A17643:686
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.
5 of whom are the fathers. For this also is of some value, to descend from the saints, and men beloved of God, seeing God hath promised to the holy fathers mercy towards their children even unto a thousand generations: and chiefly in the words made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.1 And in another place. Neither skilleth it, that this by it self is vain and unprofitable, if it be separated from the fear of God, & holiness of life. For the same we see also in worship & glory: both every where in the Prophets, and specially in Isaiah. 2Howbeit because God vouchsafeth these, being joined with the study of piety, with some degree of honour, he hath worthily reckoned them amongest the prerogatives of the Jews. For therefore, are they called the heirs of the promises, because they descended of the fathers, of whom Christ is, &c. They which refer this unto the fathers,3 as though Pauls mind were only to say, that Christ descended of the fathers, they have no reason for it. For his meaning is, by this commendation: namely, that Christ came of them, to knit up the excellency of the people of the Jews. For it is not a thing lightly to be esteemed: namely, to be joined in carnal kindred with the Redeemer of the world. For if he honoured all mankind, when he coupleth himself to us by communicating our nature, much more did he honour them, with whom he would have a nearer bond of conjunction. Although it is alway so to be taken, that if this blessing of kindred be separated from piety, it is so far from profiting, that rather it turneth to their greater condemnation. Furthermore, here we have a notable place: that the two natures are so distinguished in Christ,4 that they are united together into the person of Christ. For whereas he saith, Christ came of the Jews, thereby he declareth his true humanity. The parcel according to the flesh, which is added, doeth note that he had some what more excellent then flesh: where is a plain distinction between his humanity and divinity. And he joineth both together, when he saith, the same Christ, which was borne of the Jews ⟨image 132⟩