Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

1 I beseech you by the mercies of God. We know ⟨p. 126⟩that godless men do exceedingly abuse unto the dissoluteness of the flesh, whatsoever is spoken in the scripture, of the goodness of God. Again Hypocrites, as though the grace of God extinguished the study of a godly life, and opened the door of boldness to sin, they do maliciously as much as in them is, obscure the knowledge of it. But this contestation or beseeching doth teach, that men can never seriously worship God, nor be sufficiently provoked unto his fear and obedience, until they know how much they are indebted unto his mercy. The Papists count it enough if by terror they wrest from men, a certain (I know not what) forced obedience. But Paul, that he might bind us unto God, not with a servile fear, but with a voluntary and cheerful love of righteousness, allureth us by the sweetness of his grace wherein our salvation is contained: and withal he chargeth us with ingratitude, unless, having experience of so bountiful and liberal a Father, we study again to dedicate our selves wholly to him. And so much the more efficacy hath Paul in this his exhortation, as he excelleth all others in setting forth the grace of GOD. For that heart must needs be harder then iron, which through the doctrine he taught above, is not inflamed with the love of God, whose bountifulness towards him he feeleth to be so plentiful. Where then are they which think, that all exhortations unto honesty of life are taken away, if the salvation of men be reposed in the only grace of God: seeing a godly heart is not so much prepared unto the obedience of God by any precepts, or others, as by the serious meditating upon the goodness of GOD towards him? Here also we may see the lenity of the Apostles spirit, who had rather deal with the faithful, by admonitions and friendly beseechings, then by severe commandments: because he knew he should profit more this way, with those are tractable. That ye give your bodies. This is then the entrance of the right course unto good works, if we understand that we are consecrated to the Lord. For thereupon it followeth, that we must cease to live to our selves, to the end all the actions of our life, might tend to his obedience. Therefore here are two things to be considered.

1 I beseech you by the mercies of God. Wee knowe ⟨p. 126⟩that godlesse men doe exceedingly abuse vnto the dissolutenes of the flesh, whatsoeuer is spoken in the scripture, of the goodnes of God. Againe Hypocrites, as though the grace of God extinguished the studie of a godlie life, and opened the doore of boldnesse to sinne, they doe maliciously as much as in them is, obscure the knowledge of it. But this contestation or beseeching doth teach, that men can neuer seriously woorshippe God, nor be sufficiently prouoked vnto his feare and obedience, vntill they knowe howe much they are indebted vnto his mercie. The Papistes count it enough if by terrour they wrest from men, a certayne (I knowe not what) forced obedience. But Paule, that hee might bynd vs vnto God, not with a seruile feare, but with a voluntarie and cheerefull loue of righteousnesse, allureth vs by the sweetnes of his grace wherein our saluation is conteyned: and withall he chargeth vs with ingratitude, vnlesse, hauing experience of so bountifull and liberal a Father, we studie againe to dedicate our selues wholly to him. And so much the more efficacie hath Paule in this his exhortation, as he excelleth all others in setting foorth the grace of GOD. For that heart must needs be harder then iron, which through the doctrine he taught aboue, is not inflamed with the loue of God, whose bountifulnesse towardes him hee feeleth to be so plentiful. Where then are they which thinke, that all exhortations vnto honestie of life are taken away, if the saluation of men be reposed in the onelye grace of God: seeing a godly heart is not so much prepared vnto the obedience of God by anie preceptes, or others, as by the serious meditating vppon the goodnesse of GOD towardes him? Heere also we may see the lenity of the Apostles spirit, who had rather deale with the faithful, by admonitions and friendly beseechinges, then by seuere commaundementes: because he knewe he shoulde profite more this way, with those are tractable. That yee giue your bodies. This is then the entrance of the right course vnto good woorkes, if we vnderstande that we are consecrated to the Lorde. For thereupon it followeth, that we must cease to liue to our selues, to the ende all the actions of our life, might tende to his obedience. Therefore here are two thinges to be considered.