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A. D..60.

ROM. 1. 18, 19.

A. D. 60. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

a For the invisible things of aim from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse, ver. 20. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor lan

out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal! Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishon-guage, where their voice is not heard. ourest thou God? Rom. ii. 3. 15-23. Their line is gone out through all the The Lord of that servant will come in earth, and their words to the end of a day when he looketh not for him, and the world. In them hath be set a at an hour when he is not aware, and tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a will cut him in sunder, and will ap- bridegroom coming out of his champoint him his portion with the unbe-ber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to lievers. And that servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes, Luke xii. 46, 47. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God, John iii. 19-21. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee, Acts xxiv. 24, 25. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, 2 Thess. ii. 10. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, 1 Tim. iv. 1.

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run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof, Psal. xix. 1-6. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth, Isa. xl. 26. But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King; at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures, Jer. x. 10-13. Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness, Acts xiv. 16, 17. For as I passed by, and

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beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent, xvii. 23-30.

VER. 20.

Τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου, τοῖς ποιήμασι νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἦτε ἀίδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης· εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους·

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without

excuse:

See on John i. ver. 18. clause 1. b Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them, ver. 19. And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven, Deut. iv. 19. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for I should have denied the God that is above, Job xxxi.

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28. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psal. viii. 3, 4. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast, xxxiii. 6-9. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredest it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of out of the earth; And wine that makman: that he may bring forth food eth glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the firtrees ure her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves

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together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships there is that leviathan whom thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works, civ. 5-31. Thy faithfulness unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth, They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants, cxix. 90, 91. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not bid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them, cxxxix. 13 16. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word. Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings

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of the earth, and all people ; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children, cxlviii. 3-12. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust, Matt. v. 45.

c But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, Rom. xvi. 26. And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God, Gen. xxi. 33. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them, Deut. xxxiii. 27. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God, Psal. xc. 2. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace, Isa. ix. 6. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength, xxvi. 4. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding, xl. 28. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen, 1 Tim. i. 17. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb. ix. 14.

d Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device, Acts xvii. 29. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, Col. ii. 9.

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VER. 21.

ROM. 1. 21-23.

Διότι γνόντες τὸν Θεὸν, οὐχ ὡς Θεὸν ἐδόξασαν, ἢ εὐχαρίστησαν· ἀλλ ̓ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία.

Because that, a when they knew God, bthey glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish

heart was darkened.

a Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient, ver. 19. 28. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil, John iii. 19.

Whoso offereth praise glorifeth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God, Psal. 1. 23. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O LORD; and shall glorify thy name, lxxxvi. 9. For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal, Hos. ii. 8. They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous, Hab. i. 15, 16. See on Acts xiv. ver. 15. clause 1. d See on Matt. iv. ver. 16. clause 1.

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great is that darkness! Matt. vi. 23. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, 1 Cor. i. 19-21. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, iii. 18, 19.

VER. 23.

Καὶ ἤλλαξαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἀφθάρτου που, καὶ πετεινῶν καὶ τετραπόδων καὶ Θεοῦ ἐν ὁμοιώματι εἰκόνος φθαρτοῦ ἀνθρώ ἑρπετῶν.

And a changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into ban image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

a Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen, ver. 25. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass, Psal. cvi. 20. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit, Jer. ii. 11.

Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth, Deut. iv. 15-18. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,

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ROM. 1. 23, 24.

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Wherefore a God also gave them up to uncleanness b through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies d between themselves:

or that is in the earth beneath, or that | ἐπιθυμίαις τῶν καρδιῶν αὐτῶν εἰς ἀκαθαρ is in the waters beneath the earth, v. 8. σίαν, τοῦ ἀτιμάζεσθαι τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν They have mouths, but they speak not: iv iauroS eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they but they smell not; They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them, Psal, cxv. 5-8. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them, cxxxv. 15-18. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? Isa. xl. 18. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house, xliv. 13. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about, Ezek. viii. 10. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device, Acts xvii. 29. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led, 1 Cor. xii. 2. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries, 1 Pet. iv. S. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk, Rev. ix. 20.

a But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own heart's lust: and they walked in their own counsels, Psal. lxxxi. 11, 12. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye, Hos. iv. 17, 18. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch, Matt. xv. 14. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Acts vii. 42. Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, xiv. 16. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent, xvii. 29, 30. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness, Eph. iv. 18, 19. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, 2 Thess. ii. 10, 11.

b Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof, Rom. vi. 12. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh Διὸ καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ταῖς | and of the mind; and were by nature

VER. 24.

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