A17643:176
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.
16 At the day when God shall judge the secretes of men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel.
16 At the day when God shall iudge the secretes of men by Iesus Christ, according to my Gospel.
14 For when the Gentiles. Now he repeateth the proof of the former member. For he thought it not sufficient to condemn us by word, and to pronounce the just judgement of God against us: but he goeth about by reasons to convince the same unto us, to the end he might the more stir us unto the desire and love of Christ. For he proveth that ignorance is in vain pretended of the Gentiles, seeing by their deeds, they declared them selves to have no small rule of righteousness.1 For no people did ever at any time so abhor from humanity, that they kept not them selves within some laws. In as much therefore as all the Gentiles voluntarily and of them selves are inclined to make laws unto themselves: it is out of all question that there are naturally grafted in the minds of all men certain conceptions of justice, and uprightness, which the Grecians Prolepseis. Cogitations, or devises. They have therefore a law without the law: because howsoever they have not the written law of Moses, yet they are not altogether void of the knowledge of right and equity. For otherwise they could not discern between vice and ⟨image 38⟩virtue: the one whereof they restrained by punishments, the other they commended, and being approved of them, they honoured with rewards. He hath opposed nature to the written Law. Meaning that there appeared in the Gentiles a natural light of justice, which did supply the place of the law, whereby the Jews were taught, so that they were a Law unto themselves.
14 For when the Gentiles. Nowe hee repeateth the proofe of the former member. For he thought it not sufficient to condemne vs by woorde, and to pronounce the iust iudgement of God against vs: but hee goeth about by reasons to conuince the same vnto vs, to the ende he might the more stirre vs vnto the desire and loue of Christ. For hee prooueth that ignorance is in vayne pretended of the Gentiles, seeing by their deedes, they declared them selues to haue no small rule of righteousnesse.