A17643:600
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.
18 For I count the afflictions of this present time, not to be comparable to the glory to come, which shall be revealed unto us.
18 For I counte the afflictions of this presente time, not to bee comparable to the glory to come, which shall bee reuealed vnto vs.
Now he confirmeth that certainty of trust or confidence, wherein of late he bid the faithful stay themselves, and that by an argument taken from an especial effect of the spirit: because it is not therefore given us that it might toss us with trembling,1 or press us with anxiety: but rather that all perturbation being quenched, setting our minds in a quiet state, it might stir us unto assured and free invocation of God. So then he doth not only prosecute the argument he touched before, but also standeth more in that other member which he had annexed: namely, of the fatherly mercy of God, whereby he forgiveth his, the infirmity of the flesh, and those faults which yet remain in them. He teacheth that the confidence hereof is assured unto us by the spirit of adoption, which would not bid us be bold in prayer,2 except it assured us of free remission. And to the end he might yt rather set out yt matter, he setteth down a twofold spirit: one he calleth the spirit of bondage, which we may conceive by the law• the other of adoption, which is by the gospel. ⟨p. 101⟩He saith that was given in old time unto fear,3 and this at this day unto assurance. By such comparison of contraries, the certainty of our salvation is (as thou seest) made more manifest. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, when he saith, we are not come unto the mount Sinai, where all things were so terrible, that the people being overthrown (as it were) with the present sentence of death, did pray they might not be spoken unto, yea Moses him self confessed he was afraid: but we are come unto Zion the hill of the Lord, and his city the celestial Jerusalem, where is the mediator of the new Testament Jesus. By the adverb, again, we gather that the law is here compared with the Gospel: because the Son of God by his coming brought unto us this inestimable benefit, that the servile condition of the law should no more bind us. Yet thou mayest not gather hereby, either, that none had the spirit of adoption before the coming of Christ: or that who so received the law were servants and not sons. For he doth rather compare the ministry of the law, with the dispensation of the Gospel, then persons with persons.