Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter 12 · Dialogue 7
DIAL. VII.
Verses 11, 12. Not slothfull to doe seruice, feruent … spirite, seruing the Lord, reioycing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing in prayer.
Tim.
VVHat doe the first words of this text containe?
Silas.
An exhortacion to industry and diligence in doing all duties both towards God and men; which are not to be performed slothfully, because God doth not louelove such as do their worke grudgingly and negligently. Also such shall heare at the last day, Take that slothfull seruant, and binde him hand and foote: but to the faithful (where of diligence is a part) it shall bee saide, Come good and faithfull seruant. Therefore whatsoeuer is in our hands to do (as Salomon saith) wee are to do it with all readinesse and industry, if we will please God and auoide his iudgements. Example of this readinesse in businesse, we hauehave in Abraham, Gen, 18, 6. and Genes. 24. in his seruant, who in the businesse of Isaacs marriage was diligent. Also in Mary, Luke 11, 39. & Christ the Lord, and in the Apostle Paul, who most industriously did the workes of their calling. Heere wee are to take heede of two extreames: the one is of too much diligence, when2. Extreames of diligence. we busie our selues much in things not pertaining to vsus. This is curiosity, condemned by Paul, 1 Thess. 4. 11. the other is too much slownesse or sluggishnesse in our owne duties, when we do our things as it were sleepingly, like that idle seruant in the Gospell, that hid his Talent in a napkin: or like that sluggard mentioned, in Pro. 26, 13. that sought vaine delayes and excuses to keep him from his duty, There is a Lyon in the way. Some are slow, being of an heauy mould, and dull by nature; others through vnwillingnesse to do any good, these be the worse.
Tim.
What is commended to vsus in the next sentence?
Silas.
Feruency in Spirite: in which is a precept contrary to the former, and inioyneth not readines alone,Feruencie or zeale. but earnestnesse too, both in Religion to God, and charitye to man: and withall it teacheth whence this earnestnesse or feruency commeth, namely, from the Spirit of God, kindling it in our hearts, and … vsus with louelove in a great measure. Whereof we hauehave example in Moses, who out of zeale brake the two Tables: in Elias doing the seruice of God with much power and feruency, as appeareth in destroying the Idolles, and killing Eaals Priests. Also in Iohn Baptist, who trod in the same steps of Elias zeale, Luke 1, 17. in Paul and Barnabas, Acts 14, 14, 15. and in Christ, Iohn 2, 14, 15, 16. and generally in all the Prophets and apostles. They walke not according to this rule, who are cold in their profession. Also those who be neither hot nor cold, but luke warme in their Religion, beeing indifferent, not caring which end goeth foremost. Nor they who be temporizers and neuters in the confession of their faith: also by this rule Gods children are exhorted to a godly feruency & zeale both in profession and practise of religion. For zeale is a fruite of the Spirit, and of godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7, 11. and heere by wee become like Christ and the apostles, Lastly, it is good to be zealously affected still in a good thing (saith Paul, Gal. 4, 18.) Note here, that these words import a continuall acte. Christians are to bee diligent and earnest, not by pangs or fits, but all their life long, and in one thing as well as in another, and according to the quality of the matter, that will shew our zeale to be wise and good, and proceeding from God. Such as are zealous at the first, and afterwards become colde, or be lesse zealous in the chiefest businesse; or be forwarde in some matter of profit or pleasure to themselues, & not so in the thinges of God, giuegive suspition that their zeale is fleshly and carnall.
Tim.
How do you reade and vnderstande the next Aphorisme, or short sentence and proposition?
Silas.
Some reade it thus, seruing the time, and then the meaning is either to watch opportunities or occasiof dooing our duties, and to obserue what is fitting for time and season, according to that in Rom. 13, 11. or to consider what belongs to the time, after the example of Paul, at one time circumcising Timothy, when he would not circumcise Titus at another, Gal. 2, 3, 4. And heerein there is great wisedome to consider what is meet and fit to bee done, according to time and place (yet without departing from truth and honesty) for all good thinges are not to be done at all times. Howbeit the other reading (seruing the Lord) is much better, as warranted by diaers Greeke Coppies, and directing vsus to the right & true end of all our actions, namely the seruice and glory of God, whereunto they must aime as at their vtmost marke, Cor. 10, 31. and this doth distinguish ChristianSo M Beza affirmeth duties from the workes of ciuill men, who neuer respect the worship or honour of God, but their owne pleasure and praise in all things, whatsoeuer they pretend to the contrary. Also this precept may further teach vsus whome wee are to serue, namely, not the worlde nor men, but God, because he is our Lord, Psal. 2, 11. Gal. 1, 10. 1 Cor. 7, 23. and 1 Cor. 6, 20.
Lastly, it may teach great men modestie, that they swell not by opinion of their owne power and might, remembering that they are vnderunder God, as a seruant vnderunder his Lord, and therefore not to abuse their inferiors, Col. 4, 1. for they serue one common and most iust Lord, who is no respecter of persons.
Tim.
What be the graces we are exhorted to in the 12. verse?
Silas.
VntoUnto these three, Hope, Patience, and Prayer,Hope patiēce Prayer. which are so many remedies against afflictions of al sorts. The first of these graces is set foorth and declared by an effect of reioycing. The second, by his Obiect, which is ttibulation. The third by the adioynt, which is perseuerance. When any affliction happens, priuate or publicke, inward or outward, for Christ or sinne, Gods Children thorough hope of deliuerance from them, faint not in their hearts, but reioyce and are glad, because they certainely looke for saluation in the end; for their hope makes them not asnamed, Rom. 5. 5. and by hope they are saued, Rom. 8, 24. But if their afflictions continue vponupon them, and waxe more greeuous, then to hope must be ioyned patience, which enableth to endure with submission vntounto, and wayting vponupon the pleasure of God, as we are admonished in many places, Math. 24, 13. Rom. 5, 4. Heb. 10, 36. 2 Pet. 2, 9. To hope and patience must be ioyned prayer, which is a notable armour and Weapon against troubles, because it gets wisedome how to carry our selues in afflictions; and diuine helpe how to come out of it, that we may ouercom, Iam. 1, 5. Ps. 50, 15. Our prayers may thē be said to be continual, eyther when we cal vponupon God by offered occasions, & necessities bodilyHow our praiers be continuall. or spirituall; or when by no meanes wee intermit the set hours or times of prayer; or else when we are instant in praier, asking earnestly, Ia. 5. or tho we be not heard presently, when we continue to ask without ceasing, Lu. 18. or els we may vnderstand this not of mouing of the lips, but the desires of the heart, which when they are continuall, our prayers bee continuall, for a continuall desire, is a continuall prayer; God will heare the desires of them that feare him, Psal. 145. It was an heresie condemned in Eutiches and the Masstlians, that thought Christians ought all their life long to doe nothing else but pray: abusing this and the like Texts to this end. Whereas besides Prayer, the workes of our generall and particular vocation are to bee followed, yea in Gods seruice there is preaching, & Sacraments must hauehave time allowed. It is a greeuous sinne in many Christians at this day, which contenting themselues with publicke prayer (which is a good thing) neglect set Prayers in their families, or foreslow the iust occasions to turne vntounto God by prayer, or in their prayers do behaue themselues coldly or carelesly: such as these, they both fall into many euils, and are left in their euils without comfort, because they seek not vntounto God feruently for his ayde and protection. Finally, remember vntounto all these precepts, and to the rest following, to knit these first words of this Chapter [I beseech you] at a generall and most forcible motiue, to stir vsus vp to practise them, as we would not cast from vsus, and make our selues vnworthy of the mercies of God, whereunto not all the world is to be compared, no not to the least of his speciall and sauing mercies in Christ.