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 17. I haue therefore whereof I may glory through Iesus Christ, in those things which pertaine to God.
18. For I will not dare to speake of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by mee, to make the Gentiles obedient:—

IN these words, and so to the end of the 21. verse, he com∣mendeth his Apostleship, from the efficacy of it, which was such that he might iustly glory in it.

There are two parts: First, an assertion, I haue whereof I may glory. Secondly, a declaration of certaine bounds, where∣by his boasting is limited, which bounds are set downe in the 17. verse, and expounded in the 18.

Those bounds, are either in regard of the efficient, or of the matter of his boasting. The efficient: Iesus Christ. The matter: Things pertaining to God.

Not in my selfe, but in and through Iesus Christ.

In things pertaining to God. All things pertaine to God. Good things as to the Author and Rewarder of them. Euill things as the Iudge and auenger of them.

But here Paul hath another meaning: In the 16. verse, hee described his Apostleship, in termes borrowed from the Leuiticall priest-hood, calling it a Leyturgye, and Hierourgye: and here continuing the same Metaphor, hee calleth the execution of his function, a performing of things pertaining to God. So in the Hebrewes: A high priest is ordained in things pertaining to God, that is, to declare the will of God to the people, and to offer the sacrifices of the people to God.

These two are expounded in the 18. verse. The first: I dare not speake of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, that is, I acknowledge that what good soeuer hath come to men by my labours it is wrought by Christ, whose instru∣ment onely I haue bin. It is not effected by my vertue, but by his goodnes. Let the glory bee to him. I haue planted and watred, but the encrease is of him. Paul & Apolles are but vn∣derworking

causes, Ministers by whom the Gentiles belee∣ued, euen as the Lord gaue to euery man, not according to their will and appointing.

This is amplified by Pauls modestie: I dare not; Melior est in malis factis humilis confessio, quam in bonis superba gloria∣tio: An humble confession of the euill we haue done, is bet∣ter then a proud bragging of the good we haue done: there∣fore Paul dareth not glory in himselfe; this had been Thra∣sonicall and vaine boasting, but he glorieth in Christ.

The second is expounded thus, To make the Gentiles obe∣dient, that is, by the preaching of the Gospell to bring them to the obedience of faith: and of this there are diuers things declared, as shall appeare in the due place.

It is lawfull for a Minister, when God blesseth his labours, [Doctr.] to glory in it, but through Iesus Christ. Exod. 6.26.27. These are that Auron and Moses, &c. These are they which spake to Phoraoh, &c. This Moses wrote not without some touch of glory; but in the whole story he attributeth all the won∣ders vnto God. 1. Cor. 15.10. Gods grace was not bestowed vp∣pon me in vaine; But I laboured more abundantly thon they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with mee.

The matter of Law and Physick, is, [Ʋse 1] things pertaining to the body and State; but of Diuinity and the Ministery 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: the Ministery ought to be the more commendable to vs.

That of Ieremy, twice repeated by Paul, [Ʋse 2] is here to be re∣membred: Let him that glorieth, glory in the lord.

Hast thou done any good in thy calling to Church or Common-wealth, or to any particular place or person? giue God the glory; for from him hast thou had wisdome, counsel, ability, opportunity so to doe: that thy endeuours succeed is from him: when thou giuest a poore man a peny, it is God who gaue thee ability, it is he who brought the poor man to thee; and who moued thy heart, who art by nature cruell and couetous, to commiserate him.

We are but Instruments: and are greatly honoured, if God will vouchsafe to make vs (which are euill) meanes and in∣struments of good to any: so the carkeyse and ribbes of that

ship is honored as a monument, in which some skilfull Na∣uigator hath surrounded the Globe of sea and land: and yet the glory not giuen to the ship, but to the Nauigator.

We are not worthy to be instruments; let vs not rob God of his due glory: if so, then will the Lord curse vs, and take away our gifts, or the opportunity, or the good successe.

When the proud King of Assyria, will not attribute the glory of his victories to God, he shall be punished: and when Nabuchadnezzar remembreth the honor of his owne Maiesty and forgetteth Gods, he shall become a beast: and when He∣rod swalloweth vp the glory due to God, hee shall be eaten of wormes. For this are many great ones vnplaced, and meane ones vngifted, because they proudly glory in themselues, and not in God.

Let vs imitate Paul, also Iohn Baptist, and Peter, who when the people gazed vpon him and Iohn, for healing the cripple lame from his mothers wombe, said; Why looke you so earnest∣ly vpon vs, as though by our owne power and holinesse we had made this man to walke? The God of Abraham, &c. hath glorified his Sonne Iesus, &c. and his Name, through faith in his name, hath giuen him this perfect soundnesse.

As the chiefest glory of a seruant, [Vse 3] is his faithfull and profi∣table seruice; so of a Minister, in winning mens soules, pluc∣king them out of the fire, and making them obedient to God.

Paul glorieth not in that hee was rapt into the third hea∣uen, &c. but in the blessing of his labours: It is not great lear∣ning, nor great liuing, &c. which is a good Ministers chiefe glory; for these a wicked man may haue, but by his labours to bring men to heauen.

So, art thou a Magistrate? glory not in the money thou hast heaped vp, and in the land thou hast purchased by thy office: for these may be wi••nesses of thy corruption: but if thou hast done good, in iustice and equity thou mayest glory, but in the Lord.

Damned wretches they are, who glory in their shame, as that they haue drunke downe so many men, that they haue defiled so many women, that they haue so reuenged them∣selues of their enemies: Their end is damnation.

To make them obedient. [Vse 4] True conuersion is accomplished in our obedience, and then are wee acceptable sacrifices to God: Not hearing, but doing of the law iustifieth, saith Saint Iames: Not saying Lord, Lord, saueth, but doing Gods will, saith our blessed Sauiour. A good Christian, as the good Hus∣wife, is praised in the gates by his workes.

It is not boasting and bragging speech which is required in a souldier, but stout fighting; so not speaking, but doing, is the praise.

It is commendable to heare, and to repeate, but to doe, is the principall ornament of a Christian. Gods children shall be equall to the Angels: to haue the face of an Angell worketh not this, nor to speake like an Angell; but to doe as Angels doe. Let thy will be done in earth, as it is in heauen.

I dare not glory in my selfe, saith Paul, why? [Vse 5] for feare of the vengeance of God.

This ought to be the voice of a Christian; I dare not steale, lye, be drunke, &c. O the audaciousnesse and madnesse of our times, wherein men dare prouoke God to his face, by their lewd conuersation. How darest thou liue so prophane∣ly? Doest thou not know that, That God whom thou offen∣dest, is a consuming fire? and that the end of thy wicked life, is to dwell with perpetuall burnings? Though wicked men dare sinne, yet we dare not.

A godly man is not afraid of banishment, imprisonment, the Racke, the strappado; he feareth not a Tyrant, a Tor∣mentor, a sword, a gibbet, &c. but he is afraid to offend God: He dareth dye for Christ, he dareth euen be burned at a stake, but he dareth not sinne: This is true Fortitude, and Heroi∣call Magnanimitie.

Notes

• Hes 5.2.
• 1. Cor. 3.5.
• Augustine.
• Ierem. 9.24. 1. Cor. 1.31. 2. Cor. 10.17.
• Isay. 10.12.
• Dan. 4.30. Acts 13.23.
• Iohn 1.20.27.
• Acts 3.12.16.
• Philip. 3.19.