Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 3 · Verse 7
VERSE 7. Wherefore receiue yee one another, as Chriſt alſo receiued vsus to the glory of God.
IN this Verſe is the Concluſion of the Argument taken from the Example of Chriſt, verſ. 3.
Chriſt pleaſed not himſelfe:
Therefore we ought to receiue one another: The phraſe Receiuing one another, being put for, Not pleaſing our ſelues, becauſe pleaſing our ſelues is the cauſe why wee receiue not one another. Not to pleaſe our ſelues, To beare the infirmities of our brethren, To receiue one another, are Synonima, with Paul here.
And thus not onelyonly is repeated the Argument of Chriſts Example, but alſo the maine Admonition, ſet downe, Chap. 14.1. and Chap. 15.1.
The Argument is repeated nouo modo, after a new manner, vt pondus addat, Aretius.that he might adde weight thereunto.
The Admonition is now the third time iterated, here the word Receiuing being vſed, that ſo by a holy kinde of Art, Pet. Martyr.he might end this diſputation in the ſame tearme in which he beganne it.
This Concluſion is ſet downe by way of precept, that it may be the ſtronglier imprinted in vsus.
In it wee hauehave the Duty commanded; and the Rule of it, wherein is the Argument of the example of Chriſt.
The Duty hath the action, Receiue; and the obiect, one another.
Receiue: as before, Chap. 14.1. not onelyonly to entertaine our brethren comming to vsus, but to ſeeke them vp; not to ſhunne their company, but with all louelove to embrace them, and to admit them to familiar conuerſation, fellowſhip, and communication of offices.
One another. In the 14. Chapter, verſe 1. the admonition was charged vponupon the ſtrong toward the weake; but here both are charged, the ſtrong muſt receiue the weake, and the weake the ſtrong.
As Chriſt alſo receiued vsus to the glory of God. In theſe words is the Rule; in which we hauehave the Note of the Rule, and the Argument from Chriſts example.
As: This notes the Rule. Wee muſt receiue one another, as Chriſt hath receiued vsus: this note ſignifies ſyncerity, not aequality: there being as much difference in the degree of receiuing and diſprop…rtion, as is betweene that which is infinite, and that which is finite.
The Argument is taken from the effect of Chriſt; where is the Action, hath receiued, which containeth all his louelove; hee redeemed vsus, purchaſed life for vsus with his bloud, of enemies made vsus the children of God, reconciled vsus to God, bore with our manifold infirmities, and yet doth beare.
The perſons receiued, vsus: here is a great Emphaſis, miſerable ſinners, enemies, &c. that wee might be admoniſhed not to make nice to receiue our brethren.
The condition, to the which we are receiued, Glory, ſet forth by the owner and author of it God, Acts 7.2: Epheſ. 1.17.called the God of glory, and the Father of glory elſewhere; that is, to be partakers of the heauenly glory with himſelfe.
By Chriſts example we are kindly to louelove one another, Doctr. Ioh. 13.34. 1 Theſſ. 4.9. Epheſ. 5.2.
There ought to be inwardneſſe and friendly familiarity vponupon all occaſions, Ʋſe 1 betweene them of the ſame Church and faith, though in countrey farre diſtant one from another: much more betweene them of the Church in the ſame kingdome, in the ſame towne, enioying one and the ſame miniſtery.
A foule thing it were if ſuch ſhould not louelove, agree, and receiue one another.
Thy brother hath not offended thee, then doe not reiect him: or, he hath offended thee, yet receiue him, for Chriſt receiued thee when thou hadſt ten thouſand times more offended him.
Receiue yee one another. Paul commands it, the Spirit commands it, Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe commands it, and giues vsus an example. Let vsus no longer ſtudy for diſſenſion, but for peace and louelove. Let vsus not quarrell for circumſtances, as if the ſubſtance of Religion were contained in them: we may peraduenture thinke it zeale, but it can be no good zeale which is contrary to the precept and example of Chriſt: For wee ſee by experience, that contentions about ſuch things as hauehave beene ſpoken of, draw our affections one from another, that we are more ready to ſeparate, then to receiue or be receiued.
We many times are together in the ſame place and duty of prayer, but not like minded one to another, which is fearefull.
Doſt thou receiue a rich drunkard, Ʋſe 2 &c. and reiecteſt a poore beleeuer? Beware leſt Chriſt refuſe to receiue thee. The foot of a beleeuer is better and more honourable then the head of a wicked man: and if Chriſt vouchſafe to receiue him into Paradiſe, diſdaine not thou to receiue him into thy company.
Chriſt hath receiued vsus to the glory of God. Ʋſe 3 Without Chriſt wee are inglorious, baſe, contemptible, as the wormes of the earth, nay as the very dung of the ſtreets.
Wee were created glorious, but wee abaſed our ſelues by tranſgreſſion, we hauehave all ſinned, and come ſhort, or are depriued of the glory of God.Rom. 3.23.
Now our Lord Ieſus hath receiued vsus: From whence? from ſhame, from ſlauery, from the Kilnes mouth, burning bricke as the Iſraelites, from the very bottome of miſery: whither? to the glory of God, Joh. 17.5, 22, 24to the glory that himſelfe had with the Father before the world was: By what meanes? Euen by his Agony end bloudy ſweat, by his Croſſe and paſſion, by his pretious Death and buriall, &c. Tantae molis erat— So much did it coſt to bring vsus to glory.
Let vsus not be aſhamed of him in his glory, which was not aſhamed of vsus in our baſeneſſe: let vsus receiue him in his word and Sacraments, that we may be fit for that glory.
O the happineſſe of ſuch which beleeue, Ʋſe 4 and liue in peace and vnity, and holineſſe! Behold what glory our Maſter hath put vponupon vsus, that we ſhould be the children of God, and fellow heyres with him in that glory.
If thou liueſt wickedly, thou ſhalt neuer hauehave the glory to enioy his preſence in that kingdome.
If thou beeſt a drunkard, a filthy vncleane liuer, &c. ſhouldeſt thou enter into that glory? Auaunt, wretch, into hell, and ſhame euerlaſting, if thou repenteſt not.
Doeſt thou looke that thy very body ſhould be a veſſell of ſuch glory? deforme it not with ſinne, repent, make thy hands and thy heart cleane: this is the generation of them which enter into their Maſters ioy and glory.