a summary of what it is; namely, that we, being well assured, have peace with God, and possess
real joy of heart through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. But as I have said, these few things he has
accommodated to his present subject. He indeed who is become partaker of true righteousness,
enjoys a great and an invaluable good, even a calm joy of conscience; and he who has peace with
God, what can he desire more?^430
By connecting peace and joy together, he seems to me to express the character of this joy; for
however torpid the reprobate may be, or however they may elevate themselves, yet the conscience
is not rendered calm and joyful, except when it feels God to be pacified and propitious to it; and
there is no solid joy but what proceeds from this peace. And though it was necessary, when mention
was made of these things, that the Spirit should have been declared as the author; yet he meant in
this place indirectly to oppose the Spirit to external things, that we might know, that the things
which belong to the kingdom of God continue complete to us without the use of meats.
18.For he who in these things, etc. An argument drawn from the effect: for it is impossible,
but that when any one is acceptable to God and approved by men, the kingdom of God fully prevails
and flourishes in him: he, who with a quiet and peaceful conscience serves Christ in righteousness,
renders himself approved by men as well as by God. Wherever then there is righteousness and
peace and spiritual joy, there the kingdom of God is complete in all its parts: it does not then consist
of material things. But he says, that man is acceptable to God, because he obeys his will; he testifies
that he is approved by men, because they cannot do otherwise than bear testimony to that excellency
which they see with their eyes: not that the ungodly always favor the children of God; nay, when
there is no cause, they often pour forth against them many reproaches, and with forged calumnies
defame the innocent, and in a word, turn into vices things rightly done, by putting on them a
malignant construction. But Paul speaks here of honest judgment, blended with no moroseness, no
hatred, no superstition.
Romans 14:19-21
- Proinde quae pacis sunt, et aedificationis
mutuae, sectemur. - Let us therefore follow after the things
which make for peace, and things wherewith one
may edify another. - Ne propter cibum destruas opus Dei.
Omnia quidem pura, sed malum est homini qui
per offensionem vescitur. - For meat destroy not the work of God.
All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that
man who eateth with offence.
(^430) What is here said is no doubt true of the kingdom of God; but by considering what is afterwards said in the two following
verses, we cannot well accede to this exposition. Righteousness, peace, and joy, mentioned here, are things acceptable to God
and approved by men: they must then be things apparent and visible, which men see and observe; and to follow “the things of
peace,” refers to the conduct. “Righteousness” then must mean here the doing of what is right and just towards one another;
“peace,” concord and unanimity, as opposed to discord and contentions; “joy,” the fruit of this peaceable state, a cheering delight,
a mutual rejoicing, instead of the sorrow and grief occasioned by discord; and these come “through the Holy Spirit” and are
produced by him; and they are not the semblances of such virtues and graces, presented in some instances by false religions.
See Galatians 5:22,23. Doddridge, Stuart, and Chalmers have viewed the passage in this light, though the latter, as well as Scott,
seemed inclined to combine the two views: but this is to mix up things together unnecessarily, and to destroy the harmony of
the context. — Ed.