Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 4 · Section 6
6. Morall observations.
v. 7. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen: Peter Martyr here noteth well,1. Observ. That our sinnes hinder our beatitude. that our sinnes onelyonly doe hinder our blessednes: for iustificatio est inchoata beatitudo, our iustification is an happines inchoate or begun: so then when our sinnes shall be fully taken away, then our beatitude and blessed estate shall no longer be deferred: as our happines begunne bringeth with it the remission of sinne, so when it is finished, all our sinnes with the remainder of them, shall be cleane purged.
v. 13. The promise, that he should be heire of the world. 2. The hope of our celestiall inheritance should qualifie our outward wants in this world.Although the faithfull hauehave the promises of this life, so farre as the Lord seeth it to be expedient for them; yet their peculiar inheritance is the kingdome of heauen: the children of God therefore must comfort themselues in the hope and expectation of their proper inheritance, though in the meane time they be stripped and dispossessed of the things of this life: As Abraham had the land of Canaan promised him, and yet he himselfe had no inheritance in it, no not the breadth of a foote, Act. 7.5. so we must be reuiued with the hope of our celestiall inheritance, though we possesse little in this world: as Abraham was promised to be heire of the world, not so much of that present, as of that to come.
v. 18. Abraham aboue hope beleeued vnderunder hope. This teacheth vsus, that we should neuer despair, or cast off our hope, but comfort our selues in God, though we see no meanes,3. Neuer to cast off our hope, … to distrust in God. as Abraham beleeued Gods promise, concerning the multiplying of his seede, though he saw no reason thereof in nature: such a godly resolution was in Iob, cap. 13.15. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Then God showeth himselfe strongest, when we are weakest: and his glorie most appeareth, when he helpeth vsus beeing forsaken of all other worldly meanes.
v. 20. And gaue glorie vntounto God. As Abraham praised and glorified God for his merciemercy and truth, so we ought to magnifie God,4. We must giuegive glorie and praise to God for all his benefits. and set forth his praise for all his mercies toward vsus: the Lord is not so well pleased with any spirituall sacrifice and seruice, as when he returne vntounto the praise of eueryevery good blessing: as the Prophet Dauid saide, Psal. 116.12. What shall I render vntounto the Lord for all his benefits, I will take the cuppe of sauing health, and call vponupon the name of the Lord: this is all the recompence, that either God expecteth at our hands, or we are able to performe, to giuegive him thanks for all his benefits.
v. 23. Now it was not written for him onelyonly, &c. but for vsus, &c. Seeing then that the Scriptures are written generally for all the faithfull,5. The Scriptures are diligently to be searched of all. we hauehave all interest in them: and therefore euerie one of Gods children should hereby receiue encouragement, diligently and carefully to search the Scriptures, as appertaining and belonging euen vntounto him: as our Sauiour saith, Ioh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them you thinke to hauehave eternall life: who would not search his ground verie deepe, if he thought he should finde gold there: so much more should we be diligent in searching the Scriptures which shewe vsus the way to eternall life, which is farre beyond all the treasures of the world.
v. 25.6. Our true consolation is, that our sinnes are pardoned in Christ. Who was deliuered to death for our sinnes: Seeing then that Christ died not in vaine, but brought that worke to perfection, for the which he died, this now maketh much for the comfort of Gods children, that their sinnes are verily done away in Christ, and blotted out in his death: this was S. Pauls comfort, that Christ came into the world to same sinners, of whom he was the chiefe, 1. Tim. 1.15.
This also teacheth vsus to die vntounto sinne,7. Christ dying for sinne, doth teach vsus to die vntounto sinne. which was the cause that Christ was giuen vp vntounto death, as Origen well obserueth, quomodo non alienum nobis & inimicum omne ducitur peccatum, &c. how shall not euerie sinne seeme strange, and as an enemie vntounto vsus, for the which Christ was deliuered vp vntounto death?