yea, to lie down as half-dead and to be like the dead; for they who seek a visible salvation reject
it, as they renounce hope which has been appointed by God as its guardian.^261
25.If then what we see not, etc. This is an argument derived from what the antecedent implies;
for patience necessarily follows hope. For when it is grievous to be without the good you may
desire, unless you sustain and comfort yourselves with patience, you must necessarily faint through
despair. Hope then ever draws patience with it. Thus it is a most apt conclusion — that whatever
the gospel promises respecting the glory of the resurrection, vanishes away, except we spend our
present life in patiently bearing the cross and tribulations. For if life be invisible, we must have
death before our eyes: if glory be invisible, then our present state is that of degradation. And hence
if you wish to include in a few words the meaning of the whole passage, arrange Paul’s arguments
in this way, “To all the godly there is salvation laid up in hope; it is the character of hope to look
forward to future and absent benefits: then the salvation of the faithful is not visible. Now hope is
not otherwise sustained than by patience; then the salvation of the faithful is not to be consummated
except by patience.”
It may be added, that we have here a remarkable passage, which shows, that patience is an
inseparable companion of faith; and the reason of this is evident, for when we console ourselves
with the hope of a better condition, the feeling of our present miseries is softened and mitigated,
so that they are borne with less difficulty.^262
Romans 8:26-27
- Similiter vero Spiritus etiam coopitulatur
infirmitatibus nostris; non enim quid oraturi - Likewise^263 the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not what we should pray
for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makethsumus quemadmodum oportet, novimus; verum
Spiritus ipse intercedit pro nobis gemitibus
innarrabilibus.
intercession for us with groanings which cannot
be uttered.- Qui vero scrutatur corda, novit
cogitationem Spiritus, quod secundum Deum
intercedit pro sanctis. - And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth
what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh
intercession for the saints according to the will
of God.
26.And likewise the Spirit, etc. That the faithful may not make this objection — that they are
so weak as not to be able to bear so many and so heavy burdens, he brings before them the aid of
the Spirit, which is abundantly sufficient to overcome all difficulties. There is then no reason for
(^261) When we are said to be saved by hope, the meaning is that we are not fully or perfectly saved now, and that this is what
we hope for. “Eternal salvation,” says Grotius, “we have not yet, but we hope for it.” There is present salvation, but that which
is perfect is future. The Scripture speaks of salvation now, see Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:4, 5; and of salvation as future, see Mark
13:13; John 10:9. — Ed.
(^262) “Patience,” says Pareus, “is needful for three reasons, — the good expected is absent, — there is delay, — and many
difficulties intervene.” — Ed.
(^263) The connection here is not very evident — “similiter — in like manner,” by Calvin; “itidem — likewise,” by Pareus
and Beza; “præterea — besides,” by Grotius; “moreover,” by Doddridge The word usually means, in the same, or, the like
manner: but the two last seem to render it suitably to this place; for what follows is mentioned in addition to what had been stated
respecting hope and patience. — Ed.