Romans 2

17. We glorify God by a holy life: Christianorum religio haec sine macula vivere lactant; As a bad life does dishonor God (1 Peter 2:9): You are a holy nation, that you should show forth the praises of him that has called you. Romans 2:24: The name of God is blasphemed among the…

1. In this true Christianity does consist; it is not baptism that makes a Christian: many are no better than baptized heathens. The essential part of religion lies in the new creature (Romans 2:29). Circumcision is that of the heart.

2. When we profess God's name, but do not live answerable to it, it is a taking his name in vain (Titus 1:16): In words they profess him, but in works they deny him. When men's tongues and lives cross one another; when under a mask of profession men will lie and cozen, and be un…

The creation is enough to convince the heathen that there is a God. There are two books, out of which God will judge and condemn the heathen, namely the book of conscience (Romans 2:15), who have the law written in their heart: and the book of the creation (Romans 1:20), the inv…

Why is treason punished with confiscation and death, but because it is against the king's person, which is sacred; much more that offense which is against God's crown and dignity, is of a heinous and infinite nature, and cannot be satisfied with less than eternal punishment. Use…

16. Last. We do hallow and sanctify God's name by a holy conversation (1 Peter 2:9): You are a royal priesthood, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you. As an unholy life does dishonor God's name (Romans 2:24): The name of God is blas…

2. When a man lives in the same sins which he condemns in others. Romans 2:1: You that judge another do the same things. As Austin says of Seneca, he wrote against superstitions, yet he worshipped those images which he reproved.

If there were no Bible to tell us there is a God, yet conscience might. Conscience, as the Apostle says, either accuses or excuses (Romans 2:15). Conscience acts in order to a higher judicatory.

Now all these things fell out in types. Correspondingly, by fire of their own kindling is meant the common righteousness of civility and natural devotion which was by nature in some of the heathen (Romans 2:14) — found even in their chimneys — which the Jews also performed, both…

Use 1: Since so many offer up only common fire to God, you should examine whether the righteousness you think pleases God is anything more than fire of your own kindling. First, examine the origin of the righteousness that is kindled in your heart and blazes in your life. Was it…

Saint John says, The word was made flesh (John 1:14): and the angel says, The holy one which shall be born of you, shall be called the Son of the most high (Luke 1:35). And Paul says, that Christ Jesus our Lord was made of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh (Romans 2:3).…

And in these also we join with the church of Rome, and say (as experience teaches) that men have a natural freedom of will, to put them or not to put them in execution. Paul says (Romans 2:14), The Gentiles that have not the law do the things of the law by nature, that is, by na…

Shall I wrong him because he is good? Or should not rather the goodness of God lead me to repentance — Romans 2:4? 'There is mercy with you, that you may be feared' — Psalm 130:4.

Observe here 1. That sin, in no flesh, no, not in the Elect themselves, is without sorrow and grief; tribulation and anguish are knit to it, or it has these following on it; or take the doctrine thus, Wherever there is sin, there is the cause of much sorrow and grief; no more ca…

And as for all who have chosen the way of holiness, we are allowed to say this to you, that it shall be well with you at death and after death, at judgment and even for evermore. To them (says the Apostle, Romans 2:9,) who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and…

See (2 Corinthians 5:10): For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ — we must; there is an unavoidable necessity of it. For further clearing, and confirming of this, you should know that there are three courts, that especially the hearers of the gospel are liable…

Would it not be this, it is just that you perish, for you had Christ, and His righteousness clearly preached to you, which we had not, and yet you slighted Him: therefore take hold of, and improve the opportunity, God has clearly revealed this truth to the land, and to this plac…

Nor do I see any reason why any should affirm, that the Law is naturally as a party in the soul, of either the regenerate and justified, or of those who are out of Christ. (1.) For the Law's indwelling, as a party engaging, by accusing and condemning, is not naturally in any son…

Holy walking, as a witness of faith, is the way to the possession of the kingdom. As (Romans 2:6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds. (verse 7) To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honor, and immortality, eternal life.

(Matthew 24:14), "And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness to all nations" — that is, Jews and Gentiles. A personal witness to every single man it cannot be, except every single man heard it (Romans 10:14), "How shall they believe in him o…

If we do not labor for it, and suffer for it, we do not value it according to its worth. There is a simple, naked estimation, and a practical esteem; naked approbation (Romans 2:18): And you know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the la…

They are like those who are propping up some remote members of their body, while their vitals are wasting in a languishing consumption: These are like a man in a fever, his face and hands burn, but his heart shakes and quivers for cold: These I may call Pepper-professors, hot in…

Therefore God is known and the blessing is given, not by the law, but by the Gospel of Christ. Although Paul speaks these words: Then when you knew not God, you did service, etc. properly and principally to the Galatians, which were Gentiles: yet notwithstanding by the same word…

And these two sentences are not repugnant, but do very well agree. We also do teach in like manner: That the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified (Romans 2). And contrariwise: They that are of the works of the law, are unde…

Also, 'We have one father, which is God.' And to the Romans (Romans 2:17): 'Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law,' etc. Therefore, although that Peter and the other Apostles were the children of God, righteous according to the law, the works and the righteousness th…

The end of our life is uncertain, and look as death leaves us, so shall the last judgment find us. Secondly, when we delay our repentance, we add sin to sin, and so treasure up wrath against the day of wrath (Romans 2). Thirdly, when we defer to obey and turn to God, we grow to…

True worshippers worship God in the spirit (John 4:25; Romans 1:12). He is a Jew, that is a Jew not without, but within in the spirit, in the circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29). God's service and kingdom, stands in justice, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Ro…

In spirit] that is, in the powers of the soul sanctified and renewed. In this sense Paul says that the true circumcision is that which is in the heart, in spirit (Romans 2:29), and Christ says, that true worship of God is in spirit (John 4:24). And that spirit is here taken in t…

4. It is very requisite and expedient, that the reprover be not tainted with the same, or the like fault which he reproves in another, lest it be said to him, Physician cure yourself (Luke 4:23). In that you judge another, you condemn yourself (Romans 2:1). Therefore David says…

Both which are necessary in the church of God. Catechisms have a necessary use, both in regard of the simple, who are to be fed with milk, being but babes in Christ; and of the learned who are strong men in Christ, that they may have some rule, whereby to try the spirits, conson…

We had need of some bridle therefore to restrain us from making oaths rashly. The sum of the Prophet's speech is to teach us, that nothing is more displeasing to God than obstinacy, whereby we treasure up wrath against the day of wrath, as the Apostle says (Romans 2:5), and depr…

But in respect that many bore this badge of the covenant, who were no better than the rest; to remove all ambiguity, he adds, the unclean. For the cutting away of the foreskin, was nothing in itself; and is by Saint Paul accounted as uncircumcision, if the purity of the heart be…

But we know how usual this manner of speech is among the Hebrews. The Prophet blames the Jews for thus abusing the patience and long-suffering of God: which notwithstanding should have softened their hearts (Romans 2:4). But such is man's malice, that he thereby emboldens himsel…

But you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You that preach another should not steal, yet do you steal? (Romans 2). Against such, in conclusion, he denounces judgment, and the horrible vengeance of God; because they abused God's goodness, and gloried in his name in vain.

For when he directs his speech to the Jews, who were reputed as petty Saints in respect of others, of necessity the Gentiles must all come within this rank. If any object, Obiect. that the Gentiles in living justly were a law to themselves, and that their uncircumcision is count…

And this is the reason why Paul denounces them in such earnestness of language for treasuring up to themselves the wrath of God against the last day, (Romans 2:5). It is well known that trees are sometimes preserved, not because their owners find them to be useful and productive…

I acknowledge, therefore, that, as God has promised the reward of eternal life to those who keep his law, we ought to hold by this way, if the weakness of our flesh did not prevent; but Scripture teaches us, that it is through our own fault that it becomes necessary for us to re…

It is from men's having such a heart as this, that they treasure up wrath for themselves. Romans 2:5. After thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath, against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

So was Nebuchadnezzer greatly affected with God's Goodness to him, in restoring him to his Reason and Kingdom, after his dwelling with the Beasts. Gratitude being thus a natural Principle, it renders Ingratitude so much the more vile and heinous; because it shows a dreadful Prev…

Hereon they profess that they know God, that is the things which they are taught concerning him and his will, while in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, Tit. 1. 16. Rom. 2. 17, 18. In the latter way they only receive Spiritual things, in whose Minds they are…

Psal. 119. 9. I know there is an in-bred Light of Nature as yet remaining in us, which gives great Direction as to Moral Good and Evil, commanding the one and forbidding the other, Rom. 2. 14, 15. But this Light, however it may be made subservient and subordinate thereunto, is n…

And elsewhere we read of the Pharisees praying in the corners of the streets and sounding a trumpet before them when they did alms: but those works which they so vainly boasted of were moral works. And not only so, but what the Apostle, in this very epistle, is condemning the Je…

There is such base and horrid ingratitude, in being the worse to God because he is a being of infinite goodness and grace, that it above all things renders wickedness vile and detestable. This ought to win us, and engage us to serve God better; but instead of that, to sin agains…

When Job had carried himself discreetly, and spoken discreetly, the Lord hides not this in darkness, he shuts it not up in silence: but proclaims the innocency and uprightness of his carriage in this present passage of his life, as he had done before, concerning the whole course…

Prophanenesse and impietie in life: for God is glorified, when we bring forth the fruits of grace, Ioh. 15. 8. and our good workes cause others to glorifie God, Math. 5. 16. And therefore our profane life is a reproach unto the Lord, and causes others to dishonour and blaspheme…

The thing then here forbiddē, is rash iudgemēt, which one man does vniustly give of another; and the reason why wee so understand this place, may be drawne from the 3. verse, where instance is given of the judgment here forbidden, in a quicke espiall and sharpe censure of smal…

By waking, is understood, some liveliness and sensibleness, or at least life, in opposition to the former deadness and dullness, as, (Romans 13:11) It's high time to awake: And, (1 Thessalonians 5:6) Let us watch, and be sober; which is opposite to that spiritual drowsiness, whe…

2. God speaks by his works of providence, and that both merciful and afflictive. 1. God speaks by his merciful providences, by his patience, and bounty, and goodness, he calls men to repentance (Romans 2:4). He gives witness of himself, in giving rain and fruitful seasons (Acts…

5. To conclude, do any of the ungodly question God's righteousness, because in these common calamities, they have until now survived and escaped? 1. It is but an ill requital and ill use, which they make of God's patience and goodness which he has exercised toward them, that her…

Few bleeding hearts under the sharp sword of the word; little tenderness under the most melting discourses; few converts and penitent persons did the most powerful preaching (especially before the Gospel's eclipse) bring forth in London: converting work was at a great stand, tho…