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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>R O M A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The apostle, having fully explained the doctrine of justification, and
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pressed the necessity of sanctification, in this chapter applies
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himself to the consolation of the Lord's people. Ministers are helpers
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of the joy of the saints. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people," so runs
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our commission,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+40:1">Isa. xl. 1</A>.
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It is the will of God that his people should be a comforted people. And
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we have here such a draught of the gospel charter, such a display of
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the unspeakable privileges of true believers, as may furnish us with
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abundant matter for joy and peace in believing, that by all these
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immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might
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have strong consolation. Many of the people of God have, accordingly,
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found this chapter a well-spring of comfort to their souls, living and
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dying, and have sucked and been satisfied from these breasts of
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consolation, and with joy drawn water out of these wells of salvation.
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There are three things in this chapter:
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I. The particular instances of Christians' privileges,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:1-28">ver. 1-28</A>.
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II. The ground thereof laid in predestination,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:29,30">ver. 29, 30</A>.
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III. The apostle's triumph herein, in the name of all the saints,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:31-39">ver. 31 to the end</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ro8_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ro8_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ro8_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ro8_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ro8_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ro8_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ro8_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ro8_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ro8_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Believer's Privileges.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 58.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 <I>There is</I> therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
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Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
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2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made
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me free from the law of sin and death.
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3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through
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the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
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flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
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4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
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who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
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5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
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flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
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Spirit.
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6 For to be carnally minded <I>is</I> death; but to be spiritually
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minded <I>is</I> life and peace.
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7 Because the carnal mind <I>is</I> enmity against God: for it is
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not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
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8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
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9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that
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the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the
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Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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I. The apostle here beings with one signal privilege of true
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Christians, and describes the character of those to whom it belongs:
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<I>There is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ
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Jesus,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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This is his triumph after that melancholy complaint and conflict in the
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foregoing chapter--sin remaining, disturbing, vexing, but, blessed be
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God, not ruining. The complaint he takes to himself, but humbly
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transfers the comfort with himself to all true believers, who are all
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interested in it.
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1. It is the unspeakable privilege and comfort of all those that are in
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Christ Jesus that there is therefore now no condemnation to them. He
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does not say, "There is no accusation against them," for this there is;
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but the accusation is thrown out, and the indictment quashed. He does
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not say, "There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation," for
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this there is, and they see it, and own it, and mourn over it, and
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condemn themselves for it; but it shall not be their ruin. He does not
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say, "There is no cross, no affliction to them or no displeasure in the
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affliction," for this there may be; but <I>no condemnation.</I> They
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may be chastened of the Lord, but not condemned with the world. Now
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this arises from their being in Christ Jesus; by virtue of their union
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with him through faith they are thus secured. They are in Christ
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Jesus, as in their city of refuge, and so are protected from the
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avenger of blood. He is their advocate, and brings them off. There is
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therefore no condemnation, because they are interested in the
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satisfaction that Christ by dying made to the law. In Christ, God does
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not only not condemn them, but is well pleased with them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+17:5">Matt. xvii. 5</A>.
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2. It is the undoubted character of all those who are so in Christ
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Jesus as to be freed from condemnation that <I>they walk not after the
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flesh but after the Spirit.</I> Observe, The character is given from
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their walk, not from any one particular act, but from their course and
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way. And the great question is, What is the principle of the walk, the
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flesh or the spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace?
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Which of these do we mind, for which of these doe we make provision, by
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which of these are we governed, which of these do we take part
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with?</P>
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<P>
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II. This great truth, thus laid down, he illustrates in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:2-9">following verses</A>;
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and shows how we come by this great privilege, and how we may answer
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this character.</P>
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<P>
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1. How we come by these privileges--the privilege of justification, that
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<I>there is no condemnation to us</I>--the privilege of sanctification,
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that <I>we walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh,</I> which is
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no less our privilege than it is our duty. How comes it about?</P>
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<P>
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(1.) The law could not do it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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It could neither justify nor sanctify, neither free us from the guilt
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nor from the power of sin, having not the promises either of pardon or
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grace. The law made nothing perfect: <I>It was weak.</I> Some attempt
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the law made towards these blessed ends, but, alas! it was weak, it
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could not accomplish them: yet that weakness was not through any defect
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in the law, but <I>through the flesh,</I> through the corruption of
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human nature, by which we became incapable either of being justified or
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sanctified by the law. We had become unable to keep the law, and, in
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case of failure, the law, as a covenant of works, made no provision,
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and so left us as it found us. Or understand it of the ceremonial law;
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that was a plaster not wide enough for the wound, it could never take
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away sin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:4">Heb. x. 4</A>.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) <I>The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus</I> does it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The covenant of grace made with us in Christ is a treasury of merit and
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grace, and thence we receive pardon and a new nature, <I>are freed from
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the law of sin and death,</I> that is, both from the guilt and power of
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sin--from the course of the law, and the dominion of the flesh. We are
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under another covenant, another master, another husband, under the
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<I>law of the Spirit,</I> the law that gives the Spirit, spiritual life
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to qualify us for eternal. The foundation of this freedom is laid in
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Christ's undertaking for us, of which he speaks
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>,
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<I>God sending his own Son.</I> Observe, When the law failed, God
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provided another method. Christ comes to do that which the law could
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not do. Moses brought the children of Israel to the borders of Canaan,
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and then died, and left them there; but Joshua did that which Moses
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could not do, and put them in possession of Canaan. Thus what the law
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could not do Christ did. The best exposition of this verse we have
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:1-10">Heb. x. 1-10</A>.
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To make the sense of the words clear, which in our translation is a
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little intricate, we may read it thus, with a little
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transposition:--<I>God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
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flesh, and a sacrifice for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, which the
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law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,</I> &c.,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Observe,
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[1.] How Christ appeared: <I>In the likeness of sinful flesh.</I> Not
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sinful, for he was holy, harmless, undefiled; but in the likeness of
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that flesh which was sinful. He took upon him that nature which was
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corrupt, though perfectly abstracted from the corruptions of it. His
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being circumcised, redeemed, baptized with John's baptism, bespeaks the
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likeness of sinful flesh. The bitings of the fiery serpents were cured
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by a serpent of brass, which had the shape, through free from the
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venom, of the serpents that bit them. It was great condescension that
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he who was God should be made in the likeness of flesh; but much
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greater that he who was holy should be made in the likeness of sinful
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flesh. <I>And for sin,</I>--here the best Greek copies place the comma.
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God sent him, <B><I>en homoiomati sarkos hamartias, kai peri
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hamartias</I></B>--<I>in the likeness of sinful flesh, and as a
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sacrifice for sin.</I> The LXX. call a sacrifice for sin no more than
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<B><I>peri hamartias</I></B>--<I>for sin;</I> so Christ was a
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sacrifice; he was sent to be so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:26">Heb. ix. 26</A>.
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[2.] What was done by this appearance of his: Sin <I>was condemned,</I>
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that is, God did therein more than ever manifest his hatred of sin; and
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not only so, but for all that are Christ's both the damning and the
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domineering power of sin is broken and taken out of the way. He that is
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condemned can neither accuse nor rule; his testimony is null, and his
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authority null. Thus by Christ is sin condemned; though it live and
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remain, its life in the saints is still but like that of a condemned
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malefactor. It was by the condemning of sin that death was disarmed,
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and the devil, who had the power of death, destroyed. The condemning of
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sin saved the sinner from condemnation. Christ was made sin for us
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:21">2 Cor. v. 21</A>),
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and, being so made, when he was condemned sin was condemned in the
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flesh of Christ, condemned in the human nature: So was sanctification
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made to divine justice, and way made for the salvation of the sinner.
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[3.] The happy effect of this upon us
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.</I> Both
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in our justification and in our sanctification, the righteousness of
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the law if fulfilled. A righteousness of satisfaction for the breach of
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the law is fulfilled by the imputation of Christ's complete and perfect
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righteousness, which answers the utmost demands of the law, as the
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mercy-seat was as long and as broad as the ark. A righteousness of
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obedience to the commands of the law is fulfilled in us, when by the
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Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and that love is the
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fulfilling of the law,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+13:10"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 10</A>.
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Though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet,
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blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that to be found upon
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and in all true believers which answers the intention of the law.
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<I>Us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.</I> This is
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the description of all those that are interested in this
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privilege--they act from spiritual and not from carnal principles; as
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for others, the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled upon them in
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their ruin. Now,</P>
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<P>
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2. Observe how we may answer to this character,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>,
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&c.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) By looking to our minds. How may we know whether we are after the
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flesh or after the Spirit? By examining what we mind, the things of the
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flesh or the things of the spirit. Carnal pleasure, worldly profit and
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honour, the things of sense and time, are the things of the flesh,
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which unregenerate people mind. The favour of God, the welfare of the
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soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which
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those that are after the Spirit do mind. The man is as the mind is. The
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mind is the forge of thoughts. <I>As he thinketh in his heart, so is
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he,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+23:7">Prov. xxiii. 7</A>.
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Which way do the thoughts move with most pleasure? On what do they
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dwell with most satisfaction? The mind is the seat of wisdom. Which way
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go the projects and contrivances? whether are we more wise for the
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world or for our souls? <B><I>phronousi ta tes sarkos</I></B>--<I>they
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savour the things of the flesh;</I> so the word is rendered,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+16:23">Matt. xvi. 23</A>.
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It is a great matter what our savour is, what truths, what tidings,
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what comforts, we do most relish, and are most agreeable to us. Now, to
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caution us against this carnal-mindedness, he shows the great misery
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and malignity of it, and compares it with the unspeakable excellency
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and comfort of spiritual-mindedness.
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[1.] It is death,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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It is spiritual death, the certain way to eternal death. It is the
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death of the soul; for it is its alienation from God, in union and
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communion with whom the life of the soul consists. A carnal soul is a
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dead soul, dead as a soul can die. She that <I>liveth in pleasure is
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dead</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+5:6">1 Tim. v. 6</A>),
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not only dead in law as guilty, but dead in state as carnal. Death
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includes all misery; carnal souls are miserable souls. But to be
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<I>spiritually minded,</I> <B><I>phronema tou pneumatos</I></B>--<I>a
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spiritual savour</I> (the wisdom that is from above, a principle of
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grace) is <I>life and peace;</I> it is the felicity and happiness of
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the soul. The life of the soul consists in its union with spiritual
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things by the mind. A sanctified soul is a living soul, and that life
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is peace; it is a very comfortable life. All the paths of spiritual
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wisdom are paths of peace. It is life and peace in the other world, as
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well as in this. Spiritual-mindedness is eternal life and peace begun,
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and an assuring earnest of the perfection of it.
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[2.] It is enmity to God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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and this is worse than the former. The former speaks the carnal sinner
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a dead man, which is bad; but this speaks him a devil of a man. It is
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not only an enemy, but enmity itself. It is not only the alienation of
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the soul from God, but the opposition of the soul against God; it
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rebels against his authority, thwarts his design, opposes his interest,
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spits in his face, spurns at his bowels. Can there be a greater enmity?
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An enemy may be reconciled, but enmity cannot. How should this humble
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us for and warn us against, carnal-mindedness! Shall we harbour and
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indulge that which is enmity to God our creator, owner, ruler, and
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benefactor? To prove this, he urges that <I>it is not subject to the
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law of God, neither indeed can be.</I> The holiness of the law of God,
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and the unholiness of the carnal mind, are as irreconcilable as light
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and darkness. The carnal man may, by the power of divine grace, be made
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subject to the law of God, but the <I>carnal mind</I> never can; this
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must be broken and expelled. See how wretchedly the corrupt will of man
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is enslaved to sin; as far as the carnal mind prevails, there is no
|
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inclination to the law of God; therefore wherever there is a change
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wrought it is by the power of God's grace, not by the freedom of man's
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will. Hence he infers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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<I>Those that are in the flesh cannot please God.</I> Those that are in
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a carnal unregenerate state, under the reigning power of sin, cannot do
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|
the things that please God, wanting grace, the pleasing principle, and
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an interest in Christ, the pleasing Mediator. The very <I>sacrifice of
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the wicked is an abomination,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+15:8">Prov. xv. 8</A>.
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Pleasing God is our highest end, of which those that are in the flesh
|
|
cannot but fall short; they cannot please him, nay, they cannot but
|
|
displease him. We may know our state and character,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) By enquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.</I> This expresses
|
|
states and conditions of the soul vastly different. All the saints have
|
|
flesh and spirit in them; but to be in the flesh and to be in the
|
|
Spirit are contrary. It denotes our being overcome and subdued by one
|
|
of these principles. As we say, A man is <I>in love,</I> or <I>in
|
|
drink,</I> that is, overcome by it. Now the great question is whether
|
|
we are in the flesh or in the Spirit; and how may we come to know it?
|
|
Why, by enquiring whether the Spirit of God dwell in us. The Spirit
|
|
dwelling in us is the best evidence of our being in the Spirit, for the
|
|
indwelling is mutual
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+4:16">1 John iv. 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Dwelleth in God, and God in him.</I> The Spirit visits many that are
|
|
unregenerate with his motions, which they resist and quench; but in all
|
|
that are sanctified he dwells; there he resides and rules. He is there
|
|
as a man at his own house, where he is constant and welcome, and has
|
|
the dominion. Shall we put this question to our own hearts, Who dwells,
|
|
who rules, who keeps house, here? Which interest has the ascendant? To
|
|
this he subjoins a general rule of trial: <I>If any man has not the
|
|
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.</I> To be Christ's (that is, to be
|
|
a Christian indeed, one of his children, his servants, his friends, in
|
|
union with him) is a privilege and honour which many pretend to that
|
|
have no part nor lot in the matter. None are his but those that have
|
|
his Spirit; that is,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That are spirited as he was spirited--are meek, and lowly, and
|
|
humble, and peaceable, and patient, and charitable, as he was. We
|
|
cannot tread in his steps unless we have his spirit; the frame and
|
|
disposition of our souls must be conformable to Christ's pattern.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That are actuated and guided by the Holy Spirit of God, as a
|
|
sanctifier, teacher, and comforter. Having the Spirit of Christ is the
|
|
same with having the Spirit of God to dwell in us. But those two come
|
|
much to one; for all that are actuated by the Spirit of God as their
|
|
rule are conformable to the spirit of Christ as their pattern. Now this
|
|
description of the character of those to whom belongs this first
|
|
privilege of freedom from condemnation is to be applied to all the
|
|
other privileges that follow.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_16"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Believer's Privileges.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 58.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 And if Christ <I>be</I> in you, the body <I>is</I> dead because of
|
|
sin; but the Spirit <I>is</I> life because of righteousness.
|
|
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead
|
|
dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also
|
|
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
|
|
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to
|
|
live after the flesh.
|
|
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye
|
|
through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall
|
|
live.
|
|
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
|
|
sons of God.
|
|
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to
|
|
fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
|
|
cry, Abba, Father.
|
|
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we
|
|
are the children of God:
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses the apostle represents two more excellent benefits,
|
|
which belong to true believers.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Life. The happiness is not barely a negative happiness, not to be
|
|
condemned; but it is positive, it is an advancement to a life that will
|
|
be the unspeakable happiness of the man
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>If Christ be in you.</I> Observe, If the Spirit be in us, Christ is
|
|
in us. He dwells in the heart by faith,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:17">Eph. iii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now we are here told what becomes of the bodies and souls of those in
|
|
whom Christ is.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. We cannot say but that <I>the body is dead;</I> it is a frail,
|
|
mortal, dying body, and it will be dead shortly; it is a house of clay,
|
|
whose foundation is in the dust. The life purchased and promised does
|
|
not immortalize the body in its present state. It is dead, that is, it
|
|
is appointed to die, it is under a sentence of death: as we say one
|
|
that is condemned is a dead man. In the midst of life we are in death:
|
|
be our bodies ever so strong, and healthful, and handsome, they are as
|
|
good as dead
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:12">Heb. xi. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and this <I>because of sin.</I> It is sin that kills the body. This
|
|
effect the first threatening has
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:19">Gen. iii. 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Dust thou art.</I> Methinks, were there no other argument, love to
|
|
our bodies should make us hate sin, because it is such an enemy to our
|
|
bodies. The death even of the bodies of the saints is a remaining token
|
|
of God's displeasure against sin.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. But the spirit, the precious soul, that is life; it is now
|
|
spiritually alive, nay, it is life. Grace in the soul is its new
|
|
nature; the life of the saint lies in the soul, while the life of the
|
|
sinner goes no further than the body. When the body dies, and returns
|
|
to the dust, <I>the spirit if life;</I> not only living and immortal,
|
|
but swallowed up of life. Death to the saints is but the freeing of the
|
|
heaven-born spirit from the clog and load of this body, that it may be
|
|
fit to partake of eternal life. When Abraham was dead, yet God was the
|
|
God of Abraham, for even then his spirit was life,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+22:31,32">Matt. xxii. 31, 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:15">Ps. xlix. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
And this <I>because of righteousness.</I> The righteousness of Christ
|
|
imputed to them secures the soul, the better part, from death; the
|
|
righteousness of Christ inherent in them, the renewed image of God upon
|
|
the soul, preserves it, and, by God's ordination, at death elevates it,
|
|
and improves it, and makes it meet to partake of the inheritance of the
|
|
saints in light. The eternal life of the soul consists in the vision
|
|
and fruition of God, and both assimilating, for which the soul is
|
|
qualified by the righteousness of sanctification. I refer to
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+17:15">Ps. xvii. 15</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>I will behold thy face in righteousness.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. There is a life reserved too for the poor body at last: <I>He shall
|
|
also quicken your mortal bodies,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Lord is for the body; and though at death it is cast aside as a
|
|
despised broken vessel, a vessel in which is no pleasure, yet God will
|
|
have a desire to the work of his hands
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+14:15">Job xiv. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
will remember his covenant with the dust, and will not lose a grain of
|
|
it; but the body shall be reunited to the soul, and clothed with a
|
|
glory agreeable to it. Vile bodies shall be newly fashioned,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+3:21,1Co+15:42">Phil. iii. 21; 1 Cor. xv. 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
Two great assurances of the resurrection of the body are mentioned:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) The resurrection of Christ: He <I>that raised up Christ from the
|
|
dead shall also quicken.</I> Christ rose as the head, and first-fruits,
|
|
and forerunner of all the saints,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:20">1 Cor. xv. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
The body of Christ lay in the grave, under the sin of all the elect
|
|
imputed, and broke through it. O grave, then, where is thy victory? It
|
|
is in the virtue of Christ's resurrection that we shall rise.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The indwelling of the Spirit. The same Spirit that raiseth the
|
|
soul now will raise the body shortly: <I>By his Spirit that dwelleth in
|
|
you.</I> The bodies of the saints are the temples of the Holy Ghost,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:16,6:19">1 Cor. iii. 16; vi. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now, though these temples may be suffered for awhile to lie in ruins,
|
|
yet they shall be rebuilt. The tabernacle of David, which has fallen
|
|
down, shall be repaired, whatever great mountains may be in the way.
|
|
The Spirit, breathing upon dead and dry bones, will make them live, and
|
|
the saints even in their flesh shall see God. Hence the apostle by the
|
|
way infers how much it is our duty to walk not after the flesh, but
|
|
after the Spirit,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let not our life be after the wills and motions of the flesh. Two
|
|
motives he mentions here:--
|
|
|
|
[1.] We are not debtors to the flesh, neither by relation, gratitude,
|
|
nor any other bond or obligation. We owe no suit nor service to our
|
|
carnal desires; we are indeed bound to clothe, and feed, and take care
|
|
of the body, as a servant to the soul in the service of God, but no
|
|
further. We are not debtors to it; the flesh never did us so much
|
|
kindness as to oblige us to serve it. It is implied that we are debtors
|
|
to Christ and to the Spirit: there we owe our all, all we have and all
|
|
we can do, by a thousand bonds and obligations. Being delivered from so
|
|
great a death by so great a ransom, we are deeply indebted to our
|
|
deliverer. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:19,20">1 Cor. vi. 19, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Consider the consequences, what will be at the end of the way.
|
|
Here are life and death, blessing and cursing, set before us. <I>If you
|
|
live after the flesh, you shall die;</I> that is, die eternally. It is
|
|
the pleasing, and serving, and gratifying, of the flesh, that are the
|
|
ruin of souls; that is, the second death. Dying indeed is the soul's
|
|
dying: the death of the saints is but a sleep. But, on the other hand,
|
|
<I>You shall live,</I> live and be happy to eternity; that is the true
|
|
life: <I>If you through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body,</I>
|
|
subdue and keep under all fleshly lusts and affections, deny yourselves
|
|
in the pleasing and humouring of the body, and this through the Spirit;
|
|
we cannot do it without the Spirit working it in us, and the Spirit
|
|
will not do it without our doing our endeavour. So that in a word we
|
|
are put upon this dilemma, either to displease the body or destroy the
|
|
soul.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The <I>Spirit of adoption</I> is another privilege belonging to
|
|
those that are in Christ Jesus,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:14-16"><I>v.</I> 14-16</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. All that are Christ's are taken into the relation of Children to
|
|
God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Their property: They are <I>led by the Spirit of God,</I> as a
|
|
scholar in his learning is led by his tutor, as a traveller in his
|
|
journey is led by his guide, as a soldier in his engagements is led by
|
|
his captain; not driven as beasts, but led as rational creatures, drawn
|
|
with the cords of a man and the bands of love. It is the undoubted
|
|
character of all true believers that they are led by the Spirit of God.
|
|
Having submitted themselves in believing to his guidance, they do in
|
|
their obedience follow that guidance, and are sweetly led into all
|
|
truth and all duty.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Their privilege: <I>They are the sons of God,</I> received into
|
|
the number of God's children by adoption, owned and loved by him as his
|
|
children.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. And those that are the sons of God have the Spirit,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) To work in them the disposition of children.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] <I>You have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Understand it, <I>First,</I> Of that spirit of bondage which the
|
|
Old-Testament church was under, by reason of the darkness and terror of
|
|
that dispensation. The veil signified bondage,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:15">2 Cor. iii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Compare
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Spirit of adoption was not then so plentifully poured out as now;
|
|
for the law opened the wound, but little of the remedy. Now you are not
|
|
under that dispensation, you have not received that spirit.
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> Of that spirit of bondage which many of the saints
|
|
themselves were under at their conversion, under the convictions of sin
|
|
and wrath set home by the Spirit; as those in
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:37">Acts ii. 37</A>,
|
|
|
|
the jailer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:30">Acts xvi. 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
Paul,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:6">Acts ix. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Then the Spirit himself was to the saints a spirit of bondage: "But,"
|
|
says the apostle, "with you this is over." "God as a Judge," says Dr.
|
|
Manton, "by the spirit of bondage, sends us to Christ as Mediator, and
|
|
Christ as Mediator, by the spirit of adoption, sends us back again to
|
|
God as a Father." Though a child of God may come under fear of bondage
|
|
again, and may be questioning his sonship, yet the blessed Spirit is
|
|
not again a spirit of bondage, for then he would witness an
|
|
untruth.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] But you <I>have received the Spirit of adoption.</I> Men may give
|
|
a charter of adoption; but it is God's prerogative, when he adopts, to
|
|
give a spirit of adoption--the nature of children. The Spirit of
|
|
adoption works in the children of God a filial love to God as a Father,
|
|
a delight in him, and a dependence upon him, as a Father. A sanctified
|
|
soul bears the image of God, as the child bears the image of the
|
|
father. <I>Whereby we cry, Abba, Father.</I> Praying is here called
|
|
<I>crying,</I> which is not only an earnest, but a natural expression
|
|
of desire; children that cannot speak vent their desires by crying.
|
|
Now, the Spirit teaches us in prayer to come to God as a Father, with a
|
|
holy humble confidence, emboldening the soul in that duty. <I>Abba,
|
|
Father. Abba</I> is a Syriac word signifying <I>father</I> or <I>my
|
|
father;</I> <B><I>pater,</I></B> a Greek work; and why both, <I>Abba,
|
|
Father?</I> Because Christ said so in prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:36">Mark xiv. 36</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Abba, Father:</I> and we have received the Spirit of the Son. It
|
|
denotes an affectionate endearing importunity, and a believing stress
|
|
laid upon the relation. Little children, begging of their parents, can
|
|
say little but <I>Father, Father,</I> and that is rhetoric enough. It
|
|
also denotes that the adoption is common both to Jews and Gentiles: the
|
|
Jews call him <I>Abba</I> in their language, the Greeks may call him
|
|
<B><I>pater</I></B> in their language; for in Christ Jesus there is
|
|
neither Greek nor Jew.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) To witness to the relation of children,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
The former is the work of the Spirit as a Sanctifier; this as a
|
|
Comforter. <I>Beareth witness with our spirit.</I> Many a man has the
|
|
witness of his own spirit to the goodness of his state who has not the
|
|
concurring testimony of the Spirit. Many speak peace to themselves to
|
|
whom the God of heaven does not speak peace. But those that are
|
|
sanctified have God's Spirit witnessing with their spirits, which is to
|
|
be understood not of any immediate extraordinary revelation, but an
|
|
ordinary work of the Spirit, in and by the means of comfort, speaking
|
|
peace to the soul. This testimony is always agreeable to the written
|
|
word, and is therefore always grounded upon sanctification; for the
|
|
Spirit in the heart cannot contradict the Spirit in the word. The
|
|
Spirit witnesses to none the privileges of children who have not the
|
|
nature and disposition of children.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_25"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Believer's Privileges.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 58.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs
|
|
with Christ; if so be that we suffer with <I>him,</I> that we may be
|
|
also glorified together.
|
|
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time <I>are</I>
|
|
not worthy <I>to be compared</I> with the glory which shall be
|
|
revealed in us.
|
|
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the
|
|
manifestation of the sons of God.
|
|
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly,
|
|
but by reason of him who hath subjected <I>the same</I> in hope,
|
|
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the
|
|
bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children
|
|
of God.
|
|
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth
|
|
in pain together until now.
|
|
23 And not only <I>they,</I> but ourselves also, which have the
|
|
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
|
|
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, <I>to wit,</I> the redemption of
|
|
our body.
|
|
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope:
|
|
for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
|
|
25 But if we hope for that we see not, <I>then</I> do we with
|
|
patience wait for <I>it.</I>
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these words the apostle describes a fourth illustrious branch of the
|
|
happiness of believers, namely, a title to the future glory. This is
|
|
fitly annexed to our sonship; for as the adoption of sons entitles us
|
|
to that glory, so the disposition of sons fits and prepares us for it.
|
|
<I>If children, then heirs,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
In earthly inheritances this rule does not hold, only the first-born
|
|
are heirs; but the church is a church of first-born, for they are all
|
|
heirs. Heaven is an inheritance that all the saints are heirs to. They
|
|
do not come to it as purchasers by any merit or procurement of their
|
|
own; but as heirs, purely by the act of God; for God makes heirs. The
|
|
saints are heirs though in this world they are heirs under age; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:1,2">Gal. iv. 1, 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their present state is a state of education and preparation for the
|
|
inheritance. How comfortable should this be to all the children of God,
|
|
how little soever they have in possession, that, being heirs, they have
|
|
enough in reversion! But the honour and happiness of an heir lie in the
|
|
value and worth of that which he is heir to: we read of those that
|
|
inherit the wind; and therefore we have here an abstract of the
|
|
premises.
|
|
|
|
1. <I>Heirs of God.</I> The Lord himself is the portion of the saints'
|
|
inheritance
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:5">Ps. xvi. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
a goodly heritage,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
The saints are spiritual priests, that have the Lord for their
|
|
inheritance,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:20">Num. xviii. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
The vision of God and the fruition of God make up the inheritance the
|
|
saints are heirs to. God himself will be with them, and will be their
|
|
God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:3">Rev. xxi. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. <I>Joint-heirs with Christ.</I> Christ, as Mediator, is said to be
|
|
the heir of all things
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+1:2">Heb. i. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and true believers, by virtue of their union with him, <I>shall inherit
|
|
all things,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:7">Rev. xxi. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that now partake of the Spirit of Christ, as his brethren, shall,
|
|
as his brethren, partake of his glory
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:24">John xvii. 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
shall sit down with him upon his throne,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:21">Rev. iii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Lord, what is man, that thou shouldst thus magnify him! Now this future
|
|
glory is further spoken of as the reward of present sufferings and as
|
|
the accomplishment of present hopes.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. As the reward of the saints' present sufferings; and it is a rich
|
|
reward: <I>If so be that we suffer with him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
or <I>forasmuch as we suffer with him.</I> The state of the church in
|
|
this world always is, but was then especially, an afflicted state; to
|
|
be a Christian was certainly to be a sufferer. Now, to comfort them in
|
|
reference to those sufferings, he tells them that they suffered with
|
|
Christ--for his sake, for his honour, and for the testimony of a good
|
|
conscience, and should be glorified with him. Those that suffered with
|
|
David in his persecuted state were advanced by him and with him when he
|
|
came to the crown; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:12">2 Tim. ii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
See the gains of suffering for Christ; though we may be losers for him,
|
|
we shall not, we cannot, be losers by him in the end. This the gospel
|
|
is filled with the assurances of. Now, that suffering saints may have
|
|
strong supports and consolations from their hopes of heaven, he holds
|
|
the balance
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
in a comparison between the two, which is observable.
|
|
|
|
1. In one scale he puts the <I>sufferings of this present time.</I> The
|
|
sufferings of the saints are but sufferings of this present time,
|
|
strike no deeper than the things of time, last no longer than the
|
|
present time
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:17">2 Cor. iv. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
light affliction, and but for a moment. So that on the sufferings he
|
|
writes <I>tekel,</I> weighed in the balance and found light.
|
|
|
|
2. In the other scale he puts the glory, and finds that a weight, an
|
|
exceeding and eternal weight: <I>Glory that shall be revealed.</I> In
|
|
our present state we come short, not only in the enjoyment, but in the
|
|
knowledge of that glory
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:9,1Jo+3:2">1 Cor. ii. 9; 1 John iii. 2</A>):
|
|
|
|
it shall be revealed. It surpasses all that we have yet seen and known:
|
|
present vouchsafements are sweet and precious, very precious, very
|
|
sweet; but there is something to come, something behind the curtain,
|
|
that will outshine all. <I>Shall be revealed in us;</I> not only
|
|
revealed to us, to be seen, but revealed in us, to be enjoyed. The
|
|
kingdom of God is within you, and will be so to eternity.
|
|
|
|
3. He concludes the sufferings <I>not worthy to be compared with the
|
|
glory</I>--<B><I>ouk axia pros ten doxan.</I></B> They cannot merit
|
|
that glory; and, if suffering for Christ will not merit, much less will
|
|
doing. They should not at all deter and frighten us from the diligent
|
|
and earnest pursuit of that glory. The sufferings are small and short,
|
|
and concern the body only; but the glory is rich and great, and
|
|
concerns the soul, and is eternal. This he reckons. <I>I
|
|
reckon</I>--<B><I>logizomai.</I></B> It is not a rash and sudden
|
|
determination, but the product of a very serious and deliberate
|
|
consideration. He had reasoned the case within himself, weighed the
|
|
arguments on both sides, and thus at last resolves the point. O how
|
|
vastly different is the sentence of the word from the sentiment of the
|
|
world concerning the sufferings of this present time! <I>I reckon,</I>
|
|
as an arithmetician that is balancing an account. He first sums up what
|
|
is disbursed for Christ in the sufferings of this present time, and
|
|
finds they come to very little; he then sums up what is secured to us
|
|
by Christ in the glory that shall be revealed, and this he finds to be
|
|
an infinite sum, transcending all conception, the disbursement
|
|
abundantly made up and the losses infinitely countervailed. And who
|
|
would be afraid then to suffer for Christ, who as he is before-hand
|
|
with us in suffering, so he will not be behind-hand with us in
|
|
recompence? Now Paul was as competent a judge of this point as ever any
|
|
mere man was. He could reckon not by art only, but by experience; for
|
|
he knew both. He knew what the sufferings of this present time were;
|
|
see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:23-28">2 Cor. xi. 23-28</A>.
|
|
|
|
He knew what the glory of heaven is; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+12:3,4">2 Cor. xii. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, upon the view of both, he gives this judgment here. There is
|
|
nothing like a believing view of the glory which shall be revealed to
|
|
support and bear up the spirit under all the sufferings of this present
|
|
time. The reproach of Christ appears riches to those who have respect
|
|
to the recompence of reward,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:26">Heb. xi. 26</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. As the accomplishment of the saints' present hopes and
|
|
expectations,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. As the saints are suffering for it, so they are waiting for it.
|
|
Heaven is therefore sure; for God by his Spirit would not raise and
|
|
encourage those hopes only to defeat and disappoint them. He will
|
|
establish that word unto his servants on which he has caused them to
|
|
hope
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:49">Ps. cxix. 49</A>),
|
|
|
|
and heaven is therefore sweet; for, if hope deferred makes the heart
|
|
sick, surely when the desire comes it will be a tree of life,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+13:12">Prov. xiii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now he observes an expectation of this glory,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. In the creatures
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:19-22"><I>v.</I> 19-22</A>.
|
|
|
|
That must needs be a great, a transcendent glory, which all the
|
|
creatures are so earnestly expecting and longing for. This observation
|
|
in these verses has some difficulty in it, which puzzles interpreters a
|
|
little; and the more because it is a remark not made in any other
|
|
scripture, with which it might be compared. By the <I>creature</I> here
|
|
we understand, not as some do the Gentile world, and their expectation
|
|
of Christ and the gospel, which is an exposition very foreign and
|
|
forced, but the whole frame of nature, especially that of this lower
|
|
world--the whole creation, the compages of inanimate and sensible
|
|
creatures, which, because of their harmony and mutual dependence, and
|
|
because they all constitute and make up one world, are spoken of in the
|
|
singular number as the <I>creature.</I> The sense of the apostle in
|
|
these four verses we may take in the following observations:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) That there is a present vanity to which the creature, by reason of
|
|
the sin of man, is made subject,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
When man sinned, the ground was cursed for man's sake, and with it all
|
|
the creatures (especially of this lower world, where our acquaintance
|
|
lies) became subject to that curse, became mutable and mortal. <I>Under
|
|
the bondage of corruption,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
There is an impurity, deformity, and infirmity, which the creature has
|
|
contracted by the fall of man: the creation is sullied and stained,
|
|
much of the beauty of the world gone. There is an enmity of one
|
|
creature to another; they are all subject to continual alteration and
|
|
decay of the individuals, liable to the strokes of God's judgments upon
|
|
man. When the world was drowned, and almost all the creatures in it,
|
|
surely then it was subject to vanity indeed. The whole species of
|
|
creatures is designed for, and is hastening to, a total dissolution by
|
|
fire. And it is not the least part of their vanity and bondage that
|
|
they are used, or abused rather, by men as instruments of sin. The
|
|
creatures are often abused to the dishonour of their Creator, the hurt
|
|
of his children, or the service of his enemies. When the creatures are
|
|
made the food and fuel of our lusts, they are subject to vanity, they
|
|
are captivated by the law of sin. And this <I>not willingly,</I> not of
|
|
their own choice. All the creatures desire their own perfection and
|
|
consummation; when they are made instruments of sin it is not
|
|
willingly. Or, They are thus captivated, not for any sin of their own,
|
|
which they had committed, but for man's sin: <I>By reason of him who
|
|
hath subjected the same.</I> Adam did it meritoriously; the creatures
|
|
being delivered to him, when he by sin delivered himself he delivered
|
|
them likewise into the bondage of corruption. God did it judicially; he
|
|
passed a sentence upon the creatures for the sin of man, by which they
|
|
became subject. And this yoke (poor creatures) they bear in hope that
|
|
it will not be so always. <B><I>Ep elpidi hoti kai,</I></B> &c.--<I>in
|
|
hope that the creature itself;</I> so many Greek copies join the words.
|
|
We have reason to pity the poor creatures that for our sin have become
|
|
subject to vanity.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That the creatures <I>groan and travail in pain</I> together under
|
|
this vanity and corruption,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is a figurative expression. Sin is a burden to the whole creation;
|
|
the sin of the Jews, in crucifying Christ, set the earth a quaking
|
|
under them. The idols were a burden to the weary beast,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+46:1">Isa. xlvi. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
There is a general outcry of the whole creation against the sin of man:
|
|
the stone crieth out of the wall
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:11">Hab. ii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
the land cries,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+31:38">Job xxxi. 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That the creature, that is now thus burdened, shall, at the time
|
|
of the restitution of all things, be <I>delivered from this bondage
|
|
into the glorious liberty of the children of God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>)--
|
|
|
|
they shall no more be subject to vanity and corruption, and the other
|
|
fruits of the curse; but, on the contrary, this lower world shall be
|
|
renewed: when there will be new heavens there will be a new earth
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+3:13,Re+21:1">2 Pet. iii. 13; Rev. xxi. 1</A>);
|
|
|
|
and there shall be a glory conferred upon all the creatures, which
|
|
shall be (in the proportion of their natures) as suitable and as great
|
|
an advancement as the glory of the children of God shall be to them.
|
|
The fire at the last day shall be a refining, not a destroying
|
|
annihilating fire. What becomes of the souls of brutes, that go
|
|
downwards, none can tell. But it should seem by the scripture that
|
|
there will be some kind of restoration of them. And if it be objected,
|
|
What use will they be of to glorified saints? we may suppose them of as
|
|
much use as they were to Adam in innocency; and if it be only to
|
|
illustrate the wisdom, power, and goodness of their Creator, that is
|
|
enough. Compare with this
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:10-13,98:7-9">Ps. xcvi. 10-13; xcviii. 7-9</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Let the heavens rejoice before the Lord, for he cometh.</I>
|
|
|
|
(4.) That the creature doth therefore earnestly expect and wait for the
|
|
<I>manifestation of the children of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe, At the second coming of Christ there will be a manifestation
|
|
of the children of God. Now the saints are God's hidden ones, the wheat
|
|
seems lost in a heap of chaff; but then they shall be manifested. It
|
|
does not yet appear what we shall be
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+3:2">1 John iii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
but then the glory shall be revealed. The children of God shall appear
|
|
in their own colours. And this redemption of the creature is reserved
|
|
till then; for, as it was with man and for man that they fell under the
|
|
curse, so with man and for man they shall be delivered. All the curse
|
|
and filth that now adhere to the creature shall be done away then when
|
|
those that have suffered with Christ upon earth shall reign with him
|
|
upon the earth. This the whole creation looks and longs for; and it
|
|
may serve as a reason why now a good man should be merciful to his
|
|
beast.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. In the saints, who are new creatures,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:23-25"><I>v.</I> 23-25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The grounds of this expectation in the saints. It is our having
|
|
received <I>the first-fruits of the Spirit,</I> which both quickens our
|
|
desires and encourages our hopes, and both ways raises our
|
|
expectations. The first-fruits did both sanctify and ensure the lump.
|
|
Grace is the first-fruits of glory, it is glory begun. We, having
|
|
received such clusters in this wilderness, cannot but long for the full
|
|
vintage in the heavenly Canaan. <I>Not only they</I>--not only the
|
|
creatures which are not capable of such a happiness as the first-fruits
|
|
of the Spirit, but even we, who have such present rich receivings,
|
|
cannot but long for something more and greater. In having the
|
|
first-fruits of the Spirit we have that which is very precious, but we
|
|
have not all we would have. <I>We groan within ourselves,</I> which
|
|
denotes the strength and secrecy of these desires; not making a loud
|
|
noise, as the hypocrites howling upon the bed for corn and wine, but
|
|
with silent groans, which pierce heaven soonest of all. Or, <I>We groan
|
|
among ourselves.</I> It is the unanimous vote, the joint desire, of the
|
|
whole church, all agree in this: <I>Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.</I>
|
|
The groaning denotes a very earnest and importunate desire, the soul
|
|
pained with the delay. Present receivings and comforts are consistent
|
|
with a great many groans; not as the pangs of one dying, but as the
|
|
throes of a woman in travail--groans that are symptoms of life, not of
|
|
death.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The object of this expectation. What is it we are thus desiring
|
|
and waiting for? What would we have? <I>The adoption, to wit, the
|
|
redemption of our body.</I> Though the soul be the principal part of
|
|
the man, yet the Lord has declared himself for the body also, and has
|
|
provided a great deal of honour and happiness for the body. The
|
|
resurrection is here called <I>the redemption of the body.</I> It shall
|
|
then be rescued from the power of death and the grave, and the bondage
|
|
of corruption; and, though a vile body, yet it shall be refined and
|
|
beautified, and made like that glorious body of Christ,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+3:21,1Co+15:42">Phil. iii. 21; 1 Cor. xv. 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is called <I>the adoption.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] It is the adoption manifested before all the world, angels and
|
|
men. Now are we the sons of God, but it does not yet appear, the honour
|
|
is now clouded; but then God will publicly own all his children. The
|
|
deed of adoption, which is now written, signed, and sealed, will then
|
|
be recognized, proclaimed, and published. As Christ was, so the saints
|
|
will be, declared to be the sons of God with power, by the resurrection
|
|
from the dead,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:4"><I>ch.</I> i. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
It will then be put past dispute.
|
|
|
|
[2.] It is the adoption perfected and completed. The children of God
|
|
have bodies as well as souls; and, till those bodies are brought into
|
|
the glorious liberty of the children of God, the adoption is not
|
|
perfect. But then it will be complete, when the Captain of our
|
|
salvation shall bring the many sons to glory,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:10">Heb. ii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is that which we expect, in hope of which our flesh rests,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:9,10">Ps. xvi. 9, 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
All the days of our appointed time we are waiting, till this change
|
|
shall come, when he shall call, and we shall answer, and he will have a
|
|
desire to the work of his hands,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+14:14,15">Job xiv. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) The agreeableness of this to our present state,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:24,25"><I>v.</I> 24, 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Our happiness is not in present possession: <I>We are saved by
|
|
hope.</I> In this, as in other things, God hath made our present state
|
|
a state of trial and probation--that our reward is out of sight. Those
|
|
that will deal with God must deal upon trust. It is acknowledged that
|
|
one of the principal graces of a Christian is hope
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+13:13">1 Cor. xiii. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
which necessarily implies a good thing to come, which is the object of
|
|
that hope. Faith respects the promise, hope the thing promised. Faith
|
|
is the evidence, hope the expectation, of things not seen. Faith is the
|
|
mother of hope. <I>We do with patience wait.</I> In hoping for this
|
|
glory we have need of patience, to bear the sufferings we meet with in
|
|
the way to it and the delays of it. Our way is rough and long; but he
|
|
that shall come will come, and will not tarry; and therefore, though he
|
|
seem to tarry, it becomes us to wait for him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_28"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Believer's Privileges.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 58.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we
|
|
know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit
|
|
itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
|
|
uttered.
|
|
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what <I>is</I> the mind
|
|
of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints
|
|
according to <I>the will of</I> God.
|
|
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them
|
|
that love God, to them who are the called according to <I>his</I>
|
|
purpose.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The apostle here suggests two privileges more to which true Christians
|
|
are entitled:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The help of the Spirit in prayer. While we are in this world, hoping
|
|
and waiting for what we see not, we must be praying. Hope supposes
|
|
desire, and that desire offered up to God is prayer; we groan. Now
|
|
observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Our weakness in prayer: <I>We know not what we should pray for as we
|
|
ought.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) As to the matter of our requests, we know not what to ask. We are
|
|
not competent judges of our own condition. <I>Who knows what is good
|
|
for a man in this life?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+6:12">Eccl. vi. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
We are short-sighted, and very much biassed in favour of the flesh, and
|
|
apt to separate the end from the way. <I>You know not what you ask,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:22">Matt. xx. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
We are like foolish children, that are ready to cry for fruit before it
|
|
is ripe and fit for them; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+9:54,55">Luke ix. 54, 55</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) As to the manner, we know not how to pray as we ought. It is not
|
|
enough that we do that which is good, but we must do it well, seek in a
|
|
due order; and here we are often at a loss--graces are weak, affections
|
|
cold, thoughts wandering, and it is not always easy to <I>find the
|
|
heart to pray,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+7:27">2 Sam. vii. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
The apostle speaks of this in the first person: <I>We know not.</I> He
|
|
puts himself among the rest. Folly, and weakness, and distraction in
|
|
prayer, are what all the saints are complaining of. If so great a saint
|
|
as Paul knew not what to pray for, what little reason have we to go
|
|
forth about that duty in our own strength!</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The assistances which the Spirit gives us in that duty. He <I>helps
|
|
our infirmities,</I> meant especially of our praying infirmities, which
|
|
most easily beset us in that duty, against which the Spirit helps. The
|
|
Spirit in the world helps; many rules and promises there are in the
|
|
word for our help. The Spirit in the heart helps, dwelling in us,
|
|
working in us, as a Spirit of grace and supplication, especially with
|
|
respect to the infirmities we are under when we are in a suffering
|
|
state, when our faith is most apt to fail; for this end the Holy Ghost
|
|
was poured out. <I>Helpeth,</I>
|
|
<B><I>synantilambanetai</I></B>--<I>heaves with us, over against us,</I>
|
|
helps as we help one that would lift up a burden, by lifting over
|
|
against him at the other end--helps with us, that is, with us doing our
|
|
endeavour, putting forth the strength we have. We must not sit still,
|
|
and expect that the Spirit should do all; when the Spirit goes before
|
|
us we must bestir ourselves. We cannot without God, and he will not
|
|
without us. What help? Why, the <I>Spirit itself makes intercession for
|
|
us,</I> dictates our requests, indites our petitions, draws up our plea
|
|
for us. Christ intercedes for us in heaven, the Spirit intercedes for
|
|
us in our hearts; so graciously has God provided for the encouragement
|
|
of the praying remnant. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches
|
|
us what to pray for, as a sanctifying Spirit works and excites praying
|
|
graces, as a comforting Spirit silences our fears, and helps us over
|
|
all our discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all our
|
|
desires and breathings towards God. Now this intercession which the
|
|
Spirit makes is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>With groanings that cannot be uttered.</I> The strength and
|
|
fervency of those desires which the Holy Spirit works are hereby
|
|
intimated. There may be praying in the Spirit where there is not a word
|
|
spoken; as Moses prayed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+14:15">Exod. xiv. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Hannah,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+1:13">1 Sam. i. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is not the rhetoric and eloquence, but the faith and fervency, of
|
|
our prayers, that the Spirit works, as an intercessor, in us. <I>Cannot
|
|
be uttered;</I> they are so confused, the soul is in such a hurry with
|
|
temptations and troubles, we know not what to say, nor how to express
|
|
ourselves. Here is the Spirit interceding with groans that cannot be
|
|
uttered. When we can but cry, <I>Abba, Father,</I> and refer ourselves
|
|
to him with a holy humble boldness, this is the work of the Spirit.
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>According to the will of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Spirit in the heart never contradicts the Spirit in the word. Those
|
|
desires that are contrary to the will of God do not come from the
|
|
Spirit. The Spirit interceding in us evermore melts our wills into the
|
|
will of God. <I>Not as I will, but as thou wilt.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The sure success of these intercessions: <I>He that searches the
|
|
heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
To a hypocrite, all whose religion lies in his tongue, nothing is more
|
|
dreadful than that God searches the heart and sees through all his
|
|
disguises. To a sincere Christian, who makes heart-work of his duty,
|
|
nothing is more comfortable than that God searches the heart, for then
|
|
he will hear and answer those desires which we want words to express.
|
|
He knows what we have need of before we ask,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:8">Matt. vi. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
He knows what is the mind of his own Spirit in us. And, as he always
|
|
hears the Son interceding for us, so he always hears the Spirit
|
|
interceding in us, because his intercession is according to the will of
|
|
God. What could have been done more for the comfort of the Lord's
|
|
people, in all their addresses to God? Christ had said, "Whatever you
|
|
ask the Father according to his will he will give it you." But how
|
|
shall we learn to ask according to his will? Why, the Spirit will teach
|
|
us that. Therefore it is that the seed of Jacob never seek in
|
|
vain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The concurrence of all providences for the good of those that are
|
|
Christ's,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
It might be objected that, notwithstanding all these privileges, we see
|
|
believers compassed about with manifold afflictions; though the Spirit
|
|
makes intercession for them, yet their troubles are continued. It is
|
|
very true; but in this the Spirit's intercession is always effectual,
|
|
that, however it goes with them, all this is working together for their
|
|
good. Observe here.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The character of the saints, who are interested in this privilege;
|
|
they are here described by such properties as are common to all that
|
|
are truly sanctified.
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>They love God.</I> This includes all the out-goings of the
|
|
soul's affections towards God as the chief good and highest end. It is
|
|
our love to God that makes every providence sweet, and therefore
|
|
profitable. Those that love God make the best of all he does, and take
|
|
all in good part.
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>They are the called according to his purpose,</I> effectually
|
|
called according to the eternal purpose. The call is effectual, not
|
|
according to any merit or desert of ours, but according to God's own
|
|
gracious purpose.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The privilege of the saints, that <I>all things work together for
|
|
good to them,</I> that is, all the providences of God that concern
|
|
them. All that God performs he performs for them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+57:2">Ps. lvii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their sins are not of his performing, therefore not intended here,
|
|
though his permitting sin is made to work for their good,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:31">2 Chron. xxxii. 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
But all the providences of God are theirs--merciful providences,
|
|
afflicting providences, personal, public. They are all for good;
|
|
perhaps for temporal good, as Joseph's troubles; at least, for
|
|
spiritual and eternal good. That is good for them which does their
|
|
souls good. Either directly or indirectly, every providence has a
|
|
tendency to the spiritual good of those that love God, breaking them
|
|
off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world,
|
|
fitting them for heaven. <I>Work together.</I> They work, as physic
|
|
works upon the body, various ways, according to the intention of the
|
|
physician; but all for the patient's good. <I>They work together,</I>
|
|
as several ingredients in a medicine concur to answer the intention.
|
|
God hath set the one over against the other
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+7:14">Eccl. vii. 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<B><I>synergei,</I></B> a very singular, with a noun plural, denoting
|
|
the harmony of Providence and its uniform designs, all the wheels as
|
|
one wheel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:13">Ezek. x. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>He worketh all things together for good;</I> so some read it. It is
|
|
not from any specific quality in the providences themselves, but from
|
|
the power and grace of God working in, with, and by, these providences.
|
|
All this <I>we know</I>--know it for a certainty, from the word of God,
|
|
from our own experience, and from the experience of all the saints.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_30"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Believer's Privileges.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 58.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate <I>to be</I>
|
|
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
|
|
among many brethren.
|
|
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and
|
|
whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified,
|
|
them he also glorified.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The apostle, having reckoned up so many ingredients of the happiness of
|
|
true believers, comes here to represent the ground of them all, which
|
|
he lays in predestination. These precious privileges are conveyed to us
|
|
by the charter of the covenant, but they are founded in the counsel of
|
|
God, which infallibly secures the event. That Jesus Christ, the
|
|
purchaser, might not labour in vain, nor spend his strength and life
|
|
for nought and in vain, there is a remnant given him, a seed that he
|
|
shall see, so that the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his
|
|
hands. For the explication of this he here sets before us the order of
|
|
the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, which cannot be broken.
|
|
There are four links of it:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. <I>Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to
|
|
the image of his Son.</I> All that God designed for glory and happiness
|
|
as the end he decreed to grace and holiness as the way. Not, whom he
|
|
did foreknow to be holy those he predestinated to be so. The counsels
|
|
and decrees of God do not truckle to the frail and fickle will of men;
|
|
no, God's foreknowledge of the saints is the same with that everlasting
|
|
love wherewith he is said to have loved them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:3">Jer. xxxi. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
God's knowing his people is the same with his owning them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+1:6,Joh+10:14,2Ti+2:19">Ps. i. 6; John x. 14; 2 Tim. ii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:2"><I>ch.</I> xi. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
Words of knowledge often in scripture denote affection; so here:
|
|
<I>Elect according to the foreknowledge of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:2">1 Pet. i. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
And the same word is rendered <I>fore-ordained,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:20">1 Pet. i. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Whom he did foreknow,</I> that is, whom he designed for his friends
|
|
and favourites. <I>I know thee by name,</I> said God to Moses,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+33:12">Exod. xxxiii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now those whom god thus foreknew he did predestinate to be conformed to
|
|
Christ.
|
|
|
|
1. Holiness consists in our conformity to the image of Christ. This
|
|
takes in the whole of sanctification, of which Christ is the great
|
|
pattern and sampler. To be spirited as Christ was, to walk and live as
|
|
Christ did, to bear our sufferings patiently as Christ did. Christ is
|
|
the express image of his Father, and the saints are conformed to the
|
|
image of Christ. Thus it is by the mediation and interposal of Christ
|
|
that we have God's love restored to us and God's likeness renewed upon
|
|
us, in which two things consists the happiness of man.
|
|
|
|
2. All that God hath from eternity foreknown with favour he hath
|
|
predestinated to this conformity. It is not we that can conform
|
|
ourselves to Christ. Our giving ourselves to Christ takes rise in God's
|
|
giving us to him; and, in giving us to him, he predestinated us to be
|
|
conformable to his image. It is a mere cavil therefore to call the
|
|
doctrine of election a licentious doctrine, and to argue that it gives
|
|
encouragement to sin, as if the end were separated from the way and
|
|
happiness from holiness. None can know their election but by their
|
|
conformity to the image of Christ; for all that are chosen are chosen
|
|
to sanctification
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+2:13">2 Thess. ii. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and surely it cannot be a temptation to any to be conformed to the
|
|
world to believe that they were predestinated to be conformed to
|
|
Christ.
|
|
|
|
3. That which is herein chiefly designed is the honour of Jesus Christ,
|
|
that he might be the <I>first-born among many brethren;</I> that is,
|
|
that Christ might have the honour of being the great pattern, as well
|
|
as the great prince, and in this, as in other things, might have
|
|
pre-eminence. It was in the first-born that all the children were
|
|
dedicated to God under the law. The first-born was the head of the
|
|
family, on whom all the rest did depend: now in the family of the
|
|
saints Christ must have the honour of being the first-born. And blessed
|
|
be God that there are many brethren; though they seem but a few in one
|
|
place at one time, yet, when they come all together, they will be a
|
|
great many. There is, therefore, a certain number predestinated, that
|
|
the end of Christ's undertaking might be infallibly secured. Had the
|
|
event been left at uncertainties in the divine counsels, to depend upon
|
|
the contingent turn of man's will, Christ might have been the
|
|
first-born among but few or no brethren--a captain without soldiers and
|
|
a prince without subjects--to prevent which, and to secure to him many
|
|
brethren, the decree is absolute, the thing ascertained, that he might
|
|
be sure to see his seed, there is a remnant predestinated to be
|
|
conformed to his image, which decree will certainly have its
|
|
accomplishment in the holiness and happiness of that chosen race; and
|
|
so, in spite of all the opposition of the powers of darkness, Christ
|
|
will be the first-born among many, very many brethren.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. <I>Whom he did predestinate those he also called,</I> not only with
|
|
the external call (so many are called that were not chosen,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:16,22:14">Matt. xx. 16; xxii. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
but with the internal and effectual call. The former comes to the ear
|
|
only, but this to the heart. All that God did from eternity
|
|
predestinate to grace and glory he does, in the fulness of time,
|
|
effectually call. The call is then effectual when we come at the call;
|
|
and we then come at the call when the Spirit draws us, convinces the
|
|
conscience of guilt and wrath, enlightens the understanding, bows the
|
|
will, persuades and enables us to embrace Christ in the promises, makes
|
|
us willing in the day of his power. It is an effectual call from self
|
|
and earth to God, and Christ, and heaven, as our end--from sin and
|
|
vanity to grace, and holiness, and seriousness as our way. This is the
|
|
gospel call. <I>Them he called,</I> that the purpose of God, according
|
|
to election, might stand: we are called to that to which we were
|
|
chosen. So that the only way to make our election sure is to make sure
|
|
our calling,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+1:10">2 Pet. i. 10</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. <I>Whom he called those he also justified.</I> All that are
|
|
effectually called are justified, absolved from guilt, and accepted as
|
|
righteous through Jesus Christ. They are <I>recti in curia--right in
|
|
court;</I> no sin that ever they have been guilty of shall come against
|
|
them, to condemn them. The book is crossed, the bond cancelled, the
|
|
judgment vacated, the attainder reversed; and they are no longer dealt
|
|
with as criminals, but owned and loved as friends and favourites.
|
|
Blessed is the man whose iniquity is thus forgiven. None are thus
|
|
justified but those that are effectually called. Those that stand it
|
|
out against the gospel call abide under guilt and wrath.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. <I>Whom he justified those he also glorified.</I> The power of
|
|
corruption being broken in effectual calling, and the guilt of sin
|
|
removed in justification, all that which hinders is taken out of the
|
|
way, and nothing can come between that soul and glory. Observe, It is
|
|
spoken of as a thing done: <I>He glorified,</I> because of the
|
|
certainty of it; he <I>hath</I> saved us, and called us with a holy
|
|
calling. In the eternal glorification of all the elect, God's design of
|
|
love has its full accomplishment. This was what he aimed at all
|
|
along--to bring them to heaven. Nothing less than that glory would make
|
|
up the fulness of his covenant relation to them as God; and therefore,
|
|
in all he does for them, and in them, he has this in his eye. Are they
|
|
chosen? It is to salvation. Called? It is to his kingdom and glory.
|
|
Begotten again? It is to an inheritance incorruptible. Afflicted: It is
|
|
to work for them this exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Observe,
|
|
The author of all these is the same. It is God himself that
|
|
predestinated, calleth, justifieth, glorifieth; so <I>the Lord alone
|
|
did lead him, and there was no strange God with him.</I> Created wills
|
|
are so very fickle, and created powers so very feeble, that, if any of
|
|
these did depend upon the creature, the whole would shake. But God
|
|
himself hath undertaken the doing of it from first to last, that we
|
|
might abide in a constant dependence upon him and subjection to him,
|
|
and ascribe all the praise to him--that every crown may be cast before
|
|
the throne. This is a mighty encouragement to our faith and hope; for,
|
|
as for God, his way, his work, is perfect. He that hath laid the
|
|
foundation will build upon it, and the top-stone will at length be
|
|
brought forth with shoutings, and it will be our eternal work to cry,
|
|
Grace, grace to it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ro8_39"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Believer's Triumph.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 58.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>31 What shall we then say to these things? If God <I>be</I> for us,
|
|
who <I>can be</I> against us?
|
|
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
|
|
all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
|
|
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? <I>It
|
|
is</I> God that justifieth.
|
|
34 Who <I>is</I> he that condemneth? <I>It is</I> Christ that died, yea
|
|
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
|
|
God, who also maketh intercession for us.
|
|
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? <I>shall</I>
|
|
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
|
|
nakedness, or peril, or sword?
|
|
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day
|
|
long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
|
|
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
|
|
him that loved us.
|
|
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
|
|
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
|
|
things to come,
|
|
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able
|
|
to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
|
|
Lord.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The apostle closes this excellent discourse upon the privileges of
|
|
believers with a holy triumph, in the name of all the saints. Having
|
|
largely set forth the mystery of God's love to us in Christ, and the
|
|
exceedingly great and precious privileges we enjoy by him, he concludes
|
|
like an orator: <I>What shall we then say to these things?</I> What use
|
|
shall we make of all that has been said? He speaks as one amazed and
|
|
swallowed up with the contemplation and admiration of it, wondering at
|
|
the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ,
|
|
which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things the less we
|
|
wonder at them; but the further we are led into an acquaintance with
|
|
gospel mysteries the more we are affected with the admiration of them.
|
|
If Paul was at a loss what to say to these things, no marvel if we be.
|
|
And what does he say? Why, if ever Paul rode in a triumphant chariot on
|
|
this side of heaven, here it was: with such a holy height and bravery
|
|
of spirit, with such a fluency and copiousness of expression, does he
|
|
here comfort himself and all the people of God, upon the consideration
|
|
of these privileges. In general, he here makes a challenge, throws down
|
|
the gauntlet, as it were, dares all the enemies of the saints to do
|
|
their worst: <I>If God be for us, who can be against us?</I> The ground
|
|
of the challenge is God's being for us; in this he sums up all our
|
|
privileges. This includes all, that <I>God is for us;</I> not only
|
|
reconciled to us, and so not against us, but in covenant with us, and
|
|
so engaged for us--all his attributes for us, his promises for us. All
|
|
that he is, and has, and does, is for his people. He performs all
|
|
things for them. He is for them, even when he seems to act against
|
|
them. And, if so, <I>who can be against us,</I> so as to prevail
|
|
against us, so as to hinder our happiness? Be they ever so great and
|
|
strong, ever so many, ever so might, ever so malicious, what can they
|
|
do? While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with a holy
|
|
boldness defy all the powers of darkness. Let Satan do his worst, he is
|
|
chained; let the world do its worst, it is conquered: principalities
|
|
and powers are spoiled and disarmed, and triumphed over, in the cross
|
|
of Christ. Who then dares fight against us, while God himself is
|
|
fighting for us? And this we say to these things, this is the inference
|
|
we draw from these premises. More particularly.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. We have supplies ready in all our wants
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He that spared,</I> &c. Who can be against us, to strip us, to
|
|
deprive us of our comforts? Who can cut off our streams, while we have
|
|
a fountain to go to?
|
|
|
|
1. Observe what God has done for us, on which our hopes are built:
|
|
<I>He spared not his own Son.</I> When he was to undertake our
|
|
salvation, the Father was willing to part with him, did not think him
|
|
too precious a gift to bestow for the salvation of poor souls; now we
|
|
may know that he loves us, in that he hath not withheld his Son, his
|
|
own Son, his only Son, from us, as he said of Abraham,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:12">Gen. xxii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
If nothing less will save man, rather than man shall perish let him go,
|
|
though it were out of his bosom. Thus did he <I>deliver him up for us
|
|
all,</I> that is, for all the elect; <I>for us all,</I> not only for
|
|
our good, but in our stead, as a sacrifice of atonement to be a
|
|
propitiation for sin. When he had undertaken it, he did not spare him.
|
|
Though he was his own Son, yet, being made sin for us, it pleased the
|
|
Lord to bruise him. <B><I>Ouk epheisato</I></B>--<I>he did not
|
|
abate</I> him a farthing of that great debt, but charged it home.
|
|
<I>Awake, O sword.</I> He did not <I>spare his own Son that served
|
|
him,</I> that he might spare us, though we have done him so much
|
|
disservice.
|
|
|
|
2. What we may therefore expect he will do: He will <I>with him freely
|
|
give us all things.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is implied that he will give us Christ, for other things are
|
|
bestowed with him: not only with him given for us, but with him given
|
|
to us. He that put himself to so much charge to make the purchase for
|
|
us surely will not hesitate at making the application to us.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He will with him freely give us all things, all things that he
|
|
sees to be needful and necessary for us, all good things, and more we
|
|
should not desire,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+34:10">Ps. xxxiv. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
And Infinite Wisdom shall be the judge whether it be good for us and
|
|
needful for us or no. <I>Freely give</I>--freely, without reluctancy;
|
|
he is ready to give, meets us with his favours;--and freely, without
|
|
recompence, without money, and without price. <I>How shall he not?</I>
|
|
Can it be imagined that he should do the greater and not do the less?
|
|
that he should give so great a gift for us when we were enemies, and
|
|
should deny us any good thing, now that through him we are friends and
|
|
children? Thus may we by faith argue against our fears of want. He that
|
|
hath prepared a crown and kingdom for us will be sure to give us enough
|
|
to bear our charges in the way to it. He that hath designed us for the
|
|
inheritance of sons when we come to age will not let us want
|
|
necessaries in the mean time.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. We have an answer ready to all accusations and a security against
|
|
all condemnations
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:33,34"><I>v.</I> 33, 34</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Who shall lay any thing?</I> Doth the law accuse them? Do their own
|
|
consciences accuse them? Is the devil, the accuser of the brethren,
|
|
accusing them before our God day and night? This is enough to answer
|
|
all those accusations, <I>It is God that justifieth.</I> Men may
|
|
justify themselves, as the Pharisees did, and yet the accusations may
|
|
be in full force against them; but, if God justifies, this answers all.
|
|
He is the judge, the king, the party offended, and his judgment is
|
|
according to truth, and sooner or later all the world will be brought
|
|
to be of his mind; so that we may challenge all our accusers to come
|
|
and put in their charge. This overthrows them all; it is God, the
|
|
righteous faithful God, that justifieth. <I>Who is he that
|
|
condemneth?</I> Though they cannot make good the charge yet they will
|
|
be ready to condemn; but we have a plea ready to move in arrest of
|
|
judgment, a plea which cannot be overruled. <I>It is Christ that
|
|
died,</I> &c. It is by virtue of our interest in Christ, our relation
|
|
to him, and our union with him, that we are thus secured.
|
|
|
|
1. His death: <I>It is Christ that died.</I> By the merit of his death
|
|
he paid our debt; and the surety's payment is a good plea to an action
|
|
of debt. It is Christ, an able all-sufficient Saviour.
|
|
|
|
2. His resurrection: <I>Yea, rather, that has risen again.</I> This is
|
|
a much greater encouragement, for it is a convincing evidence that
|
|
divine justice was satisfied by the merit of his death. His
|
|
resurrection was his acquittance, it was a legal discharge. Therefore
|
|
the apostle mentions it with a <I>yea, rather.</I> If he had died, and
|
|
not risen again, we had been where we were.
|
|
|
|
3. His sitting at the right hand of God: He is <I>even at the right
|
|
hand of God</I>--a further evidence that he has done his work, and a
|
|
mighty encouragement to us in reference to all accusations, that we
|
|
have a friend, such a friend, in court. At <I>the right hand of
|
|
God,</I> which denotes that he is ready there--always at hand; and that
|
|
he is ruling there--all power is given to him. Our friend is himself
|
|
the judge.
|
|
|
|
4. The intercession which he makes there. He is there, not unconcerned
|
|
about us, not forgetful of us, but <I>making intercession.</I> He is
|
|
agent for us there, an advocate for us, to answer all accusations, to
|
|
put in our plea, and to prosecute it with effect, to appear for us and
|
|
to present our petitions. And is not this abundant matter for comfort?
|
|
What shall we say to these things? Is this the manner of men, O Lord
|
|
God? What room is left for doubting and disquietment? Why art thou cast
|
|
down, O my soul? Some understand the accusation and condemnation here
|
|
spoken of of that which the suffering saints met with from men. The
|
|
primitive Christians had many black crimes laid to their
|
|
charge--heresy, sedition, rebellion, and what not? For these the
|
|
ruling powers condemned them: "But no matter for that" (says the
|
|
apostle); "while we stand right at God's bar it is of no great moment
|
|
how we stand at men's. To all the hard censures, the malicious
|
|
calumnies, and the unjust and unrighteous sentences of men, we may with
|
|
comfort oppose our justification before God through Christ Jesus as
|
|
that which doth abundantly countervail,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+4:3,4">1 Cor. iv. 3, 4</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. We have good assurance of our preservation and continuance in this
|
|
blessed state,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:35-39"><I>v.</I> 35, to the end</A>.
|
|
|
|
The fears of the saints lest they should lose their hold of Christ are
|
|
often very discouraging and disquieting, and create them a great deal
|
|
of disturbance; but here is that which may silence their fears, and
|
|
still such storms, that nothing can separate them. We have here from
|
|
the apostle,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. A daring challenge to all the enemies of the saints to separate
|
|
them, if they could, from the love of Christ. <I>Who shall?</I> None
|
|
shall,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:35-37"><I>v.</I> 35-37</A>.
|
|
|
|
God having manifested his love in giving his own Son for us, and not
|
|
hesitating at that, can we imagine that any thing else should divert or
|
|
dissolve that love? Observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The present calamities of Christ's beloved ones supposed--that they
|
|
meet with <I>tribulation</I> on all hands, are in <I>distress,</I> know
|
|
not which way to look for any succour and relief in this world, are
|
|
followed with <I>persecution</I> from an angry malicious world that
|
|
always hated those whom Christ loved, pinched with <I>famine,</I> and
|
|
starved with <I>nakedness,</I> when stripped of all
|
|
<I>creature-comforts,</I> exposed to the greatest <I>perils,</I> the
|
|
<I>sword</I> of the magistrate drawn against them, ready to be sheathed
|
|
in their bowels, bathed in their blood. Can a case be supposed more
|
|
black and dismal? It is illustrated
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>)
|
|
|
|
by a passage quoted from
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+44:22">Ps. xliv. 22</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>For thy sake we are killed all the day long,</I> which intimates
|
|
that we are not to think strange, no not concerning the fiery bloody
|
|
trial. We see the Old-Testament saints had the same lot; so persecuted
|
|
they the prophets that were before us. <I>Killed all the day long,</I>
|
|
that is, continually exposed to and expecting the fatal stroke. There
|
|
is still every day, and all the day long, one or other of the people of
|
|
God bleeding and dying under the rage of persecuting enemies.
|
|
<I>Accounted as sheep for the slaughter;</I> they make no more of
|
|
killing a Christian than of butchering a sheep. Sheep are killed, not
|
|
because they are hurtful while they live, but because they are useful
|
|
when they are dead. They kill the Christians to please themselves, to
|
|
be food to their malice. <I>They eat up my people as they eat
|
|
bread,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+14:4">Ps. xiv. 4</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The inability of all these things to separate us from the love of
|
|
Christ. Shall they, can they, do it? No, by no means. All this will not
|
|
cut the bond of love and friendship that is between Christ and true
|
|
believers.
|
|
|
|
[1.] Christ doth not, will not, love us the less for all this. All
|
|
these troubles are very consistent with the strong and constant love of
|
|
the Lord Jesus. They are neither a cause nor an evidence of the
|
|
abatement of his love. When Paul was whipped, and beaten, and
|
|
imprisoned, and stoned, did Christ love him ever the less? Were his
|
|
favours intermitted? his smiles any whit suspended? his visits more
|
|
shy? By no means, but the contrary. These things separate us from the
|
|
love of other friends. When Paul was brought before Nero all men
|
|
forsook him, but then the Lord stood by him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:16,17">2 Tim. iv. 16, 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Whatever persecuting enemies may rob us of, they cannot rob us of the
|
|
love of Christ, they cannot intercept his love-tokens, they cannot
|
|
interrupt nor exclude his visits: and therefore, let them do their
|
|
worst, they cannot make a true believer miserable.
|
|
|
|
[2.] We do not, will not, love him the less for this; and that for this
|
|
reason, because we do not think that he loves us the less. Charity
|
|
thinks no evil, entertains no misgiving thoughts, makes no hard
|
|
conclusions, no unkind constructions, takes all in good part that comes
|
|
from love. A true Christian loves Christ never the less though he
|
|
suffer for him, thinks never the worse of Christ through he lose all
|
|
for him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) The triumph of believers in this
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:37">
|
|
<I>v.</I> 37</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] We are conquerors: though killed all the day long, yet conquerors.
|
|
A strange way of conquering, but it was Christ's way; thus he triumphed
|
|
over principalities and powers in his cross. It is a surer and a nobler
|
|
way of conquest by faith and patience than by fire and sword. The
|
|
enemies have sometimes confessed themselves baffled and overcome by the
|
|
invincible courage and constancy of the martyrs, who thus overcame the
|
|
most victorious princes by not loving their lives to the death,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:11">Rev. xii. 11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] We are more than conquerors. In our patiently bearing these trials
|
|
we are not only conquerors, but more than conquerors, that is,
|
|
triumphers. Those are more than conquerors that conquer, <I>First,</I>
|
|
With little loss. Many conquests are dearly bought; but what do the
|
|
suffering saints lose? Why, they lose that which the gold loses in the
|
|
furnace, nothing but the dross. It is no great loss to lose things
|
|
which are not--a body that is of the earth, earthy. <I>Secondly,</I>
|
|
With great gain. The spoils are exceedingly rich; glory, honour, and
|
|
peace, a crown of righteousness that fades not away. In this the
|
|
suffering saints have triumphed; not only have not been separated from
|
|
the love of Christ, but have been taken into the most sensible
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|
endearments and embraces of it. As afflictions abound, consolations
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|
much more abound,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:5">2 Cor. i. 5</A>.
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|
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There is one more than a conqueror, when pressed above measure. He that
|
|
embraced the stake, and said, "Welcome the cross of Christ, welcome
|
|
everlasting life,"--he that dated his letter from the delectable
|
|
orchard of the Leonine prison,--he that said, "In these flames I feel
|
|
no more pain than if I were upon a bed of down,"--she who, a little
|
|
before her martyrdom, being asked how she did, said, "Well and merry,
|
|
and going to heaven,"--those that have gone smiling to the stake, and
|
|
stood singing in the flames--these were more than conquerors.</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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[3.] It is only <I>through Christ that loved us,</I> the merit of his
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|
death taking the sting out of all these troubles, the Spirit of his
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|
grace strengthening us, and enabling us to bear them with holy courage
|
|
and constancy, and coming in with special comforts and supports. Thus
|
|
we are conquerors, not in our own strength, but in the grace that is in
|
|
Christ Jesus. We are conquerors by virtue of our interest in Christ's
|
|
victory. He hath overcome the world for us
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:33">John xvi. 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
both the good things and the evil things of it; so that we have nothing
|
|
to do but to pursue the victory, and to divide the spoil, and so are
|
|
more than conquerors.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. A direct and positive conclusion of the whole matter: <I>For I am
|
|
persuaded,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:38,39"><I>v.</I> 38, 39</A>.
|
|
|
|
It denotes a full, and strong, and affectionate persuasion, arising
|
|
from the experience of the strength and sweetness of the divine love.
|
|
And here he enumerates all those things which might be supposed likely
|
|
to separate between Christ and believers, and concludes that it could
|
|
not be done.
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>Neither death nor life</I>--neither the terrors of death on the
|
|
one hand nor the comforts and pleasures of life on the other, neither
|
|
the fear of death nor the hope of life. Or, We shall not be separated
|
|
from that love either in death or in life.
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>Nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers.</I> Both the good
|
|
angels and the bad are called principalities and powers: the good,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+1:21,Col+1:16">Eph. i. 21; Col. i. 16</A>;
|
|
|
|
the bad,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:12,Col+2:15">Eph. vi. 12; Col. ii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
And neither shall do it. The good angels will not, the bad shall not;
|
|
and neither can. The good angels are engaged friends, the bad are
|
|
restrained enemies.
|
|
|
|
(3.) <I>Nor things present, nor things to come</I>--neither the sense
|
|
of troubles present nor the fear of troubles to come. Time shall not
|
|
separate us, eternity shall not. Things present separate us from things
|
|
to come, and things to come separate and cut us off from things
|
|
present; but neither from the love of Christ, whose favour is twisted
|
|
in with both present things and things to come.
|
|
|
|
(4.) <I>Nor height, nor depth</I>--neither the height of prosperity and
|
|
preferment, nor the depth of adversity and disgrace; nothing from
|
|
heaven above, no storms, no tempests; nothing on earth below, no rocks,
|
|
no seas, no dungeons.
|
|
|
|
(5.) <I>Nor any other creature</I>--any thing that can be named or
|
|
thought of. It will not, it cannot, separate us from the love of God,
|
|
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. It cannot cut off or impair our love
|
|
to God, or God's to us; nothing does it, can do it, but sin. Observe,
|
|
The love that exists between God and true believers is through Christ.
|
|
He is the Mediator of our love: it is in and through him that God can
|
|
love us and that we dare love God. This is the ground of the
|
|
stedfastness of the love; therefore God rests in his love
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zep+3:17">Zeph. iii. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
because Jesus Christ, in whom he loves us, is the same yesterday,
|
|
to-day, and for ever.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Mr. Hugh Kennedy, an eminent Christian of Ayr, in Scotland, when he was
|
|
dying, called for a Bible; but, finding his sight gone, he said, "Turn
|
|
me to the eighty of the Romans, and set my finger at these words, <I>I
|
|
am persuaded that neither death nor life,</I>" &c. "Now," said he, "is
|
|
my finger upon them?" And, when they told him it was, without speaking
|
|
any more, he said, "Now, God be with you, my children; I have
|
|
breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this
|
|
night;" and so departed.</P>
|
|
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|
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