A17643:673
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.
IN this Chapter he beginneth to meet with those offences, which might turn away the hearts of men from Christ: namely that the Jews, for whom he was ordained by the covenant of the law, did not only refuse, or contemn him: but for the most part did abhor him. For hereupon one, of these two were thought to follow: either that the promises of God were not true, or else that that Jesus, whom Paul preached, was not the anointed of the Lord, which was peculiarly promised to the Jews. Both which doubts Paul doth notably unfold in that which followeth. How be it he doth so handle this place, that he doth bridle him self from all bitterness against the Jews, least he should exasperate their minds: & yet he yieldeth not one h•ire breadth unto them, to the damage of the Gospel.
IN this Chapter hee beginneth to meete with those offences, whiche myght turne away the heartes of men from Christ: namely that the Iewes, for whom hee was ordeyned by the couenaunt of the lawe, did not onely refuse, or contemne him: but for the most part did abhorre him. For hereupon one, of these two were thought to follow: eyther that the promises of God were not true, or else that that Iesus, whom Paul preached, was not the anointed of the Lorde, which was peculiarly promised to the Iewes. Both which douts Paul doth notablie vnfoulde in that which followeth. How be it he doth so handle this place, that he doth bridle him selfe from all bitternes against ye Iewes, least he shold exasperate their minds: & yet he yeldeth not one h•ire breadth vnto them, to ye damage of the Gospel.
For he so giveth to them their ornaments, that he derogateth nothing at all from Christ. But he passeth as it were so abruptly to make mention thereof, that there appeareth no joining or hanging together of speech: and yet he so beginneth a new matter, as though he had touched it before. This he therefore doeth, because, having finished the treatise of doctrine, when he turneth his mind unto the Jews, being astonied at their incredulity as at a wonder, he bursteth forth into a sudden protestation, no otherwise, then if he would entreat of a thing handled before: seeing there was none, in whose mind this cogitation would not voluntarily arise: if this be the doctrine of the law and the Prophets, how cometh it then to pass, that the Jews do so stubbornly refuse it? Add that it was a thing every where known, whatsoever hitherto he had said of the law of Moses and the grace of Christ, to have been more detested of the Jews, then that by their consent the faith of the Gentiles should be holpen. Wherefore it was needful this offence should be taken out of the way, least it should hinder the course of the Gospel.