Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

19 Thou wilt say then unto me. Here especially the flesh stormeth, when it heareth how it is referred unto the will of God, that they are destinated unto death which perish. Wherefore the Apostle descendeth again unto objections, by taking to him the speech of the adversary: because he saw the mouths of the wicked could not be stopped, but with full mouths they would bark against the righteousness of God. And he doth notably express their affection. For, they not being content to defend themselves, make God guilty in their stead: and then after they have turned the fault of their condemnation upon him, they are grieved at his so great power. In deed they are constrained to yield, but storming, because they can not resist: and attributing to him the principality they do in a manner charge him of tyranny, much like as Sophisters in their Schools do in such sort babble of his absolute (as they call it) righteousness, as though he having forgotten his righteousness, would make a trial of the might of his lordship, by mixing all things perversely. Thus therefore do the wicked reason in this place, what cause hath he, why he should be angry at us? seeing he made us such, seeing he leadeth us whither he lusteth at his pleasure: what else doth he in destroying us, but revenge his own work in us? neither is it our part to contend with him: and how so ever we strive, he will have the upper hand. Therefore both his judgement shall be unjust if he condemn us: and also his power which he abuseth now against us is licentious. But what doth Paul answer to these.

19 Thou wilt say then vnto mee. Heere especially the fleshe stormeth, when it heareth howe it is referred vnto the will of God, that they are destinated vnto death which perishe. Wherefore the Apostle descendeth agayne vnto obiections, by taking to him the speeche of the aduersarie: because hee sawe the mouthes of the wicked coulde not bee stopped, but with full mouthes they woulde barke agaynst the righteousnesse of God. And hee doth notably expresse their affection. For, they not beeing content to defende themselues, make God guiltie in their steade: and then after they haue turned the fault of their condemnation vpon him, they are grieued at his so great power. In deed they are constrayned to yeelde, but storming, because they can not resist: and attributing to him the principalitie they doe in a manner charge him of tyrannie, muche like as Sophisters in their Schooles doe in such sort babble of his absolute (as they call it) righteousnes, as though hee hauing forgotten his righteousnes, woulde make a tryall of the might of his lordeshippe, by mixting all thinges peruersely. Thus therefore doe the wicked reason in this place, what cause hath hee, why hee should be angry at vs? seeing he made vs such, seeing hee leadeth vs whither hee lusteth at his pleasure: what els doth hee in destroying vs, but reuenge his owne woorke in vs? neyther is it our part to contende with him: and howe so euer we striue, hee will haue the vpper hande. Therefore both his iudgement shall be vniust if he condemne vs: and also his power which hee abuseth nowe agaynst vs is licencious. But what doth Paul answere to these.