Romans 5:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

And hope maketh not ashamed; it doth not disappoint or deceive us. Frustrated hopes fill men with shame and confusion, Job 6:19,20. This passage seems to be taken out of Psalms 22:5. Because, &c.; this is either rendered as the reason of all that went before; Therefore the justified by faith have peace with God, access to him by faith, hope of glory, joy in tribulation, &c., because the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts: or else it is a reason of what immediately preceded; Therefore hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad, &c. The love of God; understand it either actively, of our love to God, or rather passively, of his love to us, (of which he speaks, Romans 5:8), and of the sense thereof. Is shed abroad in our hearts; is greatly manifested, or abundantly poured forth: a frequent metaphor, both in the Old and New Testament: see Isaiah 44:3 Joel 2:28 Malachi 12:10 1 Thessalonians 7:38 Acts 2:17. By the Holy Ghost which is given unto us; not excluding the Father and Son; it is the more proper work of the Spirit, both to make us feel the love of God, and to fill our hearts with love to God.