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.

amen. for this cause God gave them up to infamous passions: for even the sex perverted the instinct of nature:

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

How then can we assert, "that Abraham our father obtained this from circumcision?"

Is this happiness then for the circumcised only, or for the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

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

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, so death by this sin; and thereby death passed upon all men, who all by his means became mortal.

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.

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.

O wretched man that I am, what shall deliver me from this body of death?

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.

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

and therefore hope to be removed from this slavish condition of mortality to the free inheritance of divine glory.

for we know that the whole creation groans, and labours with general pain even to this day.

What shall we conclude then from this? if God be for us, who can be against us?

for the words of the promise run thus, "at this time I will come, and Sara shall have a son."

this appears too from the case of Rebecca, who conceived twins by our father Isaac.

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

for 'tis said in scripture to Pharaoh, "even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth."

but the justification which is by faith, speaks in this manner; "say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven, in order to bring Christ down from above?

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."

in like manner at this time there is also a remnant chosen by the divine favour;

"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,

this concerns you Gentiles. for as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I should do honour to my character,

well, be it so, for their incredulity they were broken off, and you by faith stand firm: be not then elated, but let this be your fear,

I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this secret, (for fear you should presume too much on your selves) that blindness has fallen upon a part of Israel, until the time when the Gentiles shall be fully come in.

for this is my covenant with them, that I shall take away their sins."

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

loves others hath fulfilled the law. for this, "thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet;" and whatever social precept there be, it is reduced to this single head,

for to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

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.

and you Gentiles ought to glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, "for this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name ."

This has chiefly hindred me from coming to you.

when I have dispatch'd this affair, and have secur'd to them this collection, I will come to you in my way to Spain.

I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.