XXVIII. 17 the cause ing to Rome. know that it is every where spoken CHAP. against. XXVIII. ceth some, but others are un vi. 9. CHAP. after, a south wind sprang up, and we came on the second day to 14 Puteoli; where we found some breAccordingly, on a day which 23 thren, and were desired to remain they had appointed with him, ma- He convin with them seven days, and then we ny came to him at his lodgings; to 15 went towards Rome. And when whom he expounded, with much the brethren heard of us, they came earnestness of declaration, the king- moved. thence to meet us as far as Appii dom of God; endeavouring to conForum, and Three-taverns, at the vince them concerning Jesus, both sight of whom Paul thanked God, by the law of Moses, and the pro16 and took courage. And when we phets, from morning until evenwere come to Rome, the centurioning: and some were convinced by 24 delivered up the prisoners to the his words, but others disbelieved. captain of the guard; but Paul was So when they agreed not among 25 suffered to remain apart with a sol-themselves, they departed, after dier, who guarded him. Paul had said one thing more, Three days after, Paul called the "Well did the holy spirit speak by He relates principal men of the Jews together Isaiah the prophet, concerning your to the Jews unto hin, and when they were as-fathers, saying, Go to this people 26 of his com- sembled, he said to them, "Bre- and say, Ye will hear plainly, but Isaiah, thren, though I have committed not understand, and see clearly, nothing against my people, or the but not perceive: for the heart of 27 customs of our fathers, yet I was this people is become gross, and delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem their ears are dull of hearing, and into the hands of the Romans their eyes have they closed ; so as 18 who, when they had examined me, not to see with their eyes, nor hear would have released me, as there with their ears, and understand 19 was no cause of death in me. But with their heart, and turn that I when the Jews spake against this, may heal them.' I was compelled to appeal unto therefore unto you, that the salvaCesar; not as having any thing to tion of God is sent to the Gentiles, accuse my nation of before Cesar. and they will listen to it." 20 On this account, therefore, I have when he had thus spoken, the Jews called you hither, that I might sec, went away, debating much among and talk with you; because for the themselves. hope of Israel I am bound with Now, Paul continued two whole 30 21 this chain." Then they said unto years in his own hired house, and Yet he him, "Neither any letters that we gladly received all who came to have received from Judea concern-him, preaching the kingdom of years. ing thee, nor any of the brethren God, and teaching those things 31 who came hither, have related, or which concern the Lord Jesus 22 spoken any harm of thee; but we Christ, with all freedom of speech, desire to hear from thee what thou and without hindrance. thinkest; for as to this sect we s; Be it known 28 And 29 preacheth there two I The Christians. CHAP. I. ST. PAUL'S EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS'. AUL, PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, sepatroduc- rated for the gospel of God, which he promised aforetime by his pro2 phets in the holy scriptures, even 3 the gospel concerning his son, who was of the race of David, ac4 cording to the flesh, but proved to be the son of God by the holy spirit, through a miraculous resurrection from the dead, even Jesus 5 Christ our Lord; from whom I received the favour of an apostleship for preaching obedience to the faith among all the Gentiles, for the 6 sake of spreading his name; among which Gentiles ye also have been 7 called unto Jesus Christ: To all the beloved brethren in Rome, called and made holy of God, favour be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 his con In the first place, I thank my e fame God through Jesus Christ, on act's faith, count of you all, that your faith a subject is spoken of in all the world. joy and For God is my witness, whom I is to the serve with my whole spirit in the stle. gospel of his son; that I make men10 tion of you without ceasing in my prayers, requesting that I may by some means, at length, through the will of God, enjoy an opportunity 11 of coming to you; for I long to see This epistle was written from Corinth, the capital city of Achaia in Greece, A. D. 58, in the early part of the year, and is addressed to the Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity in Rome. The principal design of the epistle is, to persuade the Romans to a steady perseverance in the profession of Christianity, by convincing them that God is the God of the Gentiles, as well as of the Jews; and that under the gospel there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. The argumentative part of the desire to them in person. Now, I wish you to know, bre- 13 thren, that I have been hindered hi- He extherto, when I had often purposed presses his to come unto you, that I might preach the reap some fruit among you also, as gospel to among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and Barbarians, both to the learned and un- 14 learned: so that I am ready to 15 preach the gospel to you at Rome also; for I am not ashamed of the 16 gospel, for it is the power of God, for the salvation of every one that believeth it, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek; for thereby is 17 revealed God's method of justification,from first embracing the faith of the gospel, and then living agreeably to that faith, as it is written, "The just by faith shall Hab. live." And severe punishment is denounced from heaven against all 18 ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth by their wickedness, and show not in 19 their conduct that knowledge of God, which is displayed to them by God himself. For from the creation of the 20 II. men by their own folly. CHAP. world, the invisible properties of him, even his eternal power and The know- godhead, are clearly manifest, being ledge of understood by the things which are God was lost among made. So that men are without excuse, because when they knew God, they glorified him not as 21 God, nor gave him thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their inconsiderate heart was dark22 ened; professing to be wise they 23 became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image, made like to corruptible, man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. of 24 leads to the worst crimes. 11. will be without distinction upon CHAP. them who commit such things; and thinkest thou this, O man! that 3 judgest those who do such things, and doest them thyself, that thou wilt escape the judgment of God? or dost thou despise him for his 4 abundant gentleness and patience, and forbearance; not considering that this gentleness of God should lead thee to repentance? And lay- 5 est thou up in store for thyself, through thy hard and impenitent heart, punishment against the day of punishment, and of the display of the righteous sentence of God? Therefore, God on his part gave who will render to every one ac- 6 Ignorance them up to uncleanness, through cording to his works: everlasting 7 the lusts of their hearts, to dishonour life to them who by a patient contitheir bodies with each other, be- nuance in well doing seek for glocause they changed the true into a ry and honour, and incorruption; 25 false God, and paid religious reve- but to them that oppose and dis- S rence and service to the creature, obey the truth, and devote themand not to the Creator, who is selves to unrighteousness, he will 26 blessed for evermore! For this render indignation and punishcause I say God gave them up to ment, tribulation and distress, even 9 28 vile passions. And as they did not upon every soul of man that conapprove of retaining God in their tinueth to do evil, whether Jew knowledge, God gave them up to or Gentile; but glory, honour, and 10 29 an undiscerning mind; so that peace, to every one that doeth good, they committed the greatest crimes, whether Jew or Gentile; for there 11 and abounded in all unrighteous- is no respect of persons with God. ness, wickedness, extortion, ma- For as many as have sinned with- 12 lice; and were full of envy, mur-out a written law, will be sentenced Men will be judged 30 der, strife, deceit, malignity; they to death without such a law ; and were whisperers, slanderers, haters whoever have sinned under a law, to the adof God, injurious, proud, boastful, they will be condemned by a law, vantages devisers of mischief, disobedient to in the day when God will judge the they pus 31 parents; without consideration, secrets of men by Jesus Christ, acmorose, without natural affection, cording to my gospel. For not the 13 32 implacable, without pity: who mere hearers of any law will be knowing the righteous appoint-righteous before God, but the pracment of God, that they who com- tisers of the law will be justified; mit such things, are worthy of for when nations, born without a 14 death, not only commit them, but law, perform the commandments approve them in others also. of the law, though they have no CHAP. Therefore, thou art inexcusable, law, they are a law unto themselves, II. ( man! whosoever thou art, that as they show the efficacy of the law All the bad judgest, if thou art equally guilty to be written on their hearts; will be for by judging the other, thou con- their conscience bearing testimony 15 demnest thyself; because thou, who with them, and their reasonings berespect of judgest doest the same things. Now tween themselves, accusing or expersons. we know that the judgment of God' cusing one another. punished without according sess. CHAP II. Jews as well as Gentiles. 1 Behold! thou callest thyself a Jew, and restest on the law, and gloriest in God, and knowest his will, and art taught to distinguish the excellencies of the law; and 19 takest upon thyself to be a guide of the blind, a light to them that are in darkness, an instructor of the 20 ignorant, a teacher of babes; as possessing the form of knowledge 21 and truth in the law: dost thou then, who teachest another, neglect to teach thyself? Dost thou, who preachest against stealing, 22 thyself steal? Dost thou who forbiddest adultery, commit adultery thyself? Dost thou abhor idols, and yet profanely rob the temple? 23 Dost thou glory in the law, and by the transgression of the law dishonour God? for the name of God is evil spoken of among the Genxxvi. 20. tiles, as it is written. saiah, izek. 25 wail with nce. of III. No man will be justified in the CHAP. sight of God, by the works of any law under which he has been here- Free offer tofore put, for so far from per- to all who forming the works of it, he has embrace, gained only a conviction of his and obey sin; but now, independently of any the gospel. former law, God's method of justí- 21 fication is manifested; being attested by the law and the prophets; even God's method of justification 22 through faith in Jesus Christ, to all believers (for there is no distinc- 23 tion, inasmuch as all have sinned, and come short of that glory which God designed for them), being jus- 24 tified of free bounty, even by his favour, through the deliverance which is by Christ Jesus; whom 25 God hath set forth to be a mercyseat through faith in his blood, for the remission of former sins, by means of the forbearance of God, to show his mercy at this time, 26 by the gracious justification of the believer in Jesus. therefore Gentile. For truly circumcision is of use, Circumci- if thou perform the law; but if of thou be a transgressor of the law, ut obedi- thy circumcision is no better than Where then is the boasting of the 27 uncircumcision; if therefore the Jew? It is excluded. By what The Jew 26 uncircumcised man keep the righte-law? A law of works? Nay; but by has no su ous precepts of the law, will not a law of faith, which deals with all, periority his uncircumcision be regarded as both Jews and Gentiles alike: for over the 27 circumcision? and will not he, we conclude that man is justified who is born to uncircumcision, if by faith, without the works of any he fulfil the law, condemn thee, former law. Is God the God of 29 who hast a written rule of circum- the Jews only is he not of the cision, and yet transgressest thy Gentiles also? inasmuch as one 30 28 law? For he is not a Jew, who is is the God of all, who will justify one outwardly; neither is that cir- the circumcised by faith, and the cumcision which is outward in the uncircumcised through the same 29 flesh; but he is a Jew, who is one faith. Do we then destroy law by 31 inwardly, and that is genuine cir- this faith? By no means, we rather cumcision which is a circumcision establish law. of the heart, in the mind, not in precept only whose praise is not from men but from God. 3 V. Therefore being justified by faith, CHAP. we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through 2 'The draught or outline. Or believing him to be the Christ who died and rose again, which belief was the condition of persons being acknowledged Christians, and obtaining a pardon of all past sins. 3 That is, we urge the necessity of abedience to all the laws of the gospel, after admission into its privileges. VI. was to re to God. 2 VI your no encourage CHAP. faith in whom we have access also abound? By no means: how shall we CHAP. into this gracious gospel, wherein who have died to sin, by vowing to Design of we stand; and we boast in our renounce it, live any longer there- God's fa the gospel hope of the glory of God. (And in? Do ye not know then, that as concile man not only so, but we boast also in af- many of us as were baptized unto ment to flictions, knowing that affliction Jesus Christ, were baptized unto sin; 4 worketh patience, and patience his death. By this baptism, there- 4 5 proof, and proof, hope. And fore, unto his death we were buried hope will not disappoint us, an with him; that as Christ was raised earnest of which is, that the love from the dead by the power of the of God has been poured out into Father, so we also should walk in our hearts by a holy spirit, which is newness of life. Since then we 5 6 given us.) For though we were have conformed to the likeness of weak in goodness, Christ died at his death, let us conform to the an appointed time, for the benefit likeness of his resurrection also ; 7 of the ungodly. Now, scarcely considering this, that our old man 6 will any one die for a righteous hath been crucified with him, that man, (though indeed some may the sinful body might be destroyed, possibly venture even to die for a and we no longer be slaves to sin; good man who has conferred very for as he who is dead, is set free 7 great favours upon them); but from sin, so should we be, as hav8 God displayeth his love for us, in ing died to sin. But, if we have 8 that Christ died for us, while we died with Christ, we are persuaded 9 were yet sinners; much more, that we shall also live with him : therefore, having been justified by knowing that Christ being raised 9 faith in him who shed his blood from the dead, dieth no more; death for us, we shall be saved through hath no more dominion over him; 10 him from punishment. For if, when for when he died, he died with re- 10 we were enemies, we were recon-gard to sin once, but in that he ciled to God by faith in the death liveth, he liveth with regard to of his son, how much more, after God; in like manner reckon ye 11 reconciliation shall we be saved by yourselves to be once and for ever 11 his life. Moreover we boast also dead indeed with regard to sin, but in God through our Lord Jesus alive with regard to God, through Christ, by faith in whom we have your obedience to the gospel of Jenow received this reconciliation. sus Christ our Lord. 20 der the law had the . utter re nunciation Now, by the coming in of a Let not sin therefore reign in 12 Those un- law, sin abounded, but where sin your mortal bodies, that ye should but to the abounded, favour did much more obey it, nor yield your members to first offer abound, that as sin reigned so al- sin for instruments of unrighteous- of it; of the gos- so favour might reign by justifica-ness, but give up yourselves to God, 13 tion unto eternal life, through Je- as those that are alive from the dead, sus Christ our Lord. and your members also for instruments of righteousness unto God; for sin must not have dominion 14 pel. CHAP. VI. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that favour may 1 Of our real sincerity. Who being induced by the example of + The law of Moses was adapted to the |