[2.] The gospel is taken more largely for all things that were an- nexed to the accomplishment of the promise, the revelation of truths made there, with all the institutions and ordinances of worship that accompanied it, — the whole doctrine and worship of the gospel. The first is what God doth for us in giving Christ ; the second is what God requireth of us, in faith and obedience, and in the whole worship of the gospel. And this is the common sense wherein this word " gospel " is taken.
(2.) The gospel may be considered relatively, with reference unto believers ; and then it intends our profession of the gospel : which pro- fession consists in the performance of all gospel duties, when and as they are to be performed by virtue of the command of Christ ; — which
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I would desire you to consider and remember; for I can assure you all your concerns in the gospel will be found to depend upon it.
It is in reference unto the gospel in both these senses that the apostle here speaks ; — as it contains the promise of Christ, the doctrine of the gospel, the worship of God, the institutions therein, and every man's performance of his own duty, according to the rules and com- mands of Christ in the gospel. This is that which the apostle says he was " not ashamed " of.
2. What is it to be " ashamed of the gospel"? Shame in general is a grief, perturbation, and trouble of mind upon the account of things vile, foolish, or evil, rendering a man (as he thinks) liable to reproach and contempt, working a resolution in him to have no more to do with such things, if once delivered from them. As the prophet Jere- miah, chap. ii. 26, "A thief is ashamed when he is taken." Two things befall such a person : — fear, which respects his punishment ; and shame, which respects the vileness and reproach of the thing that he is taken in. And shame doth particularly respect honour, esteem, and repute. Hence, if you can by any means take off the disrepute of a thing in men's judgment, they are no more ashamed of it. The world hath prevailed to take off among themselves, and within their own compass, the disrepute of as odious sins as can be committed in the world ; and men cease thereupon to be ashamed of them. We meet with men that will not at all be ashamed of swearing, cursing, blaspheming, nay, of drunkenness, — scarce of uncleanness; the wicked- ness of the world hath taken off the disrepute of them within their own compass: yet take the same men in lying or theft, and it will fill them with shame; not but that the guilt and evil of other sins is as great, it may be greater than these, but these are under a disre- pute, and therefore they are thus ashamed.
Now this shame may be considered two ways: —
(1.) Objectively, as to the things that in themselves are shameful, though men may be relieved against them, so as not to have any in- ward shame in their minds. So the apostle tells us, 1 Thess. ii. 2, that he was " shamefully entreated at Philippi;" he had all manner of shameful things done unto him. And, Acts v. 41, all the apostles together " rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame." " They suffered shame, but they were not ashamed," Heb. vi. 6. It is said those apostate backsliders " put the Son of God to open shame." They did those things unto him which in their own nature cast shame upon him; they deserted his worship and ways, as if he was not worthy to be followed. Now, our apostle was very far from thinking that nothing of this shame would befall him at Rome, that no shame- ful thing would befall him. He was led thither bound with a chain, arid cast into prison. This is riot the shame intended.
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(2.) There is shame in the person. And this also may be considered two ways: —
[1.] As it merely respects the affections of the mind, before men- tioned ; — when persons have a trouble and confusion of mind upon them for any thing wherein they are concerned, as that which is dis- honourable, base, vile, or foolish.
[2.] When there are the effects of shame ; — when men act as though they were ashamed, and will have no more to do with those things wherein they have been engaged, but leave them as if ashamed. It is said of David's soldiers, who had done no shameful thing, but courageously acquitted themselves in the battle against Absalom, but because of David's carriage upon that business, " They went every one away as men ashamed, that fly in battle." It may be there is that light and conviction upon most concerning the gospel, that it is impossible for them to be brought into perfect trouble and confusion of mind about it, as though it were a shameful thing; but yet perhaps they will do like men that fly in battle and are ashamed. And in this sense the word is principally used ; for saith Christ, Mark viii. 38, " Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of him." How is that? What will the Lord do? He will not own him ; which is called being ashamed of him.