Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

11 And this also. Now he taketh in hand another place of exhortation: namely, because the beams of eternal life have begun to shine unto us as it were in the morning, we must do that which they are wont to do, that walk in the middest of the light, and in the sight of men. For they take diligent heed, least they commit any filthy & unseemly thing: because if they fall, they see they are subject to too many witnesses▪ but we which alway stand in the sight of god & angels, & whom Christ the true Sun of righteousness inviteth to his sight, ought much rather take heed of all uncleanness. The meaning therefore of the words is this. Seeing we know it is fit time, that we should awake out of sleep, let us cast off whatsoever is of the night: let us shake off all the works of darkness, seeing the darkness it self is now driven away: & studying the works of light, let us walk as it is meet in the day time. The words are interposed, must be included in a parenthesis. Moreover because here is an allegory, it is necessary to note, what every part doth signify. By night, he understandeth the ignorance of God, wherein who so are holden, they err & sleep as it were in the night. For the faithless labour of these two evils, because they are blind & sottish or dull. And this sottishness or masednes he setteth forth a little after by sleep,¹ which is (as he saith) the image of death. By light he understandeth the revelation of the truth of God, by the which the Sun of righteousness Christ appeareth to us. He useth this speech to awake, for to be armed and prepared to do those things which the Lord requireth of us. Works of darkness are put for filthy and wicked works: because as he saith the night is without shame. The armour of light, for honest, sober and chaste works, such as the day is wont to serve unto. And he useth rather this word armour then works, because we must fight for the Lord.

11 And this also. Now he taketh in hand another place of exhortation: namely, because the beames of eternall life haue begunne to shine vnto vs as it were in ye morning, we must do that which they are wont to do, that walk in ye middest of ye light, and in the sight of men. For they take diligent heed, least they cōmit any filthie & vnseemely thing: because if they fall, they see they are subiect to too many witnesses▪ but we which alway stand in ye sight of god & angels, & whō Christ the true sonne of righteousnesse inuiteth to his sight, ought much rather take heed of all vncleannes. The meaning therfore of the words is this. Seeing we know it is fit time, yt we shold awake out of sleepe, let vs cast off whatsoeuer is of the night: let vs shake off al ye works of darknes, seeing the darknes it self is now driuen away: & studying the workes of light, let vs walke as it is meete in the day time. The wordes are interposed, must be included in a parēthesis. Moreouer because here is an allegorie, it is necessary to note, what euery part doth signifie. By night, he vnderstandeth the ignorāce of God, wherein who so are holden, they erre & sleepe as it were in the night. For the faithlesse labour of these two euils, because they are blinde & sottish or dull. And this sottishnes or masednes he setteth forth a litle after by sleepe,