Romans 12

Philippians 1:21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Hope is a Christian's anchor, which he casts within the veil (Romans 12:12). Rejoicing in hope.

1. Else we cannot serve God rightly; we can never worship God acceptably unless we worship him regularly: and how can we do that, if we are ignorant of the rules and elements of religion? We are told to give God a reasonable service (Romans 12:1). If we understand not the ground…

The world knows not what it is (1 Corinthians 2:14): The natural man receives not the things of God, neither can you know them. He knows not what it is to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2), or what the inward workings of the Spirit means; these are riddles…

It is not only a coal that burns but blackens. Thirdly, we are spiritual in the performance of duty; we are more serious, reverent, fervent, we have more life in prayer, we put fire to the sacrifice (Romans 12, [illegible], fervent in spirit). We serve God with more love, which…

Cheerfulness shows that there is love in the duty; and love does to our services, as the sun does to the fruit — mellow and ripen them, and make them come off with a better relish. 2. Obedience must be devout and fervent (Romans 12:11). [reconstructed: fervent in spirit], and so…

It is sad, that after the sun of the Gospel has shined so long in our horizon, yet, to this day the veil should be upon their heart. Such as are enveloped with ignorance, cannot give God a reasonable service (Romans 12:1). Ignorance is the nurse of impiety: the Schoolmen say, Om…

2. By having the renewing of the Spirit, which is nothing else but regeneration, which is called a being born of the Spirit (John 3:5). This regenerating work of the Spirit is a transformation, or change of nature (Romans 12:2). [in non-Latin alphabet], Be transformed by the ren…

Though it takes not away the life, yet the love of sin. 2. A positive part, Vivification, which is the spiritual refining of the soul, which in Scripture is called a renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), and a partaking of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The priests in the law no…

Is it not a wrong to God, to take his work out of his hand? He has said, 'Vengeance is mine, and I will repay' (Romans 12:19). But you will take upon you to revenge yourself: you will be both plaintiff, and judge, and executioner yourself.

It is the sense of abused kindness that causes contrition. (2.) Transformation, or change (Romans 12:2): "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Repentance works a change in the whole man: as wine put into a glass where water is, the wine runs into every part of the water…

Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Fervency puts life into duty (Romans 12:11). Fervent in spirit serving God; [illegible], boiling over.

God's furnace is to melt us and mold us into obedience. 2. God's mercies are to make us do his will; (Romans 12:1) I beseech you by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Body is by a synecdoche put for the whole man.

First, how by the fire of their own kindling — their own righteousness without Christ, such as the Pharisees had and Paul had before conversion — this should be meant, we must consider that he, speaking here to the Jews, alludes to the types of the old law with which they were a…

And look, as under the Law the burnt offerings were burnt all to smoke and ashes; so must we in our lives, wholly and altogether, give ourselves unto God, and renouncing ourselves, be nothing to the world, but wholly dedicated to God. Neither must we come unto him in our sins: f…

For the nature of man is to pine away, and to grieve at the good of another; and contrariwise it is a work of grace to rejoice thereat. Paul says, Rejoice with them that rejoice (Romans 12:15). And this was the holy practice of the friends and neighbors of Zacharias and [reconst…

2. A righteousness imparted; which is the infusing the seed and habit of grace into the soul; the making a person internally holy. And so he is said to be righteous who has a change of heart wrought in him, and is transformed by the renewing of his mind (Romans 12:2). Such an on…

O, says nature, revenge is sweet — but O, says God, the effects thereof shall be bitter. How plainly has God forbidden this flesh-pleasing sin: Proverbs 20:22, 'Say not, I will recompense evil'; Proverbs 24:29, 'Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me'; Romans 12:17, '…

He is redeemed from his vain conversation (1 Peter 1:18). He is the temple of the Holy Ghost; he is not his own, but bought with a price; and is, being washed in Christ's blood, a king over his lusts, a priest to offer himself to God, a holy, living, and acceptable sacrifice (1…

Position 2. The Scripture and all the ordinances are but created things, and not the ultimate object of our faith, and highest and completest love, that is reserved to God in Jesus Christ. Indeed, the most perfect we read of, Paul a chosen vessel stood in need of comfort from Ti…

The man never has a fair venture of heaven, nor comes into close grips with eternal love revealed till he believe, because the poor man's believing is his act of choosing God for his portion, and so cannot be an assent to a common good, general to all men, Heathens, Pagans, Jews…

First, wherever there is life, there is some warmth (2 Kings 9:34). When the Prophet had lain upon the child, and had done so seven times, at length the breath of the child began to wax warm, a sign that life was a restoring, and thereby the Prophet discerned that life began to…

And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple, and that other disciple was known to the High Priest, meaning himself, so that in these and other places you still find Peter and John together as very near and fast friends, they always keep together, possibly for spi…

Oh take heed of this; nothing breeds slightness and hardness of heart so much as perfunctory praying. The rule is continue instant in prayer (Romans 12:12), and it is said of the saints that they served God instantly day and night 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (Acts 26:7), that they…

And in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul attributes to love all the fruits which are done in the Spirit, when he says: Love is patient, courteous, etc. Notwithstanding, he would set it here by itself among the rest of the fruits of the Spirit, and in the first place, thereby to admonish th…

And here Paul, by an holy reproofe, withstands Peter for his bad example. In Paul, here first we may behold an example of true virtue, in that he resists evil, to the uttermost of his power, following his own rule, Abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good (Roma…

Thirdly, we must know God in respect of his will, in all things to be done, and to be suffered: and this is the right knowledge of God, to have regard to his will. Rom 12:2. Eph 5:17.

I say in the use: because liberty itself is inwardly in the conscience: and the use of it is often in the outward action: and therefore under the order of human law. The fifth rule: Our liberty must be used for right ends; as namely the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), the pr…

A soft, meek, and mild answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). Meek and gentle behavior heaps coals of fire upon our enemies' heads (Romans 12:20). A soft tongue breaks the bones (Proverbs 25:15).

Witness one of their own writers, who testifies of himself that he had studied Scholastic divinity and the Canon Law for the space of 16 years, and yet never so much as greeted either the Scriptures or the Fathers. Which course they take, either because they presume to understan…

To conclude, the Prophets describe not this service in such wise as it should be after Christ his coming; but such as it was in their own times: the reason is: because it was needful for them to apply themselves to the capacity of the people whom they taught. Hence we may gather…

There are very few that will venture their alms for nothing, and give with a frank and willing heart: for they think that that which they give to others, is lost, and is but a lessening of their stock. The Lord therefore greatly commends a cheerful heart (Romans 12:8), the rathe…

But now, instead of sacrifices, we have praises, thanksgivings, good works, &c. And lastly, we offer up our bodies and souls: (Romans 12:1). When he says their sacrifices are acceptable: let us not think the same proceeds from their merit or excellence, but from the free bounty…

Doctrine. From this we are to gather, that we cannot truly be converted to the Lord, unless we offer up to him all that ever we have: for these are those spiritual oblations which he requires, (1 Peter 2:5; Romans 12:1). which we cannot possibly deny him, if our hearts be truly…

They which usurp this office are sacrilegious persons, namely, such as will reiterate that which Christ has by himself accomplished. Every one ought rather to offer himself, with all that he has to God (Romans 12:1), that he may exercise this Priesthood as he ought to do. Second…

But it is the Gospel, by which men are mortified; that being renewed by the Holy Spirit, they may be offered up to God. Besides, everyone offers up himself in vowing and dedicating themselves to God's service: and in yielding him sincere obedience, which is that reasonable servi…

For “the kindness and love (φιλανθρωπία) of God our Savior toward man,” (Titus 3:4,) “has appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,” (Titus 2:11-12.) And so Paul, when he wishes powerfully to e…

In this way, he summons them to the inward tribunal of conscience, that they may thoroughly examine themselves, and, laying aside all flattery, may institute a severe investigation into their crimes. Wrath is put here, as in many other places, for the judgment of God: as when Pa…

It ought to be observed that Christ, adapting his discourse to that age, speaks of sacrifices. Our condition is now different: but the doctrine remains the same, that whatever we offer to God is polluted, unless, at least as much as lies in us, (Romans 12:18,) we are at peace wi…

Though Christ does not permit his people to repel violence by violence, yet he does not forbid them to endeavor to avoid an unjust attack. The best interpreter of this passage that we can have is Paul, who enjoins us rather to "overcome evil by good" (Romans 12:21) than contend…

The second fault is, that, instead of laboring with one consent, as they ought to have done, to render mutual assistance, and to secure for their brethren as large a share of honors as for themselves, they strove with wicked ambition to excel each other. If we wish that our mann…

Whoever then desires to escape that fearful punishment which Christ denounces, let him stretch out his hand to the little ones who are despised by the world, and let him kindly assist them in keeping the path of duty; for Christ recommends them to our notice, that they may lead…

Not after the lusts of men, (says he) that is: We must not do it, to please either ourselves or others thereby. For we must not fashion ourselves like this world, as Saint Paul writes in Romans 12. Whatever the world requires of us, that must we refrain and forbear.

Some will say, that Peter in that former sentence spoke of elders and here in this place only of the younger sort, who ought to submit themselves first to their elders, and next one to another. But we will take these words as spoken in a generality, even as that sentence of Sain…

Albeit God has caused a great light to shine to us, in this so merciful a manifestation of the Gospel: so that we both now know what a Christian life is, and also what Christian doctrine means, and do also see the scope of the whole Scripture to tend to none other end but this:…

That Religion which God requires, and will accept, does not consist in weak, dull and lifeless Wouldings, raising us but a little above a State of Indifference. God, in his Word, greatly insists upon it, that we be in good Earnest, fervent in Spirit, and our Hearts vigorously en…

Thus Christ blames the Pharisees, that they did not, even of their own selves, judge what was right, without needing miracles to prove it, Luke 12:57. The Apostle seems plainly to have respect to this way of judging of spiritual beauty, in Romans 12:2. Be transformed by the rene…

Put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man, which is corrupt, according to deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind; and put on the New Man, which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness. It is the Work of Regeneration, with respect…

Nor is there any thing concerning which the Work of Sanctification and Renovation is so expressly affirmed as it is concerning the Mind. It is declared by the Renovation of our Minds, Rom. 12. 2. or being Renewed in the spirit of our Minds, Ephes. 4. 23. that we put on the New m…

It's said, Augustus built an Apragapolis, a City void of business; but I am sure God never erected any City, Town or Family to that end. The Command to Adam, Genesis 3:19 no doubts reaches all his posterity: and Gospel-Commands back and second it upon Christians, Romans 12:11 an…

Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep (Romans 12:5). Be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another (1 Peter 3:8) — these are Apostolic rules for, and trials of Gospel love.