Ver. 1. the Epi file to the romanes. 57 T t M. This indeed is the commonly re- ceived opinion, that the Apoffle having in the latter end of the former Cbapter repro. ved andconvitled open and bold offenders, doth now in the beginning of this Chapter blame another bind of trefaffers amongff the Gentiles,which were more politic(e , and finned with more cunning, neit her doing o- penly nor allowing fuchgro'fc crimes as were mentioned before,but taxing and condemning them both morally by precepts, as did Cato, Socrates, &c. and civilly by their Lawes, as Solon, Lycurgus,Dram, &c. Tet in fecret and privately did the fame things. Some alfo there be which thinkthat Paul ha ving reprehended'Itch as abufed their contem- plative knowledge, and contrary thereunto had run into foul Idolatry again fi the fir ff Table, now taxeth fuck as abut their pro - ¿licall knowledge, trefpa(Tng again(( their neighbours, oontrary to the known rules of common e3teisy; but what doe you thinke of the connexion of this Chapter with the for- mer? S 1 L. The firft Particle of this Text [Therefore doth well &care it to mee, that this whole fentence is inferred and dependeth upon the former words in the laft verfè of the precedent Chapter, fo as he doth not take up a reprehenfìon ofa new fort of finners,but goeth on fill to couvi& the fame tranfgrefâors, but with a new arraignement. Hitherto he hath reafòned from the effeá of evil/ works done by the Gentiles' againft God and men; to wit, the wrath and punifh- ment of God revealed and executed up- on them : whereof it followeth firong; ly,that the Heathen by their works de- (crving damnation, could not thereby challenge Inftilication. Here he argo- edi and concludeth the fame thing from a teflimony or judgement of every mans owne Confcience, not from that particular morali judgement of fome learned Philofophers, as Seneca, Plato, &c. or of that civill judgement of cer- taine Law- givers, condemning to pu- nifhments , vices which themfelves did ; but from the univerfall judgement which is in all men naturally, and bin - deth all.Sithence all men do condemne themfelves, yea even for fuch things as they blame in others,yet themfelves doe them : it followeth , that every one without all excule is guilty in the judg- ment of God,and therefore cannot bee juftified by their workes. The fumme of this firft verfe is thus much:ye acknowledge,& account them which doe fuch evils ( as before fpoken of)worthy of death:yet you your (elves doe know that either in whole or in part, privately or publikely, ye do loch things; therefore in your own judge- ment you are condemned whatfoever you doe pretend for your excufe. Paul by an Apo.flrophe direð his fpeech unto one man,to thew thereby, that it is the condition and cafe of every one : for there is none living but muff ap- prove that judgement of God, in verfe 23. and which Both not many things againft it even by the witneffe of his owne confcience.The parts then of this Chapter,be principally thefetwo.Fir(l, by a new reafon he proveth, that Hea -' then men cannot be ¡unified by their works, verfe s,a.Secondly,he removeth and anfwereth both the generali pretences and exudes of all men , verfe 3. unto verfe r2. and the fpe- ciail allegations, firft of the Gentiles, from verfe 12. untill 17. Secondly, of the /ewes from verfe 17. to the end of the Chapter. T i N. `both the Apojile fpeakeagainfi all judging of others? S 1 t. Nothing leffe,for there is greet rife of both publike judgement, and private:the nfe ofpublike judging is the prelervation of humane fociety, which confifteth in the defence of good men, and punifhing evili men by the fword of the Magiftrate. Allo the nfe of pri- vate judging is to reclaime traflable (in- ners, and to make obftinate Inners in- excufable. T s M. What things may flay us' f rem the hard judging of others, when they have fable? S i 1.. Thefe meditations: Firft,that happily we have done the fame offence, or elfe we may do it hereafter, Ga1.6. I. or if we doe it not, it is becaufe.wee are not tkmpted to it.Alfo, that force other way
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