: Some night be ready .to ſay, if Paul hath no more place in thoſe parts where he is, and hath ſuch a longing deſire to ſee us, why then dorh he not preſently come to us ? To this he anſwers, that for the preſent he could notcome, becauſe he had a Weighty affair vpon his hand, which was to go up to Feruſalem to Miniſter to the Gints. 7. e. To carry thither certain ColleQions and Contribu-: tions from che Genrile Churches for their relief. He uſeth a _ tile of the preſent tenſe in the Original, to ſhew that this work is now in hand, and it would not ſtay or hold him long. Though indeed his work was topreach the Goſpel, and not to ſerve Tables, yet it ſeems likely that the Churches of the Gentiles., who weremoved by him to this Contribution, had committed the ſame tohiscare. 2 Cor, 8. 4.
26 For * it hath pleaſed them of Macedonia and chaia, to make a certain || contribution for the || poor fins which are at. Jeruſalem f. =
{Fer the underſtanding of theſe words, you need only to read (Gr. 8.1, and 9 2. When he faith, it harh pleaſed them, it is nplyed,that it was not extorted or ſqueez'd our of them ; but that
t proce-ded from a ready and willing mind , and that they bakdelight rherein. The ward here rendred Contribution, properly
ROMANS Le concealed befoze. The word (m mz) rendred -much, Gg-
-Ferh 9997) 3 and ic implics that he wasmany times hinfred, and many wayes 3 but this was the chief.
[went this Journzy into $2417. The purpoſes of men are red and over-ruled by the Providence of God. Prov. 16, 9. |
29 And I am ſurethat when I come unto you, I (all
come in the fulneſs of the blefling of the Goſpel cf Chriſt 22. | |
”m i.e. As ſome expound it, 7 ſball fnd you furniſhed ws" all Spiricual and Goſpel Bleſjings : This ſence agrees with wer. 14. Buc others ratherthink, that heſpeaks of what he ſhould bring with him, and not of what he ſhould find there; Therefore it may berrer: be. expounded by cap. 1, I1, 12. [He atlires himſelf he ſhould impart unto them m'1ch Knowledge, Grace and Comforr - that he ſhould enrich, and fill chem with all the Bl-ſ7ags of the Goſpel of Chriſt. |
o Now »” TIhbeſeech you, brethren, for the Lord Teſts Chrifts ſake o, and for the love of the Spirit p, ** that ye ſtrive together with me in your prayers to Gog 11. for me 94.
» In the Concluſion, he commends himſelf to their Prayers. This is uſual with him, in his ocher Epiſtles, vid. Eph. 6. 18. Col.
4. 3- 2 Theſ. 3.1. Heb. 13. 18. 0 9.4. If not for my fake, yer
for 4:5 ſake, whois moſt dear to you. p 9.4. If you lovs te Spirit
of Ged : Or rather if the Grace of Love be wrought in you by the
Spirit, ſhew it in this thing. This patherical way of {peaking is frequent with this Apoſtle, vid. Chop. 12.1. Phil. 2.1. 9 That
you ffrive, as thoſe that be in an Agony ; It is a Military word :
He befpeaks their earneſt and importunate Prayers in his behalf.
Jacob prayed after rhis manner, ſo did Elijah and Epaphras, Col.g.1
He Prayed himſelf, and he defired them to joyn with him, and
help him ; as Aaron and Hur helped Moſes. |
3x That | may be delivered from them that {| do not | Or, arc believe in Judea, and that my ſervice which 7 have for diſcvedient. Jeruſalem, may be accepted of the /ainrs 7.
r Here are two things more particularly, which he deſireth
them to Beg of God in his behalf. Firſt, That he may be delivered
from them that did nat believe ; Or were diſebedient, and refraQory
in Judes, He knew the Jews were incenſed againſt him; thar Troubles did abide him, or wait for him in Jud:a, whither he
was going, vid. AF. 20. 23. And it happened accordingly, for
the Jews went abour to kill him, AZ. 21.31. Therefore "tis that
he deſires their Prayers, That he might be delivered from them, wid.
2 Theſ. 3.2. Secondly, That the Almes he brought the Poor Sainrs
at Jeruſalem, might be taken by them in good part: Thar they
might be reconciled, both to the Gentile Churches thar ſen ir,
and to him that brought it. Ir derradts greatly from a Gift,
when it comes, either from one, or by one ; againſt whom we are prejudic'd, : 32 X That I may come unto you wich joy * by the * A&.18. will of God 5s, and may with you be refreſhed 7. 21,
5 q.4, This would be a means to make me come unto you with the more comfort if God will, or if God grant it ro our
Prayers. This condition (if God will) he had before inſerted Up
on this very occafion, cp. 1. 10. See the like 1 Cor. 4. 19. Fames
4- 13,15. This he did to free himſelf from the ſuſpicion of in- conſtancy, in caſe it ſhould fall out otherwiſe : as alſo to ſhew,
That always, and in all things he referred himſelf to the good Pleaſure and P |
rovidence of God. # i.e. Wirh your Company and Converſe. This hath the ſame ſence with chap, 2. 12. See the
ſnificth Communication, which implyeth a murual exchange, ot | rtercourſe between the givers and the receivers ; the one Contri- bring Alms, the other Prayers and Interceſkens to God. He | heaks elſewhere of Cummunicating, concerning Giving and Res | uving, Phil, 4. 15.
27 It hath pleaſed them verily g, and their debters
Notes there.
33 Now the * God of peace « be with you all 27, * ; co. Amen 5. 14.33
« This is a frequent Title of God in Scripture, he is called the
i God of Peace, chap. 16. 20. 2 Cer. 13.11. Phil.4.g. 1 Theſ. 5. 23.
2 The. 3.16. Heb.13.20. Here it fits his great Argument, which
they are 6, For * if the Gentiles have been made parta- ; was to perſwade the Believing Romans to be at peace amongſt Ilers of their ſpiricual things, * their duty is alſo, to themſelves, and nor to contend abour indifferent things. w Three
niniſter to them in carnal things 2.
| 7 He makes this repetition, -as to commend the Grecians, fo Wn to admoniſh the Remans to the like benevolence. þ 7. e. he Gemtiles are Debtors to the Jewes 3 though what they ſent Mm was a Gift, yet it was alſo a Debt, it was due by the Law of mwrity, chap. 13. 8. and by the Law of Gratitude and Equity, tey had received from them, and they were obliged in ſome it to make returnes to them. # By the Spiritual things of the Jever, of which the Genz:les were made partakers, you may under- and all thoſe things of which mention 1s made, chap. 5 More particularly , the Goſpel with the Miniſtry, and Ordi- ces thereof : The Goſpel was firſt Preached to the ewes, nd from Jeruſalem it was ſpread abroad among the Gentiles, wid.
#e 24.47. 47 1.4, 8. By the carnalthings of the Gentiles, you