Romans 1

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—What a great, a full, a suitable Saviour is God in our nature. For the only begotten Son of God is clearly manifested in our promised, our risen, Redeemer. And blessings of grace and glory proceed from him equally as from his Father. How ancient, how excellent, is that gospel which exhibits him and his fulness to us sinful men! While he is its author and subject, its great design is to bring both Jews and Gentiles every where to faith in, and obedience to, him. Therein his righteousness, as our surety, is revealed and bestowed, and thereby men are powerfully and effectually saved. And marvellous is their honour, and great their happiness, who share its saving effects. It is delightful and edifying to hear of the remarkable grace and holiness of others, and for Christians to communicate their spiritual experiences one to another. Inexpressible is the honour to be divinely called, qualified, diligent, and successful, ministers of Christ. And indispensable is their obligation, to a faithful, bold, and laborious, preaching of the gospel. Nor ought any opposition or contempt from men to render them ashamed of their work. God’s existence and perfections are manifestly marked in his works all around, and in us. And inexcusable then is our rebellion against him, or stifling the natural intimations which he has given us of himself. But, alas, what monsters men become when left to themselves and abandoned to their own hearts’ lusts! There is nothing too absurd for them to intend, or too idolatrous, brutish, unnatural, or shocking, for them to practise. And diabolical is their temper who can take pleasure in wickedness for itself.—Great is the mercy to have the wickedness of our heart restrained, and especially to have it subdued by God’s grace. And surely it is impossible for men, to whom such wickedness is natural, to be justified by their own works, or by any thing less than the infinitely valuable righteousness of Jesus Christ