Romans 13

Romans 13:1

Highest powers,] Namely to Magistrates established to governe other me The powers,] God is the Author of this order in the world: And all those who attaine to these dignities, attaine unto them, either by his manifest will and approbation when the meanes are lawfull: Or by his secret providence by meere permission, or toleration, when they are unlawfull. Now it is hitting that man should approve and tolerate, that which God approves and toleranes.

Romans 13:3

For Rulers,] though the power of Rulers, have some terror in it, yet we must not hate them as harmefull persons and oppose violence to violence, as we doe against theeves or wilde beasts, for they are a terror but onely to evill men, and are for the good and protection of good men. The Apostle here hath a relation to Gods order, and not to the most wicked vices and abuses of publicke power, which were brought in by men: and he speakes it, because that many Christians, thought themselves to be freed from all humane subjection, by the spirituall liberty of Christs Kingdome. See Cor 7. 〈◊〉 Iude 8.

Romans 13:4

To thee,] for the defence and quiet of every one that liveth justly and vertuously A revenges,] appointed to inflict vigorous punishment upon malefactors.

Romans 13:5

For wrath,] For feare of receaving bodily punishment from the Prince For Conscience sake,] by bond of Conscience towards God, because of his Commandement, Ecclesiastes 8:2 1 Peter 2:13.

Romans 13:6

For,] hee gives a reason for what hee had said, namely that Princes were Gods Ministers, seeing hee hath inspired that common consent in all N〈…〉ns to pay them tributes, as tokens of subjection, aides to their office, and recomence of their paines taken for the good of the people.

Romans 13:8

Owe no man,] performe all your duties wards men, and after all that, know that there is one dutie from which you can never be freed, namely that of charitie, which hath no certaine limitation of time, nor of actions For hee,] the Law of Charitie ought to bee the singular estimation with all beleevers: For it is as it were a summary of all the Law, and especially of the second Table. Or doe not beleeve that ever you can be unbound from the command of charitie, no more then you can bee from the observation of the Law, which is comprehended in Charitie, and can not bee fulfilled in any such kinde, that man be absolved from producing the effects of it any more That loveth,] holily and perfectly according to the true meaning of the Law.

Romans 13:10

Worketh no ill,] doth not suffer any man to doe any harme or offence to his neighbour, but contrary-wise inciteth him to doe him any good.

Romans 13:11

And that,] these words have a relation, not onely to this last precept of charitie, but also to all other precepts which hee hath given before The time,] Namely the time of the Gospell, which is as it were the dawning of that great everlasting day which encreaseth and riseth more and more: and therefore is the true time, to forsake the sleepe of sinne and ignorance, in which man was before drowned, with a totall cessation from good workes. See 2 Corinthians 6:1-18. ver. 2 Our salvation,] namely the accomplishment thereof in the life everlasting.

Romans 13:12

The night,] Namely the time of this worlds lasting, which is but a darke night in respect of the world to come, and is already for the greatest part spent, the everlasting day drawing neere. See 1 Corinthians 7:29 Of darknesse,] Namely dishonest and wicked workes; to doe which men doe shunne the day and the light. Or workes befitting mans naturall wickednesse and ignorance Put on,] let us bee adorned and furnished with Christian vertues, engendred by the light of GODS Spirit, and becomming the brightnesse of the Gospell; by the meanes of which you may fight against all contrary vices.

Romans 13:14

Put yee on,] That is say, be possessed and guided by CHRISTS spirit which may adorne you with the true and lively resemblance of him To fulfill the lusts,] to satisfie the desires of it, which is spoken, to distinguish this vicious desire or curiositie, from the reasonable care, for the necessities and lawfull eases of this mor¦all life