A17643:402
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.
Mark here what order he useth. For he saith sin was first: and of that death followed. For there are some that go about to prove us to be so cast away by the sin of Adam, as though we perished through no fault of our own, but therefore only, as though he sinned for us. Yet Paul affirmeth plainly that sin hath entered into all which suffer the punishment of sin. And that he urgeth more strictly, when a little after he setteth down the reason why all the posterity of Adam is subject to the power of death, namely (quoth he) because we have all sinned. Furthermore, this fame, to sin, is to be corrupt and faulty.1 For that natural pravity which we bring out of our mothers womb, although it do not so soon show fourth his fruits, yet nevertheless it is sin before the ⟨image 79⟩Lord, and deserveth his vengeance: And this is that sin they call original. For as Adam by his first creation as well received for him self as for his posterity the gifts of Gods grace: so he falling from the Lord corrupted, viciated, defiled, and destroyed our nature in him self. For he being put away from the similitude of God, could beget no seed but like unto himself.2 We have all therefore sinned, because we are all endued with natural corruption: and so are become sinful and froward. For that imagination was frivolous, whereby in old time the Pelagians went about to shift of the words of Paul, saying, that sin hath descended from Adam to all mankind by imitation: for so Christ should be only an example of righteousness, and not the cause. Here also it may easily be gathered, that the question is not of actual sin: for if every one should work guiltiness to him self, to what end should Paul compare Adam with Christ? it followeth therefore that engrafted and natural corruption is noted.
Marke here what order hee vseth. For hee saith sinne was first: and of that death followed. For there are some that goe about to prooue vs to bee so cast away by the sinne of Adam, as though we perished through no fault of our owne, but therefore onely, as though hee sinned for vs. Yet Paule affirmeth plainely that sinne hath entered into all which suffer the punishment of sinne. And that hee vrgeth more strickly, when a litle after he setteth downe the reason why all the posteritie of Adam is subiect to the power of deathe, namely (quoth he) because we haue all sinned. Furthermore, this fame, to sinne, is to be corrupte and faultie.