A17643:447
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.
7. For he that is dead. This is an argument taken from the property or effect of death. For if death put down all the actions of life, we which are dead must needs cease from the actions of that life, which actions it exercised whiles the same life continued. For justified understand freed and deliver•• ••om servitude or bondage. For as he is loosed from the b••• of accusation, who is freed from the sentence of the Judge: so death loosing us from this life, doth free us from all the actions thereof. Furthermore, albeit there is no where amongest men such an example extant, yet there is no cause, why thou shouldest think this that is said here, either to be a vain imagination, or shouldest despair because thou findest not thy self in the number of those, who have utterly crucified the flesh. For this work of God is not perfected the same day it is begun in us: but it increaseth by little and little, & by daily increments as by degrees is brought to perfection.1 To be brief then, take it thus, if thou art a Christian, there must appear in thee, the sign of thy communication with the death of Christ: whose fruit is, that the flesh be crucified with all his concupiscences. Howbeit thou mayest not therefore count this communication as none, because as yet thou doest feel some relics of the flesh to live in thee: but thou art continually to study for the augmentation thereof, until thou art come unto the mark. For it is well if our flesh be continually mortified, and we have profited well, when the flesh, being subdued, hath yielded to the holy spirit. There is another communication of the death of Christ, whereof as the Apostle speaketh often else where, so to the Cor. namely,2 the bearing of the cross, after which followeth the participation of eternal life.
7. For he that is dead. This is an argument taken from the property or effect of death. For if death put downe all the actions of life, we which are dead must needes cease from the actions of that life, which actions it exercised whiles the same life cō tinued. For iustified vnderstand freed and deliuer•• ••om seruitude or bondage. For as he is loosed from the b of accusation, who is freed from the sentence of the Iudge: so death loosing vs from this life, doth free vs from all the actions therof. Furthermore, albeit there is no where amongest men suche an example extaunt, yet there is no cause, why thou shouldest thinke this that is sayde here, eyther to be a vayne imagination, or shouldest despayre because thou findest not thy selfe in ye number of those, who haue vtterly crucified the flesh. For this worke of God is not perfected the same day it is begun in vs: but it increaseth by little and little, & by daily increments as by degrees is brought to perfection.