22 But now being made free from 7 What shall we say then? I sin, and become servants to God, the law sin? God forbid. But I you have your fruit unto sanctifica- did not know sin, but by the law; tion, and the end life everlasting, for I had not known concupiscence, 23 For the wages of sin, is death. if the law did not say: Thou shalt But the grace of God, life everlast-not covet. ing, in Christ JESUS our Lord. CHAP. VII.

We are released by Christ from the law.

I

KNOW you not, brethren, (for speak to them that know the law) that the law hath dominion over a man, as long as it liveth?

8 But sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 And I lived some time without the law. But when the commandment came, sin revived. 10 And I died. And the com

2 For the woman that hath an mandment, that was ordained to husband, whilst her husband liveth life, the same was found to be unto is bound to the law. But if her death to me. husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment seduced me,and by it killed me.

12 Wherefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

3 Therefore, whilst her husband liveth, she shall be called an adulteress, if she be with another man: but if her husband be dead, she is delivered from the law of her hus- 13 Was that then which is good, band so that she is not an adul-made death unto me? God forbid. teress if she be with another man: But sin, that it may appear sin, by

4 Therefore, my brethren, you that which is good, wrought death also are become dead to the law by in me: that sin by the commandthe body of Christ; that you may ment might become sinful above belong to another, who is risen measure. again from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit to God.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins which were by the law, did work in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I work, 1 understand not, for I do not that good which I will, but the evil which I hate, that I do.

6 But now we are loosed from the law of death, wherein we were 16 If then I do that which I will detained so that we should serve not, I consent to the law, that is in newness of spirit, and not in the good. oldness of the letter.

Ver.1. It liveth, or as long as he liveth.

17 Now then it is no more I that

Ver. 8. Sin taking occasion. Sin, or concupiscence (which is called sin, because it is from sin, and leads to sin) which was asleep before, was wakened by the prohibition: the law not being the cause thereof, nor properly giving occasion to it: but occasion being taken by our corrupt nature to resist the commandment laid upon us.

Ver. 13. That it may appear sin; or that sin may appear, viz. to be the monster it is, which is even capable to take occasion from that which is good to work death.

Ver. 15. I do not that good which I will, &c. The apostle here describes the disorderly motions of passion and concupiscence; which oftentimes in us get the start of reason: and by means of which even good men suffer in the inferior appetite what their will abhors; and are much hindered in the accomplishment of the desires of their spirit and mind. But these evil motions (though they are called the law of sin, because they come from original sin, and volently tempt and incline to sin) as long as the will does not consent to them are not sing because they are not voluntary.

Ver. 16. The spirit himself, &c. By the inward motions of divine love, and the peace of conscience which the children of God experience, they have a kind of testimony of God's tavour; by which they are much strengthened in their hope of their justification and salvation: but yet not so as to pretend to an absolute assurance: which is not usually granted in this

testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what the Spirit desireth: because he asketh for the saints according to God.

28 And we know that to them

17 And if sons, heirs also: heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with that love God, all things work tohim. gether unto good, to such as ac18 For I reckon, that the suffer-cording to his purpose are called to ings of this time are not worthy to be saints. be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us. 19 For the expectation of the creature, waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God.

29 For whom he fore-knew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son : that he might be the first-born among many brethren.

30 And whom he predestinated : them he also called. And whom he

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that made it sub-called; them he also justified. And ject, in hope: whom he justified; them he also

21 Because the creature also it- glorified. self shall be delivered from the ser- 31 What shall we then say to vitude of corruption, into the liberty these things? If God be for us, who of the glory of the children of God. is against us?

22 For we know that every crea- 32 He that spared not even his ture groaneth, and travaileth in pain own Son; but delivered him up for even till now. us all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things?

23 And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen, is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for?

33 Who shall accuse against the elect of God? God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that shall condemn? Christ JESUS that died, yea that is risen also again, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who then shall separate us 25 But if we hope for that which from the love of Christ? shall triwe see not; we wait for it with pa- bulation? or distress? or famine? tience. or nakedness? or danger? or per26 Likewise the Spirit also help-secution? or the sword? eth our infirmity. For, we know 36 (As it is written: For thy sake not what we should pray for as we we are put to death all the day long. ought: but the Spirit himself ask- We are accounted as sheep for the eth for us with unspeakable groan- slaughter.) ings.

37 But in all these things we over

mortal life; during which we are taught to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. ii. 12. And that he who thinketh himself to stand, must take heed lest he fall, 1 Cor. X 12. See also Rom. xi. 20, 21, 22.

Ver. 26. Asketh for us. The Spirit is said to ask, and desire for the saints, and to pray in us; in as much as he inspireth prayer, and teacheth us to pray.

Ver. 29. He also predestinated, &c. That is, God hath pre-ordained that all his elect should be conformable to the image of his Son. We must not here offer to dive into the secrets o. God's eternal election; only firmly believe that all our good, in time, and eternity, flows orignally from God's free goodness; and all our evil from man's free will.

come because of him that hath loved

us.

38 For 1 am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might,

39 Nor height, nor death, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ JESUS our Lord. CHAP. IX.

I

The apostle's concern for the Jews.
SPEAK the truth in Christ, I
lie not, my conscience bearing
me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great sadness and
continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I wished myself to be an anathema from Christ, for my brethren, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh,

4 Who are Israelites, to whom belongeth the adoption as of children, and the glory, and the testament, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises :

5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ according to the flesh, who is over all things, God blessed for ever, Amen.

6 Not as though the word of 3. God hath miscarried. For, all are not Israelites that are of Israel:

10 And not only she. But when Rebecca also had conceived at once,' of Isaac our father.

11 For when the children were not yet born, nor had done any good or evil (that the purpose of God according to election might stand.)

12 Not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated:

14 What shall we say then?ls their injustice with God? Godk forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy; and I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith to Pharáo: To this purpose have I rais

Ver. 38. I am sure, that is, I am persuaded: as it is in the Greek, wineaua. ETOR Ver.3. Anathema, a curse. The apostle's concern and love for his countrymen, the Jews, was so great, that he was willing to suffer even an anathema, or curse for their sake; or any evil that could come upon him, without his offending God.

"

Ver. 6. All are not Israelites, &c. Not all, who are the carnal seed of Israel, are true Is-raelites in God's account; who, as by his free grace he heretofore preferred Isaac before Ishmael, and Jacob before Esau, so could, and did, by the like free grace, election, and mercy, raise up spiritual children by faith to Abraham and Israel, from among the Gentiles, and prefer them before the carnal Jews.

Ver. 11. Not yet born, &c. By this example of these two twins, and the preference of the younger to the elder, the drift of the apostle is, to shew that God, in his election, mercy, and grace, is not tied to any particular nation, as the Jews imagined, nor to any prerogative of birth, or any foregoing merits. For as, antecedently to his grace, he sees no merits in any, but finds ali involved in sin, in the common lump of condemnation; and all children of wrath; there is no one whom he might not justly leave in that lump: So that whomsoever he delivers from it, he delivers in his mercy; and whomsoever he leaves in it, he leaves in his justice. As when, of two equally criminal, the king is pleased out of pure mercy to pardon one, whilst he suffers justice to take place in the execution of the other..

Ver. 16. Not of him that willeth, &c. That is, by any power or strength of his own, abstracting from the grace of God.

"

Ver. 17. To this purpose, &c. Not that God made him on purpose, that he should sin and

ed thee, that I may shew my power
in thee; and that my name may be
declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore he hath mercy on
whom he will; and, whom he will
he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say therefore to me: Why doth he then find fault? for who resisteth his will? **

20 O man, who art thou that repliest against God? shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus ?!

21 Or hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction,

23 That he might shew the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he hath prepared unto glory? 24 Even us, whom also he hath called, not only of the Jews, but also of the gentiles,-

25 As in Osee he saith: I will call, that which was not my people, my people; and her, that was not beloved, beloved: and her, that had not obtained mercy, one that hath obtained mercy.

26 And it shall be, in the place where it was said unto them, you are not my people there they shall be

called the sons of the living God.

27 And Isaias crieth out concerning Israel: If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea; a remnant shall be saved.

28 For he shall finish his word, and cut it short in justice: because a short word shall the Lord make upon the earthle subway

29 And as Isaias foretold: Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been made as Sodom, and we had been like unto Gomorrha? 30 What then shall we say? That the gentiles, who followed not after justice, have attained to justice, even the justice that is of faith.

31 But Israel, by following after the law of justice, is not come unto the law of justice.

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32 Why so? because they sought it not by faith, but as it were of works. For they stumbled at the stumbling stone.

33 As it is written: Behold Ilay in Sion a stumbling stone and a rock of scandal: and whosoever believeth in him, shall not be confounded.\ CHAP. X. J

so be damned: But foreseeing his obstinacy in sin, and the abuse of his own free-will, he raised him up to be a mighty king, to make a more remarkable example of him; and that his power might be better known, and his justice, in punishing him, published throughout the earth.

Ver. 18. He hardeneth. Not by being the cause, or author of his sin; but by withholding his grace, and so leaving him in his sin, in punishment of his past demerits.

Ver. 21. The potter. This similitude is used only to shew that we are not to dispute with our Maker; nor to reason with him why he does not give as great grace to one as to another: for since the whole lump of our clay is vitiated by sin, 'tis owing to his goodness and mercy, that he makes out of it so many vessels of honour; and 'tis no more than just that others in punishment of their unrepented of sins should be given up to be vessels of dis. honour.

Ver. 27. A remnant. That is, a small number only of the children of Israel shall be converted and saved. How perversely is this text quoted for the salvation of men of all religions, when it speaks only of the converts of the children of Israel.

Ver. 3. The justice of God. That is, the justice which God giveth us through Christ: as on the other hand the Jews own justice is that which they pretended to by their own ♪ strength, or by the observance of the law, without faith in Christ.