Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

Howbeit that I may deal with you very favourably, this I may by right require of you, that at the least ye do not embrace righteousness more coldly, or negligently, then ye have served sin. And therein is included a certain kind of silence or concealing, when we will have more understood, then we express by words. For he doth nevertheless exhort them to obey righteousness so much the more studiously, as it is more worthy than sin to be served: although he seemeth not to require so much in words. As ye have given. That is, seeing before this, all your members were so ready to obey sin, thereby it easily appeared, how miserably the pravity of your flesh did hold you captive and bound. Now therefore in like sort be prone and ready to be ruled of God: and let not your courage be less now in doing of good, then it was before in doing of evil. He doeth not observe the order of the Antithesis, to apply the parts on both sides: as to the Thessalonians ⟨p. 79⟩he opposeth uncleanness against holiness. Yet his meaning is apparent. First, he setteth down two kinds, uncleanness,¹ and iniquity: the first whereof is opposed to chastity, and sanctimony, the other hath respect unto injuries, whereby our neighbours are hurt. Moreover, he repeateth this word iniquity twice, in a divers sense. For in the first place it signifieth, rapines, deceits, perjuries, and all kind of injuries:² in the second place it signifieth the universal corruption of life: as if it were put thus, ye have given over your members to commit wicked works, that the kingdom of sin might flourish in you. I understand righteousness to be put for the law and rule of a right life, whose end is sanctification: namely that the faithful consecrate themselves in purity to the worship of God.

Howbeit that I may deale with you very fauourably, this I may by right require of you, that at the least yee doe not imbrace righteousnes more coldly, or negligently, then yee haue serued sinne. And therein is included a certayne kinde of silence or concealing, when we wil haue more vnderstood, then we expresse by words. For he doth neuertheles exhort thē to obey righteousnesse so much ye more studiously, as it is more worthy thē sin to be serued: although he seemeth not to require so much in words. As yee haue giuen. That is, seeing before this, al your mēbers were so ready to obey sin, therby it easily appeared, how miserably ye prauity of your flesh did hold you captiue and bound. Now therfore in like sort be prone and readye to be ruled of God: and let not your courage be lesse nowe in doing of good, then it was before in doyng of euill. Hee doeth not obserue the order of the Antithesis, to apply the partes on both sides: as to the Thessalonians