A commentarie vpon the most diuine Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes Containing for matter, the degeneration of our nature by Adams Fall; and the restauration thereof, by the grace of Christ. Together with the perfection of faith, and the imbecillity of workes, in the cause of iustification of elect sinners before God. For forme and maner of handling, it hath the coherence and method, the summe and scope, the interpretations & doctrines the reasons and vses, of most texts. All which, are set downe very familiarly and compendiously, in forme of a dialogue, betweene Tlmotheus [sic] and Silas, by Thomas Wilson, one of the six preachers in the cathedrall church of Canterbury.

DIAL. XV.

Verses 19.20. For I do not the good thing which I wold, but the euill which I would not, that I doe. Now if I doe that I would not, it is no more I, but sin that dwelleth in mee.

Tim.

VVHat doth this text containe?

Sylas.

A proofe of the former reason in the 19. verse, & a conclusion drawn from thence in the 20. verse.

Tim.

How comes it to passe that in these two verses he doth rehearse the selfe same thing that hee bad spoken of in the 16. and 17 verses, and what is it that we are to learne thereby?

Silas.

That which is set downe in these two verses, is not altogether the same, but differs at least in wordes; for heere the wordes (good and euill) bee put in, which were left out before: againe, these repetitions and rehearsals, they are not idle, but serue to good purpose, for thereby the Apostle would admonish vs of two things. First, that we are to think, that these things which hee writeth of the spirituall combat, are verie necessarie for vs, and can neuer be too much knowne of vs. Secondly, that through our dulnesse they are not enough considered and marked; and therefore haue neede to bee much vrged and often repea∣ted; repetitions haue good vse when they are timely vsed.

Tim.

What is meant by this, that he saith, he would haue done good?

Silas.

That it was the earnest desire and purpose of his heart to please God.

Tim.

What are we to learne from hence, that he saith I doe not that good I would?

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ly, to embrace death willingly, which doth stoppe the breath of sinne. Lastly, in the meane time to striue mightily against the motions of sinne and as a Soldiour in a besiedged towne, to stand still vpon our guard, and to flye to our Generall for succour in assaultes, that wee be not ouercome, or ouertaken at least, with temptation of sinne.