Romans 8

Romans 8:1

THere is therefore,] a conclusion drawne from all hath beene spoken hitherto, namely that man is justified by grace, and that those who are so justified, are freed from the domination of the law, and are incorporated into Christ, in whom they subsist, and live by the communication of his spirit and therefore cannot be judged in themselves. Romans 7:4. Galatians 2:20 Which are,] namely that do shew the truth of this union with Christ by a holy 〈…〉ion, according to the inspirations of 〈◊〉 holy Ghost, and not according to the motions of 〈◊〉 See Galatians 5:16; Galatians 5:25.

Romans 8:2

For,] he gives a reason why the true members of Christ doe walk according to the spirit, namely, 〈◊〉 that being under 〈◊〉 most holy government, they are freed from the deadly tyranny of sinne The law,] See Rom. 7. 22. 1. Cor. 9. 21. Galatians 2:19. In. 1. 25 Of lit,] that is to say living, and quickening, being 〈…〉 cause and author of spirituall life in believers. See 1 Corinthians 15:4. 2. Cor. 3. 6 Hath 〈◊〉 me 〈◊〉,] S. Paul propounds himself for an example of every regenerate man, as Rom. 7. 15. 16.

Romans 8:3

For what,] hee proves this foresaid making free, because that God being reconciled by Christs death, hee hath taken away from sinne that power which he had granted it over man, for a punishment of his first transgression In that it was,] because that seeing it could not be kept by a corrupted man, it had no power to reconcile him to God, whereupon it followed, that the aforesaid punishment of the kingdom of sinne, remained in its vigour Sending,] that is to say, having appointed that his Son should take upon 〈◊〉mane nature, altogether like unto that of sin〈…〉 then, sin onely accepted Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:15 For 〈◊〉,] to bee a propitiatorie sacrifice for it. 2. Cor. 5. 〈◊〉Condemned,] he hath as it were by his soveraigne 〈…〉e taken away all command over believers from 〈◊〉, hath crucified and mortified it in them, whilest they live in this animall and corporall life.

Romans 8:4

The righteousnesse,] all which the said law commands, being just and right Might bee fulfilled,] that it to say, that it may not be commanded in vain, not without effect, as it is in respect of all unbelievers, but may be observed though unperfectly in this world, See the like meaning of this word. Romans 2:27 Galatians 6:2.

Romans 8:5

For they,] he gives a reason why the law is ept only by those who are regenerate: namely because the holy Ghost who possesseth them, hath made them spirituall euen as the law is, whereas a carnall man can not agree with it. Romans 7:14 That are,] namely that are of the carnall traine, that is to say, unregenerate. Or that have no other being but their 〈…〉all corrupt being Doe minde,] the greeke word may be referred, to all the faculties and functions of the soule, as wel of the understanding as of the heart, and of the affections.

Romans 8:6

For to bee,] it appeares by the effect which all thoughts bring forth, and the motions of the one and the other, what the causes of them are, for seeing that from the unregenerate mens there proceeds nothing but death, without any helpe or direction to everlasting life, that is a signe there is nothing but sinne and corruption called flesh in the former verse. And conwise seeing that regenerate mens thoughts doe direct to life, it is a signe that there is the blossome of the spirit, who is the only author thereof, Peace,] namely all manner of blessing and happinesse, the first fruits whereof in this world consist in the sacred rest of conscience.

Romans 8:7

Because,] hee gives a reason why the flesh is the cause of death; namely because it fighteth against God, who is the onely author of life and is incapable not onely thorough weaknesse, but also thorough naturall repugnancie, to submit it selfe to his will.

Romans 8:9

Dwelling in you,] the presence of God and of his spirit, is where he operates, his dwelling where he operates continually and inseparably: or by a certaine appropriation of the organ, as the soule dwelleth in the body Of Christ,] namely that spirit which Christ as he is head, communicates to all his members.

Romans 8:10

Be in you,] by the presence, life, and power of his spirit The bodies,] it is true that you believers are as yet subiect to corporall death, by reason of the reliques of sinne that are in all regenerate men, and shall not bee quite brought to nought, but onely by death. But yet in the gift and presence of the sirit, you have a beginning of spirituall life, which consists in the coniunction with God, into which Christ hath reestablished you by his most perfect righteousnesse, and withall an assurance of everlasting life, and happy resurrection.

Romans 8:11

Of him,] namely of God. The meaning is, if you be partakers of Gods spirit, the fulnesse of which is in Christ, as this spirit produced in Christ, who is your head the effect of resurrection, by his omnipotent power, and his personall property to bee the neerest cause of life in all things, and in vertue of his holinesse, wherewith hee had replenished his humane nature, and so taken from it all proper cause of death, which is sinne. Psal. 16. 10. Acts 2:24. So hee shall likewise produce the same effect in you, by his power, and by the meanes of your sanctification which is the resurrection of the soule, which shall be followed by that of the body that hath participated of the same holinesse, hath borne the sacred signes, and produced the effects thereof in this life.

Romans 8:12

Debters,] that is to say, bound by the condition of our spirituall state, by contract of covenant, and by benefits received.

Romans 8:13

After the flesh,] following the motions of your owne naturall corruptions, See Galatians 6:8 Yee shall dye,] namely the everlasting death Through the spirit,] if you make use of the gifts of the holy Ghost and of his exercises, continually desire his assistance and co-operate with his motions and power, to mortifie the concupiscences, and sins which are practised by the body, nd doe yet reside in you during this corporall life. Now he seemes here to oppose that onely effectuall meanes of the spirit, to all humane meanes which are too weake, as lawes, reason, doctrines, disciplines, &c Ye shall live,] namely in heavenly glory and happinesse.

Romans 8:14

For as many] he gives a reason why the promise of life is made to regenerate mens namely because being made children of God by adoption sealed by the spirit of regeneration, thay are consequently heires.

Romans 8:15

For ye,] he proveth further that they are children, by the holy Ghost who is the seal of their adoption, & imprints the feeling thereof in them, and causeth them to feel the effects thereof and bear the fruits, and yeeld the duties thereof contrarie to his operation towards those consciences which are absolutly under the law, servisely tied to work to gain the wiges, being in continuall terror of the punishment, without comfort liberty, or confidence: In which manner the spirit of God in some sort had also used the beleevers in the legal discipline under the old testament vsing them as younger sons under tuition, with much subjection and feare, whereas now the spirit of grace, being fully powred out as upon eldest sonnes, filleth them with confidence and liberty towards God. Gal. 13 we cry,] with a holy boldnesse, wee sweetly and tenderly call upon our heavenly father crying out like little children. See upon Marke. 14. 36

Romans 8:16

The spirit,] as he sets us on to call upon God our father, so he likewise assureth us on his part and sealeth it in our hearts, that we are his children.

Romans 8:17

Then heirs, having right by this gift of adoption, to the everlasting goods of the heavenly father, in the communion of Christ, essential sonn of the father, and sole heire by nature. See Mat. 38. 12. Hebrews 1:2 if so be,] S. Paul purposing to go on to the effect of the holy ghost, namly to comfort beleevers in their afflictions doth first set down that they are by Gods appointment, a necessary condition to attain to glory to the imitation of Christ their head, with him,] as he hath suffered for his cause in the communion of his body in manner of an army that fighteth with its head See 2. Cor. 1. 5. 6. 7. Colossians 1:24.

Romans 8:18

For I,] we must supply This condition ought to be freely embraced by beleevers, for the good which is promised under that condition, is farre greater then the evil which they can feare therein.

Romans 8:19

For the,] he proves the height of this glory because it is the end of all things, which do aspire thereunto by a naturall instinct but especially beleevers, who have the chief part therein waiteth for,] lookes attentively for the time, when it shall cleerely appear, which are the true qualities, rights and priviledges of Gods children, in the perfect love of God in his likenesse, in the inheritance and possession of his blessednesse, and in the enjoying of his glory.

Romans 8:20

For the,] he gives a reason of the whole words ayming at this last mark, namely because it hath been by mans sin, put besides its first and naturall establishment into which as one should say it disires to be set again, made subject,] being drawen by man, to serv for an instrument to sinne, and to the vaine end of seeking its good an creatures forsaking the creator, and consequently being enfolded in Gods curse, in the continuall disorder, ruine, and destruction of many of its parts, and finally to the annyhilation of this faire outward fabrick of the world. Psalms 102:26 not willingly,] according to Gods first institution, who hath given all creatures certain naturall vses, to which they seeme voluntarly to incline, whereas seduction seemes to have some resemblance of violence of him] namely man who was the onely cause of this curse. Genesis 3:17 in hope,] grounded upon this, that it having suffered part of the curse for mans sin, when he shall be fully reestablished in grace and glorie all trackes of curse shall be also quite extinguished in the world as it is set downe, Isa. 51. 16. and 65. 17. and 64. 22.

Romans 8:21

Delivered,] it shall be no more subject to any alteration nor corruption as it is this present, nor should not serve for obiect or instrument of sin but shal according to its degree and nature participate of the glorious estate of Gods children freed from all evills and wants.

Romans 8:22

For we know,] that is to say though the world seem at this present to be in its highest splender and beauty yet it hath an evil which burthens it and sincks it, namely sin, of which burthren it would faine, be eased in a maner like a woman that is great with child which not withstanding will not be untill the last resurrection.

Romans 8:23

and not only,] that which the world doth by a secret inclination, without any feeling or discourse, we beleevers do it thorow knowledg and spirituall judgment fighing for grief under the burden of sin which we bear, & with a desire to be perfectly freed from it, the first fruits] namely that first degre of regeneration and gifts of the spirit which is conferred in this life, for a pledge of the perfection which shall be in the eternall life. 2. Cor. 1. 22. and 5. 5. Ephes. 1. 14 the adoption,] namely the full manifestation and effect hereof in the delivering of our bodyes from the power of death by the resurrection Psal. 49. 15.

Romans 8:24

For we,] it ought not to seeme strange that I say that we waite though wee be saved alreadie, for we are not so as yet but onely by right, and not perfectly in deed which is evident by the nature of the vertue of hope, chief amongst those which the sp〈…〉 creates in us, which would not take place, if the effect of our salvation were present. See 1. Cor. 13. 13.

Romans 8:25

But if wee,] the Italian, and if wee,] if that hope by which even at this time wee doe apprehe our happinesse which is not as yet revealed, be lively and well grounded it ought to produce in us an inuincible patience, for any length of time. suffering of troubles and oppositions, to receive the effect at the appointed time. See 1. Thess. 1. 3. Iam. 1. 4.

Romans 8:26

Likewise,] the same spirit which hath imprinted these perswasions and desiers in us, doth also worke another effect in us, namely to strengthen and beare us up in our weaknesses: and that by the meanes of holy prayers, by which wee obtaine from God, his grace, and strength and whatsoever else is necessarie for our salvation, 2 Cor. 12. 8. 9 maketh in 〈…〉ess on,] See Matthew 10:1-42. 0 which cannot be,]whose fervour, vehemency and efficacie proceeding from a super naturall motion of the spirit, cannot apprehended nor expressed Others without speaking, that is to say whose vertue doeth not consist in number, or 〈◊〉 i〈…〉 of words, as the hipocrites prayers. Matth. 6. 5. but in lively feelings and eaculations of the spirit. V. 27 and he,] namely God knoweth all these motions of the spirit wondrous well, and doth hear them and accept of them, according,] not onely in desiring just and holy things and according to his will. 1. Iohn. 5. 14 but also in the firmenesse of faith, and in the fervencie of zeale which he requires.

Romans 8:28

And we knew,] he falleth a speaking of afflitions againe, and sheweth that they are not contrary but rather helpfull and cooperant to everlasting sao everlasting salvation, by diverse holy and profitable properties, that all things,] namely all things that happen unto us in this life are directed by Gods providence to the eternall happinesse of his children and especially afflictions, of which he means to speak more expressely, to them,] his meaning is that God and man must concure in this man in overcomming all oppositions and difficulties for the love of God and God the first author of salvation by his eternall, election, accomplishing of it powerfully by the conduct of his providence, who are the called,] effectually to the participation of his grace in Christ, according to his most free and immutable election.

Romans 8:29

for whome,] he proves that the order and seqle of the salvation of Gods children, can no way 〈◊〉 broken by anie accident, namely because it it is all the worke of God who is almighty and invariable, foreknow,] that is to say chosen from everlasting, and as it were marked and accepted from amongst other men, so is the word of knowing taken. o 33. 12. 17. Psal. 1. 6. Ier. 1. 5. Matth. 7. 23. Rom. 11. 2. 1. cor. 13. 12. 2. tim. 2. 19. 1 Peter 1:2 predestinate,] that is to say appointed to be conformable, in life and telestiall glory, to his sonne their head, and that by the order and sequele of resembling him in many things in this world, but particularly in afflictions. 〈◊〉. 17 that he,] because he would have his own sonne have many adoptive brethren, whose head he should be as the first borne were in their families See Col. 1. 15. 18. Rom. 1. 5. 5. 3.

Romans 8:30

Them he also glorified,] that is to say he shall certainly and infallibly glorifie them the cause, ground and pledge whereof is Christs glorification which is already hapned, who is their hard. Ephes. 2. 6. Col. 3. 3. 4.

Romans 8:32

delivered him,] beeing his perfect dilection and coniunetion, he hath made him ours, exposing him to be subject to death, and to all our debts for our sakes.

Romans 8:34

That died,] for them, and in their name and stead whereby they are absolued, is risen again,] See upon Romans 4:25 maketh intercession, by continually representing himself, his righteousnes his mercy & love before the face of God to preserve us in his favour and difection and also by servently desiring our salvation & finaly himself presenting our prayers to God, antified and ade acceptable in him, and by him.

Romans 8:35

Who shall,] what grief or calamity, can make us doubt that Christ hath withdrawne his love from us; and make us cease from loving him.

Romans 8:36

as it is,] nothing can, nor ought to do it yea for love of him wee ought to suffer all manner of extremities, according to the faithfulls protestation in that Psalme.

Romans 8:37

Nay in all,] we ought in all these chances to persevere in Christs love, seeing Christ perseveres in his, giving us, by his power, compleate victorie in all our combates, conquerours,]now the victory consists not, in not suffering, nor fighting; but in overcoming, or in keeping that wherefore we fight, or in overthrowing our enemie, in such sort that he may not hinder our prossession and fruition. Now the subject of this warre is Gods grace and glorie, which cannot perish nor be taken away from the elect, that loved us,] namely hath loved us an continueth so loving unto the end. Iohn. 13. 1.

Romans 8:38

I am perswaded Saint Paul speaketh in the name of all beleevers, and by the common spirit of faith 2. Cor. 4. 13. and not by any speciall and personall revelation, neither death,]this enumeration serves but onely for an exaggeration as if he should say nothing shall separate us, let it be never o great and powerfull, no Angels,] namly evill ones. Vnlesse it be conditionally understood of goodnesse also namely if it were possible that they should undertake it as Gal. 18 Principalities,] these names are often attributed to Angels. either good or bad, by reason of the degrees and dignities amongst them, or of the glorious estate of the good ones in heaven, or by reason of their government over the empires of the world. Daniel 10:13. Others vnderstand this of the princes of the world.

Romans 8:39

Which is in,] whereof Christ is the foundation, and bond between God and men.