or Naua.The Hebrew word according to the roote, may ſignifie to be deſired and longed for, or beautifull and welcome. The beauty of a thing cauſeth it to bee deſired, as the beauty of Chriſt makes the Church ſicke of louelove.
The Greeke terme comes of a roote which hath diuers ſignification: foreign.as an houre, or generally Time: but not ſo heere.
It alſo ſignifies that part of time which is fitteſt for affaires, called Seaſon: and ſo ſome reade it, How ſeaſonable? Quam tempeſtiue. Tertul. lib. 5. aduerſ. Mar. c. 2.A word ſpoken in ſeaſon, is beautifull, and ſo is the Goſpell ſomewhere called, and eueryevery thing is beautifull in his ſeaſon. Many of our daintieſt meates are not, but the Goſpell is alwaies in ſeaſon; in the Winter of Aduerſitie, in the Summer of proſperitie, in the Spring of Youth, and Autumne of Age: And therefore Paul bids Timothy to preach in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon: not that it is at any time vnſeaſonable, but becauſe the world ſo iudgeth it.
It alſo ſignifies the Spring: and therefore ſome hauehave compared the comming of the Apoſtles, and of the Preachers of the Goſpell, to the Spring. For as the fields in the Spring beginne to be adorned with buds, bloſſomes, and ſweet flowers, in which all creatures reioyce: ſo the preaching of the Goſpell turnes our Winter like barrenneſſe into fruitfulneſſe, making vsus to flouriſh with heauenly graces and vertues.
It is alſo taken for ripeneſſe, and ſo ſome hauehave likened the comming of the Apoſtles to ripe fruit. Vnripe fruit is dangerous, and not ſo well coloured, but that which is ripe, is both well taſted, and well coloured. No dainty coloured fruit, ſo beautifull and wholſome as the Goſpell.
It ſignifies alſo comelineſſe; Ambr. Epiſt. 11.that which we call the pride and flowers of life; alſo youth, wherein is that mixture of white and red, which is called beauty. As Chriſt is ſaid to be fairer: ſo alſo is the Goſpell.Pſal. 43.
The Goſpell of Peace and glad tidings of good things: Here is an exceſſe of words: but this redundance ſerues to make vsus the more to eſteeme of it. It is the Ghoſts ſpell, a comforting and ſoule-ſauing word.
Peace: We are by corruption of Nature, enemies to God; the Goſpel reueales a three-fold peace, with God, with our ſelues, with men; according to the ſong of the Angels at the birth of Chriſt, Good things. Yea, the beſt in the Superlatiue degree, Celeſtiall good things: a freedome from all euill of ſinne, of puniſhment.
doctrine Nothing ſhould be ſo welcome as the preaching and Preachers of the Goſpel. That Chriſt came to ſaue ſinners is a faithfull ſaying, and worthy of the beſt welcome. 1. Tim. 1.15. without this, we had been damned wretches. It is called the Word of Life, of Saluation, the Goſpel of the Kingdome. Euen as one would ſay, the key of heauen: for life and immortality are brought to light by the Goſpel, 2. Tim. 1.12.
Vſe 1.The eſſentiall duty of a Miniſter, is to preach the Goſpell. The Law is to be preached alſo, both as an introduction to the Goſpel, and for a direction how to lead our liues, vvhen we hauehave receiued the Goſpell, becauſe ſinne breakes Gods peace; but chiefely, vvee are ſent to preach the Goſpell.
Vſe 2.Nor riches, nor dignities, but to preach the Goſpel, is the chiefe honour and beauty of a Miniſter, who, though highly aduanced, if he preach not the Goſpell, ſhall be deſpiſed.
Vſe 3.Some louelove their Miniſters, becauſe they keep hoſpitalitie, which is commendable; ſome, becauſe they gaine by them in their tithes, and other duties, which is carnall; ſome, becauſe they neuer preach, which is abominable; ſome, becauſe themſelues would be well accounted of, which is hypocriticall. But, to louelove them for their works ſake, is conſcionable, and according to the commaundement.1. Theſ. 5.13.
Its an argument of great corruption, to eſteeme baſely & meanly of a Preacher; when he that brings tidings of a good bargaine, or is an inſtrument of our pleaſures, ſhall be highly welcommed and rewarded. We are earthen veſſells, but we bring a treaſure more precious then all the world: we preach the Summum bonum of man, and therefore ſhould be eſteemed.
Ʋſe 4.If the Miniſter hauehave weake gifts, yet if hee preach the Goſpel, thou muſt account his feet beautifull: Its not the gifts of men, but the Word of God which workes the feate in our Conuerſion.
Ʋſe 5.If it be the Goſpel of peace, the profeſſors are to be peaceable.
Ʋſe 6.The great ſinne of this Land, is the contempt of the preaching of the Goſpel, that we account it not a precious, but a tedious thing. Neuer merry vvorld (ſay ſome) ſince wee had ſo much preaching; as if the Sun ſhone too bright. Like the Iſraelites, who ſtumbled at the plenty of Manna. Theſe are a kinne to thoſe Diuels, who asked Chriſt if he were come to torment them. So they account the Goſpell a torment, becauſe it croſſeth their profane, couetous, and Epicure-like courſes. Theſe can ſpend daies and nights in vanitie, but an houre at a Sermon is tedious. Bleare-eyed Leah is more comly in their eye, then Rachel. The Onions of Egypt hauehave a better reliſh in their mouthes, then Manna and Quailes. They had rather liue at the Hogs-trough (for what are all worldly pleaſures, but draffe in compariſon?) then in their fathers houſe. Preferring their pigges with the Gadarenes, before our Sauiour Chriſt. O, ſay they, We cannot liue by Sermons. But alas! what are all pleaſures without this? euen vanity & vexation of ſpirit: yea, the more of theſe, the more torment to the conſcience at the day of death, when the Goſpel of peace is worth all the world.
But whats the cauſe we louelove the Goſpel no better? Surely this, we know not our own poore eſtate, and ſo are ignorant of the worth of it. If we knew theſe, wee would runne from Eaſt to Weſt for it. If drunkards, and the rabble of vvicked wretches knew their fearefull eſtate, the Miniſter ſhould be as welcome to them, as bread to the hungry, or a pardon to a Theefe.
To them which are viſited in their conſciences, is the Goſpell ſweet, but to them which are hardned, it hath no ſauor. Poore ſoules! If a man in the ſtreet cry fire, fire, eueryevery man runnes; but we daily cry the fire of Hell to conſume all impenitent ſinners, yet none almoſt are moued. Whats that fire to this? What the burning of rotten houſes, to the burning of body and ſoule in fire and brimſtone for euer?
If the Lord would be pleaſed but to ſhew a wicked man the torments of Hell, or to viſite his conſcience with the apprehenſion of his wrath, then the very crummes of the Goſpell would be welcome, when now they lothe the full meaſſes of Conſolation. Then, to ſee the ſweetnes of but one ſentence or line in the Goſpell, would be more acceptable then the whole riches of the world. When the Conſcience is wounded, and the Diuell ſtrongly accuſeth, then how beautifull will the feet be of the now contemned Miniſters of the Goſpell? Sell all thy profits, pleaſures, ſinnes, to purchaſe this treaſure of peace which comes by the Goſpel. Many are daily cheapning, but they vnderbid for it, they would faine hauehave it, but are driuen away with the price, becauſe it requires a forſaking of all to follow Chriſt. But indeed, Daniels fare with the Goſpel, is a roiall feaſt: if thou accounteſt not ſo, thou haſt a proud, and an ignorant heart.