186 18. Nor would be build on another Man's Foundation. Sect. 33. rogate any Thing to myself, as my own Work, when fpeaking of the Converfions that have inRom. XV. deed been made. I humbly confefs, that it is Christ, who hath wrought whatever is done : Yet I boldly declare, that his Grace and Mercy hath, in this Refpect, diftinguished me both in Word and Deed, by the Manner in which he hath enabled me to fpeak, and the Things which 19 he has strengthened me to perform. He hath wrought, by the miraculous Energy of Signs and Wonders, accomplished in and by the amazing Power of the Spirit of GOD, which hath not only been plentifully imparted to me, but beftowed on others by the laying on of my Hands; fo that thus fupported, I have with the happieft Effect fully preached and explained the Gospel of Chrift, from Jerufalem, Antioch, and Arabia, in the Eaft, round about thro' all the leffer Afia, and Greece, even as far as the western Shores of Illyricum, which fo nearly borders on your own 20 celebrated Italy (a). For it has ftill been the Object of my Ambition, fo far as Providence would permit me to indulge it, to preach the Gofpel, not where Chrift was [already] named, left I Should feem defirous to build upon another Man's Foundation (b), and fo decline the Difficulties which 19 Through mighty Signs and Wonders, by the Power of the Spirit of GOD; fo that from Jerufalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Chrift. 20 Yea, so I have strived to preach the Gospel, not I where Chrift was named, left fhould build upon another Man's Foundation: (a) As far as the western Shores of Illyricum.] Tho' it is evident from hence, that St. Paul before the Date of this Epiftle, which was in the Year 58, had preached the Gofpel in thefe Regions, it is obfervable, that Luke takes no Notice of this in the Hiftory of the Acts: where he alfo omits to mention the Journey he took to Arabia, on his firft Converfion, and feveral other remarkable Facts, referred in the xith Chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, and elsewhere: And it is very poffible, that the Vifit to Crete, when Titus was left behind to ordain Elders, Tit. i. 5. might be of this Number. (b) Object of my Ambition, fo far as Providence would permit me to indulge it, to preach the Gospel, not where Chrift was already named, &c.] The Meaning to be fure cannot be, that Paul fcorned to come after any other Chriftian Minifter; which would have argued a Height of Temper very inconfiftent with the Humility of this bleffed Apoftle; and does not agree with what we read in the History of the Acts, of his going to preach the Gospel at Damafcus, Antioch, and Jerufalem; to which it seems probable, Troas, if not Corinth, or Ephefus, may be added. It may fignify that, far from declining Dangers and Oppofitions, which might, especially be expected in firft breaking up, as it were, the Fallow-ground of Heathen and Unevangelized Countries, he rather felt a fublime Ambition, as que fignifies, (See Elfner Vol. ii. pag. 54.) to make the first Proclamation of a Redeemer's Name, in Places, where it had before been quite unheard of. And probably, in mentioning this, he may glance upon thofe falfe Apostles, who crept into Churches which he had planted, and endeavoured to establish their own Reputation and Influence there, by alienating the Hearts of his 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not fpoken of, they fhall fee: And they that have not heard, fhall understand. 22 For which Caufe alfo I have been much hindered from coming to you. 66 66 187 Rom. XV. 22 21, Therefore he had been hindered from vifiting the Romans; which attend the Settlement of new Churches. Sect. 33. Others indeed have done this, and little elfe; but I have chosen a different Manner of acting; as it is written, in Words well applicable to the Series of my Labours, (Ifai. lii. 15.) "They to "whom nothing was declared concerning him, fball fee, and they who have not heard, shall understand." Thus have many received from my Mouth, the firft Notices they have ever had of true Religion, and of the Method of Salvation by the Redeemer. great The Confequence therefore was, that I have been long hindered from coming to you; which, out of my fingular Affection for you, I was very defirous of doing: Tho' it be fomething contrary to the Method of proceeding which I generally choose, as you have the Christian Religion already, by the Divine Grace, moft happily planted among you. But now having no longer Place, either at Corinth, or elsewhere in thefe Grecian Climates, no more Work of this Kind remaining to be done here, of which Providence feems to open any probable Profpect, and having alfo on various Accounts, a great Defire for many Years to come to you; I will attempt to put it into Execution. If I go into 24 Spain, I will endeavour, if poffible, to come to you (c); for I hope quickly to have an Opportunity of going thither, and as I pass by, will contrive, if I can, to fee you, and fhall expect to be brought forward by you in my Way thither, by the kind Attendance of fome of my Friends at Rome, and the Refreshment which my Spirit may receive from others; if I may first, not only have a fhort Interview in paffing, but make fuch an Abode with you as to be in fome Degree fatisfied 23 But now having no more Place in these Parts, and having a great Defire these many Years to come unto you; 24 Whenfoever I take my Journey into Spain, will come to you: For I trust to see you in my Journey, and to be brought on my Way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your Company. with his own Converts from him, their fpiritual Father, while, like fome in our own Days, who have trod most exactly in their Footsteps, they built on his grand and noble Foundations, an Edifice of Wood, and Hay, and Stubble, 1 Cor. iii. 12. (c) If I go to Spain, &c.] It appears probable from hence, confidering the Principle which St. Paul chofe to govern himfelf by, of not building on another Man's Foundation, that no Apoftle had yet planted any Church in Spain: Which, as Dr. Geddes juftly obferves, very agrees with the Legend of St. James; for, according to that, he had now been 15 Years in Spain, and had erected feveral Bishopricks there. Gedd. Mifc. Vol. ii. pag. 221. 23 188 Sect. To whom, after going to Jerufalem, he defigned to come. 33. your [Company] I fay in fome Degree, for with I know that if I were to indulge my own Af Rom. XV. fection to you, my Vifit would be much longer, than the Views of Duty elsewhere will permit. 25. 26 ་ the Saints. 26 For it hath pleafed them of Macedonia and Achaia, to make a certain Saints which are at Jerufa Contribution for the poor lem. 27 It hath pleased them verily, and their Debtors they are. For if the Gen tiles have been made ParThings, their Duty is alfo takers of their spiritual to minifter unto them in carnal Things. This I fpeak with Relation to my future De- 25 But now I go unto figns: But I am now going to Jerufalem, minif- Jerufalem, to minister unto tering to the Neceffities of the Saints there, by fuch Contributions, as I have raised for their Subfiftence, or may farther collect, as I profecute my Journey. For it hath pleafed [the Churches of] Macedonia and Achaia (d), to make a certain Collection for the poor Saints, their believing Brethren, that are in Jerufalem, who are expofed to 27 fuch peculiar Perfecution and Affliction. I fay, it bath pleafed them to do this; and, tho' I acknowledge their free Love and Generofity in it, yet I may fay, that in a Senfe, they are their Debtors: For if the Gentiles have been brought into fo happy an Union with GOD's once peculiar People, and are made Partakers of their spiritual Things, the invaluable Bleffings of the Gospel, first brought to them from Jerufalem, and by Perfons of the Jewish Nation too; they ought certainly to be ready, with all religious Gratitude and Respect, to minifter to them in their carnal Things, and impart the inferior Bleffings of Providence, in which they fo much more abound. 28 Having therefore difpatched this Affair, and fealed to them, that is, fafely delivered as under Seal, this Prefent, which is the Fruit of that Love and Care which their Gentile Brethren fo juftly exprefs towards them, I will, if it pleafe GOD to give me a favourable Opportunity, come by you into Spain. 29 And as I doubt not, but pray for me, that my Coming may be comfortable, and ufe- when I come unto you, ful for your Confirmation in Religion; fo I have a chearful Confidence, that GOD will hear your Prayers, and may fay, that I know that when I you will come 28 When therefore I have performed this, and Fruit, I will come by you into Spain. have fealed to them this 29 And I am sure that I (d) Churches of Macedonia, &c.] As we read of no more than one Collection of the Ma cedonian Churches, which was that directed by Paul, when he went from Ephefus to Macedonia, (Acts xx. i.) in the Year of Chrift 57; this Circumftance feems to fix the Date of this Epiftle pretty early in 58; as was obferved in the Introduction, and the former Note there referred to. (e) By He defires their Ifball come in the Fulnefs of the Bleffing of the Gofpel of Christ. 30 Now I beseech you, Brethren, for the Lord Jefus Chrift's Sake, and for the Love of the Spirit, that ye ftrive together with me in your Prayers to GOD for me; Prayers, and gives them his Benediction. 189 30. come among you, I fhall come in the Fulness of the Sect. 33. Bleffing of the Gospel of Christ, that is, with a full and abundant Bleffing, attending my minif- Rom. XV. terial and evangelical Labours. Yet when I write thus, it is not from any particular Revelation, to affure me, that I should be enabled to fulfil this Purpose. I know, that in this Journey to Jerufalem I have, humanly speaking, a very dangerous Scene before me, having fome of my moft mortal and implacable Enemies to contend with. And therefore, as I cannot but apprehend the Interest of the Gospel to be concerned in my Life and Liberty; I befeech you Brethren, by our Lord Jefus Chrift, and by the Love which is the genuine Fruit of the Spirit (e), that you join your utmoft Strength and Fervency with mine (f), in [your] daily Prayers to GOD for me, That I may be refcued from the Unbelievers in Ju- 31 dea (g): who are fo full of Rancor against me, as a Deferter from their Caufe; and will, I am fure, spare no Force or Fraud to deftroy me: And alfo that my Miniftration at Jerufalem, in the charitable Affair which I mentioned above, may be acceptable to the Saints, for whose Use it is intended; fo that no Prejudices in our Christian Brethren there, againft the believing Gentiles, may prevail fo far as to prevent their receiving it with a becoming Candor and Gratitude: That fo, 32 in Confequence of all, I may come to you with Joy, by the Will of GOD, and that I may be refreshed [together] with you, in our intended Interview. 33 Now the God of And in the mean Time, may the GOD of Peace, 33 Peace who has graciously given us that Peace with himself, which we efteem the first, and greatest 31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my Service which I have for Jerufalem, may be accepted of the Saints: 32 That I may come unto you with Joy by the Will of GoD, and may with you. be refreshed. of (e) By the Love of the Spirit.] Some would explain this of the Love, which the Spirit of GOD bears to us, or the Affection, which we owe to that gracious Agent; and were we certain, that either of these were the genuine Senfe, important Confequences would follow. (f) Join your utmost Strength with mine.] Elfner (Obferv. Vol. ii. pag. 65.) has a beautiful on this Word avvaywnoaodai, to fhew how exactly this is the Import of it. Note (8) That I may be refcued from the Unbelievers in Judea.] How extreme their Bigotry and Rage was, appears from their Behaviour to him at the very Time here referred to, Acts -xxiv. It was from a Senfe of the great Importance of his Life to the Cause of Christianity, that he is thus urgent; elfe we may be affured he would gladly have given it up. xxi, Phil. i. 21, &c. 6 Reflections on the Apoftle's Humility and Zeal men. of Bleffings, and hath cemented our Hearts in Peace be with you all. A- absent. Amen! Ver. 18, 19. IMPROVEMENT. ET us behold with Pleafure the Modefty and Humility, which is Ljoined with all the Zeal of this holy Apostle, while he thus ob liquely owns, in a Manner, which fhews how familiar the Thought was to his Mind, that all he had done, in the Chriftian Ministry, and for the Propagation and Advancement of the Gospel, was only what Chrift had done by him, to procure fuch Obedience of the Gentiles, both in Word, and in Deed. Adored be the Grace that made his Labours fo fuccefsful, and fowed the bleffed Seed fo wide by his diligent Hand, from Jerufalem unto Illyricum. Most Divine Instructions did he give them in Matters of Faith, and he taught them to exprefs that Faith by their Works. While he was dead to all Thoughts of inriching himself, and in fome Inftances, chofe rather to maintain himself by his own Labours, than to fubfift on the Ver.25,&c. Bounty of others, his liberal Soul devifed liberal Things for his neceffitous Brethren. He raised a noble Collection, and was much concerned, not only that it might be fafely, but acceptably, delivered. Ver. 31. Ver. 29. Ver. 33. Well may our Souls be edified, by obferving the Things which lay nearest the Heart of this generous Apofle, that coming to his Chriftian Friends at Rome, he might come in the Fulness of the Bleffing of the Gafpel of Chrift, and that if he was fpared thro' their Prayers, it might be for publick Ufefulness. St. Paul, dead as he was to human Applaufe, was, from much nobler Motives, folicitous about his Acceptance; and he fhews, by his Manner of speaking, what a Sense he had of the Degree, in which it depended upon the Turn and Difpofition which GOD fhould be pleased to give to the Spirits of Men: May this juft and pious Thought frequently dwell upon the Hearts of the Minifters of Chrift! Some of the Prayers, which the Apostle fo affectionately bespeaks, were answered; and fome feemed to be forgotten: Yet did GoD make, what seemed the Rejection of fome, the Means of answering the Rest. He was for a while delivered into the Hands of thofe in Judea, who believed not; and this Providence, which might have feemed an invincible Obstacle to his Defign, proved the Occafion of bringing him to Rome, and promoted the Succefs of his Miniftry there. Let us adore the GOD of Grace and Peace, who works the most important Ends, by Methods to us unthought of; and let us be greatly cautious, that |
