In the first part, Saint Paul instructeth and telleth them of the beginning of their religion, of the foundation of their faith, of the grace whereunto they ⟨image 99⟩are called by the merits and death of Jesus Christ. And, for because he saw and well perceived, that even such of the Romans, who had received the faith, to be farce from the works of the faith, and the profession of the gospel of Christ, therefore he instructeth them that they know the testament of Christ, that they know the covenant of their salvation: and that they should remember, that where before time they were strangers from God, clean without any promise of grace, enemies unto God, and the children of perdition, were now called unto God, were become the sons of Abraham, Gods deer friends, and the children of adoption: and this not of any desert of theirs, not by any merit of their own, but only through the great grace, and mere mercy of Jesus Christ. For the whole world was covered under wickedness, the whole world, I say, the Jews only excepted, was overwhelmed in sin, and had no promise at all of any salvation by God. But yet when Christ Jesus the Saviour of all the world appeared, and the ⟨image 100⟩Jews would not acknowledge him their redeemer, it pleased God by him to save the whole world, and call unto his grace aswell the Gentile as the Jew, the uncircumcised as the circumcised: and this did he only of his infinite and great goodness. And therefore Saint Paul in the conclusion hereof, crieth out, and saith,1 O the deepness of the abundant wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! Who knoweth the mind of the Lord? who was his Counsellor? Who hath given unto him first, that he might be recompensed again? And therefore he concludeth thus:2 Quia in illo, ex illo, & per illum omnia, illi omnis honor & gloria: For of him, through him, and for him are all things: to him therefore be glory for ever. Thus doth Saint Paul conclude the first part, to know the covenant of their salvation, to know the greatness of Gods mercy, whereunto they are called, and to give the praise and thanks therefore to him alone.
In the first part, Saint Paul instructeth and telleth them of the beginning of their religion, of the foundation of their faith, of the grace whereunto they ⟨image 99⟩are called by the merits and death of Iesus Christ. And, for because he saw and well perceiued, that euen such of the Romans, who had receiued the faith, to bée farce from the works of the faith, and the profession of the gospel of Christ, therefore he instructeth them that they know the testament of Christ, that they know the couenant of their saluation: and that they should remember, that where before time they were strangers from God, cleane without any promise of grace, enemies vnto God, and the children of perdition, were now called vnto God, were become the sons of Abraham, Gods deere friends, and the children of adoption: and this not of any desert of theirs, not by any merit of their owne, but onely through the great grace, and méere mercy of Iesus Christ. For the whole world was couered vnder wickednesse, the whole world, I say, the Iewes onely excepted, was ouerwhelmed in sinne, and had no promise at all of any saluation by God. But yet when Christ Iesus the Sauiour of all the world appeared, and the ⟨image 100⟩Iewes would not acknowledge him their redéemer, it pleased God by him to saue the whole world, and call vnto his grace aswel the Gentile as the Iew, the vncircumcised as the circumcised: and this did he onely of his infinit and great goodnesse. And therefore Saint Paul in the conclusion hereof, crieth out, and saith,1 O the deepnesse of the aboundant wisedome and knowledge of God, how vnsearchable are his iudgements, and his wayes past finding out! Who knoweth the mind of the Lord? who was his Counsellor? Who hath giuen vnto him first, that hee might bee recompensed againe? And therefore hée concludeth thus:2 Quia in illo, ex illo, & per illum omnia, illi omnis honor & gloria: For of him, through him, and for him are all things: to him therefore bee glorie for euer. Thus doth Saint Paule conclude the first part, to know the couenant of their saluation, to know the greatnesse of Gods mercie, whereunto they are called, and to giue the prayse and thankes therefore to him alone.
- 1Rom. 11. 33
- 2Rom. 11. 36
