island named Publius, who recei- I was constrained to appeal unto ving us, for three days entertained Cesar, not that I had any thing to

us courteously.

8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux. To whom Paul entered in: and when he had prayed, and layed his hands on him, he healed him.

9 Which being done, all that had diseases in the island came, and were healed:

10 Who also honoured us with many honours, and when we were to set sail, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

accuse my nation of.

20 For this cause therefore I desired to see you and to speak to you. Because that for the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain.

21 But they said to him: We neither received letters concerning thee from Judea, neither did any of the brethren that came hither, relate or speak any evil of thee.

22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that it is gain-said every where.

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came very many

11 And after three months we sailed in a ship of Alexandria, that had wintered in the island, whose to him unto his lodgings; to whom sign was the Castors. he expounded, testifying the king

12 And when we were come to Sy-dom of God, and persuading them racusa, we tarried there three days. concerning Jesus, out of the law 13 From thence compassing by of Moses and the prophets from the shore, we came to Rhegium: morning until evening. and after one day the south wind 24 And some believed the things blowing, we came the second day that were said: but some believed to Puteoli.

not.

25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, Paul speaking this one word: Well did the Holy Ghost speak to our fathers by Isaias the prophet,

26 Saying: Go to this people, and say to them: With the ear you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shalt not perceive.

27 For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears have they heard heavily, and their eyes they have shut: lest perhaps they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

28 Be it known therefore to you that this salvation of God is sent to the gentiles, and they will hear it.

29 And when he had said these things, the Jews went out from him, having much reasoning among themselves.

30 And he remained two whole years in his own hired lodging: and he received all that came in to him,

31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things which concern the Lord JESUS CHRIST with all confidence, without prohibition.

The EPISTLE of ST. PAUL to the ROMANS.

CHAP. I.

He commends the faith of the Ro

a

mans.

PAUL servant of JESUS CHRIST, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 Which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scrip

tures.

may impart unto you some spiritual grace, to strengthen you :

12 That is to say, that I may be comforted together in you by that which is common to us both, your faith and mine.

13 And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that I have often purposed to come unto you (and might have some fruit among you also, even as among other gentiles

3 Concerning his Son who was have been hindered hitherto) that I

made to him of the seed of David according to the flesh,

4 Who was predestinated the Son of God in power according to the spirit of sanctification, by the resurrection of our Lord JESUS CHRIST from the dead,

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith in all nationsforhis name. called 6 Among whom are you also the of JESUS CHRIST

7 To all that are at Rome the beloved of God, called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord JESUS CHRIST.

First I give thanks to my God arough JESUS CHRIST for you all, because your faith is spoken of in the whole world.

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make a commemoration of you.

10 Always in my prayers, making request, if by any means now at length I may have prosperous journey by the will of God, to come unto you.

a

11 For I long to see you, that I

14 To the Greeks and to the Barbarians, to the wise and to the unwise, I am a debtor.

15 So (as much as is in me) 1 am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are at Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beGreek. lieveth, to the Jew first and to the

vealed therein from faith unto faith: 17 For the justice of God is reas it is written: The just man liveth by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, against all ungodliness and injustice of those men that detain the truth of God in injustice:

19 Because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For God hath manifested it unto them. from the creation of the world are 20 For the invisible things of him clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made: his eterthat they are inexcusable. nal power also and divinity: so

Ver. 4. Predestinated, &c. Christ as man was predestinated to be the Son of God: and declared to be so (as the apostle here signifies) first by power, that is, by his working stu. pendous miracles; secondly, by the spirit of sanctification, that is, by his sanctity or holi ness; thirdly, by his resurrection, or raising himself from the dead.

18

24 Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves :

tice of God, did not understand 32 Who, having known the justhat they, who do such things, are worthy of death: and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them. CHAP. II.

W

The Jews are censured. HEREFORE thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou dost the same things which thou judgest.

2 For we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that do such things.

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie: and worshipped and 3 And thinkest thou this, O man,

served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

that judgest them who do such things, and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of

26 For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. his goodness, and patience, and

For their women have changed the natural use, into that use which is against nature.

27 And in like manner the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompence which was due to their error.

long-suffering? knowest thou not that the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance?

5 But according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou treasurest up to thyself wrath, against the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God.

6 Who will render to every man according to his works.

28 And as they liked not to have 7 To them indeed, who accordGod in their knowledge; God de-ing to patience in good work, seek livered them up to a reprobatesense, glory and honour and incorruption, to do those things which are not convenient,

29 Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, 30 Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.

eternal life :

8 But to them that are contentious, and who obey not the truth, but give credit to iniquity, wrath and indignation.

9 Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek:

10 But glory and honour and

31 Foolish, dissolute, without af- peace to every one that worketh fection, without fidelity, without good, to the Jew first and also the mercy. Greek.

Ver. 26. God delivered them up. Not by being the author of their sins, but by withdraw. ing his grace, and so permitting them, in punishment of their pride, to fall into those shame

11 For there is no respect of you is blasphemed among the gen persons with God. tiles, as it is written.) 12 For whosoever have sinned 25 Circumcision profiteth indeed without the law, shall perish with- if thou keep the law: but if thou be out the law: and whosoever have a transgressor of the law, thy cirsinned in the law, shall be judged cumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 If then the uncircumcised by the law.

13 For not the hearers of the keep the justices of the law: shall law, are just before God: but the not this uncircumcision be counted doers of the law shall be justified. for circumcision?

14 For when the gentiles who 27 And shall not that which by have not the law, do by nature those nature is uncircumcision, if it full things that are of the law; these the law, judge thee, who by the having not the law, are a law to letter and circumcision art a transthemselves: gressor of the law?

15 Who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them, and their thoughts between themselves accusing, or also defending one another,

16 In the day when God_shall judge the secrets of men, by JESUS CHRIST, according to my gospel.

17 But if thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18 And knowest his will, and approvest the more profitable things, being instructed by the law,

28 For it is not he is a Jew, that is so outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh,

29 But he is a Jew that is one inwardly; and the circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter: whose praise is not of men, but of God.

CHAP. III.

2 Much every way. First indeed, because the words of God were committed to them.

19 Art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light 3 For what if some of them have

of them that are in darkness,

20 An instructer of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.

21 Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou that preachest that men should not steal, stealest :

not believed? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid.

4 But God is true: and every man a liar, as it is written: That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and mayest overcome when thou art judged.

5 But if our injustice commend

22 Thou that sayest, men should the justice of God, what shall we not commit adultery, committest say? is God unjust, who executeth adultery: Thou that abhorrest idols, committest sacrilege :

23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, by transgression of the law dishonourest God.

24 (For the name of God through

wrath.

6 (I speak according to man.) God forbid; otherwise how shall God judge this world?

7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie, un

Ver. 4. God only is essentially true. All men in their own capacity are liable to lies and errors: nevertheless God, who is the truth, will make good his promise of keeping his church in all truth. See St. John xvi. 13.

to his glory, why am I also yet being witnessed by the law and the Judged as a sinner?

8 And not rather (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say) let us do evil, that there may come good? whose damnation is just

9 What then? Do we excel them?

No, not so. For, we have charged both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin ;

10 As it is written: There is not any man just,

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 All have turned out of the way, they are become unprofitable together: there is none that doth good, there is not so much as one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they have dealt deceitfully. The venom of asps is under their lips.

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet swift to shed blood. 16 Destruction and misery in their ways :

17 And the way of peace they have not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law speaketh, it speaketh to them that are in the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be made subject to God.

20 Because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified beforehim. Forbythe law is the knowledge of sin.

prophets.

22 Even the justice of God by faith of JESUS CHRIST, unto all and upon all them that believe in him : for there is no distinction.

23 For all have sinned; and do need the glory of God.

24 Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS,

25 Whom God hath proposed to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to the shewing of his justice, for the remission of former sins,

26 Through the forbearance of God, for the shewing of his justice in this time: that he himself may be just, and the justifier of him who is of the faith of JESUS CHRIST.

27 Where is then thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

28 For we account a man to be justified by faith without the works of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the gentiles? Yes, of the gentiles also.

30 For it is one God that justifieth circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then destroy the law through faith? God forbid : but we establish the law.

CHAP. IV.

Abraham was not justified by works. W HAT shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory,

21 But now without the law the justice of God is made manifest; but not before God.

- Ver. 10. There is not any man just. By virtue either of the law of nature, or of the law of Moses, but only by faith and grace.

Ver. 28. By faith, &c. The faith, to which the apostle here attributes man's justification, is not a presumptuous assurance of our being justified, but a firm and lively belief of all that God has revealed or promised: Heb. xi. A faith working through charity in Jesus Christ, Gal. v. 16. In short a faith which takes in hope, love, repentance, and the use of the sacraments. And the works which he here excludes, are only the works of the law; that is such as are done by the law of nature, or that of Moses, antecedent to the faith of Christ: but by no means such as follow faith and proceed from it.

Ver. 2. By works. Done by his own strength, without the grace of God, and faith in him, Ver. 2. Not before God. Whatever glory or applause such works might procure from men, they would be of no value in the sight of God.