A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 5 – Exposition of verse 6
Verſe 5. By whom wee hauehave receiued grace and Apoſtleſhip (that obedience might be giuen vntounto the faith) in his Name among all the Gentiles.
IN this verſe is ſet downe a deſcription of Paules Apoſtleſhip, partly to preuent the cauiling imputations of falſe teachers, ordinarily charging him with intruſion into that function as Gal. 1.1.2. partly that the Romanes might ſee, that in writing to them hee ſtrayed not beyond the bounds of his commiſſion. Now it is deſcribed, partly by the immediateneſſe of his calling by Chriſt, as Gal. 1 11. (By whom,) partly by the generall fountaine when it is called, a grace, partly by the end ſubordinate, Obedience of faith; principall, The glorie of Chriſt; and laſtly by the generalitie of the ſubiect, All nations, &c.
By whom.] Although it be true that all whatſoeuer any of vsus receiue from God we receiue by Chriſt, both as the meritorious procurer thereof, as alſo as Gods generall ſteward, to whom is committed the gouerment of the Church, and of the whole world, yet I take it the Apoſtle heere principally vſeth this phraſe to proue himſelfe an Apoſtle; becauſe he was immediately called by Chriſt, which is one ſpeciall difference of Apoſtles from other ordinarie Paſtors, as before, verſe 1. where ſee the vſes alſo.
We hauehave receiued grace and Apoſtleſhip.] Some here by grace vnderſtand the grace of reconciliation and ſanctification: ſome other gifts, whereby he was f…tted for the function of Apoſtleſhip; but I take it heere its by a grammaticall figure put to ſignifie the generall nature and fountaine of Apoſtleſhip; and is in ſubſtance nothing but this; the grace of being an Apoſtle: or this, fauor and free gift to be an Apoſtle. See Ephe. 3.8.
Obſer. Whence obſerue that it is to be eſteemed a ſpeciall grace and fauour of God to be called vntounto the miniſterie; though it be of grace that we receiue it, yet is it a ſpeciall grace to receiue it. As eaſily appeareth both by gifts giuen to fit vsus therto, more ſpecial then to the people, Epheſ. 4.8.9.10.11. by vſe of it. 1 Tim. 4.16. 1 Cor. 3.9.10. by reward and crowne giuen after faithfull diſcharge of it. Dan. 12.3.
Ʋſe. Learne hence firſt not to ſwell with conceit of thine aduancement; for thou haſt receiuedd1 Cor. 4.7. and of grace thou haſt receiued it. And fooliſhly doe many ſtand vponupon termes of the dignitie of their calling, though in it ſelfe honourable,eHeb. 5.4. hauing no other worthineſſe to grace them; and not conſidering that of free grace they hauehave receiued it. Secondly, rather let them learne to vſe this grace, to the end for which God hath committed it vntounto them: See 1 Pet. 4.10. and tremble at the woe due vntounto ſuch, as being thus graced by God, neglect to doe that worke whereunto they are called. 1 Cor. 9.16.17. Thirdly, giuegive not way to thoughts of diſcontentment, in reſpect of the many difficulties, ignominies, perſecutions, thou ſhalt vndergo in diſcharge of this calling, ſo as to be grieued at the Lords leading thee to this ſo toyleſome, ſhameles, diſgraceful a calling, by thine education and calling of the church; for know it's a high fauour of God to be counted faithfull, and put in the miniſterie. 1 Tim. 1.12. The end of this calling followes, to obedience of faith: the ſame phraſe vſed, Rom. 16.26. I doe here purpoſely omit varietie of interpretations; chooſing that which I thinke is moſt direct; by faith here vnderſtanding the doctrine, or word of faith, that is, the Goſpell, as that acception is frequent. 1 Tim. 4.1. &c. and by obedience vntounto faith, nothing but that which Peter cals obaying the truth, taught in the Goſpell. 1 Pet 1.22.
This then is th'end of our miniſterie, Obſer. to bring men to obedience of the truth, and Goſpell of Chriſt. See 1 Cor. 10.5. and that this is no eaſie worke will appeare, if we conſider what the things are that the Goſpell enioynes vsus.
As firſt a deniall and renouncing of our ſelues, and all things in vsus in reſpect of any power they hauehave to procure ſaluation, and to relye our ſelues wholly and alone vponupon Chriſt, as authour of ſaluation. Now how difficult a thing is this, if wee conſider what high thoughts naturally all of vsus carry of our ſelues,f2 Cor 1….5. inſomuch, that euen after GOD hath humbled vsus and brought vsus low, yet when it hath pleaſed him againe but a little by grace to rayſe vsus, we ſeeme to our ſelues ſuch as to whom the Lord ſhould as of due giuegive ſaluation?
The ſecond thing that the Goſpell requires, is to deny vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts, &c. Tit. 2.12.13. and herein how much adoe finde wee in experience with our ſelues, to preuaile ſo farre as to abandon what our corrupt affections lead vsus vntounto?
Hence therefore we all to whom the diſpenſation of the Goſpell is committed, Ʋſe. learne how wee muſt proportion and fit our courſes in the exerciſe of our miniſterie; ſo as may beſt tend to this end; ſubiection of all thoughts to the obedience of Chriſt. And here let all magnifiers of man in his nature, all meritmonging Preachers, iudge how wel they carry themſelues in their miniſterie, that by magnifying the power of nature, croſſe the very end of their miniſterie. And what they performe auaileable this way, that as Peter ſpeakes, promiſe libertie to their hearers, yea ſet open a gap to all carnall licenſe, their owne courſes proue ſufficiently; while they labour to widen that gate that the Lord hath by his word taught to be ſo ſtraight.
The extent of the ſubiect, all nations, ſo are all people called that are not of the Iewiſh common wealth.
Obſer. Now here obſerue the difference of the Church of the new Teſtament, from that of the old; as there are many others, ſo this one, amplitude; that whereas before Chriſt the grace of God was almoſt locked vp within the coaſts of Paleſtina; now all nations are equally called to communion with Chriſt. See Epheſ. 2.12.13.14. Mat. 28 19.
And this is one reaſon why the church now is called Catholike, becauſe the bounds thereof now ſtretch vntounto all Nations, according to the promiſe. Pſal. 2.
Ʋſe. And let this be acknowledged as not the leaſt mercy of GOD towards vsus of the Gentiles, on whom the ends of the world are come, that the Lord hath reſerued vsus for theſe times, wherein all graces are thus indifferently and freely offered to vsus, as well as to the Iewes, Acts 14.16. Acts 17.30.
For his names ſake.] That is, for his glorie ſake, or that thereby Chriſt might be glorified.
Obſer. Whence note, what ought to be the vtmoſt ayme and intention of a miniſter, in labouring to bring men to the faith: that is, that Chriſt may therby be glorified.
Ʋſe. And that ambition of many, not onelyonly in ſeeking for preferment and praiſe of men for their excellencie of gifts; but alſo by drawing diſciples after them, is here iuſtly taxed; yea, howſoeuer it be a glorious and comfortable thing to a miniſter, to be able to ſay, that hee hath bin Gods inſtrument to bring but one ſoule to the obedience of Chriſt, yet to ayme at our own vaineglorie euen in gaining ſoules to Gods kingdome, ſutes not with that ſincere affection which ought to be in a miniſter; to promote not his own, but … maſters glory.
Verſe 6. Among whom yee are alſo the called of Ieſus Chriſt.
AMong whom yee are alſo. This clauſe is added and deduced out of the generall formerly laid, for theſe two ends, firſt to ſhew that the Apoſtle in writing to them paſſed not beyond the tenure of his commiſſion; ſecondly, and leſſe principally, to remember their ſtate in nature, notwithſtanding their preſent aduancement by gracious calling. Now the firſt of theſe is eaſily inferred: for if his commiſſion extend to all Gentiles, and Romans be Gentiles, then were they alſo within compaſſe of his commiſſion.
So carefull is the Apoſtle to auoide ſuſpition of buſie medling where hee had naught to doe: Obſer. a dutie often preſſed to all in generall, 1 Theſ. 4.11. and the contrarie reproued. 1 Tim. 5.13.
And it were to be wiſhed, Ʋſe. both miniſters and people would thus learne to know their owne line; and to containe themſelues within their own compaſſe; doubtleſſe, if they had care of diligent inſpection into the ſtate of their owne flockes, and to feede their owne people, they would finde little leaſure, either to carp at the courſes of others, or to incourage the malicious to ſeditious diſcords.
Againe, whereas the Apoſtle thus puts them in minde what they are in nature▪ Gentiles; and in no better ſtate then others; howſoeuer grace hath put difference betweene them and others; it may be obſerued, that its profitable for Gods children often to be remembred what they are in nature. See 1 Cor. 6.10. 11. &c. partly for their humiliation. Secondly, for compaſſion to others. Tit. 3.2.3. Thirdly, to prouoke to thankefulnes vntounto God. 1 Tim. 1.12.13.14.17. &c.
Thus much of the ſubſcription: the ſuperſcription followes; noting the perſons to whom the Epiſtle is directed; deſcribed, firſt: by the place of their abode, ſecondly, adiuncts, declaring their happie eſtate; for they are beloued of GOD, and by calling brought to ſanctification.