Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 3 · Verse 14
VERSE 14. And I myſelfe alſo am perſwaded of you my brethren, that yee alſo are full of goodneſſe, filled with all knowledge, able alſo to admoniſh one another.
THe Concluſion of this Diuine Epiſtle, beginneth at this Verſe: which though it be ſpent in complements, yet in its kind excelleth, as the precedent parts in points Dogmaticall and Morall: And, in as much as All Scripture is giuen by Diuine inspiration; this, with as high reuerence to bereceiued as the other.
Of this Concluſion there are diuers parts: The firſt is in the reſidue of this Chapter, which is an Excuſe.
Now two things are excuſed: 1. The manner of his writing: 2. His not comming to them all this while. The firſt to the 22. ver. the ſecond, from thence to the end of this Chap.
The firſt is brought in by a Prolepſis, wherein we may conceiue, how they might obiect, and how Paul doth anſwer.
The Romanes, whom the Poet calleth—rerum Dominos, might out of the height of their ſpirit, ſome of them, ſay thus to Paul: You take, Paul, too much vponupon you, what need ſuch length? ſuch ſharpneſſe? Wee are neither babes in knowledge, nor baſe in manners. Beſides, who called you? To this Paul anſwereth: Of which there are two parts. Firſt, a Conceſſion. Secondly, a Correction.
The Conceſſion in this 14. ver. the Correction in the verſes following, in which he rendereth a reaſon of this his writing.
In the Conceſſion we hauehave, firſt, the thing granted: ſecondly, the Amplification.
The thing granted is threefold: 1. Goodneſſe: 2. Knowledge: 3. Abilitie to admoniſh one another: This, as the effect of the two firſt.
Knowledge, in particular ſet forth by the kinde of it; All knowledge, not the knowledge of Nauigation, Mathematicks, &c. but the beſt knowledge, namely, of things belonging to Faith and Saluation.
Goodnes; not only as it may be oppoſed to rigor, and ſo to be reſtrained to their mutuall failings about things indifferent: but extending it ſelfe to the whole probity of a Chriſtian connerſation.
Able to admoniſh one another: therefore not needing Pauls monitions.
They were able; but they did not accordingly: and ſo hee makes that which he writes the more acceptable, ſaith Muſeulus; for we more eaſily endure to be noted of Negligence, then of Ignorance and Malice.
The Amplification is threefold.
Firſt, from a friendly compellation; My brethren.
Secondly, from his owne perſon; I my ſelfe alſo am perſwaded of you.
I my ſelfe: though I thus write, which am an Apoſtle, which am able to iudge, which vſe not to flatter: others; I my ſelfe alſo. Am perſwaded: The word ſignifies of our owne an infallible, of others goodneſſe a probable coniecture.
Thirdly, from the quantity: Filled and full: and yet ſome vnderſtood not the doctrine of Chriſtian liberty: and had vnbrotherly contentions about things indifferent: but hee either writes to the learned amongſt them, from whom they all receiue denomination: or ſuch ſpeeches are not too punctually to be examined, but to be vnderſtood, in compariſon of others, and in reſpect of that which might be expected from them.
We ought to acknowledge and praiſe the graces of God in others: Doctr. of this our Lord Chriſt himſelfe is an enſample in the Parable, Mat. 25.21. Well done thou good and faithfull ſeruant: and S. Paul in all his Epiſtles.
An ingenuous mind willingly beleeueth the good report of his neighbour, as Paul of the Romanes; Ʋſe 1 but not ſoone the ill report: Hee were very malignant, who ſhould thinke ill of them, who of all hands heare well.
Be not ſparing in commending the vertuous. Ʋſe 2 As it is iniuſtice to adde vndue praiſes to any, ſo to detract that which is due. Yet Qualem commendes etiam at que etiam aſpice: Horatius.As thou art wary to what thou ſetteſt thy hand and ſeale, ſo vponupon whom thou faſtneſt prayſe with thy tongue. Paul went vponupon good ground, ſo doe thou.
It was a credit to the Romanes to be commended by S. Ʋſe 3 Paul: eueryevery mans word is not a commendation. Vulgus ex veritate … ex opinione multa iudicat, Pro Roſcio Comaede.ſaid Tully: The common ſort vſe not to ſpeake as the truth is, but as they fancy. And a lewd mans praiſe, Cicero. Ep. Fam. l. 15. Ep. 6.is rather a diſpraiſe. Ea est enim profectò iucunda laus quae ab ijs proficiſcitur, qui ipſi in laude vixerunt: No praiſe can truly delight, but that which comes from praiſe-worthy men. If Paul commend the Romanes, if Iohn praiſe Demetrius, 3 Ioh. v. 12. Ibid. v. 3.and the Brethren report well of Gaius; this is a bleſſing, this may be eſteemed as a rich Iewel.
Miniſters muſt take knowledge of the forwardneſſe of their people in piety and all goodneſſe, Ʋſe 4 and commend them for it, as well as reproue them for their faults. So Paul in this Epiſtle. So in the 11. Chapter of his firſt Epiſtle to the Corinthians, hee doth as well commend them for obſeruing his conſtitutions, 1 Cor. 11.2.as reproue them for ſome abuſe about the Lords Supper. Apoc. 2.So our bleſſed Sauiour in his Epiſtle to the Churches, commendeth their vertues, reproueth their vices.
The Miniſter muſt lift vp his voice like a trumpet to denounce againſt their ſinnes, ſo to proclaime their praiſes. Both, in wiſedome performed, profit vntounto godlineſſe.
— Laudata que virtus — Creſcit.
Little children are brought to ply their bookes as faſt for praiſe as for feare. It was one of the directions of S. Hierom to Laeta, for the bringing vp of her daughter: Laudibus excitandum eſt ingenium: Hieron. Ep. ad Laet. de inſtitu. fil.her wit and conceit muſt be raiſed and ſharpned by commendation. Looke what the trumpet is to great horſes in the warres, and the horne and hollaing to hounds in the chaſe, ſuch is praiſe to vsus in the way of vertue.
Bleſſed be God that we can praiſe our people: But let our people ſee that ſuch things bee in them in truth, for which they are praiſed: For as our reprehenſions are of no validity where they are not deſcrued, ſo nor our praiſes. Let vsus ſo preach, and the people ſo obey, that we may be allowed and praiſed, not of men onelyonly, but euen of God.
The Romanes are filled with ſpirituall abilities: Vſe 5 Their example reproues many amongſt vsus, who euer learne, but neuer profit; like the women of whom Paul ſpeakes, 2. Tim. 3.7. He that learneth not a manuall trade in ſeuen yeares, is accounted a blocke … what is hee who after twenty yeares hearing, is groſſely ignorant? The bleſſing of the Creation, Increaſe and multiply be vponupon vsus in our Recreation.
Admonition (though a thankleſſe, yet) a neceſſary duty. Ʋſe 6 It muſt be mutuall. It is grieuouſly neglected. We ſee men ready to fall into a pit, and admoniſh them; into ſinne, and let them alone: we deale with our brethren, 1 King. 1.as Dauid with Adoniah, we ſee them and ſuffer them to runne into hell it ſelfe, and neuer will ſay why doe you ſo? for diſpleaſing of them. Admoniſh one another: but wiſely.
VntoUnto this two things are neceſſary, goodneſſe and knowledge: the firſt that we may be willing, the ſecond that wee may be able to doe it. He which admoniſheth without goodneſſe, is malitious and ambitious: he that without knowledge, is inconſiderate and fooliſh.