An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 1 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
HEe proceeds to exhort them, that they bring forth fruits worthy of their profession, towards the Magistrate, and men of all conditions. There are two parts of the Chapter. The first of Civil Subjection, to vers. 8. The other of Love; as it respects the second Table of the Law.
Vers. 1. Let every soul bee subject to the higher powers; for there is no power but of God, the powers that bee, are ordained of God.
The Exhortation is propounded in the first words: That every soul, or every man, bee subject, or subordinate to the higher Powers, i. e. To the Civil Magistrate: The Arguments of the Exhortation are ten.
For there is no] Argument 1. Because the Magistrate of what kind or order soever, is from Gods institution and ordination.
Vers. 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power, resisteth the Ordinance of God; and they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation.
The Ordinance] Argum. 2. Because hee that is not subject, but resists and opposes the Magistrate, sets himself against the Ordinance of God.
Damnation] Argum. 3. Because hee that resists, brings upon himself revenge, and punishment, as well from God, as the Magistrate.
Vers. 3. For Rulers are not a terrour to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not bee afraid of the Power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.
Argum. 4. Because the office of the Magistrate is ordained of God, that it may restrain the evil, and punish evil deeds, but not what is good: Therefore wee ought to bee subject unto him.
Praise] Argum 5. Because the Magistrate confers rewards and praise upon those that do well, and observe the Law.
Vers. 4. For hee is the Minister of God to thee for good: but if thou do that which is evil, bee afraid, for hee beareth not the Sword in vain: for hee is the Minister of God, a Revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.
Argum. 6. Because the Magistrate is the Minister of God for our good; for by the Magistrate God enjoyns us things honest and profitable, and takes away those that are evil, which is very advantagious to us.
For hee bears not the sword] Argum. 7. Because hee is armed with the sword to punish them that are evil, by that authority which is divinely given him: Therefore it behoves them that are guilty of evil, even in danger of life, to fear, and to bee subject.
Vers. 5. Wherefore yee must needs bee subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Argum. 8. Because it is necessary to bee subject, not only for avoiding the anger of the Prince, and civil punishments, but also for the sake of a good conscience, in respect to the command of God, commanding subjection.
Vers. 6. For, for this cause pay you tribute also, for they are Gods Ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Argum. 9. Because wee owe tribute to Magistrates, as to the Ministers of God, who are imployed in the defence of the publique, and solely attend that: Therefore ought you to bee subject unto them.
Vers. 7. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute, to whom tribute is due; custome, to whom custome; fear, to whom fear; honour, to whom honour.
Argum. 10. Brought in by way of conclusion: Because as it is just to give every one his due, so also to the Magistrate tribute, fear, honor is to bee paid: Even as all, or some of these belong to the Supreme or inferiour Magistrate, and their Ministers.
The second Part.
Vers. 8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for hee that loveth another, fulfilleth the Law.
The second part of the Chapter follows, wherein hee handles holiness of life and love, as in respect to duties of the Second Table. There are six Arguments of this exhortation.
Except this] Argum. 1. Because love is a perpetual debt: Therefore alwayes to bee paid.
Fulfilled] Argum. 2. Because love to our neighbour is the fulfilling of the Law: Therefore alwayes to bee endeavoured.
Vers. 9. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness; Thou shalt not covet: And if there bee any other Commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying; namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self.
Thou shalt not] Hee strengthens this argument with two reasons: The first is taken from an enumeration of the precepts of the Second Table, all which are referred to love.
Vers. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore Love is the fulfilling of the Law.
Reason 2. Because love does no evil to our neighbour, which wee are forbidden by the Law: Therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law, and wee ought to follow after it.
Vers. 11. And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation neerer than when wee believed.
Argum. 3. Wherein hee urges the fruits of Faith in the loving our selves and neighbours; because this fruitfulness hath been long enough neglected, when wee were asleep by nature, and now 'tis time, that wee shew our selves raised out of this sleep of sin, and bring forth the fruits of Regeneration.
For now] Argum. 4. Because our salvation is neerer than when wee were first converted to the Faith. Wee must endeavour so much the more to bring forth the fruits of Faith, and hope of Salvation.
Vers. 12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of light.
Argum. 5. The night of ignorance and darkness is past, and for the greatest part gone, so much as belongs to the state of corrupt nature, i. e. the end of this corrupt world, and the abolishing of the corruption of our nature: Therefore let the works of darkness and ignorance pass away.
Let us put on.] Argum. 6. The day, or state of illumination, and compleat regeneration in future glory approaches, and in our now begun regeneration shines forth, as in the breaking of the day: Therefore let us put on armour, that wee may with-stand the Devil, Sin, and the World, alwayes doing that which is good.
Vers. 13. Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioti…g and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying:
Hence hee draws a four-fold hortatory conclusion.
Let us walk] The first exhortation is, that wee walk orderly, as it becomes children of the light, regenerate through the grace of the Gospel.
Riotousness] The second exhortation is, that wee abstain from intemperance and all filthiness, particularly from riotousness, and drunkenness, and adulteries, and filthy lasciviousness, (wherewith prophane men are wont to pollute themselves in their chambers) and strife, and envy.
Vers. 14. But put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lust thereof.
The third exhortation is, That wee put on Christ, which hee saith, rather, than let us put on temperance, and other virtues, contrary to the fore-mentioned vices; for unless in the first place wee closely imbrace Christ, and his righteousness imputed to us by Faith, that wee fetch virtue from this Fountain to good works; our righteousness will not exceed the righteousness of Philosophers and Pharisees. For even then when wee perform any thing holy, it is by virtue of the Spirit of Christ. Again, wee ought to put on Christ, that his righteousness may cover our nakedness, the imperfection and pollution of our works.
For the flesh] The fourth exhortation, That being contented with the necessary and lawful use of the creatures, to the health of the body, wee take no care to satisfie the immoderate lusts of the flesh, or indulge our selves in carnal delights; for hee that takes too much care for his body, takes too little for his soul.