Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

2 For the woman which is in subjection to the man. He bringeth a similitude, whereby he proveth that we are so freed from the law, that it hath properly & by right no power over us any more. And albeit he could have proved it by other reasons: yet because the example of matrimony served very well to set out the matter, in steed of a confirmation he hath inserted a similitude taken from thence. Howbeit least it should trouble any man, that the members compared one with another do not agree at all: we are to be admonished, that the mind of the Apostle ⟨image 95⟩was purposely by a little inversion to avoid the spite of a more rigorous or severe word. He should have said, that he might have framed his similitude in order, the woman after the death of her husband is loosed from the bond of matrimony: the law which is in stead of an husband to us, is dead unto us. Therefore we are free from the power thereof. But least he should offend the Jews with the asperity of the word, if he had said that the law was dead, he used a digression, or deflection, saying, we are dead to the law. He seemeth unto many to argue from the lesser to the greater: yet because I fear, least that be more wrested, I rather allow the former interpretation, which is more simple. The whole argument therefore is to be directed into this order. The woman is bound unto her husband by the law, so long as he liveth, so that she cannot take another: but after the death of her husband she is loosed from the bond of that law, so that she may marry whom she will.

2 For the woman which is in subiection to the man. He bringeth a similitude, whereby hee proueth that we are so freed from the lawe, that it hath properly & by right no power ouer vs any more. And albeit he coulde haue proued it by other reasons: yet because the example of matrimonie serued very well to set out the matter, in steed of a confirmation he hath inserted a similitude taken from thence. Howbeit least it shoulde trouble any man, that the members compared one with another do not agree at all: we are to be admonished, that the minde of the Apostle ⟨image 95⟩was purposely by a little inuersion to auoide the spite of a more rigorous or seuere worde. Hee should haue sayde, that he might haue framed his similitude in order, the woman after the death of her husbande is loosed from the bonde of matrimonie: the lawe which is in steede of an husband to vs, is dead vnto vs. Therefore wee are free from the power thereof. But least he shoulde offend the Iewes with the asperitie of the word, if hee had said that the lawe was dead, hee vsed a digression, or deflection, saying, we are dead to the law. He seemeth vnto many to argue from the lesser to the greater: yet because I feare, least that bee more wrested, I rather allowe the former interpretation, which is more simple. The whole argument therefore is to be directed into this order. The woman is bound vnto her husband by the lawe, so long as hee liueth, so that shee cannot take another: but after the death of her husband shee is loosed from the bonde of that lawe, so that she may marry whom shee will.