he duty of subjection to governors. (1-7) Exhortations to
mutual love. (8-10) To temperance and sobriety. (11-14)
Verses 1-7: The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet,
where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring
and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us
themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be
submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs,
rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but
to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin and corruption, that
many will be kept back from crimes only by the fear of
punishment. Thou hast the benefit of the government, therefore
do what thou canst to preserve it, and nothing to disturb it.
This directs private persons to behave quietly and peaceably
where God has set them, (1Ti 2:1,2). Christians must not use any
trick or fraud. All smuggling, dealing in contraband goods,
withholding or evading duties, is rebellion against the express
command of God. Thus honest neighbours are robbed, who will have
to pay the more; and the crimes of smugglers, and others who
join with them, are abetted. It is painful that some professors
of the gospel should countenance such dishonest practices. The
lesson here taught it becomes all Christians to learn and
practise, that the godly in the land will always be found the
quiet and the peaceable in the land, whatever others are.
Verses 8-10: Christians must avoid useless expense, and be careful not
to contract any debts they have not the power to discharge. They
are also to stand aloof from all venturesome speculations and
rash engagements, and whatever may expose them to the danger of
not rendering to all their due. Do not keep in any one's debt.
Give every one his own. Do not spend that on yourselves, which
you owe to others. But many who are very sensible of the
trouble, think little of the sin, of being in debt. Love to
others includes all the duties of the second table. The last
five of the ten commandments are all summed up in this royal
law, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; with the same
sincerity that thou lovest thyself, though not in the same
measure and degree. He that loves his neighbour as himself, will
desire the welfare of his neighbour. On this is built that
golden rule, of doing as we would be done by. Love is a living,
active principle of obedience to the whole law. Let us not only
avoid injuries to the persons, connexions, property, and
characters of men; but do no kind or degree of evil to any man,
and study to be useful in every station of life.
Verses 11-14: Four things are here taught, as a Christian's directory
for his day's work. When to awake; Now; and to awake out of the
sleep of carnal security, sloth, and negligence; out of the
sleep of spiritual death, and out of the sleep of spiritual
deadness. Considering the time; a busy time; a perilous time.
Also the salvation nigh at hand. Let us mind our way, and mend
our pace, we are nearer our journey's end. Also to make
ourselves ready. The night is far spent, the day is at hand;
therefore it is time to dress ourselves. Observe what we must
put off; clothes worn in the night. Cast off the sinful works of
darkness. Observe what we must put on; how we should dress our
souls. Put on the armour of light. A Christian must reckon
himself undressed, if unarmed. The graces of the Spirit are this
armour, to secure the soul from Satan's temptations, and the
assaults of this present evil world. Put on Christ; that
includes all. Put on righteousness of Christ, for justification.
Put on the Spirit and grace of Christ, for sanctification. The
Lord Jesus Christ must be put on as Lord to rule you as Jesus to
save you; and in both, as Christ anointed and appointed by the
Father to this ruling, saving work. And how to walk. When we are
up and ready, we are not to sit still, but to appear abroad; let
us walk. Christianity teaches us how to walk so as to please
God, who ever sees us. Walk honestly as in the day; avoiding the
works of darkness. Where there are riot and drunkenness, there
usually are chambering and wantonness, and strife and envy.
Solomon puts these all together, (Pr 23:29-35). See what
provision to make. Our great care must be to provide for our
souls: but must we take no care about our bodies? Yes; but two
things are forbidden. Perplexing ourselves with anxious,
encumbering care; and indulging ourselves in irregular desires.
Natural wants are to be answered, but evil appetites must be
checked and denied. To ask meat for our necessities, is our
duty, we are taught to pray for daily bread; but to ask meat for
our lusts, is provoking God, (Ps 78:18).
he duty of subjection to governors. (1-7) Exhortations to
mutual love. (8-10) To temperance and sobriety. (11-14)