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 13. Let vs walke honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkennesse, not in chambering and wanton∣nesse, nor in strife and enuying.

LEt vs walke honestly as in the day. Concerning the cohe∣rence of these words with them before, there is some dif∣ference, without any damage of the sense.

Some make it a new argument, ab honesto, * 1.1 which certainly is of great force with them which haue not put off humane sense.

Some from the end of casting off, and putting on, of which in the twelfth verse, * 1.2 translating 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by two words, sic vt, in English, so that, thus the vulgar, and our other translations, not well. The truest reading is, as it is here, from his Maie∣sties translation: and so the first part of the verse yeeldeth vs an exhortation, which is another from that in the twelfth verse, in words, but not in sense.

The duty required in this repeated exhortation, is Honest walking where is the action, walking; the manner, honestly: and this amplified from the consideration of the time, as in the day.

Let vs walke: to walke, with the Apostle, is to liue; the ef∣fect or signe of life, put for life it selfe; and so the Comman∣dements are called a way, and our obedience a walking there∣in: there are diuers Analogies here, of the which I haue writ∣ten somewhat vpon the eight Chapter of this Epistle, vers. 1.

All our thoughts, words, deeds, whole behauiour, must be honest, and so to bee, must bee our delight, and wee must daily goe forward therein.

Honestly: honesty is taken sometimes in our ordinary speech for chastity, and so here, but this is but a part of the sense.

Sometimes for faithfulnesse; so we say, an honest man, that is, a faithfull and iust dealing: so here also, but this but in part, the word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, in a good fashion, implying all comely and commendable carriage.

The Adiectiue is somewhere translated, * 1.3 Honorable: The Iewes stirred vp many deuout women, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and honorable, and this excellently fits here: and the Ciuill Law∣yers oppose honest to vile and base: let vs walke honestly, hono∣rably, according to the credit of our place and calling.

The Syrian Translation reades, modestly; Beza, compositè, orderly, fitly, as you would say in print: The Vulgar and Master Caluin, * 1.4 decently, and so Saint Cyprian read this place: Pareus expoundeth it by Pauls three aduerbs, Tit. 2.12 so∣berly, righteously, and godly.

As in the day: for our night apparell, any thing, though patcht and homely, will serue the turne; but in the day come∣linesse requireth that wee should bee more handsomely at∣tired.

When a man is to goe abroad, among his betters especi∣ally, he brusheth and trimmeth vp himselfe.

The Husbandman whilest he goeth to plough and cart, is clad, it may be, in lether, but at another time his garments are very neate and trimme; hee hath his worke-day and his holy-day apparell.

So, because it is now day with vs, and that we walke be∣fore men and Angels, we are sutably to be fashioned and ar∣rayed: and in as much as very day is holy-day with a true Christian, and euery place as the Church to him, therefore he is to walke thereafter.

Euery Christian must haue a speciall care ouer all his behaui∣our, that it be honest, and such as becommeth the Gospell. Prou. 4.25. [Doctr.] Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eye-lids look streight before thee. 26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy wayes be stablished, or ordered aright. 27. Turne not to the right hand nor to the left, remoue thy foote from euill. Ephes. See that yee walke circumspectly, accurately. 1. Thess. 4.14. * 1.5 That yee malke honestly, according to the Word in this place.

A Christian must be walking: [Vse 1] to stand still and idle is re∣proued, Matth. 20.3.6. An idle man falls into pouertie, and a man that giueth himselfe to ease, into diuers diseases: Bee walking, that thou mayest expell noxious humours. When Dauid began to take his ease, hee began to bee ouer-growne with lustfull affections. If the husbandman be not alwayes fallowing his land with the plough, it will runne out with weeds, so will our hearts with noysome lusts, through want of the daily practice of good duties.

We must walke, that is, goe forward in godlinesse, [Ʋse 2] that we may euery day be nearer heauen then other, as he that wal∣keth commeth nearer and nearer to his iourneyes end.

A Nurse delighteth to see her babe battle and thriue, and it is a shame for a scholler to bee alwayes in the lowest forme. Go on therefore, and be euery day better then thy selfe. Not to goe forward, is to goe backward. * 1.6 I forget that which is be∣hind, saith Paul, and reach forth vnto that which is before, and I prease toward the marke.

We are not yet at our iourneyes end, wee must walke on,

and there are many impediments, Et ibi incidimus in deficiendi periculum, vbi proficiendi deposuerimus appetitum: There wee beginne to grow worse, * 1.7 where wee striue not and desire to grow better, said Leo.

Our walking to heauen, is like the forcing of a Boate a∣gainst the streame, or a Chariot vp a hill; if the oares and horses stand still, they go backe as fast as they went forward.

As in walking, [Ʋse 3] there are many paces, so in our life many passages, we must carry our selues decently in all.

Let thy speech, gesture, eating, drinking, sleeping, clothing, recreations, &c. be honest, and such as becommeth a Chri∣stian.

Be sober toward thy selfe, iust toward thy neighbour, re∣ligious and deuout toward God; ioyne them all together, which many doe not.

Saint Paul vseth this word, when he giueth warning of our behauiour in the Church: Let all things be done decently, 1. Cor. 14.40. When thou commest to Church, let thy beha∣uiour be venerable: It is not a prophane Theater, but Gods house. Vncouer thy head, bow thy knee, pray, heare, sing, with the rest of the congregation: when they pray, reade not thou; when they kneele, sit not thou: vniformity and or∣der, is most honest and comely in the Lords house: otherwise there is not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Walke honestly: at Church, at market, at thine owne house.

Haue such care of thy liuing, [Ʋse 4] as thou hast of thy putting on apparell: No man in his right wits will appeare abroad and in publike, either disguised or naked: Nature teacheth vs to couer our vncomely parts, * 1.8 and grace should teach vs, that drunkennesse, whoredome, &c. agree not with the honestie and comelinesse of Christians.

A vertuous conuersation doth a man a great deale of ho∣nestie and credit; [Vse 5] as a comely garment, Age it selfe without Vertue, is not honorable, Prou. 16.31. Follow vertue.

Sinne disgraceth vs: * 1.9 lusts are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, vile, disho∣norable affections, which doe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, dishonor bodies. Hate vice.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pet. Mart. Gryneus.
• * 1.2

  Sarcerius.
• * 1.3

  Act. 13.50.
• * 1.4

  Tit. de Zelo & ••••ore post me∣dium.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  Philip. 3.13.14.
• * 1.7

  Leo Mag. ser. 2. de Quadrag.
• * 1.8

  1. Cor. 12.23. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 1.26. Rom. 1.24.