Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 3 · Verse 16
VERSE 16. That I ſhould be the Miniſter of Ieſus Chriſt to the Gentiles, miniſtring the Goſpell of God, that the offering vp of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being ſanctified by the holy Ghost.
SAint Paul doth in theſe words more particularly ſet downe his calling, of which he made a generall mention in the latter end of the 15. verſe.
His Apoſtleſhip is here deſcribed by the Genus, and the Difference. The Genus, He is a Miniſter of Ieſus Chriſt to the Gentiles: where we hauehave, firſt, the office, a Miniſter; ſecond, the perſons: Firſt, whoſe Miniſter, Ieſus Chriſts: ſecond, to whom, to the Gentiles.
In the forme or difference, wee hauehave the principall and eſſential function diſtinguiſhing it from all other miniſteries, Miniſtering the Gospell of God: amplified by the end, Act. 13.2.That the offering vp of the Gentiles might bee acceptable to God: this acceptation ſet forth by a condition requiſite thereunto, ſanctification: illuſtrated by the Author thereof, the Holy Ghoſt.
A miniſter, the Greeke word ſignifies a publike officer, which though here and elſewhere vſed of the Miniſtery of the Word, yet it is giuen alſo to ciuill Magiſtrates, to Angels, Rom. 13.6. Heb. 1. vlt. Heb. 8.2. Luk. 1.23.to our Lord Chriſt, to the Prieſts of the Law: alwayes a title of great honour and publike performance.
Of Ieſus Chriſt, the King of his Church, the owner of his houſe. Heb. 3.6.
To the Gentiles. Paul preached vponupon occaſion to all; but eſpecially by his calling, Act. 9. and by a conſtitution agreed vponupon betweene him and Peter, Iames, and Iohn, hee was a Miniſter of the vncircumciſion, as they were ouer the Circumciſion. Gal. 2.7, 8, 9.
To miniſter the Gospell of God: to ſantifie, to conſecrate, to ſacrifice. The word is Leuiticall, and in it an alluſion to the ſacrifices of the Law; and by a Metaphor here vſed for preaching, or miniſtring.
That the offering vp of the Gentiles might be acceptable: either Actiuely, that the Gentiles might offer themſelues, as Rom. 12.1. or rather Paſſiuely that Paul by his Miniſtery might offer them vp to God through faith of the Goſpell.
Sanctified by the Holy Ghoſt: not a ſpirituall conuerſation, but noting the third Perſon in the Trinity the Author of Sanctification.
As S. Pauls Apoſtleſhip is here deſcribed; ſo proportionably the miniſtery of the word to be continued to the end.
Paul is a Prieſt, the Gentiles the ſacrifice, the preaching of the Goſpell the ſacrificing knife.
Miniſters muſt by preaching offer vp the people an acceptable ſacrifice to God. Eſay 66.20. Doctr. They ſhall bring your brethren as an offering to the Lord out of all Nations. Eph. 4.12.Act. 26.18. Rom. 1.16.
Miniſters by their office are ſacred perſons: they muſt therefore adorne their function with a holy life; and their calling ſhould ſo farre be from being a diſgrace vntounto them, that euen in this regard they ſhould bee had in ſingular eſtimation.
If the Miniſtery of the Law were glorious, more the miniſtery of the Gospell.
The office of the Miniſtery is ſacred: Ʋſe 2 by themſelues therefore to bee reuerently performed and carefully: by the people reuerently to be attended vntounto.
Miniſters are prieſts: Ʋſe 3 not properly, but by alluſion: not Maſſe prieſts of the order of Rome, to offer vp their Maker as a propitiatory ſacrifice for the quick and the dead: we abhor ſuch blaſphemy. Nor Leuiticall prieſts of the order of Aaron: they offered beaſts, wee men in ſacrifice, killing their luſts, that they may be an offering ſanctified and acceptable.
As wee are Prieſts, ſo all Chriſtians are prieſts, or elſe wee hauehave no part in the blood of Chriſt, Reuel. 1.5, 6. and we are a holy, 1 Pet. 2.5.9.and a Royall prieſthood, ſaith Saint Peter, alluding to Exod. 19.6. where God ſaith that the Iſraelites ſhall bee to him a kingdome of prieſts: for though the Rituall prieſthood were conferred vponupon the tribe of Leui, and appropriated to it: Rom. 12.1. Phil. 2.17. Pſal. 51.17. Pſa 50.14. Heb. 13.16. Pſal. 4.5.yet the Royall prieſthood belonged to the whole kingdome. You are all Prieſts; your ſacrifices are your ſelues; your faith, your repentance; your prayers and prayſes, your workes of mercy; offer then the ſacrifices of righteouſneſſe, and put your truſt in the Lord.
As Miniſters are prieſts, Vſe 4 ſo the people are ſacrifices: which terme puts them in mind of their ſinfulneſſe deſeruing death: for ſacrifices muſt be killed, vnderunder the law there was confeſſion of ſinne by the parties bringing the ſacrifice: it was they which deſerued to dye not the guiltles beaſt.
Alſo they muſt learne, that they muſt be pure; the ſacrifices were waſhed, and they muſt be ſanctified, or not acceptable. There might be no blemiſh or imperfection in them: Leu. 22. If we be wicked and profane, we are fit for the Diuell, but no ſacrifices for God.
And if we our ſelues be ſacrifices, then, our bodies, ſoules, with all the members and faculties of both muſt be dedicated to God.
We muſt deny our ſelues, and liue onelyonly to God.
The end of preaching and hearing is, Ʋſe 5 that wee may bee ſacrificed: when then thou comeſt to the word, ſuffer the ſacrificing knife to cut the throat of thy luſts.
It is painfull to be launced, but if thou part not with them, thou muſt be damned with them, and canſt be no ſacrifice acceptable to God.
When thou comeſt therefore to a Sermon, remember thou comeſt to be ſacrificed; ſtruggle not, yeeld thy ſelfe, be not angry when thy ſinnes are toucht, lye as ſtill as Iſaack did when he ſhould be made a ſacrifice, if thou deſireſt to be ſaued.
As Iſaack ſaid to his Father: Here is the knife and the wood, but where is the Lamb? ſo I feare me a man may aske at our ſer mons: Here is the Prieſt and the knife: but where is the ſacrifice? many come to the Altar, but they break away and will not bee ſacrificed, going from the Sermon with more ſinfulneſſe and condemnation then they brought with them.
Great is the happineſſe of ſuch which are ſacrificed to God: Vſe 6 for they are acceptable.
They which are not, are reiected, and a very abomination, reſerued for the ſhambles, but if thou be conuerted, thou art for the holy Altar in heauen.
He ſeemes to be depriued of the ſenſe of piety which hearing that the conuerſion of a ſinner is an acceptable ſacrifice, reioyceth nor for it.
If thou haſt once beene ſacrificed to God, thou art for euer to bee ſeparated and ſet apart from common vſe: ſee then that thou take not thy body and ſoule being dedicated to God, to proſtitute before the Diuels altar by abominable ſinning.