Romans 10

Romans 10:2

FOr I,] namely the greatest part sinneth thorow ignorance, bearing a generall vehement affection to Gods glory, his word and service, but without the light of Gods Spirit, and without the guide of certaine knowledge.

Romans 10:3

Being ignorant,] that is to say, their naturall sence being not able to comprehend that mans true righteousnesse, by vertue of which he may subsist before God, is a meere gift of God in Christ, and not a work of man, Rom. 1. 17. and 3. 21. and besides striving to maintaine the dignitie of their own workes, they have by that means withdrawn themselves from the true obedience of Moses his Law, the principall end of which was to conduct them to Christ, who alone hath perfectly fulfilled it for man.

Romans 10:5

For Moses, that which I speake of mans free justice in Christ, appeares by this, that whereas the Law commands to do, and labour, to acquire righteousnesse, and by it salvation and life, the Gospell contrariwise presents this righteousnesse as already acquired: which wee need but onely to receave and retaine in our heart by a lively faith, accompanied with free confession.

Romans 10:6

Speaketh on this wise,] St Paul maketh use of this passage, though spoken in another sence, simply, for a pourtraiture of the Evangelicall promises of salvation, which doe not send a man back to much labour, as to gaine a good thing which is yet far from him, but doth present them to him within himselfe, if he will but only bee pleased to receave them Who shall ascend,] that is to say shall I undertake by mine owne workes to obtaine a right to enter into eternall life That is,] no indeed, for that would bee renouncing of Christ, and disannulling of his merit, by vertue of which, hee alone hath gotten the entrance and possession of heaven for all beleevers. See Iohn 3. 13.

Romans 10:7

Who shall dscend,] shall I try to take upon my selfe the paines of death and hell for satisfaction for mine owne sinnes? That is,] God forbid that I should undertake i, for by that meanes I should disannull the effect of Christs death.

Romans 10:8

The word,] that is to say the thing promised thee by this Evangelicall grace, namely life in Gods grace, is by faith in thy heart, as in a lively spring and in confession, as a continuall respiration.

Romans 10:9

With thy mouth,] by this duty is meant all other duties: for all the workes of a Christian are an effect and testimony of his faith, and a perpetuall thankesgiving and acknowledgement Hath raised him,] this head which is the accomplishment of the worke of redemption comprehends all the rest, and hath a speciall relation, those two foresaid parts, v. 7. of descending, and going up againe into heaven, for the resurrection presupposeth death, and sets downe the glorious returne from it.

Romans 10:10

For with,] because God hath established this order, and these meanes: namely of faith to be justified: and of confession, and any orderly life for a perpetuall acknowledgement of this admirable benefit, as a man to attaine to the fruition of salvation and hath in a manner coupled them together, so that it is impossible there should bee a true and lively faith, without confession, as there can no life in man without respiration.

Romans 10:12

For there,] hee gives a reason for this universall terme, whosoever, which he hath added in the precedent verse to the passage of Isaiah, where it is not expressed Lord,] namely Iesus Christ by his death and Resurrection hath gotten him a title to bee Lord over all men: and to bee the head of all his Elect a middest all nations, to distribute the graces of his spirit unto them. Yet is it not with him as it is with men, for hee is no whit empoverished by the multitude of them who have part în his goods: neither is there before God any other difference amongst men, but onely of those that acknowledge him and call upon him, and of those that doe not, as it is proved by the ensuing passage.

Romans 10:14

How then,] he proves the said indifferencie of nations, because that the meanes to attaine to salvation, by the true invocation of God hath beene made common to them all; and consequenty faith, and so from time to time the hearing of Gods Word and preaching, and according as the one is occasioned by the other: and at last every thing resolves it self, into the Soveraigne cause of Gods good will and pleasure: Who hath also accompanied these subalternall meanes, with his power, to produce their lively effect of faith and confession Without a,]because the Gospell is but a publication of Gods secret will, which cannot be knowne, unlesse he reveale it himselfe.

Romans 10:15

And how,] this preaching being an embassage, of grace and peace, presupposeth a sending from God well verified and authorized by himselfe As it is,] these passages of the Prophets may be referred to this sending or mission of the Apostles, to preach grace which no man knew of nor had any power to being tydings of it, without the expresse declaration, and commision of the offended Soveraigne.

Romans 10:16

Not all] as there is indisterency of nations, so there is a great deals of difference of persons, some believing, and some not, as Isaiah foretelleth, and so making the preang unprofitable. See Hebrews 4:2.

Romans 10:17

By hearing,] that is to say it is not grounded nor doth not resolve it selfe, into naturall 〈◊〉ks, nor into discourse of reason no into humane 〈…〉hority, nor into apprehension of the understanding but onely into the declaration which is made thereof to man: which also hath neither truth nor power, but onely by its faithfull relation and cn mity to Gods originall word.

Romans 10:18

But I say,] as for the Iewes that have not beleeved, what can bee said of them? It is because they have heard nothing of the Gospell? No, for like the Sunne Psal. 19 4 it hath runne over all the world, Col. 〈◊〉 6, 23. shall wee then say that the de〈…〉 was in them, who have rejected the light of the ving knowledge of the Gospell which the Gentiles have accepted? he answereth, v. 1. that it cannot be gainesaid seeing that Moses did formerly protest the same.

Romans 10:20

Very bold and,] wih a holy freedome without bearing so much respect to this nation, or to the vices of it That sought mee not, to shew that all the Gentiles advantage was out of especiall grace, and an effect of their free election. But that God did exercise the rigor of his justice towards the Iewes, upon their hardened rebellion.