A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 1
Verſe 1. Paul a Seruant of Ieſus Chriſt, called to be an Apoſtle, put apart to preach the Goſpell of God.
THE parts of the Epiſtle are principally three. Firſt, a Preface or Introduction, from verſe 1. to 16. Secondly, a Treatiſe of Chriſtian doctrine, of three branches, Iuſtification, Sanctification, Predeſtination, to Chapter 12. Thirdly a Concluſion; wherein is an Exhortation to ſundry Chriſtian duties, and a Valediction, or bidding farewell, with ſundry ſalutations, and greetings, according to the cuſtome of Epiſtles, from Chapter 12. to the end.
The Introduction hath three members: firſt, an Inſcription: ſecondly, a Salutation: thirdly, an Exordium, or entrance into the matter it ſelfe, by inſinuation.
The Inſcription contayneth a Deſcription: firſt, of the writer: ſecondly, of them to whom the Epiſtle is directed.
The writer is ſet forth firſt, by his proper name, Paul: ſecondly, by his titles of Office, one generall, a ſeruant of Chriſt; another more ſpeciall, an Apoſtle; that illuſtrated by the cauſes efficient: firſt, principall, Chriſt, verſe 5. leſſe principall, calling, and ſeperation. Finally ſubordinate, preaching of the Goſpell; obedience of faith; ſupreame, the glory of God.
The Goſpell it ſelfe illuſtrated, firſt, by the Author God; ſecondly, the ſubiect matter, Chriſt; deſcribed by his double Sonſhip, Humane of Dauid; Diuine of God; ſet forth by the adioyned declaration and manifeſtation of it; that alſo amplyfied, firſt, by the manner, mightely; ſecondly, by the meane, reſurrection; whole Chriſt by his dominion.
Perſons to whom hee writes deſcribed; firſt, by their place of abode, Rome; ſecondly, certaine adiuncts, firſt, Gods louelove, ſecondly, vocation; amplified by the Author, Ieſus Chriſt; and holineſſe: ſo that in the inſcription are foure principall things; firſt, a deſcription of the perſon writing; ſecondly, of the Goſpell; thirdly, of Chriſts perſon; fourthly, of the Romanes, to whom hee writes.
Touching the name of Paul and alteration thereof many opinions might be rehearſed; for my part, the moſt probable I take that of Hierome, In epiſt. ad Philem: Act. 13.12.coniecturing it to hauehave begunne vponupon occaſion of Paulus the Proconſull his conuerſion: the reaſon of his coniecture, becauſe hee then firſt tooke the name of Paul.
Theophilact inquiring the reaſon of this change,Theoph. in Rom. 1. thus anſweres; hee was therefore of Saul called Paul that he might not ſeeme inferiour to Peter, the chiefe of the Apoſtles; no not in this, that his name was changed. For manner of calling equall, if not ſuperiour; for reuelations, perſecutions, paines in the Miniſterie, bleſſing on his labours, feruencie of zeale, integritie of life, no way inferiour. Nay not in this, that hee had his name altered vponupon ſpeciall occaſion.
Let Papiſts now goe and boaſt of Peters primacie; Ʋſe. if any way a primate to the reſt, in order of calling, ſpeciall fauour with Chriſt, meaſure of grace; (for as for ſuperioritie in gouernment they are too ſhameles in clayming it) yet in all theſe Paul was his equall, if not in moſt of them, his ſuperiour.
Paul:] Reaſons for prefixing his name; firſt, to ſhew his readines to iuſtifie and maintaine the doctrine here deliuered, to the face of all gain-ſayers, and ſo to procure greater credit to his doctrine, in the mindes of the Readers. Things couertly conuayed into the Church vnderunder title incerti Authoris, breede iuſt iealouſie in the Reader, that things ſo deliuered are ſcarce iuſtifiable by the Authour: for ſtraight occurreth the Prouerbe, Truth ſeekes not corners. Secondly, that the very name of Paul, ſo worthie an Apoſtle, might adde ſome authoritie to the writing.
Vſe. Learne hence, with reuerence to entertaine this Scripture. Woe vntounto him that deſpiſeth the truth, though taught by the meaneſt of Gods Miniſters: but heauier the condemnation of ſuch as neglect, o… contemne the doctrine of Saluation, taught by ſo excellent an Apoſtle as Paul, the Apoſtle of Chriſts glory.
Papiſts make another vſe; where they finde Paules name prefixed, heere eſpecially, they cry out, manum de Tabula, vntounto the people. Why? forſooth in Paules writingsa2 Pet. 3.16. many things are full of difficultie, which the vnlearned peruert to their owne deſtruction. An…. Firſt not the letter, but the matters are obſcure to fleſh and blood. Secondly, not all, nor many, but ſome things are hard; l…quitur quā fieri poteſt parciſſime. Thirdly to whom hard?b2 Cor. 4.3. viz. to the vnlearned and the vnſtable; to them that periſh; and to them onelyonly: the Elect arecIohn. 6.45. al taught of God, ſo much as is neceſſarie for their ſaluation: yea, thedIer. 31.34. leaſt as well as the greateſt. Fourthly▪ why not other Scriptures detained from them, ſeeing theſe alſo are peruerted by them that periſh? Ibid. Fiftly, Peter commends them fore2 Pet. 1.19. attending to the Propheticall Scriptures, and cal… them light; wherein notwithſtanding the myſteries of ſaluation are more darkly propounded then in any the writings of the Apoſtles. Read Ioh. 5 39. Rom. 1….4. Acts. 17.11. 2 Tim. 3.15. The better vſe of ſuch difficulties is this; therefore be more paineful in ſearching, more earneſt in praying God to open thine eyes, that thou mayſt ſee the wondrous things of the law: leſſe truſting to thine owne acuitie; for ſure to fleſh and bloud theſe things are myſteries, the naturall manf1 Cor. 2.14. vnderſtands them not, but being illightened by the ſpirit of God. Now follow the Titles.
A ſeruant of Ieſus Chriſt.] Seruice of Chriſt is threefold. Firſt, of his power, and prouidence, from which no creature is excluded: for all things ſerue him. Yea, the very Diuels themſelues in thoſe things they doe againſt his will, yet vnwittingly fulfill his will, andgIer. 27.6. ſerue vntounto the purpoſes of his ſecret prouidence.
Secondly, the ſeruice of Faith, as Theophilact calles it, common to all Chriſtians after conuerſion; who hauing receiued aſſurance of their particular intereſt in Chriſts bloud, reſigne themſelues to his will and good pleaſure.
Thirdly, the ſeruice of particular office; whereby in the workes of ſome ſpeciall calling, we doe ſeruice vntounto Chriſt. Thus Maieſtrates are calledhRom. 13.6. ſeruants of God, becauſe in gouernment they doe, or ſhould doe him ſeruice. Thus Miniſters of the Word are calledi1 Cor. 4.1. ſeruants, becauſe they ſerue him in preaching the Goſpell. In theſe two l…ſt ſenſes Paul ſubſcribes himſelfe a ſeruant of Ieſus Chriſt.
Firſt, in regard that hee now was become a worſhipper of that Chriſt whom before hee did perſecute.
So powerfull is God in the workes of his grace, Obſer. hee can make ofk1 Tim. 1.12.13 blaſphemers, perſecutors, oppreſſors of the truth, faithfull ſeruants vntounto Chriſt. Confer Mat. 21.31.32.
Hope of mercifull and gracious acceptance with Ʋſe. 1 God is here opened vntounto all now penitent, though before neuer ſo deſperate offenders. Paul a perſecutor, yet receiued to merciemercy, counted faithfull, and put in Chriſts ſeruice. And leaſt any penitent ſhould thinke this mercy was peculiar to Paul, hee ſheweth it is exemplary. God in Paul, asl1 Tim. 1.16. in a patterne, ſhewing how hee would deale with all men, that ſhould after his example, forſake their ſinnes, and embrace the Goſpell.
Ʋſe. 2 Raſh iudgements of mens future ſtate are here reſtrayned, how deſperate ſo euer their preſent condition ſeemeth: formRom. 11.23. God is able to graffe them in. As hee tooke Paul out of the heate of perſecution, and placed him in his ſeruice: ſo is hee able to turne the heart of the moſt deſperate, hopeleſſe, and abhominable tranſgreſſour: too ordinarie are raſh cenſures in this kinde.
Secondly, a ſeruant, in regard he was a Preacher of the Goſpel; this mentioned, firſt, to procure in the Readers a reuerent regard to his doctrine, and patient ſubmiſſion to what he taught them: ſecondly, to aduiſe them, whom they ſhould eſpecially hauehave regard vntounto in the doctrines here deliuered.
Ʋſe. 1 The people are here taught, firſt, ton1 Cor. 4.1. eſteeme vsus as Miniſters of Chriſt. Secondly, not to be diſcontented at our doctrines, howſoeuer applyed, whether by threatning, comfort, exhortation, reproofe. In other caſes mens boldneſſe is excuſed by this; they are but ſeruants, and muſt doe their Maiſters meſſage: in this calling, me thinkes, the excuſe ſhould be rather admitted, conſidering the woe that waites for vsus▪ if wee hold backe any thing of the meſſage deliuered vntounto vsus. Confer 1 Cor. 9.16. Ezech. 3.18. Thirdly not to aſcribe any thing to vsus, more then as to Miniſters, & inſtruments of God. For what is Paul, or C…t…, or A…ollos? what are wee but Miniſters by whom yee hauehave beleeued?o1 Cor. 3.5. and that as our Lord and Maiſter gaue to eueryevery man.
Ʋſe. 2 Wee alſo are taught, firſt,p1 Cor 4.2. fidelitie in the worke of our Miniſterie, conſidering we areqHeb. 13 17. countable to our Maiſter. Secondly, not torMat. 10.24. ſeeke our ſelues, but the glorie of our Maiſter. Thirdly, not to haunt after the praiſe and applauſe of men, but to approue our ſelues to Chriſt Gal. 1.10. both in our doctrines and manner of our deliuery. Fourthly, not to thinke much of our afflictions, which wee meete withall in diſcharge of our Miniſtrie. Mee thinkes it ſhould ſeeme inough to thesRom. 16.7. ſeruant to be as his Lord.
Called to be an Ap…ſtle.] Now followeth the ſpeciall office and kinde of Miniſtrie, wherein hee ſerued Chriſt; together with his warrant for exerciſe thereof: Calling and Separation.
An Apoſtle.] The word in generall ſignifies any Ambaſſadour or meſſenger ſent in common affaires, whether of Church, or common-wealth: ſometimes applyed vntounto Miniſters in generall. But moſt properly,tGal. 1.1. notes thoſe extraordinarie Miniſters immediately called by Chriſt himſelfe, and by him ſent out to plant the Church amongſt the Nations. Some things were common to them with ordinary Miniſters, as preaching of the Word, adminiſtration of the Sacraments, vſe of the Keyes. Read Mat. 28.19.20. Mat. 16.19. Ioh. 20.23. Mat. 18.17.18.
Some things were proper and peculiar to them as Apoſtles. Firſt, calling by liuely voyce,uGal. 1.12. or ſuch like immediate meanes from Chriſt. Secondly, immediate InſtructionxAct. 8.18. in the myſterie of Chriſt, by Chriſt himſelfe. Thirdly, a power to giuegive they2 Cor. 12.12. viſible gifts of the holy Ghoſt. Fourthly, powerzGal. 2.7. to doe miracles. Fiftly, generalitie of commiſſion, extended to all nations, for thataGal. 2.11.14. Peter took the circumciſion, Paul the vncircumciſion, it was by free accord betwixt them. Sixtly, Infallible aſſiſtence of the Spirit in all doctrines deliuered to the Church, either by word, or writing. ForbGal. 2.11.14. Peters error was an errour of fact not of faith, in practiſe, not in doctrine
This office, by conſent of all Diuines, begunne and ended in their perſons, to whom at firſt it was committed. And except that man of ſinne, that hath entred by intruſion into the prerogatiues royall of Chriſt, no man would dare to arrogate the priuiledges of this calling. Hee forſooth chalengeth, as in the right of Peter, vniuerſall power ouer the whole Church in earth; not only to teach it, but to rule it as a God vponupon earth. Hee hath glorie of miracles, butcTheſ. 2.9. all lying in forme, or end, and if wee were ſo mad as to beleeue, infallible aſſiſtence of the ſpirit in all things, that hee ſhall ſententiouſlie deliuer to the Church out of his chaire of peſtilence: Sapientum octauus. Apoſtolorum 14.
Vſe. No leſſe abſurd are our vagrant curriers, our rouing Miniſters: that wander about the countrey, with a paſſe in their boxe; as if they were ſome new Apoſtles, ſent by Chriſt, without limitation to any particular congregation. Abſurdly, yea, which paſſeth all meaſure of vnfaithfulnes, hauingd1. Pet. 5.2. flocks of their owne depending on them, leaue them deſtitute on the dayes of aſſembling, pretending to feede others, but indeede to fill their owne purſes.
Now followeth his warrant for aſſuming and exerciſing the function of an Apoſtle; his calling, and ſeparation.
His calling alledged, to preuent ſuſpicion of vſurpation, as in other his Epiſtles, and in other theeIſay 6. Ier. 1. Prophets of God, whom we ſee all deſirous to ſhew their commiſſion for aduenturing vponupon miniſteriall office.
Obſer. No man ought to vſurpe miniſteriall function in the Church,fNum. 3.10. without aſſurance of calling from God. See Heb. 5 4. Reaſons. Firſt, the danger of intruſion. Exempl. 2 Sam. 6.6.7. Bethſhemites. 1 Sam. 6.19. Vziah. 2 Sam. 26.18.19. Secondly, Chriſt tooke not to himſelfe this honour but with warrant of his fathers calling. Heb. 5 5. No bleſſing can be expected on our labours except God hath called vsus.
Calling, is of two ſorts; Immediate, and extraordinarie, where God calleth immediately, without the miniſterie of man: ſo were Prophets and Apoſtles called: ſecondly, mediate, wherein God vſeth the miniſterie of man, as at this day, in deſignement of eueryevery miniſter vntounto his function.
Reproued here are all thoſe fanaticall ſpirits thatgIer. 23.21. Ʋſe. 2 runne without calling, and preach vnſent: Contra. Rom. 10.25. as the falſe Prophets.
Secondly, all thoſe lay people, whether men, or women, that in the caſe of ſuppoſed neceſſitie, aduenture the miniſtration ofhMat. 28.19.20. Baptiſme: which together with the preaching of the word, the Lord hath inueſted in the perſons of called Miniſters. And as from preaching he hath excluded womeni2 Cor. 14.34.: ſo alſo from the other parts of our miniſtrie. Ob. They may teach their families: therefore alſo Baptiſe. Anſ. It followes not, teach they may as priuate Chriſtians, but not as Miniſters; baptiſe they cannot, but as miniſters; this being eueryevery way, in eueryevery reſpect and manner, proper to a miniſter.
Ob. Ziphorah circumciſed her ſon. Obſer. Exod. 4.25. Anſ. The queſtion is not what ſhe did, but how well ſhe did. Iuſt: the wrath of God ceaſed vponupon the fact. Anſ. it followes not therefore ſhe ſinned not in doing it. Read Exod. 1.19 20 Againe, we finde not, that circumciſion was ſo appropiated to the Leuites, as Baptiſme now is to the miniſters of the Goſpell. Thirdly, it may be the fact was extraordinarie, & therefore not to be imitated without like diſpenſation Fourthly, ſome thinke her herein to hauehave bin but the hand of her husband in his weaknes.
Labor firſt for aſſurance of calling before thou aduenture Ʋſe. 3 the exerciſe of the function. Notes to diſcern it: firſt, abilitie both of knowledge and other fitneſſe to teach. Secondly, teſtimonie of conſcience that thou entereſt not for any other reſpect, then Gods glorie. Thirdly, the approbation of the church. Fourthly, a propenſe inclination to exerciſe the workes thereof. See a true miniſter out of his element, till hee be doing ſomekIohn 4.34. worke of his miniſterie.