We fhould receive one another, as he hath received us;

5 Now the GOD of Pa

tience and Confolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Jefus Chrift.

6 That ye may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God, even the Father

of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

181

the Scriptures, that is, by the ftrenuous Exercife Sect. 32.
of that Patience, which the Confolations admi-
nistered in Scripture, fo powerfully fupport, might Rom. XV.4.
have an affured and joyful Hope in the midst of
of all our Tribulation.

5

Now may the GOD of Patience and Confolation,
from whom all this gracious and feasonable Pro.
vifions proceed,
vifions proceed, give you more of this bleffed
Temper; that ye may have the fame mutual Af-
fection, according to the Example of Jefus
Chrift (b); That with one Mind [and one Month, 6
with united Hearts and Voices, ye may glorify the
GOD and Father of our Lord fefus Chrift, who
hath fent his beloved Son into the World, to unite
our Hearts in Love to each other, and to tune
them to thofe devout Praifes which we addrefs

7 Wherefore receive ye to his bleffed Self thro' him. Therefore, whe- 7
one another, as Chrift alfo
ther
received us, to the Glory of
ye were before your Converfion to Chrifti-
God,
anity Jews or Gentiles, confidering it now as an
endearing Bond, which caufes every Difference
to be forgot, receive ye one another, and embrace
one another, with mutual Love; as Chrift bath.
without any Diftinction received us all, to the
Glory of GOD. And greatly will that fublime
End, at which he aimed in all, even the Glory
of his Heavenly Father, be promoted, by fuch
endeared Affection in his People towards each
other.

8 Now I fay, that Jefus Chrift was a Minifter of the

Circumcifion,

Now I fay this, with peculiar Regard to thofe 8
Differences in Jndgment, which, I know, are fo
ready to prevail among Chriftians of different
Educations, as to the Obligations of the Mofaick
Law. And I would remind you Gentiles, that
you ought not to fuffer your Hearts to be alienat-
ed from your Jewish Brethren, for their Attach-
ment to it; because Jefus Chrift was [made]
Minifter of the Circumcifion; as he was a Jew by
Birth, he received Circumcifion himfelf, in Tok-
en of his Obligation to obferve the Law; and
confined

(b) The fame mutual Affection, according to the Example of Jefus Chrift.] Raphelius has evidently fhewn, that aulo pove, fignifies to agree in an harmonious and affectionate Manner, and that the Prepofition xala, may be rendered according to the Example of. Compare Gal iv. 28. 1 Pet. 1. 15. Eph. iv. 24. See Raphel. Annot. ex Herod. in Loc.

(c) I will

182

Promises made unto the Fa

thers:

9 And that the Gentiles might glorify GOD for his For this Caufe I will confefs Mercy; as it is written, to thee among the Gentiles, and fing unto thy Name.

And Jews and Gentiles should glorify GOD together. Sect. 32. confined his perfonal Ministry, according to what Circumcifion, for the Truth he himself declared concerning the Limitation of of GOD, to confirm the Rom.XV.8. his Embaffy (Mat. xv. 24.) to the loft Sheep of the Houfe of Ifrael. And this was for the Illuftration of the Truth and Fidelity of GOD, to confirm and verify the Promifes fo long fince [made] to Abraham, and the other Fathers of that Na9 tion. And I would remind Jewish Believers, that he also came that he might gather together all the Children of GOD scattered abroad among the Gentiles, that they might glorify GOD for [his] Mercy, in granting them a Participation of the fame Priviledges; and gave it in Charge to his Apoftles, that they fhould raise Disciples to him among all Nations, (Mat. xxviii. 19.) So that it is a Failure of Love and Duty to Chrift, not to receive them. And accordingly the Gentiles are often spoken of in the Old Testament, as called to join with the Jews, in worshipping the GOD of Ifrael: As it is written, (Pfal. xviii. 49.) "For this Caufe will I confess to thee among the "Gentiles, and fing Praifes unto thy Name (c)." 10 And again be, that is, Mofes faith, (Deut. xxxii. 43.) Rejoice ye Gentiles with his People;" Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with which may intimrte their being called to particiII pate the Bleffings once peculiar to Ifrael. again, David faith, (Pfal. cxvii. 1.)

And

Praise the Lord, all ye diftant Nations, and repeat his Praife, "all ye People." Now furely this glorious Priviledge of an Admiffion into the Church, may justly engage the Gentile Nations to praife GOD, in fublimer Strains, than any other Occafion, to which we can fuppofe either Mofes or David to

refer.

IO And again he faith,

his People.

II And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, all ye People.

(c) I will confefs to thee, &c.] Diodati, and many others, fuppofe this to be only an Allufion to the Words of David in the Place referred to. Mr. Pierce has taken great Pains to prove, that the whole xviiith Pfalm is a direct Prophecy of Chrift, who is, according to his Interpretation, to be confidered as fpeaking throughout the whole of it. In which View he would render the Title, "The Song which David fang when GOD delivered him "from the Hand of Sheol, (inftead of Saul,) that is, the Grave." But I cannot think his Reasoning conclufive, and the 23d Verfe of that Pfalm feems an invincible Objection against this Solution. I have taken a middle Way, which I hope the attentive Reader will fee Reafon to approve. Compare Chap. ii. 24. where the fame Method of quoting feems evidently to be taken.

(d) San&tified

The Apoftle prays, that the Romans might abound in Hope.

12 And again Efaias refer. faith, There fhall be a

Root of fee, and he that fhall rife to reign over the Gentiles; in him fhall the

Gentiles truft.

13 Now theGoD of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that ye may abound in Hope thro' the Power of the Holy

Ghoft.

12.

183

And again Ifaiah Jays, exprefsly in Sect. 23. this View, (Ifai. xi. 10.) " There fhall be a Rot "from the Stock of felle, and one arifing to rule Rom. XV. over the Gentiles, [and] in bim fhall the Gentiles hope and truft; not dreading Deftruction, but chearfully expecting Protection and Salvation. "from thence." It is evident therefore, how unreasonable it would be to defpife them, and how fit it is affectionately to receive, esteem, and embrace them.

I am willing therefore, to perfuade myself, 13 that this mutually candid Temper will prevail among you, and in the Confidence of it, I commend you all, without any Diftinction, to the Divine Grace and Bleffing. And accordingly, may the GOD of Hope, from whofe Mercy all the Hopes both of Jews and Gentiles are derived, fill you with all facred Joy and Peace in Believing. May he give you a well-grounded Complacency and Comfort, in Confequence of the growing Strength of your Faith, that you may abound in a more chearful and lively Hope of eternal Glory, thro' the Power of the Holy Spirit, confirming all thofe Habits of Grace which you experience, as planted and rooted in your Souls by his Agency. And chearfully do I expect this, when I reflect on 14: what he has already done; for I am indeed my felf perfuaded concerning you, my Brethren, that ye are already full of Goodness, and of unfeigned Benevolence to each other, being filled, through these illuminating Influences which you have received with all fpiritual Knowledge, and to well acquainted with the whole Nature and Genius of the Chriftian Religion, as to be both able and inclined to admonish and encourage one another, as to this meek and peaceful Difpofition, which I have been recommending, and every other Part of an amiable and valuable Character. Nevertheless, Brethren, I have written the more 15% boldly to you, and enlarged with the greater Freedom, in this Part of my Epiftle, on the Priviin ledge to which God hath called Gentile. Believers, in fome Meafure as ftirring up your grate

14 And I myself alfo am perfuaded of you, my Brethren, that ye alfo are full of Goodness, filled with all Knowledge, able alfo to

admonish one another.

15 Nevertheless, Brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you, in fome Sort, as putting you

ful

1

184

16.

Reflections on Chriftian Forbearance, and Self-denial.

Sect. ful and pious Remembrance of them, because of
32.
that great Grace and Favour which is given to
Rom. XV. me of GOD; Even that I fhould be the mi-
niftring Servant of Jefus Chrift unto the Gentiles,
adminiftring to them in his Name, and by his
Authority, the infinitely valuable Gospel of GOD:
That the Offering the Gentiles to him, as a holy
Sacrifice, by my Hands, may be acceptable to
GOD, being fanctified and fet apart by the Holy
Spirit, fo plentifully communicated to them in a
I have
17 rich Variety of Gifts and of Graces (d).
therefore, in this Refpect, confiderable Matter of
boafting in Chrift Jefus, with Refpect to the Things
of GOD (e), and the Office which I bear in his
Church; which I efteem far more honourable
than any Services of the Jewish State or Prieft-
hood.

Ver. 1.

Ver. 2.

Ver. 3.

Ver.4.

M

in Mind, becaufe of the Grace that is given to me of God,

16 That I fhould be the

Minifter of Jefus Chrift to the Gentiles, miniftring the Gofpel of GOD, that the Offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being fanctified by the Holy Ghoff.

17 I

have

therefore

whereof I may glory thro' Jefus Chrift, in thofe Things

which pertain to GOD.

IMPROVEMENT.

AY the abundant Communication of the Spirit, that is in Jefus Chrift, form us more to the amiable Temper here recommended! That we may prove the diftinguished Strength of our Minds, by the fuperior Fortitude with which we bear the Infirmities of our weaker Brethren, and may feek the noble Pleasure of pleafing our Neighbours for their Good, and to their Edification. Let the generous Self-denial of our great Lord be in this View ever before our Eyes; and let us endeavour to feel the Reproaches which are caft upon GOD, much more fenfibly, than those which immediately fall upon our felves.

Happy are we in the Scriptures, which thro' Divine Providence and Grace have been written for our Inftruction. May they inspire us with Patience and Confolation, and establish our Souls in humble Hope! May

our

(d) Sanctified by the Holy Spirit, &c.] To explain this of the miraculous Defcent of the Holy Spirit, fuppofed to have happened at Antioch in Pifidia, on Converts, who might be called the Firf-fruits of the idolatrous Gentiles, Acts xiii. 52. which is the Interpretation advanced by the Author of Mifcell. Sacra (Vol. i. pag. 112.) and his Followers, is not only a needlefs Limitation of the more noble and natural Senfe here given, but in my Judgment, for Reasons in Part given in my Notes on the Acts, an Explication which goes upon various Principles, precarious, or rather utterly incredible.

(e) With Refpect to the Things of GOD, &c. la poslov v.] Raphelius very juftly obferves, that this Phrafe has a peculiar Propriety, when applied to facerdotal Affairs, and efpecially Victims prefented to GOD; of which the Apofle is here fpeaking. Other Texts are illuftrated by this Remark, and particularly, Heb. ii. 17. See Raphel. Not. ex Xen.

in Loca.

3

The Apoftle would not boast of what Chrift had not wrought by him;

185

our Hearts be cemented in the Bond of mutual Love, that with one Mind Sect. 32.
and one Mouth we may glorify GOD, and receive each other, with an En-
dearment like that, with which, if we are true Believers, notwithstand- Ver. 5,6,7.
ing our smaller Differences, we are received by him.

Mercy is communicated by Chrift to Jews and Gentiles, who there- Ver. 8,-12.
fore are justly required to unite their Praises to the Root of Jeffe. Let us
all truft under the Shadow of this pleasant Plant, and may we be filled
with all Joy and Peace in believing. What can furnish out fo calm a Peace, Ver. 13.
fo fublime a Joy, as the Chriftian Hope? May we all abound in it by the
Power of the Holy Ghoft. And furely, if we are filled with fuch Joy
and Hope, we must be filled with all Goodness too, with a truly benevo- Ver. 14.
lent Temper towards others, which a Senfe of our own Happiness tends
most powerfully to promote. We Gentiles have been prefented to GOD Ver. 16.
as a holy Offering: May we be fanctified more and more by his Spirit ;
and established in a firm Confidence in Chrift, that he will tranfact all
our Concerns with GoD, under the Character of the great Mediator :
Esteeming that the most happy and glorious Circumstance in the Station, Ver. 17.
which Providence may have affigned to us, which gives us the greatest
Opportunity of spreading the Honour of fo dear a Name, and of pre-
fenting Praises and Services to GOD through him.

The Apostle takes Occafion from what he had been faying, to mention the Extent of his own Labours, and his Purposes of further Fournies, in which he hoped to vifit the Romans; in the mean Time, earnestly recommending himself to their Prayers. Rom. XV. 18, to the End.

HAVE

ROMANS XV. 18.

at to

Rom. XV.

18.

HAVE hinted above at the Caufe I have to Sect. 33.
rejoice and boast in Christ, as to what relates
to GOD, and the Office of my Christian Ministry.
For I will not dare to boaft falfely, nor even speak
any Thing, of what Chrift hath not indeed wrought
by me, to bring the Gentiles into Obedience. No ;
GOD forbid! that I fhould either exceed the
Bounds of Truth, in making the Report, or ar-