Romans 2:15

“Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, etc..] Though the Gentiles had not the law in form, written on tables, or in a book, yet they had “the work”, the matter, the sum and substance of it in their minds; as appears by the practices of many of them, in their external conversation. The moral law, in its purity and perfection, was written on the heart of Adam in his first creation; was sadly obliterated by his sin and fall; upon several accounts, and to answer various purposes, a system of laws was written on tables of stone for the use of the Israelites; and in regeneration the law is reinscribed on the hearts of God's people; and even among the Gentiles, and in their hearts,…”

“their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing--that is, perhaps by turns doing both.”

“Which show - Who thus evince or show. The work of the law - The design, purpose, or object which is contemplated by the revealed Law; that is, to make known to man his duty, and to enforce the obligation to perform it. This does not mean, by any means, that they had all the knowledge which the Law would impart, for then there would have been no need of a revelation, but that, as far as it went, as far as they had a knowledge of right and wrong, they coincided with the revealed will of God. In other words, the will of God, whether made known by reason or revelation, will be the same so far as reason goes. The difference is that revelation goes further than reason; sheds light on new duties…”

“Who show - To themselves, to other men, and, in a sense, to God himself. The work of the law - The substance, though not the letter, of it. Written on their hearts - By the same hand which wrote the commandments on the tables of stone. Their conscience - There is none of all its faculties which the soul has less in its power than this. Bearing witness - In a trial there are the plaintiff, the defendant, and the witnesses. Conscience and sin itself are witnesses against the heathens. Their thoughts sometimes excuse, sometimes condemn, them. Among themselves - Alternately, like plaintiff and defendant. Accusing or even defending them - The very manner of speaking shows that they have far more…”

“written: Rom 1:18, Rom 1:19 their conscience: etc. or, the conscience witnessing with them, Rom 9:1; Joh 8:9; Act 23:1, Act 24:16; Co2 1:12, Co2 5:11; Ti1 4:2; Tit 1:15 the mean while: or, between themselves accusing: Gen 3:8-11, Gen 20:5, Gen 42:21, Gen 42:22; Kg1 2:44; Job 27:6; Ecc 7:22; Jo1 3:19-21 Romans 2:16”