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a debt , nor can he interdict Him in anything [which He pleases to do] or require a reason , why He shows Himself kind also to others [as well as to himself]. Therefore Paul somewhat abruptly checks by a rather severe answer the peevish and spite- ful objectors. Luke xix. 22, 23, is a similar case. For no man is allowed to deal with God as if by virtue of a bond of agree- ment, [as if he were His creditor], but even if there were such a bond, God even deals more strictly with man [ i.e . with a man of such a hireling spirit] ; let the parable, Matt. xx. 13—15, which is quite parallel, be compared : I do thee no wrong , etc. There is therefore one meaning of Paul’s language, by which he gives an answer to those who contend for good works : another, of a milder description, in behalf of believers, lies hid under the veil of the words. In the Sacred Scriptures too, especially when we have come from the thesis [the proposition] to the hypothesis [that on which the proposition rests], the manners , ra ijQri, as well as the reasonings , oi Xoyo/, ought to be considered ; and yet there can be no commentary so plain, which he, who contends for justification by good works, may more easily understand than the text of Paul.
15. Tw yap MwffJj, for to Moses) Many are of opinion, that the objection extends from this verse to ver. 18 ; in which view the for , is used, as in ch. iii. 7, and thus thou wilt say then , ver. 19, concludes the objection, which was begun at ver. 14. And indeed by this introduction of a person speaking there would be a fitting expression of that avra^oxpnng {rejoinder of the opponent ), which is censured at ver. 20, and is subsequently refuted by taking up the words themselves or their synonyms. In the meantime Paul so expresses himself, as to make 6 avrawoKpivofievos, the objector whilst replying at the same time answer himself ; and therefore the words in this verse may be also taken, without injury to the sense, as spoken in the person of the apostle, as we shall now endeavour to show. Moses, Exod. xxxiii., had prayed for himself and the people by fn, the grace of the Lord, ver. 12, 13, 16, 17, and had concluded with, show me thy glory. The Lord answered : I will make all My goodness pass in the presence of thy face , and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thy face, cm** uy*rnK 'nomi |n« 'rum, And will be gracious ,
to whom I will be gracious , and will show mercy , to whom I will show