Yet ran into the most ftupid Idolatry: 24 Wherefore GOD alfo gave them up to Uncleannefs, through the Lufts of their own Hearts, to disho nour 23 21 more involved in Darkness, and rendered impene- Sect. 3. This was such scandalous and pernicious Su- Thus he (1) Profefing themfelves.] Φασκολες ειναι σοφοι feems juft equivalent to Xenophon's φασκολας Poop; which fo evidently refers to the Pride they took in the Title of Lovers of Wifdom. See Raphel. in Loc. (m) Beetles and Serpents.] Of this amazingly ftupid, yet prevalent Idolatry, the WorShip of Serpents, fee Fenk. Reaf. of Christianity, Vol. ii. pag. 246,---248. Tennison of Idol. chap. xiv. pag. 352,---354. Owen on Serp. chap. iv. and v. Stillingf. Orig. Sac. pag. 516, &c. (n) Changed 24 22 25 The Gentiles abandoned to the most infamous Paffions, 25 Who changed the Truth of GOD into a Lye, and worshipped and ferved Creator, who is blefied forever. Amen. the Creature more than the Sect. 3. he left them to dishonour their Bodies among them- nour their own Bodies befelves, as much as they had before difhonoured tween themselves: Rom. I. 24. their rational Faculties by fuch fenfeless Idolatries. This was fo prevalent an Evil, that even many of them who knew much better, and had in their own Minds founder Apprehenfions of Things, yet from mere fecular Motives, fuppreffed that better Knowledge, and conformed to popular Superstitions and Follies, and thereby changed the Truth of GOD, the true Doctrines of his Nature, and genuine Institutions of his Worhip, into a Lie (n), into abominable Idolatries, founded on the falfeft Representations of GOD, and often fupported by a Train of artful Forgeries; and, upon the Whole, they worshipped and ferved, with religious Homage and folemn Devotion, the Creature, to the Neglect of the great Creator; who, however bafely and ungratefully overlooked by Men, is furrounded with the perpetual Homage of the Heavenly World, and bleffed for ever. Amen. May he ever be held in the highest Veneration, by all his Creatures, in Heaven and Earth, throughout all fucceeding Ages. 26 27 Therefore, I fay, because of this inexcufable Neglect of the ever-bleffed GOD, he abandoned them to the most infamous Paffions; for even their Women, from whom the ftricteft Modefty might reasonably have been expected, changed the natural Ufe of the other Sex, to that which is against Nature (o). And likewife their Males, leaving the natural Ufe of the Female, have been inflamed with the moft fcandalous and abominable Defires towards each other, Males with Males, perpetrating that which is moft fhameful to mention, and deteftable to think of; and receiving in themselves the juft Recompence of their Error, in that Stupidity and Degeneracy of Mind, to which they were evidently 26 For this Caufe GoD gave them up unto vile AfWomen did change the natural Ufe into that which is against Nature : fections For even their 27 And likewise also the Men, leaving the natural Ufe of the Woman, burned in their Luft one toward another, Men with Men working that which is unfeemly, and receiving in themselves that Recompence of their Error which was meet. (n) Changed the Truth of GOD into a Lye.] Elfner takes great Pains to fhew, that the Truth of GOD here fignifies what he really was, and a Lye, a falfe Representation. See Elfner's Obferv. Vol. II. pag. 11. It is well known that Idols are often called Lyes. Ifai. xliv. 20. ferem. iii. 23. xiii. 25. xvi. 19. (0) To that which is against Nature.] Many horrible Illuftrations of this may be seen in Bos, Exercit. in Loc. 4 (P) Were 28 And even as they did not like to retain GOD in their Knowledge, GOD gave them over to a reprobate Mind, to do those Things which are not convenient: 29 Being filled with all Unrighteousness, Fornicatousness, Maliciousnefs; full of Envy, Murder, Debate, Deceit, Malignity; Whif tion, Wickedness, Cove perers, 23 Rom. I. 28.. To an undiscerning Mind, and the most destructive Vices. evidently left. And thus, upon the Whole, as Sect. 3. they were not folicitous (p) to retain GOD in their Knowledge, nor to propagate fuitable Conceptions of him, or addrefs him by proper Acts of rational and pure Devotion, GOD delivered them over to an undifcerning Mind, to do Things moft inexpedient (q) and enormous; as he cannot more dreadfully punish one Sin, than by giving up the Offender to more. And accordingly, univerfal Depra- 29 vation and Corruption feiz'd and poffefs'd them; and the whole Series of their Discourses and Actions, fhew'd that they were full of all Manner of Injustice, Lewdness, Mifchief, Coveteousness, and Malignity; perpetually injuring each other, and drawing Damage and Mifery on themselves; while they were filled and intoxicated with every imaginable Vice, Envy, Murther, Contention, Fraud, the Inveteracy of all Evil and pernicious. Habits (r), which no Senfe of Decency, or Regard to Reputation or Intereft could reform. Inftead of entertaining those friendly Regards to each other, which common Humanity might have taught them, they were whispering something against those that were prefent, as well as Backbiting fuch as were abfent; and being Haters of GOD, difcontented with his Government, and difaffected to his Rule as a righteous and holy Being, who could not but be highly displeased with their Abominations, they were violent and overbearing (s) in their Behaviour to each other, proud of what they had, and arrogant Boafters of what they had not; ingenious Inventers of evil and vi 30 Backbiters, Haters of GOD, Defpiteful, Proud, Boafters, Inventers of evil Things, cious (P) Were not follicitous.] Edexsuarav imports a Concern to bring Things to a Trial or Touchone, which this Tranflation expreffes much better than ours, which coldly renders it, they liked not. (4) Things moft expedient.] The original Expreffion is a Meiofis, to exprefs Things moft deteftable; as axsa pya fignifies all the Inhumanities which Achilles moft ungeneroufly practifed on the Corpfe of Hector. Compare. Wisd. xiv. 22,---27. See Bos in Loc. (r) Mifchief, Malignity, Inveteracy.] According to fome acute Commentators, fignifies doing Mischief, xaxa a malicious Temper, and xaxonda a Cuftom of repeating it frequently. (s) Violent and Overbearing.] pins is properly opposed to owppwv, and expreffes, the Character of a Man who is refolved to gratify his own Appetites and Paffions, and to purfue what he apprehends his own Intereft, right or wrong; without at all regarding thofe Inconveniencies or Sufferings which he may thereby bring upon others. (t) Without 30 24 Rom. I. 30 31 Yet the Gentiles knew the righteous Judgment of GOD. 31 Without Understanding, Covenant - breakers, without natural Affection, implacable, unmerciful : Sect. 3. cious Things, who piqued themselves on making Things, Difobedient to Pafome new Discoveries in the Arts of Senfuality, rents, or Mischief. And it is no wonder that when there was fuch an impious Difpofition to rebel against GoD, they should also be difobedient to earthly Parents : And that they should act in fo wild and unaccountable a Manner, as to seem to be without the natural Understanding of Men; implacable in their Refentments, without natural Affection (t), even to their own Children, in fome Inftances, and to their Parents in others. And when a Reconciliation was attempted, and mutual Engagements entered into with the highest Solemnity, they were on any present Appearance of Advantage, prefently for breaking thofe pacified Treaties, and unmerciful in pursuing their Schemes of Cruelty and Revenge, whenever they got any new Opportunity of doing it. This was the Character which generally prevailed in the Heathen World, who, though they knew the righteous Judgment of GOD (u), and though their Confciences, as well as the Leffons of their wifeft Teachers, told them, that they who do fuch Things as thefe, are worthy of Death; yet not only do thefe Things themselves, but also look with Complacency 32 32 Who knowing the Judgment of GOD (that they which commit fuch Things are worthy of Death) not only do the fame, but have Pleasure in them that do them. (t) Without natural Affection.] Aropyn may include the Abfence of both parental and filial Affection. The Custom of expofing new-born Infants, which prevailed fo generally in the Heathen World, and that among polite Nations and Perfons, in other Refpects not deftitute of Humanity, is a moft ftriking Inftance of the Truth of this Affertion; as that of killing their aged Parents alfo was of the Counterpart. (u) Who, tho' they knew the righteons Judgment of GOD, &c.] The Clermont Copy inferts the Words oux Evoncav after yes; agreeable to which reading, Mr. Locke renders it, who though they acknowledge the Rule of Right [dinaa] prescribed them by GOD, and discovered by the Light of Nature, yet did not understand that they who do thefe Things are worthy of Death and therefore ourEudoxeo live well with those who do them, "that is, converfe with them, "without any Marks of Difefteem and Cenfure; whereas the Jew, who condemns the "Evils which he practifes, is much more inexcufable:" So connecting this Verse with the 2d Chapter. But I neither think the Authority of the Clermont Copy, by any Means fufficient to juftify our admitting this Reading, nor can imagine it would make a good Sense: For furely if they knew a Rule of Right prefcribed by GOD, they could not be ignorant that the Violation of it would expose them to Punishment: And it is evident, in Fact, from numberless Paffages in Heathen Moralifts, that they were not ignorant of it. The Vulgar Latin does indeed partly follow this peculiar Reading; but they add, non folum qui faciunt, fed qui confentiunt facientibus, not only they who commit these Crimes, but they who agree "with others that commit them:" which I think makes a Senfe much preferable to Mr. Locke's, tho' by no Means agreeable to the Original.-It seems here to be implied, that to look with Complacency on the Vices of others, is one of the last Degrees of Degeneracy. them. Reflections on the fad State of the Gentile World. 25 Pleasure in them that do Complacency upon, and agree together with, thofe Sect. 3. that do them; forming Confederacies to counte Rom. I. 32. nance and fupport each other, and impudently ni spiest ad cutbraving thofe, who should prefume to bear Teftimony against them. IMPROVEMENT. HEN we dwell on the Representation of that Character, which WH this humane and candid Apoftle gives us of the Heathen World, Ver. 21, &c. with Regard to their Idolatries, Impieties, and other Immoralities, what Reason have we to blefs GOD for the Difpenfation of the Gospel; which hath wrought fo effectually for the Reformation of Thoufands, who might otherwife have been as deeply drenched in all these Enormities, as the vileft of them! For we know, that it was not the barbarous Nations alone, but fome of the politest, who in Neglect of all the Opportunities they had of knowing better, and in Oppofition to that better Knowledge which some of them actually obtained, were often diftinguished for the Superftition of their Worship, and the Scandal of their Lives; fo that the chief Illuftrations of this fad Subject, are to be borrowed from Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Let us learn, not only to guard against the Vices for which the Heathens are here branded, (knowing that the Practice in us will be yet more criminal,) but let us cultivate the oppofite Virtues of Justice and Temperance, Benevolence and Contentment, Peace and Charity, Sincerity Ver. 29, 31. and Humility: And let us cherish the natural tender Affections. If Offences arise, let us always be ready to hearken to Terms of Reconciliation, and faithfully observe our Engagements; taking the greatest Heed, that knowing fo clearly as we do the Judgments of GOD, we do not, by any Ver. 32. Means, give Countenance to, and feem to join in a Confederacy with, Sinners. Let us blefs GOD for all the Capacities and Opportunities he hath given to the Heathen Nations, of coming to the Knowledge of himself by the Things that are made, which declare his eternal Power and Godhead, Ver. 19, 20. and render inexcufeable both Atheists and Idolaters among them. But when we recollect how many either intirely loft the Truth, or imprisoned it in Unrighteousness, let us be most affectionately thankful for so superior a Light; for that Gospel, which is to every Believer, without Exception, the Power of GOD for Salvation, and which declareth the Righteousness of Ver. 16. GOD, as the Object of our Faith. May we properly receive it, and fo efcape the Terrors of that Divine Wrath, which is revealed from Heaven Ver. 18. against all Impiety and Unrighteousness of Men. VOL. IV. D To |