Romans 7

Romans 7:1

KNow ye not] By propounding the similitude of marriage, he compareth the state of man both in sin and after regeneration together: the law of matrimony, saith he, is this, that so long as the husband liveth, the marriage abideth in force; but if he be dead, the woman may marrie again.

over a man] He saith not over the husband, or over the wife, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hominis, a word which signifieth either sex, and may be applied to either; to teach us that both are subject to the law of wedlock while they live.

Romans 7:2

the woman, &c.] 1 Corinthians 7:39.

Romans 7:3

she shall be] Gr. Tec. the wife or woman.

Romans 7:4

Wherefore my brethren] Here he applieth the former similitude; as it fareth with the wife whose husband is dead, and she free to marry again, so it is with us; for now we are joyned to the Spirit, as it were to the second husband, by whom we must bring forth new children: we are dead in respect of the first husband; but in respect of the latter, we are as it were raised from the dead.

dead to the law] We are not onely dead to the law, but the law also is dead unto us, because it cannot thrust out its sting at us, either to curse us, or to provoke us unto sinne; the law hath no more power over us then dead men in either of these respects.

body of Christ] In as much as his body was mortified and crucified for us; by which his mortification, he obtained to us remission of sinnes, and the holy Spirit; whereby our flesh, or rather sinne dwelling in our flesh is mortified in us.

forth fruit] He calleth the children which the wife beareth to her husband, fruit, Psalms 127:3. As in the salutation of the Angel, Christ is called the fruit of the Virgins wombe: Blessed art thou, and blessed is the fruit of thy wombe.

unto God] Which are acceptable unto God: or if by fruit he understandeth not children, as before, but good works; then to God is here understood, to the glory of God; as Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in heaven. See Philippians 1:11.

Romans 7:5

were in the flesh] When we were in the state of the first marriage; which in the next vers. he calleth, The oldnesse of the letter: or by flesh he meaneth the carnall observations of the law, concerning meats and drinks, and leprosie, and the like: or when we were in the flesh, that is, when the flesh was not mortified in us by the Spirit, but was yet lively and strong in us, Chrp. 8. 8.

motions] Gr. passions.

by the law] He saith not, of the law, but by the law, because the spring of sinne which dwelleth within us, takes occasion to work thus in us by reason of the restraint that the law maketh; not that the fault is in the law, but in our selves.

Romans 7:6

delivered] Or, loosed.

that being dead wherein we were held] Or, he being dead in whom we were held. The Greek Scholiast readeth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we being dead to that which held us, to wit, the law, or sinne; from which we were free by Christ. Others read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it being dead; that is, the reigning power of the law and of sinne being abolished in us; by the death and spirit of Christ the reign of sinne being destroyed in true beleevers, there ceaseth withall that accidentall effect of the law, which is to provoke and stirre up the malignitie of sinne in us. Or he being dead, that is, the old man, of whom he speaketh in the former Chapter, vers. 6. Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sinne might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sinne: and this sense is very agreeable to the main scope of the Apostle.

in newnesse of spirit] As becometh them which after the death of their old husband are joyned to the Spirit, as whom the Spirit hath made new men. Or in newnesse of the spirit, that is, in true holinesse, whereunto we were renewed in the spirit of our minds by the preaching of the Gospel which is called the ministration of righteousnesse, and of the spirit, 2 Corinthians 3:8-9. Ephesians 4:23. Whereas the law wrought nothing else but that it shewed man his dutie, as a writing or picture, without imparting unto him any lively or efficacious abilitie to performe: wherefore also that old means of attaining righteousnesse and holinesse is now abolished as of it self unprofitable and impotent.

oldnesse of the letter] Either by the letter he meaneth the law in respect of that old condition. For before that our will be framed by the holy Ghost, the law speaketh unto us but as to deaf men and therefore it is dumb and dead to us as touching the fulfilling thereof. And in the word oldnesse he insinuateth also the abolishing thereof in regard of the unsufficiencie thereof, Hebrews 8:13. Or by the oldnesse of the letter he understandeth the old corruption which by the outward letter of the law is more and more stirred and provoked in us, in as much as the law though it condemned the sinner, yet it affordeth no power at all to abolish or destroy sinne; in which regard it is called a killing letter, and the ministration of death, 2 Corinthians 3:7.

Romans 7:7

Is the law sinne] Because he had said before, vers. 5. that the motions of sinne which were by the law had force in our members; lest any should mistake his meaning and from thence inferre that he condemned the law, as being a kind of factour for sinne, he opportunely here moveth a doubt after this manner; What then, is the law the cause of sinne? or are the law and sinne all one? or do they agree together? No, saith he, sinne is reproved and condemned by the law, but because sinne cannot babide to be reproved, and was not in a manner felt untill it was provoked, and stirred by the law, it taketh occasion thereby to be more outragious, yet by no fault of the law.

not known lust] Or, concupiscence. By lust in this place he meaneth not evill lusts in particular which flow from concupiscence; but rather the corrupt fountain from which they spring: for the very heathen Philosophers themselves condemned wicked lusts and unclean desires; but as for the fountain of them they could not so much as suspect it, and yet it is the very seat of that naturall and unclean spot and filth.

Thou shalt not covet] Exodus 20:17. Deuteronomy 5:21.

Romans 7:8

sinne wrought in me concupiscence] These words seeme to be contrary to the words of S. James; (James 1:15.) for Saint James saith, lust bringeth forth sinne, but Saint Paul here, that sinne brought forth, or wrought in him concupiscence. But they may be easily reconciled: for they take not the words in the same sense. For Saint Paul by sinne, as before hath been shewed, understandeth the corruption of our nature and pronenesse to sinne, which produceth in us actuall lusts, called by him all kind of concupiscence: but Saint James by lust understandeth the pravitie of our appetite, and by sinne outward actuall sinnes; in which sense if we construe their words, the Apostles are so farre from contradicting one the other, that they both affirme the self same thing though diversly expressed.

concupiscence] Or, lust.

was dead] Though sinne be in us, yet it is not known for sinne, neither doth it so terrifie the conscience, nor stirre up our naturall concupiscence, nor rage after such sort in our members, as after the law is known, and in these regards it is said to be dead.

Romans 7:9

For] Gr. But.

alive without the law] When I knew not the law, then me thought I lived indeed; for my conscience never troubled me, because it knew not my malady: or while the law stood aloofe off (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 often is so taken) and was not brought home to my conscience, I thought my self in a good condition.

I died] That is, I felt my conscience deadly wounded, whereas before I was secure and thought my self in a safe way, though I pursued my former lusts.

Romans 7:12

holy, just, and good] Holy because it teacheth holinesse, and forbiddeth all wickednesse and uncleannesse: just, because it punisheth all sinfull lusts: good, because it was given to dirct us into the paths of life. Or the Epither holy, may have a reference to the ceremoniall law; just, to the judiciall; and good, to the morall.

made death to me] That is, the cause of death; to this the Apostle answereth, That the law is not the cause of death, but our corrupt nature being therewith not onely discovered, but also stirred up, and taking occasion thereby to rebell. For the more things are forbidden our corrupt nature, the more it desireth them; nitimur in vetitum: and from hence cometh guiltinesse and occasion of death, Proverbs 9:17.

God forbid] So Chap. 3. vers. 4.

might become exceeding sinfull] That sinne might shew it felf to be sinne, and spit forth, as it were, all its venome; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Romans 7:14

For we know] Hitherto the Apostle spake of the power of the law and sinne in corrupt and unregenerate man, as he also himself found it by his own experience in his former state, vers. 9. But now he proceedeth and speaketh of himself as he was since his conversion, and declareth what power the remainder of sinne had over him still after that now he was delivered from the dominon thereof.

the law is spirituall] Given by the Spirit, and requiring a spirituall and heavenly life and disposition; but men such as they be born, are bondslaves of corruption.

But I am carnall] In part, in regard of the remainders of the flesh that are in me: for that the regenerate also in respect of some weaknesse that is yet remaining in them may be called carnall, is evident, 1 Corinthians 3:1.

sold under sinne] Not as a willing slave to obey and follow the desire of sinne in all things; as it is said of Ahab, 1 Kings 21:20. but as a Captive yet detained, though his ransome be paid; as one that against his will and purpose is yet subject to the assaults and lusts of sinne, not being able wholly and entirely to ridde himself of them, although he do vehemently resist them, and often subdue them by the Spirit of God that is within him, Galatians 5:17-18.

Romans 7:15

I allow not] Gr. know not. My actions answer not every way, nay they are contrary to my wil; therefore by the consent of my will to the law and repugnancie of my actions thereunto it appeareth evidently, that the law and a right ruled will do perswade one thing, but corruption, which hath her seat also in the regenerate, another thing.

what I would] It is to be noted that the self same man is said to will and not to will in divers respects; to wit, he is said to will in that, that he is regenerated by grace, and not to will, so farre as he is not regenerated; but such as he was born of his parents: howbeit, because the part which is regenerated at length becometh conqueror, therefore Saint Paul sustaining the part of the regenerated, speaketh in such sort as if the corruption which sinneth willingly were something without a man, although afterwards he granteth that this evill is in his flesh, or in his members. See 1 John 3:6. 9.

Romans 7:17

no more I, but sinne] That naturall corruption which cleaveth fast even to them that are regenerated, and is not quite conquered. He speaketh this for the comfort of himself and others who groan under the servitude of their naturall corruption, and that he would inferre is this, that he standeth not in feare to be rejected of God for these remains of sinne in him; because God judgeth of his children that are thus divided between flesh and spirit, according to the better and sounder part, which is that of the spirit as most prevailing within them, and unto which they do most heartily and willingly adhere, which hath likewise a subsistence and root of a permanent life; and not according to the flesh, which they renounce and resist, and which by little and little decaies in them, and in the end is reduced to nothing.

that dwelleth in me] That is, as yet remaineth in me, but disarmed of that mortall sting of condemnation, by Christ: as also of its power and dominion, by his spirit; being now no more but a trouble to the faithfull, Hebrews 12:1. Therefore these three things ought to be well distinguished, the dominion of sinne, the habitation, and the combat: the first is abolished in true beleevers, the other two remaine yet for their exercise and humiliation.

Romans 7:18

dwelleth no good thing] He denieth good to dwell in us, but affirmeth sinne to dwell in our flesh, because we sinne continually, and thereby contract an habit which hath a permanent abode in the soul.

Romans 7:20

do it] Or, performe it.

Romans 7:21

I find then a law] Here followeth the conclusion of the Apostles discourse, which is this; that as the law of God exhorteth to goodnesse, so doth the law of sinne, that is, the corruption wherein we were born forcibly incline us to wickednesse: but the spirit, that is, our mind, in that, that it is regenerate, consenteth to the law of God; but the flesh, that is, the whole naturall man, is a bondslave to the law of sinne: therefore wickednesse and death are not of the law, but of that corruption which so reigneth in them that are not regenerated, that they neithre will nor do good, but will and do evill continually: but in the regenerate though it reigneth not, yet it abideth and striveth against the spirit or law of the minde, so that they can neither do so well as they would, nor be so voyd of sinne as they desire, Galatians 5:17.

Romans 7:22

I delight in] Gr. I am delighted with.

after the inward man] The inward man and the new man are all one, and are answerable and set up contrarie to the old man: neither doth this inward man signifie mans mind and reason, and the old man the powers that are under them: but by the inward man is meant whatsoever is either without or within man, from top to toe, so long as that man is not born anew by the grace of God.

Romans 7:23

the law of my mind] Minde is not here taken for the understanding part of the soul, as it is naturally in us from our birth but for the whole soul of man, as it is renewed by the Spirit of God. Ratio recta est ratio lumine Spiritus sancti directa.

Romans 7:24

O wretched man] It is a miserable thing to be yet in part subject to sinne, and to be wearied with continuall conflicts; but we must cry to the Lord, who will by death it self at length make us absolute conquerours, as we are already conquerours in Christ, Romans 8:37.

who shall deliver me] That is, O that I were out of this animale and earthly life, wherein I must suffer sinne yet to remain within me, by which I am subject still to the necessitie of death! O that I were translated once into the glorious libertie of the Saints of God, in the happie life to come! Romans 8:21. Philippians 1:23.

from the body of this death] Or, from this body of death. That is, from these carnall lusts which are a death unto me, or threaten my spirituall death. Or, by this body we may understand the remainders of sinne and of the old man, which are here called the body of death, as Romans 6:6. the body of sinne (see there the note.) Or else by the body of death is here meant our mortall body subject to death by reason of sinne, Romans 8:10. in as much as we shall never be perfectly delivered from these remainders of sinne, and our captivitie under it, till we shall have laid down this mortall body of ours.

Romans 7:25

I thank God] That he hath delivered me from the curse of the law, and the dominion of sinne; and hath promised also perfectly to free me from all the power of sinne by translating me into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God.

I my self] The Apostle ranketh himself among them that groan under the yoke of sinfull corruption for as Saint Jerome, and Saint Augustine both testifie against the Pelagian Heretikes; this is the true perfection of them that are born anew, that they are sensible of their infirmities and corruptions, and confesse as well in truth as humilitie that they are imperfect.

serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sinne] How may this be that the Apostle should serve the law of God and the law of sinne? sith no man can serve two contrary masters. I answer, that we must distinguish either of faculties, so farre forth as renewed, or not; or of times. The Apostle doth not say that in the same part, or with the same facultie as renewed he serveth the law of God, and the law of sinne; as namely, that in or with the mind as renewed he serveth the law of God and sinne; but that in or with one as renewed, he serveth the law of God, but in or with the other as not yet renewed the law of sin. Neither doth he say that at the same time he serveth both the law of God and the Law of sinne: but that though ordinarily, and for the most part he serveth the law of God; yet that sometimes through the strength of corruption he is as it were enforced against his will, to serve the law of sinne.