A commentarie vpon the most diuine Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes Containing for matter, the degeneration of our nature by Adams Fall; and the restauration thereof, by the grace of Christ. Together with the perfection of faith, and the imbecillity of workes, in the cause of iustification of elect sinners before God. For forme and maner of handling, it hath the coherence and method, the summe and scope, the interpretations & doctrines the reasons and vses, of most texts. All which, are set downe very familiarly and compendiously, in forme of a dialogue, betweene Tlmotheus [sic] and Silas, by Thomas Wilson, one of the six preachers in the cathedrall church of Canterbury.

DIAL. XXXI.

Verse 35, 36, 37. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakednesse, or perill, or sword, as it is written, For thy sake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as Sheepe for the slaughter: neuerthel esse in all these thinges wee are more then Conquerors, through him that loued vs.

Tim.

VVHat is the drift of this Text?

Silas.

To confirme and comfort faithfull hearts against a new and most daungerous assault made against their faith, by sundry greeuous crosses and ene∣mies, by which Satan endeauoureth to shake out of the minds of the godly, the perswasion os Gods loue toward them: men through weaknesse being apt to thinke, that they are not loued of God when they are sore and long afflicted; as if troubles and calamities were so many te∣stimonies of his anger and wrath, as Dauid complaines, Psal. 13, 1. And against this temptation they are heere strengthned.

Tim.

What be the parts of this Text?

Silas.

Two: First a question, verse 35, 36. Secondly, an answer, verse 37. The question containes two things: First, a rehearsal of the particular calamities which fight against the beleeuers, and seem to wrest out the sence of Gods loue from them, verse 35. Secondly, a confirmati∣on of the last calamity, to wit the sword, by testimonie of Scripture, verse 36. The answere containes a notable consolation from the contrary euent (to wit) the most wholesome yssue of calamities and crosses, wherein the beleeuers are not onely not ouercome, but do ouercom, yea do more then conquer. This euent is set forth by the cause, which is the vnchangeable loue and assistance of God through him that loued vs.

Tim.

What is meant heere by the loue of Christ?

Silas.

It is taken heere not actiuely, for that loue where∣with wee loue him (as if our constancie were called in question, as Augustine and Ambrose thinke) but passiue∣ly for that loue wherewith the faithfull are beloued of Christ, as if the sence of that could be shaken out of their hearts. That this is the meaning, may appear by the end of the 37. and 39. verses, which expound it of Gods loue to vs. Also it appeares by that which goes before our Text, for Paul had spoken of Christs loue to vs, witnes∣sed by his dying for vs, rising againe, sitting at the right hand of God, and making request for vs; all which pro∣ueth his great loue toward the elect.

Tim.

How may it bee further knowne, that the sence of Christs loue is heere to be vnderstood?

Silas.

By Pauls scope, which is to comfort beleeuers, who would haue no comfort of Christs loue except they felt it, as Rom. 5, 5. Againe, it is the sence and perswasi∣on of Christs loue, that Satan by crosses seekes to wrest from vs.

Tim.

What learne we from hence?

Silas.

A good Lesson, which is this: the godlie must make reckoning to haue the perswasion of Gods loue as∣saulted and sore shaken. The reason is, because it is a no∣table aduantage to Satan, and hurt to Gods children, to doubt of Gods loue to them. For then Satan may bring in impatiency, despaire, dulhesse in Gods seruice, diso∣bedience, loosenesse of manners, and all iniquity, which we are kept from by the sence of Gods loue, quickning our loue, and causing to hope in him wel & constantly.

Tim.

What is the vse of this point?

Sil.

It warneth the beleeuers to arme themselues a∣gainst this assault, labouring by all meanes to setle their hearts more and more in the assuraunce of Gods loue, holding fast that truth, that Gods loue is most constant, and nothing in the world can be of such force as to hin∣der it, much lesse to plucke it away, so as sin and security be taken heed of. This was Pauls perswasion for his part,

verse 28. and pray vnto God that yee also may bee thus perswaded, and striue mightily for it.

Tim.

Now shew vs particularly what things they bee which be contrary to our perswasion of Gods loue?

Sil.

They be either crosses and calamities whereof he rehearseth seauen; or enemies, whereof he mentioneth nine in number.

Tim.

Shew vs the meaning of these calamities in particular.

Sil.

First, by tribulation is meant euery thing which presseth or wringeth, to wit; any vexation. Secondly, by anguish, is meant streightnesse of place properly, but (by a Metaphor) preplexity of minde, when one knowes not what to doe; an example heereof, we haue in Ichosa∣phat, 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 20, 12. Thirdly, by persecution is meant some extreame violence offered by Tyrants and wicked men, to our goods, name, person, or life. Fourthly by famine, is meant hunger, through wante of victuals to sustaine our life. Fiftly, nakednesse signifies want of apparell and cloathing to couer and defend our bodyes from cold. Sixtly by perill is meant dangerous distres∣ses which put a man in perill and ieorpardy, such as Paul reckoneth, 2. Cor. 11, 25, 26. and Heb. 11, 36, 37. Lastly, by sword is meant slaughter, cruell tormenting, death, or punishment by barbarous sauage bloud-shed, as happened to Abell, the Prophets, and Christ, and holy Martyrs.

Tim.

What obserue you in this particular rehearsing of ca∣lamities?* 1.1

Silas.

First, what heauy and hard things the godly are subiect vnto for their profession sake, others haue felt these things, and we must prepare for them. Second∣ly, the Apostle by reckoning vp the most bitter things, would teach vs, that seeing these things cannot put out the sence of Gods loue, neither any else in the world can doe it. For what can goe beyonde these for smarte or shame?

Tim.

But how is it proued by the Apostle, that the faith∣full

are subiect vnto the sworde and bloudy slaughters, for the Gospels sake?

Silas.

By a text out of the psalme 44, verse, 22. For thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are counted as Sheepe for the slaughter. (All the day) may signifie all times of this life; or without intermission: or all the time of the world.

Tim.

What things doe yee note from this testimony of the Psalme?

Silas.

First, that Christians are subiect euen to death and slaughter, as well as other calamities. Secondly, that* 1.2 in this respect wee are like vnto Sheepe (not which are fedde for wooll or store) but such as are appointed for the kitching. Thirdly, they are put in mind to be meeke and patient in suffering of death, euen as sheepe are vn∣der the Butchers hand. Fourthly, that death doth con∣tinually hang ouer their heads, euen all day long, either for that they are ready euery day to dye if neede require, or because their continuall dangers are so many deaths as it were. Lastly, that the cause of the death of Gods Martyrs, is not any crime of their owne, but their sincere faith and profession of Christ, (for thy sake) as Math. 10. for my names sake, and Mat. 5.

Tim.

But what is the comfort of the faithfull against all these terrible things?

Silas.

Euen this, that in all these things they are more then Conquerors. The meaning heereof is, that true beleeuers in their miseries they doe not onely not fainte and are ouercome, but themselues get a glorious victory ouer their crosses and persecutions, both by their pati∣ent wearying and vanquishing the persecutors, & them∣selues brought to heauen.

Tim.

But how may this be, that the slaine and conquered should yet be Conquerers?

Silas.

Indeed this is a paradoxe, and strange to carnall reason, yet it is most true in this spiritual warfare, how∣soeuer it be otherwise in the bodily warrefare. For the

Saints when they suffer and are killed, they are not one∣ly patient, but reioyce and glory, which is the parte of victours, Rom. 5, 3. Secondly, because by their con∣stancy they doe euen daunt the minds of their persecu∣tors, who rather seeme to bee ouercome, then the Mar∣tyrs which suffer. Example heereof in the Pharisies, Acts, 4. and in Iulian the Apostata, whose cruelty was conquered by the patience of the Martyrs. Lastly, of some of the Romaine persecutors, in the ten first perse∣cutions, whose barbarous sauagenesse was euen tired with the stedfastnesse of the Saints in suffering. Third∣ly, the Diuels practise is by crosses to wrest from Gods children their confidence in Gods loue, which is rather increased by this meanes, Rom. 5, 5, 6.

Tim.

But whence haue they strength to be so stedfast to hold out and to conquer?

Silas.

Not from themselues who are farre vnequall for so great a battaile, but from the helpe and aide of God confirming and establishing them. The cause that moo∣ueth God to affoord this strength, is his great loue which he beares them in Christ, (Through him that hath loued vs.)

Tim.

What is our lesson from hence?

Silas.

That the victory which beleeuers doe get ouer all their troubles, depends not vpon their owne power or merites at all, but meerely, solely, and wholy in the loue that God beares them in Christ, see 1. Cor. 15. 57.

Ttm.

What vse of this?

Silas.

It warnes the Saints in their greatest patience & constancy to be humbled, seeing they haue nothing but what they receiue from Gods loue. Secondly, it must stirre them vp to great thankfulnesse to God, so graci∣ously and mightily confirming them. Thirdly, it admo∣nisheth weake Christians in the time of any calamity to flye to the throne of grace for succour, distrusting them∣selues as Iehosaphat did. Lastly, it teacheth that the faith∣full, can neuer fall from Gods loue. Of this before, 2.

Dialogue, on verse 2. Chap. 5.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Seeing Christ suffered for euill seruants, why should not we suffer for a good Lord? we had profit by his sufferings, he can haue no profit by our passions. Ambrose.
• * 1.2

  They are slaine with∣out any re∣sistance.