because when they knew God, they did not with gratitude glorify him as God, but their reasoning became extravagance, and their minds, void of judgment, were involv'd in darkness.

As they did not seek the favour of God, by worshipping him, God gave them over to a depraved sense, to act unworthy of human nature;

I say, his goodness at this time: that he might appear to be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

for what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

the reward is not counted as a favour to him that has done good actions, but as a debt:

he it was who against hope believed in hope, that he should become the father of many nations, according to what was told him, "so shall thy posterity be:"

and therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.

now this saying, "that it was accounted to him," was not written for his sake alone,

but for us also, to whom it shall be accounted, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

much more then being now justified by his blood, shall we thro' him be delivered from the wrath to come.

the type of him that was to come: but yet the damage of the fall does not exactly correspond to the advantages of the divine favour: for tho' through the fall of one, mankind became mortal, yet this is greatly over-ballanced by the favour and bounty of God, in the benevolence of one man, Jesus Christ, to all mankind.

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 if we resembled him with regard to death, certainly we shall likewise do so with regard to his resurrection:

considering this, that our vicious passions were crucified with him, that the body of sin being destroyed, we might not any longer be vassals to sin.

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

knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, is to die no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

thus, my brethren, the law is become dead with respect to you by the body of Christ; that you might be subject to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

for if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall likewise restore your mortal bodies to life, by his spirit that dwelleth in you.

and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; although we now suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

who were not, by their own choice, expos'd to this uncertain state, but by virtue of him, who subjected them thereto:

he that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, will he not with him likewise freely give us all things?

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

so that this is a matter not dependent on him that wills or runs, but on God, who shews mercy.

nay, but, O man, who art thou, to raise a dust against heaven? shall the pitcher say to him that formed it, "why hast thou made me thus?"

as it is written, "behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone, and a rock of offence: and whosoever believeth in him, shall not be ashamed."

for if you openly confess, that Jesus is the Lord, and sincerely believe, that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

for the scripture saith, "whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed."

In reality there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: they have all the same Lord, who is bountiful to all that call upon him.

But how, say you, shall they call on him on whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

but what said the oracle to him? "I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

who hath given any thing to him, and he will repay it?

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

having then different gifts, according to the respective favour bestowed upon us; if it be prophecy, let him prophesy according to the proportion of his gift.

if it be the ministry, let him attend on that ministry; and he that teacheth, on teaching; he that exhorteth,

on exhortation: he that giveth, let him be disinterested; he that presideth, let him be diligent; he that sheweth mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.

therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head .

let not him that eateth, despise him that does not; and let not him that refrains, pass censure on him that eateth: for God hath received him.

who art thou that judgest the domestick of another? his staying or removal depends solely upon his master: yea, he shall be fixed: for God is able to establish him.

let us not judge one another any more: but rather come to this determination, not to put a stumbling-block, or any thing in a brother's way, that may make him fall.

I know, being fully assured by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: it is only so to him that thinks it is unclean.

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.

and elsewhere, praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, all ye people."

besides Esaias saith, "there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope."

Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, conformable to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from antient times, but now is laid open,