Romans 16

Notes

Ver. 2. Readily receive her » your religious fellowship, and assist her in transng her civil affairs at Rome; for she has generly and hospitably entertained, sheltered, and proed for many poor Christians and destitute strangers. o~ne 1 Soe DD ee een ened aman In iu. sbIGiLy remus Ne BAA AIR BNR eee ee ee eee Hee Kee ee o They very much assisted and encouraged me in inisterial labours at Corinth; and when I was in 'r they exposed their very lives in order to save 5. Their religious family, by the blessing of God eir good example, diligent instructions, and pruregulations, is like a church of Christ for its stated ilp of God, purity of manners, and beautiful order. enetus was the first converted to Christ in ail the ns of Achaia, and an honourable pledge and earnest at great harvest of souls which have been since red unto the Lord. 7-9, 13. /a Christ, or in the , denotes being united to, beloved by, and believing n, and holding fellowship with him. 10. Apelles been tried, proved, and justly accounted 'a judi, faithful, and zealous disciple, and servant of and 'er for Christ. 16. A kiss attended with the utchastity, sincerity, and spiritual affection, as meth saints who love one another with a pure : fervently. 17. In order to cultivate and main. AT 8 ate Tene ne Ane erivcalzrac) | carefully NO ATTEMPl TO IOTIN pallicds alluny yUuy au cu sien ice pernicious opinions and practices contrary to th ire truths of the gospel which ye have been taught b e inspired servants of Christ. 18. For whoever ar 'such a spirit and temper, and carry on such designs e not the true servants of our Lord Jesus, the onl rophet, Priest, and King of his church; nor do the ucerely aim at promoting his interests and glory i i.¢ world, but seek to avoid persecution, gain th vour of worldly men, and gratify their own sensuz ypetites—to compass which vile ends, they, by hig -etensions of kindness for you, or zeal for God's trutk id honour, attempt to impose on the good tempe id credulity of weak and incautious, though wel leaning persons, to turn them aside from the ways « ie Lord. 19. I am indeed glad that your ready re 2»ption of the gospel and obedience of faith are becom » exemplary and famous in the churches; and th: itherto no seducers have been able to draw you awa - » s+ 6 ye ee 8 ete, 1 «6 cee etd Rt erto no Seaucers Nave veenm avic wy uraw JUU arey 1 the simplicity-which is in Christ ; but considering r own weakness and depravity of nature, and the -lety of Satan and his instruments, it is absolutely essary for you to be very prudent and watchful, able nake a difference between good and evil, truth and x; and so inoffensive, plain-hearted, and sincere, : ye may neither deceive nor injure others, nor be eived or injured by them—quite unacquainted with envious, spiteful, and mischievous arts. 20, 24. 1 for your comfort and encouragement, remember : your gracious and reconciled God, who is the nor of all true peace, and delights in your being at ce among yourselves, will stand by you, and ina e time subdue Satan and his emissaries, and defeat ir malicious power and subtlety, by his providence . grace, and render you at last fully victorious and mally triumphant over them.—And for this end my rant my reneated nraver to God for you is, that at, my repeated prayer to God for you is, that 'ee favour of your and my Lord and Saviour Jesus it, in all its special fruits and effects, and all comcations of grace from him, may be continually abundantly with you, to guide and strengthen, ify and comfort, defend and save you, and carry hrough all temptations and dangers, till ye arrive triumph at his heavenly kingdom. 25-27. Now, at great, gracious, and almighty God, who is able feat all the attempts of your spiritual enemies, and eserve you from falling into sins or error, and to :, strengthen, and confirm you in faith, comfort, holiness, according to and by means of the glad acomprehensible tidings of salvation to sinful men h Jesus Christ himself preached while on earth, which I, having them revealed to me by the intion of his Spirit, Jabour to publish in the world en those glorious doctrines which were long en'hid from the Gentiles, and but obscurely hinted e Tews. in tvpes. shadows, and dark prophecies; and openly manifested to both Jews and Gentiles, in the ministrations of his servants, and the accomplishment and explication of the Old Testament figures and predictions, according to his special and unchangeable purpose, appointment, and command—in order that, through the influences of his Spirit attending the same, they might be persuaded and enabled to believe in Christ, and, by virtue derived from him, perform all holy obedience to him—even to that God who alone is originally, essentially, infallibly wise in himself and in all his dispensations, particularly in his contrivance -4 ant nant af tha ancnel ccheme of salvation, and a ae. 4 : nd execution of the gospel scheme of salvation, and vho is the only author and fountain of all the wisdom hat is to be found in any creature whatsoever,—be all idoration, thanksgiving, honour, and blessing, through 'esus Christ as the only Mediator, by whom our praises ind prayers are to be offered, and are acceptable to aim for evermore. ' f Ver. 17. Whoever introduces a doctrine, practice, or nite (for ( practices and rites can never be separated from doctrine) contrary or superadding to those of the apostles, is to be 'marked and avoided.' The Lord grant grace to the instructors and rulers of his church to be self-denying, and to church-members to be watchful !— Voée, How needful, how prophetic, was this apostolic ~ .* ™ ( ---b ewe aA mane anivel dactrines. fantastic j es, and unmeaning ceremonies have not only been invented, t enforced, under all the temporal penalties that could afflict e bodies, and all the spiritual terrors that could affright the uls of men! But 'the night is far spent, the day is at hand'— : Christians watch and be sober, and keep their garments! essed is that servant, and blessed are those churches, whom eir Lord at his coming shall find so doing. C.

Reflections.—The Christian religion delightfully romotes friendship and good manners. It teaches us » pay civil respect in a decent manner to persons of ll ranks, and gratefully to return favours shown to us 1 the best way we can. It gives a holy turn to a enteel behaviour. and makes men sincere in wishing teel behaviour, ANG Makes wicks dire sae Prawesgy temporal, and especially the eternal prosperity of ir friends.— With deep concern should all Christians our to excel in piety, fix themselves in churchowship, and in their respective stations study to be viceable to the whole mystical body of Christ. iable are those families which resemble a church of rist in their worship, order, and conversation. And is a great honour to be first or eminent in the faith 1 profession of the gospel. With exact care ought to judge for themselves in matters of religion, vording to the doctrine which they have received m Christ and his apostles; and to avoid such as use divisions and offences, by broaching errors or rming parties in the church. Whatever be the lausible pretences, fair shows, or flattering speeches : such, they always secretly carry on some selfish and irnal design. 'here is great need therefore in this vil world to have such knowledge of the truth that 'e may not be imposed on, and such honesty as to act p to our knowledge, imposing upon none. For Satar arnestly promotes pernicious principles and practices. » the disturbance and corruption of the church. Bul : is very encouraging to true believers that their Goc rill quickly and entirely subdue him and all his emis -siew and wwavle And if faith and natience hold ou a Soa 7 es and works. And if faith and patience hold out ittle, we shall reign trimmphant for evermore.— cient and divine are the gospel tidings of our salva1 ~=©Delightfully they harmonize with the types and dictions of the Old Testament. And their offers 1 blessings graciously extend to all nations of mand, and by the Holy Ghost are made effectual to 'n of all ranks and degrees. With what faith and e ought they then to be received, submitted to, zyed, and practised! And infinite is the glory thai lounds to God from this his wonderful work of our vation.

Concluding Remarks on the Epistle to the Romans.

In the visible heavens 'one star differeth from another star in glor: stars are equally the work of God. So, in the Scriptures, one book d another, either in the extent or importance of the truths revealed, yet ture is (equally) given by inspiration of God, and (each according to its measure) is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ins righteousness.' Among the books of Scripture, the Epistle to the Romans holds a si to that of a star of the first magnitude among the heavenly bodies. 1 specially remarkable for the guidance it affords in searching out 'the « of God'—such as, the co-existence and reconciliation of inflexible j abounding mercy—of the unchanging purposes of the Eternal with yet all { accountability of man—and of justification by faith in Jesus Christ, wi s from | indissoluble obligation to every duty of holiness. 2. It stands specially rem Scrip- | for its practical vindication of the doctrines of free grace. There seems a nt and | antipathy in the carnal mind against a free salvation; so that the heart that tion in} it most, hates it most. And the alleged ground of this antipathy is, thi unfavourable to morality. But this objection proceeds upon disregard of ir place | ignorance of the principles of the human heart—and a total forgetfulness of stands } cal truth, or neglect of observation. Disregard of self—for a sinner can » things } saved, unless by free grace. Ignorance of the human heart—for nothing can ce with } its enmity but redeeming love, or govern its powers, but gratitude for nr perfect | And forgetfulness of historical truth, and neglect of observation—for bot " QAA 153 united to prove, that in all countries and times, the most godly and moral characters have been produced by the preaching of salvation by the cross of Christ. 3. It is conspicuous for the boldness with which it encounters national prejudices, combined with the affection with which it seeks to conciliate good-will. The prejudices of the Jews against the Gentiles, and the contempt of the Gentiles for the Jews, formed one of the chief barriers against the triumphant spread of his gospel. These diseases of the carnal mind the apostle never overlooks or palliates, but, like a skilful physician, reveals all its symptoms and malignity, and applies, as its only adequate remedy, the doctrine of free grace and salvation. 4. It is remarkable for the extent of its moral precepts. Every book of Scripture abounds, either directly or indirectly, with moral precepts; but this epistle takes a wider range, yet descends to more minute particulars than any other book in the New Testament; thus affording the readiest reply to those who charge the doctrine of grace with an unfavourable aspect towards morality. And, truly, if morality, rightly understood, be any evidence of the divine origin of a system (and that it is so is unquestionable), then does the morality of this epistle place it as far above every heathen system of ethics as light is superior to darkness; and conducts infallibly to the conclusion, either that Paul was wiser than all the philosophers of Greece and Rome, or that he was inspired by the all-wise God. This superiority the philosophers of the world will not acknowledge—the inspiration, therefore, they should not deny. 5. It is remarkable for its speciality of personal attentions. While with a most wonderful terseness, or as Haldane phrases it, 'parsimony of words,' it delivers its moral precepts, and transfuses into a single sentence the spirit and amount of volumes, it exhibits 'what might seem a prodigal waste of words' in its commendations, salutations, and acknowledgments. But the memory of the heart never forgets; and the Christian is the only true citizen of the world. He loves him that begets, and, by the same reason, he loves all that are begotten of him.

He that would study this epistle must begin, as all study of Scripture should begin, with humble prayer 'to the Father of lights and mercies;' but to this he must add a firm determination to study it as a whole: it cannot be understood in fragments. He must attend to it with diligence, until he has acquired a consecutive view of its parts—till he is able, as it were, to take the parts asunder, as the wheels, &c., of a machine, and to set them up again in their original order. And the whole he must receive 'as a little child;' for he that does not so receive it will neither discern its meaning nor feel its comfort. C.