A17643:850
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.
9 And David saith, let their table be made a snare, and a net, and a stumbling block, even for a recompense unto them.
9 And Dauid saith, let their table be made a snare, and a net, and a stumbling blocke, euen for a recompence vnto them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened that they see not, and bow down their back alway.
10 Let their eyes be darkened that they see not, and bow downe their backe alway.
7 What then? Because he was occupied here in a hard question, he maketh a demand as though he doubted. Yet by this kind of doubting, he goeth about to make the answer which followeth more certain: for he insinuateth that no other can be given. And that is, namely, that Israel in seeking salvation laboured in vain: because he went about it by a preposterous study. Although he make here no mention of the cause: yet seeing he had expressed it before, assuredly he would also have it understood in this place. For his words are as much as if he said, now it ought not to seem strange, that Israel in striving unto righteousness, hath profited nothing. And thence is that brought to pass which he addeth straightways of election. For if Israel hath obtained, nothing by merit: what have others obtained, whose cause or condition was no better? Whence cometh so great difference amongst equals? Here who doth not see, it is election only which maketh the difference? And the signification of this word is doubtful. For it seemeth unto some to be taken collectively for the elect,1 that the parts of the contrariety may agree among themselves: whose sentence I dislike not, so that also they grant unto me, that there is somewhat more in this word, then if he had said the elect: namely, that he might infer, how there was none other cause of obtaining, then election: as if he said, not they who labour trusting to their merits, but they whose salvation dependeth upon the free election of God: for he doth precisely compare that remnant which was saved by the grace of God, with all Israel, or the whole body of the people. Whereby it followeth that the cause of salvation resteth not in men, but in the mere good pleasure of God. The rest have been blinded. As the elect only are delivered from perishing by the grace of God, so, who so are not elected, must needs remain in blindness. For this is the meaning of Paul, that touching the reprobate, the beginning of ruin and condemnation is hence, that they are forsaken of God. The testimonies which he bringeth, although they are rather gathered out of divers places of the scripture, then taken out of one place, yet all of them seem to be strange from his purpose, if you weigh them more nearly by their circumstances.