The historie of S. Paul, vntil he came to Rome, S. Luke in the Actes of the Apostles vvrote exactly: and though vvithout any mention of his Epistles, yet certaine it is, that some of them he vvrote before he came there, to vvit, the tvvo vnto the Corinthians, and this to the Romanes: & ( ^note as it seemeth) before them al, the Epistle to the Galatians. Vvherein yet because he maketh mention of the fouretenth yere after his conuersion, it appeareth, that he preached so long vvithout any vvriting.

And this order may thus briefely be gathered. First he preached to the Galatians Act. 16: and passing through Phrygia and the countrey of Galatia. Vvhereof he maketh mention him selfe also, Gal. 1: Vve euangelized to you. and Gal. 4: I euangelized to you heretofore. After vvhich the false Apostles came and persuaded them to receiue Circumcision. Vvherevpon he saith Gal. 1: I maruel that thus so soone you are tr&abar;sferred from him that called you to the grace of Christ, vnto an other Gospel. and vvisheth therfore

Gal. 4. saying: And I vvould I vvere vvith you novv. And accordingly he came vnto them aftervvard, as vve reade Act. 18: Vvalking in order through the countrie of Galatia and phrygia, confirming al the Disciples. At vvhich time also it seemeth, that he tooke order vvith them about those contributions to helpe the neede of the Christians in Hierusalem, vvhereof he speaketh 1. Cor. 16: And concerning the collections that are made for the saincts, as I haue ordeined to the Churches of Galatia, so doe you also. By vvhich vvordes also it is euident, that the Corinthians had not as then made their gathering. But vvhen he vvrote the Second to them (vvhere in the 11 chapter he maketh mention of 14 yeres, not onely after his Conuersion, as to the Galatians, but also after his Rapte, vvhich seemeth to haue bene vvhen he vvas at Hierusalem Act. 9. foure yeres after his Conuersion, in a traunce, as he calleth it Act. 22, 17) then vvere they readie. For so he saith 2. Cor. 8: You haue begone from the yere past. and 2. Cor. 9: For the vvhich I doe glorie of you to the Macedonians: that also Achaia is ready from the yere past. hovvbeit it folovveth there: But I haue sent the brethren, that (as I haue said) you may be ready: lest vvhen the Macedonians come vvith me, and find you vnready, vve be ashamed. But vvhen he vvrote to the Romanes, then vvas he novv come to Corinth for the purpose, and had receiued theire contribution, and vvas readie to goe vvith it vnto Hierusalem. For so he saith Rom. 15. Novv therfore I vvil goe vnto Hierusalem to minister to the saincts. For Macedonia and Achaia haue liked vvel to make some c&obar;tribution vp&obar; the poore saincts that are in Hierusalem.

^noteSo then, the Epistle to the Romanes vvas not the first that he vvrote. But yet it is ^note and alvvaies vvas set first, because of the primacie of that Church. for vvhich cause also he handleth in it, such matters as perteined not to them alone, but to the vniuersal Church, and specially to al the Gentiles: to vvit, the very frame (as it vvere) of the Church of Christ. Tanquam enim ^note pro ipso Domino legatione fungens, hoc est, pro ^note lapide angulari, vtrumque populum tam ex Iudæis quàm ex Gentibus connectit in Christo per vinculum gratia. so saith S. Augustine, giuing vs briefly the argument. in english thus: As being a legate for our Lord him self, that is, for the corner stone, he knitteth together in Christ by the b&abar;d of Grace, both peoples, as vvel of the Ievves as of the Gentils. Shevving, that neither of them had in their Gentilitie or Iudaisme any vvorkes to bragge of, or to chalenge to them selues iustificati&obar; or saluation thereby, but rather sinnes they had to be sorie for, and to humble them selues to the faith of Christ, that so they might haue remi&esset;ion of them, and strength to doe meritorius vvorkes aftervvard. In vvhich sort, because the Gentils did humble them selues, therefore had they found mercy, though they neuer vvist of the Lavv of Moyses. But the Ievves because they stoode vpon their ovvne workes, vvhich they did by their ovvne strength, vvith the knovvledge of the Lavv (being therefore also called the vvorkes of the Lavv,) & so would not humble themselues to beleeue in Christ crucified, they missed of mercy, and became reprobate, excepting a few Reliquiæ that God of his goodnes had reserued to him self. ^note Hovvbeit in the end, vvhen the fulnes of the Gentils is come into the Church, then shal the fulnes of the Ievves also open their eies, acknowledge their errour, and submit themselues to Christ and his Church, in like maner. In the meane time, those that haue found the grace to be Christians, he exhorteth to perseuer&abar;ce (as it vvas specially needeful in those times of persecutions) and to leade their whole life now after Baptisme in good workes: and to be careful of vnitie, bearing therefore one with an other, both Iew and Gentil, al that they

may, and geuing no offence to them that are weake. Thus he disputeth, and thus he exhorteth through the whole Epistle: though, if we wil diuide it by that which is principal in ech parte, vve may say, that vnto the 12 chapter is his disputation: and from thence to the end, his exhortation.

Novv, in those points of faith, and in al others (as also in example of life) the commendation that he giueth to the Church of Rome, is much to be noted. Your faith is renoumed in the vvhole vvorld. and your obedi&ebar;ce is published into euery place. I reioyce therfore in you. ^{note note} And againe: you haue obeied from the hart vnto that forme of doctrine, vvhich hath been deliuered to you. ^note And therevpon againe: I desire you brethren, to marke them that make dissensions and scandals contrarie to the doctrine vvhich you haue learned, and auoide them. For such doe not serue Christ our Lord, but theire ovvne belly: and by svveete speaches ad benedictions seduce the harts of innocents. Therfore to shunne Luther and Caluin, and al their crewes, vve haue iust reason and good vvarrant. They make dissensions and scandals against the doctrine of the Romane Church. Let no man therefore be seduced by their sugred vvordes.

THE EPISTLE OF PAVL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANES. ^note

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