Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 1 – Commentary 2

Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John · Commentary 1 – Commentary 2

p. 1A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION VponUpon the Epiſtle of S. Paul to the ROMANES.

CHAP. I. Verſe 1. A ſervant of Ieſus Christ.

THis is an higher title th…n Monarch of the world, as Numa, ſecond King of Rome could ſay.foreign. Pult.

Verſe 2. Promiſed] Fore-ſhewed and foreſhadowed.

Verſe 3. Concerning his Son] Here's a lofty and lively deſcription of Chriſts ſacred perſon. The whole Epiſtle being the Confeſſion of our Churches, as Melancthon calleth it,Scultet. Annal. who therefore went over it ten ſeverall times in his ordinary Lectures: The Epiſtle being ſuch, as never can any man poſſibly think, ſpeak or write ſufficiently of it's worth and excellency.

Verſe 4. Declared to be, &c.] Gr. Defined;foreign. for definitions explain obſcurities.

With power] For, Superas evadere ad auras; Hic labor, p. 2hoc opus eſt—a work befitting a God, See Epheſ. 1.20. with the Note there.

The Spirit of holineſſe] The divine eſſence of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 13 4. which ſanctifieth the humane nature aſſumed by him.

Verſe 5. For obedience to the faith] That is, to the Goſpel (that doctrine of faith) or to Chriſt, who is oft put for faith (whereof he is the proper object) in this Epiſtle. Kiſſe the Son, &c.Pſal. 2 12. Math. 17.5.Ps 2:12Matt 17:5 Hear him.

Verſe 6. Ye are the called] With an high and heavenly calling, Heb. 3.1. See the Note there.

Verſe 7. Called to be Saints] Thoſe then that are called, are Saints, whileſt alive, and not only thoſe that are canonized by the Pope after they are dead,Bemb in Liſt. Venet. In numerum Deorum ab Eccleſia Romana relati, as Bembus profanely ſpeaketh of their Saint Francis, a ſorry man,Dan hiſt of Engl. fol. 99. of whom (as once of Becket 48 years after his death) it may well be diſputed, Whether he were damned or ſaved. Pope Callistus 3. ſainted ſome ſuch in his time, as of whom Cardinall Beſſ…rion, Iac. Revius. biſt. Pontiſ.knowing them for naught, ſaid, Theſe new Saints make me doubt much of the old.

Grace he to you, and peace] See the Note on 1 Cor. 1.2.

Verſe 8. Your faith is spoken of] See chap. 16. and Juvenal, Tacitus, and other profane writers, who bitterly exagitate the doctrines and practices of thoſe Roman Chriſtians.

Verſe 9. Whom I ſerve in my spirit] That is, with all the faculties of my ſoul concentred and co-united.

Verſe 10 I might have a prosperous journey] This he praied, and this he had by ſuch a way as he little dreamt of. Little thought Paul, that when he was bound at Ieruſalem, and poſted from one priſon to another, that God was now ſending him to Rome: yet he ſent him, and very ſafe, with a great Convoy. God goes oft another way to work, for our good, then we could imagine.

Verſe 11. That I may impart] There is no envy in ſpirituall things, becauſe they may be divided in ſolidum; one may have as much as another,Theat Naturae. and all alike. Scientiarum (ſic & gratiarum) ca vis est & natura, ut quò plus doceas, & alteride tuo largiare, cò ditior ac doctior fias, ſaith Bodine. Such is the nature and property of ſciences and graces, that the more you communicate them, the more you encreaſe them.

Verſe 12. That I may be comforted] Or exhorted, Ad communem exhortationem percipiendam, ſaith Beza out of Bucer, and p. 3others. The meaneſt of Chriſts members may contribute ſomewhat to the edifying even of an Apoſtle.

Verſe 13. But was let hitherto] Either by Satan, 1 Theſſ. 2.18. or by the holy Spirit, otherwiſe diſpoſing of him, as Act. 19.6, 7. or by ſome intervenient, but important occaſion: as Chap. 15.20, 21.

Verſe 14. I am debter] Becauſe entruſted with talents for that purpoſe, 1 Cor. 9.16. See the Note there.

Verſe 15. So as much] Quicquid in me ſitum eſt, promptum eſt. A notable expreſſion.

Verſe 16. For I am not aſhamed] As men are apt to be; whence that fatherly charge, 2 Tim. 1.8. Doe ye thinke (ſaid Iohn Frith, Martyr, to the Archbiſhops men that would have let him go) that I am afraid to declare mine opinion unto the Biſhops of England in a manifeſt truth?Act. and Mon. 1917. If you ſhould both leave me here, and go tell the Biſhops that you had loſt Frith, I would ſurely follow as faſt after, as I might, and bring them news that I had found and brought Frith again.

For it is the power, &c.] Eternall life is potentially in the Word preached, as the harveſt is potentially in the ſeed.

Verſe 17. The just ſhall live by faith] Hab. 2.4. that is, they ſhall enjoy themſelves by their faith, in greateſt diſaſters, or dangers, when others are at their wits ends, that's the Prophets ſenſe; and the Apoſtle not unfitly applieth it to prove juſtification by faith alone: for if a man live by faith, he is juſt by faith.

Verſe 18. Who hold the truth] Hold the light of their conſciences (which is as a Prophet from God) priſoner. The naturall man, that he may ſin the more ſecurely, impriſons the truth, which he acknowledgeth, and laies hold on all the principles in his head, that might any way diſturb his courſe in ſin, locking them up in reſtraint. Hence it appears that no man is righteous in himſelf, or by his own righteouſnes, which was the foreign

Verſe 19. Becauſe that which may] Heathens might know God the Creatour, per species creaturarum (as they ſpeak) either in way of negation, or cauſality, or eminence; not ſo God the Redeemer.

Verſe 20. Are clearly ſeen] As in a mirrour,Pervidentur. or as on a theatre. Ʋt ſolem in aquis, ſic Deum in operibus contemplamur.

Verſe 21. Neither were thankefull] How then ſhall we anſwer p. 4to God our hatefull unthankfulneſſe, which is (ſaith one) a monſter in nature, a ſoleciſme in manners, a paradox in divinity, a parching winde to damme up the fountain of divine favours.

But became vain in their imaginations] Gr.foreign. In their reaſonings, diſputations, diſcourſes upon ſerious deliberation. They ſtood not to their own principles (as, That there is one God only, That this God is to be worſhipped, &c.) but were Atheiſts by night that worſhipped the Sun, and Atheiſts by day that worſhipped the Moon, as Cyril ſaith wittily.

Verſe 22. Profeſſing themſelves to be wiſe] Aristotle, Natures chief Secretary, writeth many things moſt abſurdly concerning God: As,Metaphyſ. l. 12. that he is a living creature, That he worketh not freely,Ib. lib 1. Bodin. Theat. Nat p 29. but by a kinde of ſervile neceſſity; and that therefore he deſerveth no praiſe or thanks from men for his many benefits, ſith he doth but what he muſt needs do. Theſe are Aristotles abſurd aſſertions. And yet at Stuckard in Germany, was found a Doctour of Divinity that preached to the people, That the Church might be ſufficiently well taught and governed by Ariſtotles Ethicks, though we had no Bible: And the Collen Divines ſet forth a book, concerning Aristotles ſalvation.

Verſe 23. Made like to corruptible man] God made man in his own image: And (to be even with him, as it were) will needs make God, after his image.

And fourfooted beasts] God therefore juſtly gave them up to Sodomy, whith did abaſe them below the beaſts: that there might be an analogy between the ſin and the puniſhment. This is called a meet recompence, ver. 27. They diſhonoured God, they diſhonoured therefore themſelves. They would not know nor honour him, they ſhall not therefore know, nor ſpare one another, &c. ſo ſeverely will God puniſh the contempt of rebellion againſt the light.

And creeping things] In Lapland the people worſhip that all day for a god,Abbots his Geog. whatſoever they ſee firſt in the morning, be it a bird or worme.

Verſe 24.Ariſt. Etb.l 7. c. 3, 4. Gave them up to uncleanneſſe] Ariſtotle confeſſeth the diſability of morall knowledge to rectifie the intemperance of nature; and made it good in his practice: for he uſed a common ſtrumpet to ſatisfie his luſt. Socrates is ſaid to have had his Catamite,Iavenal. Inter Socratices, &c.

p. 5Verſe 25. Who changed] They tare out their naturall principles and turned Atheiſts.

Verſe 26. Into that which is againſt nature] So againſt nature, that children (natures end) and poſterity is utterly loſt by it.

Verſe 27. Leaving the naturall] As at this day in the Levant, Sodomy is held no ſinne.B…unts voyage. The Turkiſh Baſha's have many wives, but more Catamites, which are their ſerious loves.

Burned in their lust] Gr. Were ſcalded. foreign.Some men put off all manhood, become dogs, worſe then dogs. Hence Deut. 23.18. The price of a dog, that is of a buggerer, as Iunius and Deodatus expound it.

Verſe 28. To a reprobate minde] Or, an injudicious minde: Or, a minde rejected, diſallowed, abhorred of God: Or a minde that none hath cauſe to glory in, but rather to be much aſhamed of.

Verſe 29. With all unrighteouſneſſe] The mother of all the enſuing miſrule.

Wickedneſſe] The Syrian ſaith, Bitterneſſe. See Ier. 2.19.

Envy, murther] Three ſuch Agnominations are found in this black bedroll. The Apoſtle ſeems delighted with them,foreign. as was likewiſe the Prophet Iſaiah. Of which noble two, I may well ſay, as one doth of Demoſthenes and Cicero, Demosthenes Ciceroni praecipust ne eſſet primus Orator, Cicero Demostheni, ne ſolus.

Malignity] Or, Moroſity, croſſeneſſe.

Verſe 30. Haters of God] And ſo God-murtherers, 1 Joh. 3.15. See the Note there.

Verſe 31. Implacable] That will not hear of a truce, much leſſe of a peace.

Verſe 32. Have pleaſure] Or, they patronize,foreign. Theoph. applaud and approve: This is ſet laſt, as worſt of all: it comprehends all kindes of conſent. To hold the bagge is as bad as to fill it.

p. 6CHAP. II. Verſe 1. Therefore thou art inexcuſable.

THough thou have no pleaſure in them that do evil, as Chap. 1. 32. but doſt ſuperciliouſly cenſure them, being thy ſelf otherwiſe as bad. Cato is ſaid to have exerciſed uſury, to have proſtituted his wife, to have ſlain himſelf. God oft ſets a Noverint univerſi upon the worlds wizards, for the fouleſt fools.

Verſe 2. Which commit ſuch] As Cato, ver. 1. whom yet Velleius affirmeth to have been, hominem virtuti ſimillimum. But God judgeth not as man.

Verſe 3. Thinkeſt thou] This is preaching to the conſcience, to the quick.

Verſe 4.foreign. The goodneſſe of God] Gr. His native goodneſſe, ready to be imploied to the behoof and benefit of the creature, Tit. 3.4. Now as the beam of the Sunne ſhining on fire, doth diſcourage the burning of that; ſo the ſhining of Gods mercies on us ſhould diſhearten and extinguiſh luſt in us. This is ſo equall, and needfull a duty, that Peter picks this flower out of Pauls garden, as one of the choiſeſt, and urgeth it upon thoſe to whom he writes, 2 Pet, 3.15.

Verſe 5. Treaſurest up unto thy ſelf] Sicut mittentes pecuniam in gazophyla…ium, quod, ubi jam impletur, confringitu…, ſaith Stella upon Luke. In treaſuring, there is, 1. Laying in. 2. Lying hid. 3. Bringing out again, as there is occaſion. Wicked perſons, whiles by following their luſts, they thinke they do ſomewhat to their happineſſe, ſhall in the end finde, Pro the ſauro carhones, thoſe burning coals, Pſal. 140.10.

Verſe 6. Who] See the Note on Mat. 16.27.

Verſe 7. Who by patient continuance] Or, By ſuffering perſecution for righteouſneſſe ſake. Gordius the Martyr ſaid, It is to my loſſe,Tertal. Ep. ad Polycarp. if you bate me any thing in my ſufferings. Majora certamina, majora ſequuntur pramia, foreign, ſaith Ignatius. Much pains hath much gains.

Verſe 8.foreign. But unto them that are contentious] That wrangle and thwartle againſt cleareſt truths, ſearching the devils skull for carnall arguments, as thoſe Athenians, Act. 17. being refractary as Pharaoh, who would not ſit down under the miracle, but ſent p. 7for the Magicians. And though the word doth eat up all they can ſay, as Moſes his rod did, yet harden they their hearts as Pharaoh, and reſolve to curſe, as Balaam, what ever come of it. Theſe are thoſe contentious ones.

Verſe 9. Of the Iew firſt] Qui ideò deteriores ſunt, quia meliores eſſe deberent. Who are therefore worſe,Salvian. becauſe they ſhould be better.

Verſe 10. Peace] Safety here, and ſalvation hereafter.

Verſe 11. For] See the Note on Act. 10.34.

Verſe 12. Periſh without law] Or, Though they hall no written law, as that of Moſes.

Verſe 13. But the doers of the law] The Scriptures are verba vivenda non l…genda, Aug.as Egidius Abbot of Norimberg ſaid of the 119. Pſalm. Boni Catholici ſunt qui & ſidem integram ſequuntur, & bonos mores. Leſſons of muſick muſt be practiſed, and a copy not read only, but acted. Divinity muſt be done as well as known.

Verſe 14. Doe by nature, &c.] Velleius ſaith that Cato was,Vell, lib, 2. Homo virtuti ſimillimus, cui id ſolum viſum eſt rationem habere, quod Haberet juſtitiam, omnibus humanis vitiis immunis, &c.

Are a law to themſelves] The Thracians glorie… …hat they were foreign, living laws, walking ſtatutes.

Verſe 15. Their thoughts mean while] Or,foreign. Betwixt whiles: Or in every interim of this life. Other faculties may reſt; an obſcene dream by night ſhall not ſcape conſciences record, it is index, judex, vindex. Gods ſay, and mans over-ſeer; and it is better to have it ſore, then ſeared.

Verſe 16. According to my Gospel] Which promiſeth heaven to beleevers. This is comfort to thoſe that are faithfull in weakneſſe, though but weak in faith. The ſentence of the laſt day ſhall be but a more manifeſt declaration of that judgement that the Lord in this life, moſt an end, hath paſſed upon men. Heathens ſhall be judged by the law of Nature: Proſtigate Profeſſours by the law written, and the Word preached: Beleevers by the Goſpel, which ſaith, If there be a willing minde, God accepteth, &c.

Verſe 17. Resteſt in the law] So ſpending thy time in a ſtill dream, but thou ſhalt have ſick waking, then when God ſhall ſend out ſummons for ſuch ſleepers.Judg. 7.Judg 7 Men dream their Midianitiſh dreams, and then tell them for law or Goſpel to their neighbours.

p. 8Verſe 18.foreign. Being inſtructed out of the law] Gr. Being well catechized and principled, thou art able to diſcern of doctrines, and chooſe the beſt.

Verſe 19. Of the blinde] The Chinois ſay, That all other Nations ſee but with one eye, they with two.

Verſe. 20. Which haſt the form of knowledge] A platform of wholſome words,foreign. a ſyſteme, a method artificially moulded, ſuch as Tutours and Profeſſours of Arts and Sciences have, and do read over again and again to their Auditours.

Verſe 21. Teachest thou not thy ſelf!] He that knows well, and does worſe, is but as a whiffler which carrieth a torch in his hand to ſhew others his own deformities. I have read of a woman, who living in profeſſed doubt of the Godhead, after better illumination and repentance,M Wards, Hap of p…act. did often proteſt, That the vitious life of a great ſcholar in that town did conjure up thoſe damnable doubts in her ſoul, Neronis illud (quantus artifex pereo?) quadrabit in te peritum & periturum. That's the beſt Sermon that's dig'd out of a mans own breſt. Origens teaching and living were ſaid to be both one.

Verſe 22.Speeds Chron. Doſt thou commit ſacriledge] The Chronicler noteth of Q. Mary, that ſhe reſtored again all Eccleſiaſticall livings aſſumed to the Crown, ſaying, that ſhe ſet more by the ſalvation of her own ſoul, then ſhe did by ten Kingdoms. Shall not ſhe that abhorred not idols, riſe up and condemn thoſe that do, and yet commit ſacriledge?

Verſe 23. Thorow breaking] By ſhooting ſhort, or beyond, or wide of the mark, by omiſſion, commiſſion, or failing in the manner.

Verſe 24. For the Name of God, &c.] Heretikes and hypocrites doe ſtill with Iudas deliver up the Lord Chriſt to the ſcoffes and buffetings of his enemies. Auguſtine complains of the ancient heretikes.Aug. deciv. Dei, l. 1 c. 51. that in them many evil-minded men found matter of blaſpheming the Name of Chriſt, becauſe they alſo pretended to the Chriſtian religion. Epiphanius addeth, That for the looſeneſſe of ſuch mens lives, and the baſeneſſe of their tenets, many of the Heathens ſhunned the company of Chriſtians, and would not be drawn to hear their Sermons.T…e opific. Dei, proaem. Origen before them both cries out, Nunc malè audiunt caſtigantur que vulgò Christiani, quòd alitèr quàm ſapientibus convenit, vivant, & vitia ſub obtentu nominis celent, &c. There is an ill report goes of Chriſtians for their unchriſtian p. 9converſation, &c. Ammianus Marcellinus a Heathen Hiſtorian deeply taxeth the pride, luxury, contentions, covetouſneſſe of the Biſhops in his time, and the deadly hatreds of common Chriſtians.Am. Marc l. 2… cap. 2, Nullae infeſtae hominibus bestiae, ut ſunt ſibi ſerales pleri que Chriſtiani, ſaith he. A ſad thing that a Heathen ſhould ſee and deteſt ſuch helliſh miſcarriages among Chriſtians.

Verſe 25. If thou keep the law] Which thou art thereby bound to do, either by thy ſelf, or by thy Surety Chriſt Jeſus.

Verſe 26. If the uncircumciſion] Which it can never do. But admit it could, &c.

Verſe 27. Iudge thee] Mens guilt is encreaſed by their obligations, as was Solomons in departing from God, who had appeared unto him twice, 1 King. 11 9.

Verſe 28. Neither is that circumciſion] See Coloſ. 2.11. with the Note there. Inward circumciſion is (as Origen deſcribeth it) Purgatio animae & abjc ctio vitiorum, or (as S^t Paul in the place above named) the putting oſt old Adam with his actions, by the circumciſion of Chriſt, by his merit and Spirit.

Verſe 29. Which is one inwardly] An Iſraelite indeed, Ioh. 1. that hath put away the foreskin of his heart, Ier. 4.4.

CHAP. III. Verſe 1. What advantage]

GR. What odds, ſingular thing, prerogative? See my True Treaſure, Chap. 7. Sect. 2.foreign.

Verſe 2. Chiefly, becauſe that, &c.] This was their prime priviledge, that they were Gods library-keepers, that this heavenly treaſure was concredited unto them. Other Nations are ſaid to have been without God, becauſe without thoſe lively oracles, 2 Chron. 15.3. Epheſ. 2.12. Prize we this priviledge, and improve it. You muſt never expect another edition of the faith once received, Jude 3, once for all.

Verſe 3. The faith of God] That is, his faithfull promiſes, oppoſed to mans perfidy.

Verſe 4. Every man a lier] viz. By nature. But Iſa. 63.8. Gods people are children that will not lie, they will die rather. Non ideò negare volo, ne peream: ſed ideò mentiri nolo ne peccem, p. 10ſaith ſhe upon the rack, of whom S^t Hieron… writeth. The officers of Merindol anſwered the Biſhop that moved them to abjure, That they marvelled much that he would perſwade them to lie to God and the world.Act and Mon. …ol. 860. And albeit that all men by nature are liers, yet they had learned by the Word of God, that they ought diligently to take heed of lying in any matter, be it never ſo ſmall, &c.

That thou maiſt be juſtified in thy ſayings] David ſpeaketh of the truth of Nathans reprehenſion; Paul applies it to the truth of God in his promiſes alſo. Let us give him a teſtimoniall, Ioh. 3.33. Such as is that Deut. 32.4. A God of truth, and without iniquity, juſt and right is he.

And mightest overcome] Maiſt be pure,Pſal. 51.Ps 51 ſaith David. Zacah in the Syriack is uſed for overcoming. Vincit veritas, & dare non dignis res magè digna Deo eſt.

Verſe 5. Is God unrighteous] Such heart-boilings there were in the rejected Jews. And Iob ſaid little leſle, till God over-hearing him, ſteps, as it were, from behinde the hangings, and takes him up for it, Iob 38.2. Who is this, ſaith he, that talketh thus? How now?

Verſe 6. I speak as a man] q. d. Is there not ſuch language heard in ſome mens hearts?

Verſe 7. For if the truth of God] Here the former objection is repeated, explicated, and more fully anſwered, that every month might be ſtopped.Lomelius. Ferunt ranas lampade ſupra lacum, in quo tumultuantur, appensâ, illius ſulgore repercuſſas conticeſcere. So gain-ſayers are ſilenced, when the truth is thorowly cleared.

Verſe 8. As we be ſlanderouſly reported] So are the reformed Churches by the black mouthed Papiſts. See the abatement of Popiſh brags by Alex. Cook, the Preface: Eudaemon Ioannes againſt Caſaubon, & Calvino-Turciſmum, &c.

Whoſe damnation is juſt] In the yeer of grace 1525. a Monk of Berline in Germany, who in the Pulpit charged S^t Paul with a lie, was ſuddenly ſmitten with an apoplex, whiles the word was yet in his mouth,…cultel. Annal. and fell down dead in the place on S. Stevens day, as they call it.

Verſe 9. That they are all under ſin] Whole evil is in man, and whole man in evil. Homo eſt inverſus decalogus. Man by nature is no better then a filthy dunghill of all abominable vices. His p. 11heart the devils ſtore-houſe, throne, neſt. His eyes great thorowfares of luſt, pride, vanity, &c. His life a long chain of ſinnefull actions, a web of wickedneſſe ſpunne out and made up by the hands of the devil and the fleſh, an evil ſpinner,M. Whate'y his new birth. and a worſe Weaver.

Verſe 10. As it is written] What the Prophets had ſaid of ſome particular people or perſon, is here applied to the whole race of mankinde, becauſe by nature there is never a better of us, foreignEraſ. Adag.

Verſe 11. None that ſeeketh] That ſeeketh and fetcheth him out of his retiring-room, as ſhe did, Mark 7.24, 25.

Verſe 12. Become unproſimble] Or rotten, naſty, ſtinking, as the Hebrew hath it, Pſalm 14.3. The old world was grown ſo foul, that God was forced to waſh it with a deluge.

Verſe 13. The poiſon of Aspes] Of that ſort of Aſpes that ſpit their venome farre from them upon the by ſtanders.P…ya…es. There is a great deal of ſuch vermine and venome in that new found world of wickedneſſe, the tongue, Iam. 3. It is eaſie to obſerve, that S. Paul here making the anatomy of a naturall man, ſtands more on the organs of ſpeaking then all other members, and ſheweth how his tongue is tipped with fraud, his lips tainted with venome, his mouth full of gall, his throat a gaping grave, his tongue as a rapier to run men thorow with, and his throat as a ſepulcher to bury them in. As for the Aſp, they write of her, That whereas her poiſon is ſo deadly, that the part infected cannot be cured,Io Wover. …nd 8. c. 23. but by cutting off, ſuccurrit periclit…tibus benignior natura, & noxioſiſſimo animali caliginoſos obtutus dedit. Aſpidi (ſaith Pſiny) hebetes oculi dati, co… que non in fronte, ſed in temporibus habet.

Verſe 14. Full] As a ſhip that hath it's full fraught and lading.….

Verſe 15. Swift to ſhed bloud] As Paul, till God ſtopt him in his curſed career.

Verſe 16. They minde nothing but miſchief.]

Verſe 17. They are restleſſe and troubleſome.]

Verſe 18. There is no fear of God] This is ſet laſt, as the ſource of all the former evils.

Verſe 19. Guilty] Culpable, and ſuch as cannot plead their own cauſe without an advocate.Chryſoſt.

p. 12Verſe 20. Therefore by the deeds of the Law] This is directly againſt Popiſh juſtification by works, merits, &c. Thoſe miſled and muzled ſouls did worſe then loſe their labour that built religious houſes,Act. and Mon. fol. 1077. Pro remiſſione & redemptione peccatorum, pro remedio & liberatione animae, in eleemoſynam animae, pro ſalute & requie animarum patrum & matrum, fratrum & ſororum, &c. Theſe were the ends that they aimed at, as appears in ſtories.

Verſe 21. But now] Since Chriſt came.

Verſe 22. Ʋpon all] So that none ſhall hinder their happineſſe.

Verſe 23. All have ſinned] The firſt man defiled the nature, and ever ſince the nature defileth the man. Adam was a parent, a publike perſon, a Parliament man, as it were; the whole country of mankinde was in him, and fell with him.

Short of the glory of God] i. e. Of his image now obliterated, or of his kingdome, upon the golden pavement whereof no dirty dog muſt ever trample. It is an inheritance undefiled, 1 Pet. 1.4.

Verſe 24. Being justified freely] Becauſe the Apoſtles word foreign, is expounded by Varinus to be foreign, therefore Thammerus will needs conclude from this text, that God by juſtifying us, doth but pay us for our pains, give us what we have earned. Coelum gratis non accipiam, ſaith Vega. Opera bona ſunt Coeli mercatura, ſaith another. Heaven is the purchaſe of good works.

By the redemption] That is, By faith applying this redemption, wrapping her ſelf in the golden Fleece of that Lamb of God.

Verſe 25. To be a propitiation] Or a covering, in alluſion to the Law; where the Ark covering the two Tables within it, the Mercy-ſeat covering the Ark, and the Cherubims covering the Mercy-ſeat and one another, ſhew'd Chriſt covering the curſes of the Law, in whom is the ground of all mercy; which things the Angels deſire to pry into, as into the paterne of Gods deep wiſdome.

For the remiſſion of ſins] Gr. For the relaxation or releaſment of ſins, foreign.as of bonds or fetters.

Verſe 26.foreign. To declare] Gr. For a clear demonſtration or pointing out with the finger.

Verſe 27. Where is boasting then, &c.] A certain ſophiſter p. 13would hence prove the authority of the Church: He read the words thus, by a miſtake of their ſhort-hand-writing, Ʋbi eſt gloriatio…? Eccleſia eſt, for excluſa eſt.

Verſe 28. A man is juſtified by faith] Here S^t Paul ſhews himſelf a pure Lutheran, and is therefore ſharply and blaſphemouſly cenſured by ſome Jeſuites for a hot-headed perſon, who was ſo tranſported with the pangs of zeal and eagerneſſe beyond all compaſſe in moſt of his diſputes, that there was no great reckoning to be made of his Aſſertions. Yea, he was dangerous to read,Speculum Europae. as ſavouring of hereſie in ſome places, and better perhaps he had never written. Four years before the Councel of Trent, Cardinal Conturenus, aſſerted the doctrine of juſtification by faith alone, in a juſt tractate, and was therefore ſoon after poiſoned. Cardinal Pool is thought to have been ſound in this point. Bellarmine reproves Pighius for conſenting to Luther herein, whom he undertook to confute: and yet Bellarmine himſelf with his tutiſſimumest, doth as much upon the matter. Magna eſt veritas & valebit, Great is the truth, and ſhall prevail.

Verſe 29. Is he the God of the Jews only] That is, Doth he juſtifie the Jews only? For he is their God only, whom he juſtifieth.… Now men are ſaid to be juſtified effectively by God, apprehenſively by faith, declaratively by good works. The School-men are very unſound in this capitall Article of Juſtification, and are therefore the leſſe to be regarded. Nam quae de gratia Dei justificante ſcolaſtici ſcribunt, commentitia univerſa exiſtimo, ſaith Cardinal Pighius, who is therefore much condemned by Bellarmine, but without cauſe.

Verſe 30. And uncircumciſion] All by one way, leſt he ſhould ſeem not to be one, but alius & alius.

Verſe 31. We establiſh the law] Which yet the Antinomians cry down, calling repentance a legall grace, humiliation a backdore to heaven; grieving that they have grieved ſo much for their ſins, &c.

CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. As pertaining to the fleſh.]

THat is, As touching his works, v. 2. called alſo the letter, cha. 2.27. and the Law a carnall commandment, Heb. 7.16.

p. 14Verſe 2. But not before God] Who when he begins to ſearch our lacks, as the ſteward did Benjamins, can finde out thoſe out theeveries that we thought not of; bring to minde and light thoſe ſins that we had forgot, or not obſerved. When he comes to turn the bottome of the bag upwards, it will be bitter with us. Abimelech's excuſe was accepted, and yet his ſinne was chaſtiſed, Gen. 20.6.

Verſe 3. Abraham beleeved God] Latomus of Lovan was not aſhamed to write, That there was no other faith in Abraham, then what was in Cicero. Joh. Manlij loc. conc. p. 490.And yet our Saviour ſaith, Abraham ſaw my day, and rejoyced, ſo did Cicero never. Another wrote an apology for Cicero, and would needs prove him to have been a pious and penitent perſon, becauſe in one place he hath theſe words,Ibid. 481. Reprehendo peccata mea, quod Pompeio confiſus, ejuſ que par…es ſecutus ſuerim. A poor proof: Hoc argumentum tam facile diluitur, quàm vulpes comeſt pyrum.

Verſe 4. Now to him that worketh] Yet it is an act of mercy in God to render to a man according to his works, Pſ. 62.12. Exo. 206. Gods kingdom is not partum, but paratum, Mat. 25.34. not acquired, but prepared.

But of debt] Not ſo indeed, Rom. 11.31. but according to the opinion of the merit-monger, who ſaith as Vega, Coelum gratis non accipiam.

Verſe 5. His faith] Yet not as a work, nor in a proper ſenſe,foreign. as Arminius and Bertius held, but as an act of receiving Chriſt.

Verſe 6. Ʋnto whom God imputeth] Ten times the Apoſtle mentioneth this grace of imputed righteouſneſſe in this Chapter: Yet the Papiſts jear it, calling it putative righteouſneſſe, ſo ſpeaking evil of the things they know not.Manlij loe. com. p. 494. Stories tell us of a Popiſh Biſhop that lighting by chance upon this Chapter, threw away the book in great diſpleaſure, and ſaid O Paule, an tu quo que Lutheanus ſactus es? Art thou alſo a Lutheran, Paul? But if the faith of another may be profitable to infants at their baptiſme, as Bellarmine holdeth, why ſhould it ſeem ſo abſurd a thing, that Chriſts righteouſneſſe imputed, ſhould profit thoſe that beleeve on him? The Jews indeed at this day being asked, Whether they beleeve to be ſaved by Chriſts righteouſneſſe? They anſwer, That every Fox muſt pay his own skin to the flaier. Thus they reject the righteouſneſſe of God, Rom. 10.3. As their Fathers did, ſo doe they, p. 15Act. 7.51. The Lord open their eyes, that they may convert and be ſaved.

Verſe 7. Are covered] Sic velantur ut in judicio non revelentur: So covered as that he never ſee them again, but as the Iſraclites ſaw the Egyptians dead on the ſhore.

Verſe 8. Imputeth not] Chargeth it not, ſetteth it not upon his ſcore, 2 Cor. 5.19.

Verſe 9. Cometh this bleſſedneſſe] This is the third time that the Apoſtle avoucheth the univerſality of the ſubject of juſtification. For this he had done once before, Chap. 3.23. and again, cha. 3.29 30, 31.

Verſe 10. In circumciſi…n] As the Jew would have it: No ſuch matter.

Verſe 11. A ſeal of the righteouſneſſe] Circumciſion is called a ſign, and a …eal by a Dectour of the Jews, more ancient then their Talmud. Zohar, Gen. 17.

That righteouſneſſe might be imputed] How fooliſh is that inference of Thammerus, foreign.that becauſe the word here uſed to ſignifie imputed, comes of a word that ſignifies reaſon, therefore the righteouſnes of faith muſt be ſuch as a man may underſtand and comprehend by reaſon?

Verſe 12. Walk in the ſteps] That herein perſonate and expreſſe him to the life, as Conſtantines children (ſaith Euſebius) did their father.

Verſe 13. Heir of the world] That is, Of heaven, ſay ſome;foreign of Canaan, ſay others, the pleaſant Land, more eſteemed of God, then all the world beſides, becauſe it was the ſeat of the Church. As man is called every creature, Mark 16.15. the Church is called all things, Col. 1. So Canaan is called the world, and Tabor and Hermon, put for the Eaſt and Weſt of the whole world, Pſal. 89.12.

Verſe 14. Faith is made void] See the Note on Gal. 3.12. and 5.2.

Verſe 15. No tranſgreſſion] ſc. Is imputed by men where there is no law written, See Chap. 5.13.

Verſe 16. It is of faith] Fides mendicâ manu.

Verſe 17. Who quickneth the dead] As he doth, when he maketh a man a beleever, Epheſ. 1.19. he fetcheth heart of Oak out of a hollow tree, and a ſpirituall man out of a wilde-aſſe-colt. See both theſe metaphors, Job 11, 12.

p. 16Verſe 18. Who againſt hope, &c.] Elegans antunaclaſis propter speciem contradictionis, ſaith Piſcator. Spes in terrenis, incerti nomen boni: spes in divinis, nomen eſt certiſſimi, ſaith another.

Verſe 19.foreign. He conſidered not] Gr. He cared not for his own body, &c. he never thought of that.

Verſe 20. Giving glory to God] Confeſſing and exalting God, as Luk. 17.18 giving him a teſtimoniall, as it were, Ioh. 3.33. with Deut. 32.4.

Verſe 21.foreign. Being fully perſwaded] Gr. Being carried on with full ſail, and going gallantly towards heaven.

Verſe 22. See the Note on Verſ. 5, 6.

Verſe 23. For his ſake alone] But for our inſtruction and encouragement, Rom 15.4. See the Note there.

Verſe 24. That raiſed up Ieſus] And with him all beleevers Col. 3.1. Rom. 6.4.

Verſe 25. Who was delivered, &c.] Not that his death had no hand in our juſtifying: but becauſe our juſtification begun in his death,foreign was perfected by his reſurrection. Redemption we have by Chriſts abaſement, application of it by his advancement. This one verſe is an abridgement of the whole Goſpel, the ſumme of all the good news in the world. The grand inqueſt of all the ancient Prophets, 1 Pet. 1.11. Adore we the fulneſſe of the holy Scriptures.

CHAP. V. Verſe 1. Being juſtified by faith.]

AS he had ſaid, Chap. 4.24.

We have peace with God] A bleſſed calm lodged in our conſciences: Like as when Ionas was caſt overboard, there followed a tranquillity.

Verſe 2.foreign. We have acceſſe] Chriſt leading us by the hand, and preſenting us to the Father, with, Behold, here am I, and the children whom thou haſt given me, Epheſ. 2.18.

Verſe 3. We glory in tribulations] As an old ſouldier doth in his ſcars of honour. See Gal. 6, 17. 2 Cor. 7.4.

Verſe 4. And experience, hope] Without hope patience is cold almoſt in the fourth degree, and that is but a little from poiſon.

p. 17Verſe 5. Hope maketh not aſhamed] As among men, many lie languiſhing at Hopes hoſpitall, as he did at the Pool of Betheſda, Joh. 5. and return as they did from the brooks of Tema, Job 6.17. Or, as men goe to a Lottery with heads full of hopes, but return with hearts full of blanks. The Dutch have a Proverb to this purpoſe, Sperare & expectare, multos reddit ſtultos. And we ſay, He that hopes for dead mens ſhoes may hap go bare-foot. Bad mens hopes may hop headleſle, they may periſh in the height of their expectancies. Not ſo thoſe that hope in God: they ſhall yet praiſe him who is the help of their countenance, and their God, Pſ. 43 ult. Nunquam confuſi, Deo confiſi.

Verſe 6. Christ died for] A ſufficient evidence of Gods deareſt and deepeſt love ſhed abroad in our hearts, as a moſt ſweet ointment.

Verſe 7. Yet per adventure for a good man] For a publike perſon. Lilloe ſtept between the murderer and King Edwin his maſter to intercept the deadly thruſt.Speeds Chron, lib 7. cap. 20. Life of K Ed. 6 pag 37. Turk hiſt fol. 730. A common ſouldier loſt his life at Muſſelborough field to ſave the Earl of Huntlies life: ſo did Nicolas Ribiſche to reſcue Prince Maurice at the ſiege of Pista.

Verſe 8. God commendeth, &c.] Herein God laies naked to us, the tendereſt bowels of his fatherly compaſſions, as in an anatomy.

Verſe 9. Much more then] It is a greater work of God to bring men to grace, then being in the ſtate of grace,foreign to bring them to glory; becauſe ſin is far more diſtant from grace, then grace is from glory.

Verſe 10. We ſhall be ſaved] Here the Apoſtle reaſoneth from regeneration to eternall life, as the leſſer.

Verſe 11. Not only ſo] Not in tribulation only do we glory (as v. 3.) but in the whole courſe of our lives.

Verſe 12. As by one man] Yet Anabaptiſts deny originall ſin, as did alſo the Pelag…ans of old, conſuted by Auguſtine. Egranus a German Preacher ſaid (as Melancthon reporteth) that original ſin is a meer fiction of Auguſtine, and other Divines; and that,Joh. Manl loc. com. pag. 486. becauſe there was no ſuch word found in the Scriptures. Papiſts ſay that originall ſin is the ſmalleſt of all ſins, not deſerving any more of Gods wrath, then only a want of his beatificall-preſence: and that too, without any pain or ſorrow of minde from the apprehenſion of ſo great a loſſe. There have been amongſt us, that p. 18have ſaid, that originall ſin is not forbidden by the Law. Directly indeed,Moulins Anaton. Armin c 8. Wotton on Joh. p 146. and immediately it is not: but forbidden it is, becauſe curſed and condemned by the Law. In originall ſin is a tacite conſent (eminently) to all actuall ſin. And ſome underſtand this text of all ſin, both originall and actuall.

And ſo death paſſed upon all men] As a ſentence of death on a condemned malefactour 1 or,foreign. as thoſe diſeaſes that are called by Phyſitians, Corruptio totius ſubſtantiae; or as the rot overrunneth the whole flock.

Verſe 13. Sinne is not imputed] In mens eſteem, as Chap. 4 15.

Verſe 14. Death raigned] From the raign of death, he concludes the raign of ſin. Infants are no innocents: the firſt ſheet or blanket wherein they are covered is woven of ſin, ſhame, bloud and filth, Ezek. 16.4.6.

Verſe 15. Many be dead] Many is here put for all, as all for many, 1 Tim. 2.3.

Verſe 16. Of many …ffences] i.e. Of all, whether imputed to us, inherent in us, or iſſuing from us.

Verſe 17. Abundance] That is, abundant grace.

Verſe 18. By the offence of one] We were all in Adam, as the whole countrey in a Parliament-man. And although we choſe not, God choſe for us.

Verſe 19.foreign Many] That is, All, except Chriſt, ſinners, tainted with ſins, guilt and filth.

Verſe 20. But where ſin abounded] But then it is where ſinne that abounded in the life, abounds in the conſcience in grief and deteſtation of it,Act. and Mon. fol 1…30. as the greateſt evil. Bonner objected to M^r Philpot, Marytyr, that he found written in his book, In me Joanne Philpotto ubi abundavit peccatum, ſuperabundavit & gratia. This he ſaid was an arrogant ſpeech, Novum crimen, C. Caeſar.

Verſe 21. That as ſin hath raigned] That is, the wrath of God by ſin.

Through righteouſnes] Imputed and imparted.

By J…ſus Chriſt] See how ſweetly the end anſwers the beginning of the Chapter, and how Chriſt is both authour and finiſher, &c.

p. 19CHAP. VI. Verſe 1. Shall we continue]

QƲaſi dicat, That were moſt unreaſonable, and to an ingenious nature, impoſſible. To argue from mercy to liberty is the devils Logick. Should we not after deliverance yeeld obedience, ſaid holy Ezra? Chap. 9.13, 14. A man may as truly ſay, the ſea burns, or fire cools, as that certainty of ſalvation breeds ſecurity and looſneſſe.

Verſe 2. Live any longer therein] Fall into it we may and ſhall: but it is not the falling into the water that drowns, but lying in it: ſo it is not falling into ſinne that damns, but living in it.

Verſe 3. Baptized into his death] Hoc eſt baptizaripro mortuis, ſaith Beza, to be buried with Chriſt in baptiſme, Col 2.12. in putting off the body of the ſinnes of the fleſh verſe 11.

Verſe 4. We are buried] Buriall is a continuing under death; ſo is mortification a continuate dying to ſinne, Mors quaedam perpetuata; Sin is by degrees abated, and at length aboliſhed, when once our earthly tabernacles are diſſolved.

Walk in newneſſe of life] Reſurrectione Domini configuratur vita, quae hic geritur. Walk as Chriſt walked after his reſurrection.

Verſe 5. For if we have been planted] Burying is a kinde of planting.

Verſe 6. The body of ſin] For whole evil is in man, and whole man in evil.

Verſe 7. Is freed from ſin] Anacreon ſaith the like, foreign; Death is the accompliſhment of mortification. It doth at once, what death doth by degrees. Herbs and flowers breed worms, which yet at laſt kill the herbs and flowers: So ſinne bred death: but at laſt death will kill ſin. A mud-wall whiles it ſtandeth, harboureth much vermine; which when it falleth, flee away: So doth corruption, when once theſe cottages of clay fall to ruine.

Verſe 8. We ſhall alſo live] Then we are ſaid properly to live, when our regeneration is perfected in heaven. To live here, is but to lie a dying.

p. 20Verſe 9. Death hath no more, &c.] Chriſt, being life eſſentiall, ſwallowed up death in victory, as the fire ſwalloweth up the fuell, and as Moſes his ſerpent ſwallowed up the Sorcerers ſerpents.

Verſe 10. He died unto ſinne] That is, To aboliſh ſinne, as Chap. 8.2.

Verſe 11. Reckon ye alſo] By faith, reaſon and reckon your ſelves wholly dead in and through Chriſt, who once died perfectly to ſin, as a common perſon.

Verſe 12. Let not ſin therefore] As if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, we preach purity and not liberty, as the adverſary ſuggeſteth, v. 1. of this Chapter with Chap. 3.8.

Verſe 13. Ʋnto ſinne] As Satans Generall, who hath his trenches, 2 Cor. 10.4. His Commanders, as here, and his fighting ſouldiers, 1 Pet. 2.11. His weapons, as here.

Verſe 14. Sinne ſhall not have dominion] Rebell it may, but raign it ſhall not in any Saint. It fareth with ſin in the regenerate, as with thoſe beaſts, Dan. 7.12. they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a ſeaſon and a time.

Ye are not under the Law] i.e. Under the rigour, irritation, curſe of the Law, Quatenùs eſt virtus peccati.

Verſe 15. Shall we ſinne, becauſe, &c.] Some Antinomian Libertines would perſwade men, That God is never diſpleaſed with his people,See M. Calamies Serm. to the houſe of Cummons, Octob. 22 an, Dam. 1644. though they fall into adultery, or the like ſin, no not with a fatherly diſpleaſure: That God never chaſtiſeth his people for any ſin, no not with a fatherly chaſtiſement.

Verſe 16. His ſevants ye are] Sinners, though not drunk, yet are not their own men, but at Satans beck and check, whom they ſeem to defie, but indeed deifie.

Verſe 17. That form of doctrine] Gr. That type or mould; The Doctrine is the mould, hearers the mettall, which takes impreſſion from it in one part, as well as another. And as the mettall hath been ſufficiently in the furnace, when it's not only purged from the droſſe, but willingly receiveth the form and figure of that which it is caſt and poured into: ſo here.

Verſe 18. Verſus eſt planus, ſaith Pareus.

Verſe 19. After the manner of men] That is vulgarly, Craſſiùs & rudiùs loquor, by a ſimilitude drawn from humane affairs of eaſie and ordinary obſervation.

p. 21To uncleanneſſe, and to iniquity] Mark the oppoſition: there are three To's in the expreſſion of the ſervice to ſin: but in the ſervice of God only two. Wicked men take great pains for hell: would they but take the ſame for heaven, they could not, likely, miſſe of it.

Verſe 20. Free from righteouſneſſe] That is, Utterly void of grace, and did therefore ſin luſtily and horribly, earneſtly oppoſing with creſt and breſt, whatſoever ſtood in the way of their ſinnes and luſts.

Verſe 21. Whereof ye are aſhamed] Where ſin is in the ſaddle, ſhame is on the crupper. Men would have the ſweet, but not the ſhame of ſinne, and the credit of religion, but not goe to the coſt of it.

Verſe 22. Become ſervants to God] Phraſis vulgatiſſima eſt, Deum colere. Non ſecùs at que agri fertiles inprimis & optimi, ſic Deicultus, fructus fert at vitam aeternam uberrimos.

Ye have your fruit unto holines] Every good work encreaſeth our holines, and ſo hability for obedience.

Verſe 23. For the wages of ſin] The beſt largeſſe or congiary that ſin gives to his ſouldiers, is death of all ſorts.foreign. This is the juſt hire of the leaſt ſin. The Jeſuites would perſwade us, that ſome ſins againſt which the Law thundereth and lightneth,Chemnit. de thoel. Ieſuitar. are ſo light in their own nature, Ʋt factores nec ſordidos, nec malos, nec impios, nec Deo exoſos reddere poſſint. But as there is the ſame roundneſſe in a little ball, as in a great one: ſo the ſame diſobedience in a ſmall ſin, as in a greater. Indeed there is no ſin little, becauſe no little God to ſin againſt.

CHAP. VII. Verſe 1. Know ye not Brethren]

BEllarmine ſaith of his Romans (more true perhaps of theſe) Romani ſicut non acumina, ita nec impoſturas habent. As they are not very knowing, ſo not cunning to deceive.

Verſe 2. She is looſed, &c.] And ſo at liberty to marry again, though Hierom compare ſuch to the unclean beaſts in the Arke, and to veſſels of diſhonour in an houſe, yea to dogs that return to their vomit, which was his errour. Patres legendi cum veniâ, ſaith one.

p. 22Verſe 3.M. Edwards his Gange. par. 2. p. 141. So then if] The Sectaries then are out, that ſay now-a-daies, that if they have husbands and wives that will not turn Saints, that is Sectaries, they may leave them, and marry others.

Verſe 4. That we ſhould bring forth fruit] The Miniſtery of the Word, ſaith one, is the bridall-bed; wherein God by his Spirit doth communicate with our ſouls his ſweeteſt favours, and maketh them be conceived with fruits of righteouſneſſe to everlaſting life.

Verſe 5.foreign. In the fleſh] In our pure naturals.

The motions of ſin] Thoſe maladies of the ſoul.

By the law] By the irritation of the law.

Did work] Gr. D…d inwardly work.foreign.

Verſe 6. Not in the oldneſſe of the letter] That is, Not in that old kinde of life that we lived under ſubjection to the law, to the irritation, coaction, and curſe of it.

Verſe 7. I had not known luſt] Involuntary evil motions. The Apoſtle calleth concupiſcence ſin, ſaith Poſſevine the Jeſuite: but we may not ſay ſo.Poſſevin. Apparal ſa… verbo. Pat. Antiq. Moſt of the moſt dangerous opinions of Popery ſpring from hence, that they have ſlight conceits of concupiſcence, as a condition of nature. But inward bleeding will kill a man, ſo will concupiſcence, if not bewailed. The Councel of Trent ſaith, That it is not truly and properly a ſin, albeit it be ſo called, becauſe it proceeds from ſin, and enclines a man to ſinne. Neither want there amongſt us that ſay, That originall ſinne is not forbidden by the law: Directly indeed, and immediately it is not: but forbidden it is, becauſe curſed and condemned by the law.

Verſe 8. By the commandment] Not Commandments. Papiſts aboliſhing, or at leaſt deſtroying the ſenſe of the ſecond Commandment by making it a member of the firſt, that they may retain the number of ten words (ſo loth are heretikes to have their Aſſes ears ſeen) they divide this laſt; which yet Paul here cals the Commandment; and ſure he knew better then they, the Analyſis of the law.

Verſe 9. For I was alive] As being without ſenſe of ſin, and conſcience of duty.

Sin revived] ſc. In ſenſe and appearance.

And I died] ſc. In pride and ſelf juſtice.

Verſe 10. Ordained to life] By life and death, underſtand peace and perturbation.

p. 23Verſe 11. Deceived me] Irritated my corrupt nature, and made me ſin the more, per accidens, as Pharaoh was the worſe for a meſſage of diſmiſſion.

Verſe 12. The Commandement] Vis legis in mandando & praecipiendo. foreign.The word properly ſignifieth an affirmative precept.

Verſe 13. Exceeding ſinſull] Sin is ſo evil that it cannot have a worſe Epithite given it. Paul can call it no worſe then by it's own name, ſinfull ſin.

Verſe 14. Sold under ſin] But yet ill-apaid of my ſlavery, and luſting after liberty.

Verſe 15. I allow not] Gr. I know not, as being preoccupated,foreign. Gal. 6.1. wherried and whirled away by ſin before I am aware, or have time to conſider.

Verſe 16. I conſent unto the law] I vote with it, and for it, as the rule of right, I wiſh alſo well to the obſervance of it, as David did, Pſal. 119 4.5.

Verſe 17. It is no more I] M^r Bradford Martyr, in a certain Letter thus comforteth his friend; At this preſent, my dear heart in the Lord, you are in a bleſſed eſtate;Act. and Mon. fol. 1497. although it ſeem otherwiſe to you, or rather to your old Adam; the which I dare now be bold to diſcern from you, becauſe you would have it not only diſcerned, but alſo utterly deſtroyed.M. Harris. Sam. Fun. God (ſaith another reverend man) puts a difference between us, and ſin in us, as betwixt poiſon, and the box that holds it.

Sin that dwelleth in me] An ill inmate that will not out, till the houſe falleth on the head of it. As the fretting leproſie in the walls of an houſe would not out, till the houſe it ſelf were demoliſhed. Sin, as Hagar will dwell with grace, as Sarah, till death beat it out of doors.

Verſe 18. Dwelleth no good thing] Horreo quicquid de meo eſt, ut ſim meus, ſaith Bernard. It was no ill wiſh of him that deſired God to free him from an ill man, himſelf. For,Domine, libera me à malo bomine meipſe. though engraffed into Chriſt, yet we carry about us a reliſh of the old ſtock ſtill. Corruption is though dejected from it's regency, yet not ejected from it's inherency: It intermingleth with our beſt workes.

How to perform] Gr. To do it thorowly; foreign.though I am doing at it, as I can.

Verſe 19. For the good, &c.] Nature, like Eve and Jobs wife p. 24is alwaies drawing us from God. As the ferry-man plies the oar, and eyes the ſhore homeward, where he would be, yet there comes a guſt of winde that carries him back again: ſo it is with a Chriſtian. Corruption edg'd with a temptation, gets as it were the hill, and the winde, and, upon ſuch advantages, too oft prevaileth.

Verſe 20. It is no more I] Every new man is two men. See the Note above on Verſ. 17.

Verſe 21.Tota vita bani Chriſtiani ſanctum deſiderti… eſt. Aug. When I would doe good] Something lay at the fountain head, as it were, and ſtopt him when he would do his duty. But God valueth a man by his deſires.

Evil is preſent] We can ſtay no more from ſinning, then the heart can from panting, and the pulſe from beating. Our lives are fuller of ſins then the firmament of ſtarres, or the furnace of ſparks. Eraſmus was utterly out, that ſaid with Origen, Paulum hoc ſermone balbutire, quum ipſe potiùs ineptiat, ſaith learned Beza. So Joannes Sylvius Aegranus, a learned, but a prophane perſon, reprehended Paul for want of learning, and ſaid, Quòd uſus ſit declamatorijs verbis, non congr…ntibus ad rem…, &c.Joh. Manl. loc. com. 165, 486. Nominabat ſophiſma, quod diceremus homines non poſſe implere legem, &c.

Verſe 22. I delight] Germanicus reigned in the Romans hearts, Tiberius but in the Provinces. So here.

Verſe 23. A law in my members] Called the deeds of the body, Rom. 8.13.foreign. Pla…o foreign appellat. Phoedro. becauſe corruption acteth and uttereth it ſelf by the m…mbers of the body. The foreign (vox Empedoclea) is within, but eaſily and often budgeth and breaketh out.

Warring againſt the law] The regenerate part. Plato in Cratylo pulchre ait: Ʋt mentem appellamus foreign, ita legem dicimus foreign, quaſi foreign, alioqui mens hominum vagatur.

And bringing me into captivity] The ſins of the Saints (thoſe of daily incurſion) are either of precipitancy,D. Preſton. as Gal. 6.1. or of infirmity, when a man wreſtles, and hath ſome time to fight it out, but for want of breath and ſtrength, fals, and is in ſome captivity to the law of ſin. This is the worſe.

Verſe 24. O wretched man] We muſt diſcontentedly be contented to be exerciſed with ſin, while we are here. It is ſo bred in the bone, that till our bones, as Joſephs, be carried out of the Egypt of this world, it will not out. The Romans ſo conquered Choſroes the Perſian, foreign.that he made a law, that never any King of p. 25Perſia ſhould move warre againſt the Romans. But let us do what we can to ſubdue ſin, it will be a Jebu…te, a falſe borderer, yea, a rank traitour rebelling againſt the Spirit. Only this we may take for a comfortable ſign of future victory, when we are diſcontent with our preſent ill eſtate. Grace will get the upper hand, as nature doth, when the humours are diſturbed, and after many fits. And as till then there is no reſt to the body: ſo neither is there to the ſoul.

Who ſhall deliver me] Nothing cleaves more pertinaciouſly, or is more inexpugnable then a ſtrong luſt.

From this body of death] Or, this dead body, by an H…braiſme, this carcaſe of ſin to which I am tied and lungold: as noi…ome every whit to my ſoul, as a dead body to my ſenſes; and as burdenſome, as a withered arm, or mortified lim, which hangs on a man, as a lump of lead.

Verſe 25. I think God, &c.] The Grecians being delivered but from bodily ſervitude by Flaminias the Roman …enerall, called him their Saviour: and ſo rang out, Saviour, Saviour, Plutarch.that the Fowls in the a…r fell down dead with the cry. How much greater cauſe have we to magnifie the grace of Chriſt, &c.

So then, with the minde, &c.] The ſtars by their proper motion are carried from the Weſt to the Eaſt: And yet by the motion of obedience to the firſt mover, they paſſe along from the Eaſt unto the Weſt. The waters by their naturall courſe follow the center of the earth, yet yeelding to the Moon, they are ſubject to her motions: So are Saints to Gods holy will, though corrupt nature repine and reſiſt.

CHAP. VIII. Verſe 1. There is therefore now]

NOw, after ſuch bloudy wounds and gaſhes, chronicled Chap. 7. Though carried captive, and ſold under ſin, yet not condemned, as might well have been expected. This the Apoſtle doth here worthily admire.

Verſe 2. For the Law of the Spirit] That is, Chriſt revived and riſen hath juſtified me. See the Note on Chap. 4.25.

Verſe 3. It was weak through the fleſh] Which was irritated by the law, and took occaſion thereby.

p. 26Verſe 4. Might be fulfilled] In us applicativè, in Chriſt inhaeſivè.

Verſe 5. Doe minde the things] For want of a better principle. The ſtream riſeth not above the ſpring.

Verſe 6.foreign. To be carnally] The quinteſſence of the fleſhes witineſſe, or rather wickedneſſe.

Verſe 7.foreign. Becauſe the carnall minde] The beſt of a bad man, is not only averſe, but utterly adverſe to all goodneſſe. Homo eſt inverſus decalogus, Job 11.12. an aſſes ſoal for rudenes, a wilde aſſes for unrulines.

Verſe 8. Cannot pleaſe God] Their beſt works are but dead works, ſaith the Authour to the Hebrews; but ſilken ſins, ſaith Auguſtine. Lombard citeth that Father,De ver inrocent. cap. 56. ſaying thus, Omnis vitae infid lium peccatum eſt: & nihil bonum ſine ſummo bono. The whole life of unbelievers is ſin; neither is there any thing good without the chiefeſt good. Ambroſe Spiera a Popiſh Poſtiller, cenſureth this for a bloudy ſentence, Crudelis eſt illa ſententia, ſaith he.

Verſe 9. He is none of his] As the Merchant ſets his ſeal upon his goods: So doth God his Spirit upon all his people, Epheſ. 1.13.

Verſe 10. The body is dead] Death to the Saints is neither totall, but of the body only, nor perpetuall, but for a ſeaſon only, verſ. 11.

Verſe 11. Your mortall bodies] As he hath already quickned your ſouls.

Verſe 12. Not to the fleſh] We owe the fleſh nothing but ſtripes, nothing but the blew eye that S^t Paul gave it. It muſt be maſtered and mortified. Drive this Hagar out of doors, when once it grows haunty.

Verſe 13. If ye live after the fleſh] We muſt not think to paſſe è coeno ad Coelum, to dance with the devil all day, and ſup with Chriſt at night, to fly to heaven with pleaſant wings. Beetles love dunghils better then ointments: and ſwine love mud better then a garden, ſo do ſwiniſh people their luſts, better then the lives of their ſouls.Horat ep. 2. At Paris ut vivat regnet que beatus, Cogi poſſe negat. That carnall Cardinall ſaid, That he would not part with his part in Paris for Paradiſe.

But if ye mortifie the deeds, &c.] Either a man muſt kill here, or be killed,Camdens Eliſ. Aut for, aut feri, as Q. Elizabeth often ſighed and p. 27ſaid to her ſelf concerning the Queen of Scots. Valentinian the Emperour dying, gloried of one victory above the reſt, and that was his victory over the fleſh. Inimicorum nequiſſimum devici, carnem meam, ſaid he. Be alwaies an enemy to the devil,In vita Valentin. and the world, but ſpecially to your own fleſh, ſaid Rob. Smith, Martyr, in a letter to his wife.Act. and Mon. fol. 1545.

Verſe 14. For as many as are led] As great men ſuffer their ſons to go along with them, but ſet tutours to overlook and order them: So dealeth God by his; the Spirit leadeth them into all goodneſſe, righteouſneſſe and truth, Epheſ. 5.9, and fetcheth them again in their cu…ſtraies.

Verſe 15. The spirit of bondage] foreign, as 2 Tim. 1.7. foreign The law will convince the judgement: but 'tis the Goſpel that convinceth the luſt and the affection, and ſo ſendeth us to treat with God as a Father, by fervent praier.

Verſe 16. Beareth witneſſe] What an honour is this to the Saints, that the holy Ghoſt ſhould bear witnes at the bar of their conſciences.

Verſe 17. And if ſonnes, then heirs] All Gods ſons are heirs; not ſo the ſons of earthly Princes. Jehoſhaphat gave his younger ſons great gifts of ſilver, of gold, and of precious things, with fenced Cities in Jud…h; but the Kingdom gave he to Jehoram, becauſe he was the firſt-born, 2 Chron. 21.3. Gods children are all higher then the Kings of the earth, Pſ. 89 27.

Verſe 18. Are not worthy to be, &c.] Heaven will pay for all: hold out therefore faith and patience. When Saul had the Kingdom, ſome deſpiſed him, but he held his peace, though a man afterwards froward enough. What is a drop of vinegar put into an ocean of wine? What is it for one to have a rainy day, who is going to take poſſeſſion of a kingdom. Pericula non resp…cit. Martyr, coronas respicit, ſaith Baſil. A Dutch martyr ſeeing the flame to come to his beard, Ah, ſaid he, what a ſmall pain is this to be compared to the glory to come?Act. and Mon. 813.

Verſe 19. For the earneſt expectation] Gr. The intent expectation of the creature expecteth; an hebrew pleonaſme, and withall, a metaphor either from birds that thruſt a long neck out of a Cage, as labouring for liberty; or elſe from thoſe that earneſtly look and long for ſome ſpeciall friends coming, as Siſera's mother, who looked out at a window, and cried thorow the latteſſe, Why is his charet ſo long in coming? Judg. 5.28.

p. 28Verſe 20. Subject to vanity] The creature is defiled by mans ſin, and muſt therefore be purged by the fire of the laſt day; as the veſſels that held the ſin-offering were purged by the fire of the Sanctuary.

Verſe 21. Becauſe the creature it ſelf] See M^r Wilcox his Diſcourſe upon theſe words, printed together with his Expoſition of the Pſalms, Proverbs, &c. in Folio.

Verſe 22. The whole creature groneth] Even the very heavens are not without their feebleneſſe, and the manifeſt effects of fainting old-age. It is obſerved that ſince the daies of Ptolomy the Sun runs nearer the earth by 9976. Germane miles; and therefore the heavens have not kept their firſt perfection.

Verſe 23. The firſt fruits] Which the creatures have not, and yet they grone, how much more we?

The redemption] Our full and finall deliverance.

Verſe 24 For we are ſaved by hope] Hope is the daughter of faith, but ſuch as is a ſtaff to her aged mother.

Verſe 25. Then do we with patience] Religious men finde it more eaſie to bear evil, then to wait till the promiſed good be enjoyed, Heb. 10 36. The ſpoiling of their goods required patience; but this, more then ordinary.

Verſe 26.foreign. Beza. Pareus. Helpeth our infirmities] Lifts with us, and be fore us in our praiers: Or helpeth us, as the Nurſe helpeth her little childe, upholding it by the ſleeve.

For we know not what, &c.] The fleſh with her murmurings maketh ſuch a din,Da. Dike. that we can hardly hear the voice of the ſpirit, mixing with the fl…ſhes roarings and repinings, his praying, ſighes and ſobbings.

But the Spirit it ſelf] Praier is the breath of the Spirit, who doth ſuperexpoſtulate for us,foreign. enditing our praiers. We cannot ſo much as ſuspirare, unleſſe he do firſt inspirare, breathe out a ſigh for ſin, if he breathe it not into us.

With groanings that cannot be uttered] He that would have unſpeakable joy, 1 Pet. 1.8. muſt by the Spirit ſtirre up unutterable groanings.

Verſe 27.Aug. Knoweth the minde, &c.] Quomodo enim non exauditur ſpiritus à patre, qui exaudit cum patre?

Verſe 28. All things work together] Not affliction only (as ſome would here reſtrain it) but ſin,De benef. lib. 2. c. 18. Satan, all. Venenum aliquando pro remedio ſuit, ſaith Seneca. Medici pedes & alas Cantharidis, p. 29cum ſit ipſa mortifera, prodeſſe dicunt. Plut.The drinking of that wine wherein a viper hath been drowned, cureth the leproſie. The Scorpion healeth his own wounds: and the viper (the head and tail being cut off) beaten and applied, cureth her own biting. God changeth our griſly wounds into ſpangles of beauty: and maketh the horrible ſting of Satan to be like a pearl-pin, to pin upon us the long white robe of Chriſt, and to dreſſe us with the garment of gladnes.

Verſe 29. Conformed to the image] In holines, ſay ſome; in glory, ſay others, in affliction is the Apoſtles meaning.Pluſ. in Apophtheg. Art not thou glad to fare as Phocion? ſaid he to one that was to die with him. May not Chriſt better ſay ſo to his co-ſufferers?

Verſe 30. Them alſo he called, &c.] If ye feel not faith (ſaid that holy Martyr) then know that predeſtination is too high a matter for you to be diſputers of, untill you have been better ſcholars in the School-houſe of repentance and juſtification,Bradſord. Ac… and Mon. fol. 1505. which is the Grammer-ſchool wherein we muſt be converſant and learned, before we goe to the univerſity of Gods moſt holy predeſtination and providence.

Them he alſo justified] Vocation precedeth Juſtification. Deus juſtificat fide jam donatos, ſicut damnat priùs induratos.Cameron,

Them he alſo glorified] That is, He keepeth them glorious by his glorious Spirit, even in this life, from impenitent ſin, and maketh them ſtable and conſtant in godlines.

Verſe 31. What ſhall we ſay then?] q. d. Predeſtination, Vocation, Juſtification, Glorification? What things be theſe? We cannot tell what to ſay to theſe things, ſo much we are amazed at the greatnes of Gods love in them. A brave concluſion of the whole diſputation concerning juſtification by faith alone.

If God be for us &c.] Maximilian the Emperour ſo admired this ſentence,Chytr…us in …uer. that he cauſed it to be ſet in Checker-work upon a Table, at which he uſed to dine and ſup: that having it ſo often in his eye, he might alway have it in minde alſo.

Verſe 32. He that ſpared not] Qui miſit unigenitum, immiſit spiritum, promiſit vultum, quid tandem tibi negaturus eſt? ſaith Bernard. Nihil unquam ei negaſſe credendum eſt, quem ad vituli hortatur eſum, ſaith Hierom.Bern de temp.

Verſe 33. Who ſhall lay any thing] This is that confident interrogatory of a good conſcience, 1 Pet. 3.21.foreign.

It is God that juſtifieth] Some reade it queſtionwiſe thus, Shall p. 30God that juſtifieth? No ſuch matter. And if the Judge acquit a priſoner, he cares not though the Jailer or fellow-priſoners condemn him: So here.

Verſe 34. Who is he that condemneth?] To the ſentence of death he oppoſeth Chriſt his death.

Who is even at the right hand] And as Chriſt is at the right hand of his Father: ſo is the Church at the right hand of Chriſt, Pſ. 45.10 a place of dignity and ſafety.

Verſe 35. Who ſhall ſeparate us] Who ſhall ſeparate me? ſaith the Syriack.

Verſe 36. We are killed all the day] In Diocleſians daies 17000 Chriſtians are ſaid to have been ſlain in the ſpace of a monethmonth: In the Pariſian Maſſacre 30000 in as little ſpace, and within the year 300000.

As ſheep to the ſlaughter] That lamentable ſtory of the Chriſtians of Calabria that ſuffered perſecution, anno 1560. comes home to this text. For being all thruſt up in one houſe together, as in a ſheep-fold,Act. and Mon. fol 859. the executioner comes in, and among them takes one and blinde-folds him with a muffler about his eyes, and ſo leadeth him forth to a larger place, where he commandeth him to kneel down. Which being done, he cutteth his throat, and ſo leaveth him half dead: and taking his butchers knife, and muffler all of gore bloud, he cometh again to the reſt; and ſo leading them one after another, he diſpatcheth them to the number of eighty eight, no otherwiſe then doth a butcher kill his calves and ſheep.

Verſe 37.foreign. We are more then Conquerours] What is that? Triumphers, 2 Cor. 2.14. We doe over-overcome: becauſe through faith in Chriſt we overcome before we fight, and are ſecure of victory.

Verſe 38.foreign, ſcil. Ex verbi praedicatione eſſicaci ut ind…at tacitè hoc verbo. Beza. For I am perſwaded] Or, I am ſure by what I have heard out of Gods Word. He that hath this full aſſurance of faith goes gallantly to heaven. What (ſaith the world) ſhould a rich man ail? The Iriſh ask ſuch, What they mean to die? But I wonder more at ſuch as have the riches of full aſſurance, yea, that have but the aſſurance of adherence, though not of evidence, what they mean to walk heavily. M^r Latimer ſaies, That the aſſurance of heaven is the ſweet-meats of the feaſt of a good conſcience: There are other dainty diſhes in this feaſt, but this is the banquet.

Verſe 39. From the love of God] viz. Wherewith he loved p. 31us. For he loveth his own to the end, and in the end, Joh. 13.1. See the Note there.Joh. Manlij, loc. com. The wife of Camerarius heard Sarcerius interpreting this text, and verſ. 35. thus, and was much comforted after a ſore conflict.

CHAP. IX. Verſe 1. I ſay the truth, &c.]

AS any one is more aſſured of his own ſalvation, the more he deſireth the ſalvation of others. Charity is no churl; as we ſee herein Paul.

Verſe 2. Continuall ſorrow] Such as a woman in travail hath.foreign. So Gal. 4 19.

Verſe 3. Were accurſed,] Devoted to deſtruction, as thoſe malefactours among the Heathens were, that in time of common calamity were ſacrificed to their infernall gods,foreign. for pacifying their diſpleaſure, that the plague might ceaſe. Out of greateſt zeal to God, and love to his countrey-men, the Apoſtle wiſheth himſelf Anathema, that is, not to be ſeparated from the Spirit and grace of Chriſt (for ſo he ſhould have ſinned) but from the comforts of Chriſt, the happineſſe that comes in by Chriſt, as one well interpreteth it.

Verſe 4. The adoption] For Iſrael was Gods firſt-born, and ſo higher then the Kings of the earth, Pſ. 89 27.

And the glory] The Ark of the Covenant, 1 Sam. 4.21. whence Judea is called the glorious land, Dan. 11.41.

The Covenants] The morall law in two tables.

The giving of the law] The judiciall law.

The ſervice] The ceremoniall law.…

The promiſes] Of the Goſpel made to Abraham, and his ſeed for ever. Theſe promiſes are a precious book, every lear whereof drops myrth and mercy.

Verſe 5. Of whom is Christ] This is as great an honour to all mankinde (how much more to the Jews?) as if the King ſh…uld marry into ſome poor family of his Subjects.

Verſe 6. Not as though the word] That word of promiſe, v. 4. which is ſure-hold, Ye… and Amen.

For they are not all Iſrael] Multi ſacerdotes & panci ſacer dotes, ſaith Chryſostom, multi in nominc, & panci in opere. So here.

p. 32Verſe 7. Neither becauſe they are] This profiteth them no more then it did Dives, that Abraham called him Son.

Verſe 8. The children of the promiſe] Abraham by beleeving Gods promiſe, begat, after a ſort, all beleevers, yea Chriſt himſelf, the head of his ſeed, his Son according to the fleſh, but more according to the faith.

Verſe 9. At this time] See the Note on Gen. 18.10.

Verſe 10. But when Rebecca] She, and not Iſaac is named, becauſe ſhe received the Oracle; whether from the mouth of Melchiſedech, or ſome other way, I have not to determine.

Verſe 11. For the children, &c.] Here the Apoſtle wadeth into that profundum ſine fundo, Predeſtination.

Being not yet born] Sapores ſon of Miſdates, King of Perſia, began his raign before his life. For his father dying left his mother with childe, and the Perſian Nobility ſet the Crown on his mothers belly, acknowledging thereby her iſſue for their Prince, before ſhe as yet had felt her ſelf quick. God elects not of fore-ſeen faith or works, but of free-grace.

Verſe 12. Shall ſerve] Servitude came in with a curſe, and figureth reprobation, Gen. 9 25. Joh. 8 34 35. Gal. 4.30.

Verſe 13. Eſau have I hated] i. e. I have not loved him, but paſſed him by: and this praecerition is properly oppoſed to election.

Verſe 14. Is there] Carnall reaſon dares reprehend what it does not comprehend.

Verſe 15.Bonavent. in lib. 1. ſent. diſt. 41. … q. …. I will have mercy, &c.] Dei voluntas eſt ratio rationum, nec tantùm recta, ſed regula.

Verſe 16. So then it is not, &c.] Nec volentis, nec volantis (as a Noble-man gave it for his Motto) though a man could run as faſt as a bird can fire.

Verſe 17. Raiſed thee up] For a veſſel of wrath, and an inſtance of my juſtice.

Verſe 18. Therefore] God being a free agent, cannot be unjuſt: he is bound to none.

Verſe 19. Why doth he yet finde fault?] Queritur, ſaith the Vulgar: which interpretation cozened Aquinas, as if it had been written Quaeritur. So Luk. 15.8. Gregory the great and others, for Everrit, reade Evertit: which miſtake produced many groundleſſe gloſ…es.

p. 33Verſe 20. That repliest against God] Gr. That chatteſt and wordest it with him?foreign.

Verſe 21. Of the ſame lump] The Apoſtle alludeth to mans creation, and therehence aſcendeth to Gods eternall decree of predeſtination.

Verſe 22. Fitted to deſtruction] Non dicit Deum eos aptaſſe ad interitum, ne videretur dicere Deum eis indidiſſe peccatum, quo ad exitium praeparentur.Molinaeus in Anat. Armin.

Verſe 23. And that he might] He rejected ſome, that his mercy might the more appear in the election of others.

Verſe 24. Even us] Not me Paul only hath he aſſured of vocation, and ſo conſequently of election to eternall life.

Verſe 25. And her beloved] Jer. 12.7. God cals the Church, the beloved of his ſoul, or (as the Septuagint and Vulgar reade it) his beloved ſoul.foreign.

Verſe 26. The children, &c.] This is ſuch a royalty, John 1.12. as the Apoſtle worthily wondereth at, and ſets an Ecce upon it.

Verſe 27. Aremnant] Reſerved for royall uſe. Diaconos, paucitas honorabiles fecit, ſaith Hierom: Sic & ſanctos, ſay I.

Verſe 28. A ſhort work] When once he ſets to work to cut off hypocrites.

Verſe 29. Except the Lord of Sabaoth] That is, Of Hoſts. God is Commander in chief of all creatures. The Rabbins well obſerve that he hath Magnleh Cheloth, and Matteh Cheloth, Kim…b…,two generall troops, as his horſe and foot, the upper and lower troops ready preſt.

Verſe 30. Which is of faith] Faith wraps it ſelf in the righteouſnes of Chriſt, and ſo juſtifieth us.

Verſe 31. The law of righteouſnes] That is, The righteouſnes of the law.

Verſe 32. For they ſtumbled] So they doe to this day.Jo. Fox Chriſt. Triumphans …piſt. So do Papiſts and carnall Proteſtants. Non fruſtrà Lutherus in libris totiès vaticinatus videtur, ſeſe vereri dictitans, ne ſe extincto verailla juſtificationis diſciplina prorſus apud Chriſtianos exoleſcat.

Verſe 33. See the Note on 1 Pet. 2.6.

p. 34CHAP. X. Verſe 1. My hearts deſire]

SO it ſhould be ours. See my True Treaſure, Chapter 7. Sect. 2.

Verſe 2. They have a zeal of God] So had thoſe two Rabbins, David Rubenita, Alſted. Chron. 426.and Shelomoh Molchu that ſet upon the Emperour Charles the fift, to perſwade him to Judaiſme, and were therefore put to a cruell death, anno 1530. So had Latimer before his converſion: I was as obſtinate a Papiſt, ſaith he, as any was in England: Inſomuch that when I ſhould be made Bachelour in Divinity, my whole Oration went againſt Philip Melancthon, and his opinions, &c. Being a Prieſt, and uſing to ſay Maſſe, he thought he had never ſufficiently mingled his maſſing wine with water: and moreover that he ſhould never be damned, if he were once a profeſſed Frier;Act. and Mon. fol 1571. with divers ſuch ſuperſtitious phantaſies. Zeal without knowledge is as wilde-fire in a fools hand; it is like the devil in the demoniack, that caſts him ſometimes into the fire, and ſometimes into the water.

Verſe 3. For they being ignorant] The ſoul that is without knowledge is not good, and he that (without knowledge) hasteth with his feet, ſinneth, Prov. 19.2. the faſter he goeth, the farther he is out.

Verſe 4. For Christ is the end, &c.] q. d. By, and for Chriſts ſake, is the righteouſnes of God. But the Jews ſubmit not to Chriſt, therefore not to the righteouſnes of God.

Verſe 5. Shall live by them] This doe and live; that is, ſaith Luther, morere, die out of hand: for there is no man lives and ſins not. We can as little ceaſe to ſin, as the pulſe to beat, heart to pant, &c.

Verſe 6. Say not in thine heart] The law preacheth faith in Chriſt, as well as the Goſpel.

Verſe 7. Into the deep] Thoſe deeps of the earth, Pſ. 71.20.

Verſe 8. The word is nigh thee] Moſes meant it of the law, but it more fitly agreeth to the Goſpel. The Babe of Bethlehem is ſwathed up in the bands of both Teſtaments: he is authour, object, matter and mark of both. Therefore if we will profit in hearing, teaching, reading, we muſt have the eye of our mindes turned p. 35toward Chriſt, as the faces of the Cherubims were toward the Mercy-ſeat.

Verſe 9. That if thou ſhalt confeſſe] That is, If thou ſhalt call upon the name of the Lord, as it is expounded, v. 13.

Verſe 10. For with the heart, &c.] Pluturch tels us, that of all plants in Aegypt, Plut. de …ſide & Oſiride.that they call Perſica is conſecrated to their goddeſſe Iſis, and that for this reaſon, becauſe the fruit of it is like an heart, the leaf like a tongue.

Verſe 11. Shall not be aſhamed] Maketh not haſte, ſaith the Prophet. Shame and confuſion follow haſte and procipitancy: Sed Deo confiſi nunquam confuſi.

Verſe 12. Is rich unto all, &c.] He cannot therefore be poor that can pray: for he ſhall have out his praier, either in money or moneys-worth.

Verſe 13. Shall be ſaved] Though he miſſe of that particular mercy he asketh, he is certainly ſealed up to ſalvation.

Verſe 14. How ſhall they hear, &c.] The word read, is of divine uſe and efficacy: but of preaching we may ſay as David did of Goliah's ſword, There's none to that.

Verſe 15. How beautifull are the jeet] How much more their faces? Surely I have ſeen thy face as the face of God, ſaid Jacob to Eſau, Gen. 33.10. that is, honourable and comfortable. We know how Cornelius received Peter; and the Galatians, Paul, till they were bewitched from him, Gal. 4.14. But it muſt be remembred that we glorifie the Word, not the Preacher, Act. 13.48.

Verſe 16. Who hath beleeved our report!] Gr. Our hearing. foreignPaſſively taken. So Caeſar and Cicero uſe auditio, for report and rumour. Some ſit before a preacher as ſenſleſſe as the ſeats they ſit on, pillars they lean to, dead bodies they tread on. Others rage, Tange montes & fumig abunt, &c.

Verſe 17. By the word of God] That is, By the Word of Gods command ſending out preachers gifted for the purpoſe, and ſaying to them, Goe. preach, &c.

Verſe 18. Yes verily; their ſound, &c.] Sonus, tonus. David ſaith only, Their line, Pſal. 19.2.foreign. That accurate and artificiall frame of the heaven preacheth, as it were, the infinite wiſdome and power of the Creatour. All Gods works are his Regij profeſſores, his Catholike Preachers, or reall Poſtilles (as one calleth them) of his Divinity. The world (ſaith Clem. Alex.) is Dei p. 36Scriptura, Gods great Bible with three great leaves, heaven, earth and hell.

Verſe 19. Did not Iſrael know] ſc. That the Gentiles were to be called? They were oft told it.

Verſe 20. Is very bold] So that for his boldnes he was ſawn aſunder, ſaith Hierom.

Verſe 21. Stretched] A metaphor from a mother.

CHAP. XI. Verſe 1. I ſay then, Hath God, &c.]

AS I may ſeem to have ſaid, Chap. 10. Miniſters muſt doe their utmoſt to prevent miſtakes. Zuinglius, when in his Sermons he had terrified the wicked, was wont to ſhut up with Bone vi…, hoc nihil ad te, Thou good man, I mean not thee.

Verſe 2. Saith of Elias] A man of ſuch tranſcendent zeal, that to heighten the expreſſion thereof, ſome have legended of him, that when he drew his mothers breſts, he was ſeen to ſuck in fire.

Verſe 3. And I am left alone] To withſtand and reform the common corruptions. Some have commended it to our conſideration, that from the firſt ſervice in the Temple, when it was built, and the time of Eliah's Reformation, was about an hundred years: And from the Reformation in K. Edward the ſixth's daies untill now, is about the ſame proportion of time.

Verſe 4. The image of Baal] foreign, to that Lady, as our modern Idolaters alſo call the virgin Mary, whom they deſpite with ſeeming honours.Sal…zar. Ieſuita in Prov. 8.19. Ibid ad ver. 23. Ibid. ad ver. 29.Prov 8:19 They would perſwade the world, that Chriſt by dying obeyed not his Father only, but his mother too, that ſhe is the complement of the Trinity, that ſhe intreateth not, but commandeth her Sonne, is the moſt imperious Mother of our Judge, with many like horrid blaſphemies, which I tremble to relate.

Verſe 5. According to the election of grace] S^t Paul was Constantiſſimus gratiae praedicator, as Auſtin calleth him, a moſt conſtant preacher of Gods free grace.

Verſe 6. Then is it no more of works] Whatſoever conferrumination of grace and works Papiſts dream of. They think, that as he that ſtandeth on two firm branches of a tree, is ſurer then he that p. 37ſtandeth upon one only: So he that truſteth to Chriſt and works too, is in the ſafeſt condition. But, 1. They are fallen from Chriſt that truſt to works, Gal. 5.4. 2. He that hath one foot on a firm branch, and another on a rotten one, ſtands not ſo ſure as if he ſtood wholly on that which is ſound. But let them be Moſes's Diſciples, let us be Chriſts: Set not up a candle to this Sun of righteouſneſſe: mix not thy puddle with his purple bloud, thy rags with his raiment, thy Pigeons plumes with his Eagles-feathers. He can and will ſave his to the utmoſt, Heb. 7.25. Deteſt all mock-ſtaies.

Verſe 7. Iſrael] i. e. The carnall Iſraelite.

He ſeeketh for] viz. Righteouſnes and ſalvation by works.

Hardened] By a judiciary hardnes.

Verſe 8. The Spirit of ſlumber] So that with thoſe Bears in Pliny they cannot be awakened with the ſharpeſt prickles: and with thoſe Aſſes in Hetruria, that feeding upon hen-bane,Mathiol in Dioſcorid. they he for dead, and awake not till half-hileded. Such a dead Lethargy is now befallen Papiſts.

Verſe 9. Be made a ſnare] As the bait is to the birds.

Verſe 10. Bow down] i. e. Bring them into bondage and miſery. Compare Lev. 26.13.

Verſe 11. Have they ſtumbled] He that ſtumbleth and comes not down, gets ground.

Verſe 12. How much more their fulneſſe] O dieculam illam! dexter mihi prae laetitia ſalit oculus. How long, Lord, holy and true?

Verſe 13. I magnifie mine office] I make the utmoſt of it by gaining ſouls to Chriſt.

Verſe 14. And might ſave ſome] Miniſters muſt turn themſelves as it were into all ſhapes and faſhions both of ſpirit and ſpeech to win people to God.

Verſe 15. Be the reconciling] Not as a cauſe, but as an occaſion.

Life from the dead] That is, Res ſummè bona, ſaith Phocius, a ſpeciall good thing.

Verſe 16. If the first fruit be holy] Not with a naturall, but federall holines, as 1 Cor. 7.14.

Verſe 17. Wert graffed in] Gr.foreign. Pricked into the middle, the center of the Olive.

Verſe 18. Boast not] Gr. Throw not up thy neck, in p. 38a ſcornfull inſulting way, but rather pity and pray for them.

Verſe 19.Iſidor. ſo…il. Greg Moral. Thou wilt ſay] Carnall reaſon will have ever ſomewhat to ſay, and is not eaſily ſet down.

Verſe 20. Be not high-minded, but fear] Alterius perditio tua ſit cautio, ſaith one. Ruina majorum ſit cantela minorum, ſaith another, Seeſt thou thy brother ſhipwrackt? look well to thy tackling.

Verſe 21. Take heed leſt] Cavebis autèm ſi pavehis.

Verſe 22.foreign. Severity] Gr. Reſection or cutting off, as a Chyrurgian cutteth off proud and dead fleſh.

Verſe 23. God is able] He can fetch heart of oak out of an hollow tree, and of carnall make a people created again, Pſal. 102.18. Eph. 2.10.

Verſe 24. Contrary] Therefore nature contributes nothing toward the work of converſion.

Verſe 25. That blindeneſſe in part] It is neither totall nor perpetuall. Lyra was a famous Engliſh Jew. Tremellius was alſo a Jew born; they are but Methe mispar, a very few that are yet converted.Spec. Europ. They pretend (but maliciouſly) that thoſe few that turn Chriſtians in …taly, are none other then poor Chriſtians hired from other cities to perſonate their part. But when God ſhall have united thoſe two ſticks, Ezek. 37.19. and made way for thoſe Kings of the Eaſt, Rev. 16.12. then it ſhall be ſaid of Jacob and Iſrael, What hath God wrought! Numb. 23.23.

Verſe 26. Shall turn away ungodlineſſe] That is, He ſhall pardon their ſin. The Prophet Iſaiah hath it, Ʋnto them that turn from tranſgreſſion in Jacob, &c. They whoſe perſons are juſtified, have their luſts mortified.

Verſe 27. When I ſhall take] By the ſpirit of judgement and of burning, Iſa. 4.4. with 27.9.

Verſe 28. They are enemies] i. e. Hated of God, as appears by the oppoſition; and baniſhed, as it were, by a common conſent of Nations, out of humane ſociety. See 1 Theſſ. 2.15, 16.

Verſe 29. Are without repentance] When God is ſaid to repent, it is Mutatiorei non Dei, effectus non affectus, facti non conſilij, a change not of his will, but of his work. Repentance with man, is the change of his will: Repentance with God, is the willing of a change.

Verſe 30. Through their] By occaſion of their unbelief. p. 39Pungit Judaeos & humiliat Gentes, ſaith one.

Verſe 31. That they alſo] It noteth not the cauſe, but the event, as 1 Cor. 11.19.

Verſe 32.foreign. For God hath concluded] Or lockt them all up in the laws dark dungeon, Gal. 3.22. Unbelief breaks all the law at an inſtant by rejecting Chriſt, as the firſt act of faith obeys all the law at an inſtant in Chriſt.

That he might have mercy upon all] Luther in a very great conflict was relieved and comforted by the often repeating of this ſweet ſentence.

Verſe 33. O the depth of the riches] The Romans dedicated a certain lake, the depth whereof they knew not, to victory, ſo ſhould we the unſearchable counſels of God, being ſubdued to that, which we cannot ſubdue to our underſtandings.

Verſe 34. Who hath been his Counſellour] Alphonſo the wiſe (the fool rather) was heard blaſphemouſly to ſay,Roderic, Santij Hiſt. Hiſpan. p. 4, …. 5. That if he had been of Gods counſell at the Creation, he could have adviſed and ordered many things much better then they now are.

Verſe 35 Who hath firſt given to him] Doe we not owe him all that we have and are? And can a man merit by paying his debts?

Verſe 36. For of him] As the efficient cauſe, and (through him) as the adminiſtring cauſe, and (to him) as the finall cauſe are all things. A wiſe Philoſopher could ſay, That man is the end of all in a ſemicircle; that is, All things in the world are made for him, and he is made for God.

To whom be glory for ever] God (ſaith one) counts the works and fruits that come from us to be ours: becauſe the judgement and reſolution of will, whereby we do them is ours: This he doth to encourage us. But becauſe the grace whereby we judge and will aright, comes from God, aſcribe we all to him: So ſhall he looſe no praiſe, we no encouragement.

CHAP. XII. Verſe 1. That ye preſent]

AS they of old did their ſacrifices at the altar. With the burnt offering, w^ch ſignified the ſacrificing of the fleſh, was joyned the ſin-offering, that is, Chriſt, Faith applies Chriſt to the believer, & the believer to Chriſt.

p. 40Your bodies] That is, your whole perſon. Cainiſtae ſunt, ſaith Luther, offerentes non perſonam, ſed opus perſonae. They are Cainists that offer to God the work done, but do not offer themſelves to God.

A living ſacrifice] In the old law they had many kindes of Sacrifices killed and offered. Now (ſaith Origen) in ſtead of a Ramme we kill our irefull paſſions: in ſtead of a Goat our unclean affections: in ſtead of ſlying fowls our idle thoughts, &c.

Verſe 2. To this world] To the corrupt cuſtomes and courſes of wicked wordlings. See them ſet forth, Rom 13.13. Epheſ. 4.18, 19, 20. 1 Pet. 4.3. and ſhun them.

But be ye transformed] Gr. Metamorphoſed, the old frame being diflolved, and a new form acquited.

That ye may prove] ſc. By your practice.

Verſe 3.foreign. Xenoph. de dictu & factis Socrat. lib 3. But to think ſoberly] Gr. To be wiſe to ſobriety. Socrates made no diſtinction between wiſdome and ſobriety, foreign non diſtinguebat.

Verſe 4. For as we have, &c.] See 1 Cor. 12.12, which is a Commentary on this text.

Verſe 5. One body in Chriſt] See the Note on 1 Cor. 12.12, 13.

Verſe 6. According to the proportion] That form of ſound words, 2 Tim. 1.13. thoſe principles of the doctrine of Chriſt, Heb. 6.1. with which all interpretations of Scripture muſt bear due proportion.

Verſe 7. Or Miniſtery] Take it either largely for the whole miniſtery, as 1 Cor. 12.5, Act. 1.17. Or more ſtrictly for the office of a Deacon, as Act. 6.

Verſe 8. Or he that exhorteth] The Paſtour properly ſo called. See the Note on Eph. 4.11.

Verſe 9.foreign. Abhorre that which is evil] Hate it as hell it ſelf: ſo the word ſignifies, Mihi certè Auxentius nunquam aliud quam …abolus erit, quia Arrianus, ſaith Hilary, I ſhall look upon Auxemius no otherwiſe then as upon a devil, ſo long as he is an Arrian.

Verſe 10. Be kindely affectioned] As naturall brethren and more. Arctior eſt copula cordis quam corporis. We are brethren in Adam according to the fleſh, in and by Chriſt according to the Spirit.

Verſe 11.foreign. Cunctator. Not ſlothfull] Or, Not driving off till it be too late. p. 41Charles the ſon of Charles Duke of Aniou, who was King of Sicily and Jeruſalem, was called, Carolus cunctator, not in the ſenſe as Fabius, becauſe he ſtaid till opportunity came, but becauſe he ſtaid till opportunity was loſt.

Fervent in ſpirit] Gr. Seething hot. God,foreign. who is himſelf a pure act, loveth activenes in men: the very reſt of heavenly bodies is in motion in their proper places.

Verſe 12. Rejoycing in hope] Hope makes abſent joyes preſent, wants plenitudes, and beguiles calamity as good company doth the time.

Patient in tribulation] Bearing up under preſſures, as among many other Martyrs Nicolas Burton, who by the way to the ſtake, and in the ſ…ame was ſo patient and chearfull,Act. and Mon. 1866. that the tormentours ſaid, the devil had his ſoul before he came to the fire, and therefore his ſenſes of feeling were paſt.

Continuing instant in praier] Conſtant and inſtant.foreign. N…z. in Epita. A metaphor from hunting dogs, that give not over the game till they have got it. Nazianzen ſaith of his ſiſter Gorgonia, that ſhe was ſo given to praier, that her knees ſeemed to grow to the very ground. Of Traſilla it is reported,Greg. Dialog. that being dead ſhe was found to have her elbows as hard as horn, by leaning to a desk at which ſhe uſed to pray. S^t James is ſaid to have had knees as hard as Camels knees,Euſeb. by his continuall kneeling in praier. And Paul the eremite was ſound dead kneeling upon his knees, holding up his hāds, lifting up his eye: ſo that the very dead corps ſeemed yet to live, and to pray to God.Hieron in vita

Verſe 13. To the neceſſity] Gr. To the uſes of the Saints, foreign.not ſtaying till they be in neceſſity.

Verſe 14. Bleſſe them] See the Note on Mat. 5 44.

Verſe 15. Weep with them that weep] S^t Cyprians compaſſion is remarkable, Cum ſingulis pectus meum copulo, maeroris & funeris pondera luctuoſa participo: cum plangentibus plango, cum d ſlentibus defleo, &c. I partake in every mans grief, and am as much affected and afflicted, as if it were mine own caſe.

Verſe 16. Be of the ſame] This verſe had been eaſie, had not Interpreters obſcured it, as Origen obſerveth.

Verſe 17. Recompenſe to no man] In reaſon, revenge is but juſtice: Aristotle commends it: the world cals it Manhood, Ariſt Rhetor. lib. 9 cap. 1.'tis doghood rather. The manlier any man is, the milder and more mercifull, as David, 2 Sam. 1.12. and Julius Caeſar, who wept over Pompeys head preſented to him, and ſaid, Non mihi placet vindicta, p. 42dicta, ſed victoria, I ſeek not revenge, but victory.

Verſe 18. As much as lieth in you] Let it not ſtick on your part. …ive not offence careleſly, take not offence cauſleſly. See the Note on Mat. 5.9

Verſe 19. Avenge not your ſelves] Some take the Sword into their own hands: and, leſt they ſhould ſeem Anabaptiſts in taking two blows for one, will give two blows for one.

Give place to wrath] ſc. To the wrath and vengeance of God, which he ſeemeth to prevent that ſeeks revenge.

Verſe 20. Thou ſhalt heap] Thou ſhalt melt him, and make him thy friend for ever.

Verſe 21. Be not overcome] In rixa is inferior eſt, qui victor eſt, ſaith Baſil. In revenge of injuries, he is the loſer that gets the better.foreign …. … Cor. 6.7. Hence the Apoſtle diſgraceth it, by a word that ſignifieth diſgrace or loſſe of victory.

But overcome evil] This is the moſt noble victory. Thus David overcame Saul, Func. Chronol.and Henry the 7^th, Emperour of Germany, overcame the Prieſt that poiſoned him at the Sacrament: for he pardoned him, and bad him be packing. So did not Iacup the Perſian King,Turk Hiſt. who perceiving himſelf poiſoned by his adulterous wife, enforced her to drink of the ſame cup: and becauſe he would be ſure ſhe ſhould not eſcape, with his own hand he ſtruck off her head. But this (to ſay truth) was not revenge, but juſtice.

CHAP. XIII. Verſe 1. Let every ſoul be ſubject]

IN things lawfull only: for elſe we muſt anſwer as thoſe Apoſtles did, Act. 3.29. and as Polycarp, who being commanded to blaſpheme Chriſt, and to ſwear by the fortune of Caeſar, peremptorily refuſed, and ſaid, We are taught to give honour to Princes and Potentates, but ſuch honour as is not contrary to Gods religion.

Ordained of God] In regard of it's inſtitution,Tha. 2.2. q. 10. ar. 10. though for the manner of it's conſtitution it is of man.

Verſe 2. Reſisteth the power] His authorative commands, not his perſonall.

Receive to themſelves damnation] Poenam ſibi auferent, ſaith Piſcator, foreign. Conſer. 1 Cor. 11.31, 321 Cor 11:311 Cor 11:32they ſhall receive puniſhment, to wit from the Magiſtrate: p. 43as Aretine deſerved to doe, who by longer cuſtome of libellous and contumelious ſpeaking againſt Princes, had got ſuch a habit, that at laſt he came to diminiſh and diſeſteem God himſelf.

Verſe 3. For Rulers are not, &c.] They ſhould not be. But Ieroboam ſet a net on Mizpeh, and ſpread a ſhare upon Tabor to watch who would go from him to Iudah to worſhip, Hoſ 5.1.

A terrour to good works, but to the evil] The Sword of juſtice (ſaith one) muſt be furbiſhed with the oil of mercy: yet there are caſes wherein ſeverity ought to caſt the ſcale.Petr. Nicol. Gelſtrou…. Dan. biſt. Dureſce, Dureſce, ò infoelix Lantgravie, ſaid the poor Smith to the Lantgrave of Thuring, more milde then was for his peoples good. Bonis nocet, qui malis parcit. Edward the Confeſſour was held a bad Prince, not by doing, but enduring ill.

Verſe 4. For he is the minister] It was written upon the ſword of Charles the great, Decem praeceptorum custos Carolus, Charles is Lord Keeper of the Decalogue.

For he beareth not the Sword in vain] Like S^t Paul in a glaſſe window, or S^t George (as they call him) in a ſign-poſt.

A revenger to execute wrath] But now we ſee how every man almoſt will be a Pope in his own cauſe, depoſe the Magiſtrate, at leaſt appeal from him to himſelf.

Verſe 5. But alſo for conſcience ſake] Good Rulers we muſt obey as God, bad, for God.foreign. Baſil.

Verſe 6. Attending continually] As born for the benefit of many. The Parliament in the 25. of Edward 3. is known to poſterity by the name of Benedictum Parliamentum: So ſhall this preſent …arliament for their continuall attendance upon the Lords work; bending themſelves to the buſineſſe (as the word ſignifies) and holding cut therein with unparallel'd patience.This was written, anno 1646. foreign.

Verſe 7. Render therefore to all their dues] He ſaith not their unjuſt exactions. Melancthon makes mention of a cruell Prince, that to get money of his Subjects, would knock out their teeth;Primò unum dentem evellebat minitans, &c. firſt one tooth, and then another, unleſſe they would bring him in ſuch ſums of money as he required.

Fear to whom, &c.] i. e. Reverentiall obſervance, farre beyond that which Q. Fabius Maximus yeelded to his ſon, when he became Conſul.Li. Decal. 3. lib 4.

Verſe 8. Owe no man, &c.] The Perſians reckoned theſe two for very great ſins; 1. To be in debt. 2. To tell a lie; the later being oft the fruit of the former. By the twelve Tables of Rome, p. 44Xenophon.he that owed much, and could not pay, was to be cut in pieces, and every creditour was to have a piece of him according to the debt.Gell lib. 12. c. 1.

Verſe 9.foreign. Briefly comprehended] Capitulated, fulfilled, ſaith the Syriack, ſummed up. S^t Bartholomew was quoted by Dionyſius to have ſaid of Divinity, Et magnam eſſe & minimam, that it was large and yet little,foreign. as containing much matter in few words.

Verſe 10. The … of the law] The filling up of the law in this, that it clotheth the duties of the law with the glory of a due manner, and ſeateth them upon their due ſubjects, with the unwearied labours of a conſtant well-doing.

Verſe 11. To awake out of ſleep] Whiles the Crocodile ſleepeth with open mouth, the Indian rat gets into his ſtomack, and eateth thorow his entrails. Whiles Iſhhoſheth ſlept upon his bed at noon, Baanah and Rechab took a way his head. Security uſhereth in deſtruction. Goe forth and ſhake your ſelves as Sampſon did, when the Philistims were upon him: leſt Satan ſerve you, at leaſt for your ſouls, as Captain Drake did the Spaniard at Taurapaſa in the Weſt-Indies for his treaſure; he found him ſleeping ſecurely on the ſhore, and by him thirteen bars of ſilver to the value of 400000 duckets,Co…dens Eliſa. fol. 422. which he commanded to be carried away, not ſo much as once waking the man. Or leſt Chriſt himſelf deal by us, as Epaminondas did by the watchman, whom he found aſleep: He thruſt him thorow with his ſword, and being blamed for ſo ſevere a fact, he replied, Talem eum reliqui, qualem inveni, I left him, as I found him.

For now is our ſalvation nearer] Stir up your ſelves therefore, and ſtrain toward the mark.foreign. Heſych. Poliux l 3 … 30 There is a Greek word ſignifying the end of a race, which is derived of a word that ſignifieth to ſpur or prick forward. Surely, as they that run their horſes for a wager, ſpur hardeſt at the races end: ſo, ſith our ſalvation is nearer now then ever it was, therefore we ſhould run faſter now then ever we did.

Verſe 12. The night] Here it is taken for all unregeneracy, which (as the night) is full of errour, terrour. &c. Nox pudore vacat. This night with the Saints is far ſpent, or already paſt, as Cyprian and Hierom here render it.Tranſivit. Praeterijt. foreign

Verſe 13. Let us walk honeſtly] Handſomely, faſhionably, mannerly, with an holy ſhamefacednes.

p. 45Not in chambering] Properly, lying a bed, or long-lying.foreign.

Verſe 14. But put ye on] Augustin confeſſeth that he was converted by reading and pondering this text.

And make not proviſion] Make not projects, cater not for the fleſh.

CHAP XIV. Verſe 1. Him that is weak, &c.]

THat is not thorowly perſwaded of all things pertaining to Chriſtian liberty about things indifferent.

Receive] Aſſectu charitatis, put him into your boſoms,Haymo. bear with his weakneſſes, &c, Bucer rejected none, though different in ſome opinions, in whom he found, Aliquid Chriſti, any thing of Chriſt, whoſe weaklings are to be handled with all tenderneſſe.

But not to doubtfull] Make him not Queſtion-ſick, 1 Tim. 6.4. Wring not mens conſciences, you may hap to break the wards, if you do.

Verſe 2. Eateth herbs] Rather then meats forbidden by the Law. The ancient Latines were as well apaid of herbs to eat,Dan. 1, 11.Dan 1:11 as if they had had all manner of dainties.Holus foreign. Green herbs were both food and phyſick to them.

Verſe 3. For God hath received him] viz. For his houſhold ſervant, which David counted a greater dignity then to be King of Iſrael. And Iuſtinian the Emperour ſtiled himſelf, Ʋltimum ſervorum Dei, the meaneſt of Gods ſervants.

Verſe 4. Who art thou, &c.] The wiſdome from above is without cenſuring, without hypocriſie, ſaith S. Iames, Chap. 3.17. Intimating, that the greateſt cenſurers are moſtly the greateſt hypocrites: And as any one is more wiſe, he is more ſparing of his cenſures.

Verſe 5. Let every man be fully perſwaded] It is a ſafe rule,Plin. Epiſt: Quod dubites, ne feceris: In doubtfull caſes be ſure to take the ſuter ſide.

Verſe 6. For he giveth God thanks] A cuſtome uſed by the very Heathens to their gods,Sir Ed Sands, Spec. Europae. as is to be read in Homer and Virgil: but grown clean out of uſe among the Catholikes in France and p. 46Italy. But if they that give thanks at meat do eat to God, to whom do they eat that give none?

Verſe 7. For none of us liveth to himſelf] S. Paul ſtood, as it were on tiptoes,foreign. Phil. 1.20 to ſee which way he might beſt glorifie God, by life or by death.

Verſe 8. We are the Lords] Death divides us not from Chriſt, but brings us home to him, 2 Cor. 5.6. It is but winking (as that Martyr ſaid) and thou ſhalt be in heaven preſently.

Verſe 9. That he might be Lord] He wonne his crown before he wore it: he fought for it, and having vanquiſhed all enemies, he accompliſhed and proclaimed the victory in his glorious reſurrection, triumphed in his wonderfull aſcenſion leading captivity captive, &c. Eph. 4.7.

Verſe 10. But why doſt thou, &c.] Three things are not ſubject to our judgement. 1. The counſels of God. 2. The holy Scriptures. 3. The perſons of men. Be not therefore raſh in rejecting, or ſowr in cenſuring your fellow-ſervant; but let your moderation herein be known to all men; and the rather, becauſe the Lord is at hand, Phil. 4.5.

Verſe 11. As I live, ſaith the Lord] As true as I live is an oath, as appears here, and Numb. 14 21. with Pſ. 95.11. Forbear it therefore.

Verſe 12. So then every one, &c.] It was excellent counſell that the Oratour gave his hearers,Cic. 4. in Verr. I …a vivamus ut ration…m nobis reddendans arbitremur. Let us ſo live as thoſe that muſt give an account of all at laſt.

Verſe 13. A ſtumbling block, or an, &c.] A lighter or greater offence, to make him go halting to heaven.

Verſe 14. By the Lord Ieſus] Who hath pulled down the partition-wall, and purchaſed our Chriſtian liberty.

Verſe 15. But if thy brother be grieved] It is his weakneſſe to be grieved thereat, but gratifie him howſoever. What one ſpeaks of a plain place of Scripture, this verſe (ſaith he) had been eaſie, had not Commentatours made it knotty: the like, ſaith another of a Chriſtians condition, it is gracious, happy, clear, ſure, ſweet, did not erroneous judgements vex and unſettle them.

Verſe 16. Let not then your good] That is, Your Chriſtian liberty purchaſed by Chriſt.

Be evil spoken of] Gr. Be blaſphemed. Contumely caſt upon the people of God is blaſphemy in the ſecond Table. God, p. 47for the honour that he beareth to his people, counts and calls it ſo.

Verſe 17. For the kingdome of God, &c.] That was a ſwiniſh ſaying of Epicurus, That eternall life ſhould be nothing elſe but a continuall eating of the fat, and drinking of the ſweet,foreign. even unto an unceſſant ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe. The Turks at this day promiſe Paradiſe to ſuch as die in warre for the Mahometan faith,Blou…ts voiage, p 37 …. where they ſhall have delicious fare, pleaſant gardens, all ſenſuall delights, eternally to be enjoyed not withſtanding any former ſins. Fit lettice for ſuch lips.

Verſe 18. Is acceptable to God] And he is an happy man that can be acquitted by himſelf in private, in publike by others, in both by God.

Verſe 19. Wherewith one may edifie another] Diſcords among good people, do edificare in gehennam, as Tertullian phraſeth it, build backwards. One of the main ſcandals the Jews take from Proteſtants, is their diſſention.

Verſe 20. The work of God] That work of faith, 1 Theſſ. 1.3. wrought by the mighty power of God, Epheſ. 1.19. who puts not forth great power, but for great purpoſes.

Verſe 21. It is good neither to eat, &c.] It will be no grief of heart (as ſhe once told David in another caſe) to have forborn in caſe of ſcandall. A great grief it would be if by ſome raſh word we ſhould betray a brother, or ſmite out the eie of our deareſt childe.1 Sam. 25.1 Sam 25 Should we then deſtroy the life of grace in another by our unadviſed walking?

Verſe 22. Haſt thou faith?] Poſſe, & nolle, nobile eſt. Forbear for fear of effence, unleſſe it be in point of neceſſary duty: For then we may not doe evil that good may come, Rom. 3 8.

Verſe 23. Is damned] Both of his doubting conſcience, which ſoundeth heavily, as a ſhau…m, and of God, who is greater then his conſcience.

CHAP. XV. Verſe 1. Ought to bear]

AS Porters do their burdens, as pillars do the poiſe of the houſe,foreign. or rather as parents bear their babes in their arms.

p. 48And not to pleaſe our ſelves] Bis deſipit, qui ſibi ſapit. Prov. 3.7.

Verſe 2. Pleaſe his neighbour] Though he croſſe himſelf: this is true Chriſtian love, and driven almoſt out of the world by ſinfull ſelf-love, which can eth men to diſlike thoſe things in others, that they ſlatter in themſelves.

Verſe 3. For even Chriſt] And we ſhould expreſſe him to the world, preach abroad his vertues by our practice, 1 Pet. 2.9. Our lives ſhould be as ſo many Sermons upon the life of Chriſt. This is walk in Chriſt, Col. 2 6. as Chriſt, 1 Joh. 3.6.

Verſe 4. For whatſoever things, &c.] Here the Apoſtle meets with an Objection. For ſome man might ſay, that that ſaying of the Pſalme pertains to David, how therefore is it applied to Chriſt? He anſwers, Whatſoever things, &c. q. d. We muſt learn to ſee Chriſt in David: David in the hiſtory, Chriſt in the myſtery; David as the type, Chriſt the truth.

That we through patience] Hence the Scriptures are called.R…vel. 2. The word of Chriſts patience, becauſe they patient the heart under Gods holy hand: and are better called Phyſick for the ſoul, then ever was the library of Alexandria.foreign.

And comfort of the Scriptures] As the bloud and ſpirits are conveied by the veins and arteries: ſo is the Spirit by the promiſes, helping the ſoul to lay it ſelf upon Chriſt by faith, which is a grace of union, and ſo of eſtabliſhment.

Verſe 5. Now the God of patience] The ſoul is then only in good plight, when the heaven anſwers the earth, Hoſ. 2.21. When. Chriſt the Sun of righteouſnes ſhines into it.

Verſe 6. With one minde, and one mouth] It is recorded to the high commendation of the Church of Scotland, that for this 90 years and upwards, they have kept unity with purity, without ſchiſme, much leſſe hereſie.Syntag. Confeſſion praeſat.

Verſe 7. To the glory of God] That is, Of heaven, the joyes whereof it is as impoſſible to comprehend, as it is to compaſſe the heaven with a ſpan, or contain the Ocean in a nut-ſhell. Such comfort there is in the preſence of Chriſt (though but in the womb) as it made John to ſpring: What then ſhall it be in heaven?

Verſe 8. Now I ſay that Jeſus] Paul proveth particularly in this and the following verſes, that Chriſt hath taken both Jews and Gentiles to his glory.

p. 49Verſe 9. And that the Gentiles] Though they had no ſuch promiſes, might glorifie Gods free grace in the day of their viſitation.

Verſe 10. Rejoyce] That your names alſo are written in heaven, and that ye are enrolled in the records of the new Jeruſalem.

Verſe 11. All ye Gentiles] As being received into the glory of God, verſ. 7.

Verſe 12. In him ſhall the Gentiles truſt] I ſaith hath it, To him ſhall the Gentiles ſeek; To ſeek to God then argues truſt in God. He that hopes not, praies not, or but faintly.

Verſe 13. Fill you with all joy, &c.] Note here that joy and peace are the means, whereby faith worketh hope.

Verſe 14. Full of goodneſſe] The excellency of a godly man is to follow God fully, as Caleb, Numb. 14.24. to have a heart full of goodneſſe, as theſe Romans, a life full of good works, as Tabitha, Act. 9.36. Theſe ſhall receive a full reward, 2 Joh. 8.

Verſe 15. Chryſoſtome truly ſaith of S^t Paul that he was inſatiabilis Dei cultor, one that thought he could never do God or his Church ſervice enough.

Verſe 16. Miniſtring the Gospel] Serving about holy things,foreign. or doing ſacred offices, as the Prieſts under the Law, to whom the Apoſtle all along this verſe alludes in an elegant allegory: the Miniſtery is a divine and heavenly function. All other callings are for the world, and draw to the world: but this, both in the preparation and execution, draweth to God, keepeth us with God, and to be ever mindefull of the things of God.

Verſe 17. I have therefore, &c.] So have all Gods faithfull Miniſters at this day againſt the contempts and contumelies caſt upon them by the mad world, ever beſides it ſelf in point of ſalvation. There is a pamphlet lately publiſhed that ſticks not to make that ſacred and tremend function of the Miniſtery to be as meer an impoſture, as very a myſtery of iniquity,The Compaſſ. Samarit…n. as arrant a juggle as the Pa…acy it ſelf.

Verſe 18. To make the Gentiles, &c.] Chriſt by his Goſpel ſubdued the Britans, whom the Romans with all their force could never ſubdue, as Tertullian obſerved.Britannorum …nac…ſſa Raman… … C…riſto … ſub…ta 1 ere,

Verſe 19. So that from Jeruſalem] Chryſoſtome obſerveth, that Plato came three times to Sicily to convert Dionyſius the tyrant p. 50to morall philoſophy, and could not. But Paul fet a great compaſſe, converted many ſouls, planted many Churches: And why? Chriſt ſat upon him as upon one of his white horſes, and went forth conquering and to conquer, Revel 6.2.

Verſe 20. Leſt I ſhould build[Leſt I ſhould ſeem to doe any thing unbeſeeming the office of an Apoſtle. There is a decorum to be kept in every calling.

Verſe 21. But as it is written] In obedience to this divine oracle, the Apoſtle preached to thoſe that had not heard, yet neglected not thoſe that had.

Verſe 22. For which cauſe] By planting Churches, and preaching where was more need.

Verſe 23. Theſe many years] The Romans were converted to the faith betimes.

Verſe 24. For I truſt to ſee you] Ipſe aſpectus viri beni delectat, ſaith Seneca. There is a great deal of ſweetneſſe in the ſociety of Saints, and much good to be gotten thereby. Sometimes, (ſaith a grave Divine) though we know that which we ask of others, as well as they doe, yet good ſpeeches will draw us to know it better, by giving occaſion to ſpeak more of it; wherewith the ſpirit works more effectually, and imprints it deeper, ſo that it ſhall be a more rooted knowledge then before. For that doth good that is graciouſly known, and that is graciouſly known, that the Spirit ſeals upon our ſouls.

Verſe 25. To minister unto the Saints] The higheſt Angel in heaven may not hold himſelfe too good to ſerve the Saints.

Verſe 26.foreign. It hath pleaſed them] It hath not been ſqueezed out of them, as verjuice is out of a crab, but freely and chearfully they have contributed.

Verſe 27. Their debters they are] And ſo are we to pity and pray for them. See my True Treaſure, Sect. 2. chap.7.

Verſe 28. When I have ſealed] That is, Safely delivered, as if it were under ſeal.

This fruit] This ſweet ripe fruit of their faith and love, their alms

Verſe 29. In the fulneſſe of the bleſſing] Chriſt may uſe one of leſſe grace to doe more good then one of more (for there are diverſities of operations, as well as of gifts, 2 Cor. 12.6.) but uſually he delights to honour thoſe of moſt ſinicerity, with moſt ſucceſſe, 1 Cor. 15.10.

p. 51Verſe 30. For the Lord Jeſus Christs ſake] This is one of thoſe paſſages in S. Paul, then the which there can nothing poſſibly be imagined more grave, divine, excellent, ſaith Beza.

That ye ſtrive together] Even to an agony, as the word imports.foreign Spirituall beggery is the hardeſt and richeſt of all trades, as one laid. Learn of this great Apoſtle to beg praiers with all earneſtneſſe.Act. and Mon. fol 1565. Ibid. 1499. Pray for me, I ſay, pray for me, I ſay, quoth father Latymer, Pray for me, pray for me, for Gods ſake pray for me, ſaid bleſſed Bradford.

Verſe 31. That my ſervice which, &c.] One would have thought that the Apoſtle coming with alms to them, ſhould eaſily have been well accepted: but he ſaw cauſe to ſeek God for ſuch a mercy, ſith it is he alone that faſhions mens opinions, and gives favour and kinde acceptance. Beſides wiſdome, he gave Solomon honour.

Verſe 32. Be refreſhed] See the Note on Rom. 1.12. and on 2 Ioh. 12.

Verſe 33. Now the God of peace] A ſit attribute for the preſent purpoſe. It is a commendable policy in Chriſtians, when they pray to propound God to their minde in ſuch notions, and under ſuch titles, as whereby they may ſee in God the things they deſire of God.

CHAP. XVI. Verſe 1. Servant of the Church]

A Diaconiſſe to miniſter to the ſick, as 1 Tim. 5.9. not a praedicantiſſe, to preach or have Peters keys at her girdle.D. Baſtwick againſt Independ.

Verſe 2. As becometh Saints] Who are great Princes, States, in all lands, Pſal 4; and to be obſerved accordingly, even worthy of God, 3 Ioh. 6.

Verſe 3. Salute Priſcilla] She is firſt mentioned, haply as more forward then her husband in the beſt things. So was Manoahs wife, and Nazianzens mother.

Verſe 4. Who have for my life] A rare example.Dan. hiſt. 231. Faſt friends are in this age for the moſt part gone on pilgrimage (ſaid one once) and their return is uncertain.

Verſe 5. The Church that is in their houſe] The houſe of George Prince of Anhalt, for the good orders therein obſerved, p. 52is ſaid to have been, Eccleſia, Academia, Curia.

The first fruits of Achaia] The firſt that received the Goſpel there. A ſingular commendation, a ſweet happineſſe. Gods ſoul hath deſired ſuch firſt ripe fruits, Mic, 7.1. ſuch primroſes.

Verſe 6. Greet Mary, &c.] It is profitable that men of great parts and place ſhould preſerve their memory with others, though it be but in a ſalutation: for it may be a means to fire up affection to godlineſſe in ſuch whom they ſo remember.

Verſe 7. Who are of note] Noble, notable Chriſtians, old experienced gray-headed Diſciples.foreign. Chriſtianity findes or makes us honourable.

Verſe 8. Greet Amplias] Piety is no enemy to courteſie: It doth not remove, but rectifie it.

Verſe 9. Our helper in Christ] A ſweet ſign to him, that his name was written in the book of life, Phil. 4.3.

Verſe 10. Approved in Chriſt] An high ſtile, far beyond that of the great Turk, with all his big-ſwoln-titles.

Verſe 11. My kinſman] In the fleſh, but more in the faith, that ſureſt tie.

Verſe 12. Who labour in the Lord] Though not ſo much as Perſis did,Cic. deorator. yet doth he not defraud them of their due commendation, Prima ſequentem honestum eſt in ſecundis tertiiſ que conſiſlere. Every man muſt not look to excell: let him be doing, as he is able.

Verſe 13. His mother and mine] His by nature, mine by affection. The Apoſtles parted with parents and friends at home, found them abroad.

Verſe 14. Salute Aſyncritus, &c.] Nothing is ſaid of theſe; for haſte perhaps, or elſe becauſe they were (as one ſaith of Ieſſe the father of David) Viri, probi & honeſti, minùs …amen clari, Good honeſt men, but not much noted. Or laſtly, for that the Apoſtle had no very good opinion of them, as he ſeems not to have had of Demas, Coloſ. 4.14. who yet would needs be one in the Apoſtles regiſter there: a place he will have, though it be the laſt place. Hermas here mentioned, was reputed by ſome of the Ancients to be the Authour of that Apocryphall book called Paſtor; wherein he dealt not ſo fairly and faithfully in relating what he had received from the Apoſtles, being ſubleſtae fidci author.

p. 53Verſe 15. And Olympas] Viri nomen non mulicris. The name not of a woman, but of a man, ſaith Beza.

Verſe 16. With an holy kiſſe] The Independents at Arnheim in Holland, M. Edwards his Antapol. p 36, 60.propounded this kiſſe of love to be practiſed amongſt them. So for anointing the ſick with oil, ſinging of hymns by one man, all the reſt being ſilent, &c.

Verſe 17.foreign. Mark them which] Set a watchfull and a jealous eye upon them, as upon peſts and enemies. And here, let not our Epiſcopi (whoſe office it is chiefly) be Apoſcopi, Bernard.over-ſeers be by-ſeers, but look well to the ſlock, leſt theſe wolves worry them.Act. 20, 29.Acts 20:29

And avoid them] Gr. Decline them ſtudiouſly,foreign. as ye would do a ſerpent in your way, or poiſon in your meats.

Verſe 18 But their own bellies] They pretend the ſervice of Chriſt to their worldly and wicked reſpects, by a diſſembled ſanctity, which is double iniquity. The Duke of Bavaria is even eaten up with thoſe Popiſh fleſh-ſhes, Friers and Jeſuites.

And by good words, &c.] Thoſe locuſts in the Revelation have faces like women, inſinuative and flattering.Tertullian. The Valentinian heretikes had an art to perſwade before they taught, whereas the truth perſwadeth by teaching, it doth not teach by perſwading.

They deceive] As cheaters do, by the cogging of a dye, Eph. 4.14. Fallax artiſicium, vel potiùs artiſex fallacia, foreignſaith Eraſmus on that text, a cunning kinde of cez…nage.

Verſe 19 For your obedience, &c.] Whereas the Romans might object, Are we alſo of thoſe ſimple ones? Your obedience, ſaith he, is famous all the world over. Howbeit I would have you wiſe to that which is good, but ſimple concerning evil. This ſimplicity is no diſparagement, to be unskilled in the devils depths, Revel. 2.24.

Verſe 20. Shall bruiſe Satan] Sincerity of a little grace ſhall be rewarded with abundance of greater graces. Chriſt our Champion hath already wonne the field, and will ſhortly ſet our feet upon the necks of our ſpirituall enemies. The broken horns of Satan ſhall be the Trumpets of our triumph, and the Cornets of our joy.

Verſe 21. Timotheus my work fellow] Of Timothy, reade Act, 16.1, 2. Of Lucius, Act. 13.1. Of Iaſon, Act. 17.5. Of Sopater, Act. 20 4.

Verſe 22. I Tertius who wrote, &c.] Either from the Apoſtles p. 54mouths, or rather out of his foul papers.

Verſe 23. Gaius mine hoſt] Baptized by Paul, for whom therefore,1 Cor. 1.14. Muli… bo…piti… praebuit. Steph.1 Cor 1:14 and for other good men he thought he could never doe enough. Such another was Phebe, verſe 2. who had been a ſuccourer, or an hoſteſſe to many, and to my ſelf, ſaith Paul.

Verſe 24. The grace of our Lord] This is the ſeal of all S. Pauls Epiſtles. 2 Theſſ. 3.17.

Verſe 25. Which was kept ſecret] Even from the very Angels, 1 Pet. 1.12. who do daily profit in the knowledge of this ſecret, Eph. 3.10.

Verſe 26. According to the Commandment] The writings of the Prophets concerning the myſtery of Chriſt were not made known to the world by hap-hazard, but by a ſpeciall command of God.

Verſe 27. To God only wiſe, &c.] So ſay I for theſe few Notes thus finiſhed.

p. 55A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION VponUpon the firſt Epiſtle of S. Paul to the CORINTHIANS.