A17643:583
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.
11 If (I say) the spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead, dwell in you: he which raised Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies, because of his spirit that dwelleth in you.
11 If (I say) the spirit of hym that raysed Iesus from the dead, dwell in you: hee which raysed Christe from the dead, shall also quicken your mortall bodies, because of his spirite that dwelleth in you.
9 Now ye are not in the flesh. By a supposition he applieth the general sentence unto them, to whom he wrote: not only to the end, that directing his talk as proper unto them, he might the more vehemently move them: but also that by the definition late put down, they might certainly gather, how they are of the number of those, from whom Christ hath taken the curse of the law. Yet withal, showing of what force the spirit of God is in the elect, and what fruit it bringeth forth, he exhorteth them unto newness of life. If so be that the spirit of God. This is a correction very fitly applied, whereby they are stirred up to examine themselves more nearly,1 least they pretend the name of Christ in vain. And this is a most sure note, whereby the sons of God are discerned from the children of the world: if by the spirit of God they be regenerate unto innocency and holiness. Although it seemeth, his purpose was not so much to correct hypocrisy, as to suggest matter of glorying, against those were preposterously zealous over the law, who esteemed more of the dead letter then of the inward virtue of the spirit which quickeneth the law. Furthermore, this place teacheth, that Paul by the name of spirit, meant not the mind or understanding (which of the Patrons of free will is called the more excellent part of the soul) but the heavenly gift. For he expoundeth those to be spiritual, not which obey reason by their own motion, but whom God governeth by his spirit.2 Neither yet are they said to be according to the spirit, as though they were full of the spirit of God (which thing hath happened to none yet) but because they have the spirit of God abiding in them, howsoever they feel some relic of the flesh remaining in them. And it cannot, meaning the spirit cannot remain, except it have the superiority. For we are to note, that a man is named of the chiefest part in him. But if any have not the spirit of Christ. He addeth this, that he might show how necessary the denial of the flesh is in christians. The kingdom of the spirit, is the abolishing of the flesh, in whom the spirit of Christ reigneth not, they do not appertain unto Christ. Then they are not Christians that serve the flesh. For they who pull Christ away from his spirit, make him like unto a dead image or carcass.