Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

2 God forbid. Some think that the Apostle doeth only by the way of a sharp correction reprehend so unreasonable a madness: but by other places it doth appear how familiar an answer this is with him, yea, in much disputation or many arguments: as here also he will shortly with great diligence refute the objected obloquy: yet first by this particle of one detesting he doth reject it, that he might admonish the readers, there is nothing more unlike, then that the grace of Christ, the repairer of our righteousness, should nourish our vices.¹ Which are dead to sin. This is an argument taken from the contrary, For it is certain, that he which sinneth, liveth to sin: but we are dead to sin by the grace of Christ: therefore is it false, that that should nourish sin, which doth abolish it. For thus the case standeth, the faithful are never reconciled unto God without the gift of sanctification: yea to this end are we justified, that after ward we might worship God in holiness of life. For Christ doth not otherwise wash us with his blood, and by his satisfaction reconcile God unto us, then whiles he maketh us partakers of his spirit, which reneweth us into an holy life. It were therefore too preposterous an inversion of the work of God, if by occasion of that grace which is offered us in Christ, sin should gather any strength. For the medicine is not the nourisher of that it extinguisheth. Finally we must remember that, I touched of late: namely, that Paul doth not here say what God doth find us to be whiles he calleth us into the society of his Son, but what we should be, after he hath had mercy upon us, and hath adopted us freely. For by a verb of the future tense, he showeth what manner of change should follow righteousness.

2 God forbid. Some think that the Apostle doeth onely by the way of a sharpe correction reprehende so vnreasonable a madnesse: but by other places it doth appeare howe familier an answere this is with him, yea, in much disputation or many arguments: as here also he wil shortly with great diligence refute the obiected obloquie: yet first by this particle of one detesting he doth reiect it, that he might admonishe the readers, there is nothing more vnlike, then that the grace of Christe, the repayrer of our righteousnesse, shoulde nourishe our vices.¹ Whiche are dead to sinne. This is an argumen taken from the contrary, For it is certaine, that he which sinneth, liueth to sinne: but we are dead to sinne by the grace of Christ: therefore is it false, that that shoulde nourishe sinne, which doth abolish it. For thus the case standeth, the faythfull are neuer reconciled vnto God without the gift of sanctification: yea to this ende are wee iustified, that after warde we might worship God in holinesse of life. For Christe doth not otherwise washe vs with his blood, and by his satisfaction reconcile God vnto vs, then whiles hee maketh vs partakers of his spirite, which reneweth vs into an holy lyfe. It were therefore too preposterous an inuersion of the worke of God, if by occasion of that grace which is offered vs in Christe, sinne shoulde gather any strength. For the medicine is not the nourishour of that it extinguisheth. Finally we must remē ber that, I touched of late: namely, that Paule doth not here say what God doth finde vs to bee whiles he calleth vs into the societie of his sonne, but what wee shoulde bee, after he hath had mercy vpon vs, and hath adopted vs freely. For by a verbe of the future tēse, he sheweth what manner of chaunge should followe righteousnesse.