A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Romans · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
1. WHat ſhall we ſay then? ſhall we continue in ſin that grace may abound?
1. Perhaps ſome may gather from all this, that we preach a Doctrine of Licentiouſneſs; and ſeeing Grace abounded, where Sin abounded; we infer that Men may continue in Sin that Grace may abound.
2. God forbid. How ſhall we that are dead to ſin live any longer therein?
2. Far be it from us ſo to think: For though Chriſt came to ſave Sinners, it was not to ſavour Sin, but to deſtroy it, and ſave Men from it. And therefore as he died for Sin, he cauſeth us to die to Sin; and how then ſhall we live in it that are dead to it?
3. Know ye not, that ſo many of us as were baptized into Jeſus Chriſt, were baptized into his death?
3. Know ye not, that when Men are Baptized, they are by Vow, Covenant, and Profeſſion liſted into the belief of a Crucified Saviour, who died for Sin to ſave us from it, and do profeſs that Repentance by which we renounce it, as dead to it for the time to come?
4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptiſm into his death, that like as Chriſt was raiſed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even ſo we alſo ſhould walk in newneſs of life.
4. Therefore in our Baptiſm we are dipped unde the Water, as ſignifying our Covenant-profeſſion, that as he was buried for Sin, we are dead and buried to Sin, that as the glorious power of God raiſed him from the dead, ſo we ſhould riſe up to live to him in newneſs and holineſs of Life.
5. For if we have been planted together in the likeneſs of his death, we ſhall be alſo in the likeneſs of his reſurrection.
5. For as we have Covenanted and Profeſſed our belief in him and conformity to him as Dead, ſo we have Covenanted and Profeſſed, and muſt practiſe our Conformity to his Reſurrection, or elſe it is not true Baptiſm, and Chriſtianity, and Conformity to Chriſt.
6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed, that henceforth we ſhould not ſerve ſin.
6. Knowing that as his Body was Crucified for Sin, ſo we have herein Covenanted and Profeſſed to be, as to our old Diſpoſitions and ſinful Converſations, as it were crucified with him, that the Body of Sin, that is, our fleſhly corrupt diſpoſition and converſation, might be deſtroyed, that henceforth we ſhould not ſerve Sin, but be as dead to it.
7. For he that is dead, is freed from ſin.
7. For as a Dead Man is abſolved from all ſervile Obligations to his Maſter, ſo he that is by the Death of Sin conformed to the death of Chriſt, is freed from the dominion of Sin.
8. Now if we be dead with Chriſt, we believe that we ſhall alſo live with him.
8. And if we be indeed what we are by Baptiſmal Profeſſion, conformed thus to Chriſts Death, we have cauſe to believe that we muſt and ſhall be conformed to his Reſurrection and Life.
9. Knowing that Chriſt being raiſed from the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him. 10. For in that he died, he died unto ſin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11. Likewiſe reckon ye alſo your ſelves to be dead indeed unto ſin, but alive unto God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
9, 10, 11. For as we know that Chriſt being raiſed from the Dead, dieth no more. His Death for Sin was but once, but he being riſen liveth to God for ever; ſo muſt you reckon that you are by Converſion from Sin to God, once dead to Sin by Covenant, Conſent, and Profeſſion, that you may ever after-live to God, by the Mediation, Spirit, and Grace of Chriſt.
12. Let not ſin reign therefore in your mortal body, that you ſhould obey it in the luſts thereof.
Therefore, unleſs you will renounce your Baptiſm and Chriſtianity, you muſt not let Sin reign in thoſe bodies which as they die for ſin, ſo are profeſſedly dead to ſin: Its luſts may tempt and trouble you, but muſt not be obeyed.
13. Neither yield ye your members as inſtruments of unrighteouſneſs unto ſin; but yield your ſelves to God, as thoſe that are alive from the dead, and your members as inſtruments of righteouſneſs to God.
13. Nor muſt you yield the Members of your Bodies, as inſtruments of unrighteouſneſs unto ſin, tho you ſhould pretend that you keep your Hearts clean to God; but give up your ſelves to the Government and Will of God, as thoſe that are riſen and alive from your dead ſtate of ſin, that you may live to him, and ſo give up the Members of your Bodies as the Souls Inſtruments of Righteouſneſs in ſerving God.
14. For ſin ſhall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.
14. For ſin muſt not, and ſhall not have dominion over you, to rule you or condemn you; for you are not under the Law which meerly forbade it, and condemned the ſinner, but under Grace which mortifieth and forgiveth it.
15. What then? ſhall we ſin becauſe we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
15. What then? ſhall we turn this Argument of our deliverance from ſin to encourage us in ſin, and be the bolder to ſin, becauſe we are not under the Law that condemneth ſinners, but under Grace that pardoneth them. Far be it from us.
16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield your ſelves ſervants to obey, his ſervants you are to whom ye obey, whether of ſin unto death, or of obedience unto righteouſneſs?
16. Know ye not, that as your engagement to be Servants of Chriſt bindeth you to obey him; ſo your obedience will ſhew whoſe Servants you are indeed; whether you obey ſin, which is the way of death, or obey Chriſt unto Righteouſneſs and life.
17. But God be thanked that ye were the ſervants of ſin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you.
17. But God be thanked for your change and deliverance; that though you were formerly the Servants of ſin, you have obeyed, not only Bodily, but from the Heart, that form of Chriſtian Doctrine which was delivered to you, and to which you did conſent.
18. Being then made free from ſin, you became the ſervants of righteouſneſs.
18. In your Converſion and Baptiſm you being delivered from the ſervitude and guilt of ſin, you then by conſent and Covenant became Chriſts Servants for the way and works of Righteouſneſs.
19. I ſpeak after the manner of men, becauſe of the infirmity of your fleſh. For as you have yielded your members ſervants to uncleanneſs and to iniquity, unto iniquity; even ſo now yield your membes ſervants to righteouſneſs, unto holineſs.
19. I uſe this familiar ſpeech by ſimilitude and allegory, as fitted to your Capacity: As you did formerly uſe your Bodies in uncleanneſs and iniquity, as Servants of iniquity; ſo now uſe your Bodies as Servants of Righteouſneſs, devoted to God, and ſanctified to obey him,
20. For when ye were the Servants of ſin, ye were free from righteouſneſs.
20. For when you lived in the ſervitude of ſin, you were not the Servants of God and Righteouſneſs, you lived not a life of Holineſs and obedience to God.
21. What fruit had you then in thoſe things whereof you are now aſhamed? For the end of thoſe things is death.
21. Review now thoſe works, and think what you got by them, you are juſtly now aſhamed of them and of their fruits: For whatever ſin ſeem in the committing, miſery and death is the end and fruit of it, where Grace doth not recover and forgive.
22. But now being made free from ſin, and become ſervants to God, ye have your fruit unto holineſs, and the end everlaſting life.
22. But now having by converſion changed your Maſter and Life, and being delivered from the ſlavery of ſin, and become the Servants of God, the fruit is a life of Holineſs here, and hereafter at the end everlaſting happineſs.
23. For the wages of ſin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
23. For the ſervice of ſin is rewarded with death, and this the Law obligeth the ſinner to: But the free gift of God through the Mediation of Chriſt is Eternal Life: And this is it which in the Goſpel Covenant is proclaimed and beſtowed: (And do you not now ſee both how neceſſary it is to have a Saviour, and a better Covenant and way of life than Moſes's meer Law, or Mans own meritorious Works; and that our Goſpel is ſo far from favouring ſin, that it declareth the only way to be delivered, both from the guilt and power of it, and to be made holy here and happy for ever.