2 the powers that be are appointed by God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the appointment of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves con3 demnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Wouldest thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from it: 4 for he is the servant of God to thee for good. But if thou doest that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the servant of God, an avenger for 5 wrath against him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' 6 sake. For this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are the ministers of God, attending continually on this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; 8 honour to whom honour. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled particular by his providence. The powers that be are appointed by God— It might be rendered, are subordinate to, or, orderly disposed under, God; implying, that they are God's deputies or vicegerents; and consequently, their authority being, in effect, his, demands our conscientious obedience. Verse 2. Whosoever resisteth the power—In any other manner than the laws of the community direct. Shall receive condemnation-Not only from the magistrate, but from God also. Verse 3. For rulers are- —In the general, notwithstanding some particular exceptions. A terror to evil works-Only. Wouldest thou then not be afraid-There is one fear which precedes evil actions, and deters from them: this should always remain. There is another fear which follows evil actions: they who do well are free from this. Verse 4. The sword-The instrument of capital punishment, which God authorizes him to inflict. Verse 5. Not only for fear of wrath-That is, punishment from man. But for conscience' sake--Out of obedience to God. Verse 6. For this cause-Because they are the ministers (officers) of God for the public good. This very thing-The public good. Verse 7. To all—Magistrates. Tribute-Taxes on your persons or estates. Custom-For goods exported or imported. Fear-Obedience. Honour-Reverence. All these are due to the supreme power. Verse 8. From our duty to magistrates he passes on to general duties. To love one another-An eternal debt, which can never be sufficiently discharged; but yet if this be rightly performed, it discharges all the rest. For he that loveth another-As he ought. Hath fulfilled the whole lawToward his neighbour. 9 the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, 10 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no evil to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the season, that it is high time now to awake out of sleep; for salvation is nearer to us now 12 than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand let us therefore put off the works of dark13 ness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk decently, as in the day; not in banqueting and drunken entertainments, not in uncleannesses and wantonness, not in strife and 14 envy. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the desires thereof. Commandment Verse 9. If there be any other-More particular. Toward our neighbour; as there are many in the law. It is summed up in this-So that if you was not thinking of it, yet if your heart was full of love, you would fulfil it. Verse 10. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law-For the same love which restrains from all evil, incites us to all good. Verse 11. And do this-Fulfil the law of love in all the instances above mentioned. Knowing the season-Full of grace, but hasting away. That it is high time to awake out of sleep-How beautifully is the metaphor carried on! This life, a night; the resurrection, the day; the gospel shining on the heart, the dawn of this day; we are to awake out of sleep; to rise up and throw away our night-clothes, fit only for darkness, and put on new; and, being soldiers, we are to arm, and prepare for fight, who are encompassed with so many enemies. The day dawns when we receive faith, and then sleep gives place. Then it is time to rise, to arm, to walk, to work, lest sleep steal upon us again. Final salvation, glory, is nearer to us now, than when we first believed It is continually advancing, flying forward upon the swiftest wings of time. And that which remains between the present hour and eternity is comparatively but a moment. Verse 13. Banqueting-Luxurious, elegant feasts. Verse 14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ-Herein is contained the whole of our salvation. It is a strong and beautiful expression for the most intimate union with him, and being clothed with all the graces which were in him. The apostle does not say, Put on purity and sobriety, peacefulness and benevolence; but he says all this and a thousand times more at once, in saying, Put on Christ. And make not provision-To raise foolish CHAP. XIV. 1 Him that is weak in the faith, receive, 2 but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not: and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth for God 4 hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, 5 he shall be upheld: for God is able to uphold him. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his 6 own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it to the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord 7 he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us 8 liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. But if we live, we live unto the Lord; and if we die, we die unto the Lord whether therefore we live, or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and lived, that he might 10 be the Lord both of the dead and of the living. But why : dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou despise thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat 11 of Christ. For it is written, * As I live, saith the Lord, *Isaiah xlv. 23 Verse 1. Him that is weak-Through needless scruples. Receive-With all love and courtesy into Christian fellowship. But not to doubtful disputations-About questionable points. Verse 2. All things-All sorts of food, though forbidden by the law. Verse 3. Despise him that eateth not-As over-scrupulous or superstitious. Judge him that eateth-As profane, or taking undue liberties. For God hath received him-Into the number of his children, notwithstanding this. Verse 5. One day above another-As new moons, and other Jewish festivals. Let every man be fully persuaded—That a thing is lawful, before he does it. Verse 6. Regardeth it to the Lord-That is, out of a principle of conscience toward God. To the Lord he doth not regard it-He also acts from a principle of conscience. He that eateth not-Flesh. Giveth God thanks-For his herbs. Verse 7. None of us-Christians, in the things we do. Liveth to himself-Is at his own disposal; doeth his own will. Verse 10. Or why dost thou despise thy brother-Hitherto the apostle has addressed the weak brother: now he speaks to the stronger. Verse 11. As I live—An oath proper to him, because he only possess every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess 12 to God. So then every one of us shall give an account 13 of himself to God. Let us therefore no longer judge one another but judge this rather, not to lay a stumblingblock 14 or a scandal before a brother. I know and am assured by the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: but to him that accounteth anything to be unclean, it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother is grieved by thy meat, thou no longer walkest charitably. Destroy not him by thy meat, for whom 16 Christ died. Therefore let not your good be evil spoken 17 of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but 18 righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. And he that in these serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and 19 approved by men. Let us therefore pursue the things that eth life infinite and independent. It is Christ who is here termed both Lord and God; as it is he to whom we live, and to whom we die. Every tongue shall confess to God-Shall own him as their rightful Lord; which shall then only be accomplished in its full extent. The Lord grant we may find mercy in that day; and may it also be imparted to those who have differed from us! yea, to those who have censured and condemned us for things which we have done from a desire to please him, or refused to do from a fear of offending him. Verse 13. But judge this rather—Concerning ourselves. Not to lay a stumbling block-By moving him to do as thou doest, though against his conscience. Or a scandal-Moving him to hate or judge thee. Verse 14. I am assured by the Lord Jesus-Perhaps by a particular revelation. That there is nothing-Neither flesh nor herbs. Unclean of itself Unlawful under the gospel. Verse 15. If thy brother is grieved-That is, wounded, led into sin. Destroy not him for whom Christ died-So we see, he for whom Christ died may be destroyed. With thy meat-Do not value thy meat more than Christ valued his life. Verse 16. Let not then your good and lawful liberty be evil spoken of→ By being offensive to others. Verse 17. For the kingdom of God-That is, true religion, does not consist in external observances. But in righteousness-The image of God stamped on the heart; the love of God and man, accompanied with the peace that passeth all understanding, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Verse 18. In these-Righteousness, peace, and joy. Men-Wise and good men. Verse 19. Peace and edification are closely joined. Practical divinity tends equally to peace and to edification. Controversial divinity less directly tends to edification, although sometimes, as they of old, we can 20 tend to peace, and to mutual edification. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is 21 evil to that man who eateth with offence. It is good not to eat flesh, neither to drink wine, nor to do any thing whereby 22 thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he allow23 eth. But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because it is not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. CHAP. XV. 1 Therefore we who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to 3 edification. For Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, * The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell 4 upon me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that we, through patience *Psalm lxix. 9. Verse 20. The work of God-Which he builds in the soul by faith, and in the church by concord. It is evil to that man who eateth with offence→ So as to offend another thereby. Verse 21. Thy brother stumbleth-By imitating thee against his conscience, contrary to righteousness. Or is offended—At what thou doest to the loss of his peace. Or made weak-Hesitating between imitation and abhorrence, to the loss of that joy in the Lord which was his strength. Verse 22. Hast thou faith-That all things are pure? Have it to thyself before God-In circumstances like these, keep it to thyself, and do not offend others by it. Happy is he that condemneth not himself—By an improper use of even innocent things! and happy he who is free from a doubting conscience! He that has this may allow the thing, yet condemn himself for it. Verse 23. Because it is not of faith-He does not believe it lawful; and, in all these cases, whatsoever is not of faith is sin-Whatever a man does without a full persuasion of its lawfulness, it is sin to him. Verse 1. We who are strong-Of a clearer judgment, and free from these scruples. And not to please ourselves-Without any regard to others. Verse 2. For his good-This is a general word: edification is one species of good. Verse 3. But bore not only the infirmities, but reproaches, of his brethren; and so fulfilled that scripture. Verse 4. Aforetime-In the Old Testament. That we through patience and consolation of the scriptures may have hope-That through the conso |