Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 1 · Verse 13
VERSE 13. Let vsus walke honeſtly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenneſſe, not in chambering and wantonneſſe, nor in ſtrife and enuying.
LEt vsus walke honeſtly as in the day. Concerning the coherence of theſe words with them before, there is ſome difference, without any damage of the ſenſe.
Some make it a new argument, ab honeſto, Pet. Mart. Gryneus.which certainly is of great force with them which hauehave not put off humane ſenſe.
Some from the end of caſting off, and putting on, of which in the twelfth verſe, Sarcerius.tranſlating foreign, by two words, ſic vt, in Engliſh, ſo that, thus the vulgar, and our other tranſlations, not well. The trueſt reading is, as it is here, from his Maieſties tranſlation: and ſo the firſt part of the verſe yeeldeth vsus an exhortation, which is another from that in the twelfth verſe, in words, but not in ſenſe.
The duty required in this repeated exhortation, is Honeſt walking where is the action, walking; the manner, honeſtly: and this amplified from the conſideration of the time, as in the day.
Let vsus walke: to walke, with the Apoſtle, is to liue; the effect or ſigne of life, put for life it ſelfe; and ſo the Commandements are called a way, and our obedience a walking therein: there are diuers Analogies here, of the which I hauehave written ſomewhat vponupon the eight Chapter of this Epiſtle, verſ. 1.
All our thoughts, words, deeds, whole behauiour, muſt be honeſt, and ſo to bee, muſt bee our delight, and wee muſt daily goe forward therein.
Honeſtly: honeſty is taken ſometimes in our ordinary ſpeech for chaſtity, and ſo here, but this is but a part of the ſenſe.
Sometimes for faithfulneſſe; ſo we ſay, an honeſt man, that is, a faithfull and iuſt dealing: ſo here alſo, but this but in part, the word is foreign, that is, in a good faſhion, implying all comely and commendable carriage.
The Adiectiue is ſomewhere tranſlated, Act. 13.50.Honorable: The Iewes ſtirred vp many deuout women, foreign, and honorable, and this excellently fits here: and the Ciuill Lawyers oppoſe honeſt to vile and baſe: let vsus walke honeſtly, honorably, according to the credit of our place and calling.
The Syrian Tranſlation reades, modeſtly; Beza, compoſitè, orderly, fitly, as you would ſay in print: The Vulgar and Maſter Caluin, Tit. de Zelo & …ore poſt medium.decently, and ſo Saint Cyprian read this place: Pareus expoundeth it by Pauls three aduerbs, Tit. 2.12 ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly.
As in the day: for our night apparell, any thing, though patcht and homely, will ſerue the turne; but in the day comelineſſe requireth that wee ſhould bee more handſomely attired.
When a man is to goe abroad, among his betters eſpecially, he bruſheth and trimmeth vp himſelfe.
The Husbandman whileſt he goeth to plough and cart, is clad, it may be, in lether, but at another time his garments are very neate and trimme; hee hath his worke-day and his holy-day apparell.
So, becauſe it is now day with vsus, and that we walke before men and Angels, we are ſutably to be faſhioned and arrayed: and in as much as very day is holy-day with a true Chriſtian, and eueryevery place as the Church to him, therefore he is to walke thereafter.
EueryEvery Chriſtian muſt hauehave a ſpeciall care ouer all his behauiour, that it be honeſt, and ſuch as becommeth the Gospell. Prou. 4.25. Doctr. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eye-lids look ſtreight before thee. 26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy wayes be ſtabliſhed, or ordered aright. 27. Turne not to the right hand nor to the left, remoue thy foote from euill. Epheſ. See that yee walke circumspectly, accurately. 1. Theſſ. 4.14. foreign.That yee malke honeſtly, according to the Word in this place.
A Chriſtian muſt be walking: Vſe 1 to ſtand ſtill and idle is reproued, Matth. 20.3.6. An idle man falls into pouertie, and a man that giueth himſelfe to eaſe, into diuers diſeaſes: Bee walking, that thou mayeſt expell noxious humours. When Dauid began to take his eaſe, hee began to bee ouer-growne with luſtfull affections. If the husbandman be not alwayes fallowing his land with the plough, it will runne out with weeds, ſo will our hearts with noyſome luſts, through want of the daily practice of good duties.
We muſt walke, that is, goe forward in godlineſſe, Ʋſe 2 that we may eueryevery day be nearer heauen then other, as he that walketh commeth nearer and nearer to his iourneyes end.
A Nurſe delighteth to ſee her babe battle and thriue, and it is a ſhame for a ſcholler to bee alwayes in the loweſt forme. Go on therefore, and be eueryevery day better then thy ſelfe. Not to goe forward, is to goe backward. Philip. 3.13.14.I forget that which is behind, ſaith Paul, and reach forth vntounto that which is before, and I preaſe toward the marke.
We are not yet at our iourneyes end, wee muſt walke on, and there are many impediments, Et ibi incidimus in deficiendi periculum, vbi proficiendi depoſuerimus appetitum: There wee beginne to grow worſe, Leo Mag. ſer. 2. de Quadrag.where wee ſtriue not and deſire to grow better, ſaid Leo.
Our walking to heauen, is like the forcing of a Boate againſt the ſtreame, or a Chariot vp a hill; if the oares and horſes ſtand ſtill, they go backe as faſt as they went forward.
As in walking, Ʋſe 3 there are many paces, ſo in our life many paſſages, we muſt carry our ſelues decently in all.
Let thy ſpeech, geſture, eating, drinking, ſleeping, clothing, recreations, &c. be honeſt, and ſuch as becommeth a Chriſtian.
Be ſober toward thy ſelfe, iuſt toward thy neighbour, religious and deuout toward God; ioyne them all together, which many doe not.
Saint Paul vſeth this word, when he giueth warning of our behauiour in the Church: Let all things be done decently, 1. Cor. 14.40. When thou commeſt to Church, let thy behauiour be venerable: It is not a prophane Theater, but Gods houſe. Vncouer thy head, bow thy knee, pray, heare, ſing, with the reſt of the congregation: when they pray, reade not thou; when they kneele, ſit not thou: vniformity and order, is moſt honeſt and comely in the Lords houſe: otherwiſe there is not foreign, but foreign.
Walke honeſtly: at Church, at market, at thine owne houſe.
HaueHave ſuch care of thy liuing, Ʋſe 4 as thou haſt of thy putting on apparell: No man in his right wits will appeare abroad and in publike, either diſguiſed or naked: Nature teacheth vsus to couer our vncomely parts, 1. Cor. 12.23. foreign.and grace ſhould teach vsus, that drunkenneſſe, whoredome, &c. agree not with the honeſtie and comelineſſe of Chriſtians.
A vertuous conuerſation doth a man a great deale of honeſtie and credit; Vſe 5 as a comely garment, Age it ſelfe without Vertue, is not honorable, Prou. 16.31. Follow vertue.
Sinne diſgraceth vsus: Rom. 1.26. Rom. 1.24.luſts are called foreign, vile, diſhonorable affections, which doe foreign, diſhonor bodies. Hate vice.