Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 9 · Verse 23
VERSE 23. And that hee might make knowne the riches of his glory, on the veſſels of mercy.
HEre is the end of Gods ſhewing his wrath and power on the Reprobates, after his long induring them; namely, that he might ſhew the riches of his glory on the Elect. Contraries illuſtrate each other, being laid together: Contraria iuxta ſe poſita magis illuceſcunt.So theſe things by comparing: not that Gods Iuſtice and Mercy are contrary one to the other: but that their effects in contrarie ſubiects, are after a contrary manner.
There is no difference betweene the diuine attributes, but onelyonly rationall, in regard of our conceit; which difference alſo ceaſeth, when the operation of our vnderſtanding ceaſeth. For as it is the ſame Sunne which hardneth the Clay and ſoftneth the Waxe: So it is the ſame will in GOD, which ſheweth mercy on the Elect, and Iuſtice on the Reprobate.
God maketh the Reprobate drinke off the very dregges of his wrath, that the relliſh of his immeaſurable goodneſſe might by compariſon be the ſweeter to the Elect.
And that: this Particle (And) is not in ſome Copies, and the Ancient reade it not, and indeed without it, the ſence appeares the more plainely: but beeing in very approued Copies, it would be here taken (as often it is) for, Euen.
The Riches of his glory. Glory is that wherby God appeares to bee glorious, and is to bee glorified.
Now hee appeares glorious by the effects of his goodnes and power, whereby hee is willing and able to ſaue. The Interpreters for the moſt part, here interpret it, of his mercy: but I thinke, Gods power alſo to bee vnderſtood: and ſo the oppoſition is notable. His mercy to his wrath, and his power in ſhewing mercy, to his power in executing wrath. As Glory is ſometimes put for Mercy: ſo ſometimes for power.Rom. 3.23. Rom. 6.4.
The riches of his glory. This is an Hebraiſme, where Glory is not the addition, but riches, noting (as vſually) abundance. So we ſay a man rich in plate, land, &c. which hath ſtore of theſe things. That hee might ſhew his moſt rich and abundant glory.
doctrine The wrath ſhewed on the Reprobates, doth amplifie and commend the mercy to the Elect. Gods ſauing Noah, and drowning the world, made his mercy to Noah the more conſpicuous. The plaguing of Egypt, and ſparing the Iſraelites, by compariſon, the more ſetteth forth the goodneſſe of God to the Iſraelites. So alſo the drowning of Pharaoh and his hoaſt: and their deliuerance noted: Exod. 14.30,31.
Vſe 1.Here are two comforts.
Firſt, the riches of glory layd vp for the Elect, comforteth againſt our preſent baſeneſſe, and diſgrace put vponupon vsus by the world.
Secondly, we hauehave friends here: but many times we faile of their helpe: either for want of louelove in them, or for want of power: But God wants neither: nay, hee is infinite in both. He hath riches of glory. Whatſoeuer thou wanteſt, as Faith, Repentance, &c. Aske and thou ſhalt hauehave. That fountaine can neuer be drawne dry.
Learne Humilitie. For thou didſt neuer earne or purchaſe the happineſſe thou haſt and ſhalt hauehave: and that there ſhould be ſuch difference betweene thee and a Reprobate, it comes from the riches of Gods glory.
It is not a little thing or ordinary, which God giues his Elect, but riches of Glory: the pledge of it here in Faith and Sanctification, the perfection of it hereafter. To bring vsus to this eſtate, and to make vsus capable of ſuch glory, coſt the treaſure euen of heauen: the richeſt Iewell there, euen Chriſt Ieſus was pawned for it. Forget not to bee thankefull: And that thou mayſt ſo much the more doe it: Compare thy eſtate with the eſtate of a Reprobate, thou wert in the ſame condemnation. Conſider the torments to which the Reprobate, and the riches of Glory to which thou art reſerued.
How doth God deale with vsus, as though we were Princes children, who indeed are beggars brats! Hee takes a Reprobate, and ſcourgeth him with Scorpions, to fray thee from ſin, and to ſhew thee his louelove. When thou feeleſt thy ſelfe dull to praiſe God; conſider how God hath diſcerned thee from the Reprobates, then whom, in thy ſelfe thou art not better ſo much as a hayre.
If God had ſaued all, it had beene an Infinite mercy, and an Infinite cauſe to praiſe him: but Now ſeeing many are damned, to them which are ſaued, it is the more cauſe of thanksgiuing. The Sunne is glorious and beautifull: but if the Moone and eueryevery Starre had as much brightnes, it would not be ſo admired. So this makes the mercy of GOD to the Elect ſo much the more admirable, by compariſon of his wrath on the Reprobate. On the contrary, it is augmentation of torment to the Reprobate; to ſee how God vſeth his Elect, to heare how graciouſly Chriſt ſpeakes to them: Come ye bleſſed: to behold Them goe triumphing to heauen, and themſelues thruſt downe with the Diuell to hell. To ſee what they loſe ſhall more torment them, then that which they feele. This ſhall euen cut them to the heart, as may by proportion bee gathered out of the Goſpell. Luke 13.28.There ſhall bee weeping and gnaſhing of teeth (ſaith Chriſt to the Reprobate Iewes) when yee ſhall ſee the Elect in the Kingdome of heauen, and your ſelues thruſt out.
Apply this to all occaſions of mercy to thy ſelfe, which thou obſerueſt others to want. Wouldſt thou be ſtirred vp to praiſe God for our long peace? Compare England with France, & the Low-Countries; this will doe it. Wouldſt thou for the Goſpell be prouoked to thankefulnes? Conſider their miſery that liue in Turky, or vnderunder the darkneſſe of Popery.
Thou haſt riches, vnderſtanding, health, the vſe of thy limbs, &c. When thou ſeeſt a man Lunati que, or a poore lame cripple begging a penny of thee; Remember that God offereth him to thee, not onelyonly that thou ſhouldeſt be compaſſionate to relieue him: but alſo to make him thy glaſſe to behold the mercy of God to thy ſelfe; who could hauehave put him into thy eſtate, and thee into his. Be from hence thankfull, leſt God caſt thee into ſuch an eſtate (for he can do it) that ſo by a hard compariſon thou maiſt learne to be more ſenſible of his goodnes, which thou haſt receiued. Thus did God declare i… Ieruſalem by his Prophet, that they ſhould ſerue Shiſhak, that they might ſee the difference of his ſeruice, and of the kingdomes of the earth. 2. Chron. 12.8.Conſider wiſely, & be thankfull.