Romans 14

1. To me to live is Christ, that is, Christ is the principle of my life. I fetch my spiritual life from Christ, as the branch fetches its sap from the root (Galatians 2:20). Christ lives in me. Jesus Christ is a head of influence, he sends forth life and spirits into me to quick…

8. We glorify God by living to God (2 Corinthians 5:15): That they which live should not live to themselves, but to him who died for them. (Romans 14:8): Whether we live we live to the Lord. The Mammonist lives to his money, the Epicure lives to his belly; the design of a sinner…

The seed springs up by degrees; first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Therefore be not discouraged; God, who would have us receive them that are weak in faith (Romans 14:1), will not himself refuse them. A weak believer is a member of Christ, and though C…

How fervently did they pray, whom God made joyful in the house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7). 3. Joy is the beginning of Heaven here; it is called the Kingdom of God (Romans 14:17), because it is a taste of that which the saints have in the Kingdom of God. What is the Heaven of the an…

When we pray, "Your kingdom come," we pray: 1. That the kingdom of grace may come into our hearts. This is Regnum Dei[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], God's lesser kingdom (Romans 14:17). "The kingdom of God is righteousness."

Christ will cut off rotten members, but not weak members. Therefore Christian, be not discouraged: God who would have us receive them that are weak in faith (Romans 14:1), will not himself refuse them. 2. The second means whereby we escape the curse and wrath due to sin, is by r…

1. A bad debtor does not love to be called to account. There is a day coming, when God will call all his debtors to account (Romans 14:12): so then every man shall give an account for himself to God, but we play away the time, and do not love to hear of the day of judgment. We l…

Which two glorious and incommunicable attributes of his that description of the word of God (Hebrews 4:12-13) seems fully to hold forth to us. Where, as at the gate of paradise was set a cherub with a flaming sword to keep our fallen parents from ever entering in again, so there…

Answer. So long as he doubts, he must defer the performance of it. For, he that does a thing doubtingly, condemns himself in the thing he does, because he does it not of faith: and whatsoever is not of faith, is sin, Romans 14:23. Question. 3. What if a man be urged by fear to t…

Kingdom being taken thus specially, is also twofold. The first is the kingdom of grace, of which mention is made (Romans 14:17): The kingdom of God stands not in meat and drink, but in righteousness: that is, the assurance of our justification before God in the righteousness of…

This day, that is, at the time of your incarnation, but especially at the day of your resurrection, have I begotten you, that is, I have made manifest that you are my Son: so is this place expounded by Saint Paul in the Acts (Acts 13:32-33). 2. Christ's rising from death by his…

Hence, Observe, 1. That all men and women, even all the elect themselves, are by nature liable to an arraignment before the justice-seat of God; that they are justified, supposes a bringing of them, as it were, before His tribunal, before they can be justified, and have the sent…

2. Faith as justifying is always held forth as making use of, and giving credit to, that which is revealed in the word; hence we that hear the gospel have that revealed to us therein, binding us to the belief of it, that heathens have not, as it is (Romans 1:17): "I am not asham…

2. Consider, that this contributes most to God's end, which is to glorify himself, especially in his grace, in the justification of sinners, even to hold forth the manifold riches of his grace; and nothing contributes to this so much, and so well, as that which speaks the sinner…

I grant it was not that righteousness of God through faith (Philippians 3); yet it was a fruit and infallible sign of that righteousness, and such as did prove them to be in Christ. And 2. all our acts of sanctification are no acts, no infallible marks of justification to my sou…

Answ. 1. We are to make believers know if they believe not, and walk not worthy of Christ, in all holy duties; their faith is a fancy, and a dead faith, and the wrath of God abides on them, and they are not believers. 2. Though they be believers, wrath must be preached to them,…

Argument 6. Christ's Lordship and Princedome through his resurrection, is in turning of hearts (Acts 5:31; Romans 11:23). Grace is stronger than devils, sin, hell and death (Romans 14:4; Ephesians 3:20; Jude 24; 1 John 2:14; 1 John 4:4). Arg. 7. If it must lie at our door more t…

For, first, Christ's dominion and authority that he has acquired by death is not a free-will-power or possibility, by which he may, upon such and such conditions, kill or save, though all may eternally perish. But Christ is made Lord of living and dead by dying (Romans 14:9), th…

4. Since this glory is for the body, do not debase the body, to make it an instrument of sin (1 Thessalonians 4:4). Possess your vessels in sanctification and honor, do not offend God to gratify the body, as they do (Romans 14:13), who make provision for the flesh to fulfill the…

Both do as it were deliver over to Christ their whole dispensation, and lay it down at his feet, as the magistrates that are to go out of office, solemnly resign the ensigns of their authority to him that succeeds, and also they come both to reverence the majesty of their suprem…

It may also be applied to other works. He that works, prays, or suffers without Christ, works, prays and suffers in vain: for all that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). It profits a man therefore nothing at all to be outwardly circumcised, to fast, to pray or to do any othe…

But we are earnestly to seeke after the things that make vs accepted with God; as true faith, righteousnes, and good conscience. Rom 14:17. Againe, superiours must be admonished to deale moderately with their inferiours, Coloss. 2. 11.

Answer: Upon like grounds we may, if we have a warrant, and calling from God so to do. For all judgment is God's (Romans 14:10): if this judgment be in truth: if it be in charity, for the amendment of the parties, and for the good of others. Otherwise, if these grounds fail us,…

3. The beginning and principal part of God's worship is in the heart. He that serves God in the righteousness of his heart, in peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, is accepted (Romans 14:17). 4. In our hearts no wicked or carnal thought, will, desire, or lust must reign, but only G…

Here I consider four things: 1. what this liberty is. 2. the author of it. 3. the persons to whom it belongs. 4. our duty touching this liberty. For the first: Christian liberty is called, the good, or commodity of Christians (Romans 14:16). It is a spiritual right or condition,…

Let every man prove his own work. The word translated prove, signifies also to approve, as (Romans 14:22): Blessed is he that condemns not in himself in the thing that he approves. (1 Corinthians 16:3): Whoever you shall approve or allow of by letters.

In the meantime, he fills the hearts of the faithful with unspeakable joy, as well in showing himself pacified towards them, as in causing them to feel his favor and good will, by giving a happy success to their affairs. Yet the chief and principal joy consists in the peace of c…

The old translator has repeatedly fallen into mistakes about this word, and through that ignorance has given us a corrupted sense of some very beautiful passages. One of these occurs in the writings of Paul, where he enjoins every man to be fully persuaded in his own mind, (Roma…

Before men can truly worship God, they must obtain peace of conscience, as David speaks, “There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou may be feared,” (Psalm 130:4:) for those to whom God has given peace are graciously invited and led to approach him willingly and with a cheerful d…

The commencement of solid joy is, to perceive the fatherly love of God toward us, which alone gives tranquility to our minds. And this "joy," in which, Paul tells us, "the kingdom of God" consists, is "in the Holy Spirit," (Romans 14:17.) By calling it great joy, he shows us, no…

The word righteousness may be either understood as applying to God, or to the kingdom: On the latter supposition, we would naturally have expected that, instead of τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, we would have had τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτὢς, when αὐτὢς would have stood for τὢς βασιλείας. — Ed…

Then follows the second clause, on which we have already touched, that God is not bound to pay us hire for any of our services. Let each of us remember, that he has been created by God for the purpose of laboring, and of being vigorously employed in his work; and that not only f…

Matthew 15:10. And having called the multitudes to him. Here Christ turns “Christ laissant la ces orgueilleux, se retourne vers les dociles;” — “Christ, leaving there these proud men, turns towards the teachable.” to those who are ready to receive instruction, and explains more…

But, according to the testimony of Paul, when Christ was raised to kingly power, there was given to him a name which is above every name, that before him every knee should bow, (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:9.) And though Paul had never said this, yet such is the fact, that Chris…

Nearly to the same purpose does Paul argue, when he says that we have no right to judge one another, for all are brethren, and all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ, (Romans 14:10.) 9. And call no man on earth your Father.

What Matthew and Mark had stated more obscurely, know you that it is near at the door, is more fully explained by Luke, know you that the kingdom of God is at hand; and in this passage the kingdom of God is not represented -- as in many other passages -- at its commencement, but…

Let us know, therefore, that we act improperly, when we form our opinion without paying regard to the word of God; for, as Paul informs us, None of us lives or dies to himself, but all must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, where we must give our account, (Romans 14:7, 1…

And is not God so sovereign, that he may if he pleases, show me that Mercy on that Occasion, and enable me to do my Duty in a much further Degree than I used to do it, and yet not incur the Charge of Deceitfulness, in confirming a Falsehood? It is exceeding manifest, that Error…

They ought to profess that all their hearts and souls are in these engagements to be the Lord's, and forever to serve him; 2 Chronicles 15:12-14. God's people's swearing to God, and swearing by his name, or to his name, as it might be rendered, (by which seems to be signified th…

And two things are contained herein; (1.) That we do all things to his Glory. This is the proper End of all the Acts and Actings of this Life, Rom. 14. 7, 8. (2.) That we design in and by it, to come to the eternal enjoyment of him, as our Blessedness and Reward, Gen. 15. 1. (5.…

Rom. 8. 15. 22, 26. 1 Thes. 1. 6. Rom. 14. 17. Chap. 15. 13, 16. of Faith it is said expressely, that it is not of our selves, it is the gift of God, Ephes. 2. 7, 8.

Such things, it may be, upon Provocations, and Surprizals, and clashings of Secular Interests, have fallen out, and will fall out among us; But they are all opposite and contrary to that Influence which the Consideration of Gods Electing Love ought to have upon us. The Apostles…

Why should it not be triumphingly said among the heathen, That the Lord reigns, that the world also shall be established, that it cannot be moved; Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; let the fields rejoice and all that is t…

When Job says, Let not God regard it, this may be the sense: let not God take any care for it, or make any account of it; let not his eyes be upon it to do it any good, or to do any extraordinary good upon it; let it not be honored by God with any special work of providence, whi…

Here is first denied the saying of Isaiah recited by Saint Paul (Romans 14): As truly as I live, says the LORD, all knees shall bow to me, and all tongues shall acknowledge to God. And again the saying of Moses, Deuteronomy chapter 6: Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD…

Now this estate of man is called a Kingdome, because herein God rules as king, and man obeies as Gods subiect: for no man can be in Gods fauour, nor enioy his fellowship, unless God be his King, ruling in his heart by his word and spirit, and he Gods subiect resigning himselfe t…

Secondly, I show wherein it consists; namely, in a voluntarie subiection of the whole man in soule, and bodie, and spirit, to the will of God, reuealed in the word: Psalm. 110. 3. your people shall come willingly in the day of assembling yours armie, in holy beautie. And this su…

Cor. 4. And the Christian brethren among the Romans condemned one another in the obseruation of daies and times, and in the use of the creatures of God, Rom. 14. which was nothing els but rash judgment. And this no doubt is a fault which raignes in our congregations, even among…

3. Endeavor to treasure up profiting graces, I mean such as will help you both in doing and receiving good. For the first, lay up such graces as will render you serviceable in your places (Romans 14:19) — Let us follow after the things that make for peace, and things with which…

(Proverbs 10:2) Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. (Romans 14:17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. London, printed by A. Ibbitson for [reconstructed: Thomas] Parkburst,…