Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 10 · Verse 1
VERSE 1. Brethren, my hearts deſire and prayer to God for Iſrael is, that they might be ſaued.
IN the ninth Chapter appeared, that the Reiection of many Iewes doth not preiudice the promiſe of God: and therfore the doctrine of Iuſtification by faith, remaineth firme.
In this Chapter, the Apoſtle anſwereth another Argument, in which the Iewes put wonderfull truſt: viz. in their holineſſe and zeale, thus; If none be ſaued but thoſe which beleeue in Chriſt, then vvhat ſhall become of our ſtrict and zealous obſeruation of the Law morall and Ceremoniall? Paul tells them, that all this auailes not before God, but faith, which attaines that righteouſneſſe which iuſtifieth in his ſight. Now this muſt needes be wonderfull harſh to them which had ſuch confidence in their owne righteouſnes; as appeareth by that Phariſee, and the Ruler ſpoken of in the Goſpel. Luke 18.11,12 ibid. v. 21.To be both bereaued of the promiſes, and alſo to be ſtript of their holineſſe, & to be left naked before the Iudgement ſeat of Chriſt, muſt needs be grieuous.
This Paul knowing, and that they would be not a little incenſed againſt him; and hauing experience that ſuch preaching cauſed him great trouble, before he comes to the matter, he makes a Preface, whereby hee endeuours to aſſwage their minds, and to approue his louelove to them, that he might take away all preiudicate opinions of him.
So in this Chapter we hauehave two parts; 1. A Preface, ver. 1. 2. The matter it ſelfe in the reſt.
The Preface, verſe 1. is by inſinuation, or proteſtation of his louelove, in which are two things; 1. The Thing proteſted. 2. The Amplification of it.
The thing proteſted, is his LoueLove. The Amplification is twofold; 1. From the perſons to whom he proteſts louelove: that is, to the Iſraelites. 2. From the Arguments of his louelove, vvhichwhich are three. 1. A friendly cōpellation, hee calls them Brethren, in regard of the ſame Country and Nation. 2. From a deſire of their ſaluation. The word tranſlated, hearts deſire, ſignifieth two things. Firſt, to hauehave a good opinion. Secondly, to wiſh well vntounto. Paul thought wel of them, and vviſhed them well, whatſoeuer they thought of him. This deſire is amplified from the ſubiect of it, his heart. It was not a fained glozing louelove, as is the friendſhip of the world, from the teeth outward, but euen from his very heart. Thirdly, from his prayers for their ſaluation. A ſingular token of louelove. This is amplified, firſt, from the obiect to whom he prayed, To God. Secondly, from the end, or ſumme of his prayer, That they might be ſaued.
Q. Why doth Paul pray for thē who hauehave crucified Chriſt, are enemies to the Goſpell, and hated and reiected of God?
A. He intends the general calling of the Iewes; of which, chap. 11. Or with condition of Gods will; or onelyonly of the Elect; or to ſhew his willingneſſe to wiſh well euen to his enemies.
The obſeruations from this verſe, are from the conſideration of Paul, as an Apoſtle, or as a Chriſtian.
doctrine Ob. If we conſider him as an Apoſtle, we obſerue; 1. That Miniſters are not only to preach againſt wicked perſons, & to exhort their people to obedience, but alſo to pray for them, as Samuel and Ieremy did.1. Sam. 12.23. Ierem. 13.17.
2. When Miniſters are to ſpeak of a matter that may diſtaſte; they muſt wiſely preuent all offence and grudge, by preparing the minds of the hearers, and ſhewing that they ſpeake not out of malice, but out of louelove, and a deſire of their ſaluation. So Paul mitigates his reproofes, with proteſtations of his louelove and gentleneſſe, which is no dawbing with vntempered morter. Paul dawbed not, but had Gods Spirit when he ſpake to Feſtus and Agrippa; and hauing reprooued the Galathians, Chap. 3. He affectionatly declares his louelove, Chap. 4. As Phyſicians prepare, and Nurſes ſometimes ſtill their little ones with ſinging: So alſo muſt Miniſters attempt eueryevery way, which may profit their people.
3. Paul loues the Iewes, but tels them plainly of their faults: So muſt Miniſters doe. Indeed the way to get peace among men, is, not to reprooue; but this is the way to loſe the peace of God, and to bring the bloud of our hearers vponupon our owne ſoules.
4. The condition of Miniſters is miſerable. The labour is great: the care to ſaue the ſoules of our hearers (yea our own) that we may giuegive vp a good account, is infinite; the diſcontents not to be expreſſed: as, to ſpend many ſleepleſſe nights, many teares, and ſighes for their ſaluation, who raile and reuile vsus, accounting vsus vnworthy to liue:
But indeed our ioy is in the conſcionable diſcharge of our duty, 2. Cor. 2.15.and that wee are a ſecret ſuccour to God both in them which are ſaued, and in them which periſh. And for ſuch as receiue the Word with reuerence, obeying it; we acknowledge that we are neuer able ſufficiently to praiſe God for the ioy wherewith we reioice on their behalfe; 1. Theſ. 3.9.who if they continue, then do we liue.
If we conſider Paul a Chriſtian: we obſerue,
Obſ. 1.Though the Iewes ſeeke PAVLS life in their rage, and nothing would hauehave giuen them more content then his bloud: yet hee carries himſelfe louing toward them, his very ſpeeches no way ſauouring of Reuenge.
LoueLove thine enemies. We are Phariſes by nature, louing our friends, and hating our foes: but wee are Chriſtians by Grace, and therefore muſt louelove our very enemies, and pray for them, as our Sauiour both taught and practiſed. Amicos diligere, omnium eſt: inimicos vero ſolorum Chriſtianorum. Tertul. ad Scap. cap. 1. Chryſoſt. hom. 15. operis imperſecti.EueryEvery man can louelove his friend, but onelyonly a godly man can louelove his enemy: and in this doing we doe our ſelues more good then our Enemies: For Chriſt gaue vsus this commandement not for our enemies ſake, but for our owne: not that they are worthy to be beloued; but that malice is too vnworthy and baſe a thing for vsus. This is hard, but we muſt beate downe our ſtomakes, that wee may bee the children of our heauenly Father.
If then in cold bloud, and vponupon deliberation (though not at the inſtant of thy paſſion) thou canſt ſo rule thine affection, as to louelove thine enemy, and pray for him, doing him good in ſtead of euill, it will be a ſweet comfort to thy breſt; for with our heauenly Father, hee is not in the communion of ſonnes, that is not in the Charitie of Brethren.Apud ſummum Patrem, qui non fuerit in charitate fratrum, non habebitur in numero filiorum. Leo. mag. ſerm. 11. de Quadrag.
2. Pauls louelove was hearty; ſo let thine be, be it friend or foe. Some, after a controuerſie is taken vp and ended, will promiſe friendſhip, but vvith a Reſeruation of reuenge, though it bee ſeuen yeere after. Iudas kiſſed Chriſt, and betrayed him: and Ioab ſaluted Amaſa courteouſly and ſlue him. Remember thou to meane the truth thou makeſt ſhew of.
3. Let thy louelove appeare in kinde words and ſalutations, as Paul calls the Iewes Brethren; yea, Lot the Sodomites: Gen. 19.7.which condemnes the practice of ſome, who if they bee offended, ſhew that they are poſſeſſed either with a dumbe diuell; they will not ſpeake: or with a rayling Diuell: if they ſpeake, it ſhall be in bitterneſſe with taunts and reproches.
4. Pray for them thou loueſt. Thou ſhalt neuer hauehave any comfort of his friendſhip, for whom thou doeſt not pray.