A Fter this fweet and earneft fupplicati on to God, for the Spirit of unity to be poured upon them, he draws out the conclufion, containing, an earneft and ferious defire, that they would ftudy unity, and endeavour after this rare and matchlefs bleffing; Wherefore receive ye one another, because of all this which I have faid, and of the neceffity and usefulness of this onenefs of judgment, which you may learn from my ferious fuiting God for it, you fhould now fet about the heart-imbracing, kindly entertaining, and brotherly bearing with one another, be ye Jews or Gentiles: And this again he preffeth with a new argument, as if all which he hath faid already would not fuffice; As Christ alfo received us, to the glory of God: Chrift was fo far from defpifing us, be we Jews or Gentiles, that, on the contrary, he dealt tenderly, warmly and lovingly with us; he bowed low to lift us up, that we might be partakers of the glory of God. OBSERVATIONS. J. The ufe-making of that enriching mean of prayer for any thing we defire, fhould not in the leaft flack our diligence in the purfuit of that which we ask in pray. er, by other lawful means; for tho' he was praying to God for unity and concord among them, yet he makes ufe of ferious exhortation thereto, and thereby teaching them, that tho' he was praying to God, and fo teaching them to pray likewife, for unity, yet he would not have them refting there, but fetting about the ufe of other means to win to it; and therefore exhorteth them to receive one another. II. Such a fympathy and heart-uniting fhould be among all the members of Christ's body, be they ftrong or weak, be they young or old, that they should all join together, mutually embrace one another, fupport, and bear with one another, bind up one another's wounds and infirmities, and fo heartfomely join together as one; they fhould receive one another. III. Were believers minding this duty, which each of them owe to other, of receiving, hearty loving, and tender embracing of one another, there would be more unity, and chriftian concord among them than there is; backwardness in uniting with one another, breedeth animofities, and heart discontentments, and fo follereth divifion and diffention; and therefore, that they might be like minded one towards another, he preffeth them to receive one another. IV. When there is a breach among Chriftians, by reafon of divifion, and the fire of contention and heat, minifters, whofe duty it is mainly to help to amend the breach, fhould be effaying all means for effectuating this, both in wrestling with God, and in dealing with the people to get them brought to mutual, chriftian, brotherly embracing of one another, and do--ing duties called for from them to one a--nother; for after prayer and fupplication to God for this unity and concord, he preffeth the people to receive one another.- V. When people fee the minister serious in preffing fome point as most neceffary, and fo ferious that he is wrestling with God for the fame, it should lay ftrong bonds on Chriftians, to be laying fuch a duty. much to heart, and by all means to be endeavouring the attaining of that which is fo earnestly preffed for: Upon the back of his prayer he cometh in with a wherefore receive ye one another. VI. Chrift's wonderful condefcenfion and ftooping low, by taking upon him the form of a fervant, Phil. ii. 7. and being made under the law, Gal. iv. 4. and hum T of falvation to the Jews, filed by circumcifion, as Rom. iv. 12. and by thus preaching of the gospel, he received both Jews and Gentiles, only with this difference, that the firft offer of life was to be made to the Jews, and Chrift was to be, as it were, peculiarly fet forth for them, because of the bling himself, becoming obedient unto the death, even the death of the crofs, Phil. ii. 8. that he might help up poor things who were lying in the puddle of fin and mifery, fhould strongly prefs believers to floop low, and be condefcending for the good of their brethren, and to be warmly and heartfomely taking other in their botruth of God, who had made folemn profom; therefore he addeth, Even as Chrift alfo received us. mifes unto the fathers, in covenanting with Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob, and making a promife to them of the Meffias, and of falvation thro' him, to their posterity: It was VII. The advantage which believers get by Chrift, and his wonderful condescending to become of no reputation, is great and ex-for the truth of God, to confirm the promises cellent, even no lefs than glory; yea, and the glory of God: and it is by Chrift's death and merits, that this glory is purchafed unto people; and glory, and nothing elfe, will be the upfhot of Chrift's dealing with his people; however they be exercifed in a world, yet this is their purchased portion at length; and as they have a right to it now, thro' Chrift's death, fo fhall they, in due time, be put in poffeffion thereof: As Chrift alfo received us, to the glory of God. VERSES 8. 9. Now I fay, that Jefus TH 'HE apostle being now speaking both to Jews and Gentiles, and having exhorted both to receive one another, and made ufe of this argument to perfuade both, that Chrift had received them both, (that is, he had welcomed both into his church, and believers of both he would take into glory:) now he cleareth this argument more, and fheweth how it is true, that Chrift hath received both Jews and Gentiles; Now I fay; this is the thing I am faying, That Jefus Chrift was a minifler of the circumcifion; that is, the fubjected himself to be a fervant and minifter, for preaching the gospel and glad tidings made to the fathers. But as to the Gentiles it was a mere act of mercy and free grace, there having no promife thereof been made to them before, or to their forefathers; however, it was foretold how they fhould be brought in. by the Meffias, and receive good, yet there was no covenant made, or promife paffed upon it, as to them: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. And feeing thus, Chrift hath received both, each of you ought to receive one another; and there fhould no more be any difcord or drynefs betwixt you, Jew and Gentile. OBSERVATIONS. 1. Such was the love that our Lord Je fus Chrift had unto the falvation of poor finners, that tho' he was the exalted Lord, equal with the Father, yet he became of no reputation, and came in the form of a fervant, and submited himself to mean fervice, that he might do them good, whom he had a mind to fave: He was made a minifter of the circumcifion. II. The fathers before the law, and under the law, were faved by the fame Mediator, that we under the gofpel are faved by; the fame Chrift was promised then, who is now fent forth as the truth of all promises; grace and truth came by him, John i. 17.: He was a minifter of the circumcifion, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. III. Tho' they had the fame way to falvation, falvation, which we now have; yet it was not then fo clearly unfolded and declared, as now it is; the fathers had it only wraped up in fo many promifes: To confirm the promifes made unto the fathers. IV. Tho' the people of the Jews had many sweet and excellent promiles, varioufly expreffed; yet they did all drive at this one, viz. The promife of the Meffiah, the horn of falvation, Luke i. 69. this was the upfhot of all; and Chrift coming in the flesh, to fave his people, is the fulfilling of all: Christ Jefus was a minifter of the circumcifion for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers. V. The people of the Jews being a covenanted people to God, by virtue of the covenant made with Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob, had a fpecial ground to look for the Saviour of mankind, having a promife, that he should come of them; for it was promised to Abraham, that in his feed fhould all the nations of the earth be faved; and whatever ground of expectation the Gentiles had, it was by virtue of the promifes made to the Jews, and the fathers, and fome prophecies: fo that, when Chrift came into the world, he walked a while, as if he had been only fent to fave the people of the Jews, Matth. xv. 24. limiting his difciples to these bounds alfo, at the firft, Matth. x. 5. 6. and they were to have the first offer of life, thro' him, Acts xiii. 46. Jefus Chrift was a minister of the circumcifion for the truth of God, to confirm the promifes made to the fathers. VI. Tho' the coming of Chrift, in the flesh, was a rich mercy unto the Jews, yet was it fuch a mercy, as was promifed by 2 covenant, Luke i. 72. 73. and tho' free grace and mercy made the promife, yet truth and fidelity were engaged for the performance unto them. But unto the Gentiles, with whom no fuch covenant was entered, nor no fuch promife made to them covenant-ways; it was pure mercy and free grace: Chrift was a minifter of he circumcifion for the truth of God; and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. VII. This great and wonderful mercy of Chrift being manifefled in the flesh, and that for the good of the Gentiles, who had no promife made them of fuch a mercy, thould ftrongly oblige them to fing forth the praises of God, and extol his matchlefs goodnefs, to his endless glory and honour: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. VIII. Tho' the Gentiles had no covenanted promife, made to themselves immediately, whereupon they could ground any faith of receiving good of the Meffias: yet the extending of the arms of the Meffias beyond the borders of the church of the Jews, towards the Gentiles, was a mercy frequently foretold, and indeed promised as a fpecial benefit unto Abraham, Gen. xxii. 18.; for he confirmeth what he faid touching the Gentiles, with feveral places of fcripture. See Acts xiii. 47. VERSES 9. 10. 11. 12. As it is written, For this caufe I will confefs to thee among the Gentiles, and fing unto thy name. And again he faith, Rejoice ye Gentiles with his people. And again, Praife the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, all ye people. And again Efaias faith, There shall be a root of fee, and he that shall rife to reign over the Gentiles; in him fhall the Gentiles truft. THE apoftle thinks it fit further to fpeak to this bufinefs, touching the Gentiles, and because it was a matter of fome concernment, for the confolation of the Gentiles, and conviction of the Jews, he citeth feveral paffages of fcripture, to fhew how it was foretold long ago, and conftantly spoken of, as a thing that would be. And, 1. He citeth a word, Pfal. xviii. 49. where David, as a type of Chrift, is fpeaking, and prophefieth that there fhall be brave days among the Gentiles, and 4 B that that he, that is Chrift, fhould confefs or OBSERVATIONS. I. When it may be useful and neceffary, for the convincing and raising up the hearts of the hearers, minifters may be large in confirming points of truth, and tho' places of fcriptore need not always be multiplied, yet fonetimes neceffity will call for citing more places than one or two: therefore the apoftle, who oftentimes contents himfelf with one or two paffages, thinketh fit to cite more here, because the Jews were fill in ulting over the Gentiles; and now he would lay their proud boasting, by fhewing how the converfion of the Gentiles was prophefied of by Moles and the prophets: As it is written,---and again,-and again, &c. II. That the Gentiles fhould be brought in, as fellow heirs with the Jews, in the days of the Meffias, is a truth foretold by Mofes, and the prophets, David and Ifaiah, which should make the fulfilling of thefe prophecies more lovely unto us; for he proves this by teftimonies from Mofes, David and Ifaiah: As it is written. III, Mercies received, will then be fweeteft, when received as the kindly effects and fruits of old love, and as the accomplishing of a promife; and a mercy being received as a fruit of a promife, becometh a double mercy; therefore doth the apostle fhew how the receiving of the Gentiles into the church, is that which was foretold; As it is written. IV. The Lord may have thoughts of good towards a people, long before the fame begin to kyth; love towards a people may run long under ground, and will break up at length; for we fee God had old thoughts towards the Gentiles, even when he was beginning to model the Jews into a church-ftate, and yet it brake not up til the due time, till the coming of the Meffias, and then this love vented in a great measure: As it is written. V. To fing praise unto the name of the Lord, for his great and mighty works of falvation falvation, is a moft fuitable work for a people newly brought into a covenant-itate with God; and new converts are crdinarily much taken up with fongs of praife to the God of their falvation. This is foretold of the Gentiles, when converted, that they fhall confefs and fing unto God; and this is a mark of their being brought into a covenant itate: I will confefs to thee among the Gentiles. VI. As the people of God, can perform no fpiritual acceptable fervice, nor the fervice of praife in particular, without Chrift their head fend influences of his Spirit for fliring them up thereto, and perfume them with his mediation, that they may be accepted; fo, when praife is thus rightly performed, Chrift is concurring with thefe fongs, and by his note making them melodious, and to be accepted of the Father: I will confefs to thee among the Gentiles (fays Chrift) and I will fing unto thy name. VII. As the deliverances wrought by the hand of God, in the behalf of his church and people, are many and wonderful, fo thould the fame be acknowledged by his people, and they fhould look upon it as their duty to extol and fet forth the praifes of him that liveth for ever and ever: Praife the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, all ye people. VIII. Tho' all his creatures be bound to fing a fong of praise to their Creator | and daily Maintainer, yet there are no people that can rightly discharge this excellent duty, but thofe in covenant with him and his church; for this proveth that the Gentiles fhould be enchurched, becaufe the days would come when they fhould praife the Lord, and laud him. IX. As the Lord is letting out of himfelf most wonderfully and graciously unto his church and people, beyond all others, fo doth he call for, at their hands, the lively expreffing of their fenfe of the unfpeakable riches and advantage of thefe favours he is bestowing upon them, by rejoicing in a hearty and fpiritual manner: Rejoice ye Gentiles with his people. X. Tho' ftrangers to a covenant with God may have fome carnal joy, upon fome carnal and worldly account; yet it is only his people who are in covenant with God, who can rightly join together in making an harmonions melody unto the Lord, and in expreffing the joy of their hearts unto God; and whenever any are taken into covenant with God, this heart-rejoicing is expected from them: Rejoice ye Gentiles with his people. XI. Our Lord Jefus Chrift the promifed Meffias, as he came of David the fon of jeffe, and fo was a sprig of that root, as he was man, Ifa. xi. 1. and hence he is oft called the root of David, Heb. v. 5. and xxii. 16. fo, as God man in one perfon, he is become a root unto all his people, making them to grow in him, thro' life and fap communicated to them by the influences of his Spirit: There fhall be a root of Feffe. XII. This Meffias, our Mediator, by his kingly power, fubdueth his people under him, and bringeth them from under the jurifdiction and tyranny of Satan, the prince of darknefs, and for this caufe, he difplayeth the banner of the gospel, that he may gather them together to be a people to himfelf: He shall rife, and (as it is in Ifaiab) He fhall (tand as an enfign of the people. XIII. Thele whom Chrift fubdueth to himself, and by his power bringeth under his banner and standard, he also as a king ruleth and governeth, not only inwardly, by his Spirit, but even outwardly by his laws and his church government, which he only fettleth as head and king of the church, He hall reign over the Gentiles, as an enbodied people, and as nations. XIV. When Chrift has once displayed his banner of the gofpel, and is fending it forth with power, then there is a great flocking of people thereunto. When the glory and excellency of this king is feen, and the rich magnificence and fplendour of his kingdom, then the hearts of people are won to him, and they are made willing to come in: When he fhall rife and fet up a 4 B 2 fandard, |