A17643:843
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 here again that is to be noted which I admonished before, namely, that by the word foreknow, 1is not understood a certain (I know not what) speculation or beholding, whereby God did foreknow what every one would be, but his good pleasure, whereby he choose those unto himself for sons, who because they were not yet borne, could not insinuate ⟨image 161⟩themselves into his favour. So to the Galatians, he saith they were known of God,2 because he prevented them with his favour, that he might call them to the knowledge of Christ. Now we understand, although the universal calling doeth not bring forth fruit, yet the faith of God is not fallen away, but alway he con serveth a Church, so long as the elect remain alive: for albeit God doeth indifferently invite the whole people unto him, yet he doth not inwardly draw any, but such as he knoweth to be his, & hath given to his Son: whom also he will keep faithfully unto the end. Know you not. Seeing there were so few, who of the Jews believed in Christ, it could hardly be, but by the smallness of the number, they should gather that the whole stock of Abraham was rejected. And this cogitation also would creep in, namely, that in so deformed a ruin there appeared no sign of Gods grace. For seeing adoption was the sacred bond whereby the sons of Abraham being gathered under the faith of God, were retained in the same, except the same had fallen away, it is no way like that the people could have been so miserably and unhappily scattered. That Paul might turn away this offence, he useth a very fit example. For he showeth how in the time of Elijah, there was such a waste, so that now there was no appearance of a Church, and yet when there appeared no footstep of the grace of God, the Church of God did lie so hid (as it were) in a grave, that the same was wonderfully preserved. It followeth therefore, they do naught who esteem the Church by their sense.3 And surely if that excellent Prophet, who was endued with such plenty of the spirit, when he would by his own judgement esteem the people of God, were so deceived: what shall befall us, whose greatest sharpness, if we be compared with him, is but mere dullness?