19 For your obedience. This is a Preoccupation or preventing, whereby he showeth that he doth not therefore admonish them, as though he thought amiss of them, but because it is easy to fall here: as if he said, surely your obedience is commended every where, so that there is cause why I should be glad of you. Yet seeing that oftentimes men fall here, through simplicity, I would have you rude and simple to commit evil, but in that is good, that is, so often as is expedient, for the conservation of integrity,1 I would have you very prudent. Here we see what simplicity is commended in Christians: least they who at this day count sottish ignorance of the word of God for a high virtue should pretend this title. For although he praise the Romans, that they were obedient and tractable, yet he would have prudence and choice, to be added, least their lightness of belief should be a pray to every deceit. Therefore he so rejoiceth of them that they are without fraud, that yet he would have them wise to beware. That which followeth, namely, God shall tread Satan, is rather a promise to strengthen them, then a prayer. For he exhorteth them that they fight courageously against Satan, promising they should shortly have the victory. ⟨p. 201⟩In deed he is once overcome of Christ, but yet not so, but he may continually renew war: he promiseth therefore the last putting of him to flight, which appeareth not in the midst of the battle. Although he speak not only of the last day, wherein assuredly Satan shall be trodden under feet: but seeing Satan at that time, as it were his reins being loose or burst, did proudly disturb all things, he promiseth that shortly it would come to pass, that the Lord would subdue him, and as it were give him to be trodden under feet. Straightways followeth his prayer, that the grace of Christ might be with them: that is, that they might enjoy all those blessings which are provided for us by Christ.
19 For your obedience. This is a Preoccupation or preuenting, whereby he sheweth that he doth not therefore admonish them, as though he thought amisse of them, but because it is easie to fall here: as if he said, surely your obedience is commended euery where, so that there is cause why I should be glad of you. Yet seeing that oftentimes men fall here, through simplicitie, I would haue you rude and simple to commit euill, but in that is good, that is, so often as is expedient, for the conseruation of integritie,1 I would haue you very prudent. Here we see what simplicitie is commended in Christians: least they who at this day count sottishe ignorance of the woorde of God for a high vertue should pretend this title. For although he prayse the Romaines, that they were obedient and tractable, yet he would haue prudencie and choyse, to be added, least their lightnesse of beliefe shoulde be a pray to euery deceipt. Therefore he so reioyceth of them that they are without fraude, that yet he woulde haue them wise to beware. That which followeth, namely, God shall treade Satan, is rather a promise to strengthen them, then a prayer. For hee exhorteth them that they fight couragiously against Satan, promising they should shortly haue the victorie. ⟨p. 201⟩In deede hee is once ouercome of Christe, but yet not so, but he may continually renue warre: he promiseth therefore the laste putting of him to flight, which appeareth not in the midst of the battaile. Although he speak not onely of the last day, wherein assuredly Satan shalbe troden vnder feete: but seeing Satan at that time, as it were his reines being loose or burst, did proudly disturbe all thinges, hee promiseth that shortly it would come to passe, that the Lorde woulde subdue him, and as it were giue him to be troden vnderfeete. Straightwaies foloweth his praier, that the grace of Christe might be with them: that is, that they might inioye all those blessinges which are prouided for vs by Christ.
- 1What simplicity is commended unto Christians.What simplicitie is commended vnto Christians.
