A17643:1025
Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans
A commentary upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans, written in Latin by M. John Calvin, and newly translated into English by Christopher Rosdell preacher. Whereunto is added a necessary table for the better and more ready finding out of certain principal matters contained in this workA commentarie vpon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romanes, written in Latine by M. Iohn Caluin, and newely translated into Englishe by Christopher Rosdell preacher. Whereunto is added a necessarie table for the better and more readie finding out of certayne principall matters conteyned in this worke
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for John Harison and George Bishop, 1583London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Iohn Harison and George Bishop, 1583
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In all that congregation, whereunto he wrote, what one Jew was there? Then this speech should not agree unto the Romans. Moreover, the comparison of night and day (in my judgement) taketh away this doubt. This therefore seemeth unto me to be the simple meaning, now is our salvation nearer then when we began to believe: that it might be referred unto the time which went before faith. For seeing this adverb hath an indifferent signification, this proposition of the Apostle seemeth much more convenient: as appeareth by that which followeth.
In all that congregation, whereunto he wrote, what one Iewe was there? Then this speech shoulde not agree vnto the Romanes. Moreouer, the comparison of night and day (in my iudgement) taketh away this doubt. This therefore seemeth vnto mee to be the simple meaning, now is our saluation neerer then when we began to beleeue: that it might bee referred vnto the time which went before faith. For seeing this aduerbe hath an indifferent significatiō, this proposition of ye Apostle seemeth much more conuenient: as appeareth by that which followeth.
12 The night is past the day approacheth near. This is the occasion he made mention of a little before. For albeit the faithful as yet are not received into the full light: yet very well he compareth the knowledge of the life to come, which shineth unto us by the gospel, unto the morning. Day, here, as in many other places is not put for the light of faith (otherwise he would not say it draweth near, but it is present, yea now it shineth as in the midst of his course) but for that brightness of the celestial life, whose beginnings are now seen, in the gospel. The sum is, as by the spring of the day we gather, that the full light of the sun is at hand, even so as soon as God beginneth to call us, we gather that we ought to intend upon the coming of Christ. He saith, the night is past, because we are not so overwhelmed with a thick mist as the faithless are, in whom there appeareth no sparkle of life, but the hope of resurrection is set before our eyes by ⟨p. 177⟩the Gospel. Yea the light of faith, whereby we know the brightness of the celestial glory is at hand, ought to stir us up that we freeze not here upon this earth. But a little after, where he biddeth us walk as upon the day light, he keepeth not the same metaphor: because he compareth the present state, wherein Christ shineth unto us, to the day. But by divers ways he goeth about to exhort sometimes unto the meditation of the life to come, sometimes unto the reverence of the sight of God.