A17643:252
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.
It followeth, There is none that doth good: whereby is meant that they have put off all sense of humanity. For as the best bond of mutual conjunction amongst us, consisteth in the knowledge of God (because as he is father unto all, he doth notably reconcile us: and out of him there is nothing but mere dissipation) so for the most part inhumanity followeth the ignorance of him, whiles every man, other men being contemned, loveth and seeketh himself. Contrariwise it is added, their throat is an open sepulchre: 1that is to say, a golf to destroy men. And it is more then if he had said, devourers, or eaters of men. Because it is a note of outrageous cruelty, that the throat of man should be such a golf, that it should serve to the swallowing, and supping up of whole men. Hereunto appertaineth that also is said, Their tongues are deceitful, 2and lips smeared with poison. It followeth, their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 3Which vice is contrary to the former: but the meaning is, they are every way full ⟨image 50⟩of mischief, for if they speak fair, they deceive, and under fair speeches they proffer poison: But if they broach that they have in their mind, thence cometh bitterness & cursing. It is a notable kind of speech, which is added out of Isaiah, Contrition and calamity are in their ways. 4For it is a singular demonstration, or description of barbarous cruelty, which wheresoever it go or come, by destroying all things, it causeth solitariness and desolation: after which sort Pliny describeth Domitian.
It followeth, There is none that doth good: whereby is meant that they haue put off all sense of humanitie. For as the best bonde of mutuall coniunction amongst vs, consisteth in the knowledge of God (because as he is father vnto all, he doth notably reconcile vs: and out of him there is nothing but meere dissipation) so for the most part inhumanitie followeth the ignorance of him, whiles euery man, other men being contemned, loueth and seeketh himselfe. Contrariwise it is added, their throate is an open sepulchre: