A17643:456
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.
13 Give not your members. When sin hath once gotten the dominion in our soul, all our members are straight ways given over into his obsequy or obedience. Wherefore he describeth here the kingdom of sin by the sequels, that he might declare the better, what we must do, if we will shake off his yoke. And he borroweth his similitude from warfare, whiles he calleth our members weapons: like as if he said, as a soldier hath always weapons in a readiness, to use them as often as he shall be commanded by his captain, and never useth them, but at his appointment: so Christians ought to esteem all their members to be weapons of the spiritual warfare.1 If therefore they abuse any member of theirs unto wickedness, they are worthy to be blamed. But by the oath of warfare, they have bound themselves to God and Christ, by which oath they are tied. They ought therefore to have nothing to do with the camps of sin. They may see here by what right they can pretend the name of Christian, whose whole members being as it were the brothel houses of Satan, are ready to commit all filthiness. On the contrary now he biddeth us give our selves wholly to God: namely, that we restraining our mind and heart from all wandering, whereunto the lusts of the flesh draw us, might intend upon the will of God only, might be ready to receive his commandments, and prepared to obey his precepts: that our members also might be destinated and consecrated to his pleasure: that all the powers of our soul ⟨p. 76⟩and body, might favour nothing but his glory. And the reason is added, because it is not in vain, that the former life being done away, the Lord hath created us to a new, after which, actions & deeds ought to follow.
13 Giue not your members. When sinne hath once gotten the dominion in our soule, all our members are straight wayes giuen ouer into his obsequie or obedience. Wherefore he describeth here the kingdome of sinne by the sequeles, that hee might declare the better, what we must doe, if we will shake off his yoke. And he borroweth his similitude from warfare, whiles he calleth our members weapons: like as if he saide, as a souldier hath alwayes weapons in a readinesse, to vse them as often as he shalbe commaunded by his captaine, and neuer vseth them, but at his appointment: so Christians ought to esteeme all their members to be weapons of the spirituall warfare.