17 If we be children. By an argument taken from that is annexed or from the consequent, he proveth that salvation standeth herein, if we have God for our father. The inheritance is ordained for the sons: seeing then God hath adopted us to himself for sons, he hath also ordained the inheritance for us. Secondly, he showeth what kind of inheritance that is, namely celestial: and therefore incorruptible and eternal, such as was manifested in Christ. By which manifestation both all uncertainty is taken away, and also the excellency of the inheritance is commended, which we participate with the only begotten Son of God. Albeit the purpose of Paul is (as shortly after it shall better appear) highly to advance the inheritance promised unto us, that we contenting our selves with it, might manfully despise the allurements of the world, and patiently bear what so ever troubles happen unto us in the world. If so be that we suffer with him. There are divers interpretations of this place, but I like this sense above all others, We are the fellow heirs of Christ, so that we follow him, the same way he went unto that inheritance. And so where as he made mention of Christ, ⟨p. 103⟩his meaning is (as it were by these degrees) to pass unto this cohortation, the inheritance of God is therefore ours, because by his grace we are adopted to be his sons: and least it should be doubtful, the possession thereof is already delivered unto Christ, whose partakers we are made.1 And Christ came unto it by the cross: therefore we must go unto it the same way. Neither is that to be feared, which some stand in awe of, least by this, Paul did ascribe the cause of eternal glory to our labours, for this kind of speech, is not unusual in the scriptures: but rather he declareth the order which the Lord followeth in ministering salvation unto us, then the cause. For before he had sufficiently defended the free mercy of God, against the merits of works: now whiles he exhorteth us unto patience, he disputeth not whence salvation cometh to us, but how the Lord governeth his.
17 If wee be children. By an argument taken from that is annexed or from the consequent, hee prooueth that saluation standeth herein, if wee haue God for our father. The inheritaunce is ordeined for the sonnes: seeing then God hath adopted vs to himselfe for sonnes, hee hath also ordeyned the inheritaunce for vs. Secondly, hee sheweth what kinde of inheritaunce that is, namely celestiall: and therefore incorruptible and eternall, such as was manifested in Christ. By which manifestation both all vncertainetie is taken away, and also the excellencie of the inheritaunce is commended, which wee participate with the onely begotten sonne of God. Albeit the purpose of Paule is (as shortly after it shall better appeare) highly to aduaunce the inheritaunce promised vnto vs, that wee contenting our selues with it, might manfully dispise the allurementes of the worlde, and patiently beare what so euer troubles happen vnto vs in the worlde. If so be that we suffer with him. There are diuers interpretations of this place, but I like this sence aboue all others, Wee are the fellowe heires of Christ, so that wee followe him, the same way hee went vnto that inheritaunce. And so where as he made mention of Christ, ⟨p. 103⟩his meaning is (as it were by these degrees) to passe vnto this cohortation, the inheritaunce of God is therefore ours, because by his grace wee are adopted to be his sonnes: and least it should be doubtfull, the possession thereof is alreadie deliuered vnto Christ, whose partakers wee are made.1 And Christ came vnto it by the crosse: therefore we must goe vnto it the same way. Neither is that to bee feared, which some stande in awe of, least by this, Paule did ascribe the cause of eternall glory to our laboures, for this kinde of speech, is not vnusuall in the scriptures: but rather hee declareth the order which the Lorde followeth in ministring saluation vnto vs, then the cause. For before hee had sufficiently defended the free mercie of God, against the merites of workes: nowe whiles hee exhorteth vs vnto patience, hee disputeth not whence saluation commeth to vs, but howe the Lorde gouerneth his.
- 1By passions & sufferings the Lords ministereth unto us salvation through his free mercy.By passions & sufferings the Lords ministreth vnto vs saluation thorow his free mercie.
