• day's courteously. And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody-flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, 9 and healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. 10 16 17 18 19 LESSON CCCLVII. Paul at Rome. And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not 20 that I had aught to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee, what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And 21 23 25 some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet 28 unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seezing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should 28 heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. 80 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANS. CH. I. LESSON CCCLVIII. The Apostle's Salutation.—The Gospel of Christ. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, V. 1-2. separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promunto the of had prom ised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made 8 8 4 of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you 7 20 11 18 and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus 8 Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole 9 world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request (if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God) to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some 1 spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 14 15 16 17 I CH. VII. V. 14-15. LESSON CCCLIX. The Law of God and the Law of Sin. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I 19 find not. For the good that I would I do not; but the 17 18 21 22 23 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth I find then a law, that, when I would do good, in me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my mem24 bers. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me 25 from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. CH. V. V. 1-2. LESSON CCCLX. The Advantages of Justification by Faith, etc. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and 8 rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribu4 lation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the • Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, 9 while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be 10 saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 8 11 V. 1. 2 LESSON CCCLXI. The Privileges and Characteristics of Christians. } CH. VIII. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and 8 death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the 4 flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit 5 For they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of 6 the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to 7 be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to 8 the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that 9 are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the 11 19 flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of 10 Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because 1 of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we 18 are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of 16 adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit, that we are the chil17 dren of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with 14 15 |