He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city, Prov. xvi. 32. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing, knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing, 1 Pet. iii. 9.

CHAP. XIII.-VER. 1. Πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑπο τασσέσθω. Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐξουσία εἰ μὴ ἀπὸ Θεοῦ· αἱ δὲ οἶσαι ἐξουσίαι, ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.

a Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are dained of God.

or

a And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lonb thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously, Deut. xvii. 12, 13. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, Tit. iii. 1. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the King, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 1 Pet. ii. 13 15. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government: presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities, 2 Pet. ii. 10. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities, Jude 8. See also on Matt. xxii. 21. clause 1.

b By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth, Prov. viii. 15, 16. And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the

A. D. 60.

wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding, Dan. ii. 21. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, iv. 32. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful wit ness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, Rev. i. 5. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful, xvii. 14. and xix. 16.

VER. 2.

Ωστε ὁ ἀντιτασσόμενος τῇ ἐξουσία, τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ διαταγῇ ἀνθέστηκεν· οἱ δὲ ἀν θεστηκότες, ἑαυτοῖς κρίμα λήψονται.

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

VER. 3.

Οἱ γὰρ ἄρχοντες οὐκ εἰσὶ φόβος τῶν ἀγα

θῶν ἔργων, ἀλλὰ τῶν κακῶν. Θέλεις δὲ μὴ φοβεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν; τὸ ἀγαθὸν ποίει, καὶ ἕξεις ἔπαινον ἐξ αὐτῆς·

a For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the

same:

a If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked, Deut. xxv. 1. The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame, Prov. xiv. 35.

VER. 4.

Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονος ἐστί σοι εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. Ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῆς, φοβοῦ· οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ. Θεοῦ γὰρ διακινός ἐστιν, ἔνδικος εἰς ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσ

σουτι

a For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of

God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment, 2 Chron. xix. 6. These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him, Prov. xxiv. 23, 24. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment, Eccles. viii. 2-5. They are waxen fat, they shine; yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Jer. vi. 28, 29. And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them; he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings, Mic. iii. 1-4. b Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation, ver. 2.

VER. 5.

Διὸ ἀνάγκη ὑποτάσσεσθαι, οὐ μόνον διὰ τὴν ὀργὴν, ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν.

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience suke.

A. D. 60.

̓Απόδοτε οὖν πᾶσι τὰς ὀφειλάς· τῷ τὸν φόρον, τὸν φόρον· τῷ τὸ τέλος, τὸ τέλος· τῷ τὸν φόβον, τὸν φόβον· τῷ τὴν τιμὴν, τὴν τιμήν.

tribute to whom tribute is due; custom a Render therefore to all their dues: honour to whom honour. to whom custom; fear to whom fear;

a See on Matt. xxii. ver. 17. clause 1. and ver. 21. clause 1.

b Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ, Eph. vi. 5. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward, 1 Pet. ii. 17, 18.

c Honour widows that are widows indeed, 1 Tim. v. 3. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine, 17. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed, vi. 1. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered, 1 Pet. iii. 7. See also on Matt xv. ver. 4. clause 2.

VER. 8.

Μηδενὶ μηδὲν ὀφείλετε, εἰ μὴ τὸ ἀγαπᾷν

© By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 2 Cor. vi. 7. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Eph. vi. 11-17. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful, Col. iii. 10-15. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation, 1 Thess. v. 8.

A. D. 60.

* And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, Luke i. 6. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh, Gal. v. 16. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Eph. iv. 1. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 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 werk all uncleanness with greediness, iv. 17-19. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light, v. 8. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil, 15, 16. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ; that, whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel, Phil. i. 27. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an ensample, iii. 16, 17. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you, iv. 9. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, Col. i. 10. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory, i Thess. ii. 12. That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing, iv. 12.. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation, 1 Pet.