GENERAL SURVEY

PAULHAD NEVER BEEN AT Rome when he wrote this letter, and therefore it cannot turn upon some particular points, to revive the remembrance of what he had more largely taught in person, or to satisfy the scrupulous in some things he might not have touched upon at all; but in it we may expect a full account of his Gospel, or those glad tidings of salvation which he preached among the Gentiles, seeing this epistle was intended to supply the total want of his preaching at Rome.

He understood perfectly well the system of religion he taught, for he was instructed in it by the immediate revelation of Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:11; Ephesians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 11:23; and being also endowed with the most eminent gifts of the Holy Spirit; a man disinterested and quite unbiassed by any temporal considerations, we may be sure he has given us the truth, as he received it from our Lord, after his ascension. On the other hand, he was also well acquainted with the sentiments and system of religion which he opposed, for he was well skilled in Jewish literature, having had the best education his country could afford, and having been once a most zealous advocate for Judaism. Having frequently disputed with the Jews he was thoroughly versed in the controversy, and knew very well what would be retorted upon every point: and therefore we may very reasonably suppose that the queries and objections, which the apostle in this epistle puts into the mouth of the Jews, were really such as had been advanced in opposition to his arguments.

He was a great genius and a fine writer; and he seems to have exercised all his talents, as well as the most perfect Christian temper, in drawing up this epistle. The plan of it is very extensive; and it is surprising to see what a spacious field of knowledge he has comprised, and how many various designs, arguments, explications, instructions, and exhortations, he has executed in so small a compass.

This letter was sent to the world’s metropolis, where it might be exposed to all sorts of persons, Heathens, Jews, Christians, philosophers, magistrates, and the emperor himself: and I make no doubt that the apostle kept this in view while he was writing, and guarded and adapted it accordingly.

However, it is plain enough it was designed to confute the unbelieving and to instruct the