that make mention of his son, the which was begotten unto him of the seed of David, as pertaining to the flesh:

And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and burnt in their lusts, one on another, among themselves. And man with man wrought filthiness: and received in themselves the reward of their error, as it was according.

Surely, very much. First: unto them was committed the word of God.

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

Came this blessedness then upon the circumcised or upon the uncircumcised? We say verily how that faith was reckoned to Abraham, for righteousness.

How was it reckoned? In the time of circumcision? Or in the time before he was circumcised? Not in time of circumcision: but when he was yet uncircumcised.

And that he might be the father of the circumcised: not because they are circumcised only: but because they walk also in the steps of that faith, that was in our father Abraham before the time of circumcision.

For the promise that he should be heir of the world was not given to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law: but through the righteousness which cometh of faith.

Which Abraham, contrary to hope, believed in hope: that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be."

And he fainted not in the faith, nor yet considered his own body, which was now dead, even when he was almost a hundred years old: neither yet that Sara was past childbearing.

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief: But was made strong in the faith, and gave honour to God,

full certified that what he had promised, that he was able to make good.

And therefore was it reckoned to him for righteousness.

It is not written for him only, that it was reckoned to him for righteousness:

Which was delivered for our sins, and rose again for to justify us.

For even unto the time of the law was sin in the world: but sin was not regarded, as long as there was no law:

But the gift is not like as the sin. For if, through the sin of one, many be dead: much more plenteous, upon many, was the grace of God and gift by grace: which grace was given by one man, Jesus Christ.

But the law, in the meantime, entered in that sin should increase. Neverthelater, where abundance of sin was, there was more plenteousness of grace.

We are buried with him by baptism for to die: That likewise as Christ was raised up from death by the glory of the father: even so we also should walk in a new life.

But sin took an occasion by the means of the commandment, and wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For verily, without the law sin was dead.

I once lived without law: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I was dead.

And the very same commandment which was ordained unto life, was found to be unto me an occasion of death.

Was that, then, which is good made death unto me? God forbid. Nay, sin was death unto me, that it might appear: how that sin by the means of that which is good, had wrought death in me: that sin which is under the commandment, might be out of measure sinful.

For what the law could not do, inasmuch as it was weak because of the flesh - that performed God, and sent his son in the similitude of sinful flesh, and by sin damned sin in the flesh;

Which are the Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants and the law that was given and the service of God, and the promises,

Neither was it so with her only: but also when Rebecca was with child by one, I mean by our father Isaac,

yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad - that the purpose of God, which is by election, might stand - it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller,

As he saith in Hosea, "I will call them my people which were not my people: and her beloved which was not beloved."

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

For if thou wast cut out of a natural wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature in a true olive tree: how much more shall the natural branches be graffed in their own olive tree again?

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who was his counselor?

And I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.

So have I enforced myself to preach the gospel: not where Christ was named, lest I should have built on another man's foundation,

but as it is written, "To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that heard not, shall understand."

To him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel and preaching of Jesus Christ, in uttering of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began,

To the same God, which alone is wise, be praise through Jesus Christ for ever Amen. {To the Romans. Sent from Corinth by Phoebe, she that was the minister unto the congregation at Cenchreae}