A17643:794
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.
And the word of faith by the figure Metonymia, is put for the word of promise, that is for the gospel: because it hath a relation with faith. For the contrariety whereby the law is discerned from the gospel must be understood. And out of this note of distinction we gather, as the law requireth works, so the gospel requireth nothing else, but that men bring faith to receive the grace of God. This parcel which we preach, is therefore added, least any should suspect Paul to dissent from Moses. For he testifieth that in the ministry of the Gospel he agreeth with Moses: seeing he also did not place our felicity any other where then in the free promise of Gods grace.
And the worde of faith by the figure Metonymia, is put for the worde of promise, that is for the gospel: because it hath a relation with faith. For the contrarietie whereby the law is discerned from the gospell muste bee vnderstood. And out of this note of distinction we gather, as the lawe requireth workes, so the gospell requireth nothing els, but that men bring faith to receiue the grace of God. This parcell whiche wee preache, is therefore added, least any shoulde suspect Paule to dissent from Moses. For hee testifieth that in the ministerie of the Gospell hee agreeth with Moses: seeing he also did not place our felicitie any other where then in the free promise of Gods grace.
9 So that if thou confess. This also is rather an allusion then a proper and natural interpretation. For it is like that Moses by the figure Synecdoche did use the word mouth, 1for face or countenance. But it was not unseemly for the Apostle to allude unto the word mouth to this sense, when the Lord publisheth his word before our face assuredly he calleth us unto the confession thereof. For wheresoever the word of the Lord is there it ought to fructify: and the fruit, is the confession of the mouth. Whereas he putteth confession before faith, it is the figure Anastrophe, very usual in the Scriptures. For the order had been better,2