Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

They who hitherto have best unfolded this knot, have thought that Paul would reason thus: that which might be supposed an impediment to the Gentiles, to hinder them from being partakers of salvation, was also in the people of Israel: as God therefore in old time did graciously receive the Jews into favour, whom he had cast off and banished: even so now he useth the same bountifulness towards the Gentiles. But because that interpretation, although it may be suffered, yet seemeth unto me to be somewhat forced, let the readers consider, whither this be not more apt, if we do believe, that consolation of the Prophet was not given to the Jews only, but also to the Gentiles. For it is no new or strange thing among the Prophets, after they have published the vengeance of God, against the Jews for their iniquities, to turn themselves unto the kingdom of Christ, which was to be dispersed over the whole world. Neither did they that without reason. For seeing the Jews by their sins did so provoke the wrath of God, that they deserved to be divorced from him, there remaineth no hope of salvation, unless they turn themselves unto Christ: by whom the covenant of grace is restored, and as it was founded in him, so now by his intercession it is renewed. And assuredly seeing Christ is the only refuge in desperate affairs, or such as are past all hope: no sound consolation can be brought unto miserable sinners, and such as see the wrath of God hang over them, but by setting Christ before their eyes. Yea this (as we have admonished) is ordinary amongest the Prophets, when they have humbled the people being pricked with the threatening of Gods vengeance, to recall them unto Christ, the only sanctuary of those have no other refuge. And where the kingdom of Christ is erected, there also that heavenly Jerusalem is raised up, into which the Citizens out of all parts of the world are gathered. And that chiefly availeth in the present oracle: for when the Jews were cast out of the family of God, by that means they were brought into a vulgar or common estate, and were made like unto the Gentiles. After the difference is taken away, now the mercy of God hath place indifferently amongst all nations.

They who hitherto haue best vnfolded this knot, haue thought that Paule woulde reason thus: that which might be supposed an impediment to the Gentiles, to hinder them from beeing partakers of saluation, was also in the people of Israel: as God therefore in old time did graciously receiue the Iewes into fauour, whom he had cast off and banished: euen so nowe he vseth the same bountifulnes towardes the Gentiles. But because that interpretation, although it may be suffered, yet seemeth vnto me to be somewhat forced, let the readers consider, whither this be not more apt, if we doe beleeue, yt consolation of the Prophet was not giuen to the Iewes onely, but also to the Gentiles. For it is no new or straunge thing among the Prophetes, after they haue published the vengeance of God, against the Iewes for their iniquities, to turne themselues vnto the kingdome of Christe, which was to bee dispersed ouer the whole worlde. Neither did they that whithout reason. For seeing the Iewes by their sinnes did so prouoke the wrath of God, that they deserued to bee diuorced from him, there remaineth no hope of saluation, vnlesse they turne themselues vnto Christe: by whome the couenant of grace is restored, and as it was founded in him, so now by his intercession it is renued. And assuredly seeing Christe is the onely refuge in desperate affaires, or suche as are past all hope: no sounde consolation can bee brought vnto miserable sinners, and suche as see the wrath of God hang ouer them, but by setting Christe before their eyes. Yea this (as wee haue admonished) is ordinary amongest the Prophetes, when they haue humbled the people being pricked with ye threatning of Gods vengeance, to recall them vnto Christ, the only sanctuarie of those haue no other refuge. And where the kingdome of Christ is erected, there also that heauenly Hierusalem is raysed vp, into which the Citizens out of all partes of the worlde are gathered. And that chiefly auayleth in the present oracle: for when the Iewes were cast out of the family of God, by that meanes they were brought into a vulgare or common estate, and were made like vnto the Gentiles. After the difference is taken away, nowe the mercie of God hath place indifferently amongst all nations.