Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Ver. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law] This is directly against Popish justification by works, merits, &c. Those misled and muzzled souls did worse than lose their labour that built religious houses, Pro remissione et redemptione peccatorum, pro remedio et liberatione animae, in eleemosynam animae, pro salute et requie animarum patrum et matrum, fratrum et sororum, &c. These were the ends that they aimed at, as appears in stories. And here observe how the once faithful city of Rome is now become a harlot,Isaiah 1:21,22; her silver is become dross, her wine mixed with water, yet with blood, now since the Council of Trent, Revelation 16:3; Revelation 16:5; and this Epistle of Paul to the Romans is now become the Epistle of Paul against the Romans; like as Roma Rome is become Amor inversus. love perverted.