Romans 5

Romans 5:1

WEe have,] that is to say, God is made propitious unto us in Christ, who by the faith which hee creates in us, causeth us to enjoy this reconciliation, by vertue whereof our conscience is so firmely grounded, that wee doe it as it were by anticipation in this world, by a lively hope, that eternall glory which is prepared for the children of God, without being moved by any temptations, or een downe by any terrour or confusion.

Romans 5:3

Not onely.] wee doe not reioyce unspeakabl and gloriously. 1. Pet. 1. 8. onely by reason of the hope of future glorie, but also by reason of our present afflictions, which are an assured proofe unto us thereof. 2. Colossians 4:17. Phil 〈◊〉. 28 That tribuation,] that the holy Ghost oth thorough tribulation frame us to patience, in which God doth from time to time give us assured proofes of his grace and protecon, whereby we conceive a sound hope in him grounded upon the love which hee ereth unto us, which he hath given us large cause of feeling, and hath lively sealed it in our hearts, by his spirit of adoption.

Romans 5:5

Maketh not ashamed,] that is to say, doth not deceave one nor prove vaine, nor proveth not to be as an illusion.

Romans 5:6

For when,] the greatnesse of this love of God is shewed therein, that he did shew it when we were deprived of all power of rising againe of our selves, being wholy dead in sinne, In due time,] in the point of the worlds extreamesteed. when the misery and cue thereof was come to the up shot when all people, even Gods owne people were altogether corrupted. And even just at the time which God had appointed.

Romans 5:7

For scarcely] a redoubling of the same reason, because that God loved 〈◊〉 thn whn we wre altogether, not onely unable to get salvation, but also utterl uno thy of it.

Romans 5:8

Commndeh,] makes it more glorious and se it in greater esteeme amongst men Sinners,] that is to say, guilty and clpable, having not as yet receved he gift of absolution and pardon, and being yet under the kingme of si.

Romans 5:9

By 〈◊〉.] namely by vertue of tht satisfaion which he hath made to God by his death, 〈◊〉 wrath,] namely, from eternall damnation and punishment, Matth 3. 7. Romans 2:5. The meaning is, that as it is more easie to keep a man from execution, that is freed and absolved by the judg, then for to get a guilty man absolved and freed by the iudge, so after we have received pardon, which is the greater, we ought much now to be perswaded that we shal be freed from the punishment which is the lesser and that we shall have all good things. Romans 8:32.

Romans 5:10

By his life] namely, by him living and raigning; and communicating his life to all his members. Iohn 6. 5. 7 and 14. 19. 2. Cor. 4. 10. 11.

Romans 5:11

And not onely,] besides that we gloriously triumph over all afflictions thorow a certain confidence of the everlasting crowne. Wee have also whereof to boast our selves to bee happy in the whole course of our lives, by the present feeling of Gods grace.

Romans 5:12

Wherefore,] a generall conclusion of the presedent treatie of justification by faith; in which the Apostle breifely running over those things which he had said: doth withall set doune the ground of them, which is that God hath of his owne good will established Christ to be the head of grace and the spring of righteousnesse and life to all his elect, thorow the impution of whose righteousnesse, they are restored into Gods favour and concequentlie sanctified and glorified as Adam was made the naturall head and root of all mankind, whereupon by his sinne imputed to al his Seed, it was all under Gods curse deprived of originall righteousnesse, corruption its whole naturall, and subiect to death.

Romans 5:13

For untill,] this originall corruption is verified by the effects of all mens actuall Sinnes, in al ages even before the law of Moises which sheweth that there was before that another generall law namely that of nature the reliques of which doe yet remaine in man Rom. 2. 14. 15. against which Adam having actually sinned, hath enfolded all his posteritie in the same fault and hath propagated originall sinne in it, is not imputed,] that is to say is not reputed to be truely sinne, which is nothing but a transgression of the law. Romans 4. 15. 1. Iohn 3. 4. nor man is not called to account upon it, to be therefore condemned to death.

Romans 5:14

Neverthelesse,] he doeth moreover shew that there was an universall defect in all mankind, against the said law, which was imputed unto him to condemnation, seeing they are all dead, and that death is the reward of sinne. Rom. 6 23 over them,] namely over little children, who weare not come to the age of iudgment and consequently could not bee guilty, of an actual deliberate and voluntarie sinne, such a one as Adams was and yet for all that they are dead; wherefore wee must conclude that there was in them some other sinne: which is the originall sinne, of him,] namely of Christ, the second Adam, the head of the spirituall off spring of this elect, as Adam was the natural head of all men. Now the conformitie of them both consisteth in this that either of them by the order of God justification, hath communicated his estate to all his.

Romans 5:15

But not,] though these two Adam the head of sinne and death, and Christ the head of righteousnesse and life doe agree in this prosperity of communicating their conditions to those who are theirs, yet there is great deale of difference between them. First in that in Christ the power is all divine and therefore infinitely more active and effectuall, and then also in the excellencie, and abundance of gifts and good things which he communicates to his, above all that which man had lost in Adam manie bee,] namely all men the children of Adam. v. 12.The grace,] namely Gods mercie and good will which is the Soveraigne cause, the gift,] namely the application, and free imputation of Christs righteousnesse, which is the meritorious cause, by grace,] for love, and by vertue of that perfect righteousnesse and obedience which Christ yeelded his father in his humane nature, by which he hath merited and possesseth all his grace and love. Matth. 3. 17. Iohn 1. 16. Ephes. 1. 6 Vnto many,] namely, to all believers. Gods spirituall children in Christ, whereof he had spoken before.

Romans 5:16

And not,] there is likewise another difference, namely, that Adam did indeed by his offence make all his posterity guilty, but they have aggravated their iudgement by their owne proper and voluntary sins. But Christ iustifieth not onely from the sin which proceeded from Adam, but likewise from all other personall sins The judgment,] namely, God proceeding as a iust iudge, hath imputed this one offence of Adams, to all his posteritie, and hath condemned it to lose the state of originall righteousnesse and consequently life, The free gift,] the Italian, The grace, the same God proceeding in his grace, hath absolved all his elect from al their sinnes for to behold them just and innocent.

Romans 5:17

For if,] this ought not to seeme strange, for God hath infinitely more beene appeased in Christ, then hee was offended and provoked by Adam Of righteousnesse,] namely, Christs righteousnesse which is given, that is to say imputed out of meere grace to all believers.

Romans 5:18

By the righteousnesse of one,] by Christs perfect obedience, God hath poured out his free mercy upon all men, to absolue them from sinne, and give them right to eternall life, vpon all,] to all manner of persons indifferently, though not to all universallie. Or he means all those which belong to Christ. v. 15. 17.

Romans 5:19

Mary,] see v. 15 were made,] that is to weare reputed for such, and doe as such, appeare before Gods judgement Shall manie, henceforward Christ having ben manifested and his righteousnesse fulfilled, and preached to the world by the Gospell all those who shall receive it shall be reputed righteous before God in him.

Romans 5:20

The law,] because he had said, v. 13. that before the law of Moses sinne had raigned against the law of nature, he doth now obviate an objection, wherefore then was Moses his Law added? Hee answeareth, because the Law of nature might be restored to its naturall light and vigor, and repaired in the breaches which ignorance, forget fullnesse, evil manners, and erroneous opinions of men had made in it. And that by this light of Gods law renewed in man, and yet with stood by him, with a greater malice then before, his wickednesse should appeare to be growen up to the height whereby he might have no other way of restauration, but onely to 〈◊〉 to Gods grace in Christ, whose power overcomes all the power of sinne.

Romans 5:21

Unto death,] shewing its pestilent power in the present death, and in the everlasting death, which it causeth in all Man 1:1. Cor. 15. 56.