to all the beloved of God, the saints by this vocation, who are in Rome, grace to you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

so, that as far as it depends upon me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also, who are at Rome.

because what should be known of God they are acquainted with; for God hath manifested it unto them.

for ever since the creation of the world, his eternal power and divinity, things in themselves invisible, are clearly seen, being perceived by the things that are made; so that they are without excuse:

the honour due to God, who is immortal, they transferr'd to idols representing men, who are mortal, to birds, and beasts, and insects.

who knowing the divine rule of right, did not perceive that they who commit such things are worthy of death, and not only they who do the same, but they who give countenance to those that do them.

but unto those who are contentious, and do not yield to the truth, but give way to injustice, indignation and wrath,

for not the bare hearers of the law, but they who observe the law, are such as shall be justified, before God.

when the Gentiles who have not the law, do by nature what the law prescribes, tho' these have not the law, they are a law to themselves:

for they shew that the duties prescrib'd by the law, are written in their hearts, their consciences bearing witness to it, by their own reasonings alternately accusing and excusing them.

you think you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

the faithfulness of God of no effect? by no means; yea, let God be acknowledged to be true, tho' men should be all deceivers; as it is written, " that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged."

"how then are we better than they?" why, not at all: for we have already convicted both Jews and Gentiles, of being all under the guilt of sin.

they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doth good, no not one.

their feet are swift to shed blood.

destruction and misery are in their ways:

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every one may be silenc'd, and all the world plead guilty before God.

" happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

and he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the justification by that faith, which the uncircumcised have: that he might be the father of all those who believe, tho' they are uncircumcised, that it might be accounted to them also for righteousness:

and the father of the circumcised, that is of those who are not barely circumcised, but who imitate that faith which our father Abraham had, being yet uncircumcised.

for if they only who are of the law have right of possession, faith is made useless, and the promise becomes of no effect.

" I have made thee a father of many nations," then existing in the sight of God, whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls forth things that are not, as if they were:

who has given us access by faith to that degree of favour, we are in, by which we triumph in the hopes of divine glory.

Therefore as by one offence all men fell under condemnation: even so by one act of righteousness, all men are restored to life.

therefore we are buried with him by being plunged into a sort of death: that as Christ was raised up from the dead into a state of glory with the father, even so we also should proceed to a new state of life.

for by its being dead, we are set free from sin.

since then we died with Christ, we are persuaded that we shall also live with him:

for then sin shall have no dominion over you: because you are not under the legal, but under the gospel dispensation.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under the gospel?

by no means. know ye not, that to whom ye subject your selves vassals at command, his vassals you are whom you thus obey; the vassals either of sin to destruction, or of obedience to justification?

what benefit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? since they terminated all in death.

but now we are delivered by the death of the law, which held us in bondage: that we might serve according to the living spirit, and not in the dead letter of the law.

the divine grace thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. so then, with the mind I my self am devoted to the law of God; tho' my carnal inclinations are enslaved to the law of sin.

for they that are sensually affected, abandon themselves to sensuality, but the spiritual pursue their spiritual entertainments.

so that they who are in a carnal state, cannot be acceptable to the divine being. as for you,

you are not in such a state, but in a spiritual one, provided the divine spirit dwell in you. now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

You are, therefore, brethren oblig'd to oppose your sensual passions;

as many as are actuated by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

the same spirit testifies to our spirit, that we are the children of God.

for I consider, that the sufferings of this present life are infinitely over-ballanc'd by that glory which shall hereafter be discovered to us.

for we are saved but by hope: but hope supposes things not yet present; for how can a man hope for what he has now in possession?

for as it is written, "for thy sake we are sacrificed every day; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter:"

yet after all we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us.

for I could wish to be as one anathematiz'd from the christian church for my brethren, who are of the same race as my self,

who are Israelites; who had the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the form of divine worship, and the promises;

who are the offspring of the patriarchs, and of whom as to the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

However, the divine promise cannot but have its effect. for they are not the whole of Israel, who are descended from Israel:

neither are they who are the race of Abraham, all children: but 'tis said, "in Isaac shall thy posterity be called."

that is, the children by natural descent are not thereby the children of God: but the children of the promise are alone considered as his posterity.

and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; there shall they be called, the children of the living God."

and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? as it is written, "how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

but still I ask, did not Israel know this? first, Moses saith, "I will provoke you to jealousy, by those that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."

"What then, hath not Israel obtained what he sought for?" no, but the chosen remnant have obtained it, and the rest are obdurate to this day,

Now if the first-fruits be holy, so is the whole product: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

if then, some of the branches are broken off, and thou like a wild olive, were grafted in their place to partake of the root and sap of the olivestock;

for if you were taken from the wild olive, which was natural to you, to be grafted into a good olive-stock of a different nature, with how much greater reason shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?

Though they are violently prejudiced against the gospel upon your account: yet they are objects of favour upon the account of their having been chosen out of respect to your fore-fathers.

for the divine gifts and vocation are irrevocable.

so the Jews are at present incredulous, by reason of the mercy shown to you; so that they themselves are now to be pitied.

O the depth of the divine goodness, wisdom, and contrivance! how impenetrable are his decrees, and his ways past finding out!

for of him, and through him, and in him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

for as there are many members in one and the same body, but all the members have not the same office:

so we who are many, make all but one body in Christ, and every member subservient to one another.

Render no man evil for evil. mind such things as are approved not only by God, but by men.

Be every one of you subject to the ruling powers. for every ruler holds of God: the rulers in being are constituted by God.

rulers are not a terror to virtue, but to vice. would you then live without any dread of the civil power? do what is right, and you shall have his commendation.

from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually

if we live, our life is appropriated to the Lord; and if we die, we die as his servants: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's.

do not for such a thing as meat, pull down what God has been raising. all things indeed are pure; but they become evil to him who by eating giveth offence.

I add, we that are better inform'd ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not study our own pleasure.

for even Christ did not consult his own satisfaction; but as it is written, "the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me."

As to myself, I am persuaded, my brethren, that you abound in goodness, and in variety of knowledge, and are able to instruct one another.

they have thought fit, I say, and they owed them as much. for if the Gentiles have participated of their spirituals, they are bound on their side to minister to them in their temporals.

salute Andronicus and Junias my relations, and fellow-prisoners, who are distinguish'd among the apostles,

salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.

salute Philologus, Julia, Nereas, his sister, Olympas, and all the converts who are with them.