Commentary on Romans, Title page – Preface
HEXAPLA: THAT IS, A SIX-FOLD COMMENTARIE vponupon the most Diuine Epistle of the holy Apostle S. PAVL to the ROMANES: wherein according to the Authors former method sixe things are observed in eueryevery Chapter. 1. the Text with the diuers readings. 2. Argument and method. 3. the Questions discussed. 4. Doctrines noted. 5. Controversies handled. 6. Morall vses observed.
Wherein are handled the greatest points of Christian religion: concerning iustification by faith, c. 3, 4. the fall of man, c. 5. the combat betweene the flesh and the spirit, c. 7. Election, c. 9. the vocation of the Iewes, c. 11. with many other Questions and Controversies summed in the ende of the Table.
Diuided into two bookes: the first vntounto the 12. chapter, containing matter of Doctrine: the second belonging to Exhortation, in the five last Chapters.
THE FIRST BOOKE.
Act. 10.15.
He is a chosen vessel vntounto me, to beare my name before the Gentiles, &c.
Ambros. de Ioseph. c.10.
Binae stolae datae Beniamin, sic praecellit Paulus & eius exvberit port… ▪ Double garments was giuen to Beniamin, so Paul (of Beniamin) excelled, and his portion did exceede.
PRINTED BY CANTRELL LEGGE, PRINTER TO the Vniversitie of CAMBRIDGE. 1611.
TO THE MOST CHRISTIAN, RIGHT NOBLE, MOST EXCELLENT AND MIGHTIE PRINCE, IAMES by the grace of God, KING of Great BRITTAIN, France, and Ireland, Defender of the true Christian Faith, &c.
GRacious Soueraigne: As I hauehave heretofore (by Gods speciall grace assisting me) trauailed in some bookes of the old Testament, so now I hauehave assayed to doe the like in the newe:Non potest quisquam mare navigare increpidus, nisi qui ante in fluminibus navigarit, Ambros de Abraham, lib 4. Sicut frumentú gemino molarum opere curatum nite…cir, Hierome. …. Prophetis & Euangelio, non tria, sed vnum tabernaculum. hom. 5. in Leuit. For like as one cannot saile in the Sea without feare, that hath not first tried the riuers: so the deepe Sea of mysteries in the newe Lawe cannot well be sounded, vnlesse we hauehave first coasted by the old: and betweene them both, as the wheat betweene the two milstones, so the truth is tried out: Origen well obsetueth, that this was S. Peters error when he would hauehave had three tabernacles, for Christ, Moses, and Elias: for I hauehave read (saith he) that for the Prophets and the Gospel, there are not three but one tabernacle: There is the same substance of both, and one truth: both the Prophets and Apostles were ministers of the same house, wherein are diuerse mansions: the one shewing vsus onelyonly (as it were) the neather roomes, the other bring vsus into the vpper chamber, where Christ eare his passeouer with his disciples:Mark. 14.15. Bernard well noteth that the diuine Scriptures hauehave a threefold grace;Diuinae Scripturae triplicem habent gratiam, deliciotae ad faporem, solidae ad nutrimentú, efficacesad medecinam, in Cantic. ser. 67. they are pleasant to the tast, solide for nourishment, and efficacious for medicine: the first of these is seene specially in the old Scriptures, which is adorned with propheticall types and figures, as meate curiously addressed to the tast: but the soundnesse of nourishment, and efficacie to heale, is most found in the newe.
And thus hauing made an entrance into the Apostolicall writings, I hauehave made choice of S. Pauls epistles, and among them of this to the Romanes, which is as a key vntounto the rest: which as Augustine saith of the Gospel of S. Iohn, est contra omnes haereticos, is against all heretikes: this one epistle beateth downe all both old and newe heresies:In Scripturis tibi loquitur Deus, non minore fide, quam si tibi ore ad os loqueretur. de duplic. Martyr. and that which Cyprian affirmeth of the Scriptures in generall, that God speaketh there as verily, as if he spake vntounto vsus face to face: so in this diuine epistle such heauenly oracles are vttered, as if they were deliuered with Gods owne mouth.
There are few either old hereticall positions, or newe popish errors, which if they be propounded plainely, may not be confuted by this epistle; If I say,Ecclesiae victoria est, vos aperte dicere, quod sentitis, &c sententias vestras prodidisse superasse est. Hierome ad Cresiphon. If I say, they will vtter their minde plainely without equiuocating trickes, and sophisticated doubting: for as Hierome saith, it is the victorie of the Church for you to speake plainely that you thinke, and to bewray your opinions is all one as to conuince them.
We blesse God, who hath raised vp your Maiestie as a notable instrument both of discouering and disswading Popish error and superstition: to these your gracious proceedings in the building of Gods spirituall house, all your faithfull subiects and true hatred Christians vse those ioyfull acclamations, which the people did to Zorobabel, Zachar. 4.7 9.when he brought forth the head stone, saying, grace, grace vntounto it: of Zorobabel it is said, his hands hauehave laid the foundation of this house, his hands also shall finish it. And we all hartely pray, that by your Princely hands, this worke by you happely begunne, vtterly to extirpate Popish superstition,Nondum vindicatus est, qui vindicat, q…t in coeli… adoratur, nondum vindicatur in terti. de bon. pattent. may in good time be perfitly accomplished: We craue not reuenge vponupon our aduersaries for their malice, for as Cyprian saith, Christ is not yet reuenged, who shall take reuenge, and he who is worshipped in heauen, is not yet reuenged in earth: But our desire is, that such wholesome lawes as are alreadie enacted, may effectually be executed, to bridle Popish recusancie, to cause those to returne, which are alreadie seduced, and to keepe them from infection, which are not yet peruerted:Ille haereticum interficit, qui haeriticum non patitur: nostra autem correctio viuifecatio est. lib. 3. …on. P…lag. for as Hierome well saith, he killeth an heretike that suffereth him no longer to be a heretike: as for our correction, it is their quickning. God hath made your Highnesse as the Pilote and steeresman to guide this little ship of the English Church, that it dash not vponupon the rockes of false religion: the ministers of God are as the oatemen: they which are lustie and strong to work,Ingemui tantá nobis in esse negligentiam, vt nec veritatem possemus astrucre, cum alij valeant pro veritate inculcare mendacium. de vir. perfect. Tanta debet esse merces euangelizantis regnum, qua ne que contristetur, ne que txtollatur. in 1. Tim. 3 Illam stellam seruantes, quae Magos perduxit ad Christum. would be set to their tackling: of such we may complaine with Hierome, I mourned to see such negligence among vsus, that some cannot defend the truth, whereas they are forward to thrust vponupon vsus lies for truth, &c. others would labour at the oares, but they are feeble and want strength: such would be encouraged, as Ambrose saith, such ought to be the reward of him that preacheth the glad tidings of the kingdome, that he neither thereby be discouraged, nor lifted vp, &c.
Thus while both the sturdie marriners doe fall to their busines, and the weake saylers are hartened to play their parts, your sacred authoritie guiding the helme, we may at the length bring the ship by Gods grace safely to the shoare, fearing nothing while we follow our load-starre Christ Iesus, & as Ambrose saith, obserue that starre which brought the wisemen vntounto Christ: who in his good time, we trust, shall conduct this our ship, with our Soueraigne Pilote, the noble officers, the painfull marriners, and the patient passengers, vntounto the hauen of euerlasting life: Amen.
Your Maiesties most humble subiect, ANDREW WILLET.
The Preface to the Christian Reader.
HEre I offer vntounto thy iudgement and charitable view (Christian brother) a Commentarie vponupon the most diuine Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes: wherein are handled the cheife points of Christian religion, concerning iustification by faith, the combate betweene the flesh and the spirit, election, vocation of the Gentiles, the reiection, and finall conuersion of the Iewes: whereof I may say as Ambrose, of Beniamins sacke: facco soluto reluxit argentum, the sacke beeing loosed, the siluer appeared: so this epistle beeing vnfoulded, the treasure hid therein will shew it selfe.
Blessed Paul is by the Lords owne mouth called electum vas, a chosen vessell:Act. 10.15. and this epistle of his is as a pretious vessell, that containeth in it most heauenly liquor: S. Peter giueth this testimonie of S. Pauls epistles,2. Pet. 3.15. that he writ according to the wisedome giuen vntounto him: his writings are both diuine and wise: Augustine well calleth him, nutritorem Ecclesiae, the nourisher of the Church: as he saith to the Corinthians, that he gaue them milke to drinke: 1. Cor. 3.2.quae Pauli epistola non melle dulcior, non lacte candidior? de sanct ser. 2….what epistle of Paul (saith Augustine) is not more sweete then honie, and whiter then milke?
But of all other writers Chrysostome is most ample in setting forth the commendation of this our Apostle: comparing the cleernesse of his doctrine, with the brightnes of the heauens, yea preferring it: The heauens (saith he) all this while hauehave beene seene, yet mooue not much: but Paul preaching but a short time, totum orbem attraxit, hath drawne the whole world after him: the heauen's doe keepe their course and goe no further: mentis Paulum sublimitas omnes coelos transcendit, but the sublimitie of Pauls minde went beyond the heauens: astra cum fierent, &c. the Angels wondred at the starres when they were made, hunc vero Deus admiratus est, &c. but God himselfe wondred at Paul: saying, this is a chosen vessell vntounto me: the heauens are oft cast ouer with clouds, Pauli mentem nulla abnubilauit tentatio: in cap. 1. epist. ad Roman. morali.but no tentation did ouercast the mind of Paul: Thus excellently Chrysostome.
In the reading of this Commentarie, let the Reader obserue: that in the diuerse readings, V. standeth for Vatablus, L. for the vulgar Latine, Be. for Beza, S. for the Syriake, T. for Tremellius translation, B. for the great Engish bible, Ge. for the Geneva translation, Gr. for the Greeke, and sometime, Or. for the originall.
Those my trauels I commend vntounto the Church of God, praying for the prosperitie thereof, and crauing againe their mutuall prayers: that as S. Paul saith,2. Thess. 3.1. the word of God may hauehave a free passage, and be glorified, &c. As for my selfe, I trust I shall be more and more resolued to say with S. Paul, I passe not at all, neither is my life deare vntounto my selfe, so that I may fulfill my course with ioy, and the ministration which I hauehave receiued of the Lord Iesus, to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God: To whom be praise for euer, Amen.