A17643:508
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.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, & the commandment holy, and just, and good.
12 Wherefore the law is holye, & the commaundement holy, and iust, and good.
For without the law. Here he doth plainly express the meaning of the former words. For it is as much as if he said, that knowledge of sin without the law, is buried. And it is the general sentence, whereunto he doth by and by apply his example. Wherefore I marvel what the interpreters meant to translate it in the preterimperfectence, as though Paul spake of himself: seeing it is apparent that his mind was to begin at an universal proposition, and afterward to open the matter by his example.
For without the law. Here he doth plainely expresse the meaning of the former words. For it is as much as if he said, yt knowledge of sinne without the law, is buried. And it is ye generall sentence, wherunto he doth by and by apply his example. Wherfore I maruell what the interpreters meant to translate it in the preterimperfectence, as though Paule spake of himselfe: seeing it is apparant that his mind was to begin at an vniuersal proposition, and afterward to open the matter by his example.
9 And I lived sometime without law. His meaning is to insinuate, that there was a time wherein, to him, or with him sin was ⟨p. 85⟩dead. For it is not to be understood that he was at any time lawless: but this word I lived is very significant: because the absence of the law made that he lived, that is, being puffed up with the confidence of his own righteousness, he challenged life unto himself when nevertheless he was dead. That the sentence may be more clear, resolve it thus, when sometime I was without law, I lived. And I said, that this word was significant, because in feigning himself righteous, he claimed unto himself life also: This then is the meaning, when I sinned without knowledge of the law, sin was so drowned, that I did not observe it, and that it seemed almost to be dead. On the other side, I, because I did not see that I was a sinner, did please my self in my self, thinking that I had life at home with my self. For the death of sin, is the life of man: again the life of sin is the death of man. But the question is, what time it was,