Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

8 But what saith it. That negative speech which the Apostle hath hitherto used, did serve to take away the impediments of faith: it remaineth therefore that he declare the manner of obtaining righteousness, unto the which end this affirmation is added. And whereas there is an interrogation interposed, when they might all have been spoken together in on course of speech, that is done to procure attention. And also his meaning is to show, what a great difference there is between the righteousness of the law and the Gospel: seeing that showeth it self a far off, it doth drive away all men from coming unto it: but this offering it self at hand, doth familiarly invite us unto the fruition of it. The word is near thee. First of all this is to be noted, that least the minds of men being carried away by vain circumstances, should err from salvation, the bounds of the word are prescribed unto them, within the which they ought to keep themselves, For it is as if he should command them to be content with the word only, and admonish them that in this glass the secretes of heaven are to be seen, which would both dazzle their eyes with their brightness, & astonish their ears, and also make the mind it self amazed. Therefore the godly receive an excellent consolation out of this place, touching the certainty of the word: namely, that they may as safely rest therein, as in the most present beholding of things, or as in any thing is present and in hand. Secondly it is to be noted, that such a word is propounded by Moses, wherein we have firm and sure trust of salvation. This is the word of faith. Justly doth Paul take that: for the doctrine of the law, doth not pacify and quiet the conscience: neither doeth it minister unto the conscience those things wherewith it ought to be content. Yet in the mean while he excludeth not the other parts of the word, no not the precepts of the law: but his mind is to put down remission of sins for righteousness, and that without such exact obedience as the law requireth. Therefore the word of the gospel, wherein we are not commanded to merit righteousness by works, but to embrace it by faith, being freely offered, sufficeth to pacify ⟨p. 138⟩mens consciences and establish their salvation.

8 But what saith it. That negatiue speech which the Apostle hath hitherto vsed, did serue to take away the impediments of faith: it remaineth therefore that he declare the maner of obteining righteousnesse, vnto the which ende this affirmation is added. And whereas there is an interrogation interposed, when they might all haue beene spoken together in on course of speeche, that is done to procure attention. And also his meaning is to shewe, what a great difference there is betweene the righteousnes of the law and the Gospel: seeing that sheweth it selfe a farre off, it doth driue away all men from comming vnto it: but this offering it selfe at hand, doth familiarly inuite vs vnto the fruition of it. The word is neere thee. First of all this is to bee noted, that least the mindes of men beeing carried away by vaine circumstances, shoulde erre from saluation, the boundes of the worde are prescribed vnto them, within the whiche they ought to keepe themselues, For it is as if hee shoulde commaund them to bee contente with the worde onely, and admonish them that in this glasse the secretes of heauen are to bee seene, which would both dasill theyr eyes with their brightnes, & astonishe their eares, and also make the mynd it self amased. Therefore the godly receiue an excellent consolation out of this place, touchyng the certaynetie of the worde: namely, that they may as safely rest therein, as in the most present beholdyng of things, or as in any thyng is present and in hande. Secondly it is to bee noted, that suche a worde is propounded by Moses, wherein wee haue firme and sure trust of saluation. This is the worde of faith. Iustly doth Paule take that: for the doctrine of the lawe, doth not pacyfie and quiet the conscience: neyther doeth it minister vnto the conscience those thinges wherewith it ought to bee content. Yet in the meane whyle hee excludeth not the other partes of the worde, no not the precepts of the lawe: but his mynde is to put downe remission of sinnes for righteousnesse, and that without suche exact obedyence as the lawe requireth. Therefore the worde of the gospell, wherein wee are not commaunded to merite righteousnesse by workes, but to imbrace it by faith, being freely offered, sufficeth to pacifie