Romans 3

Romans 3:1

VVHat advantage,] seeing that he is liable to malediction as much as the Gentile or rather more what profit,] if so be it be of no efficacie, if it want the perfect observance of the covenant of the law, whereof it is the sacred signe.

Romans 3:2

Chiefly because,] the Iewes anciently received Gods promises in Christ whereof circumcision was the seale according to Gods true order. Rom. 4 11. though the degenerate Iewes did understandit otherwise. See upon. Romans 2:25. whereby that which they had not of themselves, was offered unto them through grace, to be receaued by saith from the promised Messias were committed] like unto a deposited thing, and a precious pawne, which they haue kept for the whole church, untill the accomplishment thereof.

Romans 3:3

for what if,] if it be said that this advantage hath been lost, by the inereualitey of a gret part of the nation. I answere that Gods loyaltie in his promisers and covenant hath alwayes bin verified in his elect, in respect of whom it was made. Notwithstanding their defects, which God through his grace hath alwayes overcome: and therefore his glorie hath been so much the more exalted.

Romans 3:4

Let God be,] let him be acknowledged, and worshipped for such a one.

Romans 3:5

But is our,] an objection put in, upon occasion of what he had said, that the incredulitie of man, serves to illustrate the glory of Gods truth; wherefore then doth hee punish that incredulitie As a man,] according to humane sence and the judgment of the flesh.

Romans 3:6

For then how,] how is it possible, that any unjustice should bee in Gd, who is the Soveraigne Lord and judge of the world: whose will is the absolute rule of justice.

Romans 3:7

For 〈◊〉.] a continuation of the precedent objection, My 〈◊〉] that is to say my dislyaltie More add,] that is to say hah shewed it selfe firme and constant above all ordinary measure of bond or tye in o tracts or covenants, in which the breach of one party, reeh th other.

Romans 3:8

And not rather,] the Apostle answereth the foresaid objection in wrath: as saying. if this might take place, those proane scorners, might altogether burst out into their extreame impudencie: let him have then as much cause of glory as may bee given him, by an unbounded number of i deeds. But there is o soule so desperate as dareth to pass so farre: for the Conscience even of the most wicked telleth them; that they shall be judged according to Gods manifest Law, which is the rule of their actions: and not according to his secret providence which appointeth sin it selfe for certaine ends, quite different from mans ends. Wherefore all that induceth one to this extreame impietie, ought presently to bee rejected Whose damnation,] namely of those prophane slanderers of Gods truth, who doe thus contend with him.

Romans 3:9

What then,] to returne to the businesse, have the lewes of themselves any prerogative of righteousnesse or dignitie, before God, above the Gentiles? No, for all that which were granted them, verse 2. is out of grace: of their owne nature, they are as corrupt as others, as it appeares by their ains.

Romans 3:10

As it is wie,] these passages speak of the unregenerate amongst the people, who were alwayes in exceeding great number, and therefore these reprooses might serve at all times: and the Apostle makes use of them to shew that out of Gods grce, and out of the operation of his spirit, all are comprehended therein. And that amongst Gods people, this grace of regeneration, was not common to all but that the greatest part of them had made themselves uncapable of it.

Romans 3:12

Unpoible] like corrupted Wine, or like punished snking flesh whch is the similitude used by DAVID in the passage heere alleadged.

Romans 3:16

Desuction,] which they bring unto others.

Romans 3:19

What things soever,] these sharpe and freque reproofes, which he Lord useth in his word an are dected specially to his people, the use whereof continueth to all ages, doe sufficiently shew that nation to be infected with he same vics hat raigne in the world, Who ae,] namely, who are comprehended in that external covnant, whereof the Law is as it were the contract, and that are of that nation, which is under the especiall juisdiction of it That every mouth,] I doe set forth these things in this kinde, because the Iewes being the nation as hath beene most priviledged by God, may humble themselves in the confession of their owne grievous sinnes, and in acknowledging, that all their good consists only in Gods mercy.

Romans 3:20

There shall n slsh,] because that man by sin being altogether ble to fulfil either the natural or written law, it can no longer bee an argument or meanes of righteousnsse and life unto him, a is no more in ore towards him, but onl to diover his iniquity, an seal his o dmnation to him.

Romans 3:21

B〈…〉ow,] namely, since Christ, comming, God hath clealy revealed the true rihteounee which hee hath stablished and given to man for his justifie mn according to the doctine of all his prophets, namely Christs righteounesse imputed to all those who receave it by a lively faith: without any consideration of the workes of the Law either of nature or written; or any difference of Nations.

Romans 3:23

For all,] this remedy is common to all indifferently, for the evill of sinne and privation from eternall glory is likewise commo to all.

Romans 3:24

Justified,] that is to say absolved from sin, and reputed just before God, by vertue of the satisfaction which Christ hath made, by which all beleevers are redeemed from death as it were by a valuable price.

Romans 3:25

Wm God,] all this hath beene done by Gods appointment; who of his meere will, and full power hath from everlasting appointed Christ to be the onely meanes of expiation and reconciliation, To declare,] to make this meanes of righteousnesse appeare which before was hidden, Romans 1:17. or to give a most certaine proofe of his benignitie, and truth in keeping his promises and his covenant F the,] forgiving men their sinne which had till that time kept them in the snares of condemnation without any true meanes of attonement. See Heb. 9 15.Throug the rbearace of God,] The Italian, 〈◊〉 the time of Gods patience.] then when God shewed his goonesse in the meere supetion of his udgements upon the world, not causing 〈◊〉 to perish for its sins, though he did not as yet open the reasures of his grace for an etire pardon, which he reserved for the time of the Gospell.

Romans 3:26

That he might be,] that is to say, that all may learne to acknowledge receave and woship this new manner of the operation of Gods justice, justifying him who of himselfe is a sinner: by faith in Christs righteousnesse unlesse just be her taken for true and oyall; or for absolutely just, who would not justifie man without payment and satisfaction which beleeveth,] which is of their side, who renouncing all confidence in their owne workes seeke their life and salvation in CHRIST by faith.

Romans 3:27

Whee is,] who can therefore boast of his owne rightteousnesse, 〈◊〉 Co. 1. 31. Ehes. 2, 9 y,] for the Law assigneth unto mn the reward of lie, for his owne vertue and righteousnesse By the Law,] Namely by this new order and covnant of God, which kes awy all manner of mans wne righteousess, and dignitie from him to cloth him through grae with Christe righteousnesse

Romans 3:29

〈◊〉〈◊〉,] Sei God doth conr this his grace of ufication in Christ, upn the Gentiles as well s upon he ewes, wee must bleeve that they 〈◊〉 all comprehended in the same covenant, and that there is no more fference betweene circumci¦sed nd circumcised Nations, and that circumcision is no longer the meanes to bee incorporated aoll Gods people but that now one attaineth to it by faith only.

Romans 3:30

The circumcision,] Namely the Iewes By sith,] it should seeme that the postle distinguisheth these two kindes of speeches by faith, and through faih, attributing the first to the Iewes in whom, though they were adorned with many rae qualities above the Gentiles, God only regarded faith or to receave them into grace: And the second to the Gentiles who through aith passed as it were in to a new spirituall estate. O hers hold that they are both as one, but that the postle varith in this kinde: to shew that the Iewes advantages were as much as nothing Uncircumcision,] namely the Geniles.

Romans 3:31

Make voyd,] doe wee take all authoritie, power, and worth from it blish,] that is to say we shew by the Gospell how firme a voca e it is, seeing that God would have Christ subje to the Law, as well to suffer what it imposed, for to release man from it, as also to doe what it com¦manded, to gaine a right for him unto that 〈◊〉 which it promiseth. See upon Matthew 5:18. Galatians 4:4-5.