A17643:882
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.
24 For if thou wast cut out of the Olive tree, which was natural to thee, and wast grafted contrary to nature, in a right olive tree: how much more shall they which are by nature, be grafted in their own olive tree?
24 For if thou wast cut out of the Oliue tree, which was naturall to thee, and wast graffed contrary to nature, in a right oliue tree: howe much more shall they which are by nature, be graffed in their owne oliue tree?
22 Behold therefore. By putting down the thing it self, yet he doth more clearly and amply confirm, that the Gentiles have none occasion to be proud. They do see in the Jews an example of Gods severity, which ought to fear them: but in them selves they have a testimony of his grace and ⟨p. 133⟩goodness, whereby they ought to be provoked unto thankfulness only, and to praise the Lord and not themselves. These words therefore are as much as if he said, if thou doest triumph at their calamity, first remember what thou wast, for the same severity of God did hang over thy head, but that thou wast delivered by his free mercy. Secondly consider also what thou art now: for thou shalt not otherwise be saved, then if thou acknowledge the mercy of God with humility: but if thou forgetting thy self, doest insolently triumph, the same ruin doth abide for thee into the which they are fallen. For it is not enough to have once embraced the grace of God, unless through the whole course of life,1 thou doest follow his calling. For they who are illuminated of the Lord must alway think of perseverance, seeing they abide not in the goodness of God, who after they have sometime answered his calling, at length begin to despise the kingdom of God: & so by their unthankfulness deserve to be blinded again. Furthermore he doth not one by one speak unto every one of the godly, but (as we said before) he compareth the Gentiles together with the Jews. In deed it is true, that every of the Jews did receive the reward of their incredulity, when they were banished from the kingdom of God, and who so of the Gentiles were called, they were the vessels of the mercy of God: but in the mean while the counsel of Paul is to be holden. For he would have the Gentiles to depend upon the eternal covenant of God, that they might join their salvation with the salvation of the elect people. Again least the rejection of the Jews should breed offence, as though their old adoption were void: he would have them terrified by the example of punishment, that they might reverently have that judgement in admiration. For whence cometh so great licentiousness of curious disputations, but that we do almost neglect those things, with ought worthily to instruct us unto humility?