Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 13:11

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 .

Or Moreover, the Speech is Elliptical, something must be understood, as (I say or add) q. d. Unto this Exhortation, to Christian Love, I further add what followeth.

i. e. Considering, it is a Time of great Tryal, or Time of Gospel-light.

i. e. To shake off Slothfulness, Security, and all former Sinful Courses. See the like, 1 Cor. 15.34. Eph. 5.14. 1 Thess. 5, 6, 7, 8. q. d. Consider, now it is the hour or season to Awake or Rise up, to lay aside your Night-Cloaths; as it is in the following Verse.

Or Salvation is nearer to us, than when we first began to Believe. Some would understand it of Temporal Salvation, and Deliverance from those Persecutions, which befel the Christians in the Infancy of the Church; from these they were Saved and Delivered, by the Destruction of the Iews their Persecutors. This was foretold by Christ, and expected by the Christians; and it was nigher at hand, than when they first Embrac't the Christian Faith. But Most understand it of eternal Salvation, which he sayes, was nearer than when they first Believ'd. In which Words, is couched another Argument to Awaken or Stir up the believing Romans; The First was taken from the Consideration of the time or season; The Second, from the nearness of the word. Therefore it should be with them, as with those that Run in a Race; the nearer they come to the Goal, the faster they Run, lest others should get before them.

Marginal references: Or, the hour to awake.; Or, salvation is nearer us.