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.

5. By undergoing the curse and penalty of the Law (Galatians 3:13), or the punishment of sin required by the Law (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:3). Herein, also according to the will of God, He offered up himself as a propitiatory and expiatory sacrifice to make atonement for sin…

1. That he be of a discerning eye; That so he may be able to see into the whole case, to state it right, and to understand the true and full sense of the Law which refers to it, and to compare the matter of fact with the mind of the Law, that so he may not miss it in his final d…

Yes, his being to judge themselves does augment the terror of all such as these, because this great Savior has been specially and horribly affronted by them, and therefore he has a peculiar design of taking vengeance upon them (2 Thessalonians 1:8), in flaming fire, taking venge…

Question 2. By what means do we come to know that God will thus be worshipped? That God is to be worshipped, and that according to his own will and appointment, is a principal branch of the law of our creation, written in our hearts (Romans 1:21; Romans 2:14-15; Acts 15:16-17; A…

Q. What may be thought of those accusations, and terrors of conscience, that sometimes are found in men, upon the committing of heinous sins, though known to no man living, but to the sinner himself? A. This also is another testimony that there is a God, before whose judgment se…

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…

There are degrees in this deceit, but all sinners are actually more or less deceived. No men while the natural principle of conscience remains in them, can cast off all the convictions of sin (Romans 2:14, 15). That it is the judgement of God, that those who commit such things a…

And in very many places it is recommended as a special Grace and Duty, 2 Corinthians 6:6. Galatians 5:22. Ephesians 4:2. Colossians 3:12. And it is often also ascribed to God, Romans 2:4. chap. 9:22. to Christ, 1 Timothy 1:16. [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] is properly [⟨in non-Latin…

He that believes not shall be damned. And although they shall also perish to whom the Gospel is not preached (Romans 2:12), yet the Gospel though it speaks not exclusively to others, yet principally it declares the inevitable destruction, the everlasting damnation of them who be…

Others convinced of the pride and folly of this presumption, and notwithstanding the encouragement to fruitful obedience which lies in God's gracious acceptation and rewarding of our duties, have been discouraged in their attendance to them. It is well therefore where this notio…

Cursed be the ground, thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you (Genesis 3:17, 18), whereunto barrenness or unaptness for better fruits is added (Genesis 4:12). From this curse the earth of itself and untilled, would bring forth nothing but thorns and briars, at least they…

God, I thank you, &c. — he seems to acknowledge God, and his grace, in what he was, and did, or had attained to in religion: and so it is with many still, who are yet unsound. Answer 1. A verbal acknowledgment is an easy thing many times, and especially when a good education lea…

Do you know what that means, to see, and yet not to see (Matthew 13:14)? — Seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. Did you ever see a need to know the things, that you knew before: to know spiritually, what you know doctrinally; there is a form of knowledge, and of the tru…

Whereas the Synod, to prove the parents in question to be in Covenant, alleges, that they were once in Covenant, and never since discovenanted; the former, because else they had not warrantably been Baptized; and the latter, because they have not in any way of God been discovena…

Nor did they ever dream that men are by the want of internal gracious qualifications cut off from membership in the visible Church, without any church-censure. It is well known, that they reckon hypocrites and secretly unregenerate persons (as well as heretical apostates, or the…

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).…

Herein if they fail, they lose all privilege and benefit by their baptism. So speaks the Apostle in the case of circumcision under the law (Romans 2:25): For circumcision verily profiteth, if you keep the law; but if you be a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircu…

Now all natural men are not hypocrites, to put on a pretence of strictness out of design. The Apostle says, "They do by nature the things contained in the law" (Romans 2:14), that is, upon the impulses of natural conscience, they avoid such sins as nature discovers, upon such ar…

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.

It is also a righteous thing to suit the punishment to the nature of the offence, and what can be more righteous than to punish a man by that wherein he offends? Hence God is said to give up men to sin (Romans 2:26-27): for this cause God gave them up to vile affections. And to…

They may repine sometimes at the service of sin or the consequence of it, in shame and pain, in the shameful distempers that will pursue many in their uncleanness; yet God having given them up judicially to sin, they have not so much as a right to put up one prayer or petition f…

Natural hardness, is the blindness or obstinacy of the heart in sin, by nature, which is not to be cured by the use or application of any outward means. Hardness and impenitent heart (Romans 2:5). This is that heart of stone, which God promises in the Covenant to take away, by t…

Although that which is foretold in these two chapters, and namely in the fourth and fifth verses of this chapter, was in part fulfilled when the people of God returned from captivity in Babylon at the end of seventy years: yet we must not limit the place to that time only, but m…

All men naturally want this motion, they cannot judge or do any thing by nature: they may do opus operatum, but they cannot do it in a holy manner; their prayers, their hearing, receiving of the Sacrament, and the like, are dead works, without faith the principal of life; howeve…

In Amos 3:2, You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I visit you for your iniquities; your sins are greater. And that in (Romans 2:9), Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also the Gentile. And we hav…

Thus after the inhabitants of many cities of Israel, or of God's professing people, have taken up, and pursued a joint resolution, to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of Hosts, others shall be drawn to worship and serve him with them; till at length many people and…

He spares you that neglect him. He is not willing that you should perish, but come to the knowledge of the truth, that you may be saved; by which he calls and leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4). On God's part here is a kind intention; but on man's part nothing but persevering…

Natural theology, how far it survives after the entrance of sin — its remnants, what they are and of what kind, are proved — from the law of nature, what it is; its force, Romans 2:14, 15 — the force of conscience — atheists — that God can be known from His works is shown. I. Th…

Your kingdom come: the second sort has two petitions: the first is disposed in a simple axiom of the subject and adjoint, that the kingdom of God, which he exercises by his Son, may daily come; that is, be set up in glory, fit for it: this having two parts, his administration he…

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…