[A Paraphrase vppon the epistle of the holie apostle S. Paule to the Romanes ...]

The .xv. Chapter. The infirmitie and frailenesse of the vveake, ought to be borne, vvith all loue and kindenesse, after the ensample of Christe.

WHerfore, al we, séeing we haue more strength than many other, and néede not therfore in cō∣parison any instructor: yet notwithstanding, we muste alwayes beware, least whilest we reprehend them for their superstition, we our selues doe fall into the hatefull vice of pride: which is much more worthy detestation, thā the thing which we reprehende in others. But alwayes, the more strong we féele our selues to be, the more conuenient also it shal be, y^t we charitably beare with others infirmitie. For, like as they that in yéeres be elder than others, & more strong in their bodyes, do not pushe to the ground those that be yonger or weaker (as though they would say, euen for that onely purpose they had their strength giuen vnto them:) but as all they, that in their bodies be stronger than the others, wold esteme it a reproch∣ful thing, to hurt such as be but weake, & of far lesse strength: euen so all we, the more (through grace) we excéede others in spirituall iudgement and true doctrine of the gospel, so muche the more ought we to temper our selues to the weakenesse of others: and not to glory therein, or to stand in our owne con∣ceits: nether in their imbecility & weaknesse, to stir thē rather into furie and rage, than paciently to beare with them, or else gently to amend them. Let no man therefore, in the good gifte that is giuen vnto him of God, please simply him selfe therin, as though he had receiued it at his hande, to set forth therwith his owne pride and vanitie: but rather let him trade him selfe héerein: that is: that he learne to abase him selfe, to despise his own hautie and stout courage, to please his neighbor in hum∣blenesse, and in godly obedience to séeke his daily edifying. This godly trade to helpe and reforme an other mannes er∣ror, Christ him selfe taught; which although he was the only fountaine of al vertue and wisedome, yet for all that, he wold

not vse it to his owne only praise and glory, or therewith to satisfie his owne pleasure: but altogither to the néedefull suc∣coring and milde recouering of the weake. For he only not regarded héerein his owne glory (which he most duely deser∣ued to haue) but for the relieuement and succoure of man, he tooke paciently vnto him selfe, the most vilanous and despite∣full rebukes:* 1.1 like as Dauid (by the spirite of God) prophesied before of him, saying: The rebukes of them that rebuked thee, fell vppon me. And this same is written in the Psalmes,* 1.2 not only to oure knowledge therin, but that we should also daily practise and folow it: and should learne by his example, with what leuitie, softnesse and gentlenesse, our neighbor is to be entertained, vntil he waxe more strong in Christ, and forsake the very childehoode of his imbecillitie and weaknesse. Ther∣fore, like as Christ did embase him selfe, to our owne misera∣ble and weake estate, to the ende that litle and little he might bring vs familiarly vnto his moste excellent highnesse: euen so, it shall best become vs to take example by him: to allure our neighbor with humblenesse, vnto the true worshipping of the eternal and true God. And this example is in such sort de∣clared vnto vs, through y^e whole scriptures, euē as though by painting in a table, it were plainly set forth before our eyes, to the end, we shuld alwayes haue it in our ful sight, where so euer at any time we dispose our selues: which is, that as Christ through his sufferāce redéemed & saued vs, & also by his meek∣nesse came to euerlasting glory: euē so, al we likewise through the vsing of our softnesse with our ignorant & weak brethrē,* 1.3 let vs trust to come vnto the same benefite of God, which in∣differently abideth al them that do walk in his wayes, and be apte folowers of his example, whose rule we haue professed, which is loue & peace. Wherfore, I pray vnto almightie God the aucthor of loue, peace and pacience (which exhorteth you vnto sufferance by his holy scriptures, and withoute whose helpe we can doe nothing at all) that he woulde vouchesafe to woorke in you and amongst you all, one only will and con∣sent, and that you be conioined together in a most perfecte v∣nitie one to another, after the example of Christ: which char∣ged vs with nothing so much in all the world, as he did wyth

peace, with mildnesse, mutuall loue and concord. And so veri∣ly we shall set foorth amongst men the glory of God, the very father of Iesus Christ, if we shall shew one to another here in this present life, that thing whiche he taught and shewed be∣fore vnto vs. And euen so also shall al men perceiue you to be the true disciples of Christ,* 1.4 if that, like as you al professe and preache Christe with one mouth, you shall also declare your selues together in your actes, to be of one mutuall consent and minde. Wherfore, I beséeche you (euen in the bowells of Chryste) that ye occasion not the Gentiles to be doubtfull of your most holy profession, or to stirre them to dissention and variaunce among themselues, which are now but newly cal∣led from idolls vnto Christ: neither yet the Iewes, which be appointed frō their olde tipes and shadowes, to the true wor∣shipping of the true God himselfe: but rather do you entreate one another, with all obsequie and obedience, and in faithfull shaking one another by the handes, do you profite togither in all goodnesse: that like as Christe entertained all you, neither did impute vnto you the errors of your olde life, but by bro∣therly charitie embraced you all, to declare therby his loue, & the glory of his eternall father, both towards you and to all men: euen so, you should in folowing and performing of the same one towardes another, declare also in your déedes the loue and glorye of Christ: whiche obeied vnto both sortes of men: that is, as well vnto the Iewes as vnto the Gentiles. Vnto the Iewes he shewed his obedience, to the ende, he wold in all his actes set foorth the truth of his father, which said be∣fore that he wold truly performe that thing to the posteritie, whiche he promised to their elders, by the holy oracles and saying of the Prophets that among themselues they mighte be ioyfull and glad, seeing they haue now receiued the truthe it selfe, which Moyses before declared, should come in his fi∣gures & similitudes.* 1.5 And to the Gentiles whiche had nothing at al promised vnto them, he became also obedient and kinde, to the end that all they through the only mercy of God, and his owne most painfull deserts, were brought from their mi∣serable death vnto the most pleasaunt life, ioy and saluation.

Let the Iewes therefore now reioyce in them selues, bicause they haue already receiued the thing which by promyse they haue long wished and looked for. And let the Gentiles also reioyce for their parts, bicause they haue receiued that thing which they neuer thought to haue attayned vnto. For euen so God himself ordeyned the thing to come to passe, as Christ by his spirite speaketh in the Psalmes, saying:* 1.6 For this cause will I prayse thée among the Gentiles, and sing in thy name. Agayne he sayth: Reioyce ye Gentiles, and laude him al ye nations. Also Esaias prophesying the same thing, sayth: There shal be the roote of Iesse, and he that shal rise to reigne ouer the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. Therfore vnto God almightie I pray with mine heart for you, which hath thus by his Prophetes giuen you occasion to haue hope in him: that he will now perfourme that thing in déede vnto you, which he hath heretofore promised: and that in the ta∣king away from you all dissention and variaunce, he will re∣plenish you with ioy, concorde, and peace, by the meanes of your stayed fayth in his sonne Chryst: to the ende that your hope which you haue alredy conceiued of God, may dayly en∣crease more & more in you, through the strength of the same fayth, and the working in you of the holy ghost. These things I speake vnto you, not as one that doubteth of you, feareth you to be faynte, or colde in the right vse of vertue: for I am well assured, that (among many vertues) ye are all special∣ly endued with the noble vertue of charitie, and with the gifte of perfecte knowledge among your selues: whereby you are all able, one of you sufficiently to instructe another herein, without néedefull trauell of any other teacher. Not∣withstanding, I did the more boldely write this same vnto you, not respecting herein any iuste cause of your ignorance, or as though my seruice were now offered vnto you as vnto vnwilling receiuers: but onely to admonish you, what thing moste principally you ought to doo, according to your know∣ledge, as vertuouse and well doers, and that voluntarily, and of your own frée motions: yet that ye might the rather from hencefoorth, muche more copiously worke the same, at mine

earnest desire and exhortation. In the behalfe wherof, I do extende myne office which is appoynted vnto me (although thereof I bée vnworthy) obeying gladly vnto the wyll of Chryst Iesus, whose cause I doo now entreate: endeuoring my selfe to the vttermoste of my power, to set foorth his most holy Gospell amongest you that be Gentiles: and in thys maner of exercise, to offer a pure sacrifice vnto him, of my faythfull and diligente labours. And I thinke verily, that this kinde of sacrifice shall be moste acceptable to him, if I shall offer all you, as a sacrifice worthy of him: not suche as are pourged and clensed by carnall Ceremonies, but by the spirite of God, which is the onely author of perfecte san∣ctimonie, and the furtherer of holy Religion. The which thing, inasmuche as I see it already come to passe in you, I may of good righte bée gladde, yet not in boasting my selfe therefore among men, but to reioyce onely in God, for the good and prosperous successe which I haue of my preaching: and not imputing the same vnto mine owne industrie & tra∣uell,* 1.7 but vnto the only goodnesse of Chryst Iesus, whose only matter I now treate vpon, and through whose strength and consolation, I do with diligence execute my holy office. And herein I dare not rehearse at all the actes of any other man, least peraduenture I should séeme therin to apply to my selfe the cōmendation of their déedes. I will therfore only rehearse those things that Chryst wrought by me in mine owne my∣nistery, to the ende that the Gentiles which heretofore were miserably giuen to the most grosse sinne of idolatrie & super∣stition, may now obey to the time in truth, and apply them selues to the holy gospell of Chryst, whervnto they are well moued, partly by my doctrine & déedes of charitie, and partly also (through the might and power of God, wrought by me) in signes and wonders, to confirme amongest them the fayth of my doctrine. I say yet agayne, that the same are not wrought through mine owne vertue and power,* 1.8 but through the onely might and power of the holy Ghoste: of whom I am through grace, but onely and organe, an instrumente, and poore Minister. And I, in that I doo glory in the luckie

procéeding of my preaching, I doo if to declare therein, the glory of my Lorde Chryst, and not to set foorth myne owne glory. And euen so verily, I glorying in my preaching, doo attribute the onely prayse and commendation thereof vnto almightie God. Neither will I in this behalfe become in∣feriour to any other: for I haue not preached the Gospell of Chryst, as the common sorte vse to doo: that is, euer in one place: but vntill this present houre, I haue preached in those Regions (moste specially) where the name of Chryst was not before spoken of: yea, and for the furthering of Gods onely glory and prayse, I haue desired helpe at hys holy hande, that the foundation of the Christian Religion, mighte be caste into a greater compasse, and that the limites of his moste worthy renoume might more amply be spredde and stretched foorthe abroade vppon the whole earth. For which cause, as I thoughte it not beste to buylde vppon the foundation of the other Apostles: bicause, euen as it is a more difficill and harde thing, first to appoynte and limitte the be∣ginning of Religion, than well to repayre and kéepe the same in safetie, which is already begonne: euen so, I thought it muche better to make for the progression of the Gospell, to preache the name of Chryst in suche places onely, as none of the Apostles yet came vnto: namely, forasmuche as I perceiued the same thing to haue bene prophecied long before by the moste holy Prophet Esaias, which saith: They that of him had nothing declared vnto them, they shal yet see:* 1.9 and they that hard not yet of him, shall also vnderstand. And this same ardente desire within me, to set foorth the christian fayth & religion, was the only cause that hath hitherto with∣holdē me from you, though no man could more hartily haue wished to be with you, than I my selfe haue done. Therfore, séeing I haue now in such sort ranged ouer all y^e whole coun∣treis of Achaia & Macedonia, that I sée therein no place lefte, which is destitute of the knowledge of Chryst, or in which I haue not alredy laide the fundation of the christian faith and religion: and forasmuche also as I haue wyshed most gladly many yeres since, for a cōueniēt time to sée you, I trust now

shortely to haue occasion happily giuen vnto me, to satisfie in this poynt my glad desire towards you. Wherfore, when I shall passe on my iourney towards the countrey of Spayne, I will take you in my way, and so remayne with you vntill suche time as I shall somewhat haue satisfied my minde a∣mongest you, in vsing moste ioyfully your christian and god∣ly company. Which thing, I trust shal shortly come to passe, if it be the good will of Chryst: and that from thence I shall most gladly desire you to accompany me on my way, and to guide me into Spayne. But at this present, I doo you to wit, I am taking my iourney towards the Citie Ierusalem: there to distribute vnto the necessitie of the christian Iewes & dis∣ciples of Chryst, the bountifull liberalitie of the Macedoni∣ans and Achaians, which they haue committed vnto my charge to bée doone.* 1.10 For to that ende and purpose, it hathe so pleased their godly mindes, to make a collection of money throughoute the whole Countreys: declaring thereby the fruites of their change and perfection, to the reioycing of the poore christian brethren at Ierusalem: which, although they haue not among them selues the vse of worldly sustentation, or wante things sufficiente to relieue their poore and néedie bodies: yet touching their riches and reliefe which they haue in Chryst, through their perfection in Religion, that is other∣wise wonderfull, large, and inestimable. In consideration whereof, and bicause they firste receiued from them, and by their testimonies, their entraunce and beginning into chry∣stian Religion: they thought them selues (of duetie) great∣ly bounde vnto them, and to bestow fréely and without in∣forcement vpon them, that which I doo most worthily allow, which is, their very bountifull and christian beneuolence. Therefore, considering I say, that they which be now at Ie∣rusalem, did firste worke the meanes that the doctrine of Christ descended vnto the Gentiles: It is now reason also, that the Gentiles in like maner doo minister vnto them a∣gayne,* 1.11 some of their temporall and worldly goodes: that they may yet at the least with that which is but earthly, recom∣pence that thing which is most preciouse and heauenly, fréely

and without all charge communicated vnto them the effecte and full summe of their whole health and saluation. Wher∣fore, as soone as I (according to good order and duetie) shall haue discharged mine handes of this their sayde christian be∣neuolence (which without commoditie to my selfe I fréely receiued, and will as fréely deliuer it them) I will take my iourney into Spayne. And although I hasten forwardes my selfe as muche as I possibly may vntill I bée in Spayne, to preache therein the Gospell of Chryst: yet for all that it repenteth mée not, in this maner for a whyle to be stayed from thence. And when soeuer I shall come vnto Rome to sée you, I doubte not but my comming amongest you shall greatly further the glory of Chryst: In as muche as I per∣ceiue by the godly inclination of your heartes, you will all be maruellous gladde of my companie: whiche hytherto (through the deuine helpe of God) haue doone all things for you, according to your gentle desires. Notwithstanding, bi∣cause I can not bée presently with you, or so soone as I would wishe to bée: I shall therefore in the meane whyle, hartily require you all, euen for the loue of our Lord Iesus Chryst,* 1.12 and for your charities sake in him, that you will pray vnto God for me: that through the contemplation of your faith∣full and godly prayers, I may happily bée deliuered from the handes of the vnhappie and faythlesse Iewes, and from so many vexations as I abyde amongest them: least perad∣uenture in preaching the Gospell, any parte of the fruites thereof shoulde not bée suffered to passe foorth according to the will of God: and that also my Commission for the distri∣bution of the beneuolence, may so be finished and ended, that there may be no occasion found of any mans grudging or dis∣quietousnesse. And further, that after the great multitude of my troubles héere in Iewry, I may the more merily come vnto you that be at Rome, there to recreate and comfort my selfe amongest you. And thus to ende myne exhortation vnto you (as I beganne at the firste) I hartily pray vnto God (which is the true Author and Parente of all peace and concord,* 1.13 and which is also the maynteiner and defender

of the same) that he will voutsafe to be alwayes with you. Who verily, as he euermore shūneth the rablement of them that be contemptuous, proud, and such as will be at variance one with another: euen so, his delighte is alwayes to be in company with suche people as be lowly, méeke, and of one mutuall consent togither among them selues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psalm. 68.
• * 1.2

  Roma. 4.
• * 1.3

  1. Macha. 12.
• * 1.4

  The true pro∣fessors of christ are knowen, not onely by agreemente in doctrine, but also in theyr actes, to bee of one mutuall consente and mynde.
• * 1.5

  The mercye of God in Chryst towardes the Gentiles.
• * 1.6

  2. Reg. 22. Psal. 17. Deu. 32. Psal. 126. Esaye. 11.
• * 1.7

  Acts. 3: 2. Pet. 1.
• * 1.8

  The glorying of Paule in the prospering of the Gospell.
• * 1.9

  Esay. 52.
• * 1.10

  Acts. 11. 1. Corin. 16. 2. Corin. 8.9.
• * 1.11

  1. Corin. 9. Gala. 6.
• * 1.12

  Paule earnestli requesteth the Romains to pray for him
• * 1.13

  1. Corin. 14.