bondage should abide in the condition of seruitude for he ought to defende that state of libertie which he hath receiued It is not meete then that you should be brought agayne vnder the power of sinne frō the which you were deliuered by the manumising of Christe This argument is taken from the efficient cause There followeth also another taken from the finall cause namely to this ende are yee exempted from the seruitude of sinne that yee might passe into the kingdome of righteousnesse therefore ye ought to be altogether vnmindefull of sinne and to turne your whole minde vnto righteousnesse into the obedience whereof ye are brought And it is to bee noted that no man canne serue righteousnesse except by the power and benefite of God They onely can serue righteousnes whō Christ hath deliuered from the tyranny of sinne Ioh. 8.36 he be first deliuered from the power and tyrannie of sinne As Christ himselfe testifieth If the sonne shall make you free yee shall bee free in deede What then shall our preparations by the vertue of our free will be if the beginning of goodnesse depend vppon this manumission which the onely grace of God accomplisheth 19 I speake after the manner of manne because of the infirmitie of your fleshe as ye haue giuen your members seruaunts of vncleannesse and to iniquity into iniquity euen so now also giue your members seruaunts of righteousnes vnto sanctification 19 I speake c. He saith that he speaketh after the manner of man not in respect of the substance but in respect of the forme as Christ in the 3. of Iohn faith that hee offereth earthlye things Iohn 3.12 How Paule speaketh after the manner of man whiles notwithstanding he intreateth of heauenly mysteries but yet not so honourably as the dignity of thinges required because he would humble himselfe vnto the capacitie of the rude simple people And thus the Apostle speketh by the way of Preface that he might the better shewe that calumniation to be too grosse and wicked when the fredome gotte by Christe is thought to giue liberty of sinning And withall hee aduerticeth the faithful that nothing can be more absurde or rather filthie and shamefull then that the spirituall grace of Christ should be of lesse force with them then an earthly manumission or freedom As though he said by the comparing of righteousnesse and sin I can shew how much more feruently yee ought to bee drawen into the obsequie of that then euer yee obeyed this but yet that I might something pardon your weakenesse I omit that comparison Howbeit that I may deale with you very fauourably this I may by right require of you that at the least yee doe not imbrace righteousnes more coldly or negligently then yee haue serued sinne And therein is included a certayne kinde of silence or concealing when we wil haue more vnderstood then we expresse by words For he doth neuertheles exhort thē to obey righteousnesse so much the more studiously as it is more worthy thē sin to be serued although he seemeth not to require so much in words As yee haue giuen That is seeing before this al your mēbers were so ready to obey sin therby it easily appeared how miserably the prauity of your flesh did hold you captiue and bound Now therfore in like sort be prone and readye to be ruled of God and let not your courage be lesse nowe in doing of good then it was before in doyng of euill Hee doeth not obserue the order of the Antithesis to apply the partes on both sides as to the Thessalonians hee opposeth vncleannesse agaynst holinesse Yet his meaning is apparaunt First he setteth downe two kindes vncleannes 1. Thes 4.7 and iniquitie the first whereof is opposed to chastitie and sanctimonie the other hath respecte vnto iniuries whereby our neighbours are hurte Moreouer hee repeateth this woorde iniquitie twise in a diuers sense For in the first place it signifieth rapines deceiptes periuries and all kinde of iniuries Iniquity hath a twofold acception in the second place it signifieth the vniuersall corruption of life as if it were put thus yee haue giuen ouer your members to commit wicked woorkes that the kingdome of sinne might florishe in you I vnderstand righteousnesse to be put for the lawe and rule of a right life whose end is sanctification namely that the faithfull consecrate themselues in puritie to the worshippe of God 20 For when yee were the seruants of sinne yee were free from righteousnes 21 What fruite had yee then in those things wherof yee are now ashamed For their end is death 22 But nowe being freed from sinne and made the seruantes of God yee haue your fruite in holinesse and the end euerlasting life 23 For the wages of sinne is death but the gift of God is eternall life in Christ Iesus our Lord. 20 For when yee were Yet he repeateth that contrariety betweene the yoke of sinne and righteousnesse whereof hee made mention before For sinne and righteousnesse are things so contrary that he which voweth himselfe to one must needes depart from the other And that he doth to the ende that whiles they are looked vppon eyther of them by them selues it might more easily appeare what a man is to looke for of them both For separation or distinction helpeth in the consideration of the nature of euery thing Therefore hee setteth sinne on one hande and righteousnesse on the other then hauing put a difference hee sheweth what doeth followe on both sides Let vs therefore remember that the Apostle doeth yet argue from contraries after this manner so long as yee were the seruaunts of sinne yee were free from righteousnesse nowe on the contrary yee must serue righteousnesse because yee are free from the yoke of sinne He calleth those free from righteousnes who are holden by no reyne of obedience to the studie of righteousnes Who are called free from righteousnesse This is the liberty or licentiousnes of the flesh which freeth vs so from God that it maketh vs the bondslaues of the diuel Miserable cursed then is that liberty which by an vnbrideled or rather by a mad fury triumpheth to destruction 21 What fruite therefore c. He could not anie way more substantially expresse his mynd then by appealing to their conscience and as it were in their person to be ashamed For the godly assoone as they beginne to be illuminated by the spirite of Christ and the preaching of the Gospell all the former parte of their life which they haue led out of Christ they doe willingly acknowledge to haue beene damnable and they are so farre from goyng about to excuse themselues that rather they are ashamed of them selues And also they doe alway call to mynde the remembraunce of their ignominy to the ende they being so ashamed might more truely and more readily bee humbled before the Lord. Neyther is it in vayne he saith Now yee are ashamed For he insinuateth
with howe blynde loue of our selues we are taken whiles we are plunged in the mistes of sinne that we esteeme not of so great vncleannesse in vs. It is onely the light of the Lorde which can open our eyes that they may see the corruption lurketh in our flesh Who is truely indued with the principles of Christian religion To conclude therfore he is indued with the principles of Christian philosophie who indeede is displeased with himselfe hath learned wel to be ashamed of his owne misery Finally by the cōsequent he sheweth yet more plainely how greatly they ought to be ashamed when they vnderstand that they were euē at the threshold of death destruction yea were already entered the gates of death if they had not beene drawen backe by the mercie of God A twofold end of sinne and righteousnes 22 You haue your fruite As before he put downe a twofolde ende of sinne so nowe of righteousnes Sinne in this life bringeth the tormentes of an euill conscience and after this life eternall death Of righteousnesse in this life wee reape for fruite sanctification in time to come wee hope for eternall life These thinges vnlesse wee were too sottishe ought to begette in vs a hatred and horrour of sinne and a loue and desire of righteousnesse And whereas some doe take this woorde Telos for tribute I thinke it is not the meaning of the Apostle For although it is true that we suffer the punishment of death for sinne yet that worde cannot agree to the other member wherunto it is applyed of Paule For life is not called the tribute of righteousnesse 23 For the wages of sinne There are some whiche thinke that heere is noted displeasauntly howe harde a wage is payde to sinners whiles Paule compareth death to cates which word with the Grecians sometime is taken for the dyet of souldiers But rather he seemeth indirectly to checke the blynd appetites of those who daungerously intangle themselues with the inticementes of sinne no otherwise then fishes with the hoke Howbeit it shal be more simply to take it for stipendes or wages For surely death is a very sufficient reward for the reprobate And it is the conclusion as it were the Epilogue of the former sentence And yet is it not in vayne that he repeateth the same thing in other wordes agayne for by doubling the terrour he woulde make sinne more detestable But the gift of God They are deceiued which translate this proposition thus What is meant by the gifte of God and what fruite the same bringeth worth in vs. life eternall is the gifte of God as though righteousnesse were the subiectum and gift of God predicatum Because that sence shoulde make nothing vnto the contraposition But as before he taught that sinne bringeth foorth nothing but death so now he addeth that this gifte of God namely our iustification and sanctification bringeth vnto vs the blessednesse of eternall life Or if you hadde rather as sinne is the cause of death so righteousnesse wherewith wee are indued by Christ hath restored eternall life vnto vs. In the meane while here we may most certainly gather that our saluation is wholly of the grace meere bountifulnesse of God He might otherwise haue said the wages of righteousnes is eternall life that one member might haue aunsweared another but he saw it was the gift of God whereby wee obteyne life and not our merite And that gifte also is not one nor single for wee beeynge clothed with the righteousnesse of the sonne are reconciled to God and by the vertue of the spirit renued into holinesse of life And therefore hee addeth in Christ Iesus our Lord that he might drawe vs from all opinion of our owne worthinesse CHAP. 7. 1 DOe yee not know brethren for I speake to them know the law that the lawe hath dominion ouer a man as long as he liueth 2 For the woman which is in subiection to a man is boūd by the law to the mā whiles he liueth but if the man be dead she is deliuered from the law of man 3 So then if while the man liueth she take another man she shal be called an adulteresse but if the man be dead shee is free from the law so that she is not an adulteresse though she take another man 4 So yee my brethren are dead also to the law by the bodie of Christ that yee should be vnto another euen vnto him that is raysed vp from the dead that wee should bring foorth fruite vnto God ALthough hee had sufficiently as in such breuity it could be vnfolded the question of the abrogation of the lawe yet because it was both a difficult question and of it selfe might bring foorth many others he doeth more copiously declare howe the lawe is abrogated from vs secondly he sheweth what profite wee get thereby because whiles it doeth holde vs bounde without Christ it canne doe nothing but condemne vs. And least any shoulde thereby accuse the lawe hee meeteth with the obiections of the flesh and refuteth them where hee excellently handeleth a notable place of the vse of the Lawe 1 Doe yee not knowe Let the generall proposition bee that the lawe was giuen to no other ende vnto men then that it should gouerne this present life To what end the law was giuen with those be dead it hath no place Whereunto afterward hee addeth a more speciall namely that we are dead vnto the law in the body of Christe Some other vnderstand that the dominion of the lawe abideth so long to binde vs as the vse thereof is in force But because this sentence is somwhat obscure and it doth not so properly agree vnto that speciall proposition followeth straightwayes I had rather follow those who take it to be spoken of the life of man and not of the life of the lawe And the interrogatiō verily hath more strength to set foorth the certaintie of the matter is spoken of For it sheweth that that is not strange or vnknowen to any of them but is indifferently graunted among all For I speake to them haue knowledge This parenthesis is to bee referred thither whither the proposition is referred as if he should say that he knew they were not so vnskilfull of the law as they could doubte of that And albeit both might be vnderstood of all lawes together yet is it better to vnderstand it of the lawe of God whiche is now in question Whereas some thinke the knowledge of the law is attributed vnto the Romanes because the best part of the worlde was vnder their Empire gouernement that is very childish For partly he speaketh vnto Iewes or other strangers partly vnto vulgare obscure men Yea he chiefly respecteth the Iewes with whom he had to do concerning the abrogation of the law And least they should thinke they were dealte withal very captiously he sheweth that he taketh a principle cōmon knowen to thē all wherof they
them should not be vnprofitable Gods glorie the felicitie of the godly are ioyned together which so many nations had proued to be fruitfull 14 Grecians and Barbarians Whom hee vnderstandeth by Grecians and Barbarians hee sheweth by an exposition when he nameth the same in other tytles wise menne and vnwise for the whiche Erasmus turneth it learned and vnlearned but I had rather keepe the woordes of Paule He reasoneth therefore from his office that he is not to be counted arrogant because he thought him selfe partely able to teache the Romanes howe soeuer they excelled in learning prudencie and knowledge of thinges For it pleased the Lord to send him also vnto the wise Two thinges are here to be considered First that the Gospel is appoynted and offered by the commaundement of God vnto the wise Wise meÌ„ must heare learne the Gospel to the ende that the Lorde might subiecte vnto him all the wisedome of this worlde and might cause all wittinesse all kynde of science and highnesse of artes giue place vnto the simplicity of this doctrine And so muche the more because they are brought into an order with idiotes and are so tamed that they canne nowe abyde those to bee their schoole fellowes vnder the Schoolemayster Christe Vnlearned men are neither to be feared away nor yet to flee away of themselues from the schoole of Christ whom before they woulde not haue suffered to haue beene their schollers Secondly the vnlearned neyther are to be driuen from this schoole neyther are they through vayne feare of themselues to flee away from it For if Paule were indebted to them and is to bee thought to haue beene a faithfull debtor vndoubtedlye hee perfourmed that whiche he ought Wherefore heere they shall finde whereof they may bee capable to inioye it Here also all Teachers haue a rule which they may followe namely that modestly and courteously they humble them selues to the vnlearned and idiotes Hereuppon it shall come to passe Preachers must so apply themselues to the capacity of the foolish that they cocker not their foolishnesse that they may beare more patiently many trifles and deuour almost innumerable contempts wherof otherwise they might be ouercome Yet withall let them remember that they are so bound vnto the foolishe that they are not by ouer much cockering to mainteyne their foolishnesse 15 Therefore as muche as in meee is Now he concludeth that which hee spake before of his desire Namely that in as muche as he sawe it was his office to sowe the Gospell amongest them that he might reape fruite vnto the Lorde he coueted to answeare the calling of God so farre foorth as the Lord would permit 16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth to the Iewe first and also to the Grecian 17 For by it the righteousnesse of God is reuealed from faith to faith as it is written the iust shall liue by faith 16 I am not ashamed This is a Preoccupation or preuenting of the aduersaries obiections wherein he foresheweth that he cared not for the scoffinges of the wicked wherein also by the waye hee maketh vnto him selfe a passage vnto the setting foorth of the dignitie of the Gospel least it should be contemptible to the Romanes Whiles he saith he is not ashamed thereby he giueth to vnderstande that it is contemptible in the sight of the worlde Wicked men scoffe and despise the Gospel but the godly esteeme it as the instrument where in god sheweth forth his power vnto saluation And so he prepareth them now to the bearing of the reproche of the crosse of Christ least they shoulde esteeme lesse of the Gospel whiles they see it subiecte to the scoffinges and reproches of the wicked but on the contrary hee sheweth in howe great price it is with the godly First if the power of God ought to bee in high estimation with vs that shyneth in the Gospel If the goodnesse of God be woorthie to be sought for and loued of vs the Gospell is an instrument of that goodnesse woorthy therfore is it to bee reuerenced and honoured if the power of God bee to be reuerenced and as it is an instrument of our saluation it is to be loued of vs. And obserue howe muche Paule attributeth vnto the ministery of the worde when he testifieth that therein God sheweth foorth his power vnto saluation for he speaketh not here of any secrete reuelation but of the vocall preaching of the Gospel Whereuppon it followeth that they doe as it were purposelye refuse the power of GOD and repell farre from them his hande of deliueraunce which withdraw themselues from the hearing of the woorde But because it woorketh not effectually in all but onely where the spirite the inwarde teacher lighteneth their heartes therefore he addeth to euerie one that beleeueth Indeede the Gospell is offered all menne to saluation but the power thereof appeareth not euerie where And whereas it is the sauour of death vnto the wicked That the gospel is the sauoure of death to the wicked it is of their malice not of the nature of the gospel that commeth not so muche of the nature of the Gospel as of their malignitie and wickednesse By declaring one saluation he cutteth off all other confidence from whiche onely and sole saluation whiles the wicked withdrawe them selues they haue a certayne manifestation of their destruction in the Gospell Therefore seeyng the Gospel doeth indifferently call all men vnto saluation it is properly called the doctrine of saluation For Christe is offered in it whose proper office is to saue that was lost And those whiche refuse to be saued by him shall finde him a Iudge Yet euerye where in the Scriptures this woorde saluation is simplye opposed against destruction Therfore when it is named wee are to regarde what thing is spoken of Seeyng therefore the Gospell doeth deliuer from the destruction and curse of eternall death the saluation thereof is life eternall To the Iewe firste and also to the Grecian Eternall life is the saluation of the gospel Vnder the name of Grecians nowe he conteyneth all the Gentiles as may appeare by his diuision wherein hee hath comprehended all menne vnder two members And it is like that he chose this nation of Grecians chiefely to sette out other nations by them because it was first after the Iewes admitted into the communion or felowshippe of the couenaunte of the Gospell Secondly because bothe for nighnesse and famousnesse of tongue the Grecians were best knowen to the Iewes Synecdoche is when by one â—â—ny or by a part the whole or by a speaciall the general is vnderstoode It is therefore the figure Synecdoche wherein generallye hee conioyneth the Gentiles to the Iewes in the participation of the Gospell yet notwithstanding hee putteth not the Iewes downe from their degree and order in as muche as they were
Therefore in it onelye is saluation to bee founde And hee bringeth for the first argument of condemnation that when the frame of the worlde and this comely composition of Elementes ought to haue beene a spurre vnto man that hee shoulde glorifie GOD no manne was founde to doe his duetie Whereby appeareth howe all menne are guyltye of sacriledge and wicked and abhominable ingratitude Some menne thinke this to bee the firste proposition or generall sentence that Paule might beginne his Sermon at Repentaunce but my mynde is that the disputation beginneth heere And that the state of the cause was sette downe in the former proposition For the purpose of Paule is to shewe where saluation is to bee sought for And hee hath alreadye pronounced that wee doe not otherwise obtayne it then by the Gospell But because fleshe doeth not willinglye humble it selfe thus farre that it might assigne the prayse of saluation to the onelye grace of GOD Seeing al men are guilty of eternall death in themselues who so wil be saued must seeke for life else where Paule prooueth the whole worlde to bee guiltye of eternall death Whereuppon it ensueth that wee must seeke for life else where seeyng wee are all loste and vtterlye cast awaye in our selues Howe bee it the woordes beeyng diligentlye weighed will helpe greatelye to the vnderstanding of the tenour of the proposition Some putte a difference betweene impietye and vnrighteousnesse after this sorte by the firste woorde they vnderstand the violating of the woorshippe of GOD by the second the violating of that equitye shoulde be amongst men But because the Apostle immediatly after referreth that vnrighteousnesse vnto the neglect of religion we wil vnderstand both as one and the same Secondlye all impietye of menne Hypallage is when in speeche the order of things is turned by the figure Hypallage for the impietie of all men or whereof all menne are guiltye One thing to witte vnthankfulnesse against God is sette foorth by two names because wee offende therein two wayes It is called Asebeia id est impiety or vngodlines as a dishonouring of God It is called Adigeia â—d est vnrighteousnes or iniustice because man in taking vnto him selfe that is Gods hath vniustly robbed GOD of his honour Wrath an humane affection after the manner of the Scripture How God is said to be angrie is put for the reueÌ„gement of God because GOD when hee punisheth seemeth in our opinion to bee angrye Therefore it doeth not signifye any motion in GOD but onelye hath respecte vnto the sence of the sinner that is punished When hee sayeth that the same is reuealed from heauen although this particle from heauen bee taken of some in steede of an Epitheton as though it were sayde of the Celestiall GOD yet I thinke there is more efficacie in it after this sence whether soeuer a manne looke about him he shall finde no health for so farre and wyde as the heauens are the wrath of God is powred out into the whole worlde The trueth of God signifieth the true knowledge of GOD. Gods truth is withholdeÌ„ wheÌ„ his true knowledge is suppressed or obscured To withholde it is to suppresse or obscure it whereby they are as it were accused of thefte Where wee translate it vniustlye Paule hath in vnrighteousnesse which phrase of the Hebrewes is all one but wee studie to bee playne 19 For as muche as that whiche may bee knowen of God Thus hee tearmeth that whiche is lawefull or expedient for vs to knowe of GOD. And hee vnderstandeth all that whiche appertayneth to the setting foorth of the glorye of the Lorde or whiche is all one whatsoeuer might mooue or stirre vs to glorifie God By whiche woorde hee signifyeth that GOD can not bee conceyued of vs God cannot be knowen as he is but only so farre as it hath pleased him to make himself knowen howe greate hee is but there is a certayne measure within the whiche men ought to keepe them selues euen as God applyeth to our capacitye what so euer hee testifieth of him selfe Those dote therefore whosoeuer they bee contende to knowe what God is because it is not vayne that the Spirite the Teacher of true wisedome doeth call vs vnto To gnoston to saye whiche maye bee knowen of God And howe it maye bee knowen hee will shewe straight way in that which followeth For the greater Emphasis hee sayeth rather in them then simply them For although the Apostle doeth euery where vse the Phrases of the Hebrewe tongue wherein Beth is often superfluous yet heere it is thought hee woulde shewe suche a manifestation of God whereby they might bee vrged more neerelye then that they coulde make anye euasion as vndoubtedly euery one of vs doeth feele it grauen in his heart Whereas he sayeth God hath shewed it the meaning is that man was therefore made that he might be a beholder of the frame of the world and that therefore were eyes giuen vnto him that by the beholding of so goodly a spectacle The beholding of Gods workemanship in the creation should leade vs vnto God he might be carried vnto the author him selfe 20 For the inuisible thinges of him God by himselfe is inuisible but because his Maiestie shyneth in all his workes and creatures men ought in them to acknowledge him For they doe playnlye shewe foorth their woorkemaister In whiche respect the Apostle to the Hebrewes calleth the worlde a glasse or spectacle of inuisible thinges Hee reckoneth not particulerly what thinges maye bee considered in God By the glasse of Gods creatures we may come eueÌ„ to the knowledge of his eternall power Godhead but he teacheth that wee may by that glasse come euen vnto the knowledge of his eternall power and Godhead For it behooueth him who is the authour of all thinges to bee without beginning and of him selfe When wee are come thither nowe the Godhead sheweth it selfe which cannot consist but with euerye the vertues of God seeing they are all comprehended vnder it To the intent that they shoulde bee without excuse Heereby it doeth easilye appeare what menne gette by this demonstration namelye that they can alleadge no excuse beefore the iudgement of GOD but they are iustlye condemned Let this distinction therefore stande the demonstration of God whereby hee maketh his glorie apparaunt in his creatures The reuelation of God in his creatures hath a two fold consideration in respecte of the brightnesse thereof is cleere enough but in respecte of our caâ—â—citie is not so sufficient Yet wee are not so blynde that wee canne pretende ignoraunce to quite vs from the blame of naughtinesse or peruersitie First wee conceyue with our selues there is a God Secondly that the same whosoeuer hee bee is to bee woorshipped But heere our reason fayleth before it canne obtayne eyther who is GOD Heb. 11.3 It is the light of faith wheâ—eby we profit aright in the creation of the world or what hee is Wherefore the
perfecte in som one part or other but which is euery way perfect For if the iust man fall all his former righteousnesse is not remembred Here also wee are to learne that they are peruersly ledd in pleasing God who of themselues deuise what they may thrust vpon him For then wee worship him best when wee followe that which he hath commaunded vs and giue obedience to his worde Let them goe now who boldly claime vnto themselues the righteousnes of works which is not otherwise then when the law is fully and perfectly kept Likewise wee gather that they are deceiued who brag before god those works they haue inuented thēselues which he esteemeth no better then dounge For obedience is better then sacrifices 20 Moreouer the lawe entred that the offence shoulde abound for where sinne abounded grace super abounded 21 That as sinne raigned by death so might grace also raigne by righteousnes vnto eternal life through Iesus Christ our Lord. 20 Moreouer the law entred This question dependeth of that he said before namely that sin was before the law were published for that being once heard this followed straightwaies to what end then was the law needfull Wherfore of necessitie this difficultie was to be vnfolden but because then it was not meet to make any longer digression hee differred it vnto this place And now also by the way he doth dispatch it The law was partly giuen that men might the better see their own destruction saying the law entred that sin might abound He doth not here shew the whole office vse of the law but toucheth one onely parte which serued for the present purpose For he teacheth that to the end the grace of God might haue place it was expedient men should better see their owne destruction They were verily before the lawe castawaies yet because they did seeme vnto thēselues to swim in their owne destruction they are thrust downe into the deepe that their deliuerance might be the more excellent whiles beyond all mans iudgement they escape thence Neither was it absurd that the law should partly be giuen for this cause that men alreadie once condemned it might twise condemne for there is nothing more iust then that men by all meanes might be brought yea being conuicted might be drawen to feele their euils That sinne might abound It is knowen howe some after Augustine are wont to expoūd this place namely that cōcupiscence is so much the more prouoked whiles it is restrained by the barres of the law because it is naturall vnto man to striue after that is forbidden But I vnderstand no other augmētatiō to be noted here then of knowledge and obstinacie For by the lawe sinne is laide open before the eyes of man that he might be compelled to see condēnation prepared for him So sin occupieth the conscience which otherwise being cast behinde them men made no account of Moreouer he which before did simply passe the bounds of iustice now a law being giuen is a despiser of the authoritie of GOD since the time that the will of God was knowen vnto him which he according to his lust hath shamefully contēned How sinne is increased by the lawe Whereupon it followeth that sin is increased by the law because then the autority maiestie of the lawmaker is despised Grace also hath superabounded After that sin had holden men being ouerwhelmed therewith then grace did helpe For this he teacheth that the greatnes of grace was by so much the more apparant as that when sin aboundede it did powre out it selfe so aboundantly Why condemnation is set before vs in the lawe that it did not onely ouermatch that deluge of sinne but also swallow it vp And here we are to learne that cōdemnation is not therfore set before vs in the law that we should abide in it but that our own miserie being sufficiently acknowledged Esa 61.1 we might be lift vp vnto Christ who is sent to be a Phisition to the sicke a deliuerer of the captiue a cōforter of the afflicted a sauiour of the oppressed 20 That as sin raigned in death As sin is called the sting of death because death hath no power against man Death hath no autoritie at all ouer mā but by sin therfore sin executeth his autoritie by death but for the cause of sin so sin executeth his power by death Therefore is it said to exercise his authority by death In the latter parte of this verse there is the figure Synchesis that is when the order is euerye way confused and yet it is not superfluous The antithesis had been simple if he had said thus that righteousnes might raigne by Christ But Paule not being content to haue opposed cōtraries to contraries addeth grace to the end he might print more deepely in memory that it is not of our merite but wholy of the bountifulnesse of God Before hee saide that death raigned Now he ascribeth the kingdome vnto sin but whose end and effect is death And he saith in the pretertence it raigned not that it hath nowe ceased to raigne in those that are borne onely of flesh and blood but he distinguisheth so betweene Christ Adam that he assigneth to either of them his time As sone therefore as the grace of Christ beginneth to florish in euery one the kingdome of sinne and death ceaseth CHAP. 6. 1 VVHat shall wee say then shall we abide in sinne that grace may abound 2 God forbid for howe shall wee which are dead to sin liue any longer therein WHat shall wee say then In this whole Chapter the Apostle declareth that they doe wickedly rente Christe asunder who imagine free righteousnes to bee giuen of him vnto vs without newnes of life Although he goeth further obiecting that then it seemeth there is place giuen vnto grace if men bee plunged in sinne For wee knowe there is nothing more readie then that fleshe shoulde euery way flatter it selfe and that Satan shoulde deuise reproches wherewith he might slaunder the docrine of grace which thing to doe is no harde matter for him The dotrine of grace must not therefore be suppressed because many take occasion of licentiousnes at it For seeing that is most strange vnto mans reason whatsoeuer is preached of Christe it ought to bee no maruaile if the flesh after it hath hard the iustificatiō of faith doe so often as it were dash vpon diuers rockes Howbeit wee must goe on for Christ is not therefore to be suppressed because he is vnto many a stone of offence and rocke of stumbling For looke by what way he shal be vnto the ruine of the wicked the same way againe hee shal bee to the rising of the godly And yet notwithstanding we are alway to occurre vnreasonable questions least the docrine of Christ shoulde seeme to drawe with it any absurditie Moreouer the Apostle now pursueth that obiection whiche commonly is obiected against the doctrine of the grace of God namely
holye spirite There is another communication of the death of Christ whereof as the Apostle speaketh often els where so to the Cor. namely 2. Cor. 4. the bearing of the crosse after which followeth the participation of eternall life 8. For if we bee dead This he repeateth to no other end then that he might adde a declaration which followeth afterwarde that Christ beyng once raysed from the dead dyeth no more Whereby hee teacheth that this newnesse of life must be folowed after of Christians their whole life For if they ought to represent in themselues by the mortification of the fleshe the image of Christ and life of the spirite How mortification must be once for all that must be done once for all but this must continue still Not as though the fleshe were mortified in vs in a moment as we said of late but because wee must not reuolt or goe backe in mortifiyng the fleshe For if wee turne backe vnto our filthines we deny Christ of whom we cannot be partakers but by newnes of life euen as he leadeth a life incorruptible 9 Death hath no more power ouer him Hee seemeth to insinuate that death did once conquere or rule ouer Christe And verily when hee gaue himselfe to death for vs hee did in a sort subiect him selfe vnto the power of death yet with that condition that it was impossible for him to bee holden bounde with the sorowes of it to be ouercome or swallowed vp of it Therefore in yeelding vnto the power of death for a moment Christ for a while yeelded vnto death he swallowed vp death for euer Albeit in speaking more simplye the power of death is referred vnto the voluntary condition of death to whom resurrection hath set an ende The meaning is Christ who nowe quickeneth the faithfull with his spirite or inspireth life into them by his secrete power from heauen was exempted from the power of death when he rose agayne that he might deliuer all his from the same 10 He dyed to sinne once Whereas he said that we after the example of Christ are loosed for euer from the yoke of death now he applyeth it vnto his purpose namely that we are no longer subiect vnto the tyranny of sinne and that he declareth by the finall cause of the death of Christ in as much as hee dyed that he might extinguishe sinne Furthermore in the phrase of speech is to bee noted what is proper vnto Christ For he saith not hee is dead vnto sinne that he might cease to sinne like as it must be sayd if the talke be of vs but because hee dyed for sinne that offering himselfe the price of our redemption hee might bring the power and authoritie of sinne vnto naught And he saith that he dyed once not onely because eternall redemption beeyng purchased by his only one sacrifice purgation of sinne being made by his blood he hath sanctified the faithfull for euer but also that we might be aunswearable by a mutuall resemblance or similitude For albeit death spirituall hath his continuall proceedinges in vs yet are we properly saide to die once whiles Christ by his blood reconciling vs to the father Heb. 10.14 doth also by the vertue of his spirite regenerate vs. In that he liueth Whither you expound it with God or in God all commeth to one sence For his meaning is he now liueth a life subiect to no mortalitie in the immortall incorruptible kingdome of God The figure of Christ his celestiall life ought to appeare in the regeneration of the godly the figure whereof ought to appeare in the regeneration of the godly Here we are to keepe in minde the word similitude For hee saith not we shall liue in heauen as Christ liueth there but he maketh that new life which by regeneration we leade in earth conformable to his celestiall life And whereas he saith we must die to sinne after his example it is not so that it may be called the same death For we dye to sinne when sinne dieth in vs but it is otherwise in Christe who by dying did put sinne to flight Nowe verily whereas he saide before we beleeue there is a life shal bee common vnto vs by the worde beleeue hee sufficiently sheweth that he speaketh of the grace of Christ For if he had onely admonished vs of our duetie hee shoulde haue saide thus seeing wee are dead with Christ we must likewise liue with him And this worde beleeue noteth that the doctrine of faith is handled here which is grounded vpon the promises as though it were said Christians ought to resolue themselues that through the benefite of Christ they are so dead according to the flesh that the same Christ may cōtinue in thē newnesse of life vnto the ende The future tense in the verbe liue doth not apperteyne vnto the last resurrection but simply noteth the perpetuall course of a new life so long as we liue in this world 11 Euen so you esteeme your selues c. Now is added that definition of the analogie How we may dye euen whiles we liue which I touched For whereas he saide that Christ died once for sinne and liueth for euer vnto God applying both vnto vs he nowe admonisheth howe wee may dye in liuing namely when we renounce sinne But withall he omitteth not that parte namely when wee haue once imbraced the grace of Christ by faith although the mortification of the flesh be but begun in vs yet in this same is the life of sinne extinguished that in steed therof spiritual newnesse which is heauenly might dure for euer For except Christ did kil sinne in vs once euen vnto the end his grace should not be firme and stable the meaning therefore of the words is esteeme the case is thus with you as Christ died once that he might slea sinn so you must die once that ye may cease to sinne hereafter yea you must daily proceed in that mortification which is begun in you vntil sin be vtterly extinguished As christ was raysed vnto an incorruptible life so ye must be regenerat by the grace of God that ye may lead your whole life in holines righteousnes seeing this vertue of the holy spirit wherby ye are renued is eternal shal florish for euer I had rather keepe the words of Paule in Christ Iesus then with Erasmus to translate it by Christ for so the grafting is better expressed which maketh vs one with Christ 12 Let not sinne therefore raigne in our mortal bodye that ye might obeye it in the lustes thereof 13 And giue not your members weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne but giue your selues to God as liuinge from the dead and your members weapons of righteousnes vnto God 12 Let not sinne therefore raigne Nowe he beginneth an exhortation which voluntarily ariseth out of the doctrine which he deliuered of our communication with Christ albeit sinne abideth in vs yet is it absurd that it shoulde bee of
handle the place of Moses but onely to apply it vnto the treatise of the present cause He doeth not therefore recite sillable by sillable what is in Moses but he vseth a polishing whereby hee applyeth the testimonie of Moses more neerely to his purpose Hee spake of pâ—aces are not to bee come vnto Paule hath expressed those places whiche are most of all hidden from our eyes and yet are to bee â—eeâ—e of our faith Wherefore if you take these to be spoken by the way of amplification or polishing thou canst not say that Paule hath violently and vnaptly wrested the woodes of Moses but rather thou wilt confesse that without any damage to the sense hee hath notably alluded vnto the wordes heauen and Sea Now let vs expound the wordes of Paule simply Because the assurance of our saluation dependeth vpon two principles namely whiles wee vnderstande that life is purchased for vs and death conquered to vs. With both which he teacheth our faith is supported by the word of the Gospell For Christe by dying hath swallowed vp death by rysing againe he hath gotten life in his power Nowe in the gospell the benefite of Christes death and resurrection is communicated vnto vs then there is no cause that wee shoulde seeke further for any thing Therefore that it myght appeare the righteousnesse of faith is aboundantly sufficient vnto saluation hee teacheth that those two members which onely are necessary vnto saluation are conteined in it Who then shall ascend into heauen Is as much as if he said who knoweth whether that inheritance of eternall and celestiall life abideth for vs Who shall descend into the deepe As if thou said who knoweth whether eternall death of the soule also follow the death of the bodie Both which doubtes hee teacheth to bee taken away by the righteousnesse of faith For the one should bring Christ downe from heauen Christ in his humane nature hath taken possesion of the heauens for the faithfull the other froÌ„ death should bring him backe againe For the ascention of Christe into heauen ought so to establish our faith of eternall life that hee in a maner draweth Christe himselfe out of the possession of the heauens that doubteth whether the inheritance of heauen bee prepared for the faithfull in whose name and cause hee is entred in thyther Likewise seeing hee tooke vpon hym the great horrours of Hell that hee myghte deliuer vs thence to call it into question whether the faythfull be still subiect to this miserie is to make his death voide and in a maner to denie it 8 But what saith it That negatiue speech which the Apostle hath hitherto vsed did serue to take away the impediments of faith it remaineth therefore that he declare the maner of obteining righteousnesse vnto the which ende this affirmation is added And whereas there is an interrogation interposed when they might all haue beene spoken together in on course of speeche that is done to procure attention And also his meaning is to shewe what a great difference there is betweene the righteousnes of the law and the Gospel seeing that sheweth it selfe a farre off it doth driue away all men from comming vnto it but this offering it selfe at hand doth familiarly inuite vs vnto the fruition of it The word is neere thee First of all this is to bee noted that least the mindes of men beeing carried away by vaine circumstances shoulde erre from saluation the boundes of the worde are prescribed vnto them within the whiche they ought to keepe themselues For it is as if hee shoulde commaund them to bee contente with the worde onely and admonish them that in this glasse the secretes of heauen are to bee seene which would both dasill theyr eyes with their brightnes astonishe their eares and also make the mynd it self amased Therefore the godly receiue an excellent consolation out of this place touchyng the certaynetie of the worde namely that they may as safely rest therein as in the most present beholdyng of things or as in any thyng is present and in hande Secondly it is to bee noted that suche a worde is propounded by Moses wherein wee haue firme and sure trust of saluation This is the worde of faith Iustly doth Paule take that for the doctrine of the lawe doth not pacyfie and quiet the conscience neyther doeth it minister vnto the conscience those thinges wherewith it ought to bee content Yet in the meane whyle hee excludeth not the other partes of the worde no not the precepts of the lawe but his mynde is to put downe remission of sinnes for righteousnesse and that without suche exact obedyence as the lawe requireth Therefore the worde of the gospell wherein wee are not commaunded to merite righteousnesse by workes but to imbrace it by faith being freely offered sufficeth to pacifie mens consciences and establish their saluation And the worde of faith by the figure Metonymia is put for the worde of promise that is for the gospel because it hath a relation with faith For the contrarietie whereby the law is discerned from the gospell muste bee vnderstood And out of this note of distinction we gather as the lawe requireth workes so the gospell requireth nothing els but that men bring faith to receiue the grace of God This parcell whiche wee preache is therefore added least any shoulde suspect Paule to dissent from Moses For hee testifieth that in the ministerie of the Gospell hee agreeth with Moses seeing he also did not place our felicitie any other where then in the free promise of Gods grace 9 So that if thou confesse This also is rather an allusion then a proper and naturall interpretation For it is like that Moses by the figure Synecdoche did vse the worde mouth Synecdoche is when by one thing another is vnderstood for face or countenance But it was not vnseemely for the Apostle to allude vnto the worde mouth to this sense when the Lorde publisheth his worde before our face assuredly hee calleth vs vnto the confession thereof For wheresoeuer the woorde of the Lorde is there it ought to fructifie and the fruite is the confession of the mouth Whereas hee putteth confession before faith it is the figure Anastrophe very vsuall in the Scriptures For the order had beene better Anastrophe is an inuersion of wordes when that is first should be last c. if faith of the hearte being put in the first place confessioÌ„ of the mouth which proceedeth thence had beene added And he doth confesse the Lorde Iesus aright who adorneth him with his vertue acknowledging him to bee such one as hee is giuen of the father and described in the Gospell And whereas resurrection onely is named wee must not so take it as though his death were in no place but because Christ by rysing again made vp our saluation For albeit our redemption and satisfaction was accomplished by his death by the which we are reconciled vnto God yet the victorie
be smitten with the terrour of Gods iudgement Therefore hee doth not onely conuince them of their iniquitie but also being cōuicted doth rouse them from their drowsinesse First of all hee condemneth all mankinde since the worlde began of ingratitude that in so excellent a workemanship they did not acknowledge the workemaster yea when they were constrained to acknowledge him they did not worthily honour his maiestie but prophaned violated the same with their vanitie So all men are proued giltie of impietie then the which there is no more detestable wickednesse And to the ende it might more plainely appeare that all men are fallen from the Lorde hee rehearseth the fylthie and abhominable woorkes whereunto euery where men are subiecte Which is a manifest argument that they haue degenerate frō God for as much as they are tokens of Gods wrath which appeare not but in the godlesse And because certaine of the Iewes and also of the Gentiles hauing couered theyr inward wickednesse with the cloake of outward holinesse did seeme vnreproueable of these impious workes And therefore were thought to bee exempted from the common condemnation the Apostle directeth his stile against that fained holinesse And because that visarde before men coulde not bee drawen from those pettie saints he reuoketh them vnto the iudgement of God whose eyes beholde the verie hidden thoughts Afterward hauing made a distribution he citeth the Iewes by themselues and the Gentiles also by themselues before the tribunall seate of God Hee taketh from the Gentiles that excuse of ignorance which they pretended For their conscience whereby they were sufficiently conuicted was vnto them in steede of a lawe Hee vrgeth the Iewes with that chiefly which they tooke for their defence namely with the written law wherof in as much they were proued to be transgressours they could not cleare themselues of iniquitie seeing the mouth of God had alreadie pronounced sentence against them Hee preuenteth also that obiection which might seeme to make for them videliz that the couenant of God which was vnto thē the marke of sanctification was violated vnlesse there were difference put betweene them and others Here first he teacheth that the title of the couenant made them nothing better then others seeing through their vnfaithfulnesse they were fallen from it Secondly least the constancie of gods promise should be in any part diminished he graunteth vnto them some prerogatiue by the couenant but such as consisteth in the mercy of God and not in their merite Then finally by the authoritie of the scripture he proueth al both Iewes and Gentiles to bee sinners where also he speaketh somwhat of the vse of the law Thus when he hath depriued all mankind both of the trust of their own vertue and also of the glory of righteousnes and throwen them downe with the seueritie of gods iudgement he commeth vnto that which he purposed namely that wee are iustified by faith shewing what faith that is and howe wee obteine thereby the righteousnesse of Christe Heerevnto hee addeth in the ende of the third Chapter a singuler sentence to beate downe the fiercenes of mans pride least he should aduaunce himself against the grace of God And also least the Iewes should hemme in the grace of God within the compasse of their nation he proueth by the way that it appertaineth to the Gentiles also In the 4. chap. he argueth frō an example which because it was cleere and therefore free from cauillations he putteth it downe to wit in Abraham who in as muche as hee is the father of the faithfull ought too bee in steede of a rule generall example Hauing therfore proued him to be iustified by faith he teacheth that the same way is to be holden of vs And heereupon hee inferreth by the comparing of contraries to followe that the righteousnesse of workes must vanish where place is giuen to the iustification of faith Which thing he proueth by the testimonie of Dauid who reposing all the blessednes of man in the mercy of God doth take this from works that they should make a man blessed After this hee handeleth that more at large whiche hee had briefly touched before namely that there is no cause why the Iewes shold aduance themselues aboue the gentiles who are partakers of the same felicitie with them seeyng the Scripture declareth righteousnesse to haue happened vnto Abraham when hee was vncircumcised In which place hee taketh occasion to intreate of the vse of circumcision After this he addeth that the promised saluation doth depend vpon the onely goodnes of God for if it depended vpon the law then could it neither bring peace vnto our consciences wherein it ought to be firmely rooted neyther were it like euer to come vnto his perfection Wherefore that it may be firme and sure in imbracing of it we are to consider the onely truth of God and not our selues and that after the example of Abraham who not considering himselfe did wholly set before him the power of God In the ende of the Chapter to the intent hee might more aptlye applye the alleadged example vnto the generall cause hee conferreth those thinges which on both sides are like In the fift Chapter after he hath touched the fruite effect of the righteousnes of faith he is almost wholly occupied in amplifications whiche serue to make the matter more cleere For by an argument taken from the greater he sheweth how great things we now being redeemed reconciled vnto God are to expect looke for at his hands through his loue which was so bountiful towards vs being sinners vtterly vndone cast away that he gaue vnto vs his onely begotten only beloued sonne After this he compareth sinne with righteousnes which commeth by free grace Christ with Adā death with life the law with grace Wherby he declareth that the infinite goodnes of God doth ouermatch our sins how great so euer they are In the sixte Chapter hee commeth vnto sanctification which we haue in Christ For our fleshe is prone assoone as it hath tasted a little of this grace to cocker wantonly his sins concupiscences as though it had now dispatched al. Therfore Paule on the contrary declareth here that we cannot bee partakers of righteousnes in Christ vnlesse also wee lay holde on sanctification Hee fetcheth his argument from Baptisme wherby we are admitted in the felowship of Christ therin we are buried together with Christ that being dead in our selues by his life wee might be raised vnto newnes of life Whereupon it ensueth that no man without regeneratiō can put on his righteousnes From hence he draweth exhortations vnto puritie and holines of life which necessarily ought to appeare in those who are translated from the power of sinne into the kingdome of righteousnes hauing cast away the wicked cockering of the flesh which seeketh a more licentious libertie of sinning in Christ Finally he doth briefly make mention of the abrogation of the law in abrogating wherof the new
protection and fatherly care which hee alway had ouer them shall minister consolation in aduersitie the iudgements and punishments of God executed vpon the wicked shall helpe vs if they put into vs a feare which may replenishe our heartes with reuerence and pietie And whereas he saith not for him onely thereby hee seemeth to insinuate that it was partly written for his sake whereby some vnderstande that to the praise of Abraham it is saide what he obteined by faith because the Lorde will haue his seruants committed to eternall remembrance Pro. 10.7 as Salomon saith Their name is blessed But what if you take it more simply The example of Abraham as all other examples are written for our instruction as though it were some speciall priueledge which mighte not be drawen into an example but that it also apperteineth to our instruction who must be iustified by the same maner this shal be the fitter sense 24 Which beleeue in him c. I haue alreadie admonished what value these circumlocutions be of namely Paule hath inserted them that according to the circumstance of the places they might diuersly shewe the substance of faith concerning the which the resurection of Christe is not the last part whiche resurrection is vnto vs the grounde of the life to come If he had simply saide that wee beleeue in God it had not beene so easie to gather what this did make to the obteining of righteousnesse but whiles Christe appeareth in his resurrection doth offer a sure pledge of life it is euident from what fountaine the imputation of righteousnesse floweth 25 Which was deliuered He doth prosecute illustrate at large that doctrine whiche I touched immediatly before For it standeth vs vpon not onely to haue our mindes directed vnto Christ but also to haue it distinctly opened vnto vs how he hath purchased saluation for vs. And albeit the Scripture when it speaketh of our saluation standeth onelie vpon the death of Christe yet here nowe the Apostle goeth further For because his purpose was to deliuer the cause of saluation more clearely hee reckoneth two braunches thereof And first he saith our sinnes are done away by the death of Christe Secondly that righteousnesse is purchased by his resurrection The fruite of Christs death resurrection is perfect righteousnesse The meaning is when wee holde the fruite of Christes death and resurrection nothing is missing vnto vs as concerning perfect righteousnesse And there is no doubt but whiles he distinguisheth the death of Christe from his resurrection hee applieth his talke to our capacitie for otherwise it is true the obedience of Christe which hee shewed in his death was the righteousnesse purchased for vs as he also will shew in the Chapter following But because by rising from the dead Christe declared how much he had preuailed by his death By the death of Christ our saluation is begun by his resurrectiō it is perfected this distinction serueth to teach vs that by that sacrifice wherein sinnes are done away our saluation was begunne and by his resurrection it was perfected For the beginning of righteousnesse is that wee be reconciled to God and the perfection is that death beeing ouercome life might raigne Paule therefore signifieth howe satisfaction for our sinnes was accomplished on the crosse For that Christe might restore vs againe into the fauour of the father it was meete our giltinesse were abolished by him which coulde not bee vnlesse hee woulde suffer that punishment for vs which we were not able to abide For the chastisement of our peace was vpon him Esay 53.5 saith Esay and hee choseth rather to say he was deliuered then dead because the satisfaction dependeth vpon the eternall pleasure of God who would be pacified this way And is risen againe for our iustification Because it was not sufficient for Christe to oppose himselfe to the ire and iudgement of God and to take vpon him the curse due to our sinnes vnlesse hee shoulde also goe foorth the conquerour thereof How iustification is ascribed vnto the resurrection of Christe that beeing receiued into the celestiall glory by his intercession hee might reconcile God vnto vs. The vertue or power of iustification is ascribed vnto the resurrection whereby death was ouercome not that the sacrifice of the crosse whereby wee are reconciled to God did further our righteousnes nothing but because in the new life the perfection of this grace doth more clearely appeare And yet I cānot consent vnto those who referre this seconde member vnto newnesse of life For the Apostle as yet hath not begunne to speake of the matter secondly it is sure that both members appertaine to one ende Wherefore if iustification signifie renouation then to haue died for our sinnes were to bee vnderstoode in this sense namely that hee died to purchase for vs the grace of mortifiyng the fleshe which thing none graunteth Therefore as hee was saide to die for our sinnes because the price of sinnes being paide by his death hee hath deliuered vs from the calamitie of death So nowe he is saide to bee risen for our iustification because by his resurrection hee hath perfectly restored life vnto vs. For first hee was smitten by the hand of God that in the person of a sinner he might susteine the miserie of sinne Secondly he was exalted into the kingdome of life that he might indue his with righteousnesse and life So then hee speaketh still of iustification by imputation and that which followeth in the next Chapter will prooue the same CHAP. 5 1 THen being iustified by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ 2 By whome we haue accesse through faith into this grace wherein wee stand and glorie vnder the hope of the glorie of God THEN being iustified The Apostle beginneth to illustrate that which he hath hitherto saide of the righteousnes of faith by the effects Therefore this whole chapter consisteth vpon amplifications which are of no lesse force to explicate or make plaine then they are to confirme For thee had saide before that faith was made voide if righteousnesse were sought for by woorkes Because a perpetuall disquietnesse shoulde trouble the miserable consciences which finde nothing firme and sure in themselues Now on the contrary he teacheth they are quieted and pacified after wee haue by faith obteined righteousnesse We haue peace A singuler fruite of the righteousnesse of faith for if any man goe about to get the peace of conscience by works which is seene in prophane and barbarous men he goeth about it in vaine For either his hearte is on sleepe with the contempt or forgetfulnesse of Gods iudgemēt or els full of trembling feare vntill he repose himselfe vpon Christe For he onely is our peace Therefore the peace of conscience signifieth that serenitie and quietnesse What the peace of conscience signifieth which riseth hence that a man feeleth God is reconciled to him Neither the Pharisee which
are prouoked to murmure against God yea euen to curse GOD. But when as the inwarde meekenesse which be infused by the spirite of God and consolation which is suggested by the same spirite hath succeeded in the place of stubburnesse or frowardnesse tribulations are instrumentes to begette patience whiche tribulations can procure nothinge in the obstinate but indignation and murmuringe 4 Pacience triall Iacob 1.3 Iames seemeth in the like gradation to followe a diuerse course because he saith triall or probation bringeth fourth patience What trial signifieth with Paul But the diuerse acception of the worde beeing vnderstoode will reconcile both places For Paul taketh tryall or probation for experience which the faithfull take of the sure protection of God whiles they trusting to his helpe ouercome all extremities namely whiles through patient sufferaunce they abide firme for so they prooue what valewe the power of God is whiche hee hath promised shoulde bee alwaye present with his Iames vseth the same worde for tribulation it selfe according to the common vse of the Scripture What trial signifieth with Iames. because by them God proueth and examineth his seruauntes wherevpon they are often called temptations Therefor concerning this presēt place then haue we profitted accordingly in patiēce or suffring whē we accoūt the same to haue cōsisted vnto vs by the power of God and so we gather hope that the grace of God shall neuer hereafter fayle vs which hath alwaye succoured vs our in necessitie Wherefore hee addeth that hope ariseth of tryall or probation for wee were vnthankefull if when wee haue receiued the benefites of God with the remembraunce of them wee did not afterwarde confirme our hope 5 Hope maketh not ashamed That is to say it hath a most sure ishewe of health Whereby appeareth wee are exercised of the Lorde in aduersities to this ende that our saluation might bee promoted by these degrees Then can not miseries which after a sort are helpers to blessednesse make vs miserable And so is that prooued hee saide namely that the godly haue matter of glorying in the middest of afflictions Because the loue of God I do not referre this onely vnto the worde went last before but vnto the whole sentence therefore I say we are prouoked or quickened by tribulations vnto patience and patience is an experiment vnto vs of the helpe of God whereby wee are the rather incouraged vnto hope for howe so euer wee bee pressed and seeme such as shoulde straightwayes bee ouerthrowen yet wee cease not to feele the fauour of God towardes vs which is a most fruitfull consolation and farre more ample then if all thinges happened prosperously Gods fauour is the welspring of all goodnesse For as when God is angrie that is miserie it selfe which in shewe seemeth to bee felicitie so when he is pleased sure it is that euen calamities shall haue a prosperous and happie successe Seeing all thinges must serue the will of the creator who according to his fatherly fauour towardes vs as Paule will repeate againe in the eyght chapter tempereth al the exercises of aduersities to our saluation This knowledge of the loue of God towardes vs is put into our heartes by the spirite of God For the good thinges whiche God hath prepared for his worshippers are hidden both from the eares and eyes and mindes of men it is the spirite onely whiche can reueile them And this participle shedde abroade Hath great emphasis for it signifieth the loue of God towardes vs to be so plentifully reueiled that it might fill our heartes And being so shedde abroade through all partes it doeth not onely mitigate sorrowe in aduersitie but as a sweete sauce it maketh tribulations amiable Moreouer he sayth this spirite is giuen namely bestowed vpon vs by the free goodnesse of God and not rendered vnto vs for our merites As Augustine noteth very well Loue here betokeneth that loue wherewith God loueth vs and not that loue wherewith wee loue him who notwithstanding is deceiued in the exposition of the loue of God he sayth wee suffer aduersitie constantly and are confirmed in hope because wee being regenerate by the holy spirite doe loue God This is veryly a godly saying but it commeth not neere the minde of Paule For loue here is not taken actiuely but passiuely And sure it is nothing els is taught of Paule then this to bee the true fountaine of all loue that the faythfull bee perswaded they are loued of God neither are they lightly drenched with this perswation but therewith they haue their mindes altogether imbrued 6 For Christ when wee were yet weake according to the time died for the vngodly 7 Doubtlesse one will scarse die for a righteousnes man but yet for a good man it may be that one dare die 8 But God confirmeth his loue towardes vs seeing that while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. 9 Much more then being nowe iustified by his blood we shal be saued from wrath through him 6 For Christ In translating I durst not take so muche vpon mee as to turne it according to the time wherein wee were weake which sence notwithstanding liked mee rather For here beginneth an argument from the greater to the lesse which hee prosecuteth afterwarde at large Albeit hee hath not framed the course of his speach so distinct but the disordered composition of the speach shall trouble the sence nothing If Christ quoth hee take pitie vpon the vngodly if he reconciled his enemies to his father if hee did this by the vertue of his death nowe muche more easely will hee saue them being iustified being restored to fauour hee will keepe them in the same chiefly seeing the efficacie of his life is nowe added vnto his death Some take the time of weaknesse for that time wherein Christe beganne firste to bee manifested to the worlde and they suppose those men who were vnder the erudition of the lawe to haue bene like vnto children But I referre it vnto euerie one of vs and saye it noteth the tyme What tyme is called the tyme of weaknes that goeth before euery mans reconciliation to God For as we are all borne the sonnes of wrathe so are we holden vnder that curse vntill we be made partakers of Christ And he calleth those infirme or weake which haue nothinge in them but it is corrupted For he termeth the same straightwayes after vngodly Neither is it any newe thing that this word infirmitie should be so taken So he calleth the priuie parts of the bodie 1. Cor. 12.22 2. Cor. 10.10 feeble And the presence of the bodie which hath no maiestie weake And this signification a litle after doeth often occurre Therefore when we were feeble that is neither worthie nor mete that God should respect vs at that tyme Christ died for the wicked because faith is the beginninge of pietie from the which they were all estraunged for whome he died which also taketh place in the old
Fathers who had obteined righteousnes before this death For they had that benefite from his death that was to come 7 For the iuste Reason forced me to sett downe this particle gar id est For rather affirmatiuely or by the waye of declaration then causatiuely This is the meaning of the sentence it is a very rare thing amongst men that any shoulde die for a iust man although that may nowe and then happen But let vs grannt that No such example of loue any where to bee found as was in Christ who died for the vngodly and his enemies yet can no man bee founde that will die for a wicked man That did Christ So it is an amplification taken from a comparison because no suche example of loue is extant amongst men as Christ shewed towardes vs. 8 And God confirmeth Seeing this verbe sunist esi is of a doubtfull signification it is more fitte in this place to bee taken for to confirme For the purpose of the Apostle is not to incitate vs vnto thankefulnesse but to establish the confidence and affiance of consciences Hee confirmeth That is he declareth his sure most constant loue towards vs in that for the vngodly sake he spared not Christ his sonne For herein his loue appeared that not being prouoked by loue of his owne free will he first loued vs as Iohn saith They are here called sinners as in many other places who are altogether corrupted and addicted to sinne as Iohn saith Iohn 3.16 God heareth not sinners That is such as are desperately Iohn 9.31 and wholly giuen to wickednes A woman that was a sinner that is of an vnhonest life And that appeareth better by the Antithesis whiche straightwayes followeth beyng iustified by his blood For seeyng hee opposeth these two betweene themselues Luke 7.37 and faythe they are iustified who are deliuered from the guiltinesse of sinne it is a consequent they are sinners who for their euill wookes are condemned The summe is if Christe by his death hath purchased righteousnesse vnto sinners Christ is no lesse able nor willing to defēd then he was to redeeme much more shall hee defend them beyng now iustified from destruction And in this last member hee applyeth the comparison of the lesse and greater vnto this doctrine For it were not enough that saluation was once purchased for vs except Christe did conserue the same safe and firme vnto the ende And that is it the Apostle goeth about nowe namely that it is not to be feared least Christ should breake of the course of his grace in the middle rase For since he hath reconciled vs to the father such is our condition that hee will shewe foorth his fauour more effectually towardes vs and dayly increase the same 10 For if when wee were enemies wee were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled shall wee be saued by his life This is an exposition of the former sentence with an amplification taken frome the comparison of life and death Wee were enemies quoth hee when Christe tooke vpon him the mediation to reconcile the father Nowe we are friendes through his reconciliation if that coulde bee brought to passe by his death his life shall be of greater power and more effectuall So then we haue notable testimonies which may cōfirme the confidence of saluation in our heartes His meaning is wee were reconciled to GOD by the death of Christe because it was the sacrifice of reconciliation whereby GOD was reconciled to the worlde as I haue declared in the fourth Chapter But here the Apostle seemeth to be contrary vnto himselfe For if the death of Christ were the pledge of the loue of God towards vs Obiection It followeth that euen then we were acceptable to him Answeare but now he saith we were enimies I aunsweare because God hateth sinne we also are odious vnto him as we are sinners but as in his secret counsayle he electeth vs into the body of Christ he ceaseth to hate vs. But the restoring into fauour is vnknowne vnto vs vntill we perceiue it by faith Therefore in respect of our selues we are alway enimies vntil the death of Christ come betweene to reconcile God And this difference of a twofold respect is to be noted For otherwise we know not the free mercy of God then if we be perswaded that he spared not his onely begotten sonne because he loued vs at suche time as there was enmitie betweene him and vs Againe wee doe not sufficiently feele the benefite brought vnto vs by the death of Christe except this be vnto vs the beginning of our reconciliation with God that wee being perswaded the satisfaction being perfourmed hee is nowe fauourable to vs who before was iustly angrie with vs. So when acceptation into grace is ascribed to the death of Christe the meaning is that then the guiltinesse is taken away whereunto wee are otherwise subiect 11 And not this onely but also wee reioyce in God through our Lorde Iesus Christe by whome we are nowe reconciled 11 And not this onely Nowe he scaleth vnto the highest steppe of reioycing For whiles wee glory that God is ours what so euer good thinge may eyther bee imagined or wished doeth followe and flowe out of this fountayne For God is not onely the chiefest of all good thinges but he conteineth the summe and euery part in him selfe God in whom all good things are included is made ours by faith and hee is made ours by Christ Hither then doe wee come by the benefite of fayth that nothing bee wanting vnto vs touching felicitie And it is not without cause hee so often repeateth reconciliation First that wee might learne to fixe our eyes vpon the death of Christ as often as wee speake of our saluation Secondly that we may knowe that our confidence is no where t is to be reposed then in the forgiuenesse of sinnes 12 Wherefore as by one man sinne entered into the world and by sinne death and so death went ouer all men in as much as all haue sinned 13 For vnto the lawe sinne was in the world but sinne is not imputed while there is no lawe 14 But death raigned from Adam vnto Moses euen ouer them that sinned not after the like maner of the transgression of Adam which was the figure of him that was to come 12 Wherefore as Now hee beginneth to exaggerate the same doctrine by a comparison taken from contraryes For if Christ came therefore that he might deliuer vs from that calamitie into the which Adam fell and did precipitate all his posteritie with him we can no way better see what we haue in Christ then when it is shewed vnto vs what wee lost in Adam although all thinges are not a like on both partes Therefore Paul addeth a correction which shall be seene in his place and wee also if there be any diuersitie shall note it It is a vice in writing when that
said not to haue sinned after the similitude of Adam because they had not as he had the will of God reueiled by a certan oracle For God had forbidden Adam to touch the fruite of knowledge of good and euill but to these he gaue no cōmandement besydes the witnes of their conscience The meaninge then of the Apostle is secretly to insinuate that through this diuersitie betwene Adam and his posteritie it commeth not to passe that they are exempted frome condemnation In the meane while vnder the vniuersall catalogue infantes also are comprehended Who is the figure of him that was to come This sentence is put instead of the other member For wee see one onely parte of the comparison expressed the other being by that vice in writing called anacoluthon that is a non sequele or consequent omitted A man may therefore take it as though it were written thus as by one man sinne entered into the whole worlde and by sinne death so by one man cōmeth righteousnes by righteousnes life And where as he saith Adā was a figure of Christ Howe Adam is a figure of Christ it is no marueile for euen in things most contrary there appereth alway some similitud because therfore as throgh the sin of Adā we are al lost so by the righteousnes of christ we are restored very aptly hath he called Adā a tipe of christ And note the Adā is not called a figure of sinne nor Christ of righteousnes as though they went only before vs by their example but that one is compared with the other least thou fall fouly with Origen and that into a pernicious errour For he disputeth Philosophically and prophanely of the corruptions of mankinde and doth not onely extenuate the grace of Christ but in a maner doth wholly destroy it Whereby Erasmus is by so much the lesse excusable who taketh so great paynes to excuse so grosse a dotage 15 But not as the offence so also the gift for if through the offence of one many be dead much more the grace of God gift of God in grace which is by one man Iesus Christ hath abounded vnto many 15 But not as the offence Nowe followe corrections of the late comparison wherein notwithstanding the Apostle doeth not curiously discusse whatsoeuer dissimilitude there is betweene Christ and Adam but hee doeth occurre those errours whereinto men might otherwise easily fall And that is wanting to the exposition wee will adde For albeit hee oftentimes maketh mention of the difference yet maketh hee mention thereof no where but there is a defecte or at the least some eclipse whiche verily are faultes in speeche yet such as are not preiudiciall to the maiestie of the celestiall wisedome is deliuered vnto vs by the Apostle But rather it is brought to passe by the singuler prouidence of God that vnder a base stile these high mysteries should be deliuered vnto vs that our fayth might not depende vppon the power of humane eloquence but vppon the onely efficacie of the spirite And hee doeth not heere as yet precisely vnfoulde that maner of correction but simply hee teacheth there is a greater measure of grace purchased by Christ then of condemnation contracted by the first man Whereas some thinke the Apostle disputeth or frameth an argument here I know not whither all will approue of it or no. In deed it might that not vnaptly be inferred if the fall of Adam were of such force to the destructiō of many much more effectuall is the grace of God to the benefit of many seeing it is graunted that Christ is of far greater power to saue then Adam to destroy But because they can not be refuted if any will take it wtout an illation or conclusion for me they shall chuse whither sentence they wil. Albeit that which next foloweth cānot be coūted an illation or conclusion yet is it of the same nature Whereby it is like that Paul doth simply correct or by exceptiō moderate the which he said of the similitud of Christ Adā And note that here mo are not compared with many for the questiō is not of the multitud of men but he resoneth thus seeing the sin of Adā did destroy many the righteousnes of Christ hath no lesse power to saue many Where as he saith we perished by the offēce of one vnderstād it thus because corruptiō is descēded frō him to vs. For we do not so perish thorowe his fault as though we were wtout fault our selues Howe wee are said to perishe through the fall of Adam but because his sin is the cause of our sin Paul ascribeth our destructiō to him I cal that our sin is graffed in vs wherewith we are borne The grace of God and the gift of God in grace Trace properly is opposed against offence What is ment by grace what by the gift of grace the gift which proceedeth frō grace against death Therfore grace signifieth the mere goodnes of God or his free loue whereof he gaue a testimony in Christ that he might helpe our miserie And the gift is the fruit of mercie which hath come vnto vs namely reconciliation whereby we haue obteined life health righteousnes newnes of life whatsoeuer is like Whereby we see how sottishly the scholemen define grace whiles they wil haue it to be nothing els thē a quality infused into the harts of mē For grace properly is in God the effect of grace is in vs. And he saith the same grace was of one man Christ because the father hath made him the fountaine of whose fulnes all men must draw And so he teacheth there can not one droppe be found out of Christ neither is there any other remedy of our pouertie then that he powre into vs of his abundance 16 And not as by one which had sinned so the gift For iudgement came of one offence to condemnation but the gift is of many offences to iustification 16 This is a speciall reason of the correction that by one offence the guiltines was of force to the condemnation of vs al but grace or rather the free gift is effectual to iustification from many offences For it is a declaration of the last sentence because as yet he had not expressed howe or in what part Christ excelled Adam This difference being put downe it is apparant that they haue thought wickedly who haue taught that we recouer nothing els in Christ but that we should be deliuered from originall sin or corruption drawen from Adam What bee those many offences are done away by the benefit of Christ Adde that those same many offences from the which he testifieth wee are purged through the benefite of Christ are not onely to be vnderstood of those which euery one hath committed before baptisme but also of those by the which the godly do dayly draw guiltines vpon them and to the condemnation whereof they shoulde worthily be subiect except this grace did
helpe forthwith Iudgement for tract iustice Gifte signifieth free pardon When to iudgement he opposeth gift the first signifieth rigor as the other signifieth free pardon For of seueritie or rigour commeth condemnation of pardon cōmeth absolution Or which is all one if God deale with vs according to iustice we are all vndone but hee iustifieth vs freely in Christ 17 For if through the offence of one death hath rained by one much more shal they which haue receiued the abūdāce of grace and gyfte of righteousnes raigne in life by Iesus Christ 17 For if through the offence of one Againe hee addeth a generall correction wherein he persisteth the rather because his purpose is not to prosecute euery part but to set down the speciall summe of the matter Before he said the power of grace had ouermatched the power of sinne Hereby he comforteth confirmeth the faithful withall he prouoketh exhorteth thē to reuerence the bountifulnes of God For this is the meaning of so studious a repetitiō that the grace of God might be cōmended according to the dignitie therof that men might be drawen frō trust in thēselues vnto Christ that we hauing obteined his grace might inioy full assurance whence at length springeth thankfulnes The sum is because Christ excelleth Adam the righteousnes of Christ ouercōmeth the sin of Adā the curse of Adā is ouerthrowen by the grace of Christ◠the death came of Adam is swallowed vp of the life is come of Christ But yet euen the members of this comparison do not answere one another For he shoulde haue said the benefit of life raigneth florisheth more by the abundance of grace in steed thereof he saith the faithfull shall raigne which is as much in value because the kingdome of the faithfull is in life also the kingdome of life is in the faithful A twofold difference betweene Christ Adam Furthermore it is necessarie to note here two differences betweene Christ and Adam which the Apostle hath not therfore omitted as though he thought them meet to be neglected but because concerning the present argument it was no matter to reckon them The first is that through the sinne of Adam we are not condemned by sole imputation as though the punishment of anothers faulte were exacted vppon vs but therefore susteyne wee the punishment of his sinne because wee are also guiltie of his crime Namely in as muche as our nature beeing corrupted in him is holden guiltie of iniquitie before GOD. But by the righteousnesse of Christe wee are restored in another sorte vnto saluation For it is not therefore imputed vnto vs as though it were within vs but because wee possesse Christ himself with all his graces giuen vnto vs by the bountifulnes of the father Therefore the gifte of righteousnes signifieth not a qualitie where with God indueth vs as some haue very wickedly expounded but the free imputation of righteousnes For the Apostle declareth what he ment by the word grace The second difference is that the benefite of Christe hath not redounded vnto all men as Adam hath plonged al his progenie in condēnation And the reason is at hand for seeing this malediction or curse with wee draw from Adam is deriued vnto vs by nature it is no maruayle though it comprehend the whole masse But veryly that we may come into participation of the grace of Christ wee must be graffed into him by faith Therefore to obtayne the miserable inheritaunce of sinne it is inough to be a man for it abideth in flesh and blood But to obtaine the righteousnes of Christ thou must needs be a faithfull man because that by faith his felowship is obtayned It is cōmunicated to infantes by a speciall maner for they haue the priuiledge of adoption in the couenant whereby they passe into the societie of Christ I speake of the children of the godly vnto whom the promise of grace is directed for others are not exempted from the common estate 18 Therefore as by the offence of one condemnatiō came vpon all men so by the iustification of one iustification of life is come vpon all men 18 This is an imperfect speech which may be made perfect if the words condemnation and iustification be read in the nominatiue case as sure they must bee resolued if you will haue the sence perfect And it is the generall conclusion of that comparisō which went before For now hauing omitted the mention of the interposed correction he knitteth vp that similitude as by the offence of one we are made sinners so the righteousnes of Christ is effectual to iustifie vs although he putteth not dikaiosunen That is the righteousnes of Christ but dikaioma that is the iustification of Christ that he might admonish how Christ is not iust priuately to himselfe but that righteousnes wherewithall hee was indewed doeth extende further How the righteousnesse of christ is common to al namely that bee might inriche the faithfull with the gift bestowed vpon him He maketh it a grace common to all because it is offered to all not that all men are partakers of it indeede For albeit Christe suffered for the sinnes of the whole worlde and bee indifferently through the goodnesse of God offered vnto all yet all doe not receiue him And those two wordes which hee vsed of late may be repeated in this sense as by the iudgement of God it came to passe that the sinne of one shoulde redownd to the condemnation of many so shal grace be effectual to the iustificatiō of many Iustificatiō of life in my iudgement is taken for absolution whiche restoreth life vnto vs as though hee called it a quickening iustification For thence commeth the hope of saluation if God bee mercifull vnto vs and of necessitie wee muste be iuste that wee may bee acceptable to him Therefore life commeth of iustification 19 For as by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many bee made iuste This is no superfluous speeche but a necessary declaration of the former sentence For it sheweth that we are so guiltie by the offence of one man that we are not innocent Hee said before we were damned but least any man should attribute vnto himselfe innocencie he woulde also adde that euery one is condemned because he is a sinner Moreouer when hee saith wee are iustified by the obedience of Christe heereby wee gather Christe in that hee satisfied the father to haue purchased righteousnesse for vs. Righteousnes is a qualitie in Christ and is made ours by imputation Whereupon it followeth the qualitie of righteousnesse is in Christe but that is imputed vnto vs whiche is proper to him And also hee openeth what kinde of righteousnesse the righteousnesse of Christe is when hee calleth it obedience where let vs note I pray you what we must bring into the sight of God if we wil be iustified by workes namely obedience of the lawe not such as is
if it be true that the grace of God doth help vs so much the more bountifully and largely as we haue beene ouerwhelmed with a greater weight of sinne there is nothing more expedient for vs then that wee being drowned in the depth of sinne shoulde oftentimes by newe offences prouoke the wrath of God Obiection For so at length we shall feele greater plentie of grace then the which nothing is more to be wished for As for the maner of refutation we shall see it afterwarde 2 God forbid Some think that the Apostle doeth onely by the way of a sharpe correction reprehende so vnreasonable a madnesse but by other places it doth appeare howe familier an answere this is with him yea in much disputation or many arguments as here also he wil shortly with great diligence refute the obiected obloquie yet first by this particle of one detesting he doth reiect it that he might admonishe the readers there is nothing more vnlike then that the grace of Christe the repayrer of our righteousnesse shoulde nourishe our vices The grace of Christ abolisheth sinne and therefore doth not nourish it Whiche are dead to sinne This is an argumen taken from the contrary For it is certaine that he which sinneth liueth to sinne but we are dead to sinne by the grace of Christ therefore is it false that that shoulde nourishe sinne which doth abolish it For thus the case standeth the faythfull are neuer reconciled vnto God without the gift of sanctification yea to this ende are wee iustified that after warde we might worship God in holinesse of life For Christe doth not otherwise washe vs with his blood and by his satisfaction reconcile God vnto vs then whiles hee maketh vs partakers of his spirite which reneweth vs into an holy lyfe It were therefore too preposterous an inuersion of the worke of God if by occasion of that grace which is offered vs in Christe sinne shoulde gather any strength For the medicine is not the nourishour of that it extinguisheth Finally we must remēber that I touched of late namely that Paule doth not here say what God doth finde vs to bee whiles he calleth vs into the societie of his sonne but what wee shoulde bee after he hath had mercy vpon vs and hath adopted vs freely For by a verbe of the future tēse he sheweth what manner of chaunge should followe righteousnesse 3. Know ye not that all wee which haue beene baptised into Iesus Christ haue beene baptised into his death 4 Wee are buried then with hym by baptisme into his death that like as Chirste was raised vppe from the dead by the glory of the father so wee also should walke in newnesse of life 3 Know ye not He proueth the former sentence namely that Christ killeth sin in his by the effect of baptisme wherby we are incorporated into his faith For it is out of questiō that wee put on Christe in baptisme Then do we truly grow vp into the body of christ when his deathe bringeth foorthe fruit in vs. and with this condition are we baptised that we shoulde be one with him Now Paule taketh another principle namely that we do then indeede grow vp into the body of Christ when his death bringeth foorth his fruite in vs. Yea he teacheth that this participation of death is principally to be respected in baptisme For not onely purgation but also mortification and the dying of the old man is proposed there whereby it is manifest after we are receiued into the grace of Christ the efficacie of his death appeareth straight wayes Finally what this societie with the death of Christe auaileth it followeth straightwayes 4 Being buried then with him Now he beginneth to shew although he doe not plainely declare whereunto it apperteineth that we are baptized into the death of Christ namely that we being dead vnto our selues might become new men For from the participation of his death he passeth conueniently vnto the participation of life because these two hang together by an inseparable connexion Mortificatiō newnes of life go together namely the old man to bee abolished by the death of Christ that his resurrection might restore righteousnes and make vs new creatures And surely seeing Christ is giuen vs vnto life to what end shold we die with him except we might rise againe vnto a better life And therfore to no other ende hath he flaine that is mortal in vs but that he might truly quicken vs. Furthermore let vs note that the Apostle doth not simply heere exhort vs to imitate Christ as if he said the death of Christ is in steed of an example which all Christians ought to follow For he surely goeth higher deliuering doctrine out of the which afterward he draweth exhortatiō as it is easie And this is the doctrin that the death of Christe is effectuall to extinguish and banish the prauitie of the flesh and his resurrection to raise vp the newnes of a better nature and that by baptisme we are receiued into the participation of this grace This foundation being laide a man may very aptly exhort Christians that they striue to aunswere their calling Moreouer it forceth not that this vertue doeth not appeare in all those are baptized For Paule after his manner because he speaketh vnto the faythful conioyneth the substance effect with the external signe For we know that by their faith is established ratified whatsoeuer the Lord offereth by the visible pledge To be briefe he teacheth what is the veritie of baptisme rightly receiued So to the Galathians he testifieth Gal. 3.27 When the sacraments are effectuall pledges and when the◠be but bare signes that all they whosoeuer are baptised in Christ haue put on Christe For so a man must say so long as the institution of the Lord and the faith of the godly agree together For we neuer haue bare and idle signes but when our vnthankfulnes and wickednes hindereth the working of Gods bountifulnes By the glory of the father That is through his notable power whereby hee hath declared himselfe truely glorious and hath as it were manifested the greatnes of his glory So oftentimes in scripture is the power of God which hath shewed it selfe in the resurrection of Christ set foorth by some excellent title and not without cause for it is grealy materiall that by such expresse mention of the incomparable power of God not onely the faith of the last resurrection which far exceedeth the capacity of flesh but also other fruits which we receiue by the resurrection of Christ shold be highly extolled with vs. 5 For if we be graffed into the similitude of his death euē so also shall we be partakers of his resurrection 6 Knowing this that our olde man is crucified together with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that wee should not serue sinne any more 5 For if wee be graffed By plainer wordes hee prooueth the argument which he hath put
downe before For the similitude he bringeth in taketh away al ambiguitie because grafting doth not onely note the conformitie of example but a secret coniunction whereby wee growe vppe together with him so that hee quickening vs with his spirite powreth his vertue into vs. Therefore as a graft hath the condition of life and deathe common together with the tree in the which it is grafted so it is reason wee shoulde no lesse bee partakers of the life then of the death of Christe For if wee bee grafted into the similitude of the death of Christe and that is not without his resurrection then no more shal our death be without a resurrection But the wordes may haue a two folde exposition either that wee are grafted in Christ into the similitude of his death or simply we are grafted into his similitude The first acception would require the greek Datiue homoiomati that is to the similitud to be referred to the shewing of the maner And I denie not but that hath a fuller sense yet because the other agreeth better to the simplicitie of the worde I haue thought good to preferre it Albeit it is but a small matter seeing both come to one sense Phil. 2.7 Chrysostome thinketh Paule said the similitude of death for death as in another place How wee are grafted into the similitude of the death of Christ beeing made in the similitude of men But me thinke I see some greater Emphasis in this worde For besides that it auaileth to inferre the resurrection it seemeth to tende vnto this not that wee shoulde die like Christe by a naturall death but that wee haue this congruencie with his death that as he dyed in the fleshe which hee receiued of vs so wee shoulde die in our selues that wee may liue in him Then is it not the same death but the like for the resemblance or proportion betweene the death of this present life and spiritual renouation is to bee noted Graffed This worde is very significantâ— for it declareth plainely that the Apostle doth not exhort onely but rather deliuereth the doctrine of the benefite of Christe For he requireth not any thinge of vs which is to be done by our studie or industrie Wherein the similitude of grafting holdeth not but he preacheth that grafting which is done by the hand of God Neither is it conuenient a man shold goe about to apply the metephor or coÌ„parisoÌ„ to euery part For betwene the graftinge of trees and this oure spirituall graftinge there will straightwayes appeare a diuersitie for in that the graft dothe drawe his nourishment from the roote but yet reteineth his naturall propertie of bearing fruite but in this insertion or grafting of ours wee doe not onely drawe the iuice and strength of life from Christe but also wee passe from our nature into his Howbeit the mynde of the Apostle is to note nothing els then that efficacie of the death of Christe which sheweth it selfe in the mortification of our fleshe and that of his resurrection to renew in vs a better nature of the spirit 6 That our olde man It is called the olde man as the old testament is so called in respect of the new For it beginneth to be olde when our regeneration being begunne How it is called the old man it is by litle and litle destroyed and he meaneth the whole nature which we bring out of our mothers wombe which is so vncapable of the kingdom of God tâ—â— must needs perish so farre foorth as we may be restored into 〈◊〉 life He saith this old man is fastened to the crosse of Christ because through his vertue it is slayne And he hath precisely alluded vnto the Crosse that he might expressely shew How the old maÌ„ is crucified how we haue not mortification else where then by the participation of his death For I doe not agree vnto them who vnderstand that he said rather crucified then dead because it liueth yet and floorisheth on some part That is verily a true saying yet it agreeth but litle with the present place The body of sinne What is meant by the body of sin which he addeth a litle after signifieth not the flesh and bones but the masse of sinne and corruption For manne beeing lefte to his owne nature is a masse contracted of sinne Hee noteth the end of this abolishing when he saith That wee shoulde not serue sinne any more Whereby it followeth that so long as we are the sonnes of Adam and nothing els but men we are so subiect vnto sinne that wee canne doe nothing els but sinne but beyng grafted into Christ we are deliuered from this miserable necessitye not that by and by we cease altogether to sinne but that at lengthe wee become Victorers in the fight 7 For hee that is dead is iustified from sinne 8 For if so that we be dead with Christ wee beleeue that wee shall also liue him 9 Knowing that Christe beeyng raysed from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more power ouer him 10 For in that he dyed he died to sinne once but in that he liueth he liueth vnto God 11 So yee also esteeme your selues dead verily vnto sinne but liuing vnto God in Christ Iesus our Lord. 7. For he that is dead This is an argument taken from the property or effect of death For if death put downe all the actions of life we which are dead must needes cease from the actions of that life which actions it exercised whiles the same life coÌ„tinued For iustified vnderstand freed and deliuerâ—â—â—â—om seruitude or bondage For as he is loosed from the bâ—â—â— of accusation who is freed from the sentence of the Iudge so death loosing vs from this life doth free vs from all the actions therof Furthermore albeit there is no where amongest men suche an example extaunt yet there is no cause why thou shouldest thinke this that is sayde here eyther to be a vayne imagination or shouldest despayre because thou findest not thy selfe in the number of those who haue vtterly crucified the flesh For this worke of God is not perfected the same day it is begun in vs but it increaseth by little and little by daily increments as by degrees is brought to perfection The fruite of our communicatioÌ„ with the death of Christ is that the fleshe with his concupiscences be mortified To be briefe then take it thus if thou art a Christian there must appeare in thee the signe of thy communication with the death of Christ whose fruite is that the flesh be crucified with all his concupiscences Howbeit thou mayest not therefore counte this communication as none because as yet thou doest feele some reliques of the fleshe to liue in thee but thou art continually to studie for the augmentation thereof vntill thou arte come vnto the marke For it is well if our fleshe be continually mortified and we haue profited wel when the flesh beyng subdued hath yeelded to the
could not be ignorāt who were brought vp frō their infancie in the doctrine of the law 2 For the woman which is in subiection to the man He bringeth a similitude whereby hee proueth that we are so freed from the lawe that it hath properly by right no power ouer vs any more And albeit he coulde haue proued it by other reasons yet because the example of matrimonie serued very well to set out the matter in steed of a confirmation he hath inserted a similitude taken from thence Howbeit least it shoulde trouble any man that the members compared one with another do not agree at all we are to be admonished that the minde of the Apostle was purposely by a little inuersion to auoide the spite of a more rigorous or seuere worde Hee should haue sayde that he might haue framed his similitude in order the woman after the death of her husbande is loosed from the bonde of matrimonie the lawe which is in steede of an husband to vs is dead vnto vs. Therefore wee are free from the power thereof But least he shoulde offend the Iewes with the asperitie of the word if hee had said that the lawe was dead hee vsed a digression or deflection saying we are dead to the law He seemeth vnto many to argue from the lesser to the greater yet because I feare least that bee more wrested I rather allowe the former interpretation which is more simple The whole argument therefore is to be directed into this order The woman is bound vnto her husband by the lawe so long as hee liueth so that shee cannot take another but after the death of her husband shee is loosed from the bonde of that lawe so that she may marry whom shee will Then followeth the application The lawe was as it were our husbande vnder whose yooke we were holden till it was dead vnto vs. After the death of the lawe Christe took vs that is ioyned vs being freed from the law vnto himselfe Therefore wee beeing ioyned vnto Christ risen from the dead ought to cleaue vnto him only and as the life of Christ after his resurrection is eternall so after this there shall be no diuorcement Moreouer the word law is not alway here put in one and the same sence The word lawe diuersly taken but somtimes it signifieth the mutual right of wedlocke sometimes the authoritie of the husband to whom the wife is subiect sometimes the doctrine of Moses And we are to remember that Paule doth here touch that part only which is proper vnto the ministerie of Moses For as concerning the tenne commandements wherein God hath deliuered what is right hath ordered our life wee are not to dreame of any abrogation of the lawe because the will of God ought to stand for euer Therefore we are diligently to remember that this deliuerance is not from that righteousnes is taught in the law but from the seuere exaction of the law and that curse proceedeth thence Thē the rule of life which the law prescribeth is not abrogated but that qualitie which is opposed to the liberty purchased by Christ namely whiles it requireth absolute perfection because we perfourme it not it holdeth vs bounde vnder the gilt of eternal death But because his meaning was not heere to decide what the right of matrimonie is he was not greatly carefull to reckō vp the causes which make a woman free from her husband Vnaptly therefore should sure doctrine in that respect be sought for here 4 By the body of Christ First of all Christ hauing erected the banner of his crosse did triumph ouer sin which could not be vnlesse the hand writing were canceled wherin we were boūd That hand writing is the law which whiles it standeth in force maketh vs debters vnto sin therefore is called the strength of sin From the power therfore of this hand writing we are deliuered in the body of Christ whiles it is fastened to his crosse How the law is the strength of sinne But the Apostle goeth further namely saying that the bond of the law was loosed Not that we shold liue according to our minds as a widow woman is left to her own mind whiles she is a widdow but we are now bound to another husband yea from hande to hand as they say we are passed from the law vnto Christ In the meane while he mitigateth the austeritie of the sentence whē he saith that Christ deliuered vs from the yoke of the law that he might graft vs into his own body For although Christe did voluntarily subiect himself vnto the law for a time yet is it not meete the law should haue dominion ouer him Furthermore that libertie which is proper to him he cōmunicateth also to his members Therefore it is no maruel if he deliuer those from the yooke of the law whom he coupleth vnto himself by a sacred connexion that they might be one body with him His who was raised frō the dead We haue alredy said that Christ is put in the place of the law least any libertie shold be imagined wtout him or least any should dare to make a diuorcement from the law The life purchased by Christ is eternall not being yet dead to himself Now he vseth this circumlocutiō to note the eterniti of that life which christ hath purchased by his resurrectiō that Christians might know this copulatiō is perpetual Finally hee speaketh more cleerely of the spirituall matrimonie of Christe with his church to the Ephe. That we might bring forth fruit to god Ephe. 6. Hee alway addeth the finall cause least any vnder this pretence that Christe hath deliuered vs from the seruitude of the lawe shoulde cocker the flesh and the lustes thereof For hee offered vs with himselfe in sacrifice to the father and to this ende he regenerateth vs What fruites we should bring foorth in Christ that wee might fructifie to God in newenesse of life And wee knowe what fruites our heauenly father requireth of vs namely holinesse and righteousnesse Neither is it preiudiciall to our libertie if we serue God Yea if wee wil inioy so excellent a benefite of Christ afterward we are not but to studie howe the glory of God may be aduanced for whiche cause Christ hath taken vs otherwise we abide stil not only the seruants of the lawe but of sinne and death 5 For when we were in the fleshe the affections of sinnes which are by the lawe wroughte in our members to bring foorth fruite vnto death 6 But now we are deliuered from the law being dead vnto it wherein we were holden that we should serue in newnes of the spirite and not in oldnesse of the letter 5 For when we were By the contrarie hee sheweth yet more plainely howe ill those that are zealous of the law deale to deteine the faithfull yet vnder the power thereof For so long as the litterall doctrine of the lawe ruleth and beareth swaye the lasciuiousnesse
of the fleshe is not brideled but rather it increaseth Whereby it followeth that the kingdome of righteousnesse is not established till Christe haue freed vs from the lawe And withall Paule admonisheth what workes doe become vs beeyng loosed from the lawe So long therefore as a man is holden vnder the yoke of the lawe by sinning continually he can bring nothing vnto himselfe but death If the seruice of the lawe begetteth sinne onely then deliuerance which is contrary must tende vnto righteousnesse if that lead vnto death then this vnto life But let vs consider the very wordes of Paul Whiles he goeth about to describe that time wherein wee were vnder the dominion of the lawe hee saith we were in the fleshe Whereby we vnderstand that all they which are vnder the law reape nothing els thereby then that without fruite and efficacie their eares are beaten with the externall breath thereof seeing they are inwardly destitute of the spirite of God Therefore they must needes abide altogether corrupt peruerse vntill a better remedie come to heale their disease And note the vsuall phrase of the Scripture to bee in the flesh for What it is to be in the flesh to be indued onely with the gifts of nature without that speciall grace wherew t God vouchsafeth his elect Furthermore if this whole state of life be corrupt it is apparant that naturally there is no part of our soule sound neither is there any other power of free wil but that it may send foorth euyll affections as dartes into euery part Affections of sinnes which are by the lawe That is the lawe did stir vp euill affections in vs which did declare their efficacie in all our members For there is no parte which did not serue the euill affections This is the worke of the lawe namely to inflame our heartes the more that they shoulde burst foorth into such lustes if that inwarde master of the spirite bee not present But obserue here that the lawe is matched with the corrupt nature of man whose peruersitie and lust the more it is restrained by the barres of the lawe the more furiously it bursteth foorth He addeth againe so long as the affections of the fleshe were ruled vnder the law they brought foorth fruite vnto death that they might shew how the lawe by it selfe killeth whereby it followeth that they are foolish who so greatly couet after that seruice bringeth death 6 But now wee are freed from the lawe Hee pursueth his argument from contraries if the bande of the lawe did so little preuaile to bridle the fleshe that it was rather an increment of sinne then of necessitie must we be loosed that we may cease to sinne If then wee bee freed from the bondage of the lawe that we might serue God they doe wickedly whiche take from hence libertie of sinning And they speake wickedly which say by this meanes the raines are loosed to concupiscence Note therefore wee are then loosed from the lawe when God doth indue vs being freed from the seuere exaction and curse thereof with his spirite that wee might walke in his wayes Beeing dead to it This parte conteyneth a reason or rather sheweth the maner whereby we are deliuered namely whiles the law is so farre foorth abrogated from vs that we be not oppressed with the burden thereof or least that the seuere rigour thereof ouerwhelme vs in the Curse In the newnesse of the spirite Hee opposeth the spirite against the letter because before that our will by the holy Ghoste be formed vnto the will of God we haue nothing in the lawe but the outward letter Why newnesse is ascribed vnto the spirite which in deede brideleth our externall actions but it restraineth not the furie of our concupiscence at all Hee attributeth newenesse vnto the spirite because it succeedeth in the steede of the olde man as the Letter is called old which perisheth by the regeneration of the spirite 7 What shall we say then is the lawe sinne God forbid But I knewe not sinne but by the lawe For I had not knowen concupiscence except the lawe had saide thou shalte not lust 8 But sinne tooke an occasion by the commandement wrought in me al maner of concupiscence 7 What shall wee say then Because it was saide wee must be deliuered from the lawe that we might serue God in the newnesse of spirit this fault did seeme to be in the law as though it did driue vs vnto sinne But seeing that is very absurd the Apostle did very well to take in hand to refute it When hee demaundeth therfore whether the law be sin his meaning is whether it beget sin so that the fault thereof ought to bee imputed to the law Sinne remaineth in vs not in the lawe But I knew not sin Then doth sinne abide in vs and not in the law because the cause of sin is the wicked cōcupiscence of our flesh we come into the knowledge therof by the knowledge of the righteousnes of God which is declared vnto vs in the law But you are not to vnderstād it as though there were no difference at al betweene righte wrong without the law But the either we are too blinde in seeing our corruption or els whiles wee flatter our selues wee are altogether secure as also it followeth For I had not knowen concupiscence This is therefore a declaration of the former sentence wherein he sheweth that that ignoraunce of sinne whereof hee spake did stande in this that men marked not their concupiscence And purposely he persisteth in one kynde wherein chiefly Hypocrisie raygneth whereunto retchlesse pampering and securitie is alway annexed For men are neuer so depriued of iudgement but externall woorkes keepe with them their difference Yea they are forced also to condemne wicked counsels and such like deuises which they cannot doe but they must needes giue vnto a right will that prayse is due vnto it But the faulte of concupiscence is more hidden and more deepely layde vppe whereby it commeth to passe that it neuer commeth into question so long as men iudge according to their sence For he doth not boast himselfe to haue beene voyde of it but hee did so flatter himselfe that hee made no account of that sinne lurking in his heart For seeyng he was deceiued for a tyme when hee thought that righteousnesse coulde not be hindered by concupiscence then at length he perceyued he was a sinner when he saw concupiscence of the which no man is voyde to be forbidden by the Lawe Augustine sayeth that Paule vnder this worde conteyneth the whole lawe whiche so that we vnderstande it well is true For when Moses sheweth of what things we are to take heede least wee offend or hurt our neighbour he addeth thou shalt not lust which is to bee referred vnto all those preceptes went before There is doubt but in the former commaundementes he had condemned whatsoeuer wicked affections our hearts conceiue Concupiscence without
consent is sinne but there is great difference between a set will and affections whereby we are tickled Therefore by this last precept God requireth such integrity of vs that no corrupt lust should moue vs vnto euil howsoeuer it be that we cōsent not vnto it And for this cause it was I saide Paule did mount higher then the common capacity of man is able to reache For politike lawes cry that they punishe the counselles and not the euentes and the Philosophers more subtilly place both vices and vertues in the mynde but God by this precept pearceth vnto the concupiscence which is more secrete then the will And therefore men did not count it for sinne Neyther was it onelye pardoned of the Philosophers but at this day the Papistes contend mightely that it is not sinne in the regenerate But Paule saith he found out his guiltinesse by this lurking disease whereupon it followeth that they are not excusable who so are sicke of it but so farre foorth as GOD doeth pardon the faulte A twofolde concupiscence In the meane while wee are to holde that distinction betweene euill lustes which come vnto consent and concupiscence which only so tickleth and mooueth the heartes that it stayeth in the middle way 8 But sin tooke an occasion So then whatsoeuer is euil it ariseth of sinne the corruption of the flesh the occasion only is in the law And although he may be supposed to speake of that prouocation only whereby through the law our lust is so stirred vp that it bursteth forth into greater madnes yet I refer it chiefly vnto knowledge as though it were saide it discouered in me all concupiscence which whiles it lay hidden seemed in a manner to be none And yet I denie not but the flesh is more vehemētly prouoked vnto cōcupiscēce by the law so this way it cōmeth into light which thing might also happen vnto Paule But that which I sayd of manifestation agreeth rather vnto the text For straightwaies he addeth For without the law sinne is dead 9 And I liued sometime without law But when the commandement came sinne reuiued 10 But I died and that commandement which was ordeyned vnto life was found vnto me to be vnto death 11 For sinne taking an occasion by the commandemēt led me out of the way and by that killed me 12 Wherefore the law is holye the commaundement holy and iust and good For without the law Here he doth plainely expresse the meaning of the former words For it is as much as if he said that knowledge of sinne without the law is buried And it is the generall sentence wherunto he doth by and by apply his example Wherfore I maruell what the interpreters meant to translate it in the preterimperfectence as though Paule spake of himselfe seeing it is apparant that his mind was to begin at an vniuersal proposition and afterward to open the matter by his example 9 And I liued sometime wthout lawe His meaning is to insinuate that there was a time wherin to him or with him sinne was dead For it is not to be vnderstood that he was at any time lawlesse but this word I liued is very significant because the absēce of the lawe made that he liued that is being puffed vp with the cōfidence of his owne righteousnes he chalenged life vnto himselfe when neuerthelesse he was dead That the sentence may be more cleare resolue it thus when somtime I was without law I liued And I said that this word was significant because in faining himselfe righteous hee claymed vnto himselfe life also This then is the meaning when I sinned without knowledge of the lawe sinne was so drowned that I did not obserue it and that it seemed almost to be dead On the other side I because I did not see that I was a sinner did please my selfe in my selfe thinking that I had life at home with my selfe For the death of sinne is the life of man againe the life of sinne is the death of man But the question is what time that was 2. Cor. 3.14 how paul being brought vp of a childe in the doctrine of the law is saide to haue liued sometime without law wherein by the ignorance of the lawe or as hee sayth by the absence of the lawe hee did confidently claime life vnto him selfe For sure it is hee was brought vp of a childe in the doctrine of the lawe But that was a litterall Diuinitie which doth not humble his Disciples For as he saith in another place the vaile was interposed that the Iewes coulde not see the light of life in the lawe So he also so long as he beyng voyd of the spirite of Christe had his eyes couered did please himself in the externall shew of righteousnesse Hee therefore counteth the lawe absent which though it were present before his eyes yet did not smite him with a perfecte sence of the iudgement of the Lorde Thus are the eyes of hypocrites couered with a vayle that they see not howe much this precept requireth wherein wee are forbidden of concupiscence But when the commaundement came So nowe on the contrary hee counteth the lawe then to come when it began truely to be vnderstoode The lawe therefore did as a man woulde say rayse sinne from the dead because it discouered vnto Paule with howe muche corruption the inwarde partes of his heart abounded and also did flea him And let vs alway remember that he speaketh of a secure confidence wherein hypocrites rest whiles they flatter themselues because they wincke at their sinnes 10 Was found vnto me c. Two thinges are said here 1. namely that the commaundement sheweth vnto vs the way of life in the righteousnesse of God therfore was giuen that we obseruing the law of the Lord The law in it selfe is the way of life But that none are saued by the law the cause is for that none doth keepe it might obteyne eternall life if the prauity of vs all did not hinder it 2. But because there is none of vs that keepeth the law but rather we are altogether carried headlong into that kinde of life from the which it doth call vs it can bring nothing els but death Thus we are to distinguish betweene the nature of the lawe and our corruption Whereby it followeth that wheras the law doth wound vs vnto death that is accidentical as if an incurable disease should be stirred vp the more by an wholesome medicine Indeed I confesse it is an insepararable accident and therefore the lawe in another place in respect of the Gospell is called the minister of death but yet this abideth firme 1. Cor. 3.7 that it is not hurtfull vnto vs of his own nature but because our corruption doth prouoke and cause his curse 11 hath lead mee out of the way Verily true it is although the will of God bee hidden from vs and no doctrine doth shine vnto vs the whole life of men
is wandering and full of errours yea vntill the lawe doeth shewe vnto vs the way of a right life wee can doe nothing but wander Yet because then wee beginne to feele our errour when the Lorde doeth reproue vs a loude Worthily saith Paule that when sin is discouered then wee are ledde foorth of the way So then the woorde Ex apatan that is to leade out of the way is not to bee vnderstood of the thing it selfe but of knowledge namely How we are said by occasion of the law to be led forth of the way for that by the lawe it is apparnt howe much wee haue declined from the right course therefore of necessitie it was to bee translated hath ledde out of the way because hereby sinners who went on securely before began to haue a loathing and disliking of them selues whiles after the filthinesse of sinne was reueiled by the lawe they vnderstoode howe they made hast vnto death Finally hee inferreth agayne the name of occasion that wee might knowe howe the lawe by it selfe is not deadly but that commeth otherwise and is as a man woulde say forraine or such as commeth by some other meanes 12 Wherefore the lawe is holy Some thinke there is a repetition doubling in woordes lawe and commandement to whom I doe so consent that I iudge there is included a great Emphasis or force To say the lawe it selfe and what so euer is commaunded in the lawe that is all holy and therefore is greatly to be reuerenced it is iuste and therefore not to be charged with any vnrighteousnes it is good and therefore pure and cleane from all corruption So hee cleareth the lawe of all accusations least any shoulde ascribe that to the lawe whiche were not good iust and holy 13 Was that then which is good made death vnto mee God forbid Yea sinne that it might appeare sinne wrought death in me by that which is good that sinne might bee out of measure sinnefull by the commandement 13 Was that then which is good Hitherto hee hath so cleared the lawe from all calumniations that yet notwithstanding it remained doubtfull whither it were the cause of death or no. Yea here are mens mindes wonderfully plonged how it may be that we shold reape nothing but death of so singular a benefit of god Now therfore he answereth that obiection denying that death is of the lawe although through occasion thereof it is brought vpon vs by sinne And albeit this answere seemeth to be contrary vnto that which hee sayde before namely that the commaundement which was ordeined vnto life was founde death vnto him yet in deede there is no contrarietie For before he meant that by our wickednesse it commeth to passe that wee abuse the lawe to our destruction otherwise then the nature of it doeth beare The law is not the materiall cause of deah 2. Cor. 3.7 and heere he denieth it to bee the matter of death that death shoulde bee imputed to it In the seconde to the Corinthians hee speaketh more freely of the lawe where hee calleth it the administration of death Howe be it that hee doeth as it is wont to bee in the heate of disputation not respecting the nature of the lawe but the opinion of the aduersaries Yea sinne vnder the correction of others I thinke it is to bee reade as I haue put it downe and therefore I suppose this to be the sence sinne in a maner is iustified before it be detected by the law but when by occasion of the law it is reueiled then truely it taketh the name of sinne and so much the more mischieuous and that I may saye so sinnefull it appeareth then because it conuerteth the goodnesse of the law being peruerted to our destruction For that must needes bee a very poysonable thing which causeth that which otherwise by his owne nature is holesome to be hurtfull The meaning is that it was meete the outragiousnesse of sinne shoulde be discouered by the lawe for except sinne did as they say burst forth by an outragious and enormious excesse it shoulde not bee acknowledged for sinne This excesse doeth powre out it selfe more violently whiles it conuerteth life into death Therefore then is all excuse taken away 14 For we know that the lawe is spirituall but I am carnall solde vnder sinne 15 For I knowe not that which I doe For what I would that do I not but what I woulde not that do I. 16 If I doe then that I woulde not I consent to the lawe of God that it is good 17 Nowe then it is no more I that doth it but the sinne that dwelleth in me 14 For we knowe Nowe hee beginneth more neerely to campare the lawe with the nature of man that it might more clearely appeare whence the fault of death proceedeth Secondly hee propoundeth an example of a regenerate man in whom the reliques of the fleshe doe so dissent from the law of the Lord that yet the spirite doeth willingly obey the same lawe But first of all as wee saide hee setteth downe a bare comparison of mans nature and the lawe Seeing there is no greater variance in the worlde then of the spirite and the fleshe the lawe is spirituall man is carnall What concorde then hath the nature of man with the lawe namely suche as the light hath with darkenesse How the lawe is called spirituall Furthermore whereas he calleth the lawe spirituall thereby hee doeth not onely signifie that it requireth the inwarde affections of the heart as many expounde it but according to the nature of an antithesis it hath a signification contrary to the worde carnall The former interpreters wee spake of expounde it thus the lawe is spirituall that is it doth not onely binde our handes and feete in respect of externall actions but also is imposed vpon the affections of the heart and requireth the sincere feare of God But heere is expressed an antithesis or contrarietie betweene the fleshe and the spirite Finally by the text it may sufficiently appeare and partly it hath been alreadie declared that vnder the name of fleshe is comprehended what so euer men bring with them out of their mothers wombe And men being taken for such as they are borne and for such as they be so long as they reteyne their owne witte are called fleshe for as they are corrupt so they neither sauoure nor breathe any thing but that is grosse and earthly Spirite put for the renewing of our corrupt nature On the contrary the spirite is called the renewing of our corrupt nature whiles God reformeth vs to his image And hence commeth that kind of speech because that newnes which is wrought in vs is the gift of the spirite Wherefore the integritie of the doctrine of the lawe is set against the corruption of mans nature The meaning therefore is the lawe requireth a certaine celestiall and angelicall righteousnes wherein there shoulde appeare no blot to whose cleannesse nothing ought to be
might prudently discerne from the lawe of God the corruption of their nature and death which proceedeth thence Howe bee it the name body is all one with the name externall man and members for Paul noteth this to bee the originall of sinne that man is fallen from the lawe of his creation and so is become carnall and earthly For although hee doe yet excell bruite beastes yet his true dignitie is taken from him and that which remayneth is filled with innumerable corruptions so that his soule as it is degenerate Gen. 6.3 may be said to be chāged into a body So god saith with Moses my spirit shall striue no more with mā because he is but flesh where by the way of reproch he compareth man being spoyled of his spirituall dignitie vnto brute beastes And this place of Paul serueth notably to beate downe all the glory of fleshe For it teacheth that the most perfect men of all so long as the dwell in their fleshe are addicted vnto miserie because they are subiect vnto death yea whiles they doe diligently examine them selues they finde nothing in their nature but miserie Furthermore least they shoulde cocker their dulnesse by his example Paule prouoketh them vnto carefull morninges and commaundeth them so long as they wander in earth to desire death as the onely remedie of their euill And this is the right ende of coueting or desiring death Why and howe the godly may wish for death For oftentimes desperation driueth prophane men vnto the same desire but rather for the lothsomnesse of this present life then for the wearinesse of their sinne they doe wickedly wishe for death Adde also that the faithfull albeit they leuell at the true marke yet they are not caried with an vnbridled or outragious passion to wishe for death but submitte themselues to the will of God to whom we ought to liue and die Wherefore they doe not rage with indignation agaynst God but they do humbly lay their griefes in his bosome for they doe not so stay or rest in the cogitations of their miseries but being mindefull of the grace receiued they temper their sorrowe with mirth as it followeth 25 I thanke God Hee therefore addeth this thankesgiuing straightwayes least any shoulde thinke hee murmured stubbornely against God in his complaint For wee know how easie it is yea euen in iust dolour or sorrowe to fall vnto murmouring or impatiencie Notwithstanding therefore Paule bewayling his estate did feruently couet death yet he confesseth him selfe to rest in the grace of God For it is not meete that the Saintes whiles they examine their owne imperfections shoulde forgette what they haue receyued of God Finally this cogitation sufficeth to bridle impatiēcie and nourish peace namely that they are receiued into the custodie of God to the ende they shoulde neuer perish and euen nowe feele them selues indued with the first fruites of the spirite which assureth them of the eternal inheritaunce And albeit they do not yet inioy the promised glory of heauen yet they being content with that measure which they haue obtayned neuer want matter of ioy Then I my selfe A briefe conclusion wherein hee teacheth that the faythfull neuer come vnto the marke of righteousnesse We neuer come vnto the marke of righteousnes so long as wee liue in the flesh so long as they dwell in their fleshe but they are in the way vntill they haue put off the bodie By minde hee vnderstandeth not that reasonable part of the soule whiche the Philosophers make so muche on but whiche is illuminated with the spirite of God to vnderstande and will aright For there is not onely mention made of the vnderstanding but also the serious desire of heart is ioyned To conclude by this exception hee confesseth that he is in such sort addicted vnto God that yet creeping vpon the earth hee is defiled with many corruptions This is a notable place to conuince These professed themselues to bee pure that pernicious doctrine of the Catharites or Nouatian heritikes which some tumultuous spirites goe about to renewe againe at this day CHAPTER 8. 1 NOwe then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus which walke not after the fleshe but after the spirite 2 For the lawe of the spirite of life in Christ Iesus hath made mee free from the lawe of sinne and death 3 For that which was impossible to the lawe because it was weake through the fleshe God by sending his sonne in the similitude of sinnefull fleshe yea hee hath condemned sin of sinne in the fleshe 4 That the rigeteousnesse of the lawe myght bee fulfilled in vs which walke not after the flesh but after the spirite NOwe then there is no. Hauing set downe that conflict which the godly haue with their flesh hee returneth vnto a very necessary cōsolation for them whereof he made mention before namely that although they are yet beset on euerie side with sinne neuerthelesse they are exempted from the power of death and from all curse so bee it they walke not in the fleshe but in the spirite For hee ioyneth three thinges together imperfection which is alway in the faithfull the mercy of God in pardoning and forgiuing the same regeneration of the spirite and this last verily is added least any vpon a vaine opinion should boast himselfe as though hee were freed from the curse whiles in the meane time he doth securely cocker his fleshe As the carnall man therefore doth in vaine flatter himselfe if hee being retchlesse to refourme his life vnder the pretence of this grace promise to himselfe impunitie so the trembling consciences of the godly haue an inuincible safegarde that whiles they abide in Christe they knowe they are without all danger of condemnation Nowe it behoueth vs to examine the wordes Who walke according to the spirite hee counteth those to walke according to the spirite not which haue altogether put off all the senses of flesh so that in their whole life there appeareth nothing besides a celestiall perfection but which doe so diligently labour in taming the fleshe that the studie of pietie may appeare to raigne in them hee denieth such to walke according to the fleshe because wheresoeuer the sincere feare of God florisheth it taketh the dominion away from the fleshe albeit it doth not abolishe all the corruptions thereof 2 For the lawe of the spirite of life This is a confirmation of the former sentence for the vnderstanding wherof the signification of the wordes is to be obserued What is meant by the law of the spirit He calleth the lawe of the spirite improperly the spirite of God which sprinckleth our soules with the blood of Christ not only that it might cleanse them from the blot of sinne in respect of giltinesse but also sanctifie them vnto true puritie He addeth that it quickeneth for the Genetiue case after the maner of the Hebrewes is taken for an Epitheton whereupon it followeth that who so
restored vs to righteousnes by his sonne who are running headlong vnto death God by sending his sonne Nowe he sheweth the maner how the celestiall father hath restored vs to righteousnesse by his sonne namely because he hath condemned sinne in the flesh of Christ that is the handwriting being as it were cancelled he hath done away the giltines which did hold vs bound before the Lord. For the condemnation of sin hath brought vs into righteousnes because the giltines being put away we are absolued that God might repute vs iust But first he saith that Christ was sent that he might admonish vs how righteousnes is not resident in vs seeing it is to be sought for in another and in vaine doe men trust to theyr merites who are not otherwise iustified then by prayer or intreatie or els because the borrowe righteousnes of that satisfaction which Christ fulfilled in his flesh and he saith that Christ came in the similitude of sinfull flesh because albeit the flesh of Christ was stained with no blots yet to the sighte it seemed sinneful so far foorth as he susteined that punishment was due to our sinnes And certainly vpon the same flesh as subiect vnto him death did shew all the partes of his power And because it behooued our high priest by his own experience to learn what it is to succour the weak Christ would vndertake our infirmities that he might be the redier vnto mutual passion in whiche part also there appeared a certain image of sinfull nature Yea of sin I haue said a while agoe that this was expounded by some of the cause or end why God did send his sonne namely that he might make satisfaction for sin Chrysostome diuers after him vnderstande it somwhat more hardly namely that sin was condemned of sin because it slewe Christ vniustly vnworthily Indeed I confesse because he being iust and innocent vndertooke punishment for sinners by this meanes was the price of redemption paid Sinne taken for the sacrifice of sinne yet I cannot be brought to thinke the word sinne to be put heere in any other sense then for a sacrifice of satisfaction whiche of the Hebrews is called Asham as the Grecians cal Catharma a Sacrifice whereunto malediction or curse is annexed So the same Paul saith Christ who knew not sin became sin for vs that wee might be made the righteousnes of God in him And the preposition Peri of or for is taken here causally as though Paul had said vpon that sacrifice or els for the burden of sin whiche was laid vpon Christ sin was cast downe from his power that now it might not haue vs in subiection For he saith that sin was condēned metaphorically as they who are cast in a matter loose their processe because God dealeth no more against those giltie persons who are cleered by the sacrifice of Christe If wee say the kingdome of sinne wherewithall wee were oppressed was abrogated it is all one Therefore Christ tooke vnto him that was ours that hee might power vpon vs that was his For hauing taken vpon him our curse hee hath indued vs with his blessing Here Paul addeth in the flesh that our confidence might bee more sure whiles we see sinne was conquered abolished euen in our owne nature for so it cōmeth to passe that our nature is truely made partaker of that victorie which thing hee also declareth straightwayes 4 That the righteousnes of the lawe might bee fulfilled They who gather out of this place that those are renued by the spirite of Chrste doe fulfill the lawe they bring in a fayned matter altogether wide from the meaning of Paule for the faithfull so long as they wander in this worlde neuer come vnto that perfection that the righteousnesse of the lawe shoulde bee full and perfect in them Therefore this must needes be referred vnto grace because whiles the obediēce of Christ is imputed to vs the lawe is satisfied that wee might bee accounted for iuste For the perfection which the lawe required was therefore exhibited in the fleshe that the rigour thereof should no more be of force to condemne vs But because Christe doth communicate his righteousnes to none but whom he hath coupled to himselfe by the bond of his spirite Regeneration is added againe leaste Christe shoulde bee thought to bee the minister of sinne Righteousnes by faith in Christe is coupled with sanctification as many are ready to drawe that vnto the lasciuiousnesse of the flesh whatsoeuer is saide of the fatherly mercy of God and some do wickedly slaunder this doctrine as though it extinguished the studie of a right life 5 For they who are after the fleshe studie or cogitate those thinges which are of the fleshe and they which are after the spirite the thinges which are of the spirit 6 The wisedome or cogitation verily of the fleshe is death but the wisedome or cogitation of the spirite is life and peace 7 Seeing the wisedome or cogitation of the flesh is enmitie against God For it is not subiect to the law of God neyther can it be 8 They therefore whiche are in the fleshe can not please God 5 For they who are after the fleshe Hee bringeth in this difference of the fleshe and the spirite not onely by an argument taken from the contrarie to prooue that he sayde before namely that the grace of Christ doth not appertaine vnto any but those who beyng renewed by the spirite doe giue them selues vnto innocencie but also that with due consolation hee might cheere vp the faithful least whiles they are priuie in them selues vnto many infirmities they should dispaire For seeing none are deliuered from the curse but they who lead a spiritual life it might seeme that hope of saluation were cut off from all menne For what man shal be found in the worlde furnished with an Angelicall puritie so that he hath nothing to doe with the flesh It was necessarie to adde this definition what it is to be in the fleshe and to walke according to the fleshe At the first Paule doth not distinguishe so precisely but yet as wee shall see in the processe his purpose is to put the faithfull in good hope albeit they are yet tyed to their flesh so be that they loose not the reynes to the lustes thereof but suffer them selues to bee ruled by the holie spirite When he saith that the carnall doe care for or meditate the thinges of the fleshe hee testifieth that he counteth not those for carnall Who are carnall who aspire vnto heauenlye righteousnesse but who are altogether addicted to the world Therefore I haue put downe the word cogitate which comprehendeth more in steed of to be wise or vnderstand that the reader might know that they are excluded from the sonnes of God who beeyng giuen to the inticementes of the fleshe applye their mindes and studies to wicked lustes Nowe in the seconde member he exhorteth the faithfull to hope well if they feele
themselues to bee lifted vppe by the spirite vnto the meditation of righteousnesse For wheresoeuer the spirite raigneth it is a signe of the grace of GOD bringinge saluation seeing that the grace of God hath no place there where the spirite beyng extinguished the kingdome of the flesh flourisheth But here I doe briefly make mention of that whereof I admonished before namely in the fleshe or after the fleshe is as muche as to bee voyde of the gift of regeneration And suche are all they who abide as the common speech is meere natural men 6 The wisedome or cogitation verilie of the flesh Erasmus hath put affection the olde interpreter wisedome But seeing it is sure that the woorde To Phronema is that with Paule Gen. 6.5 which Moses calleth the imagination of the heart and in this worde all the sences of the soule from reason and vnderstanding vnto the very affections are comprehended the name cogitation seemeth vnto me to serue better And although Paule hath vsed the particle causall Gar for yet I doubte not but he doth simply confirme For here is a kynde of concession or graunting because after that he had briefly defined what it is to be in the flesh now hee addeth what end remayneth For all those are giuen to the flesh What end abydeth for such as are still carnall And so on the contrarie hee sheweth howe they are not capable of the grace of Christe whosoeuer abide in the flesh who all their life long make haste and are carried vnto death And it is anotable place wherby we may learne how by the course of nature we rush headlong into death because we conceiue nothing of our selues but that whiche is deadly And straightwaies he hath opposed the contrary member that he might teach if any part of vs tend vnto life then the spirite sheweth foorth his vertue because there commeth no sparkle of life from our flesh He calleth the cogitation or wisedome of the spirite How the cogitation of the spirite is called life life because it quickeneth or leadeth vnto life And vnder the name of peace after the manner of the Hebrewes he noteth all the partes of felicitie For whatsoeuer the spirite of God worketh in vs it appertayneth to our blessednesse yet it followeth not that any should therefore ascribe saluation vnto works For although God doth begin our saluation in vs at the length doeth accomplishe it by fashioning vs to his likenesse yet the onely cause is his good pleasure whereby hee maketh vs partakers of Christ 7 Seeyng the cogitation or wisedome of the flesh Now hee addeth a confirmation of that he put downe before namely that nothing proceedeth from the studies of our fleshe but death because they fight fiercely with the will of God And the will of God is the rule of rigteousnesse whereupon it followeth that that is vniuste whatsoeuer disagreeth from the same and if it bee vniuste then is it also deadly Nowe then God beeing against it and offended in vayne doth any looke for life For after his wrath must needes foorth with followe death which is the reuengement of his wrath Mans carnall will is in all things contrary to the will of God And heere let vs obserue that the will of man is in all thinges contrary to the will of God For looke by howe muche crokednesse differeth from straightnesse so much muste we needes differ from God For it is not subiect to the lawe of God An exposition of the former sentence for it declareth howe all the meditations of the fleshe warre againste the will of God because the wyll of God is not els where to bee sought for then where hee hath reuealed it For in the lawe hee sheweth what doeth please him they therefore that will rightlye examine howe rightly they agree with God let them apply all their counsayles and studies vnto this rule For although nothing bee doone in the worlde but by the direction of the secrete prouidence of God yet vnder pretence of this to say that nothing is done but God doth allowe of it is intollerable blasphemie where about certaine phrensie persons cauill at this day For to seeke the difference of right wrong whiche the lawe hath distinctly and playnely set before our eyes in a deepe Labyrinth what madnesse were it We must contēe our selues with the reuealed wil of God in deede as I saide the Lorde hath his secrete counsayle whereby at his pleasure he disposeth all thinges but because it is incomprehensible to vs let vs knowe that wee are restrained from too curious searching after it In the meane while let this abide firme that nothyng pleaseth hym but righteousnesse neither can right iudgement bee gyuen of our workes but by the the lawe wherein God hath vnfeignedly testified both what doeth please or displease him Neither can it Beholde here the power of free will There is not free will in the naturall man which sophisters cannot sufficiently aduaunce Vndoubtedly Paule doth heere in plaine wordes affirme that which they with full mouth doe detest namely that it is impossible for vs to subiecte our affections vnto the obedience of the lawe They bragge that our hearte is plyaunt vnto both partes so it bee holpen by the instinct of the spirite and that in vs there is a free election of good or euill the spirite doeth onely helpe but it is ours to choose or refuse They faine also good motions whereby of our owne accorde wee are prepared Paule on the contrary saith our hearte is full of hardnesse and vntamed stubbornesse so that it is neuer moued naturally to vndertake the yooke of God and hee disputeth not of one or two affections but speaking indefinitely doth cast all those motions arise out of vs into this bundle Let that Ethnicall Philosophie therefore of freewill be farre from a christian minde Let euery man as in truth hee is acknowledge himselfe to bee the seruant of sinne that beeing manumised by the grace of Christ he may be free and it is altogether folly to glory in another liberty 8 They therefore whiche are in the fleshe It is not without cause that I haue expounded the particle aduersatiue de by the causall For verily the Apostle gathereth out of the premisses that they who deliuer ouer themselues to be lead by the lustes of the fleshe Who haue nothing to do with Christe are all of them abhominable to God And hitherto hee hath confirmed that sentence namely that all they haue nothing to doe with Christ which walke not after the spirite because they are voide of an heauenly life 9 Nowe yee are not in the fleshe but in the spirite if so bee the spirite of GOD dwell in you for if any haue not the spirite of Christe the same is not his 10 And if Christe bee in you the body verily is dead because of sinne but the spirite is life for righteousnesse sake 11 If I say the spirit of hym
that raysed Iesus from the dead dwell in you hee which raysed Christe from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies because of his spirite that dwelleth in you 9 Nowe yee are not in the fleshe By a supposition he applieth the generall sentence vnto them to whome hee wrote not onely to the ende that directing his talke as proper vnto them hee might the more vehemently moue them but also that by the definition late put downe they might certainely gather howe they are of the number of those from whome Christe hath taken the curse of the lawe Yet withall shewing of what force the spirite of God is in the elect and what fruit it bringeth forth hee exhorteth them vnto newenesse of life If so be that the spirite of God This is a correction very fitly applyed whereby they are stirred vp to examine themselues more neerely A note to knowe the true sonnes of God from the children of the world least they pretende the name of Christe in vaine And this is a most sure note whereby the sonnes of God are discerned from the children of the worlde if by the spirit of God they be regenerate vnto innocencie and holinesse Although it seemeth his purpose was not so much to correct hypocrisie as to suggest matter of glorying against those were preposterously zealous ouer the lawe who esteemed more of the dead letter then of the inwarde vertue of the spirite which quickeneth the lawe Furthermore this place teacheth that Paule by the name of spirite meant not the minde or vnderstanding whiche of the Patrones of free will is called the more excellent part of the soule but the heauenly gift For hee expoundeth those to bee spirituall not which obey reason by their owne motion but whom God gouerneth by his spirite Who and howe they are called spirituall Neither yet are they said to bee according to the spirite as though they were full of the spirite of God which thing hath happened to none yet but because they haue the spirite of God abiding in them howesoeuer they feele some relique of the flesh remaining in them And it cannot meaning the spirite cannot remaine except it haue the superioritie For we are to note that a man is named of the chiefest part in him But if any haue not the spirite of Christe Hee addeth this that he might shewe howe necessarie the deniall of the fleshe is in christians The kingdome of the spirite is the abolishing of the fleshe in whome the spirite of Christe raigneth not they doe not appertaine vnto Christe Then they are not Christians that serue the fleshe For they who pull Christ away from his spirite make him like vnto a dead image or carkasse And alway wee are to remember that counsaile of the Apostle namelye that free remission of sinnes cannot bee separated from the spirite of regeneration because this were as a man woulde saye to rent Christe in peeces Which thing if it be true it is maruaile that wee are charged by the aduersaries of the Gospell with arrogancie that wee dare acknowledge the spirite of Christe dwelling in vs. For eyther wee muste denie Christe or confesse that wee are Christians by his spirite Surely it is horrible to heare that men are so fallen from the woorde of the Lorde that they doe not onely boast themselues to bee Christians without the spirite of God but also they scoffe at the faith of others But this is the Philosophie of Papists Nowe verily let the Readers marke heere that the spirite is indifferently sometime called the spirite of God the father somtime of Christe not onely because all the fulnesse thereof is shed vpon Christe How the spirite of God is also called the spirite of Christe as hee is our mediatour and head that from thence might redownde to euery one of vs his portion but also because the same spirite is common to the father and the sonne who haue one essence add the same eternall dietie Yet because wee haue no communication with God but through Christe the Apostle very wisely descendeth from the father who seemeth to be further of vnto Christe 10 And if Christe bee in you That which before he said of the spirite now hee saith of Christe whereby is declared the maner of Christes dwelling in vs. For as by his spirite he consecrateth vs for temples to himselfe so by the same spirit he dwelleth in vs and now he doth more cleerely open that which wee touched before How Christe dwelleth in vs. namely that the sonnes of God are counted spirituall not in respect of a full and absolute perfection but onely for the newnesse of life is begun in them And here is a preoccupation whereby he preuenteth that doubt which might otherwise vexe vs. For howsoeuer the spirit possesseth one part of vs yet we see another parte to be holden styll of death Therefore hee answereth that in the spirite of Christe there is a vertue of quickening which is of power to swallow vp our mortalitie Whereupō he inferreth how we are paciently to expect till the reliques of sin be vtterly abolished Furthermore the Readers haue bin alredy admonished that by the word spirit they vnderstand not our soule but the spirite of regeneration which spirite Paule calleth life not onely because it liueth and florisheth in vs but because by his strength it quickeneth vs vntill at the length our mortall flesh being extinguished it doth perfectly renewe vs as on the contrarie the worde body signifieth that grosse masse which is not yet cleansed by the spirite of GOD from the dregges of the earth which sauour of nothing but that is grosse For otherwise to attribute vnto the body the guiltinesse of sinne were absurde Againe the soule is so farre from beeing life that it liueth not it selfe Then the meaning of Paul is although sin doth iudge vs vnto death so farre foorth as there remaineth yet in vs the corruption of the first nature yet is the spirite of God the conquerour neither doeth this hinder any whit namely that wee are onely indued with the firste fruites because euen one sparkle thereof is the seede of life 11 If I say the spirite This is a confirmation of the last sentence being taken from the efficient cause after this maner if by the power of the spirite of God Christe were raysed and the spirite keepeth his power for euer Then it shall also shewe foorth the same power in vs. And hee taketh it for a thing graunted namely that a proofe of that power whiche apperteineth vnto the body of the whole Church was declared in the person of Christe And because hee maketh God the authour of the resurrection hee assigneth vnto him the quickening spirite Who raysed by a circumlocution hee describeth God which did agree better for the present purpose then if had simply named him In like maner hee ascribeth the glory of Christe raysed vnto the father for that was more effectuall to proue the thing
floorish in our heartes that it might alway shine in the mist of afflictions For as the cloudes although they darken the cleare sight of the sonne yet doe not altogether depriue vs of his shine euen so God in aduersities sendeth through cloudes the beames of his grace least anie tentation should ouerwhelme vs with dispaire yea our faith being supported by the promises of God as by winges ought through all impedimentes which are in the way to pearce vp into the heauens Indeede it is true that aduersities are tokens of Gods wrath if they be esteemed by themselues but when pardon and reconciliation is gone before we are to be resolued that although God doeth chasten yet he wil neuer forget his mercy Verily he admonisheth what wee haue deserued but withall he testifieth that he hath a care of our saluation whiles he prouoketh vs vnto repentaunce And he calleth it the loue of Christ Because the father in a manner doeth open his bowelles vnto vs in him Seeing then the loue of God is not to bee sought for out of Christ woorthily doeth Paule call vs hither that in the beames of the grace of Christ our faith might beholde the cleere countenaunce of the Father The summe is that this faith ought not to bee shaken with anie aduersitie for God beeing gracious vnto vs nothing is against vs. Whereas some take the loue of Christ passiuely for that loue wherewith hee is loued of vs as though Paule armed vs vnto inuincible fortitude this imagination is easily refuted by the whole course of Paules speeche and straight way also Paule will remooue all doubt heerein by defining this loue more clearely Tribulation or anguishe or persecution The Pronowne masculine which he put downe of late conteineth a secrete Emphasis or force For when hee might haue saide in the newter gender what shall separate vs hee chose rather to attribute the person vnto the dombe creatures that hee might commit into the fight with vs so many champions as there bee kinds of temptations which assault our fayth How tribulation anguish and persecution differ Furthermore these three differ amongest themselues thus that tribulation comprehendeth euery kinde of griefe and discommoditie but anguish is an inward passion namely whiles extremities driue vs vnto our wits ende Such was the angush of Abraham Lot whiles the one was constrained to offer his wife the other his daughters because they beeing hard bestead and wrapped in on euery side coulde not tell what to doe Persecution properly noteth tyrannicall violence whereby the sonnes of God are vnworthily vexed of the wicked And although Paul denieth the sonnes to be destressed or to bee brought into narrow straites yet hee is not contrary to himself 2. Cor. 4. ◠because he doth not simply make them free from paynefull care but he vnderstandeth they are deliuered as also the examples of Abraham and Lot declare 36 As it is written Psal 44 2◠This testimonie bringeth great weight vnto the cause For he insinuateth howe wee ought to bee so farre off from falling away through the feare of death that this is almost fatall to the seruauntes of God to haue death as it were alway present before their eyes It is probable or like that the miserable oppression of the people vnder the tyrannie of Antiochus is described in that Psalme because it is precisely expressed that they raged against the worshippers of God so cruelly for no other cause then for the hatred of true godlinesse There is also added a notable protestation that yet they fell not away from the couenaunt of God which thing I suppose was chiefly noted of Paule neither doth it let that the Saintes there complayne of calamitie which then pressed them otherwise then it was wont For seeing they first hauing testified their innocencie then shewe how they were oppressed with so many euils an argument is conueniently taken thence namely that it is no newe thing if the Lorde permit the godly without deserte to bee cruelly intreated of the wicked And it is out of question that the same commeth not to passe but for their profite seeing the scripture teacheth that it is farre from the righteousnes of God Gen. 18.23 to destroy the iust with the vniust but rather it is meete to requite affliction to those doe afflict and deliueraunce to those are afflicted 2. Thes 1.6 7 Secondly they affirme that they suffer for the Lorde and Christ denounceth them blessed that suffer for righteousnes sake Mat. 5.10 And whereas they say they die dayly thereby they signifie that death doth so hang ouer their heades that such a life differeth nothing in a maner from death 37 We ouercome by him That is Wee wrestle forth alway and escape I haue reteyned the word which Paul vseth superuincing thogh it be not so cōmon with the latins For sometimes it happeneth that the faythfull seeme to be ouercome and to lie forlorne the Lorde doth not onely so exercise them but also so humble them Yet this ishue is alway giuen that they obteyne the victorie Neuertheles to the ende they might consider whence this inuincible strength is he repeateth that agayne which he sayde before For he doth not onely teach that God because he loueth vs therefore putteth his hande vnder vs to stay vs but also he confirmeth that same sentence of the loue of Christ And this one woorde doeth sufficiently declare that the Apostle speaketh not of the feruencie of that loue wherewith wee loue God but of the fatherly loue of God and Christ towardes vs the perswasion wherof being throughly printed in our heartes it wil alway drawe vs from the gates of hell into the light of life will be of sufficient strength to support vs. 38 For I am perswaded that neyther death nor life nor angell nor principalitie nor powers nor thinges present nor things to come 39 Nor heigth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus That he might the rather confirme vs in those things whiche are felt nowe hee bursteth also into hyperbolicall or excessiue speeches Whatsoeuer quoth hee is in life or death which may seeme to be able to seperate vs from God shall prevaile nothing Yea the Angels themselues if they go about to ouerthrowe this foundation shall not hurt vs. Neither doth it withstande that angels are ministring spirites Heb. 1.4 ordeyned for the health of the electe For Paul here reasoneth from that which is impossible as he doeth also to the Galathians Where in wee may obserue howe all thinges ought to be vile vnto vs Gal. 1.4 in respect of the glorie of God seeing it is lawfull for the maintenaunce of his trueth not to care yea euen for the angels By the names of principalities and powers angels are also signified being so called because they are the special instruments of Gods power Why angels are called principalities and
he hath remoued all doubt And then the third clause not of workes but of the caller Nowe then let vs apply our mindes more neerely vnto this text If the purpose of God according to election be thereby established that before the brethren were borne had done either good or euill the one is reiected the other is chosen then if any would go about to attribute to their works the cause of differeÌ„ce the purpose of God shold so be ouerthroweÌ„ Now whereas he addeth Our election is grounded onely vpon the goodnes of god not of workes but of the caller Hee signifieth not of the behalfe of workes but of calling only For he goeth about to exclude all consideration of works Wherfore we haue all the stablenes of our election concluded in the onely purpose of God merites are worth nothing here which serue for nothing but vnto death no dignitie is regarded for ther is none but the onely goodnes of God raigneth And therefore the doctrine is false contrary to the word of God namely that God doth chose or reiect as hee foreseeth euery man worthie or vnworthie of his grace 12 The elder shall serue the younger Beholde how the Lord putteth a difference betweene the sonnes of Isaac yet beeing in their mothers wombe When the Lord called Iacob to that birthright was due by the order of nature to Esau therby he gaue a type of another matter For this is the answere of the heauenly oracle wherby it followeth that his pleasure was to shewe vnto the younger speciall fauour which he denied vnto the elder And although this did appertein vnto the law of birth right yet therin as in the type of a greater matter was the will of God declared And that may easily be seen if we doe consider how litle according to the flesh the birthright profited Iacob For therefore hee was both in great danger also for the auoiding of that danger he was forced to flee from his house countrie and was vncourteously intreated in exilement and when he returned trembling doubtful of life he prostrateth himfelfe at the feete of his brother humbly he beseecheth him to forgiue him his offence doth not liue but by his pardon Where is his Lordship ouer his brother of whom he is constrained by prayer to aske life Therefore there was some greater matter then the birthright which the Lord promised by his oracle 13 As it is written Yet he confirmeth by a surer testimonie how greatly that oracle giuen to Rebecca did auaile to the presente cause namely that by the Lordship of Iacob bondage of Esau the spirituall condition of theÌ„ both was testified Secondarily that Iacob obteined this grace by the goodnes of God and no merit of his Therefore this testimonie of the Prophet declareth why the Lord gaue vnto Iacob the birthright And it is takeÌ„ out of Malachie where the Lord vpbraiding the vnthankfulnes of the Iewes first maketh mention of his goodnes towards theÌ„ Malac. 1. I haue loued you quoth he and he addeth whence the beginning of loue proceeded was not Esau the brother of Iacob As though hee said what prerogatiue had he why I should preferre him before his brother none at all For there was an equall right sauing that by the law of nature this which was the younger ought to haue been subiect to him that was the elder yet haue I chosen hym refused this being moued thereunto by my mercy only and by no dignitie of workes And now I had adopted you to be my people that I might still prosecute the same loue towardes the seede of Iacob but I haue reiected the Edomites the progenie of Esau Therefore ye are so much the worse whom the remembrance of so great fauour cannot prouoke to the worship of my maiestie And although the earthly blessings are there also mentioned which god bestowed vpon the Israelites yet we must not otherwise take theÌ„ then pledges of his beneuolence For where the wrath of God is there foloweth death but where his loue is there followeth life 14 What shall we say then is there any vnrighteousnesse with God God forbid 15 For hee saith to Moses I will haue mercy on whom I will haue mercy and will shew compassion on whome I will shewe compassion 16 So then it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy 17 For the scripture saith to Pharaoh For this same purpose haue I stirred thee vp that I might shewe my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth 18 Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will whome he will hee hardeneth 14 What shall wee say then Fleshe cannot heare that wisedome of God but straightwayes it is troubled with tumultuous questions and in a sort striueth to bring God to a count Therefore wee see the Apostle so often as hee handeleth any high mysterie answereth many inconueniences wherewithall hee knewe the mindes of men otherwise to bee occupied And chiefly when men heare that of predestination whiche the scripture deliuereth they are tangled with many trifles For the predestination of God is truly a Labyrinth whence the wit of man can no way vnwinde it selfe but such is the importunate curiositte of man that the more dangerous the inquisitioÌ„ of any thing is the more boldly he rusheth thither so when talke is of predestination because he caÌ„not bridle himself Predestination is not therefore vtterly to be neglected because it is a hard daÌ„gerous question by his rashnes hee doth straightwaies as it were drowne himself in the depth of the sea What remedie then haue the godly should they flee all remembrance of predestinatioÌ„ no not so For seeing the holy ghost hath taught nothing but that which is necessary for vs to know assuredly the knowledge thereof shal be profitable if it keep it self within the word of God Let this theÌ„ be a sure obseruatioÌ„ with vs that we seek to know nothing of it but that the scripture teacheth where the Lord shutteth his holy mouth let vs also stop the way to our mindes of going further But because wee are men into whose mindes those foolish questions doe naturally come let vs heare of Paul how we may meet with theÌ„ Is there any vnrighteousnes with god This is a moÌ„strous furie of mans wit that rather it chargeth god of vnrighteousnes theÌ„ it wil reproue itselfe of câ—citie neither wold paul fetch things far of wherw t he might trouble the readers but at it were hee taketh away that wicked doubt which straitwayes creepeth in vpon many so soone as they heare that God doth determine of euery one according to his pleasure Furthermore this is that kind of vnrighteousnesse which flesh imagineth that one being neglected God doth respect another That Paul might loose this knot he deuideth the whole cause into two members in the former whereof he intreateth of the elect in the
against sinne death and Satan was gotten by his resurrection Hence also came righteousnesse newnes of life and the hope of blessed immortalitie And therefore oftentimes resurrection only is set before vs for our confidence of saluation not that it shoulde lead vs away from his death but because it testifieth the effecte and fruite of his death to bee briefe his resurrection conteineth in it his death Whereof we haue said somewhat in the vi chapter And also that Paule requireth not onely an historicall fayth but hee compriseth the ende thereof in the resurrection For wee must remember wherefore Christe rose againe namely that in raysing him the counsaile or aduise of God the father was to restore vs all to life For although Christe had this power of himselfe to take his soule againe yet notwithstāding this worke for the most part in the scripture is ascribed vnto God the father 10 For with the hearte man beleeueth vnto righteousnes This place may further vs to the vnderstanding of the iustification of faith For it declareth that wee are thereby iustified that we imbrace the mercy of God offered vnto vs in the Gospell hence therefore is it that wee are iuste because wee beleeue that God is gracious vnto vs in Christe But let vs note that the seate of faith is not in the head but in the hearte and yet I will not contend about that matter in what part of the body faith resteth but because the worde hearte is almost alway taken for a serious and sincere affection What faith is I say faith is a firme effectuall confidence and not a bare knowledge onely With his mouth man maketh confession vnto saluation It may seeme marueilous why hee should now attribute a portion of our saluatiō vnto confessiō hauing so often before this testified that wee are saued by faith onely But thereby it may not bee collected that confession is the cause of our saluation onely his minde is to shew how God doth perfect our saluation namely whiles he causeth faith with hee hath put into our harts to appeare forth by cōfessiō Yea his mind was simply to note which is true faith The nature of a true faith whence this fruite proceedeth least any shoulde pretende a vayne title of faith for it for true faith ought so to kindle the hearte with the studie of Gods glory that the flame thereof may appeare foorth And surely hee that is iustified euen nowe alreadie hath obteined saluation therefore the faith of the hearte maketh no lesse vnto saluation then the confession of the mouth Thou seest hee hath so distinguished that hee referreth the cause of iustification vnto faithe and in the second place sheweth what is necessarie for the consummation of saluation For neither can any beleeue but hee must confesse with his mouth and there is a necessitie of perpetuall consequence not which may ascribe saluation vnto confession But let them see what they can answere vnto Paule who at this day proudly boast vnto vs an imaginarie faith whiche beeing contente with the secrecie of the heart leaueth out confession of mouth as a superfluous thing For it is too childishe to saye there is fire there where there is neither flame nor heate 11 For the scripture saith euery one that beleeueth in him shall not bee ashamed 12 For there is no difference betweene the Iewe and the Grecian for hee that is Lorde ouer all is rich vnto all that call on him For whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shal be saued 11 For the scripture saith hauing noted the causes why God did iustly reiect the Iewes hee returneth to affirme or proue the calling of the Gentiles which is the other part of the question wherein hee is nowe conuersant Because therefore he had declared the way whereby men come vnto saluation and the same is no lesse common and open for the Gentiles then the Iewes Nowe adding first an vniuersall signe hee doeth plainely extende it to the Gentiles secondly he also calleth the Gentiles by name vnto it And hee repeateth that testimonie which he had alreadie alleadged out of Esay that his sentence might haue the more authoritie and also that it mighte appeare howe well the Prophecies spoken of Christe doe consent with the lawe 12 For there is no difference or respect c. If confidence or faith only bee required whersoeuer the same shal be founde there againe the loue of God shall shew foorth it selfe to saluation then shal be no difference or respect of kinred or nation And he addeth a most firme reason for if he who is the Creator maker of the whole world be the God of all men hee will shew himself louing to all who shall acknowledge and cal vpon him as God For seeing his mercy is infinite it cannot be chosen but that it should extend it selfe to all who craue or seeke for the same Rich is taken in this place actiuely for bountifull and beneficial Where we must note that the richnes of our father can not be diminished or decreased by his bountie and liberalite and therefore that wee haue nothing the lesse albeit he in rich others with the manifolde treasures of his grace The riches of God cannot bee decreased Therefore there is no cause why wee shoulde enuie one anothers prosperitie as if thereby wee lost or wanted any thing And albeit this reason of itselfe was strong enough yet hee confirmeth it by the testimonie of the Prophet Ioel because the vniuersall particle being expressed hee includeth all men together But the readers shal perceiue much better by the circumstance that that which Ioel vttereth doth agree with this place Ioel. 2.32 Acts. 2.24 and likewise that in the Acts Both because in that place he doth prophesie of Christe his kingdome and also hauing foretolde that the anger of God shoulde burn exceedingly in the middest of this his threatning he promiseth saluatiō to all who shal cal vpon the name of God Whereupon it followeth that the grace of God doth pearce euen to the very deapth of death so farre foorth as it be sought for thence that it is not to be denied the Gentiles 14 How then shall they cal vpon him in whom they haue not beleeued and how shall they beleeue in him of whō they haue not heard and how shal they heare without a Preacher 15 But howe shall they preache except they bee sent according as it is written Howe bewtifull are the feete of them who bring tidings of peace who bring tydings of good things 16 But all haue not obeyed the gospell for Isaias saith Lorde who hath beleeued our speech 17 Therfore faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God Heere I will not busie the reader ouer long in reciting and refuting other mens opinions Let euery mā vse his own iudgement and let it be lawfull for me freely to say what I thinke Therefore that you may vnderstande what is
dispaired of neyther were there any hope of repentaunce lefte And heere hee woorthily denyeth the saluation of the Iewes to be past hope or that they are so cast off of the Lord that there is no restitution to be looked for or that the couenant of grace is vtterly extinguished which God once made with them seeing there remained alway in that nation a blessed seede That his meaning is thus to bee vnderstoode it appeareth by this namely that before he ioyned most sure ruine vnto excecation now maketh hope of rising againe which two cold not agree in one Then they are fallen fallen to destruction who were obstinately offended at Christ yet the nation is not so fallen that it should follow of necessitie who so is a Iewe he is lost or fallen away from God But their fal is saluatiō to the Gentiles The Apostle in this place noteth two thinges namely that the fall of the Iewes turned to the saluation of the Gentiles but to this end that they might be kindled with a certaine ielousie so bethinke thēselues of repentance Surely he respected the testimonie of Moses which he had already cited where the Lorde threatneth Israel that as he was prouoked of them through false Gods vnto emulation so also by the lawe of retaliation he would prouoke them with a foolish people The word that is vsed there noteth the affection of emulation and ielousie namely that we burne when we see another preferred before vs. Then if the counsaile of the Lord be that Israel should be prouoked vnto emulation Israel is not therefore fallen that hee should be throwen into eternall destruction but that the blessing of God The Iewes are not therefore reiected that they should vtterly perishe which was contemned of them might come vnto the gentiles to the end that they also at length might bee stirred to seeke the Lorde from whom they are fallen But there is no cause why the readers shoulde greatly weary themselues in applying the testimonie for Paule doth not vrge the proper sēce of the worde but only alludeth vnto the vulgare and knowen manner For as emulation prouoketh the wife being reiected from her husband for her fault that she should studie to reconcile herselfe so now he saith it may come to passe that when the Iewes shall see the Gentiles placed in their roome they beeing touched with the sorow of their diuorcement should seeke for reconciliation 12 Wherfore if the fall of them Because he had taught that after the Iewes were diuorced the gētiles entred in their steed least he should make the saluation of the Iewes odious vnto the gētiles as though the saluatiō of the gētiles stood vpō the destructiō of the Iewes he preuēteth the false opinion putteth downe the cōtrary sētence namely that nothing serueth more to promote the saluation of the gētiles then if the grace of God did floorish and aboūd greatly with the Iewes Which thing that he might proue he vseth an argument frō the lesse If their fall could raise vp the Gentiles and their diminishing inritch them how muche more shall their fulnes For that was done against nature but this shoulde come to passe by the order of nature Neither doth it hinder this reason that the word of God came vnto the Gentiles If the Iewes receiued the gospel it should be so farre from hindering that it should greatly further the faith of the Gentiles after the Iewes by refusing of it had as it were vomited it For if they had receiued it their faith had brought muche more fruite then their infidelitie brought by this occasion For so both the trueth of God had beene confirmed because it had appeared to be fulfilled in them and they also by doctrine had brought many whom by their stubbornesse they rather turned away And he had spoken more properly if he had opposed rising of the gētiles against the fal of the Iewes Which I therfore note least any should seeke here for the elegancie of speech or be offended at the rudenes of speech For these are spoken not to frame the tongue but the heart 13 For I say to you Gentiles He proueth by a notable reason that the Gentiles shal loose nothing if the Iewes returned againe into fauour with God For he sheweth that the saluation of them both is so ioyned together that by one and the same worke it may be promoted For thus he speaketh vnto the Gentiles notwithstanding I am an Apostle peculiarly appointed for you and therefore ought in a speciall sort procure your saluation committed vnto me and as it were all other thinges layde apart to seeke that onely yet I shal doe my duetie faithfully if I can winne any vnto Christ of mine owne nation And that shall be to the glorie of my mynisterie and so for your wealth For whatsoeuer did serue to set foorth the mynisterie of Paule it was an ornament to the Gentiles whose saluation was the end thereof And here also he vseth the verbe Parazelosai to prouoke That the Gentiles might seeke for the euent of Moses prophesie such as he describeth Deut. 32.22 when they should vnderstand it to be profitable for them 14 Might saue How the minister is said to saue Here note how the minister of the worde is said in his manner to saue those whom he hath brought vnto the obedience of faith For the dispensation of our saluation must be so moderated that we know al the vertue and efficacie therof to be in God and giue vnto him due praise yet that we knowe also preaching is an instrument to bring to passe the saluation of the faithful which although it can profite nothing without the spirit of God yet the same spirite woorking inwardly it doeth mightily shew foorth his vertue 15 For if the reiection Some doe lewdely corrupt this place which many count to be obscure in my iudgemēt it ought to be so vnderstood that it is another argument taken from the comparing of the lesse and greater to this sence if the casting off of the Iewes could doe so much that it should giue cause to the reconciling of the gentiles of how much more force shall their receiuing be Ought it not euen to raise from the dead For Paul persisteth stil in this that the gentiles haue no cause of enuie as though the Iewes being receiued into fauour their estate should be the worse He reasoneth therfore that seeing God hath woonderfully brought life out of death and darknes out of light it is much more to be looked for that the raysing againe of a people as it were cleane dead should quicken the gentiles Neither letteth that which some alleadge namely that reconciliation differeth not from resurrection as we do here vnderstand resurrection namely whereby we are translated from the kingdome of death into the kingdome of life For although the thing be one yet there is lesse and more weight in the wordes which sufficeth to the force of
well our death as life is to be resigned to his wil. Heereunto hee addeth a notable reason because whither wee liue or die wee are his For thereuppon it followeth that hee hath power ouer life and death The vse of this doctrine is very large For so the Lordshippe of life and death is ascribed vnto GOD that euery man might the better beare his estate as the yoke imposed by him for it is meete hee shoulde assigne to euerye one his standing and course And so wee are not onelye forbidven rashely to take in hande this or that without the commaundement of God but also wee are commaunded to be patient in all griefes and losses If therefore at anye time the fleshe starte aside in aduersitie let vs remember that hee who is not free neither hath power ouer himselfe doeth peruerte right and order if hee depende not vppon the becke of his Lorde By this meanes also is deliuered vnto vs a rule to liue and dye so that if hee prolonge our life by continuall miseries and sorowes yet we couet not to departe before our time And againe if sodainely in the middest and flower of our age hee call vs away wee bee alway readie to departe 9 For Christ therefore died This is a confirmation of the reason went before For to the ende hee might prooue that wee are to die and liuâ— to the Lorde hee sayde wee are in the power of Christe whither wee liue or dye Nowe hee sheweth howe woorthily Christe challengeth vnto himselfe this power ouer vs seeyng hee hath purchased the same by so greate a price For by suffering death for our saluation he hath gotten vnto himselfe a dominion or Lordship ouer vs which cannot be destroyed by death by rising againe he hath receiued our whole life into his iurisdiction and garde therefore by his death and resurrection hee hath deserued that as well in death as in life we should serue to the glorie of his name Wheras it is said here he rose againe reuiued it is as much of value as if it were sayde that by his resurrection a newe state of life was obteyned to him And because that life wherein hee now liueth is not subiect to any mutation his kingdome also ouer vs is eternall 10 But why doest thou iudge thy brother Or also thou why doest thou despise thy brother For we shal al appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ 11 For it is written I liue saith the Lorde and euerie knee shall bowe to mee and euerie tongue shal confesse vnto God 12 So then euerie one of vs shall giue account for himselfe vnto God 13 Let vs not therefore iudge one another any more but rather iudge this that no occasion of falling of offence be giuen to your brother 10 But why doest thou iudge Because hee had addicted the life and death of vs all vnto Christ thence he passeth to make mention of that iudgement whiche the father hath giuen to him together with the dominion of heauen and earth Whence hee gathereth that it is malapert boldnes if any manne vsurpe vnto him selfe iudgement ouer his brother seeyng by such licenciousnes that authoritie is pulled away from Christ whiche hee onely hath receiued of the father But first by the name of brother he brideleth this lust of iudging For if the Lorde haue ordeyned amongest vs the law or â—â—â—t of brotherly societie an equalitie must needes be obserued therefore euery one taking to himselfe the person of a iudge shal doe naughtily Secondly he reuoketh or calleth vs vnto that onelye iudge from whom no man cannot onely not take away his authoritie but also cannot escape his iudgement As it were therefore an absurd thinge amongest men if a guiltie person whiche were not woorthie to lie vppon the footestoole shoulde rushe vnto the seate of iudgement so absurde is it that a Christian manne shoulde take vnto him selfe libertie to iudge his brothers conscience Suche in effect is the argument of Iames saying Iames 4.10 he that iudgeth his brother iudgeth the lawe and hee that iudgeth the lawe is not a keeper of the lawe but a iudge And on the coÌ„trary quoth he there is one law giuer who caÌ„ saue destroy Tribunal is attributed vnto Christ for the faculty of iudging as the voyce of the Archangel wherby we shal be cited is called in another place a trumpe because as it were with his sound 1. Thes 4.16 he shal pearce the mindes and eares of all 11 For it is written I doe liue He seemeth vnto me to haue cited this testimony of the Prophet Esay Esay 45.23 not so much for the proofe of that sentence of the iudgement of Christ which was vndoubtedly beleeued of all Christians as to shew that that iudgement is to bee looked for of all with great humilitie and submission which the wordes themselues importe Th comming of Christ to iudgement ought huÌ„bly to be looked for of all men In his wordes going before he testified that Christ onely was iudge ouer all men now by the words of the Prophet he declareth that all fleshe ought to be humbled with the expectation of that iudgement whiche is noted by the bowing of knees Howbeit notwithstanding in that place of the prophet the Lord doth generally foreshew that it should come to passe that his glorie should he made manifest amongest all nations and his maiesty which then was amongest a fewe as it were lurked in a corner of the world shoulde shyne euerye where yet if wee looke into it more neerely it is apparaunt that the full accomplishment thereof is not nowe extaunt nor euer was in this worlde neither yet is to bee looked for in the ages to come God raigneth nowe no otherwise their by the Gospell neyther is his maiestie otherwise honoured aright then whiles the same beeyng knowen by his worde is reuerenced But the word of God hath alway had his enimies whiche haue frowardly resisted and his contemners which haue scoffed at it as a trifling and fabulous thing At this day there are many such and euermore withe Hereby appeareth that this prophecie is indeede begun in this life but is not perfected till that day of the last resurrection shall come wherein all the enimies of Christ shal be throwen downe that they may become the footestoole of his feete Furthermore euen that also coulde not be except the Lord sate in iudgement therefore hath he well applied this testimony vnto the tribunall of Christ It is also a notable place to establishe our faith concerning the eternall dietie of Christe For it is God that speaketh there and that God which hath once sayde Esay 42.8 that hee will not giue his honour to another Nowe then if that bee fulfilled in Christ which hee there challengeth to him selfe onelye without doubte hee doeth manifest him selfe in Christ And surely the veritie of that prophecie appeared then cleerely when Christe gathered vnto him selfe a people out of all
21. Adam a figure of Christ chap. 5. 14. Adams disobedience what harme it brought chap. 5. 19. Adoption of the Iewes chap. 9. 4. To expect adoption what it is chap. 8. 23. External adoration chap. 11. 4. Adulation must be auoyded chap 12. 28. cha 16. 18. Aedification necessary for the godly cha 14. 19. Affection twofold in the godly chap. 8. 23. cha 9. 2. cha 11. 19. Afflictions are furtherances of saluation to the godly cha 8. 28. Afflictions promote the glory of the faithful cha 5. 3. 5. Afflictions must be borne patiently cha 8. 29. 30. Afflictions of the godly momentany chap. 8. 1◠Afflictions the end of the faithfull chap. 5. 3. Ambition is to be taken heede of cha 13. 13. Anabaptistes condemne al swearing chap. 1. 9. Anathema what it is chap. 9. 3. Anguish what it is cha 8. 35. Anxiety what it is cha 8. 35. The Apostles vse great liberty in reciting the scripture chap. 3. 4. To be ashamed for to hasten cha 9. 33. Authoritie to be giuen vnto God onely cha 3. 10. The Authority of the sword confirmed chap 13. 4. B BAptisme hath succeeded circumcision chap. 4. 11. Baptisme doth not iustifie cha 2. 25. The end of baptisme cha 2. 25. Body put for that part of men is vnregenerate cha ◠10. The body must be kept vndefiled from al pollution of superstition cha 11. 4. The body of death what it is cha 7. 24. The body of sinne what it is cha 6. 12. Budaeus his place cha 9. 3. C CAlling with 〈◊〉 cha 8. 30. Calling of election cha 1. 6. To cal for to raise cha 4. 17. Effectual inner calling proper only to the elect cha 10. 16. The calling of the Gentiles witnessed by the Prophets cha 9. 25. Calling of the Gentiles like vnto a graffing cha 11. 18. Calumniations against the grace of God cha 6. 7. Catharites confuted cha 7. 25. The cause of the Iewes excetation cha 10. 19. The causes of the saluation of the faithful cha 8. 28. The certainty of Gods word whence it dependeth cha 3. 4. The certainty of saluatiō depēdeth vpō the goodnes of God cha 8. 32 Charity the bond of perfection cha 1◠19. Degrees of charity cha 16. 1. Children of righteousnes who they are cha 6. 20. Christ eternal God cha 1. 3. 4. Christ the aduocate and intercessour of the godly cha 8. 34. Christ why called Lord cha 10. 9. Christ the only paterne of the faithful cha 8. 29. Christ the sonne of God cha 1. 4. Christ the first begotten sonne of God cha 8. 29. Christ the end of the law cha 10. 4. Christ the brother of al the godly cha 8. 29. Christ a man cha 1. 3. Christ the iudge of the whole world cha 2. 16. Christ how he is a stone of offence cha 9. 32. Christ the minister of circumcision cha 15. 8. Christ onely our peace cha 5. 1. Christ how he hath purchased saluation for al cha 4. 25. Christ how he beseecheth the father for vs cha 8. 34. Christ how he dwelleth in vs cha 8. 10. Christ sent vnto vs filled with al heauenly treasures cha 8. 32. Christ wherefore he was sent cha 15. 8. Christ how he died to sinne cha 6. 10. Christ by his owne strength rose againe cha 1. 4. Christ his manifestation twofold cha 3. 21. Christ his death the beginning of our reconciliation with God cha 5. 10 Christ his death killeth sinne in the faithful cha 6. 4. Christ by death hath done away our sinnes cha 4. 25. The efficacie of Christ his death cha 6. 5. The communication of Christ his death twofold cha 6. 7. Two natures in Christ cha 9. 5. Christ his obedience cha 5. 19. Christ his office cha 1. 16. Christ his resurrection cha 1. 4. Christ his resurrection the worke of the power of God cha 6. 4. Christ his resurrection hath gotten the victorie for vs cha 10. 9 Christ his resurrection hath gotten righteousnes for vs cha 4. 25. The end of Christ his resurrection cha 10. 9. Christ his triumph cha 7. 4. Christ his zeale cha 15. 3. To put on Christ what it is cha 13. 14. Who are true Christians cha 8. 9. Christian life standeth in doing cha 12. 11. Christian priesthood what it is chap. 15. 16. The Church is nourished by the secret prouidence of God cha 11. 2 Circumcision twofold chap. 2. 28. Which is true circumcision cha 2. 25. Circumcision did not iustifie cha 2. 25. 28. The vse of circumcision chap. 4. 11. Collections for the poore cha 15. 25. Common for prophane cha 14. 14. Compassion may lawfully be in the godly euē for the reprobate cha 9. 2. Compassion necessary in the godly cha 12. 15. Communication of the faithful cha 12. 4. 15. Diuers complaints of the godly ful of desperation chap. 5. 3. A common wealth how it may be wel gouerned cha 13. 3. Compassion necessary in the godly cha 12. 15. Concupiscence is sinne cha 7. 7. Condemnation of mankind printed in al creatures chap. 8. 21. Whither confession be the cause of our saluation chap. 10. 10. Confession why it is put before faith chap. 10. 9. Coniecture which they cal moral is a schoole imagination chap. 4. 16. and 8. 16. 34. Coales of fire vpon the head of our enimy cha 1◠20. Conscience subiect to the commandement of God onely cha 6. 17. The conscience in steed of a thousand witnesses cha 2. 15. An euil conscience the heauiest torment cha 2. 15. With doubting conscience nothing ought to be done cha 14. 23. True consent what it is cha 15. 5. Conspiracy or consent out of God is miserable cha 15. 5. Contention for rebellion and stubbornnes cha 2. 8. Contention is condemned cha 1. 28. 13. ver 13. 14. 1. Who are contumelious cha 1. 28. The counsailes of the godly are sometime turned of the Lord. cha 1. 13. The consolation of the faithful cha 2. 5. 4. 13. 6. 14. 8. 1. 9. 33. and 10. 8. Continual prayer cha 12. 12. The contrariety of the letter and the spirit chap. 7. 6. The consolation of Pastors cha 1. 9. Contentious and vnprofitable questions must be auoyded cha 14. ◠Couetousnes condemned chap. 1. 28. Couenants why they differ from the promise cha 9. 4. A twofold cutting off cha 11. 22. Curiositie is to be auoyded cha 9. 14. 11. 23. D DAuid the image of Christ cha 11. 9. Day put for the brightnes of celestiall life cha 13. 12. The day of iudgement horrible chap. 2. 5. The day of iudgement must be looked for cha 2. 16. Dayes superstitiously obserued cha 14. 6. Death almost alway present to the seruants of God cha 8. 36. Death to what end it is to be wished for of the godly cha 7. 24. Death of sinne the life of man chap. 7. 9. Death the reward of the reprobate chap. 6. 23. The difference of right and wrong how it is graffed in the heartes of men chap. 2. 15. The