It js much Diſputed, to whom the Apoſtle direQs his Diſcourſe in the beginning of this Chapter. Some think, that having diſco- vered the Sins of the Gentiles in the former Chapter; he here uſeth a Tranſition, and turneth himſelf to the Jews, and lays open their more ſecret Wickedneſs and Hypocrifie. But the Particle | merefore}] in the front of the Chapter, doth ſeem to intimate, That this 1s inferred from what went before, and is a continuance of the ſame Argument. It is of the Genr:les then that he is ſtill Diſcourſing,and wer 17. he begins by name to deal with the Jew:. Some think,
ſpeaks more particularly of ſuch as were Judges and Magiſtrates amongſt the Gentiles, who, though they made Laws to Judge and Puniſh others for ſuch and ſuch Crimes, did yet commit the ſame themſelves. Some think he intends more eſpecially, ſuch as were Philoſophers, and Men renowned for Vertue, as Socrates, Ariſtides, Fabritiu:, Cato, Seneca, &c. which Iaſt, as is ſaid, was well known to the Apoſtle. Theſe, in their Speeches and Writings, did cen- ſure the Evil manners of others, and yet were as bad themſelves. As Cato is aid to have uſed Extortion, proſtituted his Wife, and to have laid violent hands upon himielf; and yet he was affirm'd by Velleius, to be Homo virtwti fmillimus, a moſt virtuous Man. But the received Opinion is, Thatthe Apoſtle in general doth Tax all ſuch as cenſure, and find Fault with others, and yet are guilty of the ſame things themſelves. # q #. Thou art without all excuſe that dot Affent and Subſcribe to the righteous Judgment of God, that rhey w ho do ſuch things as are mentioned in the forgoing Chapter, are worthy of Neath, and yetdoeſt the ſame thy ſel6: If aotopenly
et &cretly and inwardly, thou art Guilty, of the ſame, or as great ins. Thou canſt make no Apology or Pretence, why the Sentence of Death and Condemnation, which 1s due to others, ſhould not likewiſe paſs upon thee. 6 z.e. Inthat very Thing, or by that very Law, whereby thou Cenſureſt and Condemneſt others, thou pronounceſt Scntence againſt thy felf ; thy own Mouth condemns thee in the Perſon of another, wid, Mat. 7. 3. ang 21,40, 41, 45. C011 8. 4, 9.
according to truth, againlt them which commit ſuch
things d. Bb |
c We know aſſuredly, and it is evident, both from Scripture and Reaſon, that God's Judgment , both here and hereafter, is True and Upright, vid. 1 Sz. 16. 79. He judgeth Righteous Judgment ; He Judgeth of Perſons and Things, mot as they are in Appearance, bur as they are in Reality. 4 Thus indefinite manner of (peaking, includeth both thoſe that Judge others, and thoſe who, for the aforementioned Sins, are ſubjeCt to the Cenſures of others,
3 And thinkeſt thou this, O man, that judgeſt them which do ſuch things, and doeſt the ſame, that chou ſhalt
eſcape the judgment of God e?
e When other Mens FaQs eſcape not thy Cenſure who art but «Man ; what Folly and Madnefſs 1s it to imagine, that thine own evil dee-!s ſhould eſcape the Judgment of God ? wid. 1 John 3. 20.
4 Or deſpiſett f chou the riches g of his goodneſs and forbearance, and * long ſuffering 4, F not knowing that
"the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to repentance e.
Here he Taxeth ſuch as thought that God approved of their Per. ſons and Courſes, at leaſt He would not regard or puniſh their evil Adtions, becauſe he had hitherto forborn them, and heap'd up abundance of worldly Bleſſings upon theny, as He did upon the Rowans eſpecially, above other People. It is common for Men <o grow ſecure, and promiſe themſelves Impuniry, when God for. bears them, and gives themoutward Proſperity, vid. Pſal. 50, 21. andss. 19. Eccl. 8. 11. Hoſ. 12. 8. f The word ſignifies to think amiſs ; he deſpiſeth the Goodneſs of God, who thinks otherwiſe of it than he ſhould ; that it is extended ro him for other ends than it is; or, to deſpiſe the Goodneſs of God, is, to turn it- into wan- zonneſs. g i.e, The abundance of his Goodneſs, wid. Eph. 1. 7, 18, and 2.4, 5. and 3. $. Chap. g. 23. 4 God's long-Suffering isa farther degree of his Forbearance; the Scripture ſpeaks much of this Attribute of God, and of his abounding therein, Exod. 34. 6, Numb. 14.11, 18. Pſal. 86, 15. Mat. 23. 37. Chap. 9. 22. 1 7Tim.1. x5. 1 Per. 3. 29. # That is one great End of God's Goodneſs and forbearance, wid. Hof. 11. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9. God's Goodneſs is abuſed, when tis notus'd and improv'd to this End,
5 But || after thy bardneſs and impenitent heart, trea- ſureſt vp & unto thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God /.
k This paſſage ſeems to reſpeQ Dent, 32. 34, 35. or Job 36. 13. You have a parallel place, James 5. 3. e meaning is thou pro- vokeſt more and more the wrath of God againſt thee; by heaping vp Sins, thou heapeſt up Judgments of God upon thy ſelf: Juſt as men add to their Treaſure of Wealth, ſo doeſt thou add to thy Treaſure of Puniſhment: 1 This is a Periphraſis of the Day of Judgment, or of the Laſt Day ; then will God viſit for thoſe Sins that here eſcape Puniſhment: Then the Juſtice and Equity of his Poeokings ihall appear, and all ſhall have reaſon to approve TErEOT,
6 * Who will render to every man according to his
19. Cha.
14.12,
m This proves what he had ſaid, That the Judgment jof God in that Day, will be according to Righteouſneſs, or moſt Righteous Judgment. Paralle] places you will find, Pſal.62. 12. Mar. 16. 27. « Gor. 5.10. Revel, 22,12, The Popiſts from hence infer the Merit
ROMANS.
2 Buc + we are ſure c that the judgment of God is |
|
Chap: of Crice
alibi. Good wee
Yorks Retributio )
of Works: But the Reward to the Godly, is a Rewarg and not of Debt. The word 4748ya; imports not on] tribution, but a free Gift, as in Mar. 20, 8. &- are the Rule of his Proceeding, nor the Cauſe of his wid. Luc. 17. 10.
7 To them who by patient continuance » ing, ſeek for glory and honour, and immorta] nal Lite p.
What he had Jaid down in general, he amplifies more ly; n Or, Perſeverance in well- doing ; which implies P Mat. 10. 22. and 24. 13. Hb. 10, 36. o Or, Incorrnpton . Na
in well do. ny 0, Uer.
Particul;r. atience, vid,
adds this, to ſhew, That the Glory and Honour he ſpe;t-c .c not ſuch as the Gentzles uſually Gake, who made mn oN the ſcope of their AQtions; bur it was Eternal in the amd. ſuch as never fades away. p z. e. God will render eternal pw ſuch: The word Render muſt be ſupplyed our of the former Veit: 8 But unto them that are contentious 9 and * dg Rig”