A17643:373
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.
2 By whom we have access. Our reconciliation with god standeth upon Christ. For he only is the beloved Son: we all by nature are the sons of wrath. But this grace is communicated to us by the Gospel, because it is the ministry of reconciliation, through whose benefit we are after a sort brought into the kingdom of GOD. Excellently therefore hath Paul set before our eyes a sure pledge of the favour of God in Christ, ⟨p. 61⟩whereby he might the better draw us from the confidence of works. And also teaching by the name of access,1 that the beginning of salvation is of Christ, he excludeth those preparations, whereby foolish men think they do prevent the mercy of God: as though he said, Christ doeth not come unto us, and help us for our merits. Straightways after he addeth, that it is through the tenor of the same grace, that salvation abideth firm and sure unto us: whereby he signifieth, that perseverance standeth not in our own virtue or industry, but in Christ. Although also, when he saith we stand, 2he showeth how deep roots the Gospel ought to take in the hearts of the godly: that they being strengthened by the verity thereof, may stand firm against all the engines or devises of Satan and the flesh. And by this word standing, he signifieth that faith is not a wavering persuasion, or that continueth for one day: but steady, and deeply settled in the minds of men, that it might persevere the whole life. He therefore that is driven by some sudden motion to believe, hath not faith so, that he may be reckoned amongst the faithful: but he which constantly and (that I may say so) with a firm foot abideth in that place which is ordained to him of the Lord, that he may alway cleave to Christ. And we glory under the hope. Hence the hope of life to come,3 both ariseth, and dareth to rejoice, namely, that we lean upon the grace of God as upon a foundation. For the meaning of Paul is, notwithstanding the faithful are now strangers upon earth, yet by their faith they surmount the heavens, that they may quietly nourish in their bosom, the inheritance to come. And so two pestilent doctrines of the Sophisters are utterly overthrown. One, wherein they bid Christians in comprehending or understanding the grace of God towards them to be content with a moral conjecture.