A17643:920
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.
First, that we are the Lords,1 secondly, that therefore we ought to be holy: because it is unseemly ⟨image 176⟩for the holiness of God, that any thing should be offered to him, which was not first consecrated to him. This being put down, it followeth, we must meditate of holiness all our life long: yea it is a kind of sacrilege, if we fall to uncleanness: because it is nothing else, then to profane a sanctified thing. And every where a marvellous propriety of words is kept. First, he saith, our body must be offered in sacrifice unto GOD, whereby he insinuateth, that we are not now in our own power, but altogether brought into the power of God. Which cannot otherwise come to pass, unless we renounce our selves, and so deny our selves. Secondly, by adding of Epithetons, he declareth what kind of sacrifice that must be. For by calling it living, he signifieth, we are offered to the Lord of this condition, that our former life being killed in us, we might be raised up unto newness of life. Under the name of sanctity or holiness, he noteth that of the which we said, it is proper to the sacrifice: for then it is a sacrifice indeed, when sanctification goeth before. The third Epitheton, when he admonisheth that our life is then framed aright, when we direct this our sacrifice unto the pleasure of the Lord. And also it bringeth unto us a rare consolation, in that he teacheth our study is pleasing and acceptable to God, when we resign our selves over to innocency and holiness. By bodies he meaneth not only bones and skin, but the whole mass whereon we consist: and he hath used that word, whereby he might best by the figure Synecdoche, set forth all our parts. For the members of the body are instruments to execute our actions by. Otherwise he requireth of us, not only integrity of body, but also of spirit, as he doth to the Thessa.2 Whereas he biddeth offer or present, therein is an allusion unto the sacrifices of Moses, which are offered at the Altar as in the sight of GOD: howbeit he declareth how ready we ought to be to receive the commandments of GOD, that without all delay we may obey them. Whereby we gather that all they do nothing else but err and wander miserably, whose purpose is not to worship the Lord.3