d We have not only tReconciliation with God by Jeſus Chriſt, but alſo by Faith in him we are admitted to his Preſence, his "Grace and Favour. One may be reconciled to his Prince, and yet not be brought into his Preſence, Witneſs Abſalom, &c. wid. Eph. 2. 18. and 3. 12. 1 Per. 3. 18, e This Grace, 1s cither that whereof he ſpake, Ch. 3. 24. orelſe rather, it may be underſtood of that excellent ſtate of Reconciliation, Friendſhip and Favour with God, which God hath graciouſly beſtowed upon us. f Or, in which we fland or abide, not ſtirring afoot for any Temptation or Perſecution. A Metaphor from Soldiers keeping their Station in fight. A man may obtain his Prince's Favour, and loſe it again. Bur, &e. g In the Glory hoped for, a Hebraiſm. wid. Luke 10. 20. 1 Per. 1. 8,9. even in that Glery which God hath promiſed, and conſiſts in the enjoyment of him. :
3 And not only /o, but we glory in tribulations alſo 5,
knowing : * that tribulation || worketh patience k.
þ As old Soldiers do in their Scars of Honour, vid. Gal. 6. r7. 2 Coy. 12. 9, 10, 11, Believers don't only glory in their tuture Happineſs, bur in their preſent Suffetings and AffiQions. Yet not ſo much in Affii&ion it 1elf, as in the ifJue and fruitful Effe&s there. of, of which he ſpeaks in what follows. : Finding by Experiencee. k Not as if affliction of its ſelf and its own nature did this, for in many it hath « contrary Operation ; but God who is the Author and giver of Patience, Rom. 15. 3. doth make uſe of it for this purpoſe ; it is a means ſanQtified of God for the exerciſing, ob. taining, and increaſing thereof.
4 And parience,|| experience /; and experience, hope mn:
I viz, Of God's Suſtentation and Care of us, and of his Faith- fulneſsin fulfilling his Promiles, Iſa. 43. 2. Pſal. 91. 15. 2 Cor. I. 4, 5. as alſo of our own Sincerity, and Strength to endure and perievere, Mar. 13.21. #97 #. e. of the Glory ot God as before in V 2, or, hope of farther mercy and ſeaſonable deliverance. Be- Jievers find and feel that God hath delivered them, and doth deli-
ver them, and in him they truſt and hope, that he will till deli- |
ver them. 5 And hope makethnot aſhamed », becauſe o the love of Godp is || ſhedabroad in our hearts 9, by the holy
AN S.
Ghoſt which is given unto ns r.
7 It doth not diſappoint or deceive us. Fruſftr men with ſhame and confuſion, Fob 6. 19, 20, Th; ro be taken out of Pſal. 22.5. o This is either reng ſon of all that went before, therefore the juſtified Peace with God, acceſs to him by Faith, Hope of | Tribulation, e&#c. becauſe the love of God is ſhed Joy In Hearts; orelſe itis a reaſon of what immediately preceded . "—_ fore hope maketh not aſhamed, becauſe the Love of God gh - abroad, &'c. p Underſtand it either aQively of our Love tg Foe or rather paſſhvely of his Love ro us, (of which he ſpeaks od, and of the ſenſe thereof. 9 Is greatly manifeſted or abundant. by. red forth. A frequent Metaphor both in the Old and New Tp ment. wid. Iſa. 44. 3. Joel 2.8. Zech 12. 10. John 7.28. 47 ts A r Not excluding the Father and Son, it is the more proper wm of the Spirit, both to make us feel the Love of God, and to Poo Hearts with Love to God. _
6 For when we were yet || without ſtrength ;, 1;. due time : Chriſt died tor the ungodly «. "=
s Utterly unable to help or redeem our ſelves. t Some re,4; i; according v0 the time, and refer this Claufe to the foregoing Wa” "+ making this to be the ſence, When we were weak in time paſt F. " in the time of the Law, before Grace appeared, then Chiift jg &c. Others rather refer it to the following Words, and ſo "es, Tranſlation carries it, that in due time, 4. e. in the fu!lmeſ; of ;;, as Gel. 4.4, or, in the time that was before decreed, and perf; ;; the Father. The Scripture every where ſpeaks of a certain Cer ſon or Hour aſſigned for the Death of Chriſt. vid. War, 1G .. John 8. 20. and 12. 27. and 17.1. ws #.e. for the ſake, or ing of ſuch as were Enemies to God (as v. 10) and fo could der. no ſuch favour from him. ,
7 For w ſcarcely for a righteous man will || one die: Jet 1g peradventure for a good man x fome would even dare tow die. _ w He amplifies the Love of Chriſt in dying for the ungodly vj ſhews that 1t is unparalleJI'd and without example. & By 1 5; an, you muſt underſtand one that is very kind and bounrifu], one that is very uſeful and profitable ; thar is a publick and cog. mon Good. Inſtances may be given of thoſe thar have facrifice their Lives for ſuch. Li4Ja ſtept berween the Murtherer and Kins Edwin his Maſter. Nich. Rib:ſche loſt his Lite to preſerve Prin: Maurice at the Seige of Piſa.
8 But * Godcoummendeth y his love towards us, int!x-*|
while we were yet ſinners, Chriſt died for us «. ;
73 +. e. He declareth or confirmeth it, by this as a moſt cyt ſign, he makes it moſt conſpicuous or illuſtrious, wid. 5ebn 1, 16,1 1 Fohn4.9,10. z i.e. Ina ſtate of Sin, and under the guilt ;n} power of Sin. Believers in fome ſence are fill Sinners, 1 706x 1,8, but their Sins being pardoned and ſubdued, they go'no longer un der that Denomination, Sinners in Scripture are ſaid to be thoſ: in whom fin dwells and reigns, vid. Johy 9g. 31. ſuch we were by Nature. Yea we were not only Sinners but Enemies to God, which farther commendeth the Love of Chriſt in dying for us: there is no greater Love amongſt-men, than when one layeth down hisLik for his Friends : but herein Chriſt's Love excell'd, that he gavehis Life for his Enemies.
9 Much more then a being now juſtified by his bloods,
we ſhall be ſaved from wrath through him c.
s The Apoſtles arguing is cogent, for ':is more to juſtifie :ad reconcile Sinners, than to ſave them being juſtified ; Chriſtther- fore having done the former, he will much more do the [itt b i. e, By Faith in his Blood or Sufferings. « The Greek reads! with an Article from that Wrath, whereby is meant the Wrath come, or eternal Puniſhmenr.
ito For it when we were enemies, * we were ſec0l-- ciled to God 4 by the death of his Son : much more beingy reconciled, we ſhall be ſaved by his life e. _—