unbelief], whilst thou art moving heaven and the deep, and art taking refuge in heaven or the deep, (as we find in Virgil, I will move hell 1 [Acheronta movebo], know that it can neither he thought of by me, nor be found by thee, without [outside of] Christ, ver. 4. The expression is hypothetical. That, which cannot be done, — to fetch righteousness from afar [opposed to, is nigh thee] , from heaven or out of the deep ; Paul sets this aside : and so leaves one only refuge, the word of Christ, which is very near.
8. ' AXkn, hut) The particle here either has an augmentative [sKirurixqv : See Append, on Epitasis] meaning as in Matt. xi. 8, 9, or falls upon syyvg, nigh thee. — eyyvg, nigh). We ought not to seek Christ at a distance, but within us. For while faith is beginning to believe, Christ dwells in the heart. This seeking for Christ [at a distance , instead of within one's own heart] is found not only in those who are merely beginning,, but even in those who are making progress in faith, Song of Sol. iii. 1 ; Ps. cv. 3, 4. For he is here speaking, as if the righteousness of faith were itself conversing with itself. — h rti gro^ari gov xai iv rji nupdicf, gov) so it is in the Hebrew, but the lxx. add nut h ra?g Xspri rovr sgr /) The word, that is, the word of faith is nigh thee.
9. Eav) if only — o/jjoXoyijgrig, thou shalt confess ) Confession in itself does not save ; otherwise infants would not be saved : but only in as far as it includes faith. — K vpiov, the Lord) The summary of faith and salvation is found in this appellation. He who confesses that J esus is Lord, does not now any longer [now for the first time ceases to] endeavour to bring Him down from heaven. — ijyetpev ex vexpuv, hath raised Him from the dead) The special object of faith. He who believes the resurrection of Jesus does not now any longer endeavour to bring Him from the dead, ver. 7.
10. Kapdla, with the heart) From the mentioning of the ‘ heart’ and ‘mouth’ by Moses [in Deut. xxx. 14, quoted here at ver. 8], the consequence is [here by Paul referred, or] proved in reference to 6 faith,’ and 6 confession ;’ namely, because the ‘ heart’ is the proper subject of 6 faith’ and the ‘ mouth,’ of 6 confession ;’ there-
1 Aen. vii. 312.