Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 2 · Verse 19
VERSE 19. Let vsus therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edifie another.
THis verſe is the application of the 17. and 18. verſes: In the which is an exhortation to peace and mutuall edification.
In this exhortation, are the Duty, and the Amplification.
Of the Duty there are two branches. 1. Peace. 2. Edification.
Outward peace is here vnderſtood, which is either generall, and may be called Ciuill, which is to be with all men, of which we hauehave written, Rom. 12.18. or more particular, which is Eccleſiasticall, with the Brethren: and may be deſcribed, to be, a mutuall concord and conſent of Chriſtians, in opinion, affection, words, and behauiour in their whole life. A pretious Iewell.
To edifie, is a Latine word, and ſignifies to build a houſe, chiefely a Temple. And here tranſlated to ſignifie the promoting of our brethren, in faith and grace, that they may bee made better, and more and more grow vp in Chriſt.
As builders of a houſe, do mutually helpe one another till they hauehave finiſhed; ſo eueryevery one is to be ready to doe ſeruice to his brother, till he obtaine the glory.
The faithfull by an elegant Metaphor are called the temple and houſe of God in which he dwelleth by his ſpirit, and the whole company of the elect are compared to a great City, 1 Cor. 3.16. & 6.19. 2 Cor. 6.16.the new Ieruſalem, built vp of the beleeuers as of liuing ſtones, as diuinely the Prophet Eſay declareth: Eſay 54.11, 12. and S. Iohn, Reuel. 21.10. & ſeq.
The Amplification is threefold.
1 From the Illatiue, therefore; In as much as the Kingdome of God is peace, and ſo Chriſt is ſerued; therefore let vsus put away ſtrife, and imbrace peace.
2 From the perſons; let vsus, implying the ſtrong and weak alſo, wee muſt all liue peaceably one with another, and edifie one another: I am bou… to thee, and thou art bound to mee in theſe things.
3 From the manner; theſe muſt be done, wiſely; let vsus indeuour vntounto things, which make for peace, &c. by auoyding thoſe things which may hinder, and by doing ſuch things which may further the ſame.
There is wiſedome required to diſcerne what makes for peace, and what for contention.
Alſo we muſt earneſtly follow ſuch things, as the word ſignifies; many wiſh for peace, and ſay, would God wee were at peace, and God ſend peace; but they labour not for it doing the things which make for it, but rather which make againſt it.
If thou wouldeſt hauehave peace, put to thy helping hand; be wiſe, and earneſt in the purſuit and procuring it.
The Churches peace, Doctr. and mutuall edification muſt eſpecially be regarded and furthered: for peace, Pſal. 34.14. Heb. 12.14. for edification, Eph 4.29. 1 Theſſ. 5.11.
Breake not, Ʋſe 1 but maintaine the peace of the Church: one of the ſixe things which God hateth, is to ſow diſcord amongſt brethren; now the moſt excellent brotherhood is that which is ſpirituall, therefore the more to be hated are they which diſſolue that.
There are three things, principally neceſſary to him who would preſerue the peace of the Church.
1 Wiſedome and knowledge; and that is, of the truth: and of the weightineſſe thereof.
Be ſure the point thou contendeſt for be the truth: for he that fighteth in the darke, may as ſoone hit his friend as his foe.
Examine the weight of the truth; for all truths weigh not a like: It is one thing to affirme that Christ is God; another to ſay that it is lawfull to eate of all meates; for the first, I will contend to the death; for the ſecond, I will not breake the peace of the Church.
It is indiſcretion to be alike zealous for a thing indifferent, as for the maine Articles of Faith.
2 Meekeneſſe, which is a great friend to peace, when we are not ſtiffe in our opinions, nor froward; for Salomon ſaith, that a froward man ſoweth ſtrife, Pro. 16.28.there is no pacification to be had with wilfull men: a meeke man will not eaſily bee prouoked, neither doth he delight in contradicting others, which is a way of preſeruing peace.
3 Humility. For, onelyonly by pride commeth contention: Pro. 13.10.Some men, when they hauehave once ſpoken the word, they will maintaine it, for their credit: as they thinke, though it be with the ruine of the Church.
If men ſtood not ſo much vponupon a vaine conceit of their owne glory, they might bee more peaceable. But many are more carefull of their owne, then of the Glory of God: and in eueryevery cauſe which they hauehave vndertaken to defend, they muſt ouercome, or elſe there can bee no peace; and hence comes controuerſie vponupon controuerſie, and that for ſmall matters, till the Church bee miſerably diſtracted, and obiected, to the ſcorne of wicked men.
I hauehave read that in Sweueland of antient time, if two had contended, and any man had but ſaid or pronounced this word peace, it had beene mortall if they had not ceaſed their quarrell. Surely they are much guilty which will not bee perſwaded to liue peaceably in the Church.
EueryEvery man muſt edifie his brother in goodneſſe, Ʋſe 2 by his good counſell, example, inſtructions, reproofe, &c.
No man is ſo perfect but that he ſtands in need of edification, nor any man ſo imperfect, Ʋſe 3 but that he may be a helpe to another. The right hand waſheth the left, and though the ſtronger, yet, is waſhed of the left.
The weakeſt members and parts of the body, ſerue and are vſeful to the ſtronger, neither could they be without them; and this is the wiſedome of God, that there might bee peace. So hauehave I ſeene a ſmall peece of timber ſhore vp the ſide of a great houſe, and a few ſmall ſtickes ſet on fire many great logges.
The two maine ends of all our actions, Ʋſe 4 toward the Church and our Brethren, are peace and edification: which God hath in his wiſedome ioyned together, that there can be no edification without peace: If men take in hand to build, and agree not, there muſt needs be a very Babel.
Pray for the peace of the Church; for when peace is within her wals, then will proſperity be within her Palaces: then will the wals of Syon goe vp apace, if there be peace.
Peace is an Adamant to draw men to the Church. One of the maine arguments whereby Hamor and Schechem went about to perſwade their people to entertaine Iacob and his family and their religion, Gen. 34.21.was, becauſe they were peaceable.
And let all things be done to edifying, 1 Cor. 14.26.which cannot be, as was ſaid, without peace.
Examine therefore thine opinions, if they tend not to peace, and to build men vp in faith and repentance, better that they were buried as low as the center of the earth, then that thou ſhouldeſt broach them to the people.
If all Preachers and hearers did conſcionably weigh this, I am perſwaded there would bee leſſe contention in the Church.