so must we do in this case, labouring with so much more earnestness, after the spiritual riches of Gods grace, and the assurance of our heavenly hopes, by how much the longer we have neglected this spiritual thrift, and travelling so much more speedily in the ways of godliness, by how much the longer we have deferred our journey, and have loitered by the way, fearing (as the Apostle speaketh) lest a promise 1being left us of entering into Gods Rest, we should come short of it, for want of care and diligence. And this argument the Apostle useth, that seeing we have formerly lived in darkness, and have spent our time in sleep and sluggishness, we should now, when we are awaked, walk circumspectly, not 2as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. And seeing we have been scandalous in our sinful courses, hindering others from the profession and practice of godliness by our ill example; therefore as he exhorteth, we must now walk in wisdom towards them that are without, 3redeeming the time, by a more earnest endeavour in seeking their conversion, by our holy communication and graceful speeches, and by shining before them in the light of Godliness, that we may move them to glorify our heavenly Father. So, persuading the Romans to sanctification and holiness of life, he putteth them in mind of their former condition, and the little fruit which they received by it, that it might be as a spur in their sides, to hasten their speed in the Christian race. For as ye have 4(saith he) yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, unto iniquity (having no other fruit of sinning, but sin) even so now yield your members servants to righteousness, unto holiness, &c. What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. And thus the Apostle Peter 5exhorteth us, that we should no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God; because the time past of our life may suffice, to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, and in all wicked and sinful lusts.
so must we doe in this case, labouring with so much more earnestnesse, after the spirituall riches of Gods grace, and the assurance of our heauenly hopes, by how much the longer wee haue neglected this spirituall thrift, and trauelling so much more speedily in the wayes of godlinesse, by how much the longer we haue deferred our iourney, and haue loytered by the way, fearing (as the Apostle speaketh) lest a promise 1being left vs of entring into Gods Rest, we should come short of it, for want of care and diligence. And this argument the Apostle vseth, that seeing wee haue formerly liued in darknesse, and haue spent our time in sleepe and sluggishnesse, we should now, when we are awaked, walke circumspectly, not 2as fooles, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the dayes are euill. And seeing we haue been scandalous in our sinfull courses, hindring others from the profession and practice of godlinesse by our ill example; therefore as hee exhorteth, we must now walke in wisedome towards them that are without, 3redeeming the time, by a more earnest indeuour in seeking their conuersion, by our holy communication and gracefull speeches, and by shining before them in the light of Godlinesse, that we may mooue them to glorifie our heauenly Father. So, perswading the Romans to sanctification and holinesse of life, he putteth them in mind of their former condition, and the little fruit which they receiued by it, that it might bee as a spurre in their sides, to hasten their speed in the Christian race. For as ye haue 4(saith he) yeelded your members seruants to vncleannesse and to iniquity, vnto iniquity (hauing no other fruit of sinning, but sinne) euen so now yeeld your members seruants to righteousnesse, vnto holinesse, &c. What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sinne, and become seruants to God, ye haue your fruit vnto holinesse, and the end euerlasting life. And thus the Apostle Peter 5exhorteth vs, that we should no longer liue the rest of our time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God; because the time past of our life may suffice, to haue wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciuiousnesse, and in all wicked and sinfull lusts.
- 1Heb. 4. 1.
- 2Ephes. 5. 8, 14, 15, 16.
- 3Col. 4. 5.
- 4Rom. 6. 19, 21, 22.
- 51. Pet. 4. 2, 3.
