Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 2 · Chapter 14 · Section 4
4. Places of Doctrine.
Doct. 1. That alwayes in the Church, are to be found as some strong, so others weake in faith.
v. 1. Him that is weake in faith. This is the condition of the Church of God, that as in a familie, some are children, some of riper age, so there are in the same, some that are but weakelings in the faith, some of more perfect growth: the reason of which difference is both in respect of the caller: God calleth not all at one time, neither giueth vntounto all a like measure of gifts, and of them which are called, all doe not vse a like diligence in the exercising of their gifts; and so it commeth to passe, that some are weake, some strong. This difference S. Paul, sheweth to hauehave beene among the Galathians, c. 6.1. If any be prevented by any fault, yee which are spirituall restore…, &c. there were some among them subiect to infirmities, some, that were spirituall: this sheweth the phantasticall error of such, as require perfection in the Church, and euerie member thereof, and can brooke no imperfections.
Doct. 2. Not to contend about indifferent things.
v. 3. He that eateth, let him not contemne him, that eateth not. … S. Paul would not hauehave them to be so earnest one in iudging an other concerning the vse of things indifferēt: which hath beene the cause of great contentions in the Church: as great stirres were raised by Victar B. of Rome about the vse of leauened and vnleauened bread, as Eusebius testifieth, lib. 5. c. 14. hereupon sprang the sects in Saxonie of the adiophorists, and Flacians: Pareus here also giueth instance of the English, and Scottish Churches: Anglicas quo que & Scoticas Ecclesias simile certamen de rebus adiophoris in hanc vsus que diem exercet, the like strife about things indifferent, doth trouble the English and Scottish Churches to this day, &c. But S. Paul concerning all these things giueth a rule afterward, v. 17. the kingdome of God is not meate and drinke, (nor any such externall thing) but righteousnesse, &c.
Doct. 3. The best workes of the heathen sinfull.
v. 5. Let euerie one be fully perswaded in his minde, &c. Hence it is euident, that Christians doing things forbidden, and leauing things commanded, because they are not herein perswaded, doe therein sinne: likewise the workes of the heathen, wherein they did that which was commanded, yet were sinfull, because they wanted this perswasion: Aristides exercising iustice, did that which was commanded: Alexander abstaining from violating the chastitie of Darius wife and daughters, did shunne that which was prohibited: yet both of them sinned, hauing not this full perswasion and assurance of faith, that therein they pleased God: these their goodly and glorious workes, were but speciosa peccata, goodly sinnes, non ex substantia operis, sed vitio operantis, not by the substance of the worke, but the fault of the worker.
Doct. 4. That all things must be referred to Gods glorie as the chiefe end.
v. 6. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, &c. As God gaue beginning to all things, so he is the chiefe and last end of all: the heathen said, that we were borne, not for our selues only but partly for our friends, partly for our countrey, partly for God: but the Scriptures teach vsus, that all things must be referred wholy vntounto Gods glorie: our friends and countrey are to be respected, but for Gods cause, as it shall make most and best for his glorie: so the Apostle saith, 1. Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eate or drinke, or whatsoeuer yee doe, doe all to the glorie of God.
Doct. 5. Of the generall extent and efficacie of Christs death in the old and newe Testament.
v. 9. That he might be Lord of the dead and quicke. The dead are named first, to shew, that euen those which liued vnderunder the Lawe and before, though then dead, did belong vntounto the kingdome and dominion of Christ, as also they which then liued, or should remaine in the earth vntounto the ende of the world: they all then make but one Church, one mysticall bodie, as Gregorie saith, lib. 41. epist. 38. sancti ante legem, sancti sub lege, sancti sub gratia omnes hi corpus Domini sunt constitutere, the Saints before the lawe, vnderunder the lawe, and vnderunder grace, doe all make the bodie of Christ: he is the Lambe of God, that taketh away the sinnes of the world, Ioh. 1.29. of all that beleeue in him from the beginning of the world to the end thereof.
Doct. 6. Christs diuinitie prooued.
v. 18. All tongues shall confesse vntounto God. This prophesie of Isay c. 45.23. beeing applyed by S. Paul vntounto Christ, doth euidently shew, that he is God: because euerie knee shall bowe vntounto him, and eueryevery tongue shall confesse him to be God: adoration and praise, which doe belong onelyonly vntounto God, are giuen vntounto Christ: and in that place the Prophet yet speaketh more euidently, am not I the Lord, and there is no God beside me? And here where the Apostle said, v. 10. we must all stand before the iudgement seat of Christ, v. 12. he saith, We must giuegive account vntounto God: the tribunall seate then of Christ, is the tribunall of God.
Doct. 7. Of the authoritie of the Scriptures.
v. 11. For it is written, &c. The Apostle speaking of our appearing before the iudgement seat of Christ, doth not affirme it onelyonly but prooueth it by the Scriptures: teaching vsus thereby, that the Scriptures, and written word of God, are the only rule and line of our faith: and that nothing ought to be imposed vponupon the Church, as a matter of beleefe, but that which is warranted from thence: the Scriptures are able to make the man of God perfect, 2. Tim. 3.17. he then that seeketh any doctrine beside that which is taught in the Scriptures as not content with that which is perfect, would adde further that which is superfluous, idle, and vnnecessarie.
Doct. 8. That no kind of meate is vncleane in it selfe.
v. 14. I knowe, &c. that there is nothing vncleane in it selfe, &c. All kind of meats then, which are appointed for the food, and nourishment of mans bodie, are in themselues lawfull and cleane, beeing receiued with giuing of thankes: And if they be lawfull and cleane, the restraint of them by any prohibition for religion and holines sake, is superstitions, and inclining to Iudaisme. It is the mind onelyonly, and opinion, that polluteth and defileth meats: so the superstition of Papists in making conscience of some kind of meates, is so farre from making them more holy, and acceptable vntounto God, that they thereby defile and pollute the good creatures of God: they should therfore remember that charge, which was giuen vntounto Peter from heauen, Act. 10.15. What God hath cleansed, pollute thou not.