6 An Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans. the gospel preached by faithful fervants of Chrift, is no way diffonant from, but every way conform unto the doctrine dr'ivered by such eminent and infallible officers, for that his doctrine may have weight with these Romans, he lets them know that he is an apofile, an eminent and infallible officer, raifed up extraordinarily, and called immediately. XV. As it is commendable for the fervants of Jesus Christ, not to be fo lavish of their office and authority, but in all chriftian fobriety to speak sparingly of the fame, when no neceffity urgeth, least thereby they occafion contempt and become vain; fo, it is no less dangerous, upon the other hand, to conceal the fame, when there is a fair door opened, and a call given thereunto, when the good of the gospel requireth the fame. As here Paul (who several times writing to other churches, as to the Philippians and Theffalonians, as alfo when writing to Philemon, did forbear to stile himself apostle) fubfcribes himself fo, knowing that it might do no harm, but rather encourage these Romans so much the more chearfully to welcome his doctrine, and give credit to the fame. XVI. In a constituted church, it is not enough for fuch as take upon them to preach the gospel, to pretend a call, but they must also be folemnly fet apart and ordained and feparated to that work; for here the apostle fays, he was not only called, but feparated alfo, viz. by prayer, fasting and impofition of hands, as you fee, Acts xiii. 2. 3. 4. And though it cannot be particularly instanced in the rest of the apostles, how they were thus fet apart, nor denied, that before that time, when he and Barnabas were fet apart at the Lord's fpecial command, he preached the gofpel, yet certain it is, the Lord would never have defired that those should be fo- | lemnly fet apart by prayer and laying on of hands, if not to shew us what is the rule we ought to follow; and to fhew that it is his will, that this way should be followed in all time coming. Chap. I. XVII. Such is the weakness and unfitness of frail men, who are but earthen veffels, rious embassage of the gospel, that whoso2 Cor. iv. 7. and of such weight is the ginever is employed thereabout should give man that warreth entangleth himself with himself wholly thereunto, 2 Tim. ii. 4. No the affairs of this life; that he may please vi. 4. But we will give ourselves continually bim who hath chofen him to be a foldier. Acts to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. The work is of such importance, that it will take up the whole man. And feeing it is so, it is the duty of all ministers of the gospel, so to walk in that calling, and so to demean ment in that office, as men feparated and fet themselves in every piece of their deportapart for that employment folely; for Paul. says he was set apart and separate from other employments to that only. And the confideration of this, that the Lord, in his eternal purpose, set them apart for that employment, should ftir them up to diligence therein, and to a walking answerably thereunto; for Paul was feparated from his mother's womb, as you fee, Gal. i. 15. XVIII. It will be fo far from excufing the wicked, that fuch as carried the gospel on the contrary it will tend to aggravate their to them, had no other thing to do, that upguilt, that the Lord fent men to them for that end, only to preach the gospel to them, giving them a command to wait upon that employment, and do nothing else: And because it is so, serious thoughts of this, that the Lord hath given special command to fuch as might many ways win their living in a world, and follow a more gainful (as to worldly gain) and peaceable trade, than that is of preaching the gospel, to preach the gofpel, and to attend upon that very thing, fhould move people to be convinced of the Lord's loving kindness, willingness to welcome finners; of a reality of the gospel tendered, and of their duty to welcome the offer, and hearken to the gospel; for Paul ufeth this as a motive to induce them to believe and obey what he was to deliver, that be he was one that was separated to that employment, and might meddle with no other. XIX. As the gospel contains nothing but the gladest tidings, and sweetest news that ever was heard tell of, so people thould be fo far from taking occafion hence to wax wanton, and lull themselves asleep in security, and take their will of the flesh and the world, that so much the more rather should they ftir up themselves to welcome heartily and to embrace with all acceptation the offer of Christ in the gospel; and therefore Paul fays, it is the gospel or good news he is about to declare, and therefore they should make it welcome. in is not XX. The gospel we preach, is news of our own invention, be invention and plot of the wife God; and because urs, nor are we the authors thereof, but God only, who found out this way of saving poor lost man, out of the depth of his infinite wisdom, which neither man nor angels would ever have fallen upon; therefore it were wisdom for people to take heed how they flight and undervalue so great falvation, having such a one for its author: for Paul would have them careful not to flight what he was to say, because it was not news that had their rise in his own brain, but the gospel of God, who will not take it well to have his gospel flighted. : VERSE 2. (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures) the H Ere the apostle goes on to move Romans to embrace his doctrine, because of its worth and excellency, and there fore he steps aide to the commendation thereof in this and in the following verses. The arguments here contained for to press there people to welcome his doctrine, may be thefe, 1. The gospel which I am separated unto, and which I am to preach to you; is no new device, it is no new doctrine which was never heard of before; it is the fame that the people of God of old had re promifed, and so should be heartily welcomed, for all his promises should be gladly received when fulfilled, and so should this promise of the gospel, which he hath fore-promised by his prophets in the Holy Scrip tures. Hence learn, I. The people of God were faved by the fame gospel under the Old Testament, that we under the New Testament are faved by; after one and the fame way did the Lord bring his elect to glory then, and now, viz. by faith in Jesus Chrift, Heb. xi. 2. Acts xv. 11. for her the fame gospel that Paul was teach, was that which was Promited by the Lord under the law: See Gal. iii. 8. 9. II. However the gospel be the fame for fubstance under the Old and New Testament, yet it seemed good in the Lord's eyes who divers ways and manners reveals himfelf, Heb. i. 2. to give to those under the law, a star light, or moon light only, and reserve the funshine and noontide to us under the gospel, for they had the gospel only under promise; for the sufferings of Christ and the glory that now is revealed was but then prophefied of, 1 Pet. i. 10. II. See Gal. iii. 23. and iv. 1. 2. 3. 4. III. As people are to try the spirits whether they be of God or not, John iv. Ι. and to fearch the fcriptures to see, whether the doctrine delivered be diffonanttonfonant; so the messengers of the Lord should be careful they bring forth and broatch no doctrine but what is warranted by the word; for Paul frays, the doctrine he was broatching, was the fame that was promised by the prophets, and so confonant to their doctrine, and no groundless fancy of his own head. IV. It will not a little tend to aggravate the misbelief of people now a-days, that the gospel that is held forth and preached to them, is no new invention of man, but the fame that hath been those many thousand years, as the way by which many vealed by the prophets. 2. It was a matter | thousands have entered into glory, and fo a proven and tried way by the experience of many, and a way attested unto by the faithful fervants of the Lord in all ages, patriarchs and prophets; for it is the gospel that was promised long since by the prophets of the Lord, and for this cause he Would have it welcomed. a V. It will abundantly stop our mouths, and take all excuse from us that obey not the gospel of Jesus Chrift, that not only it is the fame in fubstance with that, by which all under the Old Testament were carried fafe to heaven, but also, that it is now no more vailed underes, ceremonies, and what is to be believed as gospel, and what not; for Paul here affirms, that the gofpel he was set apart unto, and was about to preach, was conform to the writings of the prophets, and nothing elfe but what they prophefied of in their writings, and the Lord promised by them in the Holy Scriptures. VIII. However the messengers of the Lord be little regarded or respected in their generations, and their message flighted and undervalued, yet the Lord will own them as his, and it will add to our guilt to reject what they deliver; and the gospel should fo promises, but clearly reveal explained. I much the more be welcomed by us, that it And upon this score we should be moved to welcome heartily the gospel, because. it is now plain and perfpicuous, and Christ now manifested in the flesh is no more wrapped up as formerly; for so would Paul hence move them to a welcoming of his doctrine, that it was of old but promised, and now more clearly exhibited. is attented unto astruth, by such as the Lord owns as his prophet IX. Such is God's goedness to poor man, that he will not only provide a way how they shall be saved, but will make that way known unto them, and therefore he will fend prophets, to deliver it viva voce, and not only fo, but when they should ceafe, he will provide a more fure word of prophecy, 2 Pet. i. 19. and caufe the fame be written that it might continue on record, and be VI. As all the promises of the Lord should be precious in our eyes, and their performances moft heartily accepted, and willingly embraced; fo in particular fhould the go-studied by all, and come to every one's hands, spel and the offer of a crucified Christ and Saviour be imbraced with all acceptance; and it will tend to aggravate our guilt, if we neglect so great falvation, which the prophets have enquired and fearched diligently, and when unto them it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minifter the things which are now reported unto us, 1 Pet. i. 10. 12. and therefore Paul makes use of this as an argument, that the thing he was about to ads was the fulfilling of a promise made of old by the Lord. VII. The writings of the prophets of old, are so far from being laid ande now, as useless to us under the gospel, that they are to be acknowledged and looked on as the rule whereby to try which is the true gofpel, and which not: the law and the prophets is to be a touch-ftone whereby to try that none may pretend ignorance; and hence furely, misbelief will be so much the more a heinous fin, that it is committed after the Lord hath taken all that pains to assure us of, and clear unto us the only way to happiness; for here we see the gospel was promised by the prophets, and then fet down for the good of pofterity in the holy Scriptures. X. The Scriptures are holy, as having a holy God for their author, and breathing out nothing but holins, and containing a perfect rule how we fhould walk in all holiness, and therefore should be looked on and used in all holy reverence; and therefore he calls them the Holy Scriptures, and also were written by holy men of God, moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. i. 21. VERSES 3. 4. Concerning bis Son Jefus Christ our Lord, which was made of the feed of David, according to the flesh, And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the refurrection from the dead. Ere confidered, be one essence, without any compofition, and a most simple and unmixt effence, yet is there in that essence feveral perfons, or diverse ways of fubfistence; neither is this a business repugnant to reason, feeing the effence, and the manner of exifting, are not one and the fame, but distinct things; this subsistence is not one and the fame with that indivie dual substance whereof it is the fubfiftence: for here is God (viz. the Father) and his Son, distinct perfons, not effentially, or in respect of their effence, but in respect only of their manner of existence; and yet not so, as that they can be feparated, John xiv. 10. ----I am in the Father, and the Father in me.---See 1 John v. 7. is contained another new argument, to press them to a willing acceptance of his doctrine, as a further commendation of the gospel, from its subject-matter, or that whereof it treateth; which may be thus conceived: 1. The subject-matter of this gospel, which I have gotten a commiffion to preach to you, and others, is the promised Meffias, the Son of God. 2. Jefus, a Saviour. 3. Christ, an anointed one, as Priest, Prophet, and King. 4. And our Lord, one in whom you have, or pretend to have interest. 5. Who was man, and made man in an extraordinary manner: and as man come of the feed of David. 6. And who, notwithstanding whereof, was true God, being in power, and declared so to be, by raising up of himself from the dead the third day. So that every word almost may be looked on as a distinct argument to press their chear ful attention. In this summed-up argument, we have the fum of the gospel; even whole Christ, and nothing but Chrift; and Christ held forth under his titles, offices, and natures. His titles are, Son of God, Jefus, Chrift, Lord; his offices are couched up under his titles; his natures are two, and these are clearly held forth: For, 1/8, His human nature is here, 1. called flesh: and 2. he is faid to be made of the feed of David. 2dly, His divine nature is here held forth, 1. Under the title of the Son of God. 2. Under that other, the fpirit of boliness, or the spirit that fanctified his human na-nor in the Holy Ghost, but as in the Son, II. The fame divine essence which the Father hath, is communicated to the Son from eternity, wholly, in an unfpeakable and spiritual manner; for he being called a Son, must be begotten, and the action of begetting, in the Father, is nothing else, than an eternal and perfonal action, whereby the communicateth all the fame effence which he hath himseli, in a wonderful and unspeakable manner, to his Son, and that from eternity, Prov. viii. 22. 30. Hence is he called, The brightness of bis glory, and the express image of his person, Heb. i. 3. ture. 3. And declared by his raising of his human nature when dead. III. Howbeit the divine essence be one and the fame in all the three perfons of the Trinity, yet fome things may be faid of the divine nature, confidered as it is in one person, which may not be faid of it, considered as in another perfon; for it is faid here of the fecond perfon, that he was made of the feed of David, which cannot be faid of any of the rest. The divine nature confidered, neither fimply as in itself, nor as in either the Father, DOCTRINAL OBSERVATIONS. or under that special manner of existence, was incarnate, and took on our nature. IV. It was only the second perfon of 1. Albeit the divine essence, in itself the Trinity that was incarnate, and took on our flesh; for it is faid, the Son was made of the feed of David, and not another: Gal. iv. 4. ----made of a woman. see Philip. ii. 7.8. V. Christ Jefus our Mediator is the subject-matter of the gospel, and of all the special prophecies and promifes under the law; for as the gofpel containeth nothing, and holdeth forth nothing but Christ in his person, natures, and offices, so the prophecies of old were concerning bis Son Jefus Chrift, &c. VI. It should highly commend the gospel to us, that it holdeth forth and unfoldeth Jefus Christ the Son of God, and our Lord, who is not only one excellent in himself, and worthy to be known, as being the Son of God, but also one whose offices concern us nearly, and therefore called Jesus Christ our Lord; for so it may be looked on as an argument to commend the gospel, and to move them to embrace the fame, that it was a doctrine concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. VII. The great love that Chrift hath manifested unto poor loft man, in stooping fo low, and condescending fo far, as to take on him our nature, and assume frail human flesh, in one person with the divine nature, should also engage us to welcome the gofpel that treats of him, and holds him forth as thus letting out his bowels of love; for Paul would have those Romans welcome the gospel heartily, because it was concerning his Son, who was made of the feed of David, according to the flesh. to him, so also the confideration of this, that he is most willing to help, seeing Jesus, or a Saviour, is his name; for here, he that is the Son of God is Jefus by office and name, and fo a Saviour, Matth. i. 21. ready to welcome all. IX. As it should commend Jesus to us, that he is fent, appointed, and designed of the Father, and so anointed, and the Christ, for that end and purpose, to fave sinners: and as it should be a strong motive to perfuade and confirm poor needy fouls in the faith of acceptance and welcoming; so it will tend, on the other hand, to the heightening of their guilt that embrace not an offered Mediator; for Jefus is alfo called Chrift: and unless he be looked upon and taken up as one anointed and commiffionated, he cannot be rightly believed in: See Mark viii. 29. Luke ix. 20. John iv. 29.42. X. As it is a special privilege that believers have beyond others, that they have an interest in Christ, as theirs in a special manner; fo the confideration of this, that Christ is their Lord and Commander, should mind them of the obedience which they owe: and in particular it should be a strong motive to press them unto a willing and hearty acceptance of any doctrine or news concerning him : therefore, that these Romans might welcome the gospel, he tells them, that it is concerning our Lord. XI. As it is believers duty to avow their interest in Christ, so, when their heart is in a good frame, they will no fooner fpeak of Chrift, or hear him spoken of, but affoon their fouls will clafp to him. And it is a black mark when one can hear Christ commended highly, VIII. As it highly commends the love of God to loft finners, in fending his Son to be a Saviour, and a Jefus; so it should move us to welcome the falvation that cometh to us, and is wrought by fuch an as the Son of God, and as a commiffionatone as the Son of God: to flight it will ed and authorized Saviour, and not find highly tend to the aggravation of our their affections moving towards him, and guilt. And as the confideration of this, that Jefus is the Son of God, and fo allsufficient, and able to help finners, should encourage poor finful fouls to come their fouls clafping about his neck, and embracing him as their Lord; for here, after Paul had spoken of Christ, and called him the Son of God, and Jefus Chrift, |