offered their bodies suffring hunger thirst much trauell but it was not to a right end to the glorie of the true God and therefore it was not an holy sacrifice Tolet annot 3. 3. some giue this sense holy that is congruens praescripto divino agreeable to the diuine prescript as therefore Nadab and Abihu offended God because they offered with strange fire not appointed by God Gryneus but this is too particular neither comprehendeth all the points of holinesse 4. Lyranus following Vlptanus de verbor significat saith that is called sanctum holy which is fixum stabile sure and permanent 5. Pet. Martyr alleadgeth two other significations of this word as out of Servius vpon the 12. booke of the Aeneides that sanctum is quasi sanguine consecratum as consecrate with blood and so this sacrifice of Christians is consecrate by the blood of Christ the other from Martianus in titul de rerum diuision that sanctum is deriued of the hearb called sanguina which is the same with verbenà vervin which the Romane Embassadors carried in their hands and by that signe were protected from the violence of their enemies but neither of these significations are so fit 6. Wherefore sanctum the Latine word which signifieth holy is the same that the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is so tearmed as separate from all earthly and terrene qualitie pure and purged from all drosse the sacrifices of the lawe had these two parts of holinesse 1. they must be without spot or blemish then they were holy consecrate vnto God and separate from all profane vse this specially was a type of the most holy and perfect higâ—â— Priest Christ Iesus who was holy harmeles vndefiled separate from sinners Hebr. 7 2â— which properties must in some sort also be seene in the spirituall sacrifices of Christians as S. Peter saith as he which hath called you is holy so be you holy in all manner of coÌ„uersation they therefore which remayne in their sinnes and are therewith defiled cannot offer vp an holy sacrifice to God Pareus to this purpose Origen sanctum dicit c. be calleth it holy wherein the spirit of God dwelleth as the Apostle saith Know ye not that your bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost to the same purpose Haymo so then as this sacrifice must be liuing in respect of the inward life of the soule wherein it liueth by faith vnto God so it is holy in regard of the sanctitie of the inward affections and externall actions of the life 5. Pleasing vnto God c. 1. Some make this the third propertie of this sacrifice that it must be pleasing vnto God as Tolet sheweth how the sacrifices of the Iewes were holy in themselues yet not pleasing vnto God when they were offered by such as were of an vncleane life and therefore the Lord abhorred their sacrifices so Origen interpreteth pleasing vnto God that is separatum à vitijs separate from sinnes so also Haymo Gryneus vnderstandeth it of the sacrifices offered by faith whereby they are made acceptable so also Pareus likewise Faius they must be offered with a sincere affection without all hypocrisie 2. But I rather encline to their opinion which thinke that this is rather the effect which followeth vpon the other properties that if they be liuing and holy sacrifices they must needs be pleasing also vnto God then a newe propertie so Calvin Pet. Martyr and hereof these reasons may be alleadged 1. from the resemblance of the legall sacrifices which beeing offered according to the will of God were accepted as when Noah offered a sacrifice it is said God smelled a sauour of rest Gen. 8. this was not a propertie in the sacrifice but an effect following 2. from the nature of that which is holy to be accepted of God as Martyr alleadgeth out of Plato in Euryphrone who though he would not haue this a perfect definition of sanctitie to be accepted and loued of God yet he graunteth it to be an inseparable qualitie that which is holy is alway accepted of him 3. Because faith whereby this sacrifice is made acceptable to God is included in the former properties for without faith it can neither be liuing nor holy 4. so S. Peter sheweth that spirituall sacrifices are acceptable to God through Christ 1. epist. 2.5 and the Apostle to the Hebrewes saith c. 13.16 with such sacrifices God is pleased it is the sequele or effect of the sacrifice to be pleasing vnto God rather then the propertie in the sacrifice as Lyranus Gorrhan the interlinear gloss referre it to the good intention that all things should be referred to the praise of God 6. Which is your reasonable seruing of God c. 1. Origen thinketh the Apostle calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reasonable seruing because it was such as whereof a reason might be rendred which could not be giuen of the sacrifices of the lawe why they offered some kind of beasts rather then others Anselme to the same purpose Men must so doe their good workes as that they may giue a reason of them 2. Tehodoret thinketh this is added to shewe a difference betweene these sacrifices of Christians and those of the Iewes of vnreasonable beasts so also Erasmus Osiander here is indeede such a secret difference insinuated but yet more is meant then that onely 3. Lyranus by reasonable vnderstandeth discretion that which is discreete temperate as when one doth sacrifice his bodie by abstinence it must not be out of measure but in discretion as that he be not thereby made vnfit for his calling so also Caietan Gorrhan and before them Thomas Aquinas but this were too particular a restraint of this description for in this last part all is summed together and included before required in this sacrifice for these words are added by way of opposition this is your reasonable seruing of God namely this your liuing and holy sacrifice 4. Wherefore by reasonable the Apostle vnderstandeth nothing but spirituall as S. Peter expoundeth 1. Pet. 2.5 and there he calleth the word of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the reasonable that is spirituall milke v. 2. the reasonable service of God is that which is of the minde and spirit for so will God be worshipped in spirit and truth Ioh. 4.23 so Chrysostome calleth it spiritualem cultum spirituall seruice that is vt mens offeratur the minde should be offered to God Haymo this spirituall seruice consisteth of faith hope charitie Vatablus Gryneus Bucer Pareus and Faius here well obserueth a secret opposition betweene this reasonable seruice and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will worship as S. Paul calleth it Coloss. 2.23 when men according to their owne fansies doe invent a religion and service fitting their owne humors but that is the reasonable seruice of God which is agreeable to his will as Basil in regul breviorib interrog 230. thus well interpreteth Qui ea assiduè facit quae ex Dei voluntate sunt he which by
the last place according to the originall with reference as is said before 5 By whome we haue receiued grace and Apostleship for obedience to the faith that obedience might be giuen to the faith B. G. among all the Gentiles for his name that they may obey the faith of his name T. in his name among all heathen B.G. 6 Among whome ye are also the called of Iesus Christ the called in Iesus Christ. T. 7 To all that be at Rome B. you that be B. G. Be. V. they that be L. T. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beeing called to be Saints Grace be to you and peace grace with you T. from God our Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ. 8 First verily I giue thanks to my God I thanke my God B.G. but in the originall it is put in the dative to God thorough Iesus Christ for you all because your faith is published in the whole world not heard T. or renowned R. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 annuÌ„ciator published 9 For God is my witnesse whome I serue in my spirit with my spirit B. in the Gospel of his Sonne that without ceasing I make mention of you V.B.G.Be. make memorie of you R.L. which phrase is neither good in Latin or English 10 Alwaies in my prayer beseeching if by any meanes sometime at the length T.B.L. V. at one time or other B.G. I might haue a prosperous iourney by the will of God to come vnto you 11 For I long to see you that I might impart vnto you Be. L. bestow among you B.G. some spirituall gift that ye may be stablished Be. B. or confirmed T.V. to confirme you L. R. but the word is in the passiue 12 That is to be comforted together among you Be. in you L. R. with you B.G. to be exhorted together B. Par. but the Apostle was comforted rather then exhorted by their faith by our mutuall faith yours and mine 13 Now I would not haue you ignorant brethren Be. Par. l. Or. I would haue you know T.B. how that I haue oftentimes purposed to come vnto you but haue beene letted hetherto that I might haue some fruit also among you Be. Par. in you L. T.R. the Greeke preposition signifieth in properly but here it is taken for among as also among other Gentiles 14 Both to the Grecians and to the Barbarians both to the wise and vnwise am I a debter to euery man am I a debter to preach T. this is not in the originall 15 So that as much as in me is I am readie to preach the Gospel to you also that aâ—â— in Rome verbat that which is in me is readie to preach 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 Iew first and also to the Grecian 17 For by it the righteousnes of God is reuealed from faith to faith as it is written But the iust shall liue by faith 18 For the wrath of God is reuealed from heauen against vpon L. all vngodlines and vnrighteousnes of men which withheld the truth in vnrighteousnes 19 Forasmuch as that which may be knowne of God Be. G.V.B. which is knowne of God L.R. the knowledge of God T. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here signifieth that rather which may be known is manifest in them for God hath shewed it vnto them 20 For the inuisible things of him from the creation of the world or since the foundation T.L. Par. not thorough the creation of the world V.G.B. see qu. 51.2 beeing vnderstood by his works are seene both his eternall power and Godhead which words the Genevens transpose to the beginning of the verse that they should be without excuse T. not so that they are inexcusable L. R. B. or to the intent that they should be without excuse B.G. Par. see qu. 54. 21 Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankfull but became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be. L. blinded B. full of darknes G. 22 When they professed themselues to be wise B.G. saying themselues to be wise L.R. counting B. thinking T. but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is better translated professing they became fooles 23 And they turned for they turned Be. G. but the word in the original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the glorie of the corruptible God into the similitude of the image by the similitude c. V. into the formed image Be. made after the similitude c. B. but in the original it is in the similitude of a corriptible man and of birds and of foure footed beasts and of creeping things 24 Wherefore God gaue them vp to their hearts lust vnto vncleannes not to vncleane lusts of their hearts T. or to vncleannes thorough the lusts of their hearts V.B. to dishonour or disgrace ignominia afficiant T.V.L. defile Be. B.G. but the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifieth to disgrace their owne bodies betweene themselues 25 Which turned the truth of God into a lie not his truth for a lie V.B. and worshipped and serued the creature beside the Creator or forsaking the Creator not aboue the Creator V. or more then the Creator B. or rather then the Creator the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beside who is blessed for euer Amen For this cause God gaue them vp to vile affections for euen the women did change the naturall vse into that which is beside nature contrarie to nature L.B.G. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prater and vsed that which is not of nature T. but here he interpreteth rather then translateth 27 Likewise the males the men B.G. but the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 males left the naturall vse of the women and burned in their lust one toward an other and the males with males men with men B.G. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 males wrought filthines and receiued in themselues such recompence of their error as was meete as they should L. as was according B. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which it beheoued or was meete 28 For as they regarded not to know God euen so God deliuered them to a reprobate minde G.V. rather then a leud minde B. reprobate sense L. vaine minde T. minde voide of iudgement B.P. the words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reprobate minde to doe those things which are not conuenient 29 Beeing full of all vnrighteousnes fornication wickednes couetousnes maliciousnes rather then iniquitie malice fornication wickednes L. B. for the order is inuerted for the most Greeke copies and the Syriak put fornication in the second place see qu. 73. following full of enure murder debate deceit euill conditioned V.B. taking things in the worse part G. full of euill thoughts T. malignitie L.Be. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 churlishnes morositie 30 Whisperers backbiters haters of God not hatefull to God L. for the
herein a difference also is shewed that the Gospel is reuealed vnto some namely to such as beleeue but not vnto others it is hid to them which are lost 2. Cor. 4.3 Hyper. 2. From faith to faith 1. Origen and Chrysostome doe thus expound ex fide veteris Testamenti in fidem noui from the faith of the Old Testament to the faith of the Newe 2. Ambrose ex fide promittentis Dei in fidem hominis credentis from the faith of God promising to the faith of man beleeuing so also Aretius Gualter Martyr 3. Augustine ex fide praedicantium in fidem audientium from the faith of the preachers to the faith of the hearers 4. Anselme from the faith of one article to the faith of the rest but it can be no true faith vnlesse it beleeue all the articles 5. Theodoret ex fide praesentium in fidem futuruum from the faith of things present to the faith of things to come as of the resurrection life euerlasting But vnlesse these things be soundly beleeued there can be no faith at all 6. ex fide informi in fidem formatam from an imperfect faith without charitie vnto a perfect faith but the Apostle speaketh not at all of any such dead faith without charitie for that faith cannot iustifie 7. There remaine then these two expositions that this be vnderstood rather of the encrease of faith we must proceede from faith beginning to faith increasing as the like phrase is vsed Psal. 84.7 they goe from strength to strength Beza Hyper. Gualter and Iohn 1.16 Of his fulnesse haue we all receiued grace for grace Thus Clemens Alexandrin expoundeth stronsat 3. Apostolus vnicam tantum fidem annuntiat â—â— but of one faith which by encreasing commeth to perfection 8. And this meaning it hath withall from faith to faith to signifie that altogether by faith man is iustified and onely by faith Pareus Faius so also Thomas nulle tempore cuiquam nisi per fidem salus contiâ—â— that at no time saluation was attained vnto by any but by faith 3. And by faith here is not vnderstood 1. either obedience of life to liue as God hath commanded for faith is here opposed to workes 2. nor yet a bare and naked assent vnto the Gospel that it is true for such an historicall faith euen the deuills haue 3. but it is taken for a full assurance and confidence of the heart Heb. 10.22 Let vs drawe neere with a true heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the assurance of faith by such a faith are we iustified Beza Pareus Quest. 45. Whether the Apostle doth rightly cite this place out of the Prophet The iust by faith shall liue for the words 1. Obiect The Hebrewe word vsed by the Prophet Habuc 2.4 is beomunatho in his truth or integritie but the Apostle translateth it faith Answ. The Septuag doe translate this word by the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith and so the Hebrewe word cemunah signifieth not onely truth integritie but faith 2. Obiect In the originall it is by his faith which notwithstanding the Septuag doe thus interpret 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by my faith the reason whereof Hierome coniectureth to be this they might mistake the letter vau for iod which onely differ in the length now Synomachus readeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by his faith according to the Hebrewe But S. Paul neither here nor Galat. 3.11 doth translate the Hebrewe pronoune but translateth onely the iust liueth by faith to this it may be answered 1. Hierome saith non erat ei cura de vorbis cum sensus esset in tuto he had no care of the words retaining the sense 2. And beside loquens eodem spiritu quo Prophetae sensum sumit speaking by the same spirit that the Prophets spake by he taketh the sense vsing his owne words gloss ordinar 3. These pronounes are easily vnderstood in the Greeke tongue though they be not expressed Beza 4. And without the pronoune the place as the the Apostle alleadgeth is sufficient to prooue his purpose that the iust liueth by faith Pareus 3. But the Latine translator here readeth amisse vivit liueth in the present tense whereas it is put in the future in the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall liue 4. And the order of the words is to be considered the iust by faith shall liue not the iust shall liue by faith for this reading presupposeth that first he is iust and then liueth by faith whereas he is first iust by faith before he can liue vnto God Mart. Faius Innius in Paral. 5. And here by the way a slip of Chrysostoms may be noted who directly nameth in his commentary the Prophet Zephanie whereas this testimonie is taken from Habacuke which may be obserued to shewe that those auncient fathers though they were excellent men yet were but men and might sometime forget themselues As Ambrose handling that place a little before to the Iewe first thinketh that the Iewes were so called of Iudas Macchabeus whereas long before they were called by that name as is euident 2. king 25. Ierem. 40. Esther 1.3 Mart. This is no note to derogate from the credit of the fathers but to shew a difference between their writings and the holy Scriptures which are free from the least error of forgetfulnesse Quest. 46. Whether S. Paul in citing this saying followeth the Prophets sense 1. Some thinke that the Prophet there historically speaketh of the deliuerance of the people from the captiuitie of Nebuchadnezzar and therefore exhorteth the faithfull that with patience they would expect the promised deliuerance by which faith they should liue and be thereby refreshed and comforted but typically thereby is signified the deliuerance by Christ and so this sentence is accordingly applyed which typicall application the Apostle followeth of this opinion is Gualter 2. Pareus thinketh that the Prophet doth indeede comfort the people in captiuitie which was to come but not onely the Prophet doth leade the mindes of the godly to an higher matter to consider of their euerlasting deliuerance by Christ so he thinketh that both senses of their temporall and spirituall deliuerance are comprehended in this sentence 3. But this is rather the literall and proper sense of the Prophet specially to commend vnto the faithfull their faith and beleefe in the Messiah to come Thus Eusebius expoundeth 1.6 de demonst c. 14. and Hierome saith manifesta in his verbis de Christi aduentus prophetis est there is a manifest prophesie in these words of the comming of Christ And the Apostle so euidently applyeth it Heb. 10.35 Cast not away your confidence which hath great recompence of reward c. v. 37. For yet a verie little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarrie v. 28. now the iust by faith shall liue Perer. Hyper. 4. But it will be obiected that this sense agreeth not with the Prophets purpose who c. 1. complaineth of the enemies and
iudgements from heauen tanquam è sublimi loco as out of an high place in the sight of all Faius so manifest that no man can denie it Beza 7. But the best sense is that men shoud not thinke these plagues sent vpon the world to be ordinarie and naturall though God therein may vse naturall and secondarie causes sed à Deo inflicta but that they are inflicted of God Martyr Pareus 5. Vpon all vngodlinesse 1. Origen restraineth this clause that though the wrath of God be said to be reuealed against all impietie non tamen in omnes homines yet not against all men but onely against those among the Gentiles which had the knowledge of the truth such were their wise men and Philosophers 2. But Tolet by diuerse reasons sheweth that all the Gentiles are here comprehended whether the wise or vnwise 1. by the generalitie of the words against all impietie and vnrighteousnesse 2. because they all had the knowledge of God by the creatures 3. v. 26. the Apostle maketh mention of their women whom he would not haue counted among the Philosophers and wiser sort 4. the Apostles intent is to prooue that all the Gentiles were vnder the wrath of God and therefore also the knowledge of the Gospel and of faith in Christ was necessarie vnto all both the wise and vnwise 3. but as Tolet here reasoneth well so yet herein he is deceiued he thinketh as this sentence concerneth all the Gentiles so the former that the iust shall liue by faith he taketh to be meant onely of the Iewes whereas v. 17. the Apostle made euident mention both of Iew and Grecian that the Gospel was the power of God to saluation to euerie of them that beleeued Faius 6. All impietie and vnrighteousnesse 1. Tolet following Theodoret thinketh that these two are applyed to idolatrie which is both impietie because it denieth vnto God his worship and iniustice in giuing that which is due vnto God vnto idols 2. But the vsuall interpretation is better which Origen also hath impiet as peccare in Deum est iniquit as in homines impietie is to sinne against God iniquitie against men so also Chrysostome non de dogmatis tantum dicit sed de vita he speaketh not onely of the errors of doctrine but of the sinnes of the life c. So impietie comprehendeth the transgressions against the first table vnrighteousnesse against the second Pareus 3. some by all impietie c. vnderstand all impious and vnrighteous persons Perer. rather it signifieth super omnes impietatis partes c. vpon all the partes of impietie and vnrighteousnesse Gorrham whereof these two reasons may be yeelded 1. that none should be excepted though they seemed neuer so righteous they might haue some impietie in them Beza 2. and to shew the obiect of Gods wrath which was not properly men but the impietie and vnrightousenesse of men Pareus Quest. 48. What it is to withhold the truth in vnrighteousnesse v. 18. 1. Anselme vnderstandeth this of those qui veritatem id est Dei scientiam habent tamen male vivunt which haue the truth that is the knowledge of God but yet doe liue ill 2. Basil of those qui donis Dei ad proprias voluntates abutuntur which hauing the gifts of God doe abuse them to their owne pleasure But the first restraineth this word veritie or truth as though it onely concerned the knowledge of diuine things whereas there is a truth also in moral duties the second seemeth onely to include those which sinne malitiously and of set purpose whereas all the Gentiles were guiltie of this in detayning the truth in vnrighteousnesse 3. Oecumenius expoundeth it of those which did know the truth in themselues and did keepe it in ne alys splendeat that it should not appeare vnto others But in this sense onely the Philosophers and wise men among the heathen should be touched whereas S. Paul sheweth what was the condition of all the Gentiles in generall 4. Augustine Ambrose Chrysostome Hayme doe specially apply it to the knowledge of God which the Gentiles had by the creatures and abused it in leauing the Creator and worshipping the creature quod per opera Dei cognovisti per opera hominum perdidisti that which thou knewest by the works of God thou hast lost by the handieworke of men August serm 55. de verbo Domini secund Ioan. And Chrysostome thus resembleth it like as one hauing the kings treasure committed vnto him to bestowe in the kings affaires should spend it vpon harlots and other Iewde persons so also Tolet. Perer. But in this sense the Apostles reason should be too much restrained who spake before of all impietie and vnrighteousnesse both against God and man 5. By truth then we here better vnderstand veras notitias de Deo colendo proximo diligendo the true notice both of worshipping God and louing our neighbour such as the Gentiles had by the knowledge of nature which notice of the truth they by their owne concupiscence and vnrighteousnesse abused and did contrarie things to this their knowledge both in their duties toward God and their neighbours Pareus Martyr Hyperius And here the Apostle vseth a sic similitude taken from Tyrants who oppresse the innocent and imprison them so the Gentiles did as it were imprison the truth which they had by nature in their owne corrupt affections which were as setters gives vnto the truth which would haue shewed it selfe but was kept vnder 6. But seeing the truth is powerfull and prevalent why should it be kept vnder more at one time then at an other Ans. The truth is alwaies powerfull but the difference is not in the truth it selfe but in the instrument which we vse in apprehending it our naturall strength is of small force but when the grace of God assisteth vs then the truth breaketh forth and can be no longer kept vnder Martyr 49. Quest. What the Apostle meaneth by these words v. 19. That which may be knowe of God is manifest in them c. 1. The Apostle here preuenteth an obiection for whereas he had said that the Gentiles did hold the truth in vnrighteousnes it might be obiected that they had not the knowledge of the truth at all the Apostle therefore sheweth that they had the knowledge of God by the light of nature and by the sight of the creatures Pareus 2. Chrysostome Oecumenius likewise Ambrose Augustin this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which may be knowne of God they restraine vnto the knowledge of the creatures making the next verse an exposition of this the inuisible things c. are seene by the creation But the Apostle euidently distinguisheth this knowledge from that for this is saide to be manifest in them the other is without them here therefore he meaneth that naturall light and those principles of truth both concerning God that he is and what he is and touching morall equitie which are by nature imprinted in the minde Pareus
said to be incorruptible because he onely of himselfe is free from all corruption and change the Angels are incorruptible yet not originally but by the will of God Pareus infaelix mutatio this was an vnhappie change of the true glorie of God into a similitude of the very God into an image and of the incorruptible into that which is corruptible Gorrham 3. this they did two wayes first in ascribing diuine honor to such things as by nature were not gods as the Egyptians did worship beasts and other creatures for their gods then in seeming to honour the true God by the images of men and beasts Pareus 4. Some take the words in this sense as though they should thinke that the godhead was like vnto these things as S. Paul toucheth that error Act. 17.29 We ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like to gold or siluer c. But the meaning rather is that they giue the diuine honour due vnto God vnto the images of men and beasts for the Apostle seemeth here to allude to that place Psal. 106.16 they turned their glorie into the similitude of a bullocke c. yet the Israelites did not thinke God to be like vnto a calfe or bullocke Tolet. now whereas in the Psalme it is said their glorie but here the glorie of God the reason is because gloria eorum Deus God was their glorie for there can be no greater honour vnto a nation then the true worship of God Mart. 5. The Apostle here doth diuers wayes exaggerate this grosse idolatrie of the heathen 1. maxime ridiculum est c. it was ridiculous that they tooke vpon them to change the glorie of God 2. then quod in tam absurda mutarunt that they changed it into such absurd things Chrysostome 3. he saith not they changed the glorie of the incorruptible God into a corruptible man but into the similitude of the image c. not naturall but such as was fashioned and framed by the hands of man Gorrham Tolet. 6. And whereas some of the Philosophers were not so grosse to thinke that the verie images of wood gold or siluer were the gods but that the Gods were represented in them yet both the one and the other did worship them for gods as Athanas. sheweth orat cont idolat and Augustine saith well quis orat intuens simulachrum qui non sic afficiatur vt ab eo se exandirs putet c. who prayeth looking toward an image is not so affected as though he thought it heard him and hopeth to haue performed by it that which he desireth whereupon men addicted to such superstitions doe turne their backe vpon the Sunne and power out their prayers before the image of the Sun August tractat in Psal. 123. ex Beda 62. Quest. Of the diuerse kinds of idolatrie among the heathen in worshipping the images of men and beasts v. 23. 1. Varro a famous antiquarie among the Romanes who wrote the 41. bookes of antiquities whereof 25. are of humane matters 16. of them of diuine he maketh three kinds of Theologie or heathenish diuinitie one fabulous and poeticall wherein the Poets doe faine many vndecent things of the gods as that they committed theft adulterie that some of them had their beginning out of the thigh some out of the head of Iuppiter there was also a naturall Theologie which the Philosophers handled as whether the gods were eternall what their beginning was whether of the fire as Heraclitus or they consisted of numbers as Pythagoras or ex atomis of small motes as the Epicures the third was ciuill Theologie which belonged to the Priests as what gods ought to be worshipped and with what ceremonies and sacrifices this was for cities the second for the world the first for the theater or stage to this purpose Varro But Thomas sheweth how in this place the Apostle condemneth all these kinds the Ciuill which consisted in the adoration of images in these words they turned the glorie of the incorruptible God into the similitude of the image c. the fabulous and poeticall in these words v. 25. which turned the truth of God into a lie and the naturall obserued by the Philosophers he condemneth in saying v. 25. they serued the Creature forsaking the Creator Thom. in hunc locum 2. Plutarke 6. c. lib. 1. de plurit Philosoph diuideth the heathen idolatrie into 7. kinds 1. they obserued the heauens and starres and when they sawe that by their motion and influence the things belowe were much guided they gaue vnto them the name of gods 2. they made some profitable and wholesome gods as Iuppiter Iono Mercurie 3. some vnprofitable as Mars Saturne the Furies whom they appeased with sacrifices 4. they gaue the fourth place vnto the passions and affections of the minde as to loue venerie desire 5. then they made goddesses of the vertues as of Iustice Fortitude and such like 6. Then followe the poeticall fictions as Hesiodus generation of the gods 7. They ascribed diuine honour vnto those that had bestowed any benefits or found out any profitable inuention for men as Hercules Castor Pollux Bacchus 3. And of all other people the Romanes exceeded in the varietie of idolatrie Tertullian in apologet citeth Varro that he brought in 300. Iuppiters and of other kinds they had an infinite number of gods whereof Augustine giueth this reason Roma quanto maior facta est sicut nauis nautas tanto plures adhibendos esse Deos putavit c. Rome the greater it waxed as a great ship requireth more mariners so they thought to vse many gods as though a fewe gods sufficed not for their greatnesse lib. 3. de ciuit c. 12. Leo addeth further cum pene omnibus dominaretur gentibus omnium pene serutebat errorbus when as they bare rule ouer all nations they became slaues to all their errors serm 1. de Natal Pet. Paul and they in policie did worship the gods of all other nations ad dilatationem imperij for the enlarging of their dominion thinking thereby the rather to insinuate themselues Lyranus Quest. 63. Of the grosse idolatrie of the heathen in worshipping the images of men and of beasts v. 23. 1. Of the image of a corruptible man c. 1. In the booke of wisdome two reasons are yeelded of the adoration of images nimius amor amicorum nimius timor tyrannorum too great loue of friends and too great feare of tyrants of the one they made images to remember them of the other to flatter them Gorrham 2. The Assyrians were the first that worshipped the image of a man namely of Belus the father of Ninus whom the Babylonians called Bell the Sidonians Baal the Iewes Beelzebub the Philistims Zebet Haymo 3. The Romanes after the comming of Aeneas into Italy worshipped also the images of men as Iuppiter Romulus ex gloss ordinar 4. And they worshipped not onely men of desert but lewde persons as the Romanes made Larentia a common strumpet one
of his goodnes L.V. A.B. or benignitie gentlenes T. Be. rather then bountifulnes G. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and patience and long sufferance or long animitie not knowing that the goodnes or benignitie of God leadeth thee or bringeth thee R. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to repentance not to penance R. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth rather repentance and change of the minde then outward penance 5 But thou after thine hardnes and heart that cannot repent dost treasure vp vnto thy selfe heapest vp L.B.G. gatherest to thy selfe V. but the word properly signifieth to stoare or treasure vp wrath in the day of wrath V.A.L. that is against the day of wrath Be. T.G. B. but in the originall it is in the day and of the reuelation T.A.L. declaration G. B. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reuelation of the iust iudgement of God 6 Who will render to euery man reward euery man B.G. but it is put in the originall in the datiue according to his workes 7 That is to them which by continuance in good workes or in well doing B.G.V. but the word in the originall is good workes not according to patience in good workes L.R. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth as well perseuerance and continuance as patience nor which by perseuerance seeke the glorie of good workes Be. good workes is better referred to continuance seeke glorie honour and immortalitie eternall life 8 But vnto them that are contentious verbat of contention L R. and disobey the truth and obey vnrighteousnes not giue credit to vnrighteousnes L. R. for both the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disobeying and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obeying are of the same deriuation shall be indignation and wrath V. A.B.G.Be wrath and indignation L. T. but the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 excandescentis commotion or indignation is lesse then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wrath rage 9 Tribulation and anguish shall be against the soule Be. V.A. vpon the soule B.G.L. to euery soule T. the first rather see before v. 2. of euery man that doth euill of the Iew first and of the Grecian not to the Iewes first and to the Gentiles T. 10 But glorie honour and peace to euery one euery man B. that doth good to euery one that doth good glorie honour c. G. but here the words are transposed to the Iew first and also to the Grecian not to the Gentiles T. 11 For there is no respect of persons V.B.G. acception of persons Be. L. R. with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acception of persons 12 For as many as haue sinned without the law not whosoeuer hath sinned L. B. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whosoeuer is put in the plural shall perish also without the law and as many as haue sinned in the law shall be iudged by the law 13 For not the hearers of the law are iust with God before God G.T. in the sight of God B. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apud with but the doers of the law shall be iustified 14 For when the Gentiles which haue not the Law doe by nature not naturally L. R. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by nature the things of the Law contained in the law G. B. which are of the law but in the original it is the things of the law they hauing not the law are a law vnto themselues 15 Which shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts the effect of the law G. but the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worke their conscience also bearing witnes not bearing them witnes L.T.B. for them is not in the original and their thoughts not of their thoughts L. for in the original it is put absolutely in the genitiue accusing one an other mutually or excusing 16 In the day at the day G.B. but in the original it is in the day when God shall iudge the secrets of men according to my Gospel by Iesus Christ. by Iesus Christ according to my Gospel B.G. but the words are here transposed 17 Behold thou art surnamed a Iew V.B.G.Be. not but if thou art surnamed L.R.T. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 behold not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as though it were two words and restest in the law and gloriest in God makest thy beast of God B. but the preposition is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 18 And knowest his will and triest the things that differ A. B. approouest the most profitable things L.T. approouest the more excellent things G.B. but the phrase is vsed in the first sense Philip. 1.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifieth things differing beeing instructed by the Law 19 And art perswaded or confident V. Be A.G. beleeuest B. presumest L. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which S. Paul vseth of himselfe Rom. 8.38 that thou art a guide of the blind a light of them which are in darknes 20 An instructer of them which lacke discretion B. G. T. of the foolish L. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without wit or discretion a teacher of the vnlearned V. B. G. of infants verbal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 L.B.T. he meaneth such as were infants in knowledge hauing the forme of knowledge and of truth in the Law 21 Thou therefore which teachest an other teachest thou not thy selfe thou that preachest a man should not steale doest thou steale 22 Thou which saiest a man should not commit adulterie doest thou commit adulterie thou that abhortest idols committest thou sacriledge A. B.G.Be read these two verses with an interrogation V.T.L. read without and so the next verse also 23 Thou that gloriest in the Law thorough transgression of the law B.V. prevarication L. breaking of the law B. G 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 transgression dishonourest thou God 24 For the Name of God thorough you is blasphemed among the Gentiles as it is written 25 For circumcision verily profiteth Be. V.G. auaileth B. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profiteth if thou doe the law but if thou be a transgressor of the law thy circumcision is made vncircumcision 26 Therefore if the vncircumcision prepuce R. the word is praeputium in Latin but it can not be made an English word keepe the rites of the law Be. ordinances B. G. iustices L. A. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rites shall not his vncircumcision be counted for circumcision 27 And shall not vncircumcision by nature keeping the law not by nature keeping the law T. these words by nature are euidently ioyned with the first clause in the original iudge thee that by the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law 28 For not he that is in open shew outward B. G. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in manifest in open shew is a Iew not that which is in open shew in the flesh is circumcision 29 But he that is in secret is a Iew he is a Iew which is one within B. G. but the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the
did commit the same things themselues Theodoret. But the Apostles words beeing generall Thou art inexcusable O man whosoeuer thou art are not to be so restrained 3. Chrysostome thinketh the Romanes are here specially taxed who were the Lords of other nations and so tooke vpon them to iudge others But the Apostle hetherto in generall hath reasoned against all the Gentiles 4. Some thinke that the Apostle speaketh of the iudgement of the Philosophers such as were Socrates Cato who erred in the same things whereof they reprooued others Hyper. But the Apostle in generall speaketh to euery man whatsoeuer 5. Yea some doe make the Apostles speach yet more particular that he should specially meane Seneca with whome he was familiar But as yet S. Paul had not beene at Rome and therefore if Seneca were knowne vnto the Apostle this their knowledge beganne after the writing of this epistle 6. Wherefore I rather thinke with Pareus that the Apostle noteth all such in generall among the Gentiles who found fault with others beeing guiltie of the same faults themselues yet so as the Iewes be not excluded though principally the Gentiles be taxed see the analysis before he speaketh of a generall iudgement whereby one iudgeth an other that is subscribeth to Gods iudgement that they which doe such things are worthie of death so Chrysostome Vniuersi mortales licet non omnes thronos iudiciales c. for all mortall men though they haue not iudiciall thrones c. yet they iudge either in word or in the secret of their conscience Ambrose thinketh that the Apostle here preuenteth an obiection that whereas he had before noted such as committed sinne themselues and fauoured it in others they might thinke to be free which condemned it in others though they did it themselues therefore the Apostle sheweth that euen such could no way escape the iudgement of God 2. Quest. Whether one offend in iudging an other wherein he is guiltie himselfe It may be thus obiected that if a man make himselfe inexcusable in iudging an other for the same crime which he knoweth by himselfe then it is not safe for such an one to iudge an other as our Sauiour reprooueth those which brought the woman taken in adulterie because they themselues also were not without sinne Ioh. 8. Ans. 1. The iudge which condemneth an other is in the same fault either occultè in foro conscientiae secretly and in the court of their conscience and then they sinne not in iudging of an other or they are publikely detected of the same sinne and then they sinne not in that they giue iust sentence vpon other but in respect of the scandall and offence giuen to others Thomas non peccat quia reprehendit sed quia inordinatè reprehendit he sinneth not because he reprehendeth him but because he doth it inordinately Gorrh. 2. so that the power of the office must be distinguished from the vice of the person such a iudge neither offendeth against the lawes which command malefactors to be punished nor against the offendor which hath deserued that punishment but he sinneth in giuing offence to others Pareus 3. our blessed Sauiour misliketh not the action that they accused the adulteresse for he himselfe admonisheth her to sinne no more but the manner that they did it in hatred delighting in the punishment of an other and in hypocrisie not looking into themselues Martyr 4. Herein Dauid offended who pronounced sentence of death against the man of whome Nathan put the case in his parable not yet perceiuing that he himselfe was the man against whom he pronounced sentence Erasm. such many were there among the heathen Diogenes accused Grammarians which diligently sought out Vlysses faults and were ignorant of their owne and Musitians which tuned their instruments beeing themselues of vntuneable manners Astronomers for that they gazed vpon the starres and saw not the things before their owne feere Orators because they were carefull to speake iust things but not to doe them the common people praised them which contemned money and yet they themselues were addicted to the desire of money ex Gryn 5. Now whereas our Sauiour saith Iudge not that ye be not iudged Matth. 7. he speaketh not there against ciuill iudgement or brotherly admonition but against hastie and precipitate iudgement and vncharitable curiositie when men pried and searched into the faults of others not with a desire to amend them but to the end tha◠their faults might be rather excused with the multitude of otehr delinquents Martyr Quest. 3. Of these words v. 2. We knowe that the iudgement of God is according to truth 1. We knowe some will haue this principally referred to the Iewes we knowe by the Scriptures Tolet. we the Apostles and spirituall men Gorrh. we knowe both by the light of nature and by the testimonie of the word Pareus But the Apostle hauing here to deale against all men in generall doth vrge this naturall principle that God seeth more sharpely then men and therefore is a most iust iudge Beza so that he saith in effect we knowe that is it is certaine Osiander 2. The iudgement of God Chrysostome referreth this to the finall iudgement at the last day that howsoeuer some may escape vnpunished in this world yet the iudgement of the next world shall be according to truth so also Osiander but euen in this world the Lord also often sheweth his vpright and iust iudgement Ambrose maketh this the connexion of the sentence that if man iudge the sinnes which he seeth in another God shall much more But these words are rather a confirmation of the former sentence that he which iudged an other and yet committed the same things could not so escape for though he were blind in his owne iudgement God would finde him out his hypocrisie could not be hid 3. According to truth where the iudgement of God is opposed to the iudgement of man in these two things first mans iudgement is partiall he often iudgeth according to the person not the qualitie of the offence Calvin and againe there are many secret things which God will bring to light but man cannot iudge them Lyran. Socrates who publikely disputed of vertue yet priuately was an idolater Cato 2 Censor of others yet was an vsuter and did prostitute his wife these men though they seemed without reproofe vnto others yet the Lord that iudgeth according to truth would finde out their sinnes Beza 4. Origen here mooueth this question if God iudge according to the truth so that the euill receiue euill things and the good good things at the hands of God how then commeth it to passe that a man who hath liued wickedly and repenteth him findeth remission of sinnes and fauour with God and an other which hath liued well and afterward falleth into euill is punished the answer is that God iudgeth here according to truth for in the one ingressa piet as impietatem depellet godlinesse entreth and expelleth vngodlinesse and in the
which the Apostle vseth els where as 1. Cor. 9.17 the dispensation is credited or committed vnto me maketh for the credit of those to whose fidelitie these oracles were committed facit ad honorem personae cui confidimus it maketh for the honour of the person which we trust as Ambrose saith maximam fuisse laudem Iudaeorum c. it was a great praise for the Iewes that they were counted worthie to receiue the law 7. And this word of crediting sheweth that what was committed vnto them exigendum cum vsuris was to be exacted with vsurie Gorrhan God would require an account of them of his law which he had credited and committed vnto them as is shewed in the parable of the talents Hugo 8. This then was the priuiledge and preheminence of the Iewes that they were first depositarij tum oeconomi first keepers of Gods oracles committed vnto them and afterward stewards and dispensers of them Calv. for the Apostles preached the word of God vnto the Gentiles as it is prophesied Isa. 2.3 The Law shall goe forth of Sion and the word of God from Ierusalem and so our blessed Sauiour saith Ioh. 4.22 that saluation is of the Iewes 9. But this further here is to be obserued that whereas v. 1. the Apostle propounded two questions one of the preheminence of the Iewes the other of the profit of circumcision he insisteth onely vpon the first and omitteth the other both because he had answered before concerning circumcision that it is profitable if one keepe the law c. 2.25 and he hasting to other things reserueth that matter to a fitter place c. 4. Pareus 2. Quest. How mens vnbeleefe can not make the faith of God without effect 1. By the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here is rather vnderstood their perfidiousnes rebellion and falling away from God then the not beleeuing of his promises Beza and by the faith of God is meant his verilie and constancie in keeping his promises as Psal. 33.4 All his workes are faithfull Pareus the Apostle then vnderstandeth fidem datam faith giuen by God Bez. and the truth of his promises Bucer now as the former obiection might be made by the Iewes that if their case were no better then the Gentiles then they should haue no preheminence at all so this second obiection might be mooued by the Gentiles that although God for his part had made vnto the Iewes many gracious promises yet they by their deâ—â—elt had depriued themselues of the benefit thereof to this obiection then the Apostle maketh this answer that their vnbeleefe could not make the faith and promise of God of no effect 2. This some expound of the absolute promises of God for some of his promises are absolute as those made to the fathers of the giuing of the lawe and of the comming of Christ some were conditionall as that they should for euer inherite the land of Canaan if they walked in Gods commandements the first is called by the schoolemen prophesia predestinationes the prophesie of predestination the other the prophesie comminationis of commination and diuerse will haue the first kind to be here vnderstood as Lyranus Caietas Perer. Faius Pareus reiecteth this interpretation because all the promises of the Lawe and Gospel haue annexed the condition of obedience or faith 3. Some giue this sense by faith vnderstanding the beleefe of the faithfull reposed in Gods promises that the infidelitie of some could not evacuate the faith of others Origen but by the words following let God be true shew that the faith of God that is made by him not faith reposed in him is here signified 4. Some thus expound quantum ad Deâ—â— that God for his part is readie to keepe his promises if men performe the condition but if they by their infidelitie depriue themselues of the promise the fayling is in themselues and not in God Pareus dub 1. But this doth not fully satisfie for if the promises of God should haue beene altogether evacuated though not by any inconstancie in God but their infidelitie yet they should haue beene without effect which the Apostle denieth 5. Chrysostome thus inferreth that their incredulitie is so farre from laying any fault vpon God vt maiorem illius ostendit bonitatem that it more commendeth his goodnesse when he seemed to honour those which dishonoured him So also Beza the goodnesse of God is so much the more commendable quanto indigniores sunt quorum miseretur the more vnworthie they are that he hath mercie on But to the incredulous the promises of God were of no effect they were depriued Heb. 4.1 6. Therefore it must be obserued that the Apostle saith not all but some what though some did not beleeue Gualter they then which beleeued not non praeiudicabant caeteris â—â— not hinder or were preiudiciall to those which beleeued gloss ordinar he signifieth semâ— mansisse quosdam c. that there were alwaies found among them in that nation that beleeued in Gods promises and therefore the promises of God are not evacuate Calvin like as though the Sunne seeme not to rise vnto those which are blind yet he doth rise vnto those that are of perfect sight Gryneus as then the Sunne should rise though no man could see it yet God hath ordained both that the Sun should giue light and some should enioy it So God would shewe himselfe true and stedfast in his promises though all men should fall away from him yet he hath ordained that as he keepeth truth in his promises so there should be alwaies some in the Church which should beleeue them Quest. 3. How God is said to be true 1. The vulgar Latine readeth God is true and so some of the fathers haue followed that reading as Cyprian epist. 55. ad Cornel. and Ambrose lib. 3. de fide c. 3. and so the Syrian interpreter but in the originall Greeke it is in the imparatiue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let God be true which Origen thinketh must be vnderstood non praeceptive by way of precept but pronuntiative as pronouncing that God is true And here it is taken in the same sense as when we say in the Lord prayer let thy name be hallowed then fiat let him be is here all one as manifestetur let him be manifested to be true sit nobis verax intelligatur let him be true to vs that is be so taken and vnderstood to be Photius so also Basil lib. 4. cont Eunom 2. Now this difference is betweene veracitie and fidelitie the first is circa verba aboue words that no vntruth be vttered the other is circa pacta concerning couenants and premises in keeping and performing them faithfulnes and fidelitie alwaies includeth verilie but there may be veritie in speaking without fidelitie when as truth is onely vttered without any promise to performe any thing But here veracitie is taken for fidelitie as Psal. 8.15 the Lord is said to be great in kindnes and truth Tolet. 3. Now the Lord is
intelligatur let him be true to vs that is be so taken and vnderstood to be Photius so also Basil lib. 4. cont Eunem 2. Now this difference is betweene veracitie and fidelitie the first is circa verba aboâ—â— words that no vntruth be vttered the other is circa pacta concerning couenants and premises in keeping and performing them faithfulnes and fidelitie alwaies includeth veritie but there may be veritie in speaking without fidelitie when as truth is onely vttered without any promise to performe any thing But here veracitie is taken for fidelitie as Psal. 86.15 the Lord is said to be great in kindnes and truth Tolet. 3. Now the Lord is said to be true 1. not onely effective because he effecteth his promises which he made to Abraham as concerning the land of promise and concerniâ—â— Christ Haymo but essentialiter he is essentially true and constant in himselfe he can not lie Man is saide to be true because he will not sometime lie though he may and can lie But God is so true that he can not lie neither doth this argue an impotencie of nature in God for as in a man posse mentiri to can or be able to lie argueth an infirmitie rather then power so in God it sheweth his power that he can not lie because it is contrarie to his naâ—â—â—â— Faius 4. It will be obiected that God sent a lying spirit into the mouthes of Ahabs false prophets how then is God true that sendeth forth a lying spirit Ans. Sathan was indeede the author of that lying and offered himselfe to goe God onely permitted and suffered him efficaciam erroris dedit and gaue way and efficacie of error and by his iust iudgement deliuered Ahab ouer to be deceiued and deluded by them God was no way accessarie vnto the act of lying Faius 5. This saying of the Apostle God is true though it be not cited out of any speciall text of Scripture yet it may be collected out of diuers places vnto the which it is agreeable as Numb 23.18 God is not as man that he should lie Psal. 85.15 God is great in kindnes and truth Psal. 36.6 Thy truth reacheth vnto the clouds Psal. 89.33 I will not falsifie my truth Ier. 10.10 The Lord is the God of truth he is the liuing God and an euerlasting king Out of all these places or any of them may this sentence be alleadged Pareus Perer. 4. Quest. How euery man is said to be a lyar 1. Foure waies is a man giuen to lying 1. by the circumstance of his nature because he is mutable and readie to alter and change his purpose 2. by the prauitie and peruersnes of his will in not keeping that which he hath promised 3. in the vanitie of his minde in delighting in lies and giuing eare vnto fables 4. in his malice in inventing and deuising lies many times to beguile and deceiue Gryneus Martyr 2. Hugo thus distinguisheth these kinds of lying there is triplex vanitas a threefold vanitie which a threefold lying followeth there is vanitas essentiae the vanitie of mans nature and essence which is to be mutable and changeable and this is common to man with all other creatures and hence is the first kind before spoken of then there is vanitas miseriae the vanitie of miserie and wretchednes which is incident to all liuing things such is the miserie of mans nature that neither he can doe what he would neither yet often will doe that which he can hence is the peruersnes of the will in not performing and keeping that which is promised which is the second kind before spoken of the third is vanitas culpae the vanitie of sinne which is proper onely to the reasonable creature hence are the two last kinds before spoken of either to giue care vnto lies or to deuise them 3. But there is great difference betweene mentiri mendacium dicere betweene lying and telling of a lie one is said to lie when he doth it anima fallendi with a mind to deceiue one may tell a lie and yet not lie himselfe when he reporteth that which is false as many such false and fabulous things are found in Herodotus and Plinir Faius 4. Augustine distinguisheth a lie into three kinds there is perniciosum officiosum iocosum a pernicious lie which is to deceiue and to doe hurt an officious lie which is made to preserue an others life and a lie made in merriment in sport none of these lies can be iustified but the first is the worst But here is no place at large to handle these things I referre the Reader to the questions vpon the 9. Commandement in Hexapla vpon Exodus chap. 20. 5. Quest. Whether euery man can be said to be a liar Origen here mooueth this doubt if euery man be a liar then Paul also was a liar and Dauid for they were men 1. Hierome vpon this place would haue this generall particle all to be restrained and to be taken for the most part as when S. Paul saith All seeke their owne and Psal. 14.5 All are gone out of the way But it is euident v. 12. of this chapter that the Apostle vnderstandeth all without any exception 2. Some by omnis euery one vnderstand the Iew or such as were incredulous gloss ordinar But Beza well maketh a difference betweene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disobedient vnfaithfull which be affirmed onely of some and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a liar which he ascribeth to all without exception 3. An other answer is that in respect of God all men are said to be liars because God onely is immutable But in this sense not onely men but Angels should be said to be liars for they also are mutable and changeable beeing compared with the Creator 4. There are then two answers which will fully satisfie 1. the Apostle speaketh of men as they are in themselues by nature so euery one is apt and prone vnto lying not as they are regenerate and renewed by grace and speake by the spirit of God as Dauid and Paul did Pareus this solution followeth Augustine in his commentarie vpon the 116. Psalme Euery man is a lyar if man be considered in himselfe sed gratia Dei verax efficitur but by the grace of God he is made true and againe he alleadgeth that place in the Psalme I said ye are gods c. in tantum non erit homo mendax in quantum homines erunt dij as men are gods so they are not liars So before him Origen vrging those words of our Sauiour Ioh. 10.35 If he called them gods to whome the word of God was c. but the word of God came vnto Dauid and vnto Paul non vtique homines erant sed dij therefore they herein were not men but gods 2. This must be vnderstood of a generall pronenes and inclination by nature vnto lying not of the very act it selfe of lying It followeth because euery man is naturally a liar that therefore
morally he should be a lyar in act Pareus so then euery man is said to be a liar quia mentiri potest quamvis non mentiatur because he may and can lie though alwaies he doe not lie Tolet. 6. Quest. How the Prophet Dauid is to be vnderstood saying Euery man is a lyar Psal. 116.11 1. Some doe thus interpret nihil est firmum vel stabile in rebus humanis nothing is firme or stable in humane matters Theodoret to the same purpose also Euthymius fallax est humanae vita faelicitas the happines of mans life here is deceitfull But this beeing a most true position how could the Prophet say I said in my hast as correcting his hastie and vnaduised speach in thus saying 2. Some preferre this sense that Dauid beeing much troubled and perplexed with his manifold afflictions and sometime tempted with diffidence doth correct himselfe and confesseth that God notwithstanding was true though all men were liars Perer. but it is euident by the Prophets words that this is not a correcting but a corrected speach which he spake in his hast 3. Origen deliuereth a third sense that Dauid hauing reuealed vnto him the truth by faith saying a little before I beleeued and therefore I spake doth thankfully acknowledge that he had receiued the reuelation of the truth from God whereas all other men as Philosophers and the wise among the heathen were liars their writings were full of error and falshood But that by all he vnderstandeth not onely the vnbeleeuing Gentiles but all men in generall is euident v. 12. following as hath beene shewed before 4. Calvin whome the Genevens follow thus expoundeth nihil esse certi neque ab homine neque in homine that there is no certentie neither from man to be looked nor yet in man but this beeing a most true and aduised assertion why then should the Prophet there say he spake it in hast for so the word there signifieth as likewise Psal. 31.22 I said in my hast I am cast out of thy sight 5. Vatablus thinketh that Dauid meaneth those which said when Saul persecuted him that he should neuer enioy the kingdome and therefore he trusting to Gods promises saith they were all liers But why then should Dauid say I said in my hast as confessing that he thus spake in his heat and hast 6. Wherefore the meaning of the Prophet Dauid there is this that beeing oppressed with his manifold and great afflictions he had some distrustfull thoughts in so much that he began to thinke that euen Samuel and Nathan which had made vnto him such promises concerning the kingdome were but men and had spoken as men vnto him And this sense may be confirmed by the like place Psal. 31.22 cited before I said in my hast Iun. Caietan Iansenius But two obiections will be made against this interpretation 1. If Dauid be thus vnderstood this allegation should seeme to be impertinent for the Apostle groundeth vpon that saying of Dauid as a certen and vndoubted axiome which Dauid their vttered in hast Ans. 1. It is not necessarie to graunt that S. Paul citeth this place out of that Psalme the like saying is found Psal. 39.5 Euery man is altogether vanitie 2. but it may safely be admitted that the Apostle hath reference to this very place Psal. 116. and yet he keepeth the Prophets sense for though Dauid were deceiued in the particular application to Samuel and other Prophets yet the speach was true in generall euery man is a liar here was Dauids error that he tooke them to speake as other men this generall ground of Dauids speach the Apostle followeth here 2. Obiect The word there vsed bechaphzi Vatablus translateth in praecipiti mea fugâ— in my hastie flight the vulgar latine in excessu meo when I was beside my selfe for feare it neede not be translated in my hast Ans. 1. The word chapaz signifieth indeede all these to make hast to be astonished to mooue for feare to precipitate but the more vsuall and proper signification is to make hast as Exod. 12.10 Ye shall eate it in hast Psal. 104.7 they hast away 2. and whether it be translated in my hast or in my feare the sense is all one that Dauid spake thus in his heat and passion 3. and that it is not meant of his externall flight of bodie but rather of the acceleration and hast of his affections is euident by the like place Psal. 31.22 I said in my hast I am cast out of thy sight Quest. 7. Of the occasion of these words cited out of the 51. Psalme that thou mightest be iustified c. against thee onely haue I sinned The words in the 51. Psalme immediatly going before are these v. 4. Against thee onely haue I sinne and committed euill in thy sight how Dauid is said to haue sinned onely against God it is diuersely scanned 1. Gregorie thus expoundeth tibi soli peccavi against thee onely haue I sinned quia tu solus es sine peccato because thou onely art without sinne man is not said to sinne against man quia eum aut par aut grauior culpa inquinat because either he is defiled with the same or a greater sinne But though euerie man be a sinner this is no reason but that one man may trespasse against another 2. Origen thus expoundeth Dauid by these words of S. Paul 1. Cor. 2.15 the spirituall man discerneth all things yet he is iudged of none therefore against thee onely haue I sinned because others cannot iudge me quia spiritualis sum because I am spirituall c. But Dauid in this act was not spirituall but carnall 3. Caietan thinketh that Dauid so speaketh because he was king and had no superiour iudge to whom he was subiect and therefore he is said onely to sinne against God because he onely was his superiour Iudge But Dauid standeth not here vpon any personall prerogatiue he setteth forth the qualitie of his offence 4. An other exposition which P. Martyr mentioneth is he saith he sinned onely against God because he sinned against his lawe for although he had trespassed against Vrias and Bathshebe his wife yet those were sinnes none otherwise then as they were prohibited by Gods lawe But in this sense not onely Dauid but euerie one beside should be faid to sinne against God 5 Some giue this sense against thee onely that is chiefely he had so profaned Gods couenant abused his benefits caused the name of God by this his fall to be blasphemed that he had offended God most of all Mart. Gualter But they are two diuerse things to sinne onely against God and chiefely to offend him 6. Wherefore Dauid here hath relation to the secresie of his sinne which was caried so politikely that the world perceiued it not yea Ioab though he was priuie to Vrias death yet knew not the cause Vatab. Iun. and thus before them D. Kimhi this sense is warranted 2. Sam. 12.12 where the Lord saith thou didst
entercourse is betweene God onely and his elect as Act. 13.48 thâ—â— beleeued as many as were ordained to eternall life God hath a speciall care of their saluation that are ordained vnto life 2. there is a mutuall relation betweene the faith of God and the elect the elect are by faith perswaded of the faith of God and the truth of his promises 3. on Gods behalfe there is offred his word on our part it is required that we should keepe that worthie thing which is committed vnto vs 2. Tim. 1.14 Gryneus Doct. 4. That the Sacraments depend not of the worthines of the Minister As the Apostle here saith shall their vnbeleefe make the faith of God without effect howsoeuer the minister be disposed the Sacraments want not their force and efficacie because they depend vpon the truth of God which the incredulitie or misbeleefe of man cannot make voide Martyr Doct. 5. There are alwaies some vnbeleeuers and incredulous persons in the Church Shall their vnbeleefe c. Then it followeth that as there were some vnbeleeuers euen among the Iewes so there are still such carnall men and hypocrites in the Church and yet it ceaseth not to be a Church we should not therefore be afraid when we see carnall men and euil liuers to remaine within the Church but consider that such there must be as the Apostle saith that they which are approoued may be knowne 1. Cor. 11.19 Pareus Doct. 6. Who shall iudge the world and how v. 6. Els how shall God iudge the world 1. Here we learne that God is the iudge of the world and he shall iudge the world by Iesus Christ Act. 17.31 2. and this iudgement of God consisteth both in his knowledge that nothing is hidde from him Eccles. 12.14 God will bring euerie work vnto iudgment and euerie secret thing and in his power whereby he now present both directeth ordereth and disposeth euery thing and afterward shal giue vnto euerie one according to his workes 3. God iudgeth two wayes 1. by his word reuealed which teacheth the true faith and worship of God and discerneth the true faith and doctrine from false so our Sauiour saith Ioh. 12.48 the word which I haue spoken shall iudge him This word then ought to be iudge of all controversies the Church cannot iudge because it is a partie as when the question is which is the true which the false Church here the Church is a partie therefore the word and not the Church must be iudge as the lawe is the iudge of ciuill controversies the Church notwithstanding is said to iudge but improperly when it searcheth out and pronounceth the sentence of the word 2. God iudgeth by his deed and worke both present in disposing euerie thing to that end which he thinketh best and in proposing examples of his iudgements euen in this life and therefore Dauid saith Psal. 9.5 thou sittest in the throne that iudgest right and by his iudgement to come in the finall execution of his sentence vpon all both good and bad wherein he shall reward euerie one according to his works ex Pareo Doct. 7. Our doctrine must be grounded vpon the Scriptures v. 10. As it is written hereupon Origen giueth this good note non nostras cum docemus sea spiritus sancti proferamus sententias let vs not bring forth our owne but the sentences of the spirit when we teach c. the Preacher of the truth must confirme his doctrine by the word of truth for faith must not be grounded vpon any mans word yea the Berrheans searched and examined the sermons of the Apostles by the Scriptures Act. 17.11 Therefore neither are such preachers to be commended which are verie rare in citing of Scriptures in their sermons but they are much more worthie of blame which are more frequent in the citing of prophane testimonies of Philosophers and Poets and such like then of the Prophets and Apostles Doct. 8. Of the corruption of mans nature v. 10. There is none righteous no not one 1. It is euident that mans nature is wholly corrupt as both the Scripture testifieth and daily experience sheweth 2. this corruption of nature is a generall deprauation and prauitie of nature beeing inclined vnto all euill and by this prauitie and euilnes it is made guilty of death 3. this corruption of mankind is not of God who created man good but of man himselfe through the instigation of the deuill 4. it is generall and vniuersall none are exempted from it there is none righteous v. 10. all haue sinned v. 13. 5. the knowledge thereof commeth by the lawe v. 20. 6. It must be knowne confessed and acknowledged of all that euerie mouth may be stopped v. 19. and God onely may haue the glorie 7. the remedie against this naturall prauitie and corruption is by the Redemption thorough Christ v. 24. Pareus Doct. 9. Of the difference of true and false religion v. 19. That euerie mouth may be stopped This is a true marke and touchstone whereby to discerne true religion from false for that religion which onely giueth honour vnto God and denieth all power vnto man to helpe toward saluation and so stoppeth mans mouth and taketh from him all ostentation and vaine glorie that is the true religion whereas on the contrarie that which giueth vnto man matter of ostentation and reioycing is to be suspected of falshood and hypocrisie such is the doctrine of Poperie which ascribeth much vnto mans free will and merits Doct. 10. Of true iustification by faith the manner propertie vse and end thereof v. 21. Now is the righteousnesse of God made manifest without the lawe c. from this place to the ende of the chapter S. Paul setteth forth the doctrine of iustification 1. how there is a right and true iustification which is by faith in Christ and a false iustification by the workes of the lawe 2. from the true iustification are excluded not onely the workes of the ceremoniall lawe and of freewill but all workes whatsouer for the lawe of faith is set against the lawe of workes in generall v. 27. 3. the first cause efficient of this iustification is the grace of God the next is redemption purchased by Christ v. 24. 4. the matter or obiect of iustification are all beleeuers v. 22. 5. the forme is the imputation and application of Christs righteousnesse obtained by his obedience and blood 6. the manner is through faith in his blood v. 25. 7. the ende is the declaration of the righteousnesse of God by the forgiuenesse of sinnes v. 25. 8. the effect thereof is our reconciliation with God v. 25. 9. it is reuealed in the Gospel v. 21. 10. and this iustification was not vnknowne vnto the faithfull vnder the lawe hauing testimonie of the lawe and the Prophets ver 21. Doct. 11. How God hath set forth Christ and to what ende v. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation 1. God hath set forth Christ to be our propitiator and reconciler
hath receiued saith if he liue we should call him iust if he liue euill c. lib. 83. quest quest 76. Controv. 21. How S. Paul and S. Iames are reconciled together Whereas S. Paul here saith v. 28. We conclude that a man is iustified by faith without the workes of the lawe but S. Iames affirmeth c. 2.24 You see then how that of workes a man is iustified and not of faith onely c. they may seeme at the first sight to be contrarie they are then thus reconciled 1. Not as Erasmus and Caietanus who doubt of the authoritie of the epistle of S. Iames for though it were a while doubted of yet was it at length receiued by a generall consent of the Church to be of Apostolik authoritie as it is acknowledged to be by Origen hom iâ— Ios. Cyprian in symbol Epiphan haeres 76. Augustine lib. 2. de doctrin Christ. c. 8. Daâ—â—as lib. 4. c. 8. and others 2. Not yet is the solution of the Romanists false and friuolous that S. Paul speaketh of workes going before iustification which are without faith and grace and S. Iames of the workes of grace which followe the first iustification for S. Paul euen excludeth the workes of Abraham which were workes of grace Rom. 4.2 3. The best solution then is this that the Apostles neither speake of the same kind of faith not yet of the same manner of iustifiying 1. S. Paul speaketh of the true liuely faith which iustifieth before God but S. Iames derogateth not from the true faith but from the faith which was in shewe onely which he calleth a dead faith and consequently no faith and such a faith as deuils may haue S. Paul then saying that a liuely faith iustifieth before God and S. Iames that a dead faith iustifieth not no not before men much lesse before God are not contrarie the one to the other 2. Neither doe the Apostles take the word iustifying in the same sense S. Paul speaketh of iustification before God but S. Iames of the declaration and shewing forth of our iustification by our workes before men as is euident thus the Apostle saith euidently v. 18. shewe thou me thy faith out of thy workes c. Againe he saith that Abraham was iustified by workes when he offred his sonne Izaak which must be vnderstood that his iustification was thereby testified manifested and declared for by faith before God he had beene iustified before as the Apostle alleadgeth in the same place v. 23. Abraham beleeued God and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse which testimonie is giuen of Abrahams faith before he offred vp his sonne So then S. Paul saying workes doe not iustifie before God and S. Iames that workes doe iustifie before men that is declare and testifie their iustification do not contradict the one the other 22. Controv. Against Socinus that Christ properly redeemed vs by paying the ransome for vs and not metaphorically 1. Argum. Impious Socinus as Pareus rehearseth his wicked opinion and confuseth it denieth that Christ died for vs or paied any ransome at all for our redemption but he is said to redeeme that is to deliuer vs without paying any price at all as Exod. 15.13 and in other places the Lord is saide to haue redeemed that is deliuered his people from the Egyptian seruitude Ans. 1. It followeth not because to redeeme is sometime taken in that sense that it should be so euery where 2. there is great difference betweene corporall and spirituall deliuerance the first was and might be done onely by the power of God without paying any price at all the other could not be compassed without paying of a price both because of Gods iustice that they which sinne should die Rom. 1.32 and the truth of his word because he had said to man that if he sinned he should die the death 2. Argum. Psal. 31.5 Dauid speaking of Christ saith Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth here Christ is saide to haue beene redeemed but he was not redeemed with the paying of any price Ergo neither did he redeeme vs in that manner Ans. 1. If this Psalme be vnderstood of Christ we confesse that to redeeme is taken improperly in that sense but then it followeth not because it is vsed improperly in one place therefore it should be so in all 2. But if the Psalme be vnderstood of Dauid who was the type of Christ the word is taken properly for euen Dauid was no otherwise freed from his sinne then by the price of Christs death 3. Argum. The deliuerance of the Israelites by Moses from the bondage of Egypt was a type and figure of our spirituall deliuerance by Christ but that was done onely by the power of God without any price payed therefore so was the other Answ. 1. The argument followeth not for the figure and the thing figured agree not in all things there is more in the substance then in the type 2. There is great difference betweene Moses Christs deliuerance Moses was a meere man and a seruant of the house Christ was God and man the Lord of all Moses deliuered onely from corporall bondage and seruitude Christ from spirituall bondage vnder sinne from the wrath and curse of God Moses redeemed the Israelites without his own death or shedding of his blood but Christ our redeemer gaue his life and shed his blood for vs Moses gaue them the inheritance of the earthly Canaan Christ hath purchased for vs an euerlasting inheritance 4. Argum. Redemption is properly said to be from him of whom the captiues are holden but we are said to be redeemed either from our iniquities Tit. 2.14 or from our vaine conuersation 1. Pet. 1.18 or from the curse of the lawe Galat. 3.13 of the which we were not held captiue but no where are we said to be redeemed from God or from his iustice c. Answ. 1. Touching the proposition or first part of the argument 1. it is false that redeÌ„ption is onely from him that keepeth vs in bondage for although principally captiues are freed from him whose captiues they are yet they are deliuered also from their verie bands imprisonment and other such like instruments of their captiuitie such are our sinnes as the bands and fetters that kept vs in thraldome vnder the deuill 2. there is a difference betweene corporall and spirituall bondage for there the price is paid to the enemie as to the great Turke to get the captiues out of his hand but here the price is paied to God not to deliuer vs from him but to reconcile vs vnto him like as when a subiect rebelling against his Prince is imprisoned and condemned to die till some mediation and satisfaction be made for him then his sinne is pardoned and he is reconciled to his prince 4. Concerning the second part of the reason 1. it is false that we were not detained captiues by our sinnes for they are as the snare of the deuil 2. Tim. 2.26 2.
truely redeemed vs by his blood which first appeareth both by euidēt testimonies of Scripture as Mark. 10.45 The Sonne of man came to giue his life a ransome for many Coloss. 1.14 In whom we haue redemption thorough his blood 1. Tim. 2.6 Who gaue himselfe a ransome for all men Apocal. 5.9 Thou hast redeemed vs vnto God by thy blood secondly all the parts requisite in redemption doe here concurre together 1. there must be captiues that are we 2. one to redeeme which is Christ. 3. a ransome must be paid that is Christs blood 4. and one to whom it must be paied that is God see further hereof in Pareus 〈◊〉 10. Controv. 23. That Christ truely reconciled vs by his blood against an other blasphemous assertion of Socinus v. 25. To be a reconciliation thorough faith in his blood against this Socinus obiecteth that Christ was no otherwise a reconciliation then the couer of the Arke in the old testament was called the propitiatorie not that thereby God was reconciled but that God shewed himselfe therein reconciled and appeased toward his people So also the sacrifices of the lawe are said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a reconciliation yet there was no satisfaction made vnto God by them to this purpose that impious Socinus part 2. c. 2. pag. 81.82 as he is cited by Pareus dub 11. Contra. 1. It is false that the Arke and sacrifices of the old Testament did reconcile as Christ hath reconciled vs for there is great difference betweene dumbe and senselesse ceremonies the blood of beasts and the most holy and liuely blood of Christ. 2. the Arke and the sacrifices though in themselues and their owne vertue they did not reconcile vnto God yet typically and sacramentally they did reconcile as beeing types and figures of the true reconciliation by Christ. 3. And that Christ was verily and properly our reconciler vnto God appeareth in that the Apostle addeth in his blood which he offred vp to God his father which to what ende was it so offred vp but to be a reconciliation thus much of the controversall questions out of this chapter 6. Morall observations v. 3. Shall their vnbeleefe make the faith of God of none effect c. Origen hereupon hath this note infidelitas eorum qui vel non accedunt ad fidem c. their vnbeleefe which either come not to the faith or fall away from it when they laugh vs to scorne in our fasting almes deeds and other workes of faith fidem quae in nobis est non evacuant doe not euacuate or make voide the faith in vs our faith and pietie is not hindred by other mans incredulitie and prophanenesse And in that the Apostle doth here preuent the cauills and obiections of the Iewes it teacheth that the minister of Gods word should so set forth the doctrine of the truth whether in Church or Schooles as that he may meet with all contrarie obiections made against the truth both to satisfie the mindes of them that are desirous to learne to deliver them from all scruple and doubting and to stoppe the mouth of gainesayers Pareus in v. 1. v. 4. Yea let God be true Seeing God is alwaies found true of his promise but men are liars and deceitfull we are taught that in all our trialls and tentations we should certainly ground vpon the promises of God and not be carried away or swayed by the promises or threats of men to let goe our confidence in Gods promises as Dauid in all his afflictions when he was chased vp and downe and persecuted of Saul staied himselfe vpon the truth of Gods promises v. 4. That thou mightest be iustified When as God doth correct vs his children for our sinnes or otherwise exerciseth his iudgements in the world we should not seeme to accuse God or murmure against him but confesse God in all his works and iudgements to be iust and our selues to be sinners as Dan. 9.8 to vs appertaineth open shame c. yet compassion and forgiuenesse is in the Lord. v. 3. What though some did not beleeue As the Oracles of God committed to the Iewes yet were not in vaine though some beleeued not so the Minister of Gods word must not be discouraged and giue ouer his calling because he seeth in some his labour to take small effect Martyr for euen our Blessed Sauiour in that his most heauenly sermon of the eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood was forsaken and left of many of his hearers yet many of his disciples went away in so much that he said vnto the twelue Will ye also goe away Ioh. 6.67 v. 9. Are we more excellent The Apostle that his reprehension might appeare more easie and tolerable ioyneth himselfe in the companie and maketh himselfe one of the number and indeed he was a part and member of Israel So the Prophets doe often ioyne thereselues with the rest of the people as partaking with their sinnes as Dan. 9.5 We haue sinned and committed iniquitie for like as the praise and commendation of the good and vertuous extendeth it selfe vnto all the congregation wherein there are notwithstanding some carnall men and hypocrites so the sinnes of the congregation doe euen touch and some way defile the godly because that they liuing among the wicked might offend in their connivence in not reproouing the sinnes of others as they ought or in not giuing themselues such good example of life as they should or some other kind of way might be touched v. 21. By the Lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne Then is the lawe first to be preached to make men to knowe themselues and to acknowledge their sinnes this was the course that Iohn Baptist tooke to preach repentance to the people and to bring them to confesse their sinnes and so to prepare a way for the Gospell of Christ for like as a wound cannot well be cured vnlesse first it be searched to the bottome so the heart must first be humbled before it can be truely capable of the comforts of the Gospel v. 31. Doe we then make the Lawe of God of none effect c. As the adversaries in S. Pauls time blamed his doctrine concerning iustification by faith onely as an enemie to the Lawe and good workes whereas the Apostle alwaies ioyneth sanctification with iustification workes with faith though he exclude workes in the act it selfe of our iustification So the aduersaries of the grace of God in these dayes the Papists and Romanists doe slaunder the doctrine of the Gospel which vrgeth iustification by faith onely as though it should beate downe and hinder the exercise of good workes But we say with the Apostle that by this doctrine of onely faith we doe not destroy the law but indeed establish it in as much as we hold faith without workes to be a dead and fruitlesse faith we do not separate work from faith though we exclude them from iustification faith which
nor the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe 4. Wherefore the Apostle in this place ioyneth both these promises together the one as touching a sonne out of his owne bowels in whom his seede should be multiplyed as the starres of heauen Gen. 15. and the other that he should haue this sonne by Sarah Gen. 17. and although it be not said there that Abraham beleeued God and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse yet because Abraham did not onely beleeue that promise which was made Gen. 15. but other promises also that came afterward the Apostle applyeth the same testimonie vnto other acts of his faith for Abrahams faith as Tolet well saith annot 24. non processit in omnes actus nisi occasione data did not shewe it selfe in euerie act but as occasion was giuen Quest. 35. Whether Abraham doubted of Gods promise It may seeme at the first viewe of that storie Gen. 17. where Moses sheweth how Abraham when the Lord promised him a sonne of Sarah his wife laughed to himselfe and thus said shall a sonne be borne to one that is an hundred yeare old and shall Sarah beare beeing 90. yeare olde and he prayeth in the same place that Ismael might liue in Gods sight for the solution of this doubt there are diuerse opinions 1. Chrysostome hom 6. de poeniten and Hierome lib. 3. cont Pelagian are of opinion that Abraham offended by incredulitie and Chrysostome addeth further that for this his sonne of incredulitic Abrahams posteritie was punished with 400. yeares seruitude But this is contrary to the Apostle here who freeth Abraham from all doubting and vnbeleefe And Chrysostome himselfe returneth this opinion hom 40. in Gen. there shewing that Abraham did not wauer any thing at all in faith 2. Ioannes Arboreus as Pererius citeth him disput 9. thinketh that Abraham at the first doubted of Gods promise but afterward beeing strengthened and confirmed by the Lords words he beleeued and cast away all doubting of the same minde seemeth Basil to haue bene before homil de poeniten Abraham fidelis inventus est tamen iuvenire est vbi haeâ—verit Abraham in the end was faithfull but we may finde where he did somewhat sticke and doubted But the Apostle cleareth Abraham from all doubting and vnbeleefe both first and last Neither did he doubt of the promise of God through vnbeleefe 3. Caietan in his commentarie here thinketh that Abraham doubted not at all of the truth of God promise but he was vncertaine onely how the Lords speach should be taken whether properly or figuratiuely But it is euident that Abraham vnderstood the Lord to speake properly without any figure or mysticall sense for he saith shall a Sonne be borne to him that is an hundred yeare old 4. Ambrose and Augustine doe free Abraham from all manner of doubting and thinke that his laughter and his question which be mooued was not diffidentis sed de mirantis omnipotentiam Dei of one which doubted but rather admired the omnipotencie of God to this purpose Ambrose lib. 1. de Abraham c. 9. Augustine lib. 16. de ciuit Dei c. 26. But it appeareth that Abraham did cast some doubts in his mind when after God had promised him a Sonne by Sarah yet he desired that Ismael might liue in his sight 5. Wherefore we neither with the first impute vnto Abraham any incredulitie who though he laughed as Sarah did afterward yet he vpon an other occasion it was in him a signe of spirituall ioy but in the other of womanly vanitie and lightnesse and therefore she is rebuked of the Angel but Abraham is not reprehended neither yet doe we say that Abraham was at the first incredulous but afterward vpon better reason was swayed not yet doe we ascribe so perfect a faith vnto Abraham as though he had no doubts at all But that he had a conflict at one and the same time in himselfe he did wrestle with his own reason but stayed not there he presently by faith ouercame all difficultie and that interrogation which he made proceeded not of doubting but of a desire to be further instructed how that thing should be so to be confirmed in faith like as the virgin Marie at the time of the annuntiation propounded the like question not of any incredulitie or curiositie but onely of a desire to be further confirmed in her faith like as Gedeon and Hezekiah asked signes of God for their confirmation wherein they were heard and their desire graunted whereas Ahaz was reprooued for his peruersenes because he refused a signe when it was offred of God to this purpose Martyr Calvin for fides non respuit media à Deo instituta licet non est illis penitus addicta faith refuseth not the meanes appointed of God although it be not altogether addicted vnto them Faius so also Gorrhan non fuit quaestio dubitatunis sed admirationis it was not a question of doubting but admiring see more of this question Hexapl. in Gen. c. 17. quest 11. Quest. 36. How Abraham is said to haue giuen glorie vnto God ver 20. This phrase to giue glorie vnto God is taken two wayes in Scripture and vttered of two sorts of men either of the righteous or of the wicked when it is vsed of the righteous it sometime signifieth the acknowledging of his truth and power as Ioh. 3.33 he that receiued his testmonie hath sealed that God is true or it is taken for giuing thankes in acknowledging thankefully the benefits receiued as Luk. 17.18 there is none returned to giue God praise saue this stranger when this phrase is vttered of the wicked it either signifieth an acknowledging of Gods iustice in punishing as 1. Sam. 6.5 the Philistims in sending a present to the God of Israel are said to giue glorie vnto him that is to confesse that it was his hand and none other that was vpon them or els it signifieth to stand in awe of God and to knowe that he is the reuealer of secrets and so to confesse the truth and not to lie in his presence as Iosuah when he vrged Achan to confesse the truth bid him giue glorie vnto God Ios. 7. so they say in the same sense to the blind man Ioh. 9.24 that he should giue glorie vnto God Now in what sense the Apostle saith that Abraham gaue glorie vnto God it is diuersly scanned 1. Chrysostome and Oecumenius thus expound it non curiose agere Deum glorificare est not to deale curiously is to glorifie God as curously to enquire is to dishonour God But this rather is a sequel and effect of giuing glorie to God not to be curious to giue glory goeth before as the cause of the other 2. Gorrhan and gloss interlin taketh it for praising God de fidei suae constantia for the constancie of his faith 3. Haymo de acceptis beneficijs for the benefits receiued 4. Osiander tribuens ei laudem veritatis giuing him the praise of the truth for he that beleeueth not
he be called a man of desires that is beloued and excepted of God yet had his sinnes which he confessed in his owne name and person as Dauid is said to be a man after Gods owne heart yet he had his sinnes and imperfections Arguments for the affirmatiue part that S. Paul speaketh in his owne person as of a man regenerate First these two points must be premised that the Apostle speaketh of himselfe not of another still continuing his speach in the first person I am carnall I will I consent I delight and so throughout that it should be a great forcing of the Apostles speach to make him to speake of another and not of himselfe secondly the Apostle from the 14. v. to the end speaketh of his present state who was then regenerate as may appeare because while he was yet vnder the law he speaketh as of the time past v. 9. I was aliue and v. 10. sinne seduced me but from the 14. v. he speaketh of the time present I am carnall and so throughout to the end of the chapter Argum. 1. Hence then is framed our first reason the Apostle speaketh of himselfe as he then was because he speaketh in the present tence but then he was a man regenerate Ergo. Theophylact answereth the Apostle saith I serue v. 15. that is serviebam I did serue Contra. As the Apostle saith I serue so he saith I delight in the law of God v. 22. and in this verse 25. I thanke God c. which immediately goe before the other I serue but those words must be vnderstood as they are vttered of the time present therefore the other also Argum. 2. Gregorie vrgeth these words v. 18. to will is present with me he that saith he will per infusionem gratiae quae in se iam lateant semina ostendit doth shew what seede lyeth hid in him by the infusion of grace lib. 29. moral c. 15. Ans. Euen the vnregenerate by nature doe will that is good they may imperfecte velle 〈◊〉 siue gratia in peccato imperfectly will that is good without grace euen in the state of sinne Tolet. in tractat c. 9. Contra. There is bonum naturale morale spirituale that which is naturally good morally good spiritually good the first one by nature may desire as bâ—ute beasts doe the same and therein they doe neither good nor euill the second also in some sort as the heathen followed after morall vertues but they did it not without sinne because they had no faith but that which is spiritually good the carnall haue no mind at all vnto for it is God which worketh both the will and the deed Phil. 2.13 Argum. 3. Augustine presseth these words v. 17. It is not I that doe it but sinne that dwelleth in mee this is not vox peccatoris sed iusti the voice of a sinner but of a righteous man lib. 1. cont 2. epist. Pelag. c. 10. Ans. A sinner may be said not to doe euill not because he doth not consent vnto it but because he is not onely mooued of himselfe but drawen by his concupiscence Tolet. ibid. Contra. There is nothing in a man to giue consent vnto any action but either his spirituall or carnall part but in the vnregenerate there is nothing spirituall but all is naturall therfore whatsoeuer such an one doth he wholly consenteth he himselfe is not one thing and his sinne another to giue consent but he is wholly mooued and lead of sinne Argum. 4. Augustine addeth further the Apostle thus beginneth the 8. chapter there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus which words follow as inferred vpon the other which sheweth that the Apostle spake before of those which were in Christ Iesus Ans. Nay rather those words following vpon the other who shall deliuer me c. which the Apostle vttereth of a man not yet deliuered or freed from his sinne and maketh answer the grace of God c. shew that he spake before as of our not beeing in the state of grace Tolet. ibid. Contra. 1. It is the bondage of corruption which the Apostle desireth to be deliuered from as is shewed before qu. 33. neither doth the Apostle answer the grace of God c. but I giue thankes to God as likewise hath beene declared qu. 34. before but one not in the state of grace cannot giue thanks vnto God therefore the immediate connexion of these words c. 8. sheweth that he spake before of those which are in Christ. Argum. 5. Further Augustine thus reasoneth a carnall man cannot delight in the law of God in the inner man as Saint Paul doth neither indeed is there any inner man that it regenerate and renewed in those which are carnall Pareus Ans. 1. The vnregenerate may delight in the law as Herod did and it is nothing else but velle bonum to will that which is good Tolet. ibid. and they haue also the inner man which is the mind as the outward man is the bodie Contra. 1. The carnall cannot delight in the law but they hate it as Psal. 50.17 this hatest to be reformed and hast cast my words behind thee Herod gaue care to Iohn Baptist not of loue but for feare for afterward he put him to death Hypocrits and carnall men may stand in some awe and feare a while but it is not of loue nor in truth or from the heart 2. the inner part is that with spirituall and renewed but in the wicked their verie mind is defiled Tit. 1.15 therefore in them there is no inner man see before qu. 26. Argum. 6. The Apostle desireth to be deliuered from his corruptible and sinfull bodie hoping then for perfect libertie but in the resurrection the carnall shall haue no such libertie they shall rise to greater miserie Augustine Ans. The deliuerance there spoken of is by iustification from sinne not in the resurrection Tolet. ibid. Contra. The Apostle euidently speaketh of beeing deliuered from this bodie of death that is his mortall bodie which shall not be till the resurrection Argu. 7. The children of God that are regenerate do onely find in themselues the fight combate betweene the spirit and flesh Gala. 5.17 as the Apostle doth here v. 22. Pareus Argum. 8. The vnregenerate doe not vse to giue thanks vnto God but they sacrifice to their owne net as the Prophet saith Hab. 1.16 they giue the praise to themselues But S. Paul here giueth thankes Faius Argum. 9. No man but by the spirit of God can hate and disalow that which is committed against the law of God as the Apostle doth here v. 15. Hyperius Argum. 10. To what end should the Apostle thus at large shew the effects and end of the law for their cause qui prorsus sunt à Deo alieni which are altogether straungers from God and care not for his law Faius by these and such like reasons it is concluded that S. Paul speaketh in the person of a man regenerate Quest. 37.
10. and in staying the insulting of the Gentiles ouer them c. 11. Lyran. and so he protesteth that he speaketh the truth from his heart as he was bound in conscience otherwise bearing a most louing affection toward his nation to this purpose Calvin Martyr Pareus Tolet annot 2. Quest. 2. Of the forme and words of the Apostles oath 1. I speake the truth in Christ c. Origen is here somewhat curious that there is some truth in Chrst some not in Christ as the Pythonisse that cryed after the Apostles that they were the seruants of the most high God Act. 16. and Caiphas that ignorantly spake the truth yet did not speake the truth in Christ. 2. but S. Paul here doth nothing els but call Christ to witnesse that he speaketh the truth and so he appealeth to three witnesses Christ his owne conscience and the Holy Spirit Theophyl Pareus 2. My conscience bearing me witnesse c. Origen againe here doth distinguish of the conscience for the Gentiles also had a conscience which did accuse or excuse them Rom. 2.15 but such a conscience that is a witnesse both of good and euill cannot be said to beare witnesse in the holy Ghost only the Apostles conscience vbi cogitatio non habet quod accuset where the thoughts haue nothing to accuse of is said to beare witnesse in the holy Ghost as Lyranus interpreteth a conscience bene ordinata rectified and well setled 3. I lie not 1. here are these two things seene in Paul which Aristotle requireth in a wise man which are non mentiri not to lie and the other mentientem manifestare to be able to detect a lyar and to manifest the truth as here S. Paul toucheth both Gryneus 2. and this is added because one may lie in telling the truth supposing it to be false so the Apostle ioyneth both together veritie in his words and sinceritie in his minde Pareus 3. and further it is the manner of the Hebrewe speach for more certaintie to denie the contrarie to that which is affirmed as 1. Sam. 3.18 Samuel told him euerie whit and bidde nothing from him and Ioh. 1.20 He confessed and denied not and so is it here Tolet â—â— commentar Quest. 3. Whether it were lawefull for Paul to grieue for the Iewes whose reiection was according to Gods appointment v. 2. I haue great heauinesse c. 1. That it is lawfull to mourne for the calamities that fall vpon those whom we wish well vnto appeareth 1. by the example of holy men that haue so mourned as Samuel for Saul Dauid for Absalom Ieremie for the captiuitie of his people our Blessed Sauiour for Ierusalem 2. Christians are not without naturall affection as to reioyce for prosperous things so to mourne for the contrarie and griefe ariseth à lasione rei amatae from the hurt of the thing beloued 2. But for the solution of this doubt two things are to be considered in respect whereof the minde is diuersly carried for in our griefe as we respect the calamitie which is befallen we doe mourne but looking vnto Gods prouidence we are well apayed and do moderate our passions submitting them to the will of God like as naturall men among the heathen did preferre the publike state of the commonwealth before their priuate calamities as Crassus when his sonne was slaine encouraged the souldiers to fight manfully for that chance onely concerned him And as a iudge in the execution of offenders though as a man he grieueth that they should be put to death yet he is well resolued and contented in the contemplation of iustice that the equitie of the lawe for the example of others should take place yea as God himselfe delighteth not in the death of any yet is well pleased in the punishment of the wicked according to the rule and course of his iustice So S. Paul here doth put on as it were two affections one was naturall of humanitie in pitying the fall of his nation the other was supernaturall in submitting himselfe and his will to the will and purpose of God Quest. 4. Of the meaning of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Apostle vseth v. 3. 1. Concerning the two Greeke words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Greeke letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Budaeus maketh this difference betweene them he would haue the first to signifie the things themselues which are dedicated to sacred vses the other the persons that were deuoted to destruction and he deriueth them both from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of hanging or setting vp that as the one were set vp in the temples so the others names were set vp in places of execution in hatred and detestation of them But Beza verie well obserueth that in the Scriptures they are both vsed in the same sense so also Tolet annot 3. 2. Chrysostome interpreteth anathema separatum separated from the common vse and it first was vsed of such things as for honour sake were separated and not to be touched then secondarily of such things as were separated and accused and worthie to be detested of all and this sense of the word is agreeable to the words of the Apostle as the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth from Christ as Beza well noteth here so then that was anathema which was so separate from common vse as it was not lawefull to be redeemed but it must be killed and some things were so separated for honour sake as the sacrifices some for horror and detestation as the leprous persons which were separated from the congregation Pareus and in this sense doth the Apostle vse the word anathema here which answeareth to the Hebrew word cherem which signifieth to bequeath to destruction 3. Whereupon Hierome will haue this word to signifie to kill and so he thinketh the Apostle speaketh of the killing of his bodie but cherem simply signified not killing but with horror and detestation as of a thing accursed 4. Some take the better sense of the word as it signifieth some precious thing and treasure whose opinion Chrysostome maketh mention of with some derision but that it cannot be so taken here it shall be shewed in the next question Quest. 5. Whether the Apostle did well in desiring to be separated from Christ from whome he knewe he could not be separated 1. Hierome to avoide the difficulties that might be here obiected thinketh that the Apostle speaketh onely of a temporall separation by death voluit perire in carne c. he would die in the flesh that others might be saued in the spirit epist. ad Algas quest 9. epist. ad Hedib qu. 10. so also Haymo But Chrysostome misliketh this sense vpon these reasons 1. both because S. Paul had made mention twice before of death that it could not separate him from Christ it had beene therefore superfluous and beside no great matter to speake of the same here againe 2. the
exasperating them with rigorous speach so the Preachers of the word should vse such moderation that neither in their silence and forbearing to speake the truth they should incurre the iust suspition of flatterie nor yet in their sharpe invectiues against those whom they doe reprooue they should be iustly blamed for their vndiscrete seueritie Mar. Doct. 3. That Christ is God and man v. 5. Who is God ouer all c. 1. Christ is God because the Apostle sweareth by his name v. 1. and he is called God blessed ouer all c. 2. he is also perfite man because he is said to come of the fathers concerning the flesh c. 3. and yet these two natures concurre to make but one person because it is said of Christ who is God ouer all blessed for euer c. Doct. 4. Of the diuerse kindes of diuine promises v. 8. Children of promise c. some promises are generall to all as that the world should no more be destroied with water that the seasons of the yeare as seede time and haruest and the rest should continue or peculiar to the Church of God which are either concerning things temporall comprehended vnder the name of bread in the Lords praier which the Lord promiseth so farre sorth as he seeth it to be meete and conuenient or spirituall which are either peculiar vnto some speciall callings as were the gift of tongues knowledge of secrets elocution and vtterance to the Apostles or generall belonging to the whole Church and the same externall as the promise of the word and Sacraments or internall as of faith hope iustification remission of sinnes The Apostle speaketh here of spiriuall and speciall promises which were shadowed forth in those times by temporall blessings Doct. 5. Of election v. 11. That the purpose of God might remaine according to election c. Concerning election these points are hence concluded 1. that God hath decreed some to be elected vnto saluation before the beginning of the world 2. That the decree of election is the purpose of God to shewe mercie on some in bringing them vnto glorie 3. that the free and gracious purpose of God is onely the cause of election without the foresight of faith or workes 4. that it is certaine and immutable 5. the effects thereof are vocation iustification sanctification c. 8.30 whom he predestinate them he called c. 6. the ends two the happines of the elect and the glorie and praise of God in the setting forth of his mercy Doct. 6. Of reprobation v. 18. Whom he will he hardeneth Concerning reprobation these points also are here set forth 1. that some are reprobate from the beginning as God hated Esau before he was borne 2. what reprobation is the purpose of God in leauing some in the masse of corruption and in ordaining them to be damned for their sinnes 3. the cause of reprobation is the purpose of God to leaue some in their naturall corruption 4. the effects are desertion hardening of heart the subtraction of the grace of God 5. the ends the iust condemnation of the wicked and the demonstration of the power of God See more hereof among the Controv. following Doct. 7. Of scandals and offences v. 33. Rocke of offence 1. A scandale is any thing done or said whereby one is made the worse either of himselfe or by some accident 2. it is of two sorts giuen iustly or vniustly taken as the offence at Christ was taken and not giuen 3. the cause of offences is first the malice of Sathan and obstinacie of vnbeleeuers and the iust iudgement of God concurring there withall as the Iewes by their owne blindnes stumbled at Christ and receiued that as a punishment of their vnbeleefe 5. Places of controversie Controv. 1. That succession of Bishops is no sure note of the Church of Christ. v. 5. Of whom came the fathers 1. Though the Iewes might alleadge that they had the fathers yea they could shewe a perpetuall succession of high Priests from Aaron vntill the times of our blessed Sauiour yet for all this they were reiected and not acknowledged for the Church of God In like manner the Romanists pleading for themselues by succession of Bishops doe but build vpon a weake ground vnlesse they could also shewe a continuall succession of true doctrine together with an outward succession of persons and pace 2. Our Blessed Sauiour was a Priest after Melchisedech without any such continued succession and the Apostles the first planters of the Gospel could shew no succession from the high Priests neither is it necessarie in these times where religion is corrupted and the Church deformed to expect a locall succession for the restoring of religion 3. Yet the succession of godly Bishops is much to be accounted of where the true faith is continued withall and for this reason did the fathers Tertullian Irenaeus Augustinae ascribe so much to the succession of Christian Bishops who transmitted vnto their successors true and found doctrine together with their place See more of succession Synops. Centur. 1. err 20. 2. Controv. Against the old heretikes the Manichees Arrians Nestorians confuted out of the 5. v. 1. Where the Apostle saith of whom came Christ according to the flesh the Manichees are confuted which denied Christ to haue any true flesh but onely in shewe whereas the Apostle saith that Christ came of the Israelites concerning the flesh he therefore had true 〈◊〉 because he tooke his nature of them Likewise their heresie is confuted that thinke Christ brought his bodie from heauen and tooke it not of the Virgin Marie for then how could it be true that Christ according to the flesh came of the fathers 2. The Arrians also are confuted who denied Christ to be God but onely affirmed him to be a creature for the Apostle saith of Christ who is God blessed for euer as Athanasius epist. ad Epictet vrgeth this place against those which denied the humanitie of Christ so Tertullian lib. de Trinit Hilar. lib. de Trinit Theophylact vpon this place doe alleadge it against those which impugne the diuine nature of Christ. 3. The Nestorians also which denied the vniting of Christs two natures into one person but onely affirmed it to be by grace are here refelled for the Apostle speaketh of one and the same Christ which according to the flesh came of the fathers yet was God aboue all blessed for euer Ireneus lib. 3. cap. 18. applieth this place against such a like heresie of those which diuided Iesus from Christ and affirmed Iesus to be one and Christ an other 3. Controv. Against the prophane and impious collections of Eniedinus and Socinus late heretikes Whereas the Apostle expressely saith of Christ who is God ouer all blessed for euer c. these two forenamed heretikes contend by their impious cavills to shew that Christs diuine nature is not prooued out of this place 1. This phrase who is blessed for euer is alwaies in Scripture giuen vnto God the
with his lot the potter hath made his vessell so and there is no reasoning against our maker let vs say and be resolued with S. Paul Philipp 4.11 I haue learned in whatsoeuer state I am therewith to bee content Observ. 5. Against securitie v. 24. Euen vs whom he hath called S. Paul hauing sufficiently declared the doctrine of election and reprobation doth descend vnto our vocation and calling teaching vs that we should not insist in Gods secret decree and so be secure but seeke to make it sure by our calling as S. Peter saith 1. ep c. 1.10 Giue diligence to make your calling and election sure Observ. 6. Christ must be preached though the world be offended v. 32. They haue stumbled at the stumbling stone c. Though the Iewes were offended at the Gospell of Christ yet did not the Apostles forbeare to preach him so now many are offended at the preaching of the word as the superstitious Papists and carnall liuers yet the truth must still be vrged for as the Apostles so now the faithfull ministers are vnto some the fauour of life vnto life and to others of death vnto death 2. Cor. 2.16 CHAP. X. 1. The text with the diuerse readings 1. v. Brethren mine hearts desire the goodwill of my heart Gr. and prayer to God for Israel is for their saluation that they might be saued G. 2. For I beare them record that they haue the zeale emulation L. of God but not according to knowledge 3. For they beeing ignorant of the righteousnesse of God and seeking to establish their owne righteousnesse haue not submitted themselues G. S. haue not beene subiect G. to the righteousnes of God 4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse vnto euery one that beleeueth 5. For Moses thus describeth the righteousnesse Be. G. S. writeth of the righteousnes B.V. but the preposition is wanting in the originall which is of the law that the man that doth these things shall liue thereby 6. But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wife Say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heauen that is to bring Christ from aboue 7. Or who shall descend into the deepe of the graue S. ad that is to bring Christ againe from the dead 8. But what saith it the Scripture L. ad the word is neere thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart This is the word of faith which we preach 9. For if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleeue in thine heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saued 10. For with the heart man beleeueth it is beleeued Gr. vnto righteousnes and with the mouth confession is made to saluation 11. For the Scripture saith Whosoeuer beleeueth in him shal not be ashamed confounded L. B. 12. For there is no difference betweene the Iew and the Grecian of the Iew and Grecian for the same Lord ouer all is rich vnto all that call vpon him 13. For euery one that calleth vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued 14. But how shall they call on him in whom they haue not beleeued and how shall they beleeue in him of whom they haue not hard and how shall they here without a Preacher 15. And how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written How bewtifull are the feete of those which bring glad tidings of peace and bring glad tidings of good things 16. But they haue not all harkened obeyed L. S. V. to the Gospel for Esaias â—â—ith who hath beleeued our sayings our report G. 17. So then faith is of hearing by hearing B. G. but the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth of and â—earing by the word of God 18. But I demaund I say Gr. haue they not heard no doubt their sound went out into all the earth and their words into the ends of the world 19. But I demaund say Gr. did not Israel know God first Moses saith I will provoke you to enâ—ie emulation L. V. Be. by them that are no nation not I will bring you to be no nation L. and by a foolish nation will I anger you 20. And Esaias is bold and saith I was found of them that sought me not and haue bin made manifest to them that asked not after me 21. And vnto against Be. Israel he saith all the day long haue I stretched forth mine â—â—nd to a disobedient not beleeuing L. V. B. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth both but the first rather here and gaine saying people 2. The Argument Method and Parts The Apostle hauing concluded in the former chapter how the Gentiles had receiued the righteousnes of faith but the Iewes through their stubbornes had reiected it in this chapter doth at large handle the same matter both setting forth the difference betweene the righteousnesse of the law and of the Gospel to v. 14. and then the entertainement thereof in the world accepted of the Gentiles v. 18. and reiected of the Iewes v. 19. to the ende But first the Apostle vseth a preamble somewhat to qualifie his former â—peach touching the Iewes by shewing his desire toward then saluation v. 1. and his testimonie concerning their zeale v. 2. which he correcteth shewing a threefold defect and want in their zeale ignorance pride in establishing their own righteousnes and disobedience in not submitting themselues to Gods righteousnesse v. 3. Then followeth the doctrine concerning righteousnesse by faith set forth by diuerse arguments 1. because Christ is the end of the law therefore righteousnesse is not in the law but by Christ. 2. by the diuerse effects and properties of the law which requireth workes and of the Gospel which exacteth not of a man by his owne workes to ascend to heauen or to be deliuered from hell but onely the word of faith which is afterward set forth by the partes beleeuing with the heart confessing with the mouth gathered into this syllogisme Whosoeuer beleeueth with the heart and confesseth with the mouth shall be saued v. 10. but thou doest beleeue with the heart and confesse c. Ergo. v. 9. 3. Then he prooueth righteousnesse by faith by a testimonie of Scripture v. 11.4 then from the communitie of saluation both of Iew and Gentile which could not be by the law v. 12.5 by the effects of faith inuocation All that invocate the name of God shall be saued Ergo all are iustified by faith The entertainement of this doctrine in the world was 1. by acceptation among the Gentiles which he sheweth by the meanes of faith and saluation the preaching of the Gospel which was offered to the Gentiles which he prooueth 1. by the effects set forth by a gradation If there had beene no preaching their could haue beene no hearing if no hearing no faith if no faith no invocation v. 14.15 2. by a dissimilitude though preaching was not profitable among the Iewes generally v. 16. yet the ordinarie meanes of faith is the
planted in 2. Concerning the reading of the words thou wast graft in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for them that is in their place as the Syrian interpreter translateth but Erasmus refuseth this reading as ridiculous and will haue the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in to be here redundant and superfluous as the like phrases are vsed often in the Hebrew as percussus in gladio smitten in the sword and so he would haue it referred vnto the oliue into the which they were planted likewise some of our owne interpreters read insicus illis graft into them Bucer Martyr But the other reading is the better graft in for them for it hath relation to the braunches broken off and as yet no mention is made of the right oliue tree Lyranus by in them vnderstandeth the braunches yet standing as the Apostles into whom the Gentiles were planted but plants are not properly graffed into the braunches but into the stock therefore the better sense is graft in for them in loco factorum in the stead of the broken braunches so glosse interlin Gorrhan Tolet and of our writers Beza Faius Pareus Genevens or among them B. 3. Was graft in the Apostle sheweth a threefold benefit bestowed vpon the Gentiles first they were planted in stead of the incredulous Iewes which were as braunches broken off then they are made partakers of the roote that is of the faith of Abraham and the Patriarkes Lyran. and made one Church with them and thereby they are partakers of the farmes of the oliue which the ordinarie glosse vnderstandeth of the Apostles who receiued of the fatnes of the spirit to conuay it to the Gentiles Gorrhan of the fatnes of charitie but rather generally thereby is meant the doctrine and grace of Christ Lyran. and all the spirituall graces which the Lord conferreth vpon his Church as the Prophet Dauid saith Psal. 63.3 My soule shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnes c. Pareus 4. But it will be obiected that the Iewes by nature were a wild oliue as well as the Gentiles as Saint Paul saith Ephes. 2.3 We were by nature the children of wrath as well as others Ans. True it is that in respect of originall corruption there is no difference but the Iewes were the right oliue because they were descended of beleeuing parents to whom the â—â—â—â—ise was made 5. Ambrose here noteth a difference betweene spirituall and externall planting as Origen also obserueth the same husbandmen vse to graffe good plants into a sower stocke not fowre and wild plants into a good stocke but here it is otherwise the wild oliue is planted into the true oliue And the reason is this the Apostle res magis causis quam causas rebus â—â—â—vit did applie the things vnto his cause not the cause to the things from whence he taketh his similitude Origen Quest. 23. Of the meaning of these words Thou bearest not the roote but the roote thee v. 18. Boast not thy selfe against the branches c. 1. This is the consequent or conclusion inferred out of the former reason that the Gentiles considering their former state and condition that they were the branches of a wild oliue should not insult against other which words beside this conclusion doe include two secret reasons against this reioycing 1. Because none ought to reioyce in themselues but onely in the Lord 1. Cor. 1.31 Gryneus 2. Ambrose noteth how it is a thing displeasing vnto God to reioyce in the calamitie and ouerthrowe of others and therefore the Gentiles should offend God if they insulted ouer the Iewes because of their incredulitie Thou bearest not the roote but the roote thee 1. for the connexion of these words because the Apostle passeth from the branches to the root against the which the Gentiles reioyced not Chrysostome thinketh that the Apostle doth it because he would affoard vnto the Iewes vmbram solatij a certaine shadowe of comfort and nothing else and he thinketh that in words onely he seemeth to allay their griefe not in deede but farre be it from vs to thinke that the Apostle should as it were double with his owne nation in so serious a matter hauing made so solemne a protestation before c. 9.1 I speake the truth in Christ I lie not 2. Gryneus maketh this to be the coherence the branches which are graft in should imitate the root it lamenteth for the branches which are broken off and so should they which are planted in but this rather is the reason of the coherence if they should insult against the branches they should in a manner also lift vp themselues against the root which bore those braunches euen against Abraham the Parent of the Iewes Pareus 3. This then is a newe argument that they ought not to insult against the Iewes the branches for so consequently they should insult against the roote it selfe which were either an absurd thing that the braunch should vaunt it selfe against the roote that beareth it or an vncomelie thing to insult against him from whom thou hast receiued so great benefits as they beeing graffed into the roote are made partakers of the fatnes thereof 4. This roote is said to beare the Gentiles and not they the root because they had their conuersion from the Iewes and not the Iewes from them Lyranus as our Bl. Sauiour saith Ioh. 4.22 saluation is of the Iewes the Iewes might receiue the ground of Philosophie and of other arts from the Gentiles but that is not the fatnes of the Oliue nor the sappe of the roote which is faith in Christ which was the faith of Abraham rooted and grounded in Christ. Quest. 24. Of those words v. 22. if thou continue in his bountifulnes 1. Chrysostome giueth this sense si ea feceris if thou dost those things which are answearable to the diuine goodnes non enim fide sola opus est for we haue not neede onely of faith here c. But the Apostle speaketh euidently of the goodnes of God not of man and so Osiander thereby vnderstandeth clementiam Dei the clemencie of God if thou continue in the grace and fauour of God the interlin glosse thus expoundeth si totum Des tribuas if thou ascribe all vnto God But here rather the cause is taken for the effect as the goodnes of God for faith which is wrought in vs by the goodnes and grace of God as afterward v. 31. by mercie is vnderstood faith giuen in Gods mercie and this to be the sense appeareth by the contrarie v. 23. If they abide not still in vnbeleefe 2. If thou continue This neither sheweth that it is in mans power to continue for all is ascribed to the goodnesse and mercie of God neither yet can it be hence gathered that the elect may fall away and not continue but these conditionall speaches are vttered to work in the faithfull a greater care and to stir them vp and take away from them all carnall securitie 3. Or els thou also shalt be
words pleasantnes of countenance for all those are signified by hilaritie or chearefulnes Tolet so Chrysost. verbis rebus corpore c. in words deedes yea with seruice of the bodie the poore must be helped with chearefulnes Chearefulnes is required in heart in words in countenance euery way 1. in respect of God he loueth a chearefull giuer 1. Cor. 9. Pareus 2. in respect of the kingdome of heauen which such hope for quis regnum accipiens maestus est who receiuing a kingdome is sorowfull Chrysost. lucrum est alijs benefacere c. it is a gaine to doe well to others and euery man reioyceth in his owne gaine Theodoret. 3. againe such as were emploied in these seruices as old men and widows are naturally giuen to morositie and therefore they haue neede of this precept to dispose themselues to chearefulnes Pareus 4. the worke it selfe which was to deale with the diseased sicke and feeble was such as might breed loathsomnes and therefore the Apostle doth hearten them that they should not giue ouer this worke of mercie thorough nicenes that they should not disdaine with their owne hands if neede were to handle their sores and diseases Tolet. 5. the consideration of the common condition of mankind that there is eadem omnium sors the same lot of all that they are subiect to the same diseases and infirmities this should mooue them in such workes of mercie to be chearefull and willing Gualter 6. ne moerorem addant moerori that they should not adde griefe vnto griefe for the poore seeing them which attend them to doe it vnwillingly would thereby be grieued the more Mart. Beza 17. Quest. Of the Christian affection of loue and the properties thereof The Apostle hauing hitherto touched certaine speciall and particular duties belonging vnto Ecclesiasticall offices proceedeth vnto generall and first concerning Christian brotherly loue which he sheweth how it should first consist in the inward affection and then in the outward act v. 10. in giuing of honour c. Concerning the first this loue must be verus true without simulation then discretus discreete we must not loue but hate that which is euill thirdly it must be firmus firme cleauing vnto that which is good and it must be vniversalis vniuersall common without acception of persons we must be affectioned one toward an other c. Lyranus 1. Let loue be without dissimulation 1. The Apostle beginneth with loue which giueth a rellish and tast as it were to all other vertues euen faith without charitie is not right 1. Cor. 13.2 it is the badge and cognizance whereby we are knowne to be the disciples of Christ Ioh. 13.35 therefore the Apostle first beginneth to shew what this loue is 2. Origen vnderstandeth this loue generally of the loue of God and our neighbour but Chrysostome applieth it onely to brotherly loue and so the precepts following shew 3. this loue must be without dissimulation which Origen defineth thus when one loueth onely God and that which is pleasing to God Chrysostome giueth this rule when one loueth an other and doth vnto him as vnto himselfe but S. Iohn giueth a perfect description of this kind of loue 1. epist. 3.18 My little children let vs not loue in word or tongue but in deede and in truth he then loueth without dissembling that sheweth his loue in act and in deede so S. Paul describeth true charitie 1. Tim. 1.5 out of a pure heart good conscience faith vnfained where are expressed the subiect or place of this loue a pure heart the cause thereof is faith vnfained the perpetuall companion or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ioynt-worke is a good conscience as the Apostle to the Hebr. 10.22 let vs draw neere with a true heart in the assurance of faith sprinkled in our hearts from an euill conscience Gryn From this true and syncere loue these are farre of 1. they which doe nourish hatred in their heart but colour it with pretensed friendship onely watching an opportunitie of reuenge such was Cain toward Abel and Ioab toward Abner 2. they which pretend friendship toward other but onely for hope of some gaine and profit to themselues these are selfe-louers and not louers of others as Felix propounded fauour vnto S. Paul but he hoped for some bribe Act. 24. 3. they also which professe loue and obedience but onely for feare as they which obserue those which are mightie and of authoritie because they are afraid of their greatnes and power doe not loue without dissimulation 2. Hating that which is euill or rather abhorring c. 1. Chrysostome obserueth an emphasis in the Apostles phrase he saith not abstaining but prosequnting with hatred and that vehemently the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Apostle addeth alwaies somewhat to the sense as he sheweth in diuers instances 2. Haymo taketh this for a generall precept that we should hate the deuill and his members but it seemeth rather to belong to the precept of loue 3. and in this sense some giue this interpretation that they should in their loue abstaine from all euill hurt deceit malice and follow goodnes Calvin Pellican some thinke that good and euill signifie here that which is profitable or vnprofitable and so he that loueth should procure the good not the hurt of him whome he loueth Pareus but the meaning rather is that we should so loue as that we be not partakers with men in their sinnes neither should be withdrawne from God but cleaue to him as the onely good so Chrysostome saith this is added because there is dilectio in malis a loue friendship in euill things as in them that are fellows in robbers c. so Origen qui proprium errantem videt non corrigit c. he that seeth his brother erring and correcteth him not he loueth not in truth so Lyranus also sic ametur natura vt vitium odio habeatur let nature be so loued as yet vice be hated this sense followeth Pet. Mart. some are so foolish to thinke that they loue their brethren cum illis consentiant ad libidines when they consent vnto them to lust and other vices to the same purpose Gualter dilectionis praetexiu non facienda m 〈…〉 la euill things must not be done vnder pretense of loue 3. Cleauing to that is good 1. that is saith Haymo to God who is the chiefe good but this is too generall 2. here we vnderstand that which is morally good Gryn which is agreeable vnto the will of God who is onely good 3. and the meaning is that we should so adhere vnto that which is good that no respect of any friendship or any thing whatsoeuer should draw vs away from it 3. Chrysostome noteth a singular force in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cleaving adhering the same word is vsed of the coniunction betweene man and wife Matth. 19.5 shewing the neare coniunction that should be betweene
c. a deuout mind is not by any precepts so much framed to the obedience of God as by a serious meditation of his mercie as the Apostle saith Tit. 2.11 The grace of God c. teacheth vs to denie vngodlines 2. Doctr. Of the threefold will of God v. 2. What is the good will of God acceptable and perfect Paulus Burgens addit 2 hath this distinction of the will of God which is taken here for voluntas signi his signified or reuealed will that is the will of God for the thing willed which is prohibitionis praecepti consilij in forbidding commanding or counselling as if a man abstaine from euill which is forbidden therein he doth well but if he doe also the thing commanded now he doth also that which is pleasing vnto God if further he proceed vnto the counsels then he is perfect as our Sauiour said Matth. 19.21 to the young man If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell all thou hast c. This distinction may be admitted with this caution if counsels be vnderstood of things indifferent as for a man wholly to leaue the world and to giue all or halfe to the poore as Zacheus did and such like not to merit thereby but to shew our obedience and thankfulnes to God in such there must be needs acknowledged a greater degree of perfection 3. Doctr. Against curious questionists v. 3. The Apostle forbiddeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to vnderstand aboue or beyond that which is meet to be vnderstood which may be vrged against curious and vnnecessarie questions of matters concerning religion such it seemeth the Church was much troubled with in S. Pauls time in so much that in sixe seuerall places in his two Epistles to Timothie he giueth him charge touching such contentious questions and vaine disputations 1. Ep. 1.4 c. 4.7 c. 6.5.20 2. Ep. 1.16.23 where he styleth such needlesse questions with the tearme of old wiues fables vaine disputations prophane bablings foolish and vnlearned questions Much like was that curious and needlesse endeauour of the schoole-Diuines in reducing all Diuinitie to intricate questions and idle and vaine speculations wherein I condemne not their commendable paines in the debating of doubtfull points fit to be discussed but in finding out new tricks and deuises and excogitating distinctions to obscure and corrupt the truth 4. Doctr. That no man must forsake his Ecclesiasticall function nor aspire aboue his reach Pet. Martyr applieth the former text against those which in times past did refuse or forsake the Ecclesiasticall functions to the which they were called who vnder pretense that they had not gifts sufficient but indeede either for feare of the troubles incident to those places or for loue of their own ease or pleasure did draw their necks out of the collar these he saith non sapere vt oportet they did not vnderstand as they ought But in these daies there is an other extreame which is admitted when men doe presume ambitiously vnto places aboue their reach and for the which they are in respect of gifts vnmeete neither doe these sapere vt oportet they are not wise vnto sobtietie neither doe keepe themselues within their line and compasse 5. Doctr. That the holy Ghost is God v. 3. As God hath dealt to euery man c. That which here is ascribed vnto God is elsewhere said to be the worke of the spirit 1. Cor. 12.11 All these things worketh the selfe same spirit distributing to euery one as he will seeing then it is God that distributeth these seuerall gifts and graces and it is the Spirit that so distributeth them it doth necessarily follow that the Spirit is God 6. Doctr. The Scriptures are the rule of faith from the which we must not swarue v. 6. Prophesie according to the analogie or proportion of faith c. This proportion or rule of faith is to be taken onely from the Scriptures as our Sauiour biddeth vs search the Scriptures Ioh. 5.39 to them as the line of truth must we haue recourse in all our teaching and preaching not one iot to decline the same as the Prophet Isai saith c. 8.20 to the law to the testimonie if they speake not according to this word there is no truth in them so Hierome saith quod non discendit de monte Scripturarum eadem facilitate contemnitur qua approbatur that which floweth not downe from the mountaine of the Scriptures is as easilie refused as approoued c. in c. 23. Matth. Doct. 7. That Christian religion expelleth not humane affections but onely directeth them v. 9. Hate that which is euill c. A Christian may retaine hatred but it must be exercised against that which is euill it is not then as the Stoicks were of opinion that in a wise man there are no passions or affections there are without question but tempered and qualified by grace that like as in an harpe when time and tune is applyed to the instrument consisting of wood or some such like thing and strings there is made pleasant harmonie so humane affections ruled by grace doe make a sweete consent Doct. 8. Of the order and degrees in the Church and commonwealth v. 10. In giuing honour goe one before another Among Christians then there are which must giue honour and some are to be honoured Christ will haue order kept in his Church God is not the author of confusion 1. Cor. 14.33 the inferiours must yeeld honour to the superiours the scholars to the teachers the people to their pastor they which are ruled to their governours this maketh against the Anabaptisticall confusion which taketh away the ciuill superioritie of one aboue another Doct. 9. That the Church of God shall neuer want enemies to persecute it v. 14. Blesse them which persecute you c. Then the godly shall neuer want persecutors to exercise their patience there are two things which the world hateth vnitie and pietie and all persecutions in the world are either for the truth or godlinesse sake wherefore seeing such is the lot of the Church of God in this world they must arme themselues with patience as the Apostle saith Heb. 10.36 You had neede of patience that after you haue done the will of God yee might receiue the promise Doct. 10. How and wherein we should loue our enemies v. 19. Auenge not your selues c. We must thus be affected toward our enemies 1. in louing them as Christ loued vs when yet we were enemies Rom. 5.10 2. in procuring their conversion as Ananias did Sauls Act. 9. 3. in praying for them as Stephen did for the Iewes 4. in taking heede of giuing them offence for which cause Iacob went away from Esau Gen. 27. 5. in bearing their wrongs as the Apostles did Act. 5. 6. in molifying them with gentle words as Abigail did Dauid 1. Sam. 25. 7. in ministring necessarie things vnto them as Elisha did to the armie of the Syrians 1. King 6. 8. in shewing compassion in their miseries as Dauid
the Ecclesiasticall gouernors whose speciall charge is about religion to bring in their owne inuentions as Aaron sinned in setting vp a golden calfe much lesse may the Ciuill powers presume that way Three things are signified vnder the name of religion and religious matters 1. the doctrine of the Church 2. the discipline and gouernment in generall that there should be Pastors and teachers in the Church neither of these are to be swaied by the Prince but they are to be directed by the word 3. but the speciall oeconomie of the Church as touching the number of the Pastors and who ought to be appointed thereunto this appertaineth to the care and office of the Magistrate 6. Princes are bound to haue the ministers and Pastors of God in reverence because they are the Embassadors of Christ 2. Cor. 5.20 and to see them sufficiently maintained because the labourer is worthie of his hire and it concerneth the spirituall good of these subiects that sufficient Pastors should be prouided for them to minister vnto them spirituall foode and besides they must submit themselues to the doctrine precepts and exhortations deliuered by the Pastors out of Gods word as Dauid gaue eare vnto Nathan and suffered his reprehension and our blessed Sauiour saith he that heareth you heareth me c. All these propositions are not at all controverted betweene our adversaries the Papists and vs thus then standeth the state of the question 7. The office of the Prince is as in Ciuill matters to prouide all things concerning the ciuill good of the subiect to see that right and equitie be maintained so also to take care touching their spirituall good that true religion be continued and taught in the Church according to the word of God vnto the which care and charge belong these particulars 1. The Prince in himselfe and for his particular is to take knowledge and to vnderstand true religion to be able to discerne it from error and false worship and to this ende to be exercised himselfe in the law and word of God Deut. 17.19 2. Then it is his part to cause to be set downe a perfect forme of religion and Ecclesiasticall gouernment squared out according to the line of truth and rule of Gods word and by godly lawes to establish the same as Iosias did 2. king 23.3 3. He must also see that sufficient and able Pastors be prouided for the Church which may instruct the people in the waies of God as Iehosaphat did 2. Chron. 19.8 4. Further the Princes care must be to see that these Pastors doe their dutie in preaching true and sound doctrine and in administring discipline vprightly as Dauid appointed the Levites their offices 1. Chron. 16. 5. And the Prince is also to remooue ignorant erroneous and delinquent Pastors and to see vice duly punished as Salomon remooued Abiathar from the priesthood to appoint Councells and Synods to that ende for the redresse of enormous faults The state of the question beeing thus propounded we will first see how it is impugned by our adversaries and examine some of their arguments 1. Stapleton thus prooueth that the Prince hath no power in Ecclesiasticall matters because the sheepe haue no iurisdiction ouer the Pastor but the Magistrate is of the number of the sheepe Ergo. Ans. 1. There is a double Ecclesiasticall powers one is properly and simply so called which consisteth meerely in Ecclesiasticall matters as in preaching the word administring the discipline of the Church this power belongeth onely to Ecclesiastikes there is an Ecclesiasticall power improperly so called which is ciuilly exercised about Ecclesiasticall persons and causes and this is in the Ciuill magistrate so Constantine said vos estis Episcopi in ecclesia ego extra ecclestam sum Episcopus à Deo constitutus ye are Bishops within the Church I also without the Church am a Bishop appointed of God Euseb. lib. 4. c. 24. de vit Constantin 2. As Princes are sheepe to be ordered and directed by the word of God so they haue an Ecclesiasticall power but they are Pastors also in regard of their gouernment and the Ministers as subiects and so sheepe also vnder the magistrate and thus Princes haue an Ecclesiasticall power 2. Argum. That which neither the Emperors would euer assume vnto themselues nor the Church giue vnto them no way belongeth vnto them but to be Iudges of Ecclesiasticall matters neither they challenged nor the other yeelded Ergo for proofe of the precedent part is alieadged how Theodosius the Emperor said illicitum esse Imperatorem se interserere ecclesiasticis tractatibus that it is not lawfull for the Emperor to enterpose himselfe in Ecclesiasticall affaires Cyril tom 4. epist. 17. Hilarius writ to Constantine the Emperor vt indices non vsurpent cognoscere causas Clericorum c. that the Iudges vsurpe not vpon thē to take cognizance of the causes of Clergie men c. Ambrosius refused to dispute with Auxentius the heretike before Valentinian the Emperor of the orthodoxall faith c. Ans. 1. It is vntrue that the Emperors assumed no such Ecclesiasticall power to themselues for Constantinus both called together the Bishops to that great assembly of the Nicene Councell prescribed them a rule of their conference to decide all controversies by the Scriptures and he himselfe sate among them and iudged the causes with the rest and did by his lawes establish and command to be obeied the things there agreed vpon as Eusebius witnesseth lib. 3. c. 12. Theodosius must be vnderstood to speake of matters meerely and absolutely Ecclesiasticall as of the doctrine of faith and therein the Ciuill power is not to giue rules of faith so also must Hilarie be vnderstood if he meane otherwise Chrysostomes iudgment is to be preferred who subiecteth euen Apostles Prophets Bishops to the Ciuil power that of Ambrose was a matter of fact and concludeth not 3. Argum. If Princes should make Ecclesiasticall laws the vnitie of faith could not be kept because in euery seuerall kingdome there would be a seuerall religion Ans. 1. The argument followeth not for religion is not to depend vpon the opinion or will of the Prince but it must be squared out by the word of God which Princes following can not differ in the substance of religion though they may varie in some circumstances and externall rites but if Princes will not be ruled by Gods word but follow other directions then they may frame vnto themselues diuers religions so then it is not the fault of the power but the abuse thereof and the personall fault of Princes if by this meanes a varietie of religion be brought in 2. neither if this power be denied vnto kings and the whole authoritie of Ecclesiasticall lawes were onely in men of the Church if they refuse to be guided by the word is this inconvenience helped for in Moses absence the whole power beeing in Aarons hand yet a different worship in setting vp a golden calfe from that which Moses
be lawfull that is his conscience Piscator commeth somewhat neere this exposition quicquid fit dubitante conscientia whatsoeuer is done with a doubtfull conscience is sinne Contra. 1. But faith cannot be here taken for the conscience 1. the Apostle said before haue faith in thy selfe that is in thy conscience faith then is an other thing beside the conscience 2. the weake haue conscience 1. Cor. 10.29 but they haue not faith touching this thing for of the strong onely the Apostle said before thou hast faith v. 22. 3. error non est fides error is non faith but the conscience is oftentimes erroneous this was Tolets owne reason before 4. fides non nititur hominum opinionibus c. faith is not grounded vpon mens opinions but vpon the vndoubted word of God Osiand 5. Origen saith that fides haereticorum non est fides the faith of heretikes is no faith but credulitie rather yet they haue a conscience 2. And if this sense were admitted it followeth strongly that if that be sinne which is not done with the particular faith of the conscience much more is that sinne which is not of that generall Christian faith whose obiect is Christ. 5. Wherefore by faith we vnderstand not euerie perswasion of the minde and conscience but that which is grounded vpon the word of God firmam animi certitudinem quae ex Dei veritate concepta sit an vndoubted certaintie of the minde conceiued out of the truth of God Calvin non quidvis fidei nomine censeri debet sed quod Scripturis conforme not everie thing must be counted for faith but that which is agreeable to the Scriptures Bucer when we beleeue talia verbo Dei requiri Deo placere that such things are required in the word of God and are pleasing vnto him Martyr the reason is because vbi verbum Dei non est nec fides where there is no word of God there is no faith Faius 6. Haymo doth restraine this generall speach onely to the eating of meates whatsoeuer belongeth to eating if it be not eaten with this faith that euerie thing is cleane that is treated of God is eaten with sinne But this is rather a generall rule both for this kind of actions and all other agreeable to that saying Hebr. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God 4. Places of Doctrine Doct. 1. That alwayes in the Church are to be found as some strong so others weake in faith v. 1. Him that is weake in faith This is the condition of the Church of God that as in a familie some are children some of riper age so there are in the same some that are but weakelings in the faith some of more perfect growth the reason of which difference is both in respect of the caller God calleth not all at one time neither giueth vnto all a like measure of gifts and of them which are called all doe not vse a like diligence in the exercising of their gifts and so it commeth to passe that some are weake some strong This difference S. Paul sheweth to haue beene among the Galathians c. 6.1 If any be prevented by any fault yee which are spirituall restore◠c. there were some among them subiect to infirmities some that were spirituall this sheweth the phantasticall error of such as require perfection in the Church and euerie member thereof and can brooke no imperfections Doct. 2. Not to contend about indifferent things v. 3. He that eateth let him not contemne him that eateth not ◠S. Paul would not haue them to be so earnest one in iudging an other concerning the vse of things indifferēt which hath beene the cause of great contentions in the Church as great stirres were raised by Victar B. of Rome about the vse of leauened and vnleauened bread as Eusebius testifieth lib. 5. c. 14. hereupon sprang the sects in Saxonie of the adiophorists and Flacians Pareus here also giueth instance of the English and Scottish Churches Anglicas quoque Scoticas Ecclesias simile certamen de rebus adiophoris in hanc vsque diem exercet the like strife about things indifferent doth trouble the English and Scottish Churches to this day c. But S. Paul concerning all these things giueth a rule afterward v. 17. the kingdome of God is not meate and drinke nor any such externall thing but righteousnesse c. Doct. 3. The best workes of the heathen sinfull v. 5. Let euerie one be fully perswaded in his minde c. Hence it is euident that Christians doing things forbidden and leauing things commanded because they are not herein perswaded doe therein sinne likewise the workes of the heathen wherein they did that which was commanded yet were sinfull because they wanted this perswasion Aristides exercising iustice did that which was commanded Alexander abstaining from violating the chastitie of Darius wife and daughters did shunne that which was prohibited yet both of them sinned hauing not this full perswasion and assurance of faith that therein they pleased God these their goodly and glorious workes were but speciosa peccata goodly sinnes non ex substantia operis sed vitio operantis not by the substance of the worke but the fault of the worker Doct. 4. That all things must be referred to Gods glorie as the chiefe end v. 6. He that eateth eateth to the Lord c. As God gaue beginning to all things so he is the chiefe and last end of all the heathen said that we were borne not for our selues only but partly for our friends partly for our countrey partly for God but the Scriptures teach vs that all things must be referred wholy vnto Gods glorie our friends and countrey are to be respected but for Gods cause as it shall make most and best for his glorie so the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoeuer yee doe doe all to the glorie of God Doct. 5. Of the generall extent and efficacie of Christs death in the old and newe Testament v. 9. That he might be Lord of the dead and quicke The dead are named first to shew that euen those which liued vnder the Lawe and before though then dead did belong vnto the kingdome and dominion of Christ as also they which then liued or should remaine in the earth vnto the ende of the world they all then make but one Church one mysticall bodie as Gregorie saith lib. 41. epist. 38. sancti ante legem sancti sub lege sancti sub gratia omnes hi corpus Domini sunt constitutere the Saints before the lawe vnder the lawe and vnder grace doe all make the bodie of Christ he is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Ioh. 1.29 of all that beleeue in him from the beginning of the world to the end thereof Doct. 6. Christs diuinitie prooued v. 18. All tongues shall confesse vnto God This prophesie of Isay c. 45.23 beeing applyed by S. Paul vnto Christ doth euidently
he preached to the Iewes in his owne person to the Gentiles by his Apostles the Iewes had promises made to the fathers which were to be performed quasi ex debito as it were of debt not in regard of the Iewes to whome God was not endebted but of the truth of God with whome it is iust to performe that which he promised Lyran. but the Gentiles were called of Gods mercie onely without any such promise which though it were made de gentibus of and concerning the Gentiles and their vocation yet it was not made gentibus to the Gentiles as the promises were made to the fathers Pareus Thus our blessed Sauiour is set forth vnto vs vt minister humilis as an humble minister magister vtilis a profitable master because it is added for the truth and amicus stabilis a stable and faithfull friend to confirme the promises Gorrhan 15. Quest. Of the vocation and calling of the Gentiles why it is said to be of mercie and of the Iewes in truth v. 9. And let the Gentiles praise God c. This naming and mentioning of the Gentiles sheweth that the other part must be vnderstood of the Iewes that Christ was first a minister vnto them Iunius in his parallels thinketh that Christ was a Minister of the spirituall circumcision spoken of by S. Paul Coloss. 2.11 both vnto Iewes and Gentiles and that S. Paul doth not expressely speake of the Iewes though first he shew how Christ receiued them because partly that needed no proofe as the assumption of the Gentiles did and partly it may be vnderstood by the other part of the distribution concerning the Gentiles but it is better as is shewed in the former question by circumcision to vnderstand the circumcised nation of the Iewes and so both partes of the distribution are made more euident For his mercie It was Gods mercie also to make those gracious promises to the Iewes but because no promise was made to the Gentiles but concerning them neither are the promises concerning them so frequent in the Prophets as those made to the Iewes therefore the Apostle doth vnto the Iewes ascribe the veritie of Gods promises and to the Gentiles mercie so Hierome well obserueth this difference vpon these words Psal. 85.11 Mercie and truth are met Iudaeis repromissum est quod veniet Salvator nobis ex Gentibus non est repromissum c. It was promised to the Iewes that the Sauiour should come but to vs of the Gentiles it was not promised therefore it was mercie onely in the people of the Gentiles and truth in the people of the Iewes because that came which was promised c. so the Apostle excludeth the Gentiles from the promises they were straungers from the covenant of promise and this difference Gualter well obserueth in that place Micah c. 7.20 Thou wilt performe thy truth to Iacob and thy mercie to Abraham it was mercie in making the first gracious truth and graunt to Abraham and to his seede and then truth in performing the promises to Iacob made to his father Abraham Yet these two truth and mercie are not so to be distinguished as the one should be without the other for the calling of the Iewes as it was in truth so was it of mercie and the vocation of the Gentiles as it was of mercie so also in truth for the truth of the Prophesies and predictions made concerning the Gentiles was to take place but mercie is ascribed to the Gentiles quia magis apparet in conuersione Gentium because it appeared more in the conuersion of the Gentiles to whom no promises were made at all Gorrhan This is vsuall in the Apostles distributions onely to distinguish the partes according to diuerse degrees of more or lesse not that one member altogether excludeth the other as specially appeareth in these two places c. 4.25 Christ died for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification and c. 10.10 With the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse and with the mouth he confesseth to salvation Thus the Iewes and Gentiles are made equall in their calling and assuming to Christ both beeing so assumed of mercie that all envie and dissention might be taken away and both of them provoked to praise God for his mercie Quest. 16. Of the places of Scripture produced by the Apostle to prooue the calling of the Gentiles v. 9.10.11.12 v. 9. I will confesse thee among the Gentiles 1. This cannot be vnderstood of the person of Dauid for he made this song a little before his death as appeareth 2. Sam. 22. when God had deliuered him from all his enemies he could not then in his owne person set forth the praise of God among the Gentiles in his graue 2. Iunius in his parallels thinketh that Dauid speaketh this of himselfe but vnder the person of Christ that he in him which should come of his seed as one of his faithfull members should set forth the praises of God among the Gentiles as Levi is said Heb. 7. to haue beene tithed in Abraham 3. Pet. Mar. vnderstandeth the bodie of Christ the Church of God in whose person Dauid speaketh 4. rather Dauid speaketh here in the person of Christ who in his members doth continually set forth the praises of God among the Gentiles filius Dei laudat patrem per ora opera Gentium the Sonne praiseth the Father by the mouthes and workes of the Gentiles Haymo and because facit confiteri he maketh them confesse vnto the praise of God 5. so first here the consequent is prooued by the antecedent because God cannot be praised nisi in caetu sidelium but in the congregation of the faithfull Calvin the Gentiles cannot please God vnlesse they first should become the people of God and then the force of the argument lieth in this prediction and promise made by Dauid which must be fulfilled but Dauid promiseth that the Gentiles when they are called shall praise God therefore they shall be called v. 10. Reioyce yee Gentiles with his people 1. some thinke this place to be taken out of Psalem 67.5 Let the people praise thee O God c. Calvin Gualter but there the other words with thy people are not found Thomas as Erasmus obserueth well will haue it cited out of the 25. of Isay but it is euident to be found Deuter. 32.43 Yee nations praise his people or reioyce with his people 2. But the Iewes will obiect that the Apostle doth not cite that place aright for the words in the Hebrew are praise yee nations his people not with his people or and his people Answ. This place must either be read thus praise ye Gentiles his people or ye Gentiles his people praise him or ye Gentiles with his people c. the first is not so fit for Moses in that song doth reprooue the people of Israel and threatneth that for their disobedience they shall be cast off v. 21. I will mooue them to iealousie with those which are no people and
lawe it selfe and the Prophets require Chrysost. and beside this is added ne Evangelium quasi novum à veteri lege dissidens least the Gospel should be suspected as newe and dissenting from the lawe At the commandement of the eternall God 1. Haymo referreth it to the commandement of Christ giuen to his Apostles goe and preach the Gospel to euery creature but it signifieth more the euerlasting ordinance and appointment of God aeternaliter disposuit qua fierent in tempore he disposed from euerlasting the things which should be done in time Lyran. so Chrysost. olim praefinitum erat nunc autem apparuit it was appointed before but appeared now 2. so here the Apostle curiosis quaestionibus ianuam claudit doth shut a doore against all curious questions least any man should enquire why the mysterie of the Gospel was kept secret and hid so long the Apostle sendeth vs to the secret counsell and determination of God 3. God is called eternall as a title peculiar vnto himselfe that is truly eternall which is without beginning and ende and whereas other things are immortall as Angels and the soule of man yet this difference there is it is one thing non mutari cum possit mutari not to be changed when it hath yet a possibilitie to be changed an other non posse prorsus mutari not to haue any possibilitie to be changed at all which onely belongeth vnto God to be of an immutable nature gloss ordinar 4. The ende followeth for the obedience of faith 1. Chrysostome obserueth here fides obedientiam exigit non curiositatem faith exacteth obedience not curiositie we must not curiously inquire and aske a reason of that which is commanded but willingly yeeld our obedience 2. there are two acts of this obedience the one is to receiue the faith without exception or gainsaying the other to bring forth the fruits of this faith by good workes 3. and the Apostle by pressing this end the obedience of all nations here also comprehendeth the Romanes non solum tu ita credis sed tecum vniversus etiam orbis but all the world also with thee Chrysost. Quest. 25. Of the doxologie it selfe to God onely wise c. 1. It is not said to God onely wise as though the Sonne were excluded sed ad discretionem vniuersae creaturae but to distinguish all creatures from the creator he onely compared to the creatures is alone wise Chrysost. for the Apostle saith not to the father onely wise but to God onely wise which one God is the Father Sonne and holy Ghost 2. Origen noteth further that God is not said to be wise as though by wisedome he is made wise as men are but he is the fountaine of wisedome non enim ex sapientia sapiens Deus sed ex sapiente Deo sapientia procedit for God is not wise by wisdome but wisdome proceedeth from God who is wise 3. Glorie 1. Lyranus readeth honour and glorie which he thus distinguisheth that honour is a reuerence exhibited as a testimonie of ones vertue but glorie is an honour exhibited coram multis before many but here there is no vse of this distinction for in the originall there is found onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 glorie 2. this ascribing of all glorie vnto God signifieth a threefold act one in respect of God to glorifie him in his wisedome in wondring at the depth thereof glorificat illum denuo stupefactus he doth glorifie him beeing againe astonished at these incomprehensible mysteries Chrys. as S. Paul crieth out in admiration of the vnsearcheable depth of Gods wisedome Rom. 11.33 then in our selues there is our reioycing and thanksgiuing vnto God glorie is clara cum laude laetitia a cleare kind of reioycing with praise gloss as the Apostle saith Rom. 7.25 I thanke my God c. the third act is in respect of others that they may come to the knowledge of the Gospel and so set forth the glorie of God as the Apostle saith Eph. 3.10 That by the Church may be knowne the manifold wisedome of God 4. Thorough Iesus Christ. 1. which some referre to the former words to the onely wise God that is to Iesus Christ gloss interlin but Iesus Christ is here distinguished from the onely wise God as beeing a distinct person 2. Origen referreth it to the eternall generation of Christ because God the Father genuerit sapientiam Iesum Christum hath begotten the true wisedome Iesus Christ and so he declareth God to be onely wise 3. Hugo referreth it to the preaching of Iesus Christ and those things which were done by him in the flesh by the which he declareth God to be onely wise 4. Haymo because by Christ manifestatum est mysterium Trinitatis the mysterie of the Trinitie was manifested 5. Chrysostome ioyneth it to the first words v. 25. to him that is able to establish you c. by Iesus Christ c. 6. But it is better coupled with the words following be glorie whereby the Mediatorship of Christ is commended that we are by his Mediation made partakers of those benenefits Calvin and beside our praise and thanksgiuing cannot be accepted of God but thorough Christ Osiander as the Apostle vseth to say I thanke my God thorough Iesus Christ Rom. 1.8 chap. 7.25 5. For euer 1. the vulgar Latin readeth in secula seculorum for euer and euer but in the originall it is onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in secula for euer though the Syrian reade it as the Latine doth 2. but the sense is the same and howsoeuer here the Greeke so readeth not yet in other places as Rev. 5.13 we find the word doubled in seculo seculorum for euer euer or for age after age as we say world without end as Origen saith it is the maner of scripture immensitatem temporum per hoc designare thus to set forth the immensitie and infinitenes of time and it is all one as if the Apostle should haue said in omnia futura secula for all the ages to come honour and glorie be giuen vnto God Haymo 3. And as this glorie praise is here set forth by the immensitie of time it neuer shall haue end so two other circumstances of the like infinitenesse and immensitie are elswhere added as Reuel 5.13 all creatures in heauen and earth do ioyne together to giue praise vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and they giue praise honour glorie power that is all and all manner of praise Quest. 26. Of the vse of the word Amen v. 27. Amen 1. This word Amen as Augustine obserueth is neither Greeke nor Latine but an Hebrewe word and signifieth truth or it is true which word is retained in all languages as Augustine coniectureth ne vilesceret nudatum that it should not being made bare by interpretation become more vile and therefore the interpreter keepeth the originall word vt honorem haberet velamenti secreti to giue honour to the vailed secret other reasons also may
be yeelded hereof as herein the consent of nations is testified in the worship of God and beside this remainder of the holy tongue all nations speaking the language of Canaan as it is prophesied Isay 19.18 is a pledge vnto the Gentiles of the calling and reuniting of that nation from whence they receiued their first faith namely the Iewes 2. Haymo thinketh that this word is iuramentum vel affirmatio an oath or affirmation but the first it is not it is onely a constant and earnest asseveration of the truth it were hard to say that our blessed Sauiour when he vsed to say Amen Amen as he did often did sweare or take an oath 3. There was a double vse of this word Amen for it either sheweth the approbation of the iudgement that the things spoken are true as Origen saith here vera fidelia esse signat quae scripta sunt it sheweth the things to be faithfull and true which are said and in this sense the Apostle saith that all the promises in Christ are yea and Amen 2. Cor. 1.23 or it sheweth the desire of the heart and consent of the will vnto the prayers and blessings pronounced as the people vsed at the giuing of thaÌ„ks to say Amen in the Primitiue Church 1. Cor. 14.16 as Iustinus also testifieth in the ende of his second apologie for the Christians and so also Hierome praefat in 2. lib. epist. ad Galat. saith that in the Churches at Rome audiri veluti coelesti tonitru populum reboantem Amen that the people is heard founding Amen as a thunder from heauen and Chrysostome more particularly sheweth the manner how they said Amen illud in seculo seculorum qui finis precum est audiens Amen non dicit the people hearing these words for euer and euer which is the end of the prayers cannot say Amen if he vnderstand not so Amen was added in the ende of their prayers and thanksgiuing to expresse the common voices and desires of the people and their hartie consent to that which was prayed for so Calvin observeth well vpon that place 1. Cor. 14.14 this word Amen est nota confirmationis tam asserendo quam optando is a note of confirmation both in affirming and in wishing and it sheweth that the prayer conceiued by the minister whereunto the people answear Amen omnium esse communem to be common to all 4. Hugo Cardinal hath a prettie obseruation vpon that place that Amen in the lawe was answeared vnto the maledictions and curses pronounced Deut. 27. v. 15. to the ende but not to the blessings as may be seene Deut. 28. v. 1. to v. 8. but in the Gospell Amen is said to blessings and not to curses 5. But that is a ridiculous obseruation of the Carnotensian Canons that vpon that place of the Apostle where it appeareth that it belonged onely vnto the idiore and vnlearned to say Amen hereby they would confirme their blind custome that none say Amen because their Church in the beginning consisted of noble and learned persons there was none vnlearned among them to the which it may be answeared that there Church could not be more perfect then the Primitiue Church wherein the people said Amen and how perfect soeuer a Church is there must be order that one pray in the name of the people and the rest say Amen and Hugo saith well modo videtur quod satis possunt illud resumere per contrarium but now it seemeth that they may rather resume and take vp the contrarie custome c. to say Amen his meaning is because there are none but vnlearned there Quest. 27. Of the postscript or date of this epistle whether it were written from Corinth and sent by Phebe 1. It must be obserued that these postscripts of the Epistles are no part of the Apostles writings but were added afterward by others neither are they generally true for in the end of the first epistle to the Corinthians it is said to be written from Philippi whereas it was written and sent from Ephesus as doth diuersely appeare the Apostle saith v. 5. of the last chapter I will come vnto you after I haue gone thorough Macedonia for I will passe thorough Macedonia he was not then yet come into Macedonia where Philippis was again he saith I will tarrie at Ephesus vntill Pentecost and v. 19. the Churches of Asia salute you and Aquila and Priscilla he was then at this time in Asia and at Ephesus where Saint Paul left Aquila and Priscilla Act. 19. â—9 he was not then at Philippis in Macedonia which is in Europe 2. But yet this epistle is dated right froÌ„ Corinth the hauen of which citie or port towne was called Cenchris this is the opinion of Origen Hierome with others yet Haymo thinketh it was dated from Athens and Lyranus to reconcile them thinketh that S. Paul beganne his epistle at Athens and finished the rest at Corinth But this is a meere coniecture for it is euident that the Apostle was not at Athens but at Corinth when he wrote this epistle because he maketh mention of Cenchris c. 16.1 from whence this epistle is supposed to be sent and he sendeth salutations from Gaius ver 23. who was his host at Corinth 1. Corin. 1.14 3. Whether this epistle were sent by Phebe or not see diuerse opinions before qu. 3. as it is like shee was the messenger because she was now going to Rome c. 16.1.2 Erasmus by the way hath a glaunse at the ambitious statelines of the Popes Embassadors now a dayes seeing the Apostles vere maximi pontifices the great Bishops of the world did vse such messengers as S. Paul writeth of great and deepe matters per mulierculam by a silly woman and here an ende of these questions 4. Places of Doctrine Doct. 1. That women doe belong vnto the kingdome of Christ. 1. Phebe my sister This woman is highly commended by S. Paul as a necessarie member of the Church who had done much good vnto many so godly women though they are not admitted to the office of publike teaching yet by priuate exhortation vertuous education of children charitable releefe of the poore may edifie much so as S. Paul saith there is in Christ Iesu neither bond nor free male nor female ye are all one in Christ Iesus Gal. 3.28 Doct. 2. Religion taketh not away the offices of humanitie v. 1. I commend S. Paul in sending commendations in saluting and sending salutations of the brethren one to an other which he doth thoroughout this chapter sheweth that humanitie curtesie gentlenes may verie well stand with Christianitie against the opinion of those hypocrites as here Melancthon calleth them that allowe of nothing but austeritie or rather curiositie which was the fashion of the Scribes and Pharisies Matth. 6. to haue fowre lookes but gentlenes lenitie benignitie goodnes are the fruites of the spirit Galat. 5. and it is specially required of a Bishop to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 easie
creatures but to belong onely to the Creator 2. S. Peter saith if any speake let them speake as the words of God 1. Pet. 4.11 but the word of God thus speaketh not neuer did the Apostles vse in their thanksgiuings to ioyne Christ and his mother together nor yet any of the found auncient writers therefore it is a superstitious phrase taken vp by the Romanists without any warrant of Scripture or antiquitie 3. as prayer and invocation is due onely to God because in him onely we are to beleeue Ioh. 14.1 Rom. 10.14 so thanksgiuing beeing a kind of prayer and a part of religious worship is only to be giuen vnto God 4. we acknowledge the Virgin Marie to haue beene a chosen vessell of the Lord and graced with the greatest blessing that could be in this world to be the mother of our Lord and therefore of all generations to be held and called blessed as she her selfe prophesieth in her song and not to be held inferiour to any of Gods Saints but yet no religious worship is to be giuen to her neither therein is she to be partener with her Sonne Our blessed Sauiour foreseeing the superstition which in time to come might grow in too high conceit of this externall priviledge giuen to his mother as it were to preuent this inconveniencie doth of purpose extenuate this carnall respect and detracteth from it as when one cryed out happy is the wombe that bare thee c. he answered nay blessed are they which heare the word of God and keepe it Luk. 11. and an other time when his mother forgetting her selfe would haue prescribed vnto Christ what to doe to turne water into wine he sharpely rebuked her saying woman what haue I to doe with thee Ioh. 2. and after this when it was told him that his mother and brethren were without desirous to speake with him he not willing to be interrupted in his heauenly busines by any such temporall respect answeared he that doth the will of my Father which is in heauen he is my sister and brother and mother Matth. 12.50 Contr. 8. Whether S. Peter were euer at Rome and continued there Bishop 25. yeares Now in the last place because that in this last chapter wherein S. Paul sendeth salutations by name vnto many brethren at Rome and maketh no mention of S. Peter the Protestants do inferre that Peter was not then at Rome so either was not there at all or could not there so long continue as the Papists generally hold it shall not be amisse briefly to examine the truth herein and first we will answear the Papists obiections and then propound our owne reasons It is the generall receiued opinion of the Romish Catholikes that Peter should come thither in the 2. or 3. yeare of Claudius in the 45. yeare of Christ and continue there Bishop 25. yeares sauing that sometime he was absent thence by occasion of the affaires of the Church vnto the 14. yeare of Nero when he was beheaded in the 70. yeare of Christ so Bellar. l. 2. de Rom. Pont. c. 5. Rhemists in their table of S. Peter set after the Acts of the Apostles they reason and obiect thus 1. Ob. S. Peter writ his first epistle from Rome as it appeareth 1. ep 5.13 the Church which is at Babylon saluteth you and Marcus my sonne but this Babylon is Rome as it is called Rev. 17. and so Papias in Euseb. l. 2. c. 15. and Hierome de viris illustribus do vndestand it Rhemist annot 1. Pet. 5. v. 13. Ans. 1. This Babylon some take to be that great citie in Assyria Beza or rather it was the Egyptian Babylon that great citie now called Cayre or Alcayre which is 13. or 14. german miles about and this is most like because Marke was with Peter at this time who is held to haue beene constituted the first Bishop of Alexandria in Egypt where also he was put to death and buried as Nichep l. 2. c. 35. Doroth. in the life of Marke 2. the Apostle would not date his epistle from a place so called in an allegoricall sense epistles are dated from places and cities as they are vsually called 3. in the Revelation Rome is called mysticall Babylon not the first Rome but as it should be vnder Antichrist but S. Peter handleth no such thing in this place of the seate and place of Antichrist 4. Eusebius reiecteth diuerse of Papiâ—s fables lib. 3. c. 36. neither is euery thing that Hierome writeth Gospel 2. Ob. The sight of the monuments of S. Peters chaire sepulchre death at Rome doe euidently convince them which denie his beeing there Rhemist Ans. This is to prooue one vncertaine thing by an other for how doe they prooue that S. Peter sate in such a chaire or that his bodie lieth there buried when as they themselues haue deceiued the world with diuerse fables concerning this matter halfe of his bodie they say is at S. Peters in Rome and halfe at S. Pauls his head at S. Iohn Lateran his neather iaw with the beard vpon it at Poyters in Fraunce at Triers many of his bones at Geneva part of his braine which was found to be a pumice stone Therefore this argument taken from the sepulchre of Peter prooueth nothing their own fables take away the credit of their report 3. Ob. But diuerse auncient writers to testifie that S. Peter was at Rome and among the rest Egesip l. 3. c. 2. de excid Hierosol Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Euseb. l. 2. c. 13.15 Hier. in Cat. with diuerse other fathers Chrysost. Amb. August Cypr. cited by the Rhemists an 4. in 16. c. Rom. Answ. 1. In generall we say that the fathers might followe the receiued opinion of those dayes not obseruing how the mysterie of iniquitie then wrought and a way euen theÌ„ was a preparing for Antichrist and that their testimonie without warrant of Scripture is too weake a ground to build an article of faith vpon such as the Papists make this to be of Peters beeing at Rome and sitting Bishop there 2. either the fathers writings comming afterward to be handled with soule fingers may be thought herein to be corrupted or of small credit considering the great varietie of their reports which shall be examined among our arguments following 2. In particular iust exception may be taken to the fowre authors first alleadged Egesippus is held to be but a fabler and not that auncient Egesippus meÌ„tioned by Eusebius but an other of later time or a counterfeit author 1. that auncient Egesippus wrote the Acts of the Apostles their doctrine out of the Gospel secundum Hebraeos Syros according to the Hebrewes and Syrians but this fabulous Egesippus wrot in Greek 2. This last Egesippus maketh mention of Constantinople to which Rome should be equall in dignitie which was concluded after Constantines time after an 340. but the elder Egesippus liued an 146. or thereabout neere 200. yeare before 3. the fables themselues are vnsauourie
avouched by this Egesippus as how Peter and Simon Magus did striue which of them should raise Neros cousin that was dead and he that could not doe it should die and how Peter fleeing out of Rome met Christ at the gates and asked him Domine quo vadis Master whether goest thou and he answeared I come againe to be crucified whereupon Peter returned and was crucified for this is contrarie to S. Peters owne doctrine that the heauens should containe Christ vntill his second comming Act. 3.21 To Ireneus testimonie we answear 1. whereas he saith that Matthew wrote his Gospell at what time Peter and Paul preached at Rome this cannot agree with the historie of times for Matthew is held to haue written his Gospel in the 3. yeere of Caligula from which yeare vnto the 2. of Nero when S. Paul is held to haue first come vnto Rome are verie neere 20. yeares 2. and as Ireneus is vncertaine in this so an other opinion he hath of the like credit that Christ should be 40. or 50. yeare old when he preached and this he saith he receiued of all the Elders of Asia who testified id ipsum tradidisse eis Iohannem that Iohn deliuered the same vnto them and yet the other opinion of Epiphanius that Christ died in the 33. yeare of his age and beganne to preach at 30. is held of all to come neerer vnto the truth Hierome is as vncertaine 1. he saith that Paul came to Rome in the 2. yeare of Claudius and yet he granteth that before he had been at Antioch and from thence went and preached to the dispersed brethren in Pontus Galatia Bithinia Cappadocia Asia which might hold him not much lesse then 14. yeares as shall be shewed afterward so that he could not in this account come to Rome til the 2. of Nero. 2. Hierome is as vncertaine in other things in his epistle to Marcella he thinketh Adam was buried in mount Calvarie in his epitath of Eustach he will haue him buried in Chebron in his epistle to Evagr. he thinketh Iob came of Esau and in his cōmentarie vpon Genesis that he discended of Nahor Abrahams brother To Eusebius these exceptions may be taken 1. that he was an Arrian and beeing an Arrian wrote his historie which maketh it of the lesse credit 2. he is contrarie to himselfe for l. 3. c. 2. he affirmeth that Peter came not to Rome till the last yeare of Claudius See Christ. Carlil in his booke of the life and peregrination of Peter 1. dis This shall suffice concerning the contrarie arguments and obiections made by the Papists now ours follow for the demonstration of the contrarie part of Peters not beeing at Rome where first I will set downe the opinion of the Protestants and then produce their reasons Though the Protestants in generall and by the most full and sufficient warrant of Scripture do hold that Peter was not at Rome as Bishop there or founder of that Church and so in effect doe agree in the substance yet I finde some difference among them in certaine points coincident to this question 1. Some directly affirme and prooue it by euident places of Scripture that Peter was not at Rome at all as Vl. Vellanus whose obiections Bellarmine rather maketh an offer to confute then indeed confuteth them l. 2. de Rom. Pont. c. 5.6 2. Some goe yet further and affirme that Peter neither liued at Rome nor yet died there nor S. Paul neither but assigneth Ierusalem to be the place where S. Peter was crucified by warrant of that place Matth. 23.34 where our Sauiour saith that Ierusalem shall kill and crucifie some of the wise men and Prophets whom he should send thither Christopher Carlil who alleadgeth Lyranus and the interlinear gloss vpon that place that Peter was crucified at Hierusalem for none els of the Apostles were crucified there Linus also affirmeth that Peter was slaine at Ierusalem by Agrippa the last king of the Iews when also Iames the lesse was killed with Ioses Simon and Iude. 3. Some of our writers denie not Peter to haue beene at Rome but they affirme he could not come thither so soone nor continue there so long 25. yeares from the 2. of Claudius as Beza saith non invitus concedam c. I will not vnwillingly graunt that Peter was at Rome and there put to death but not the other annot in 1. Pet. 5.14 so also Gualter id ego non facile negaverim c. I will not easily denie that Peter in the last yeare of Nero receiued the crowne of Martyrdome because of the consent of auncient writers c. to the same purpose also D. Fulke annot 4. in 16. c. ad Roman 4. To this we adde further that howsoeuer we absolutely denie not but that Peter might be at Rome yet it is more probable he was not certainely out of the Scripture it can not be prooued that he was there at all and it is not de fide a thing concerning faith neither to be held as an article of faith as the Church of Rome doth defend it because the Scripture only must be a rule of our faith and further it is euident out of the Scripture that Peter was not at Rome till Pauls first beeing there in bonds where the historie of the acts of the Apostle endeth whatsoeuer he was afterward which Pareus thinketh to haue beene the 11. yeare of Nero but it was rather the second yeare when S. Paul came thither first and his second arrivall was in the 11. yeare for this Epistle was not written in the 8. yeare of Nero as Pareus thinketh but rather in the ende of Claudius raigne while Narcissus was yet in authoritie see before in the ende of the 5. and 10. quest Our reasons against Peters beeing at Rome in manner and forme aforesaid are these Our first argument shall be out of the Scripture 1. it is evident that Peter was at Ierusalem the third yeare after Pauls conversion for there he staied with him 15. dayes which was the 37. yeare of Christ he was not then yet at Rome 2. 8. yeare after this he was imprisoned by Herod which was the 43. yeare of Christ and the 3. yeare of Claudius Euseb. l. 2. c. 11. Ioseph l. 19. c. 7. Peter thē was not yet at Rome 3. Sixe yeare after this was Peter at Ierusalem for there S. Paul found him 14. yeare after his first comming thither Galat. 2.1 then was celebrated the Apostolicall counsel mentioned Act 15. when each gaue to other the right hand of fellowship this was the 9. yeare of Claudius as witnesseth Hierome hitherto Peter had not visited Rome neither will it suffice to say that he came from Rome thither to the councell for then what time will they leaue vnto Peter to visit Antioch and the Churches of Asia Bythinia Cappadocia Galatia and Egypt where Nicephorus saith he preached lib. 2. c. 35. in all these places he preached as it appeareth by his 1.
order of placing the Epistles and why this to the Romanes is set first 20. qu. Vnto whome this Epistle to the Romanes was written and from whence 21. qu. Of the excellencie and worthines of this Epistle Questions vpon the first Chapter Quest. 1. Why Paul setteth his name before this Epistle 2. qu. Of the two names of the Apostle Saul and Paul what they signifie 3. quest Vpon what occasion the name Saul was turned to Paul 4. qu. At what time the Apostles name beganne to be called Paul 5. qu. In what sense Paul calleth himselfe the seruant of Iesus Christ. 6. qu. How Paul calleth himselfe a seruant seeing Christ saith I will not call you seruants Ioh. 15.15 7. qu. How S. Paul saith called to be an Apostle 8. qu. Of the office and calling of an Apostle what it is 9. qu. Diuers points wherein consisteth the excellencie of the Apostleship 10. qu. How S. Paul is said to be set or put apart for the Gospel of God 11. qu. Of the description of the Gospel 12. qu. Whether the Gospel be comprehended in the old Testament 13. qu. How Christ is saide to be made of Dauid after the flesh 14. qu. How it can be shewed that Christ was borne of the seede and posteritie of David 15. qu. Whether Christ descended of David by Salomon or Nathan 16. qu. Of the meaning of these words v. 4. declared mightily to be the Sonne of God c. 17. qu. Of the meaning of these words declared to be the Sonne of God in power 18. qu. Of these words according to the spirit of sanctification v. 4. 19. qu. Of these words by the resurrection of the dead 20. qu. Of these words v. 5. By whome we haue receiued grace and Apostleship 21. qu. Of the persons whome the Apostle saluteth To all you that be at Rome c. 22. qu. What the Apostle vnderstandeth by grace and peace v. 7. 23. qu. Of Pauls giuing of thankes for the faith of the Romanes which was published abroad v. 8. 24. qu. How the faith of the Romanes was published through the world 25. qu. Of the singular faith of the Romans 26. qu. Whether the Church of Rome were first founded by S. Peter 27. qu. The place Act. 28.21 reconciled 28. qu. Whether this be an oath God is my witnesse v. 9. 29. qu. Whether it be lawfull to sweare and vpon what occasion 30. qu. How Paul is said to serue in the spirit 31. qu. What prosperous iourney the Apostle meaneth v. 10. 32. qu. Whether S. Paul needed to be mutually strengthened by the faith of the Romanes 33. qu. Of the impediments whereby Saint Paul was letted to come vnto the Romans 34. qu. Why S. Paul expresseth not the cause in particular what letted him 35. qu. Whether Saint Pauls desire to goe to Rome beeing therein letted were contrarie to Gods will and so sinned therein 36. qu. How S. Paul was a debter vnto all v. 14. 37. qu. Whom S. Paul vnderstandeth by the Grecians and Barbarians 38. qu. How Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel v. 16. 39. qu. What the Gospel or Evangel signifieth 40. qu. Of the definition of the Gospel It is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth 41. qu. Of the difference betweene the Law and the Gospel 42. qu. Why the Iewes are named before the Grecians v. 16. 43. qu. The iustice or righteousnes of God is reuealed what iustice the Apostle meaneth 44. qu. Of the meaning of these words v. 17 is reuealed from faith to faith 45. qu. Whether the Apostle doth rightly cite this place out of the Prophet The iust by faith shall liue 46. qu. Whether S. Paul in citing this saying followeth the Prophets sense 47. qu. How the wrath of God is saide to be reuealed from heauen against all vnrighteousnes 48. qu. What it is to withhold the truth in vnrighteousnes v. 18. 49. qu. What the Apostle meaneth by these words v. 19. That which may be knowne of God is manifest in them 50. qu. Of the waies and meanes whereby the Lord doth manifest himselfe vnto men 51. qu. What invisible things of God the Apostle speaketh of and how they are made knowne vnto vs. 52. qu. Of the knowledge which the Philophers had of God and by what meanes they attained vnto it 53. qu. How other Scriptures that denie all knowledge of God vnto the wicked agree with this place of S. Paul 54. qu. Of the meaning of these words that they should be inexcusable v. 20. 55. qu. Whether there is any naturall knowledge of God in man 56. qu. Whether the naturall knowledge which the Heathen had of God was sufficient vnto saluation 57. qu. Whether any of the Philosophers were saued by that naturall knowledge which they had of God 58. qu. Seeing that the naturall knowledge which the Heathen had was not sufficient vnto saluation how are they thereby made inexcusable 59. qu. v. 21. How the Gentiles are said to haue knowne God and yet glorified him not as God 60. qu. v. 21. How the Gentiles did not glorifie God neither were thankefull but became vaine 61. qu. How the Gentiles changed the glorie of God into the image of men and beasts v. 23. 62. qu. Of the diuers kinds of idolatrie among the heathen in worshipping the images of men and beasts v. 23. 63. qu. Of the grosse idolatrie of the heathen in worshipping the images of men beasts v. 23. 64. qu. How God is saide to haue deliuered them to their owne hearts lusts v. 24. 65. qu. How the Gentiles are saide to defile their bodies in themselues 66. qu. How they worshipped the creature rather then the Creator 67. qu. Of the vnnaturall sinnes of the heathen 68. qu. How one sinne is punished by an other vpon these words And receiued in themselues such recompence of their error c. v. 27. 69. qu. How the Gentiles are said not to regard to know God v. 28. 70. qu. What it is to be deliuered vp to a reprobate minde 71. qu. Generall obseruations out of the Catalogue of the sinnes of the heathen reckoned vp by the Apostle v. 29 30. 72. qu. Of the order obserued by the Apostle in the particular enumeration of the sinnes of the Gentiles 73. qu. Of the particular sinnes of the Gentiles here rehearsed by the Apostle 74. qu. Of the true reading of the last vers 31. and the meaning thereof 75. qu. What a dangerous thing it is to be a fauourer and procurer of sinne in others 76. qu. How one may be accessarie to an others sinne 77. qu. Whether all the Gentiles were guiltie of the sinnes which are here rehearsed by the Apostle Questions vpon the second Chapter 1. qu. To whome the Apostle here speaketh Wherefore thou art inexcusable O man 2. qu. Whether one offend in iudging an other wherein he is guiltie himselfe 3. qu. Of these words v. 2. Wee know that the iudgement of God is according to truth 4. qu.