TFair then — ^if all things are in secret, in spirit before God,
and if all righteousness is spiritual, as easy of access to the
Gentile as to the Jews — shail we say that Abraham, our most
fAmou8 father, hath found as pertainirhg to theflesh^ — that is,
to the body, and bodily worship ? St. Paul makes answer,
that Abraham's righteousness as pertaining to the flesh and
bodily worship, if there were any such to deserve the name,
was a righteousness in the sight of men, and not of God.
God looks upon the heart. Hence his words are. For IF

^ It wiU be observed that the order of words in the Vulgate of Rom.
iv. 1 (Quid ergo dicemus invenisse Abraham pair em nostrum secundum
camem), leaves it doubtfid whether secundum camem is to be taken
with invenisse or with patrem nostrum. The punctuation in the Eng-
lish version leaves an equal uncertainty.
124 ROMANS IV.
ver. s. Abraham : — as mncli as to say : I will not affirm that Abra-
ham was righteous on account of any works of the flesh ; but
IF Abraham waa justified by works of the body — by circum-
cision and sacrifices^ he hath ground of boasting, and this
praise of righteousness : but ru>t before Ood, who sets no
store by carnal things. He has it only before men^ and
those too men of dull understanding ; who perceive nothing
but what is seen before their eyes. For what saith the

ver, 3. Holy Scripture ?

J He means the Old Testament^ called simply Scripture^
by way of distinction^ because it contains the words of God.
