A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Romans · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
1. I Beſeech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that ye preſent your bodies a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable ſervice.
1. Now to make Application of all this Doctrine fore-written, I beſeech you, as you have a due ſenſe of Chriſt's offering himſelf a Sacrifice for our Sins, and of the great Mercy of the Gentiles Salvation by Grace, and of our deliverance from the Burdens of the Jewiſh Law, thoſe coſtly Sacrifices of Beaſts being abrogated by Chriſt, that you will reſign and dedicate your ſelves to God, and as a living holy Sacrifice, give up your own Bodies wholly to him, even to the Obedience of his Commands, and to ſuffer what he calls you to, even to death, which will be better than a Sacrifice of Beaſts, even a reaſonable, holy, acceptable Service of God.
2. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.
2. And now you are called out of the World, and made a Peculiar People to God, conform not your ſelves to the ſinful Practices of the World; but be transform'd from your former Errours and Sins, by the renewing of your Minds by Truth and Holineſs; that you may know by experience the Goodneſs of God's Ways, to which you are called, and the Greatneſs of his Love.
3. For I ſay, through the grace given unto me to every Man that is among you, not to think of himſelf more highly than he ought to think, but to think ſoberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the meaſure of faith.
3. And ſpecially becauſe that the proud over-valuing of Mens own Underſtandings, and thinking that they know more than they do, is the common Cauſe of Errours and Sins, of Cenſures, Diviſions, and Hereſies in the Churches, I do, as an Apoſtle ſent and taught of God, admoniſh and charge you all, every one to think humbly of himſelf, and not to think your ſelves wiſer or better than you are; but with wiſe ſelf-ſuſpicion, and conſciouſneſs of your Ignorance and great Imperfection, to think ſoberly of your ſelves, according to truth, and to the degree of Faith and Wiſdom given you of God.
4, 5. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the ſame Office; ſo we being many are one body in Chriſt, and every one members one of another.
4, 5. For as the Members of the ſame Body have great diverſity in Number and Office; ſo we, though many individual Perſons, make up one Body or Church, in Chriſt the Head, in whom we are united, and are related to each other as Members of the ſame Body.
6. Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecie, let us prophecie according to the proportion of faith. 7. Or miniſtry, let us wait on our miniſtring, or he that teacheth on teaching.
6, 7. Seeing it pleaſeth God to give various degrees of Gifts, according to the diſpenſation of his Free Grace, and not to make all equal in Gifts or Office, let all confine themſelves to their Meaſure and Office, and that let them faithfully execute: Let thoſe that are inſpired to ſpeak as from God, by Prediction or Inſtruction, ſpeak what God hath revealed to them, according to the proportion of their Revelation and Knowledge, and no more; and not pretend Special Revelation againſt the ſealed Word of Faith. Let thoſe that are called to any Special Service for the Church, perform their own Office faithfully therein: And let thoſe that are called to teach, be faithful Teachers. Neglect not your own part, and invade not others.
8. Or he that exhorteth on exhortation: He that giveth, let him do it with ſimplicity: He that ruleth, with diligence: He that ſheweth mercy, with chearfulneſs.
8. He that is to exhort Men to practiſe what is taught, let him do it diligently, (for Mens corrupt Wills and Affections have need of excitation and Perſuaſion, as well as their Underſtandings of Information.) He that giveth, (his own, or the Churches) let him do it ſincerely and impartially. He that is intruſted to govern Chruch or Family, let him do it carefully, and diligently. He that ſheweth Mercy to any in diſtreſs, let him do it chearfully.
9. Let love be without diſſimulation: Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.
9. Let Chriſtian-Love, which is the Great Duty of the Goſpel, be hearty and ſincere, appearing in its Fruits, and not in barren Words alone. Be not indifferent and cold towards Evil or Good: but avoid Evil with abhorrence, and reſolutely ſtick to that which is good.
10. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love: in honour, preferring one another.
10. Love each other as Brethren, and live in the kind affectionate expreſſion of it, (and not as ſelfiſh, uncharitable, peeviſh, quarrelſom, cenſorious, or perſecuting Men): Be forwarder to prefer others in eſteem, praiſe, or practice, (according to their Worth and Rank) than to ſet up your ſelves, or ſeek eſteem, applauſe, or preferment. Strive not to be thought wiſeſt or beſt or to be higheſt; nor envy others.
11. Not ſlothful in buſineſs: Fervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord.
11. Do not your Duties ſlothfully, unwillingly, and heavily; but diligently: and ſerve God in all the Duties of your Places and Times, with a fervent zealous Mind.
12. Rejoycing in hope; patient in tribulation, continuing inſtant in prayer.
12. In all your preſent Tribulation, rejoyce in hope of promiſed Deliverance and Felicity hereafter; and patiently endure it: And continue inſtantly to pray.
13. Diſtributing to the neceſſity of ſaints: Given to hoſpitality.
13. Freely diſtributing to the neceſſity, eſpecially of Holy Perſons; and not living in ſuperfluity, and ſhutting up your Compaſſion from thoſe that are in want: Delight to give the Needy Entertainment in your Houſes, and ſeek them to that end.
14. Bleſs them which perſecute you: Bleſs and curſe not.
14. And though the Sin of Perſecution be heynous, it is God that is the Avenger of it: Avenge not your ſelves in word or deed: Pray for them, and curſe them not.
15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
15. Be not like thoſe ſelfiſh Perſons, that are little affected with the Caſe of any but themſelves: Not like the Dividers, that affect to go croſs to others by proud Singularity: But rejoice with Rejoicers, and weep with the Weepers, as being of the ſame Body, and as regarding their Caſe as if it were your own.
16. Be of the ſame mind one towards another: Mind not high things, but condeſcend to men of low eſtate.
16. Affect not to be odd and ſingular from other Chriſtians; but to be of one Mind and Way with them, (ſo it be not in Sin) and mind their Caſe as if it were your own: Mind not Preferment, nor Riches and Vain-glory, nor put your ſelves for theſe into the Company and Favour of thoſe above you: But be content with a low Condition in the World, and go along in Society with the Lower ſort.
16. Be not wiſe in your own conceits.
16. Have humble thoughts of your own Knowledge, and think it not greater than it is; but be conſcious of your Ignorance, and Uncertainties, and Weakneſs, and rather as Doubters ſtay and learn, than too haſtily judge and conclude.
17. Recompenſe to no man evil for evil.
17. If others do ill to you, do not you do ill to them, nor requite them with Revenge.
17. Provide things honeſt in the ſight of all men.
17. Be diligent in your outward Labours, that you may avoid baſe Dependence as much as may be, and may provide for a decent Living for your ſelves, and help to others.
18. If it be poſſible as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
18. Though it is not in your power to make the Malignant, Perſecutors, Contentious, and Proud, to be peaceable towards you, nor muſt you purchaſe Peace by ſinning againſt God; yet ſee that you be peaceable towards all Men, to the utmoſt of your power; that the Diſtance may not be your fault, but theirs, who make Peace impoſſible.
19. Dearly beloved, avenge not your ſelves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, ſaith the Lord.
19. Paſſion is ſo unruly, and ſo blindeth the Judgment of ſelfiſh Men, that I again beſeech you, to avoid Self-righting by Revenge; but when Men are wrathful, and wrong you, give place, by departing, ſubmiſſion, or patience; and leave God's Work of Revenge to himſelf, which he will execute ſoon enough, and ſeverely enough, partly by himſelf, and partly by his Officers entruſted with the Sword.
20. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirſt, give him drink: for in ſo doing thou ſhalt heap coals of fire on his head.
20. As Chriſt hath won us by Love, ſo hath he taught us to win our Enemies. Love is our Nature and Duty, and that to which we would win all: And therefore Love is the Means or Weapon by which we muſt overcome them; and particularly, by ſuch Bodily Kindneſs which they can value: Therefore if they hunger, feed them; ſupply their Want; let not ther Enmity ſtop your Kindneſs. By this means, as Fire melts Metals, the hardeſt Heart may be melted: For Love kindleth Love, which Strangeneſs and Revenge deſtroyeth. At leaſt, this will aggravate his Sin, and ſhame him, and juſtifie you againſt his Calumnies.
21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
21. Satan by your Enemies tempteth you to ſin: They overcome you, if you yield, by Paſſion, or Revenge, or any Sin; but not, if they do but hurt your Bodies. Therefore keep your Charity and Innocency, and you are the Conquerours: And by your Love and Good Works overcome their Evil, as it would draw you to ſin, and as it is the Malady of their Souls, which you would overcome for them, that they may be ſaved.