Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

Now the conveyance is plainer, and easier, then that any ought to marvel whence the Apostle gathereth this reason. He therefore maketh them inexcusable, because they themselves knew the judgement of God, & yet nevertheless ⟨p. 19⟩transgressed the law: as though he should say, albeit thou dost not consent to the vices of others, yea, doest seem purposely to be an enemy, and revenger of vices: yet because if thou doest truly examine thy self, thou art not free from them, thou canst not pretend any defence. For in that thou judgest another. Besides the notable resemblance, or mutual respect of the Greek words, Crinein cai catacrinein: The exaggeration which he useth against them is to be noted. For the phrase or manner of speech availeth as much, as if he should say, thou art twice damnable,¹ who art guilty of the same vices which thou reprovest, and accusest in others. For it is a known sentence, that they which ask an account of another of his life, do denounce the law of uprightness, continency, and all other virtues to themselves: neither are they worthy of any forgiveness, if they commit the same which they took upon them to correct in another. For thou judging doest even the same. So it is word for word, which you may turn thus: For thou that judgest another, doest the same things. Moreover, the meaning is, notwithstanding thou judgest them, yet thou doest them. And he sayeth, they did them, because they were not of a right mind: seeing sin properly is of the mind, therefore in this they condemn themselves, because whiles they reprove a thief, or adulterer, or an evil speaker, they pronounce not judgement against the persons, but against the vices which stick even in their own bones.

Nowe the conueiance is plainer, and easier, then that any ought to maruaile whence the Apostle gathereth this reason. Hee therefore maketh them inexcuseable, because they themselues knew the iudgement of God, & yet neuerthelesse ⟨p. 19⟩transgressed the lawe: as though hee shoulde say, albeit thou dost not consent to the vices of others, yea, doest seeme purposely to bee an enemie, and reuenger of vices: yet because if thou doest truely examine thy selfe, thou art not free from them, thou canst not pretende any defence. For in that thou iudgest another. Besides the notable resemblance, or mutuall respect of the Greeke woordes, Crinein cai catacrinein: The exaggeration which hee vseth against them is to bee noted. For the phrase or manner of speeche auaileth as much, as if hee shoulde say, thou art twise damnable,