17 Rendering to no man. It differeth in a manner nothing from that which followeth straightways: save that vengeance is somewhat more, than this kind of recompense of the which he speaketh here. For sometime we recompense evil for evil, yea where we exact not the requiting of an injury, as if we give them hard entertainment, who do us no good. For we are wont to estimate every mans merits towards •s, or else how they may deserve at ⟨image 184⟩our hands, that we might bestow out duties upon them, to whom we are already bound, or of whom we look for some thing. And again if any have denied us their help, when we were in need, recompensing (as they say) like for like, we help them no more, then we were holpen of them, when we were in need. There be other such like examples, wherein, evil is recompensed for evil, without manifest revengen•• •oulding good things. I dislike not the translation of Erasmus, •o•ely, therefore preparing: Yet I chose rather to […] ▪ word for word. Because every man is too much given to his own profit, or too too provident in eschewing his own damages, Paul seemeth to require another care, and attention. The meaning is, we must diligently do our endeavour, that by our probity and hones•• all men may be edified. For as the inno••cie of conscience •• necessary for one selves before God: so the integrity of report, is not to be neglected before men. For if God ought to be glorified by our good works, so much is wanting to his glory, as men see nothing praise worthy in us, Yea the glory of God is not only obscured, but he is also dishonoured. For what so ever we offend, the unlearned draw it to the reproach of the Gospel. Howbeit when we are commanded to provide good things before men, we must also note to what end. For the end is not, that men might have us in admiration, and praise us: for Christ doth seriously drive away this desire from us, when he biddeth us that all men being excluded, we should take God for the only witness of our good deeds: but that our minds being lift up unto God, they might give the praise to him, that by our example others might bestirred unto the study of righteousness, and finally that they might receive a good and sweet savour of our life, whereby they might be allured unto the love of God.
17 Rendering to no man. It differeth in a maner nothing frō yt which foloweth straightwayes: saue that vengeāce is somewhat more, thē this kind of recōpence of ye which he speaketh here. For sometime we recōpence euil for euil, yea where we exact not the requiting of an iniurie, as if we giue them hard entertainment, who do vs no good. For we are wont to estimate euery mans merits towards •s, or els how they may deserue at ⟨image 184⟩our hāds, yt we might bestow out duties vpon thē, to whō we are already bounde, or of whom we looke for some thing. And again if any haue denied vs their helpe, when we were in neede, recompencing (as they say) like for like, wee helpe them no more, then we were holpen of them, whē we were in neede. There be other such like examples, wherin, euil is recompenced for euil, without manifest reuengen•• •oulding good things. I dislike not the translation of Erasmius, •o•ely, therefore preparing: Yet I chose rather to 〈…〉 ▪ word for word. Because euery man is too much giuē to his own profit, or too too prouidēt in eschewing his owne dammages, Paul seemeth to require another care, and attention. The meaning is, we must diligently do our endeuour, that by our probitie and hones•• all men may be edified. For as the inno••cie of conscience •• necessarie for one selues before God: so the integritie of repore, is not to be neglected before men. For if God oughe to be glorified by our good workes, so muche is wanting to his glory, as men see nothing praise worthie in vs, Yea the glory of God is not only obscured, but he is also dishonored. For what so euer we offend, the vnlearned draw it to the reproch of the Gospel. Howebeit when we are commanded to prouide good things before men, we must also note to what end. For the ende is not, that men might haue vs in admiration, and praise vs: for Christ doth seriously driue away this desire from vs, when he biddeth vs that al men being excluded, we should take God for the only witnesse of our good deedes: but that our mindes being lift vp vnto God, they might giue the prayse to him, that by our example others might bestirred vnto the studie of righteousnes, and finally that they might receiue a good and sweete sauour of our life, wherby they might be allured vnto the loue of God.
