A17643:393
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.
This is an exposition of the former sentence with an amplification, taken from the comparison of life and death. We were enemies (quoth he) when Christ took upon him the mediation to reconcile the father. Now we are friends through his reconciliation: if that could be brought to pass by his death, his life shall be of greater power, and more effectual. So then we have notable testimonies, which may confirm the confidence of salvation in our hearts. His meaning is, we were reconciled to GOD by the death of Christ, because it was the sacrifice of reconciliation, whereby GOD was ⟨image 78⟩reconciled to the world, as I have declared in the fourth Chapter. But here the Apostle seemeth to be contrary unto himself. For if the death of Christ were the pledge of the love of God towards us:1 It followeth that even then we were acceptable to him,2 but now he saith we were enemies: I answer, because God hateth sin, we also are odious unto him, as we are sinners, but as in his secret counsel he electeth us into the body of Christ, he ceaseth to hate us. But the restoring into favour is unknown unto us, until we perceive it by faith. Therefore in respect of our selves, we are alway enemies, until the death of Christ come between to reconcile God. And this difference of a twofold respect is to be noted. For otherwise we know not the free mercy of God, then if we be persuaded that he spared not his only begotten Son, because he loved us at such time as there was enmity between him and us: Again we do not sufficiently feel the benefit brought unto us by the death of Christ, except this be unto us the beginning of our reconciliation with God, that we being persuaded, the satisfaction being performed, he is now favourable to us, who before was justly angry with us. So when acceptation into grace is ascribed to the death of Christ, the meaning is, that then the guiltiness is taken away, whereunto we are otherwise subject.
This is an exposition of the former sentence with an amplification, taken frome the comparison of life and death. Wee were enemies (quoth hee) when Christe tooke vpon him the mediation to reconcile the father. Nowe we are friendes through his reconciliation: if that coulde bee brought to passe by his death, his life shall be of greater power, and more effectuall. So then we haue notable testimonies, which may cōfirme ye confidence of saluation in our heartes. His meaning is, wee were reconciled to GOD by the death of Christe, because it was the sacrifice of reconciliation, whereby GOD was