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25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be igno- Corinth. riod, 4771. rant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own Vulgar Æra, 58. conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written,
There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall
turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall
away their sins.

take

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy, through their unbelief;

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

§ 45. ROM. xi. 33, to the end.

The Apostle concludes the whole of this important Discus-
sion with rapturous Expressions of Wonder and Praise at
the Wisdom and Goodness of God, in his dealings with
Man-He asserts that it is not possible for Man to pe-
netrate into the secret Judgments and Counsels of God, that
the Election of either the Jews or the Gentiles is perfectly
consistent with his Justice, as no Man can have a claim
on him, who is the Author and efficient Cause of all
Things by whom and through whom they all exist-Let
God therefore in all his Works be glorified for ever.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

§ 46. ROM. xii. 1-8.

St. Paul having concluded the Doctrinal part of his Epistle,
enforces the Necessity of a Holy Life, which these Doctrines
were intended to inculcate-He calls upon the Romans to
present, instead of the Animals that were offered to God
in the Mosaic Law, their own Bodies at his spiritual
Altar, a living Sacrifice; entirely consecrating them to
God, which is the acceptable and reasonable Service of a
Christian-He exhorts them not to be conformed to the

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Julian Period, 4771. Vulgar Æra, 58.

HOLINESS MUST BE THE CONSEQUENCE oF FAITH.

Customs and Sentiments of this World, but to be changed Corinth.
in the Temper and Dispositions of their Minds-that
they might fulfil in themselves, and prove to others,
what is the perfect and acceptable Will of God - St.
Paul, by his apostolical Office, warns them not to think
too highly of themselves, on account of their spiritual
Endowments for although their Qualifications may
differ, they are the Members of one Body, indispensably
necessary to each other-He admonishes them to use the
respective Gifts entrusted to them diligently and faith-
fully.

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, accordingly as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office;

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

§ 47. ROM. xii. 9, to the end.

St. Paul continues his practical Exhortations, by _recom-
mending them to love one another; to practise Benevo-
lence to all-to have Humility, Diligence, Devotion,
mutual Sympathy, and to seek no Revenge, but to over-
come evil with good,-with other important Moral Duties.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which
is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly
love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer ;

Julian Period, 4771. Vulgar Æra,

58.

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hos- Corinth. pitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves; but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

§ 48. ROM. xiii. 1-10.

The Jews, as the chosen People of God, refused to obey,
or to pay Tribute to Magistrates who were not of
their own Nation, and as they supposed, especially ap-
pointed by God-The Apostle charges them to submit
to all civil Authorities, as all Power, both Jewish
and Heathen, is ordained and established by God-
The Condemnation of those who resist the divine Ap-
pointments-The Advantages of a just Administration-
Rulers, as the Ministers of God, have the Power of pro-
tecting and rewarding the Good, and, as the Servants of
God, to punish those who commit evil-Submission is
therefore necessary, not only from fear of temporal Pu-
nishment, but for Conscience sake-They are also com-
manded to pay Tribute; as all civil Magistrates are to
be considered as Ministers of God's Providence, devoting
themselves to the Duties of their Office, they are required
to render to all the Honour due to their Office and Rank,
although individually they do not deserve it—To be just
in the discharge of all their Debts, so that they may owe
Man any thing, but to love one another, which is the
fulfilment and perfection of all the Commands of the Law
that respect our Neighbours.

no

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

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THE CONVERTS ARE EXHORTED TO HOLINESS.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the Corinth. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

riod, 4771. evil. Vulgar Era,

58.

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

6 For, for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 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 briefly comprehended in this say. ing, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

As the Roman Converts must have well known that this was
the time of the Gospel Dispensation, the Light having
begun to shine, the Apostle calls upon them to awake
from their Sleep of Sin-as the eternal Salvation of the
Gospel, and the Duties it requires, are better understood
by them than when they first believed-He represents the
Darkness of the Heathen World under the figure of a
Night which is far spent, and the Gospel as the Light of a
glorious Day succeeding to it-He exhorts the Gentiles
therefore to cast off the Dresses in which the Works of
Darkness were performed, and to clothe themselves with
the Armour or Habiliments of Light—to renounce all their
former Habits and sinful courses-to put on the Lord
Jesus Christ; that is, to receive his Gospel, to imitate
his Example, to seek for heavenly Things, and to
make no provision for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lusts
thereof.

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high
time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer
than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting

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Julian Pe- and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not Corinth. riod, 4771. in strife and envying.

Vulgar Æra,

58.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

§ 50. ROM. xiv. 1—12.

The Jewish Converts at Rome, supposing that the distinc-
tion between Meats, which Moses had commanded, as
well as the holy Days he had appointed, should be ob-
served in the Christian Dispensation, St. Paul calls
upon the Gentiles, who were better informed, to receive
with kindness the Jewish Converts who were thus weak in
the Faith, and not to dispute these Points-The Jews and
Gentiles are exhorted not to despise or condemn each other
-for God has received into his Church the Gentile, who
indiscriminately eats of all Things, and at the Day of
Judgment will hold up or acquit all those who have acted
in these indifferent Matters according to their Conscience
-Men are not to live to themselves, but to Christ-They
are not to condemn each other—for we shall all be judged
of God, to whom alone we are accountable.

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to
doubtful disputations.

2 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 which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto 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 he eateth not; and giveth God thanks.

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every