A plaine exposition vpon the whole thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth chapters of the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romanes Wherein the text is diligently and methodically resolued, the sense giuen, and many doctrines thence gathered, are by liuely vses applied for the benefit of Gods children. Performed with much varietie, and conuenient breuitie, by Elnathan Parr Bachelor in Diuinity, and preacher of Gods word. To which is prefixed an alphabeticall table, containing the chiefe points and doctrines handled in the booke.

VERSE 12. — Let vs therefore cast off the workes of darknesse, and let vs put on the Armour of light.

IN these words are the generall Exhortation, issuing out of the Reason contained in the first words of this verse, of which before.

This Exhortation hath two branches, according to the two parts of the Reason; The night is farre spent; therefore cast off the workes of darknesse: The day is at hand, therefore put on the armour of light: In each of these are two things: The Act: the Obiect.

In the first branch, the Act is, Cast off: the Obiect, the workes of darknesse.

Darknesse is the priuation of light, caused by the absence of the Sunne, when the body of the Earth is interposed be∣tweene vs and it: here translated to signifie an vnregenerate estate, when the cogitation is darkened, and the soule desti∣tute of the light of Grace: and there is an excellent Analogie and similitude betweene bodily and spirituall darknesse, and that in fiue things.

1 Tenebra est visus impeditiua, darkenesse hindereth sight: and therefore tenebrae, à tenendo, because our eyes are as holden that wee cannot see, to reade, to distinguish co∣lours, &c. In the Night Coloromnthus vnus: So an vnrege∣nerate man is blinde, he sees not the foul••nesse of sinne, the danger of his soule, &c.

2 It is gressus prohibitiua, it hinders a mans going and tra∣uell: when the plague of thicke darknesse was vpon Aegypt, it is said that no man rose from his place for three dayes; they might haue candle and fire, yet the darknesse was so thicke, that the light of these could not pierce it: it was a darknesse that might haue been felt.

So the vnregenerate, in regard of their blindnesse, lye and die in their sinnes, if God mercifully enlighten them not.

3 Darknesse is casus inductiua, causeth a man dangerous∣ly to fall: He that walkes in the night, here runnes against a poste, there tumbles into a ditch.

So the way of the wicked is as darknesse, they know not at what they stumble, as Salomon saith.

4 It is timoris incussiua, darknesse strikes a feare into a man. In the darke night a little noyse, any vnexpected thing in our way, yea sometimes a mans owne imagination will make h•••• afra••d, though otherwise of good courage.

So the darknesse ••f the vnregenerate makes them feare, where no feare is; as in the superstition of the Heathen is manifest. So the Papists are afraid of eating an egge in Lent, and thinke the Diuel would fetch them away if they should eate fresh vpon a fasting-day; but it is their darknesse, for if they had light, they would discerne, that not for these things, but for the••r ••dolatries, cruelties, blasphemies, &c. they had cause to feare. Peter was afraid to eate out of the sheete, but it was his ignorance.

5 Darkenesse is Ʋerecundiae diminutiua, it diminisheth shamefastnesse, and makes men bold to doe that then, of which they would be•• shamed in the day-light: Nox & A∣mor vinum{que} nihil moderabile suadent.

So the vnregenerate because of their darknesse, are not a∣shamed of drunkennesse, whoredome, swearing, lying, &c. they are impudent as an harlot, they haue a whores forhead, and reiuse to be ashamed.

But a regenerate man, if hee bee by infirmitie ouertaken with a fault; how is he ashamed of himselfe, and to shew his head before God or men? If a man doe ill, and be not asha∣med, it is his darknesse.

Work••s of darknesse. By workes are meant all such practi∣ces and courses which come from an vnregenerate estate, which are called of darknesse in three respects.

1 Because they issue from the darknesse of the minde, for it is that which bringeth forth drunkennesse, &c. All sinnes come from our corruption, and from Satan the Prince of darknesse.

2 Because they are done in darknesse, 1. Thess. 5.5.

3 Because they lead vs to darknesse, for such workers are sentenced to vtter darknesse.

Cast off: as a man when he begins to rise, casteth off his

blankets and bed-clothes; but because a man that doth so, at night returneth thither againe to bee couered with such things: therefore rather so to cast off, as a man that hath so long worne a suite, that now it beginneth to doe him discre∣dit to weare it; or yet rather, as a man comming out of pri∣son, hauing filthy ragges about him, and full of vermine; goeth aside, putteth them off, and hurleth them away on some dunghill, or into some ditch, and neuer purposeth to touch them more: so are wee to cast off the workes of dark∣nesse, as whoredome, drunkennesse, &c. these nastie ragges, with indignation, throwing them into Hell, their proper place from whence they came.

And let vs put on the Armour of light. The Action here, is putting on; the Obiect, the Armour of light.

1 Light, in opposition to Darknesse, implying a holy and sanctified estate, being renued by the Spirit of God.

Grace of sanctification is called light: because as the light, it comes from heauen, from the Father of lights, and from Iesus Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse. An estate of Grace, is a heauenly estate.

2 Because as light manifesteth dangers and snares, so the minde being renued, and enlightned with grace, discerneth betweene good and bad, truth and falsehood, and seeth that the end of euill wayes is assured destruction, &c.

3 Because, as light is comfortable, so the conscience is chea∣red by grace.

4 Because he that liueth holily, is a light to others, who by the shine of his good workes, glorifieth God.

Armour of light: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Bez•• translateth with a circumstance of words, Induamur habitu qui luci conucniat; put on a habite sutable to the light: but the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pro∣perly signifieth Armour, and it is so proper to Paul to speake after this manner, that I wonder M. Beza would not retaine the antient and proper translation herein.

Rom. 6.13. We reade of Instruments or weapons of vnrigh∣teousnesse, and righteousnesse: and when Paul reckoneth vp the particular graces of Sanctification, he doth it vnder the termes of such pareels of armour, which are vsed in the war.

So Ephes. 6.11. put on, saith he, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the whole ar∣mour of God, the parcels whereof follow in that place. So 1. Thess 5.8. faith and loue are called a brest. plate, and hope a helmet of saluation.

Workes of light, are called Armour, because of their defen∣siue, and offensiue property: they helpe to defend our consci∣ences against Satan, and they offend Satan; nothing almost vexeth the foule spirit more, then our conscionable and vp∣right proceeding in godlinesse.

Put on: a metaphor from the putting on of apparell, fa∣miliar with Paul, of which more, vers. 14.

M. Beza translateth it in the passiue, Induamur, let vs bee put on, because this armour is bestowed vpon vs from aboue, it is the holy Spirit which fashioneth it, and girdeth it to vs.

The consideration of our holy calling to the state of grace, [Doctr.] ought to teach vs to hate and abhorre euill workes, and to doe the good. Ephes. 5.8. Yee were sometimes darknesse, but now yee are light in the Lord; walke as children of light. 1. Thess. 5.8. Let vs who are of the day be sober. Tit. 2.11.12. The grace of God hath appeared, teaching vs to deny vngodlinesse, &c. 1. Ioh. 2.8.

Euery man ought to manifest his regeneration, [Ʋse 1] by the light of his life: nay it will be so, if once enlightned, there will be as much difference from our former estate, as between light and darknesse; if once grafted into Christ, our fruit will bee so changed, that there will be as much difference from that which was, as betweene the faire and sweet fruit of Para∣dise, and the most bitter Coloquintida.

Euery thing doth agree performam, worke according to, and by the forme: fire will heate, if it bee fire, and light will dispell darknesse: if we haue receiued grace, our conuersati∣on and whole behauiour will be gracefull: If we say that wee haue fellowship with him (who is the light) and walke in darke∣nesse, we lye, and doe not the truth.

If thou beest ord••narily drunke, if thou delightest in va∣nitie, art a common blasphemer, &c. there is no light, no grace. To the law, and to the testimony; if they speake, (and do) not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

We must cast off euill with hatred to it, [Ʋse 2] and put on good∣nesse with delight in it.

Many will spet at the naming of the Diuell, and say they defie him; but hast thou cast him out of thy heart? Many will say they cannot abide hypocrisie, dissembling, malice, slandering, pride, &c. which yet continually practise such things: when thou hearest or seest euill, as swearing, drun∣kennesse, &c. doth thy heart rise against such euils, for the true hatred thou bearest to them, and in this hatred dost thou abandon the workes and workers of such darknesse? If so, this is a good signe.

Many will commend the Word, but if the Preacher come home to their conscience, and tell them of their belo∣ued sinne, they will storme and rage: many will commend sobrietie, chastitie, humilitie, patience, but put thou them on, and weare them.

Put on the Armour of light. Where there is vse of armour, [Ʋse 3] there is some feare of danger; yet if there come danger, bles∣sed be God that we haue Armour.

A godly man is armed from top to toe, Satan may buffet him, but destroy him he cannot, for he is armed in proofe.

Miserable is the vnregenerate man, for hee is both blinde and naked: how easily are such assaulted, wounded, and in bo∣dy and soule destroyed by Satan.

Let vs put on the armour of light: and for as much as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉arme your selues with the same minde, namely, to cease from sin, and to liue the rest of our time, not to the lusts of men, in lasciuious∣nesse, excesse of wine, &c. but to the will of God.

Notes

• J••••an à S Ge∣••••••••ano, lib. 1 de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & cl••••, ••••p. 3••.
• Exod. 10.23.
• P••••••. ••.9.
• Act 10.
• Iames 1.17. Malachy 4.2.
• Esay 8.20.
• 1. Pet. 4.1.2.3.