Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter 5 · Dialogue 9
DIAL. IX.
Verse 11. And not so onelyonly: but we reioyce concerning God by Iesus Christ our Lord, by whom we hauehave receiued the attonement.
Tim.
WHat doth this Text offer vntounto vsus?
Silas.
An amplification of that which was said before in the thirde verse of this Chapter, to which it must be … after this sort. He had said verse second, We reioyce vnderunder the hope of glory. Then verse third, he added a correction; Not so, but we reioyce also in tribulations: now in the eleuenth verse, he ioyneth a third member of glorying or reioycing, & not onelyonly so, but we reioyce concerning God through Iesus Christ our Lord. The sum whereof is thus much; seeing we hauehave God reconciled vntounto vsus by Christ, euen vntounto our certaine and assured saluation in heauen; wee reioyce not in our hope of glorie to come, nor in afflictions present, but especially in the knowledge & Faith of this great grace and fauour of God the father vntounto vsus through his Sonne.
Tim.
What be the parts of this Text?
Silas.
First a dutie, to reioyce. Secondly the cause heereof, because God is reconciled and become our Father in Christ. Thirdly, the meanes how we attaine this reconcilement, in that we receiue it, to wit; by our faith in Christ. This reioycing is a speciall good thing, and it is as it were, the very life of a mans life.
Tim.
How many kinds of reioycings be there?
Silas.
There is a naturall reioycing common vntounto all men when the hart is cheared, either by an in-bred liuelinesse, or by outwarde occasions, as in the presence of things pleasant or agreeable to our nature. This reioycing is not meant heere. Also, there is a spirituall and Christian kinde of reioycing, which ariseth from the spirit of God, stirring vp the heart to reioyce in spirituall and heauenly things, when they are present with vsus, or certainly hoped for. As first, when the Church flourisheth, Psal. 137, 3. Secondly, when a sinner returneth to the Lord, Luke 15, 10. Thirdly, in the meanes of saluation, Ps. 122, 1. Fourthly, in doing righteousnes, iudgement and equity. Fiftly, in the exercising our selues inProuerbes 1. the praises of God, Psal. 95, 1. Sixtly, in the reconciliation that we hauehave with God through Christ when it is beleeued or felt, of this our Text speaketh.
Tim.
What is it to reioyce concerning God?
Silas.
To hauehave ioy of heart in this respect, that hee is become our Father, and loueth vsus as his Children and Sonnes.
Tim.
What difference is there in these speeches concerning God as heere: and to reioyce in God, as 1 Cor. 1, 31. and to reioyce with God, as Rom. 4, 2?
Sil.
To reioyce in God, it is to attribute all thinges which be good vntounto God, and to render him all thanks for them; this we may doe. Secondly, to reioyce with God, it is to to bring something with vsus of our owne, wherein to glorie and reioyce besides Gods fauour; and this we may not doe. Thirdly, to reioyce concerning God, it is to be merry in our hearts for this, that we do vnderstand how God doth louelove vsus, as a father his children. The like vntounto this, we hauehave in Ier. 9, 24. Let him that reioyceth reioyce herein, that he knoweth me to be mercifull and righteous; whereas others reioyce in riches or pleasure, or honour, or wisedome; the Christian ought to reioyce in Christ.
Tim.
Is there great and iust cause to reioyce for such a gift bestowed on vsus, as Gods Fatherly fauour through Christ?
Silas.
Yea very great, for heerein consistes all mans happinesse, both now and for euer, to hauehave God reconciled, that he may bee a Father to take vsus for his sonnes sake and louelove. Such onelyonly do reioyce; therefore such as waigh these things, and do inwardly feele them, so as they are are affected with them, do from hence gather exceeding strong hope of enioying euerlasting life. For God is such a Father, so constant in his louelove, as though he will correct them, yet neuer will he disinherit them.
Tim.
By whom is it that God is become a fauourable Father vntounto vsus?
Silas.
By Christ his beloued sonne, who by his death on the Crosse, hath made attonement for our sinnes, being there in our stead by the will of his Father; and by meanes of our receiuing it thorough faith in the promise of the Gospell, we hauehave made it ours.
Tim.
What thinges doe yee consider seuerally in this attonement spoken of in this place?
Silas.
First God, to whom wee are reconciled, he louing vsus, and giuing his sonne for vsus. Secondly, his Son comming to worke our attonement by his obedience, passion, and Sacrifice. Thirdly, our Faith embracing this attonement, and receiuing it. Fourthly, a great reioycing of hart in the Faith and certainty of this reconcilement with God.
Tim.
What do ye collect from this whole Doctrine?
Silas.
That our Christian and spirituall reioycing, it is as our measure of beleeuing is: none, if our Faith bee none; little, if our faith be little; great, if our Faith bee great. Therefore, as any do long for much true Christian comfort, let them endeuor a daily increase of Faith, by the humble, sincere, and constant vse of al those holy meanes priuate and publicke, whereby God vseth to enlarge the beleefe of his children.