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 9. For to this end, Christ both died, and rose, and re∣uiued, that he might be Lord both of the dead and liuing.

THat we are the Lords, was concluded in the end of the 8. verse; of which the reason is in this verse; where we haue two parts: 1. who is this our Lord. 2. what is the cause of his Lordship ouer vs.

The person who is our Lord, is Christ; a title of the se∣cond person in the sacred Trinity, noting both the Diuine and Humane nature in one person, being the name of our Mediator declaring his office.

In the cause of his Lordship, are the actions causing; and the effect caused.

The actions are three: 1. He died: I call this an action, because it was voluntary, Potuit mori, he could dye if it plea∣sed him: No man taketh my life from me, but I haue power to lay it downe, saith himselfe. The 2. He rose, that is, from death. 3. He reuiued: Ambrose inuerts the order of these, speaking in the first place of his life, as meaning his naturall life; Hee liued, he dyed, and rose againe. Chrysostome leaues out the second, his resurrection: the Vulgar which the Papists fol∣low, leaues out the last, He reuiued.

Tolet censures the third to be superfluous, but one of his owne side approues it; noting thereby such a reuiuing, which shall neuer be subiect to death; or one might say, the pre∣tertense is put for the present, He reuiued, that is, he now liueth; or rather, hee reuiued to a new state of life; not sub∣iect to hunger, wearinesse, &c. but free from such things.

The effect caused, or the end: That hee might bee Lord both of the dead and the liuing: where we haue the authority, that he might be Lord; and the obiect, both of the dead and liuing.

That he might be Lord: that is, so Lord, as to protect and saue vs, as well as command vs; a Lord, not onely ouer vs, but for vs, to deliuer vs from the bondage of other cruell Lords: we haue need of such a Lord to defend vs; he hath no need of such seruants as we are, to serue him.

Both of the dead and of the liuing: sometime quicke and dead comprehends all men, both good and bad, as in the Creed; but here it is meant onely of beleeuers, of whom some be dead, and some are now liuing, and some shall be liuing at the comming of Christ.

His sauing power reacheth to all beleeuers: it is sufficient for all, but in regard of the Application, the wicked are ex∣cluded.

Christ by dying, [Doct.] rising, and reuiuing, obtained power ouer vs, to saue vs and bring vs to heauen. Matthew 28.18. All power is giuen me in heauen and earth: which words he spake after his rising and reuiuing. Iohn 17.2. Thou hast giuen him power ouer all flesh, that hee should giue eternall life to as many as thou hast giuen him. Ephesians 1.19. & seq. Philippians 2.6.7.8.9. [Obiect.]

But, God is said, not to bee the God of the dead: Matth. 22.32. [Answ.]

The Sadduces denied the resurrection of the body, and the Immortality of the soule, holding that men dyed as doe beasts; now Christ affirmeth that God is not the God of men so dying. Then by dead, the Sadduces vnderstood, men ceasing to liue at all, Paul here by dead vnderstands men ceasing to liue this naturall and common life. [Quest.]

Did he merit and deserue this Lordship for himselfe, by his death and resurrection, [Answ.] &c.

So say the Schoolemen; but I find no sound ground for it. The Scripture no where saith, that hee died or rose for himselfe, but for vs men and for our saluation, as saith the Ni∣cene Creed, Si nobis non resurrexit, vti{que} non resurrexit, qui cur sibi resurgeret, non habebat: If he rose not for vs, he rose not at all, who had no cause why he should rise for him∣selfe.

Also such power and glory was due to him as hee was

God, for euer: as he was man, from the time of his Incarna∣tion: by reason his manhood was assumed into the vnity of his person. But God appointed and ordained that he should this way enter vpon the execution of his right, and that it should be thus made manifest vnto vs.

Iudge not thy brother; [Ʋse 1] this were to incroach vpon that right of Chirst, for which he died, rose, and reuiued.

Here is the vniuersality of the Church; [Ʋse 2] it comprehends all beleeuers, liuing, dead; and also the vnity, for these all, liuing and dead, are seruants to one Lord, Iesus Christ.

Here is a threefold comfort. [Ʋse 3]

1 Of assurance of remission of sinnes, and of eternall life; for though hee died, yet hee rose againe and reuiued, which hee could not haue done, if he had not fully satisfied for all our sinnes: Also he is able to saue them to the vttermost, which come to God by him, seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them.

2 Of supply of all necessary grace and good things: He is our Lord, and will maintaine his seruants, The Lord is my shepheard, I shall not want, saith Dauid.

3 Of encouragement, against all opposites; we haue ma∣ny enemies, but our Master is stronger then all. Hee cannot forsake vs now hee liues, who loued vs so, that for our sakes he died.

Will he suffer that to perish through any tentation, which he purchased at such a price? By no meanes. Ionas makes great account of a gourd, which he laboured not for; and we neglect not a beast which hath cost vs money: much more will our Lord care for vs, for whom hee hath suffered so much, and whom hee hath redeemed, not with corruptible things, as gold and siluer, but by his owne blood.

If Christ died for all, then were all dead: and hee died for all, [Ʋse 4] that they which liue, should not henceforth liue vnto themselues, but vnto him which died for them, and rose againe.

Let vs therefore sanctifie our bodies and soules to his ser∣uice, who hath redeemed both our soules and bodies.

Ye are bought with a price; therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit, which are Gods.

Ye are bought with a price; be not the seruants of men, much lesse the seruants of sinne or of Satan.

Obey Christ whatsoeuer it cost thee: If thou walkest and continuest in drunkennesse, vncleannesse, or any sinne, not repenting, thou art more guilty then the very Diuell: for he died not for the Diuell, nor euer offered him grace; and the Diuell neuer denyed the Lord that bought him: which is affir∣med of euery vnrepentant sinner in the time of the Gos∣pell.

Consider wicked wretch, that thy soule which thou ca∣stest away through thy abhominable life, was purchased with no meaner price then the blood of the Sonne of God: and therefore thou shalt haue the sorer damnation if thou re∣pentest not.

Notes

• Iohn 10.18.
• Caietamu.
• Erasinus. Beza.
• Amb. de fide re∣sur. c. 24.
• Heb. 7.25:
• Psal. 23.1.
• 2 Cor. 5.14.15.
• 1 Cor. 6.20. 1 Cor. 7.23.
• 2 Pet. 2.2.