Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 8 · Verses 9-11
VERSE 9. But yee are not in the fleſh, but in the spirit, if ſo bee that the ſpirit of God dwelleth in you, &c.
And ſo to the end of the 11. verſe.
HItherto of the comfort with the Confirmation. Now of the third part, which is the Application to the Romanes, in the 9.10. and 11. verſes, wherein wee hauehave two things.
1 The Application.
2. The Amplification.
The Application is ſet downe in the firſt words of the 9. v.
The Amplification in the reſt of the words of the 9. verſe, and in the 10. and 11. verſes.
In the Application are two things. 1 The Application it ſelfe. 2. A Confirmation of it in theſe words; if ſo bee that the ſpirit of God dwelleth in you.
There is no Condemnation to them which are in Chriſt. Theſe are ſuch which walke not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit. Now (ſaith PAVL) you Romanes which beleeue, are not in the fleſh, but in the Spirit.
So then the Application is two waies ſet downe.
1 Negatiuely, ye are not in the Fleſh.
2 Affirmatiuely, but in the Spirit.
Now. or But.
Yee; Not all the Romanes, but beleeuers which are in CHRIST. Hee ſpeakes to the Wheat, not to the Chaffe: to the Corne that is hidden, not to the ſtubble which is appearing.aTritico dixit non paleae: maſſae latenti, non ſtipulae apparenti. Anſel.
Are not in the Fleſh. Fleſhly life, ſaith Chryſoſtome. Vnderſtand (as often) Corruption of Nature. Hee denies not the Nature of the fleſh, but the euilnes, not that no fleſh is in them, but that they are not in it, or ſubdued by it.
But in the Spirit; by the oppoſition. Spirituall, Regenerate.
The conſideration of theſe words, is two-fold.
1. Relatiue,
or 2. Simple.
The Relatiue reſpects that which goeth before. Where is to be noted that the Apoſtle applies the things deliuered to the Romanes. From whence ariſeth this Doctine.
doctrine The Generall Doctrine. Preachers are to apply their doctrines to their hearers. So did Nathan, 2. Sam. 12.7. So did Peter, Acts 2.36. whereby diuers Iewes were conuerted. So did our Sauiour Chriſt, Luke 13.3,5.
Application is a part of Spirituall wiſedome, wherby things are ſo transferred to vſe, as that we growe not onelyonly in knowledge, but alſo in Godlineſſe. And it is, either of the Miniſter, or of the People.
Of the Miniſter; when he not onelyonly giues the ſenſe, and diuideth his Text; but alſo diuideth and diſtributeth, Conſolations, 2. Tim. 2.15.Threatnings, &c. to whom they doe belong.
Of the People; when they alſo lay to their hearts things deliuered, bringing all to their Conſcience, Accuſing or Excuſing.
Vſe 1.Miniſters muſt apply in their preaching. 1. Cor. 4.1.2They are Stewards, and ſuch muſt be faithfull. This Faithfulneſſe appeares three wayes. 1. To prouide wholeſome viands for the Family. 2. To diſtribute the Prouiſion. 3. To doe this wiſely.
1. For the prouiſion; 1. Good muſt bee layd in, that is, truths grounded vponupon Gods Word. No ſingular fancies of our owne braine muſt be obtruded; for theſe fill full of winde, not of ſound nouriſhment. 2. It muſt be for the Seaſon. All things are not at all times ſo ſeaſonable. The preſent occaſions of publique ſinnes, Mercies, Iudgements, are to be obſerued.
2. For Diſtribution; They are not to ſing to themſelues: and to account it enough, to hauehave ſtore in their owne heads, and bookes; but they muſt diſpenſe it to the Family: not only to make purueyance, but to giuegive eueryevery one his portion, and this not in the groſſe of Doctrine onelyonly; but in the Re-tayle of particular Exhortation; as the Surgeon makes the playſter, and layes it on too. As a whole loaſe among little Children, ſo is a Generall Doctrine among the Auditors, not diuided by Application. As a rich man onelyonly diſcourſing of bread to a hungry Begger, or a Phyſicion deſcribing his Patients diſeaſe, and leauing him to himſelfe; ſo is a Preacher not applying. As Nurſes chewe and prepare the meate for the Child; ſo muſt Preachers. Generalities profit little; eueryevery man being ready to put off from him ſelfe, that which is generally ſpoken to all. If Nathan had not come home to Dauids Conſcience, he would neuer hauehave thought himſelfe to be meant: But Then, hee is ſtriken, and repents: So then, if euer, our Profane wretches will leaue their ſinnes when they are told they are the Men, and the ſecrets of their hearts are made manifeſt.1. Cor. 14.24,25
3. Wiſely. For all things ſute not all perſons. All perſons are not in the ſame Eſtate: ſome repent, ſome are Impenitent. All, both Repentant and Impenitent, are not in the ſame degree. All diſtreſſes are not alike, &c. There is therefore requiſite much faithfulneſſe, and wiſedome to giuegive eueryevery man his due.
Some preach Comfort to all: Some to All Iudgement, not making difference. Some in preaching Iudgement, let ſinners goe, and ſtrike the vpright in the Land. Theres neither Wiſedome, nor Faithfulneſſe in this; as it is no wifedome in that Steward; that either ſerueth all alike, or ſendeth that to his Maſters Boord which was prouided for the Men; and contrarily. There is the childrens bread, Mat. 15.26.which is not to bee giuen to Dogges, and there is Fire and Brimſtone for the wicked, which is their portion to drinke. Pſal. 11.6.The Bread of Conſolation is for the Child: The Staffe and whip of Reprehenſion is for the Dog, that is, the Profane.
Vſe 2.The People miſt remember two things. 1. To receiue with meekeneſſe that which is their Appointment. Blaſphemers, vncleane Perſons, Lyers, Sabbath-breakers, &c. are to bee threatned with Damnation: Art thou ſuch a one? Thy portion then is the Curſe and eternall Wrath: when thou amendeſt thy life and repenteſt, then theſe things are not ſpoken to thee. If thou beeſt angry with thy Miniſter for reproouing thee; Remember the fault is in thee, for being ſo ill. 2. To apply things deliuered to themſelues. If any vertue bee commended; to practiſe it: if any vice condemned; to ſhunne it: If any Conſolation; to feele it; If any good example, to follow it. Whatſoeuer thou heareſt, take as ſpoken to thy ſelfe. Is it Comfort? Repent, and 'tis thine: Is it Iudgement? If thou repentſt not; it is to thee. We vſually heare Sermons, as we entertaine newes out of the Indies, not pertaining to our ſelues, and ſo we profit not. Amend thou this.
Thus much of the Relatiue Conſideration: now of the Simple. From whence, as theſe words are to bee conſidered in themſelues, ariſeth
doctrine This Doctrine. Thoſe which are Regenerate are not Carnall, but Spirituall, 1. Cor. 2.14,15. Gal. 5.25. & 6.1. 1. Pet. 2.5.
Vſe 1.To be in a ſpirituall eſtate is comfortable, for ſuch pleaſe God, and are in the way of life: Examine therefore thy eſtate. Thou wert Carnall; ſee if there be a Change in thee: if there bee no Change, but thou art the ſame man that euer thou wert; thy ſtate is naught. Some ſay they alwayes loued God, and beleeued: but Beleeue it; that ſtate which was alwayes good, in very deede was neuer good.
Thou wilt ſay then: How ſhall I know whether I be changed or no? It is as eaſie to know as to diſcerne darkneſſe from light, Epheſ. 5.foule from cleane. You were Darkneſſe, but now are light. You were vncleane, ryotous, &c. but now ye are waſhed. So if thou canſt ſay as the blind man, I was blind, but now I ſee; if thou canſt ſay this in truth, 1. Cor. 6. Iohn 9.doing thereafter, thou art Spirituall: But if thou walkeſt after the Flesh, thou art not Spirituall, whatſoeuer thou ſayſt. The Fleſh remaining will tempt thee. Is the Action as ready as the temptation: 2. Sam. 20.8.That Ioabs ſword doth not more vſually fall out of the ſheath, then thou goeſt after thy Concupiſcence? Surely, Thou haſt not a dramme of the Spirit; For where it is, it ſo amates the Corruption that it cannot preuaile. If thou beeſt Spirituall, let it appeare by thy new conuerſation: What haſt thou to do with Whoredome? &c. Theſe are the Agags which may not bee ſpared by the Saul of thy Fleſh, but hewed in pieces by the Samuel of the Spirit. Thou muſt exerciſe thy ſtrength, not in doing, but in ſubduing of theſe.
Domitian perceiuing many of his Predeceſſors in the Empire to be hated; asked one, how he might ſo rule as not to be hated? The party anſwered; Tufac contra: Doe thou Contrarie to that they hauehave done. So the Spirituall man muſt be in his affections and actions contrary to the Carnall. If thy mind bee changed, ſo muſt thy behauiour.
A Certaine Yong man (as the ſtory goes) Ambroſius, lib. 2. de poenitentia. cap. 10.hauing long liued in Luſt and whoriſh company, trauelled, and was conuerted. When he returned home, he met with one of his old lewd acquaintance; but did not ſalute her: at which the Strumpet wondring, thinking he had not knowne her, croſſeth, and meeteth him againe, with this on-ſet; What, hauehave you forgotten mee? It is I. Yea, ſaith he, But it is not I. So if thou art become Spirituall, it becomes thee to manifeſt this change, in reſiſting ſuch temptations, and ſhewing the power of the Spirit; He that is furniſhed with weapons, and ſuffereth a feeble vnarmed Enemy to ouercome him, hath no courage in him; ſo if thou ſuffereſt the Fleſh, hauing receiued its deaths wound, (as it bath in all the Regenerate) to foyle thee at eueryevery bout; thou haſt not the Spirit within thee.
If ſo be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.
In theſe words is the Reaſon to proue that the beleeuing Romanes are Spirituall, from the efficient cauſe which is the In-dwelling of the Spirit.
If ſo be that: The word is Cauſall, not Conditionall: foreign.If: not that he doubteth, but that he is plaincly confident, ſaith one, Chryſoſt.as 2. Theſ. 1.6.
The Spirit of God: that is, the Holy Ghoſt, who in the words following is called the Spirit of Chriſt, as proceeding from the Father and the Sonne.
Dwelleth in you. You, that is the Regenerate Romanes, and ſo all others. Dwelleth, not formally, or Eſſentially, but in regard of the Gifts it produceth: not by the immenſitie of his Eſſence whereby he is in all; but by the preſence of his Grace, whereby he dwelleth in the Regenerate, as in his owne Temple, noting thereby a fauourable reſidence.
doctrine The holy Spirit dwelleth in the Regenerate. 1. Cor 3.16.
Vſe 1.The Apoſtle iudges the Holy Ghoſt to be in the Romanes; from their holy obedience: Take heed that thou pronounce not the Spirit to be wanting, where thou ſeeſt a ſpirituall walking, nor affirmeſt a preſence of it, where thou feeſt a fleſhly.
Ʋſe 2.As Ieruſalem was the Glory of the world, becauſe of the Temple of God: So are the Regenerate, of all men moſt Glorious, becauſe they are the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt. In matters of the world, an vnregenerate man may be before vsus; but in this hee cannot. He may hauehave gold in his purſe; but wee hauehave God in our hearts, the right owner of them, which is the top of our happineſſe.
Tenants make hauock and ſuffer all things to fall to Ruine, but owners are alwaies repayring: when the Diuell held our hearts, all was out of frame: Ignorance ruled in the Mind, Rebellion in the Will, Diſorder in the Affections; But the comming of the Holy Spirit, Enlightens, leades into all truth, certifies of the fauour of God, faſhioneth to eueryevery good worke, and enricheth with all ſpirituall grace, all thoſe in whom hee dwelleth. Euen as Fire makes Iron fierie, ſo the Spirit makes vsus Spirituall. This is that Spirit which is the Comforter, which cheereth and ſuſtaineth the deſolate, and deſpairing Conſcience, and feedeth it with heauenly Manna. Surely the Conſcience of a Regenerate man is a very Paradiſe, in which Gods good Spirit dwelleth not for a ſhort time, but for euer.
Vſe. 3Deſpiſe not, neither wrong them which hauehave the Spirit, by odious nicknames, accounting it as their diſgrace (which is their Glory,) to be Spirituall, or full of the Spirit.
Vſe 4.The Spirit dwelleth in thee: Looke well to thy heart, becauſe thou entertaineſt ſuch a gueſt: Thou art carefull ſo to receiue thy friend, by whom thou art benefited, that hee may delight to ſtay and abide with thee. So vſe thy ſelfe, that the Holy Spirit forſake thee not. Grieue not (ſaith Paul) Epheſ. 4.30.the Holy Spirit. If he depart from thee, his Grace alſo departeth with him. And though being once Regenerate, thou canſt not fall from Election, and Regeneration, yet thou mayſt loſe the gracious feeling of thy Aſſurance, and in thine owne ſenſe the Spirit be vtterly departed: as Dauid no doubt felt, as appeareth by the 51. Pſalme. Which ſtate is more bitter then death.
If therefore thou haſt this treaſure, take heed thou loſe it not; if thou wouldeſt hauehave it remaine with thee, to comfort thee night and day, and in the houre of Death, purge thy heart, and ſweepe all euill out of it. As Kings Courts hauehave Porters, ſo Ward thy heart, that the Enemy of the Spirit, the Diuell, Enter not. 'Tis a Cleane Spirit, it delighteth to dwel in ſuch. The Temple of Salomon had a golden inſide, and there was the Incenſe and the Lampes, &c. Thy heart is the Temple of a Greater then Salomon, euen of the Holy Ghoſt: Let all be Gold, and Light, and Sweet. Let there bee no droſſe, nor Darineſſe, nor ſtinking ſauours, but Knowledge, Righteouſneſſe, Repentance, Peace, &c.
Now if any man hauehave not the Spirit of Chriſt, hee is none of his.
Hitherto the Application with the Reaſon: now followes the Amplification, which hath two parts: 1. A Caution, in theſe words: 2. A Conſolation, Verſe 10, 11.
In this Caution is a Commination from the Contrary, ſhewing the danger that followes the not-dwelling of the Spirit in vsus. We are none of Chriſts.
If any, In generall, HaueHave not the Spirit of Chriſt dwelling in them, as before.
He is none of his: Whoſe? Chriſts. He is his Creature, but not his Diſciple, his member. For this Spirit vniteth vsus to Chriſt, as a member is vnited to the Head; by which vnion wee are partakers of the benefits of Chriſt. This vnion is not Corporall, by touching, or by a reall entrance of his body and ſoule into our bodies and ſoules. Neither is it onelyonly an vnion of mindes in louelove: But a Myſticall coalition and growing vp together of the faithfull with Chriſt, into one body by one Spirit, which Spirit is in that whole body, and in eueryevery part, as our ſoules are in our whole bodies and in eueryevery part.
doctrine Our vnion with CHRIST is by the Holy Spirit, 1. Cor. 12.13. 1. Ioh. 3.24.
Ʋſe 1.Great is the Glory of the Regenerate: As Dauid ſaith, What am I to be the ſonne in law of the King! ſo it is no ſmall matter to be the member of Chriſt.
Vſe 2.They which hauehave not the ſpirit, are none of Chriſts. Whoſe are they then? The Diuels: and that as ſure as hee is not Chriſts: Alaſſe, thou wilt ſay, How ſhall I know whether I hauehave the ſpirit or no? As a woman knowes her ſelfe to bee with childe by the ſtirring of it: So by the working of the ſpirit thou ſhalt know it: for it is alwaies operatiue.
When Salomon builds the Temple, all the Countrey ſhall know it, and eueryevery workman ſhall be called vntounto it: So if the Spirit be in thee, there is ſuch pulling downe of the olde man, and building vp of the new: that thou canſt not be ignorant of it. Math. 2.3.When Chriſt is borne, Herad and all Ieruſalem is troubled: ſo when thou art borne againe, it is with ſo much trouble, and reſiſtance of the fleſh, that thou muſt needes bee priuie to it.
Marke the works of the ſpirit, both inward, and outward. When thou buieſt a piece of cloth, or a veſſell, thou vieweſt the inſide and outſide: ſo examine the worke of the ſpirit in thy inſide, which is thy heart, and in thy outſide, which is thy Life.
1. The inward worke of the Spirit is to Renew thy mind and Affections according to the Image of God; and this is in knowledge, holyneſſe, and Righteouſneſſe: Now then heare a parable; I paſſed by the field of the ſlothfull, and by the Vineyard of the man deſtitute of vnderſtanding, and loe, it was all ouergrowen with thornes; and Nettles couered the face thereof, and the ſtone wall thereof was broken downe. Prou. 24.30,31.Thy heart is this field. What growes in it? Ignorance? Hardnes of heart? Pride? Couetouſnes, &c. Surely an Ill Husband owes it: Heere is not the Holy ſpirit, but the vnholy. That heart where the ſpirit of Chriſt dwels, is as a Garden well fenced, and incloſed; where knowledge, faith, hope, louelove, patience, and the Flowers of all heauenly graces abundantly ſpring forth and grow; yea, there will be the ſame minde that was in Chriſt Ieſus.Phil. 2.
2. The outward worke, is to faſhion the outward man vntounto all conformitie with the Law of GOD in word and deed.
1. For words: As Chriſt whipt the buyers & ſellers out of the Temple, Iohn 2.ſo his ſpirit driues away all ſwearing, vnclean talke, lying, ſlandering, &c. out of the mouth of a regenerate man. No man that hath the ſpirit of Chriſt, can call Chriſt execrable. 1. Cor. 12,3.Doeſt thou delight to ſpeake of Chriſt and his Goſpell, with reuerence and holy affections? A ſigne it is of the good ſpirit. But diſgracefull ſpeeches of the Word, and them which profeſſe it, & lauiſh in oaths, and filthie & Lawleſſe communication, with ieaſting which is not comely, agreeth not with this ſpirit.
2. And for Deeds: As a Hare may be traced in a Snow to her forme; ſo is it eaſie by your deeds to find out what Spirit is in you. What ſpirit think you is in Idolaters, Hypocrites, ſwearers, Sabboth-breakers? in the malicious, vncleane, proud, drunken, couetous wretches? In Lyers, Slanderers? &c. The ſpirit of Chriſt? It were blaſphemy ſo to ſay: Nay that vncleane ſpirit the Diuell, who delighteth in ſuch, and effectually worketh in them.
Vſe 3.The ſtate of the Children of God is certaine, whatſoeuer the Papiſts ſay to the contrary. If I am Chriſts, I ſhall be ſaued: But if I hauehave the Spirit, I am Chriſts. Therefore, &c. True, If:
Q. How ſhall you know you hauehave the Spirit?
A. How ſhall I know that I hauehave a Soule? but by the effects of it, vnderſtanding memory, &c. So by the worke of Grace in my heart, by my ſincere louelove of goodneſſe, and hatred of euill, &c. which I cannot be ignorant of being in me, I know that I hauehave the Spirit. 2. Cor. 13.5.Know you not (faith the Scripture) that Chriſt is in you (by his Spirit) except you be reprobates? And againe, Wee hauehave receiued the Spirit of God, 1. Cor. 2.12.that wee might know the things which are giuen to vsus of God. What things? All Spirituall grace preſent, with perſeuerance, and all the good things of glorie to come. Lyra.That wee might firmely and without doubt know; for looke what a demonſtration by cauſes, is in humane things; that in Diuine, is the Reuelation of the ſpirit through Faith. The end then why God giueth vsus his ſpirit, is to make vsus know that we are in his fauour, and ſhall be partakers of the glory to come: and by conſequence that we ſhall perſeuere in grace, without which the future glorie cannot be obtained.
But thou wilt ſay, I feele Infidelity in mee which grieues me. It's well thou feeleſt it with Griefe: this argues not the abſence, but rather the preſence of the ſpirit: For the ſpirit doth not make vsus omniſciens and impeccable, doth not beate downe ſinne in vsus at a blowe; doth not kill corruption outright. No. Corruption will be an Inmate with the ſpirit in this life, doe what we can. Yet ſuch a man for all this hath the ſpirit, and is ſpirituall.
If thou goe by a Noble-mans houſe, thou knoweſt that there are horſekeepers, skullions, and ſuch like; yet, if thou be asked who dwels there; Thou ſayeſt ſuch a Noble man, naming the Lord of the houſe, and not theſe baſer people. So Corruption dwelleth where the ſpirit; but gouernes not, but is an vnderling; and therefore we are in account ſpirituall.