A17643:829
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.
For we must alway retain that distinction: what nation is so renowned or famous, that it hath their Gods approaching so near unto them,1 as thy God at this day cometh near to thee?
For wee must alway reteyne that distinction: what nation is so renowned or famous, that it hath their Gods approching so neere vnto them,1 as thy God at this day commeth neere to thee?
Therefore it is not from the purpose, and impertinent to the matter to ask this question, why the knowledge (of God), did not consequently ensue and follow the doctrine of the law with which Israel was endued. First Moses saith &c. By the testimony of Moses he proveth that if God should prefer the Gentiles before the Jews, yet there were no absurdity therein. The place is taken out of that famous Canticle in Deuteronomy,1 where God upbraiding the Jews with their unfaithfulness, doeth denounce and threaten this vengeance against them, namely, that he will provoke them to emulation by taking the Gentiles into his covenant: because that they were revolted and fallen away to false gods. You have (saith he) despised & rejected me, & transferred & given my right & honour to Idols: and I, to be revenged of this injury, in like manner will bring the Gentiles into your place, and will translate that unto them which hitherto I have given unto you. And that could not be done without the denouncing of the Jews. For here upon sprang the emulation, of which Moses maketh mention, that God did appoint or take to him self a nation which were no nation, & did raise up a new people of nothing, who should possess the place from whence the Jews were cast & removed, even as they, the true God being forsaken, did give over them selves to Idols.