A17643:684
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.
Finally, he doth not in vain put this amongest their praises, that they were Israelites. For Jacob prayed for that in stead of an excellent blessing,1 that his name might be called upon over them. To whom pertaineth the adoption. The whole speech of Paul is directed unto this mark. Howsoever the Jews by their falling away, have made a wicked divorcement with God, yet is not the light of the grace of God utterly extinguished in them, as he also said in the third Chapter, although they were unbelievers and truce breakers,2 yet is not the faith of God made void by their unbelief. Not only because he hath reserved out of the whole multitude a remnant unto himself, but because by the right of inheritance, the name of the Church did yet abide with them. And albeit they had now deprived them selves of all these ornaments, so that it profited them nothing to be called the sons of Abraham: yet because it was dangerous, least through their fault, the majesty of the gospel should become vile amongst the Gentiles, Paul considereth not what they deserved, but with many veils he covereth their filthiness and shame, until the Gentiles were persuaded the Gospel came unto them from the celestial fountain, out of the privy chapel of God, out of an elect nation. For the Lord, all other nations being let pass, had selected them for a peculiar people to himself, and had adopted them for sons, as he often testifieth by Moses and the Prophets. And not content simply to call them sons, sometime he calleth them his first ⟨image 131⟩begotten,3 sometime his darlings. In Exod. The Lord saith thus, Israel is my first begotten Son, let my Son go that he may serve me. I am become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first born.4 Also in the same place, Is not Ephraim my dear Son? Is he not my pleasant child? Therefore my bowels are troubled over him, & yet I will have compassion on him. By which words he doeth not only set forth his favour towards Israel, but rather showeth the force of adoption, under the which the promise of the celestial inheritance is contained. Glory signifieth that excellency whereunto the Lord had advanced that people above all other nations: and that both by many & divers other means, and also because he dwelt in the middest of them.