A17643:975
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.
18 If it may be, as much as in you lieth, have peace with all men.
18 If it may be, as much as in you lyeth, haue peace wt al mē.
19 Not revenging your selves, beloved: but give place unto wrath. For it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.
19 Not reuenging your selues, beloued: but giue place vnto wrath. For it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.
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 innocie 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.