A17643:64
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.
Whereby may appear how ridiculous those dumb dogs are, who when they are glorious only in a mitre, a crooked staff, & such masking attire, yet they boast themselves to be the successors of the Apostles. The name servant signifieth nothing else then a minister: for it is referred unto the office. Which I note for this cause that the error of those may be taken away, who to no purpose dispute subtly of this word servant, whiles they think there is contained under it, a contrariety between the service of Moses and Christ.
Whereby may appeare how ridiculous those dumbe dogges are, who whē they are glorious only in a myter, a crooked staffe, & such masking attire, yet they boast themselues to be the successors of the Apostles. The name seruant signifieth nothing els then a minister: for it is referred vnto the office. Which I note for this cause that the error of those may be takē away, who to no purpose dispute subtilly of this word seruaunt, whiles they thinke there is conteyned vnder it, a contrariety betweene the seruise of Moses and Christ.
Which he had promised before, &c. Because that doctrine which is suspected to be new even through the suspicion of newness hath lost a great part of his authority: he establisheth the faith of the Gospel, by the antiquity thereof: as if he should say, Christ came not into the earth upon the sudden,1 neither brought he a new, & strange kind of doctrine: for he himself together with his Gospel, hath been promised, & looked for, since the beginning of the world. Now because antiquity is many times feigned, he addeth witnesses, and those also approved, that all suspicion might be taken away: namely the Prophets of God. Thirdly he addeth that their testimonies are truly registered: namely, in the holy Scriptures. Out of this place we may gather what the Gospel is: which he teacheth not to have been preached, but only promised by the Prophets. Therefore if the Prophets did promise the Gospel, it followeth then, that the Lord being at the length manifested in the flesh, it was exhibited: they are therefore deceived that confound the promises with the Gospel: