Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 2 · Section 4
4. Places of doctrine.
1. Doct. v. 1. In that thou iudgest another, thou condemnest thy selfe: He that is guilty of the same sinnes … condemn: another, but therein he also iudgeth himselfe.he which doth giuegive sentence vponupon another for that wherein he is guilty, therein is a iudge against himselfe: so Iuda did iudge Thamar, for her incontinencie beeing in greater fault himselfe: and Dauid pronouncing sentence of death against him, that had taken away his poore neighbours sheepe, did by his owne mouth condemne himselfe: Piscator. see further addition 1. following.
2. Doct. v. 11. There is no respect of persons with God, &c. No respect of persons with God in the elec…on of his.In that God freely without respect vntounto any workes, electeth some vntounto eternall life, it is done without respect of persons: for though God decree vnequall things vntounto those; that are in equall case: for all by nature are the children of wrath: yet it followeth not, that God hath respect of persons: for he doth it not either against any law, for God is not tied vntounto any lawe: nor yet vponupon any fini…ter cause, either for feare, for there is none greater than God, to be feared of him: or sauour, for there are no merits or deserts which God respecteth in his election: And when God commeth to giuegive the reward, then he distributeth vntounto euerie man according to their workes: see further addit. 3. following.
3. Doct. v. 16. At the day when God shall iudge: Of their sinne: of the last iudgmenthere the certaintie of the day of iudgement is expressed, with the manner thereof. 1. who shall iudge, God. 2. whom, men and what, not their open and manifest workes onelyonly, but their secret things. 3. by whome, in Iesus Christ, in his humane shape. 4. According to what rule, namely, the Gospell, is be saith, Ioh. 12. that his word shall iudge them, Gualter.
4. Doct. v. 21. Thou which teachest another, &c. the carnall Iewe,True doctrine not to be condemned for euill life. though he did not himselfe, as he taught, yet was not his teaching and doctrine therefore to be refused: so our Sauiour saith, Matth. 23.3. Whatsoeuer they bid you, obserue and doe, but after their workes doe ye not, Mart.
5. Doct. v. 25. Circumcision is profitable, &c. Of the baptisme of infants.Baptisme succeedeth in the place of circumcision: as the Apostle sheweth, Coloss. 2.11. In whom ye are circumcised, &c. thorough the circumcision of Christ, in that yee are bound in him thorough baptisme, &c. then like as infants were circumcised, so are they now to be baptised: but baptisme is not now tied vntounto the eight day, as it was then: for by the libertie of the Gospell are we deliuered from the obseruation of the circumstances of the time and place.
6. Doct. v. 28. Of the baptisme of the flesh and of the spirit.Neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: as these were not two diuerse circumcisions, but two acts of the one and same circumcision, the internal and externall: so there are two acts in one and the same baptisme, there is the baptisme of the spirit, and the baptisme of water: which both are ioyned together in the lawfull vse: they hauehave the baptisme of the spirit to whom the Sacrament is vponupon vrgent necessitie denied: but infidels, vnbeleeuers, and euill liuers hauehave onelyonly the baptisme of water: for he that beleeueth not shall be condemned, Pareus.
7. So likewise in the Eucharist, there is an externall act of eating, and an internall: the vnworthie receiuers hauehave onelyonly the latter, the faithfull, when they communicate hauehave both: and in case the Sacrament be denied, they may spiritually eat Christ without the Sacrament: our Sauiour saith, Ioh. 6.54. Whosoeuer eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternall life: And though they doe spiritually eate Christ, before they receiue the Sacrament, for otherwise they would not desire it, yet the Sacrament also must be celebrated for their further comfort, and strengthening, and the testifying of their faith, Gryneus.