so also by the justice of one, unto all men to justification of life. 19 For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners; so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just. 20 Now the law entered in, that sin might abound. And where sin abounded, grace did more abound. 21 That as sin hath reigned to death so also grace might reign by justice unto life everlasting, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. CHAP. VI. The Christian must die to sin. 10 For in the he died to sin he died once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 So do you also reckon that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God in Christ JESUS our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, so as to obey the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of iniquity unto sin: but present yourselves to God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of justice unto God. 14 For sin shall not have domi WWAT shall win at that grace nion over you: for you are not un may abound? 2 God forbid. For we that are dead to sin, how shall we live any longer therein? 3 Know you not that all we, who are baptized in Christ JESUS, are baptized in his death? 4 For we are buried together with him by baptism into death that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer. 7 For he that is dead, is justified from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with Christ. 9 Knowing that Christ rising again from the dead, dieth now no more, death shall no more have dominion over him. der the law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are whom you obey, whether it be of sin, unto death, or of obedience, unto justice. 17 But thanks be to God, that you were the servants of sin, but have obeyed from the heart, unto that form of doctrine, into which you have been delivered. 18 Being then freed from sin, we have been made servants of justice. 19 I speak an human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity; so now yield your members to serve justice, unto sanctification. 20 For when you were the servants of sin, you were free men to justice. 21 What fruit therefore had you then in those things, of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death. Chap. 5. Ver. 20. That sin might abound. Not as if the law were given on purpose for sin to abound: but that it so happened through man's perversity, taking occasion of sinning more, from the prohibition of sin. Ver. 6. Old man-body of sin. Our corrupt state, subject to sin and concupiscence com ing to us from Adam, is called our old man (as our state reformed in and by Christ, is called the new mon.) And the vices and sins, which then suled in us, are named the banly ty C 22 But now being made free from 7 What shall we say then? Is 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. KNOW you not, brethren, (for I 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 speak to them that know the law) that the law hath dominion over a man, as long as it liveth? 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. 6 But now we are loosed from the law of death, wherein we were detained so that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I work, I understand not, for I do not that good which I will, but the evil which I hate, that I do. 16 If then I do that which I will not, I consent to the law, that is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that Ver. 1. It liveth, or as long as he liveth. 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 mo. tions 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 violently tempt and incline to sin) as long as the will does not consent to them are not sins, because they are not voluntary. do it; but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is to say, in my flesh, that which is good. For to will, is present with me, but to accomplish that which is good, 1 find not. 19 For the good which I will I do not; but the evil which I will not, that 1 do. 20 Now if I do that which I will not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that when I have a will to do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inward man: not according to the flesh, but ac cording to the spirit. 5 For they that are according to the flesh, mind the things that are of the flesh; but they that are according to the spirit,mind the things that are of the spirit. 6 For the wisdom of the flesh, is death: but the wisdom of the spirit, is life and peace. 7 Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be. 8 And they who are in the flesh, cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 23 But I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, and captivating me in the law of sin,that is in my members. 24 Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of tification. this death? 25 The grace of God by JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. Therefore I myself, with the mind, serve the law of God; but, with the flesh,the law of sin. CHAP. VIII. There is no condemnation of them THERE now that are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not according to the flesh. 2 For the law of the spirit of life, in CHRIST JESUS, hath delivered me from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh; God sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and of sin hath condemned sin in the flesh, 4 That the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk 10 And if Christ be in you; the body indeed is dead because of sin, but the spirit liveth because of jus 11 And if the Spirit of him, that raised up JESUS from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up JESUS CHRIST from the dead, shall quicken also your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live ac cording to the thesh 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die. But if by the spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live. 14 For whosoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry: Abba, (Father.) 16 For the Spirit himself giveth 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 fa vour; 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 thie testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God. 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 him. 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 that love God, all things work together 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. 20 For the creature was made 30 And whom he predestinated: subject to vanity, not willingly, but them he also called. And whom he 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 creature groaneth, and travaileth in pain even till now. 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? 32 He that spared not even his own Son; but delivered him up for us all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things? 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 per 26 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 | 7 Neither are all they, that are the ús. seed of Abraham, children: but in 38 For I am sure that neither Isaac shall thy seed be called. 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. The apostle's concern for the Jews. SPEAK the truth in Christ, I fie 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 God hath miscarried. For, all are not Israelites that are of Israel: 8 That is to say, not they that are the children of the flesh, are the children of God: but they, that are the children of the promise, are accounted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: According to this time will I come; and Sara shall have a son. 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 ac cording 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? Is their injustice with God? God 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 Pharao: To this purpose have I rais Ver. 38. I am sure, that is, I am persuaded: as it is in the Greek, rinƐiopai. 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 Israelites 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 all 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 |