John Trapp on Romans 15

CHAP. XV. Verſe 1. Ought to bear]

AS Porters do their burdens, as pillars do the poiſe of the houſe, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. or rather as parents bear their babes in their arms.

And not to pleaſe our ſelves] Bis deſipit, qui ſibi ſapit. Prov. 3.7.

Verſe 2. Pleaſe his neighbour] Though he croſſe himſelf: this is true Chriſtian love, and driven almoſt out of the world by ſinfull ſelf-love, which can eth men to diſlike thoſe things in others, that they ſlatter in themſelves.

Verſe 3. For even Chriſt] And we ſhould expreſſe him to the world, preach abroad his vertues by our practice, 1 Pet. 2.9. Our lives ſhould be as ſo many Sermons upon the life of Chriſt. This is walk in Chriſt, Col. 2 6. as Chriſt, 1 Joh. 3.6.

Verſe 4. For whatſoever things, &c.] Here the Apoſtle meets with an Objection. For ſome man might ſay, that that ſaying of the Pſalme pertains to David, how therefore is it applied to Chriſt? He anſwers, Whatſoever things, &c. q. d. We muſt learn to ſee Chriſt in David: David in the hiſtory, Chriſt in the myſtery; David as the type, Chriſt the truth.

That we through patience] Hence the Scriptures are called.R[illegible: 1 letter]vel. 2. The word of Chriſts patience, becauſe they patient the heart under Gods holy hand: and are better called Phyſick for the ſoul, then ever was the library of Alexandria. [non-Latin text not transcribed].

And comfort of the Scriptures] As the bloud and ſpirits are conveied by the veins and arteries: ſo is the Spirit by the promiſes, helping the ſoul to lay it ſelf upon Chriſt by faith, which is a grace of union, and ſo of eſtabliſhment.

Verſe 5. Now the God of patience] The ſoul is then only in good plight, when the heaven anſwers the earth, Hoſ. 2.21. When. Chriſt the Sun of righteouſnes ſhines into it.

Verſe 6. With one minde, and one mouth] It is recorded to the high commendation of the Church of Scotland, that for this 90 years and upwards, they have kept unity with purity, without ſchiſme, much leſſe hereſie. Syntag. Confeſſion praeſat.

Verſe 7. To the glory of God] That is, Of heaven, the joyes whereof it is as impoſſible to comprehend, as it is to compaſſe the heaven with a ſpan, or contain the Ocean in a nut-ſhell. Such comfort there is in the preſence of Chriſt (though but in the womb) as it made John to ſpring: What then ſhall it be in heaven?

Verſe 8. Now I ſay that Jeſus] Paul proveth particularly in this and the following verſes, that Chriſt hath taken both Jews and Gentiles to his glory.

Verſe 9. And that the Gentiles] Though they had no ſuch promiſes, might glorifie Gods free grace in the day of their viſitation.

Verſe 10. Rejoyce] That your names alſo are written in heaven, and that ye are enrolled in the records of the new Jeruſalem.

Verſe 11. All ye Gentiles] As being received into the glory of God, verſ. 7.

Verſe 12. In him ſhall the Gentiles truſt] I ſaith hath it, To him ſhall the Gentiles ſeek; To ſeek to God then argues truſt in God. He that hopes not, praies not, or but faintly.

Verſe 13. Fill you with all joy, &c.] Note here that joy and peace are the means, whereby faith worketh hope.

Verſe 14. Full of goodneſſe] The excellency of a godly man is to follow God fully, as Caleb, Numb. 14.24. to have a heart full of goodneſſe, as theſe Romans, a life full of good works, as Tabitha, Act. 9.36. Theſe ſhall receive a full reward, 2 Joh. 8.

Verſe 15. Chryſoſtome truly ſaith of St Paul that he was inſatiabilis Dei cultor, one that thought he could never do God or his Church ſervice enough.

Verſe 16. Miniſtring the Gospel] Serving about holy things, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. or doing ſacred offices, as the Prieſts under the Law, to whom the Apoſtle all along this verſe alludes in an elegant allegory: the Miniſtery is a divine and heavenly function. All other callings are for the world, and draw to the world: but this, both in the preparation and execution, draweth to God, keepeth us with God, and to be ever mindefull of the things of God.

Verſe 17. I have therefore, &c.] So have all Gods faithfull Miniſters at this day againſt the contempts and contumelies caſt upon them by the mad world, ever beſides it ſelf in point of ſalvation. There is a pamphlet lately publiſhed that ſticks not to make that ſacred and tremend function of the Miniſtery to be as meer an impoſture, as very a myſtery of iniquity,The Compaſſ. Samarit[illegible: 1 letter]n. as arrant a juggle as the Pa[illegible: 1 letter]acy it ſelf.

Verſe 18. To make the Gentiles, &c.] Chriſt by his Goſpel ſubdued the Britans, whom the Romans with all their force could never ſubdue, as Tertullian obſerved.Britannorum [illegible: 1 letter]nac[illegible: 2 letters]ſſa Raman[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 2 letters] C[illegible: 1 letter]riſto [illegible: 1 word] ſub[illegible: 1 letter]ta 1 ere,

Verſe 19. So that from Jeruſalem] Chryſoſtome obſerveth, that Plato came three times to Sicily to convert Dionyſius the tyrant to morall philoſophy, and could not. But Paul fet a great compaſſe, converted many ſouls, planted many Churches: And why? Chriſt ſat upon him as upon one of his white horſes, and went forth conquering and to conquer, Revel 6.2.

Verſe 20. Leſt I ſhould build[Leſt I ſhould ſeem to doe any thing unbeſeeming the office of an Apoſtle. There is a decorum to be kept in every calling.

Verſe 21. But as it is written] In obedience to this divine oracle, the Apoſtle preached to thoſe that had not heard, yet neglected not thoſe that had.

Verſe 22. For which cauſe] By planting Churches, and preaching where was more need.

Verſe 23. Theſe many years] The Romans were converted to the faith betimes.

Verſe 24. For I truſt to ſee you] Ipſe aſpectus viri beni delectat, ſaith Seneca. There is a great deal of ſweetneſſe in the ſociety of Saints, and much good to be gotten thereby. Sometimes, (ſaith a grave Divine) though we know that which we ask of others, as well as they doe, yet good ſpeeches will draw us to know it better, by giving occaſion to ſpeak more of it; wherewith the ſpirit works more effectually, and imprints it deeper, ſo that it ſhall be a more rooted knowledge then before. For that doth good that is graciouſly known, and that is graciouſly known, that the Spirit ſeals upon our ſouls.

Verſe 25. To minister unto the Saints] The higheſt Angel in heaven may not hold himſelfe too good to ſerve the Saints.

Verſe 26. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. It hath pleaſed them] It hath not been ſqueezed out of them, as verjuice is out of a crab, but freely and chearfully they have contributed.

Verſe 27. Their debters they are] And ſo are we to pity and pray for them. See my True Treaſure, Sect. 2. chap.7.

Verſe 28. When I have ſealed] That is, Safely delivered, as if it were under ſeal.

This fruit] This ſweet ripe fruit of their faith and love, their alms

Verſe 29. In the fulneſſe of the bleſſing] Chriſt may uſe one of leſſe grace to doe more good then one of more (for there are diverſities of operations, as well as of gifts, 2 Cor. 12.6.) but uſually he delights to honour thoſe of moſt ſinicerity, with moſt ſucceſſe, 1 Cor. 15.10.

Verſe 30. For the Lord Jeſus Christs ſake] This is one of thoſe paſſages in S. Paul, then the which there can nothing poſſibly be imagined more grave, divine, excellent, ſaith Beza.

That ye ſtrive together] Even to an agony, as the word imports. [non-Latin text not transcribed] Spirituall beggery is the hardeſt and richeſt of all trades, as one laid. Learn of this great Apoſtle to beg praiers with all earneſtneſſe.Act. and Mon. fol 1565. Ibid. 1499. Pray for me, I ſay, pray for me, I ſay, quoth father Latymer, Pray for me, pray for me, for Gods ſake pray for me, ſaid bleſſed Bradford.

Verſe 31. That my ſervice which, &c.] One would have thought that the Apoſtle coming with alms to them, ſhould eaſily have been well accepted: but he ſaw cauſe to ſeek God for ſuch a mercy, ſith it is he alone that faſhions mens opinions, and gives favour and kinde acceptance. Beſides wiſdome, he gave Solomon honour.

Verſe 32. Be refreſhed] See the Note on Rom. 1.12. and on 2 Ioh. 12.

Verſe 33. Now the God of peace] A ſit attribute for the preſent purpoſe. It is a commendable policy in Chriſtians, when they pray to propound God to their minde in ſuch notions, and under ſuch titles, as whereby they may ſee in God the things they deſire of God.