“What is hurtful I follow; I shun what I believe would be profitable.” For these act under a constraint
when they subscribe to the righteousness of God, as their will is wholly alienated from it, but the
godly man consents to the law with the real and most cheerful desire of his heart; for he wishes
nothing more than to mount up to heaven.^224
- Now it is no more I who do it, etc. This is not the pleading of one excusing himself, as
though he was blameless, as the case is with many triflers who think that they have a sufficient
defense to cover all their wickedness, when they cast the blame on the flesh; but it is a declaration,
by which he shows how very far he dissented from his own flesh in his spiritual feeling; for the
faithful are carried along in their obedience to God with such fervour of spirit that they deny the
flesh.
This passage also clearly shows, that Paul speaks here of none but of the godly, who have been
already born again; for as long as man remains like himself, whatsoever he may be, he is justly
deemed corrupt; but Paul here denies that he is wholly possessed by sin; nay, he declares himself
to be exempt from its bondage, as though he had said, that sin only dwelt in some part of his soul,
while with an earnest feeling of heart he strove for and aspired after the righteousness of God, and
clearly proved that he had the law of God engraven within him.^225
Romans 7:18-20
- Novi enim quod non habitat^226 in me (hoc
est, in came mea) bonum: siquidem velle adest
mihi, sed ut perficiam bonum non reperio. - For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is
present with me; but how to perform that which
is good I find not. - Non enim quod volo facio bonum; sed
quod nolo malum, id ago. - For the good that I would I do not: but
the evil which I would not, that I do. - Si vero quod nolo ego id facio, non jam
ego operor illud, sed quod habitat in me
peccatum. - Now if I do that I would not, it is no more
I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18.For I know, etc. He says that no good by nature dwelt in him. Then in me, means the same
as though he had said, “So far as it regards myself.” In the first part he indeed arraigns himself as
being wholly depraved, for he confesses that no good dwelt in him; and then he subjoins a
modification, lest he should slight the grace of God which also dwelt in him, but was no part of his
flesh. And here again he confirms the fact, that he did not speak of men in general, but of the
faithful, who are divided into two parts — the relics of the flesh, and grace. For why was the
modification made, except some part was exempt from depravity, and therefore not flesh? Under
the term flesh, he ever includes all that human nature is, everything in man, except the sanctification
(^224) “I consent — consentio — μ μ , I say with, assent to, agree with, confirm.” — Ed.
(^225) The last clause of this verse is worthy of notice, as the expression “indwelling sin” seems to have arisen from the words
μ — “which dwells in me.” Sin was in him as in a house or dwelling; it was an in-habiting sin, or that which is in-abiding
or resident. — Ed.
(^226) Non habitatbonum —. — Ed.