Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 9 · Verse 3
VERSE 3. For I could wiſh that may ſelfe were *Or ſeparated.accurſed from Chriſt, for my brethren, my kinſmen according to the Fleſh.
IN this Verſe is a ſecond Argument, to proue Pauls griefe for the reiection of the Jewes.
I could wiſh my ſelfe: By the duplication of the Pronoune, Paul moſt ſignificantly expreſſeth himſelfe.
To be accurſed, or ſeparated from Chriſt: There are diuers impertinent expoſitions, which I leaue. The word here vſed, ſignifieth that which is put apart from the vſe of man, and dedicated vntounto God, not after an ordinary manner, as ſuch things which might be redeemed; but with the accurſing of them who ſhould conuert it to their owne vſe; and ſo by a tranſlated ſenſe it ſignifieth a perpetuall ſeparation from Chriſt. As therefore ſuch things were ſeparated from men for honour ſake: ſo applyed to men, it ſignifies to be ſeparate from Chriſt for horror ſake. This is Chryſoſtomes expoſition, approued of the beſt Interpreters. And as the Greeke word is thus vſed; ſo, Sacer properly ſignifying Holy, is vſed amongſt the Latines by good AuthorsgAuri ſacra fames. Virg. Sacer inteſtabilis eſto. Hor., in a contrary ſenſe.
For my brethren (not ſpirituall) but kinſmen according to the fleſh, that is, the Iewes, as if he had ſaid, I would bee damned in their ſtead, that they might be wonne to Chriſt and ſaued in mine. As Dauid wiſhed he might hauehave dyed for Abſolon: and Chriſt dyed for vsus.
The Argument to iuſtifie Pauls griefe, is from an effect of his louelove, which is a conteſtation that for their ſakes he would with all his heart be accurſed from Chriſt. Therefore he muſt needs be grieued for their ſeparation.
This louelove of Paul is here amplified by three circumſtances. 1. The Perſon wiſhing, Paul. 2. The matter of his wiſh, to be accurſed from Chriſt. 3. For whoſe ſake; for the Iewes. Who? Paul? who was ſo zealous for Chriſt? To be accurſed from Chriſt, his onelyonly Ioy and Deſire? and for the Iewes his enemies? who layd continuall wayt for him? about a fortie of them vowing neither to eate nor drinke till they had his bloud? Euen thus it was; Euen Paul wiſheth to be accurſed from Chriſt, for theſe. Chryſoſtome calls it a flame, a ſea of louelove. No ſea ſo deepe, no flame ſo bright as Pauls louelove.
Q. But is it lawfull for Paul thus to wiſh? For it is to bee holden as a truth in Diuinitie, that eueryevery man is firſt to hauehave a care of his owne ſoule: yea, the Papiſts affirme, that though the ſoule of the Virgin Marie (whom they too much adore) were in perill, yet for her ſaluation wee ought not to hazard our owne.
A. There are many farre-fetcht anſweres: For Interpreters hauehave exceedingly laboured herein. Wee hardly vnderſtand how this ſhould be, becauſe we are farre from the meaſure of Pauls louelove.
Among all the Anſwers: there are 3. principall. The firſt is, that Paul vſeth an Hyperbolicall ſpeech, or that hee ſpake haſtily, not well conſidering the matter: but hee ſpake vponupon his oath, as we hauehave heard: and therefore no Hyperbole or ouerſight to be admitted.
The ſecond, that he did not indeed ſo wiſh, but was ready ſo to doe, if it were lawfull: but the words, and his oath take away this alſo: he did actually ſo wiſh, and without ſuppoſition.
The third is Chryſoſtomes, which alſo Aquinas hath: who make a double ſeparation from Chriſt. 1. To be ſeparated from his louelove; which Paul by no meanes wiſheth: neither is it lawfull to deſire either not to louelove Chriſt, or not to bee beloued of him. 2. To be ſeparated from him onelyonly by puniſhment, in regard of the fruition of heauenly ioyes; and ſo Paul wiſhes here, not ſo much hauing an eye to the deſtruction of the Iewes, as to the glory of Chriſt. The vnbeleeuing Iewes did daily by vile ſpeeches blaſpheme Chriſt; the hearing hereof was ſo grieuous to Paul, that out of a great zeale he wiſhed verily to hauehave beene accurſed from Chriſt, rather then that he ſhould be ſo reuiled: yet ſo accurſed, as that he would ſtill louelove Chriſt, and be beloued of him. He will for no cauſe be depriued of Chriſts louelove; but he is content to loſe his part in Heauen for Chriſts glory.
doctrine We ought to redeeme the ſaluation of our very enemies, with the loſſe of heauenly Ioyes to our ſelues, rather then Chriſt ſhould loſe his glorie. So Moſes wiſheth, Exod. 32.12.32. For Gods glory ought to be more deare to vsus, then any ioy or good of our owne.
Ʋſe 1.If we conſider Paul as a kinſeman: wee are taught what great louelove we owe to our kinred. We are to louelove our Nature in all; but where there are moſt bands, there ſhould our louelove be moſt: Nature teacheth this: and Grace perfiteth Nature.
Chriſt beginning to preach, firſt preached at Nazareth; to recompence the place of his education. Luk. 4.16.And Paul ſaith, 1. Tim. 5.8.That hee that prouideth not for his owne, is worſe then an Infidell. Husbands ought ſpecially to take care for the ſaluation of wife and children; brethren for brethren, &c.
Ʋſe 2.Conſider Paul as an Apoſtle, 2. Pet. 5.2.and then it teacheth Miniſters ſpecially, to feed their owne flockes; to pray for them: to be affected with their ſtubborneneſſe: So Samnel, Ieremie, &c.
Muſt Miniſters take paines grieue, and burne out the Candles of their liues to doe their people good? Then is it not fit that their people ſhould deſpiſe and deſpite their Teachers, vexing them with their vngodly ſtomackes and profane carriage: This is to encreaſe their ſorrow, which is ſo great, that it is compared to the ſorrow of a woman in trauaile.Gal. 4 19.
Vſe 3.Conſider Paul as a Chriſtian: He feeketh the ſaluation of his enemies; ſo doe thou. Remember it was Cains ſpeech, Am I my Brothers keeper? Thou muſt hauehave care of thy brothers, yea, of thine enemies: It will not ſerue the turne to ſay, EueryEvery Fat ſhall ſtand on his owne bottome. This is harſh to nature, but Grace muſt ouereome corruption.
Vſe 4.Reioyce not at the fall of thine enemy, whether it bee by the immediate hand of GOD, or by the hand of the Magiſtrate: ſay not, It is no matter: If thou feeleſt thy heart to hammer ſuch thoughts, ſtriue and pray againſt it. Conſider Pauls example here, and Dauids in the Pſalmes: Pſal. 35.13.To reioyce at other mens harmes, is the way to hauehave ſuch things caſt vponupon our ſelues.Prou. 24.17.
Ʋſe 5.The cauſe of Pauls wiſh is the glory of Chriſt, which ought to be more deare vntounto vsus then our owne ſaluation. Though we cannot attaine to the meaſure of Pauls zeale, yet we muſt aime at it, and endeuour our vttermoſt. Though Parents are loth to part with their Children; yet for their good, they are content to put them to ſchoole, and to binde them to Trades farre off: So we can be contented to enioy life, liberty, &c. yet if the parting from theſe be to Gods glory, we muſt be ready ſo to doe. How few then be there which louelove Chriſt as they ought? how few which would be content to part with Heauen for his honour? for many will not for the glory of God, and the obtaining of Heauen, leaue their pride, whoredome, drunkenneſſe, &c.