A17643:12
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.
Wherefore it were better they were taken from the unlearned, & reserved only for the reading of the learned. By the same reason also all holy scripture may be taken away. For Peter testifieth of them, that they are perverted of the unlearned, & those are unstable. What more reason is there why the use of holy scripture should be forbidden all men, because some by perverting of them have fallen to destruction, than that the use of fire & water should be debarred all men, because many have perished by them. Did the apostle write his epistles to the Bishops & other ministers of Christ only, & not rather to all faithful christians were at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Colossae, Philippos, Macedonia, &c? Did he write of such things only as appertained unto the learned, and not rather of such things as are necessary to be known of all, and concern the salvation of all? if he wrote to the learned only, why saith he? to all that be at Rome, and not rather to you learned Christians be at Rome. If he wrote of such things as concern the learned only (& yet wrote the gospel or glad tidings of salvation in Christ) why saith he?1 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, &c. But if both the holy man directed his writings unto all, & also the things contained in them do appertain unto all, why rob they the vulgar & common people or laity (as they term them) of that the holy ghost hath given unto them? I mean the light of the Apostolical doctrine & reading of the holy scriptures. Contrary to the mind of Chriso. Who vehemently exhorteth all christians,2 and specially the laity, that they should get them Bibles, or at the least the new Testament. Contrary to the mind of the holy Apostle, who saith, to the Colloss. Let the word of ⟨image 4⟩Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom,3 teaching & admonishing your own selves &c. Yea contrary to christ himself, who saith search the scriptures, &c. And yet they blush not, (how contrary soever they be to the pure doctrine of Christ & his apostles) to boast themselves for the only catholics of the world, & successors of Christ & his Apostles. But this is no new thing, for vice hath alway delighted in the cloak of virtue, superstition in the name of religion, and heretics in the name of catholics.