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 not therefore iudge one another any more: but iudge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block, or an occasion to fall in his brothers way.

HEre beginneth the second part of the Explication spo∣ken of in the second verse.

The first was a Direction for the compounding of the Controuersies among the Romanes about meates and dayes.

This second is a Dehortation from Scandall, with diuers Reasons following, to the end of the Chapter.

This Dehortation is set downe by an Antithesis, where two things are opposed; the one is denied, the other affir∣med.

The first hath a Prohibition, shewing what we must not do: We must not iudge one another any more: The second hath a

precept shewing what we must do, We must iudge this rather, that we put not a stumbling blocke, or an occasion to fall in our bro∣thers way.

The first is vsed as an Introduction to vsher in the se∣cond.

And it hath two parts: First, The Prohibition, not to iudge one another.

By Iudging, he meaneth censuring, condemning; not all Iudging forbidden, not publike by the Magistrate; but pri∣uate and rash; such principally, which hath with a diuersitie of opinion, an alienation of affections, as hath beene shewed before.

There are foure things we may not iudge:

1 Secret things; of God, so saith Moses, The secret things be∣long to the Lord our God, but things reuealed to vs, &c. If thou seest a wicked man, say not a reprobate, for the decree of God is secret; and he which hath shewed mercy to thee, may shew mercy to thy neighbour also.

Of Man: as the heart, for no man knoweth his neigh∣bours heart, 1. Cor. 2.11. When thou seest a man in prayer lift vp his eyes, take heed of rash iudgement, to say an Hypo∣crite, for thou knowest not his heart.

Duo sunt in quibus temerarium iudicium cauere debemus; cum incertum est quo animo quicquam factum fit: vel cum incer∣tum est qualis futurus sit, qui nunc vel bonus vel malus apparet: There are two things (saith Anselme here, out of Saint Au∣gustine) in which we must beware of rash iudgement; when it is vncertaine, with what minde a thing is done; and when it is vncertaine, what he may be, who now appeareth to bee good or bad.

2 Things doubtfull: when things may haue a double in∣terpretation, take the fairest; this is charitie.

3 Things to come: Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

4 Things indifferent: of the which Saint Paul intreateth in this Chapter.

Things openly and certainly euill, we may and must iudge, and it were to bee wished, that Drunkards, vncleane per∣sons,

&c. were more censured; but yet with Saint Augu∣stines prouiso, that we hate and detest, non hominem, sed pecca∣tum, non vitiosum sed vitium, morbum potius quam aegrotum: not the man, but his fault, the disease rather, then the pa∣tient.

The Amplification is three-fold:

1 From the Illation, Therefore: In as much as our bro∣ther standeth or falleth, to his owne Master, and whether he liue or die, is the Lords; and that wee must all stand before the Iudgement-seat of Christ, to giue an account for him∣selfe, let vs chamber our tongues, and not iudge and censure one another.

2 From the persons who may not iudge, implied in the verbe, and expressed in the English, Vs, Let vs not, hee an∣numbreth himselfe, eyther because hee is a fellow-member with them, of the same body, and so in some sort it pertai∣neth to him, as one who is sensible of his brothers failings, or, vt hoc tolerabilior sit admonitio, quo minus habet pudoris, that the Admonition might bee the more tolerable, the lesse it shameth them: or from the remembrance of his owne pronenesse, and forwardnesse to rash censuring in former times, for he was a Pharisie, whose sect was intemperately censorious. In many things we sinne all:

—Optimus ille est, qui minimis vrgetur—

Happie is he that hath least and fewest faults.

3 From the consideration of something spoken or done before, in this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, any more: wherein there is a se∣cret accusation of some thing past, and a warning of some∣thing to come; as if hee should say, Indeed it hath beene your fault heretofore, to be too busy and forward in censuring your brethren, but now being admonished and taught the contrary, you ought to leaue such rash iudging.

From this part of the Amplification wee haue this Doctrine. After admonition and instruction, [Doctr.] wee must bee carefull to amend our wayes, Matth. 3.10. Now is the ••xe layd to the roote of the trees, &c. Now though heretofore you haue beene fruitlesse, yet now seeing I haue admonished you, and God hath sent his owne Sonne to teach you, see you bring

forth good fruit, and repent: So Iohn 5.14. Act. 17.30.31. 1. Pet. 4 1, 2, 3.

When a Minister hath instructed and admonished his people, [Ʋse 1] hee may looke that they should leaue their sinnes, and be conformable to good orders.

The Husbandman reioyceth in his good croppe, and the Physitian in the health of his patient, to whom hee hath administred: So wee reioyce if our admonitions pre∣uaile, and haue good successe to your amendment; if o∣therwise, it is a great griefe to vs, and not profitable to you.

Admonition is necessary, [Vse 2] as may appeare by this Admo∣nition repeated. This necessitie appeareth,

1 Because wee are hardly drawne from our errours, con∣ceited opinions and sinnes: therefore our Sauiour requireth three Admonitions, and an Hereticke to be twice admoni∣shed, before auoided.

2 Because when we are recouered by Admonition into the right way, we easily steppe aside, as waxe melteth with the heate, and loseth the former impression.

He is miserable which wanteth a faithfull Admonitour, but he is more, who hauing one, will not heare him and bee reformed.

The Ʋse of all Admonition is that we should cease to doe euill, [Ʋse 3] and beginne to doe well, that we may be perfect in the way of righteousnesse, 2. Tim. 3.16.17.

Here are to bee reproued such, who will not obey Ad∣monition, but notwithstanding, still continue the same: which is to make voyd the end why God hath comman∣ded Admonition, and to wrappe our selues in grieuous guiltinesse: for an euill man not admonished, shall bee damned, much more admonished, if hee amend not, Iohn 15.22.

Not to be bettered by Admonitions, is a signe of a very wretch, as in the vncorrigible sonne; and in the sonnes of Ely may appeare: and Salomon saith, Better is a poore and wise childe, then an old and a foolish King, that will no more be admo∣nished.

It is the way by the iust iudgement of God, to runne into farther, and more dangerous errours and sinnes. It is a rule, Minus peccatum cum arguitur, & non corrigi∣tur, causa fit maioris peccati: A lesse sinne reprooued and not amended, is made the cause of a greater sinne: as He∣rod not reforming his incest vpon admonition, fell into the sinne of murder, cutting off the head of Iohn Baptist. So the Brownists wee see by experience, haue by the iudgement of God runne farther and farther into absurd errours: as many also among vs, finding fault with the gouernment of the Church, and not being reclaymed by admonition haue tur∣ned Brownists.

Let euery man therefore looke to it, how he behaue him∣selfe after admonition: This shall one day torment thee thou drunkard, because thou hast beene often admonished and repentest not.

To bee bettered by admonition is the token of a wise man: but to harden the necke, is the fore-runner of de∣struction.

I am blacke, but comely, saith the Church, Canticles 1.5. Blacke, saith one, for her defects: Comely, for amending vpon admonition. Hee that continueth in sinne is doubly blacke, for his sinne, and for perseuering in sinne being admo∣nished: Peter and Paul, &c. had neuer beene so famous and beautifull in the Church, if they had not yeelded to admo∣nitions.

Cain was admonished; if he had obeyed it he had beene happy; for whosoeuer being reproued, repenteth and amen∣deth his life, shall haue mercy and be pardoned.

Notes

• Deut. 29.29.
• Aug. ser. 202. de Tempore.
• Prou. 27.1.
• Aug. loco supra citato.
• Musculus.
• James 3.1.
• Matth. 18.
• Deut. 21.20.
• 1. Sam. 2.25. Ecclesiastas 4.13
• Remigius, cita∣tus à Chemnitio, Har. c. 31.
• Pro. 9.9. and 17.10. Pro. 29.1.
• Origen.