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is one that is ferving the Lord with his | but even fuch as hath gotten some special fpirit, in the work of the gospel, whereto he is called.

VII. It is the duty of minifters, in following forth their minifterial calling, to be ferving the Lord, and not to be feeking themfelves, remembering who has put them there; and therefore they fhould fo preach the gofpel, as that God, whofe fervants they are, may be glorified; and in every point thereof they fhould, carry themfelves, as doing fervice to the Lord: therefore fays Paul, whom I ferve in the gospel.

VIII. Becaufe minifters, in preaching of the gospel, have to do with God who is a fpirit, that will be worshipped in fpirit and truth; therefore it is their duty to be labouring for fincerity and zeal in the adminiftration of their office: they should preach thę gospel with a pure confcience, 2 Tim. i. 3. earnestly, feriously, with ardour, and great affection; therefore fays Paul, whom I ferve in my Spirit. 1 Cor. ix. 16. Neceffity is laid upon me; yea, wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel.

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IX. As the gofpel is nothing but glad tidings of good news concerning Chrift; fo the promulgation and preaching of the fame gofpel, is from the fame Chrift, who fitted men for that purpofe, and gave them a commiffion to go preach the gospel to all nations, Matth. xxviii. for thus it is called the gospel of his Son.

bleffing and favour from God, should be conftantly recommended to him, that he would keep that which he hath granted. from dying out; and would through his bleffing increase the fame: for Paul fays here, he made mention of thofe Romans, whofe faith was fpoken of far and near, in his

prayers.

XIII. The ferious and conftant minding of people to God by their pastors, fhould fufficiently convince people of the reality of their paftors love towards them; and being thus convinced, they are obliged to welcome God's meffage at their hands; for this is the force of this argument.

VERSES 10. 11. 12. Making request (if by
any means now at length I might have
a profperous journey by the will of God)
to come unto you.
For I long to fee you, that I

may impart unto ou fome fpiritual gift, to the end you may be established;

That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me.

THE apostle, in profecuting his pur-

pofe further, doth make ufe of a new argument to this purpose: My love to you is fuch, that I earnestly long to be with you; it is my earneft defire to God, that he would grant me a profperous. X. Prayer is a duty that should not be journey towards you; I mean fuch a jour gone about in fits and starts, but conftant-ney as may be according to his good plealy; therefore fays Paul, without ceafing, fure: and that not by reafon of any defign and always in my prayers. I Theff. v. 17. I have to enrich myself thereby, or to Pray without ceafing. See Luke xviii. 1. take any thing from you, but that rather and xxi. 36. Rom. xii. 12. I

XI. Thole over whom the Holy Ghoft hath made us overfeers, fhould lie near our hearts; and paftors fhould make confcience to mind them to God, without ceafing and wearying, as Paul's example

teacheth us here.

XII. Not only fhould we hold up their cafe to God who lie ftill in impenitency,

may give you, and give you freely, even of thofe things which God hath given me; even fuch things as may tend to your profit and establishment: not as if I looked upon you as young tender babes, needing fuch props, or as if I were fo far above you, as incapable of receiving any advantage from you, in the fame kind, for as I would give, fo would I take; there

fore

fore you must not reject this my exhorta- | profperous journey, yet with great fubmiffi

tion.

HENCE OBSERVE,

on of fpirit, putteth a blank in God's hand (whom he knew to be wifer than himfelf) and would have his petition granted when, and what way it feemed good in his eyes, and fo as it might be had with his good-liking, therefore (faith he) by the will of God.

I. As it is chriftian-like and comely for people to be acknowledging God, and his providence, in all their ways; fo a Chriftian, in a fpiritual frame and temper, will be praying for, and taking the meaneft and moft ordinary favour from God; as Paul's example teacheth us, who here did fuppli-ons to the thing prayed for, are weak and cate the Lord for his journeying.

V. As prayer flacketh, when affecti

coldrife; fo ftrong defires will be as oil to caufe the wheel of prayer run more fmoothly: and where prayers are ardent and fincere, they argue ftrong affections to the thing defired by prayer; for here Paul fhows, why it was, that he was fo ardent in his prayers for a profperous journey towards thefe Romans, viz. because he had a vehement and flrong defire to

II. Ministers that are faithfully minding their work, and defirous of the falvation of poor fouls, will be fparing no pains, but feriously looking for, and defirous of opportunities and occafions, wherein they may be in a capacity of doing fomewhat for their advantage: for here Paul, a man travelling in pain, till he faw the falvation of fouls, will not only write, but moreover is long-fee them. ing for, and defirous of an opportunity of fpeaking to them face to face, if that way he may advantage them more, than by writing; for he made request for a profperous journey unto them.

III. So defirous of the falvation of poor fouls fhould minifters be, that they fhould be fo far from fhunning occafions of advantaging people, becaufe of difficulties in the way, that they fhould refolve upon hardships and loffes, in the way of the faithful discharge of their duty, and lay their account for the worst, that may be; for here Paul fays, if by any means I might have a profperous journey, &c. as if he had faid, I do not value what croffes or troubles I can meet with in my way, yea, I refolve on the worft; let it coft me what it will, I would gladly fee you.

IV. In our fupplications to God, it is our duty to be very fubmiffive: and in thefe temporal matters we ought to give God full liberty to cut and carve as he pleafeth, and to give when and after what manner he pleafeth; nor fhould we defire any thing that is not according to his good will and pleasure. Therefore Faul, tho' he was making requeft unto God for a

VI. Christian love, as it is ftrong in itfelf, and rifing from a right principle and ground; fo it extendeth even to fuch as they, in whom it is, never faw, and is defirous of a near capacity of benefiting them; as we fee in Paul, who was moft earnestly defirous to fee thefe Romans, that thereby he might be in a further capacity of doing them good.

VII. As the fervants of Chrift who would approve themfelves unto their. Mafter in the day of accounts, fhould have an eye unto the thriving of their Mafter's work, in all their deportment; fo their very journeying hither and thither, and their feeking after opportunities to converfe with people, fhould be for the doing good unto their fouls, and for the advancement of the work of the Lord among them: therefore Paul, as one that did not feek himfelf, or his own things, longed fo earnestly to be with them, that he might do their fouls good; his end was not to get fome temporal courte fy and favour from them, but to cftablish their fouls, by speaking according to the gift given him of God, for this he was defirous to impart to them.

VIII. Not only is it the duty of the stew

ards

ards of Chrift, to be diftributing of thefe good things the Lord hath laid under their hand, as opportunity offereth; but they fhould be ftudying to find out occafions, and fo defirous to impart of what God hath given, as to long for, and earnestly defire to have the opportunity, and to be put into a capacity of giving out of that food which God hath made them ftewards of; for faithful Paul is here longing to fee them, to the end he might impart fome Spiritual gift, &c. God giveth them no talent to hile up into a napkin.

IX. As the office of the miniftry is from the Lord, and given freely unto whom it feemeth good in the Lord's eyes to give it; fo thefe endowments and qualifications wherewith they are fitted and enabled for the work, are not of their own fpinning; but are alfo freely bestowed by the Lord, whether they be ordinary or extraordinary, and should be acknowledged as coming from him, and for that cause more faithfully laid forth for him: for here thefe qualifications that were in Paul whether for exhortation, for doctrine, for prophecy, for interpretation, or the like, are called gifts; gifts freely given, and gifts given of God's free grace, as the word imports. See 1 Cor. xii. 8. 9. 10. 11.

X. As thofe gifts and qualifications are from God's Spirit, who worketh them in whom he pleafeth, and bestowed by the Lord for a spiritual end; fo fhould minifters be far from abufing them unto their own carnal advantage and bye-ends, and fhould only employ them for the ends appointed of God, viz. the fpiritual emolument and benefit of fouls; for in thefe refpects are they called here Spiritual gifts, and gifts that might tend to their establishment.

XI. Such is the weaknefs of grace oft i believers, and fuch is the falfehood and , deceitfulness of their hearts, as yet not thoroughly renewed and changed; and fech is the ftrength of corruption, and the forms of temptation, and the malice and reftleffnefs of adverfaries, that they ftand

in great need of fupporting and underproping; of being rooted and hafted in grace, and built up; and therefore doth thofe Romans need to be established.

XII. Minifters work is not ended when they have brought fouls in unto Chrift; but though that be a great work, yet. befide that, they are to labour to keep thofe in Chrift, who are brought to Chrift, leaft they flide back and fuccumb in the hour of temptation: therefore doth Paul here labour to have them eftablished, and for this caufe wifheth to be among them.

XIII. As believers are not above ordinances, and a miniftry, as long as they ftand in need of establishment; fo fuch is the love and great goodnefs of God towards them, that he, for that end, hath ap-pointed a standing miniftry unto the end of the world; and endued men with fpiritual gifts whereby fouls may be eftablifhed and confirmed: for here the Lord provided means whereby thefe Romans might be brought in to Chrift; yet Paul knowing that they needed to be eftablithed, wifheth to be among them for that end, for which alfo God had gifted him, And as thefe Romans needed fuch means, certainly no lefs doth believers now adays ftand in need of the like; and God's care is no lefs now than them..

XIV. As young believers are fubje& to many difcouragements; and among other things that ufeth to difcourage them, this is one, that when they hear any thing intimating that they are not fuch as they ought to be, or when they compare themselves with others, who poffibly are of longer ftanding, and of greater experience, and findeth fuch a great difproportion, prefently they are ready to conclude, that all are wrong with them, or at leaft, to droop and hang the head in difcouragement; fo it lieth at the door of the minifters of the gofpel to fee to this, and to ufe all poffible fair means to prevent the ftumbling of the weak; as Paul doth here, fearing they should have ftum

bled,

bled, and been difcouraged at his fpeaking of their needing to be ftrengthened, c. by mitigating what he faid formerly, in this 12th verfe.

XV. The best way for paftors, or others, to prevent the difcouragement that young beginners are obnoxious unto, is not to harp too much upon their weaknefs and infirmities, but rather to be putting themfelves in the fame cafe and condition with them, as needing the fame fupply and help that they ftand in need of; and fo making the cafe common, it will be the lefs grievous and burdenfome unto weak beginners: therefore Paul tells them, he had need of exhortation or confolation, (for the word will bear both) as well as

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they, and that from them, as well as they other argument much to the fame

XVI. There is none fo far advanced in Christianity, while they are on this fide of the fun, as not to need help and comfort even from others that are their inferiors, as Paul teacheth us, while he confeffeth here, that he would be comforted, or exhorted, even by these Romans to whom he was writing.

XVII. As iron fharpeneth iron, fo Chriftian communion and fellowship, when rightly improven, will prove a mean whereby Chriftians will be mutually edified, and built up; as Paul teacheth us, while he fayeth, that his converfing with them would tend to their mutual comfort. XVIII. Then is chriftian communion well managed and ufed, when thereby mutual difcoveries and evidences of the reality of God's grace in them is held forth; and proof given of their knowledge of, and faith in Christ, and mention made of their mutual experiments of God's love, &c. for the mutual faith both of Paul and thefe Romans, was to be made known and difcovered, when they were to meet together.

XIX. Believers meeting together, and by conference, or other exercises, fhewing to one another their embracing of Chrift,

purpose: Not only have I been defirous of a profperous journey to come unto you, and inftant with God by prayer, that my defire might be granted, but moreover I have been labouring for opportunities, and casting in my mind, how, and what way, and what time, I would win unto you; and oft-times laying down refolutions, that, at fuch or fuch a time, I would come to you; only the Lord thought good to lay fome impediment in my way, and nothing but that keeped me from coming unto you; and that not for any particular of mine own, fave what concerneth you, that fome of you that are not yet brought in to Chrift, might be brought in, and fo my miniftry fhould have fruit among you, as it hath among others. Therefore,

HENCE LEARN,

I. As it is not enough for people to be praying for that which is for their behoof, but also fhould moreover be fo serious, and earnest in endeavouring after the fame, as that they ought to be laying hold on every fair occafion whereby they may attain what is prayed for; fo, in particular, minifters of the gospel fhould not think it enough, to pray for fuch or fuch means, whereby they might edify the people, but alfo ftudy to lay hold on the

first offered occafion; for Paul, we fee, did not only pray for a profperous journey to come to thefe Romans, but befides, was ufing other lawful endeavours, apprehending whatever fair occafion did prefent itself Acts xix. 21.---Paul purpofed in the fpirit--to go to Jerufalem, faying, After I have been thers, I must alfo fee Rome.

II. Many a time it feemeth good in the Lord's eyes, to ftop lawful purposes and refolutions; and thefe purposes neverthelefs laudable and lawful: and it is ordinary for faithful ministers, in their ministerial function, to have their defires obftructed. Paul would gladly have been at Rome, that he might have gained fouls; and yet though his defire was lawful and commendable (for here he avows it, and maintains it) the Lord was pleafed to put a ftop in his way.

III. Whenever the Lord in his providence, either layeth, or fuffereth the devil to lay, invincible impediments in our way, fo as we cannot come by our purposes and endeavours, in a lawful and honest way, we should then reverence Providence, and as contentedly fit down, as if we had got. ten an exprefs prohibition: therefore fays Paul, he was forbidden, (as the word fignifieth) when hindered, either by God's giving him his hands full elfewhere, or by Satan the like; fee Acts xvi. 10. &c. I Theff. ii. 18. Wherefore we would have come unto you (even 1 Paul) once ana again;

but Sutan hindred us.

IV. The great Lord, whofe providence reacheth all things, taketh fpecial care of the gospel, and the preaching thereof, and fends it to whom, and when, he pleafeth, and not to others, nor till he thinks fit; he can ftop the wheels when, and as long as, he will: as here he ftopped Paul from carrying the gospel to them at Rome for a while. Whatever hand fecond caufes may have in this, his fupreme righteous arm fhould be marked, and acknowledged.

V. One of the great defigns of minifters, in their travelling and marching from place

to place, fhould be the gaining of fouls to Chrift: this fhould be the intended fruit. of their painful labours. This was one of the ends why Paul would have been at Rome, viz. that he might have fume fruit among them; by which he meaneth the converfion of fome to Christ.

VI. The gofpel's gaining ground and doing good in one place, fhould encourage the meffengers thereof to carry it farther; therefore his finding the gospel having fruit among other Gentiles, made him the more defirous to go to the Romans.

VII. So great defire should the minifters of the gospel have to fee it thrive, as if all the fruit of their pains and labour were their own, and none's elfe; and therefore he calls the fruit his, that I might have, &c.

VERSES 14. 15. I am debtor both to the

Greeks, and to the barbarians, both to the wife, and to the unwife.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome alfo,

Having

Aving from the tenth verfe expreffed the vehemency of his defire to be among them; and held forth many fpeaking and undeniable evidences thereof; to the end he might prevail fo far with them as to entertain kindly his epiftle, and the doctrine therein delivered; he here further confirms, and giveth reafons of this his defire, from the inward principle that moved him; to this purpose: Do not think ftrange that I have fuch a ftrong inclination to come unto you, and to preach the gofpel among you, for there is bonds lying upon me; and I am under that debt and obligation to preach the gospel, not only to you, but to all the Gentiles whatfomever, be they Grecians or Barbarians; be they of the learnedeft, wifeft, and most judicious fort, or of the rudeft and most barbarous and ignorant and therefore queftion not, but, fo far as I am able, and as God will give way, in his wife and well

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