Romans 6

Romans 6:1

SHall we,] shall we continue in corruption and bondage of sinne, without repentance or alteration of life, because we are ustified out of 〈◊〉 grace, and not by works that God may have the greater subiect of exercising his mercie.

Romans 6:2

God forbid,] as that is quite contrarie to all order of Gods grace, and to his nature, so it is abominable to conceive so much as a thought of it, that 〈◊〉 dead,] that have received togither with the remission of our sinnes in Christ, the gift of the holy 〈…〉ich engendereth in us a newspiritual life according to God, and with all mortifieth the life of 〈…〉, so that we become as dead carkeisses, to the motions of it, and unprofitable and immoueable organs to the actions of it. Whereupon it is impossible that perserveance in sinn, can subsist with theth of the operation of Gods grace.

Romans 6:3

Know ye not,] that is to say the inseparable coniunction of these two benefits is cleerely demonstrated to us by baptisme, into Jesus,] namely by a ent that we are Christians, not onely by profession, but likewise in spirituall truth receiving the grace of the spirit, and then cooperating thereunto by saith, voluntary obedience, and newnesse of life, Galatians 3:1-29. 7. into his,] to be partakers in the benefit of his death in the remission of sinnes, and likewise to receive a lively stampe, and likenesse of him who is our head in the mortification of sinne. See Philippians 3:10. Colossians 2:12.

Romans 6:4

We are,] in baptisme beeing dipped in water according to the ancient ceremonie it is a sacred 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 that sin ought to be drowned in us by Gods spirit. As that is a seale unto us, of the washing of our souls before God, with him,] namely in the conformitie of his death, by meanes of which we also carrie the image of his resurrection in a spirituall life. Philippians 3:11 by the glorie,] namely by his glorious power. Iohn. 6 57. 2. Cor. 13 4.

Romans 6:5

For if,] he gives a reason of this consequence of Christs death and resurrection with the spirituall one of beleevers, namely because Christ by the internall and spirituall baptisme, is in a manner united in spirit to them as the head is to the members and the graft to the stock, that he communicates unto them of himself not only some effects but also his likenesse. See. Iohn. 15. 1. Rom. 11, 24.

Romans 6:6

Knowng this,] this conformitie is made in us, by meanes of the lively Knowledge which the holy Ghost giveth us, and the spirituall discourse which we ought to make namely that Christ is dead not onely to expiate the guilt of sinne but also to take away all its strength and power over us, and to gain us wholly to God, and frame and consecrate us to his service,Old,] hee calleth thus the whole depravation or evil that is in man, which hath its part, namely his life, forces, actions, and motions and is opposite to the renewment which is made by Gods spirit, which is called the new Man 1:2. Cor. 5. 27. Ephes. 4. 22. 24. Col. 3. 9. 10 the bodie,] not only some actions and parts of it, but the very spring the stock, and whole masse, composed of many vices, passions, and disorders: as a bodie of diverse members. See Colossians 2:11 should not serve,] that we may no longer be under that vnauoydable though voluntary, necessity of sinning without having either light, libertie, strength, or remedie against sinne. v. 16.

Romans 6:7

For he,] a reason taken from human slaverie which is ended by death. Iob. 3. 19 dead,] namely to sinne. v. 2 See. 1. Pet. 4. 1.

Romans 6:8

with Christ,] namly as hee is likewise dead, and participating of the effect and likewise of his death, as being his members, shall also live,] in a spirituall life in holinesse and righteousnesse: and afterwards in the glorious and everlasting, which is the very height and accomplishment of the spirituall life.

Romans 6:10

Unto sinne,] to satisfie that necessity which he imposeth of dying, to expiate, and purge it, and also to take away all power from it, either upon him, or upon his, Unto God,] namely a divine life, whose onely obiect and relation is God.

Romans 6:11

But alive,] that is to say have received the gift of spirituall life, and are bound to exercise it, and put it in practice, in Gods leve, service, and obedience which is the beginning of that blessed life, which beleevers shall live in heaven. See Luke 20:38 through Iesus Christ], by meanes and by vertue of your union with Christ, in whome you subsist, as in the foundation and roote of this life.

Romans 6:12

In your ma’s,] whilest you lve this corporall life, which being also subject to death, it appeares thereby, that there are yet some reliques of sin, against which wee must fight, to mortifie and drowne them.

Romans 6:13

Your members,] whereby are meant all the naturall fculties of the soule, exercised by means of the members of the body, See Romans 7:5; Romans 7:23 Colossians 3:5. Ia. 4. 1 Of righteousnesse,]holy and fit for Gods service.

Romans 6:14

For sinne,] that is to say, fight on freely, for the victory is assured on your side against sin, for in the Gospell you have not a bare command, which bindes you without helping you, as in the law, but together with the command, there is an internall power granted you, which fulfilleth that in you which is commanded, if so bee for your owne part you will concurre with your will and endeavour, Philippians 2:12-13 Hebrews 13:21.

Romans 6:15

Shall we sinne?] an objection grounded upon the false sence which some prophane men might give to these words of not being any more under the law, as if thereby were meant that a man were freed from all manner of bonds and ties of obeying God, and living well, whereas according to the Apostles meaning they signifie quite the contrary; namely that one is no more before God inquality of a bondman, under the tie of perfect obedience, or condemnation without pardon or release; and without any effectuall help of Gods spirit: which can produce nothing in man but dispaire and an unbounded rebellion, but that on is now in qualitie of a sonne under the mercy of God; who imployeth his law, as a milde and moderate governesse alwaies accompanied with the power of the holy Ghost, to produce the effects of obedience God forbid,] as much as to say this thought is altogether wicked and abominable.

Romans 6:16

Know ye not,] it is a thing according to common reason, that every one is to serve his Mr, though he did willingly put himselfe into bondage, because that by this act he hath deprived himself of liberty. So man is a bondman, either to sin by nature, or to God by grace, with motion, election and consent of his own proper wil, wherfore it is no longer in his liberty to depart from it. Matth. 6. 24 Of obedience,] to the law of God, unto righteousnes,] namely to be approved by God under which is also comprehended the reward of life.

Romans 6:17

That ye were,] that having heretofore bin slavs to sin, God through grace hath freed you by the Gospel to which you have willingly submitted your selvs, as to the pattern & model of your regeneration; like unto a mettal which is melted, or some other soft kind of stuffe, which taketh its forme from the mould into which it is cast.

Romans 6:19

I speak,] this similitude of corporall slavery, doth not perfectly agree with the necessity and e of serving God, wherein there is no force at all used, and where Gods spirit inclineth the soule to a milde and voluntary obedience; but the weaknes of your under¦standing in wel apprehending this liberty, alien from al manner of licence and indifferency, and in wel using of it; requireth to have the matter laid open to you under such terms, See 1. Cor. 7. 22. and 9. 21. 1. Pet. 2. 16 your flesh,] namely the natural vice of ignorance and perversnes of understanding, which remaineth inbelievers, and makes spiritual things hard for them to apprehend in their own naturall sence, and to make good use of them unto iniquity,] namely actual iniquity.

Romans 6:20

For when,] you must not divide your service; for when you were under the yoak of sin, righteousnes had no power over you, therefore likewise now that you are under the kingdome of righteousnesse, you must utterly renounce the tirannie of sin.

Romans 6:21

What fruit,] consider what was the reward of your bondage then, it was nothing but death, therfore by the lamentable and horrible state that you were, in then you may judge what a happy state you are now brought into, to cleave unto the one, and altogether flye the other. See Romans 7:5.

Romans 6:22

Yee have,] you reap this good by your subjection to God, that you are even in this world sanctified and regenerated to newnes of life, a true beginning and pledge of the everlasting and glorious life.

Romans 6:23

The gift,] namely of these 2. works of Gods grace towards you, and in you; namely of the free justification, and spiritual sanctification, wherof the first is the cause, and the 2. the beginning and introduction into eternal life, thorow Christs benefits, who got you the first by his blood and obedience, and the other by his spirit.