Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

namely, because when they are not pricked by the sting of the law, they bury themselves in slothfulness. Furthermore, Paul hath inserted this sentence very wisely, that the jews might thereby the better learn, how great blame they should sustain, whom the law did openly condemn. For, if they were not free from punishment, whom God never summoned guilty before his tribunal seat, what shall come unto the Jews to whom the law like a crier showeth their guiltiness? yea denounceth judgement? another reason also may be brought, why he may plainly say, that sin rained before the law, yet was not imputed: namely,¹ that we might know the cause of death not to come of the law, but to be showed by the law. He saith therefore that all men were forthwith from the fall of Adam miserably cast away, albeit the destruction was long after revealed by the law. If you translate the particle aduersative de although, albeit, the text shall run better: for the meaning shall be, albeit men flatter them selves, yet they cannot escape the judgement of God, yea whiles the law doth not reprove them. Death reigned from Adā. He openeth more clearly, how it profited men nothing, that from Adam until the publishing of the law they lived licentiously, & securely, the choice or difference of good & evil being rejected, & so without the admonition of the law the remembrance of sin was buried: because nevertheless sin was of force unto condemnation. Wherefore then also death rained, because the cecity & hardness of men cold not oppress the judgement of God.

namely, because whē they are not pricked by ye sting of the law, they bury thēselues in slothfulnes. Furthermore, Paul hath inserted this sentēce very wisely, yt ye iewes might therby ye better learn, how great blame they shuld sustein, whō the law did opēly condēne. For, if they were not free frō punishmēt, whō God neuer sōmoned gilty before his tribunal seat, what shal come vnto the Iewes to whō the lawe like a cryer sheweth their giltines? yea denoūceth iudgement? another reasō also may be brought, why he may plainly say, yt sin rained before ye law, yet was not imputed: namely,¹ yt we might know the cause of death not to come of the law, but to be shewed by the law. Hee saith therfore yt all men were forthwt frō the fal of Adā miserably cast away, albeit ye destruction was long after reueiled by ye lawe. If you translate ye particle aduersatiue de although, albeit, the text shal run better: for the meaning shalbe, albeit men flatter thē selues, yet they cānot escape the iudgement of God, yea whiles ye law doth not reproue thē. Death raigned frō Adā. He openeth more clearly, how it profited men nothing, yt frō Adam vntil the publishing of ye law they liued licenciously, & securely, the choise or difference of good & euil being reiected, & so wtout the admonition of the law ye remēbrance of sin was buried: because neuerthelesse sin was of force vnto condemnation. Wherefore then also death rained, because ye cecitie & hardnes of mē cold not oppresse ye iudgement of God.