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. 18. For he that in these things serueth Christ, is ac∣ceptable to God, and approued of men.

PAVLS Assertion, that the kingdome of God is righte∣ousnesse, peace and ioy, is here confirmed by two Argu∣ments.

The first from the Genus of those things: they are seruices vnto God.

The second from their effects, which are two: Gods Ac∣ceptation; Mans Approbation.

• That which is the seruice of God, and acceptable to God and approued of men, in that is the kingdome of God.
• But such is righteousnesse, peace, and ioy.
• Therefore, &c.

He that in these things: Whosoeuer in doing these things.

Serueth Christ: For it is the will of the Father, that all men should honor the Sonne, euen as they honor the Father.

Serueth, that is, behaues himself as a seruant, applying him∣selfe to the will of his Master in all things. By which kind of speaking, is vnderstood in many places the whole obedience of man in all the duties of godlinesse, Psal. 2.11. and 110.2. Mat. 6.24. Act 20.19. Rom. 7.6. and 12.11. and such like.

These (viz. Righteousnesse, Peace, Ioy) are vnderstood with an Antithesis, of meat and drinke, and the like, which are not seruices of God; neither necessary to saluation, as are these, which are so connected to the kingdome of God, that they cannot be omitted or neglected, without danger of losing the same.

Meat and all indifferent things, if they be considered in themselues haue a free vse; and may, and sometimes ought to be omitted for our brothers sake; which is otherwise in those things, which of themselues doe belong to a blessed life.

Acceptable to God: as he is our Father now reconciled by the merits of Iesus Christ; so God is said to be well pleased with our deuotion, Heb. 13.16. But if we consider God as a Iudge, then all our seruice is too deficient to procure accep∣tation; and we and our sacrifices are acceptable onely by Iesus Christ, as S. Peter speaketh.

Approued of men: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a word taken from the allow∣ance of Coyne as if he should haue said, that he which ser∣ueth Christ in these things is a Currant Professor.

Of men: that haue a sincere iudgement; for wicked men reuile and disgrace such; and yet outward righteousnesse and peace, haue praise among such; for vniust dealing, and contention are things odious to all.

The iust and peaceable, are acceptable to God, [Doctr.] and approued of men, as the true seruants of Christ. Pro. 3.1.2.3.4. My sonne forget not my law &c, let not mercy and truth forsake thee, &c. So shalt thou find fauour and good vnderstanding in the sight of God and man. So for the acceptation of God. Acts 10.35. and the approbation of man, 1 Pet. 3.13. and of these was Christ a singular example, who encreasing in wisedome and stature was in fauour with God and man, Luke 2.52.

Whether thou vsest indifferent things, or vsest them not; [Ʋse 1] whether thy garments be white or blacke, whether thou sit∣test or kneelest, doe righteousnesse, abstaine from sinne, obey the Magistrate, and liue peaceably in the Church, for in these things thou seruest Christ, not in the other.

Acceptable to God, and approued of men: [Vse 2] Here note the or∣der and the coniunction of these: first acceptable to God before approued of men; and these are so knit together, that whosoeuer is, or is not acceptable to God, ought, or ought not to be approued of men: but it doth not hold backward, that they which are approued of men, ought to be, or are acceptable to God.

Hence we haue three things.

1 A direction: wouldest thou be acceptable to God? be righteous and peaceable: wouldst thou be approued of men? labour to be acceptable of God.

The way to credit and glory euen in this life, is to glorifie God: Them that honour me, I will honour, saith the Lord. And because the Pharisees loue the praise of men more then the praise of God, therefore are they contemptible euen before men. Hence it comes to passe that many Noble and rich men are despised notwithstanding: because, though they desire to be honored, yet they begin not at God.

2 An admonition; that we should approue of them which are acceptable to God, and improue them which are not.

The iust and peaceable are accepted of God: approue thou of them.

How canst thou iustifie to approue of drunkards, common swearers, and to contemne such who conscionably serue God?

How canst thou iustifie to neglect the iust and peaceable, and to esteeme of the vniust and contentious? and yet we haue some who wil vilifie them which keep peace and good order, and highly esteeme onely of those who breake the same.

It is wonderfull that to obey Magistrates and to liue peace∣ably should be accounted a fault; and to resist Magistrates and be contentious, a vertue. What is it to call good euill; and euill, good; if this be not?

3 Consolation. If men doe not approue thee, yet if God ac∣cept of thee, it is enough, thou hast great cause to be of good cheere. The safest way is to please God, howsoeuer men thinke of vs.

I would bee approued of men, and please them, if they will be pleased with doing good; but if they will not bee pleased vnlesse I bee vniust, and vnpeaceable; I dare not buy at so deare a rate the approbation of any mortall creature.

The Kingdome of God is not in words but in power. [Vse 3] If thou hast a forme of godlinesse, shew the power of it in thy life: If thou professest that thou knowest God; deny him not in thy workes.

This the blemish of religion that to twenty good words, we haue not one good worke: But Christ will not bee serued

with words, but really in the workes of righteousnes, and with a peaceable conuersation.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, said Nazianzen. A speech∣lesse worke is better then a deedlesse word.

Notes

• Iohn 5.23.
• 1 Pet. 2.5.
• Caluinus.
• 1 Sam. 2.30. Ioh. 12.43.
• Nazian. in Tetrast.