A17643:441
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.
6 That our old man. It is called the old man, as the old testament is so called in respect of the new. For it beginneth to be old, when our regeneration being begun,1 it is by little and little destroyed, and he meaneth the whole nature, which we bring out of our mothers womb, which is so uncapable of the kingdom of God, t•• must needs perish so far forth, as we may be restored into […] life. He saith this old man is fastened to the cross of Christ, because through his virtue it is slain. And he hath precisely alluded unto the Cross, that he might expressly show,2 how we have not mortification else where, then by the participation of his death. For I do not agree unto them, who understand that he said rather crucified then dead, because it liveth yet and flourisheth on some part. That is verily a true saying: yet it agreeth but little with the present place. The body of sin,3 which he addeth a little after, signifieth not the flesh and bones, but the mass of sin and corruption. For man being left to his own nature, is a mass contracted of sin. He noteth the end of this abolishing when he saith: That we should not serve sin any more. Whereby it followeth, that so long as we are the sons of Adam, and nothing else but men, we are so subject unto sin, that we can do nothing else but sin: but being grafted into Christ, we are delivered from this miserable necessity: not that by and by we cease altogether to sin, but that at length we become Victorers in the fight.
6 That our olde man. It is called the olde man, as the old testament is so called in respect of the new. For it beginneth to be olde, when our regeneration being begunne,1 it is by litle and litle destroyed, and he meaneth the whole nature, which we bring out of our mothers wombe, which is so vncapable of ye kingdom of God, t•• must needs perish so farre foorth, as we may be restored into 〈…〉 life. He saith this old man is fastened to the crosse of Christ, because through his vertue it is slayne. And he hath precisely alluded vnto the Crosse, that he might expressely shew,