Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 2 · Chapter 16 · Section 6
6. Morall obseruations.
Observ. 1. Whom we are to commend.
v. 1. I commend Phebe. S. Paul commendeth Phebe for her singular seruice performed to the church, in going hospitalitie to the Saints, which teacheth vsus whom we should commend by our testimonie: that we take heed that we giuegive not our commendation of any vnworthie person, for then we should be found to be false witnesses: as we should not depraue the good gifts in any, so neither should we commend them, which hauehave few or no cō mendable parts: vnderunder Christs kingdom it is prophesied, that a niggard shall no more be called liberall, nor a churle rich, Isa 32.5. but euerie one shall be called and commended according to his worth: a good caveat for these dayes, wherein flatterie so much preuaileth especially about great persons, that in such, great and enormous vices do often maske vnderunder the name and title of honour.
Observ. 2. Of hospitalitie.
v. 2. She hath given hospitalitie to many. These duties belong vntounto hospitalitie, affectuosa invitatio, a most affectionate and earnest inviting, as the disciples compelled Christ (as yet vnknowne vntounto them) to stay with them. 2. laeta susceptio, a ioyfull receiuing and entertaining, as Zacheus receiued Christ ioyfully and gladly into his house. 3. larga procuratio, large and liberall prouision, as Abraham went himselfe and fetch a calse and killed it, 4. quiescendi opportunitas, opportunitie and fit place to rest in, as the Shunamite prouided for the Prophet a chamber, 2. King. 4. 5. securitas & protectio, securitie and protection; as Lot did safegard his ghests, the two young men came into his house. 6. amicabilis diductio, a friendly bringi… on the way, in their departure, as Abraham did, Gen. 18.
Observ. 3. Of the true ornaments of women.
3. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, &c. This woman with her husband are commended for beeing assistants and helpers vntounto Paul in his ministrie, and in preseruing his life with endangering their owne: such was their pietie and zeale: behold these are the vertues and true ornaments of women: how many Queenes saith Chrysostome, are buried in silence and obliuion, whereas this tentmakers wife, est in ore omnium, is in euerie ones mouth, and that not onelyonly tenne or twenty yeares, but vntill the comming of Christ: vbi nunc facierum ornatus, vbi vana gloria, where is now the vaine glorie of women, in tricking vp their faces: learne of this woman, what are the true ornaments, not sought for in earth, but laid vp in heauen: This woman and her husband gaue entertainement to S. Paul two yeares: and thou if thou wilt, plenius illum habebis quàm illi shalt enioy him more fully then they, neque anim aspectus Pauli tales illos fecit, sed verba, for it was not the fight of Paul, but his words which graced them so much: therefore accipe beatorum illorum libros, &c. take thou the bookes of those blessed men the Prophets and Apostles and thou shalt be as Priscilla which receiued Paul: Hic est ecclesia ornatus, ille theatrorum, hic caelis dignus, iste equis & mulis, this is the ornament of the Church, the other to hauehave glistring apparell, is for theaters and stages, this is beseeming heauen, the other, to horse and mules, this is often put about dead bodies, namely costly apparell, hic vero in sola splendet anima, but the other onelyonly shineth in the soule: these true ornaments let vsus all labour for.
Observ. 4. Of the profitable meditation of the punishment of hell.
Chrysostome vponupon the diuersitie of gifts, which S. Paul commendeth in the brethren whō he saluteth in this chapter, groundeth the difference of rewards: and by a consequent he prooueth the punishment of the wicked in hell, si non eisdem potientur iusti omnes, &c. quomodo cum iustis eadem gloria fruentur peccatores, if the iust shall not enioy the same reward, how shall sinners enioy the same glorie with the iust: then he proceedeth in this manner. 1. many doubt of hell, enquiring of the place, erit alicubi extra orbem hunc gehenna, hell shall be somewhere out of this world, (he meaneth this visible world,) …e quaeramus vbi sit, sed quomodo illam fugiamus, let vsus not seeke where it is, but how we shall escape it. 2. some may doubt of the punishment to come, because here God punisheth not all, but the reason hereof is, Gods longanimitie and patience: propterea minatur, & non statim in gehenuam conijcit, therefore he threateneth, and doth not straite cast downe into hell. 3. but some will further aske what manner of punishment it is: what thing canst thou name in this life so grieuous, as sicknenes, diseases, torment of bodie, perpetuall blindnes, ridicula ista sunt ad futura mala, these are but toyes to the euills to come. 4. But if there be hell it shall be onelyonly for infidels, not for beleeuers: yes euen for them also, if they liue not according to their faith: for he which knoweth his Masters wil and doth it not, is worthie of more stripes: for otherwise the deuils should not be punished, for they beleeue and acknowledge God: and so he concludeth, continuos sermones de illis versemus, non enim sinet in gehenuam incidere, gebennae meminisse, let vsus talke continually of those punishments: for to remember hel, it will keepe a man out of hell: vtinam in tabernis vtnarijs, &c. immo vbi que de gehenna disputatum esset, I would that in wine-taverns, and other banketting places, yea eueryevery where men would talke and dispute of hell.
Observ. 5. The companie of the wicked is to be shunned.
v. 17. Avoide them. So S. Paul commandeth, 2. Thess. 3.6. that they withdrawe themselues from them that walke inordinately: Moses from the Lord commanded the congregation to get them away from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Numb. 16.16.24. the companie of the wicked, is to be declined, both least they be partakers of their sinnes, and parteners also in their plagues.
Observ. 6. To giuegive thankes alwaies vntounto God.
v. 27. To God onelyonly wise be praise thorough Iesus Christ for euer: the Apostle teacheth vsus by his example to remēber alwaies to shew our thankfulnes to God: as he saith, 2. Thes. 5.18. in all things giuegive thanks: thus doth the Apostle vponupon eueryevery occasion breake forth into the praise of God, as Rom. 1.8. I thanke my God thorough Iesus Christ: and c. 7.25. I thanke God, &c. and we must not be wearie of giuing thankes, praise must be yeilded for euer: as Ambrose well saith, imitare Lusiniam, cui quoniam ad dicendas lau…s dies sola non sufficit, nocturna spacia pervigili cantilena decurrit, imitate the nightinghal, which because the day sufficeth not to set forth the praise of the Creator, doth passe ouer the night with continuall singing, Ambr. serm. 43.
And now as S. Paul giueth thanks for the reuelation of the mysterie, a long time kept secret, which he hath opened in this diuine epistle, so vntounto the same God, which hath giuen me strength thus to vnfold the secrets of this epistle, otherwise farre exceeding my capacitie & abilitie, I conclude with the Apostle, saying, To God onelyonly wise, be praise thorough Iesus Christ for euer.
FINIS.