Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 10 · Verse 21
VERSE 21. But to Iſrael hee ſaith, aEſay. 65.2.All day long I hauehave ſtretched out my hands to a diſobedient and gaineſaying people.
IN this verſe is the other part of the Teſtimonie of Eſay, concerning the reiection of the Iewes, which is ſet downe and amplified.
It is ſet downe in theſe words, A diſobedient and gainſaying people, that is, a reiected people, or a people caſt off: The cauſe being put for the effect.
The amplification is from the cauſe of the contrary, viz. the louelove and goodnes of GOD calling them, which ſhould hauehave bred in them no ſuch effect. This calling is ſet forth: Firſt, by a ſimilitude; I hauehave ſtretched out my hands. Secondly, by the time: All day long.
All day long. Some apply this to the time of Chriſts crucifying, and his ſpreading out his hands there. Some to the time of his teaching. Some to the time of the Law and the Prophets: but it is beſt to be vnderſtood of all the time from their firſt calling to their diſſipation. The whole time of Grace, is called the day of Saluation.Vniuerſum retro. tempus quod praeterierat. Chryſ.
I hauehave ſtretched out my hands: As the Hen clockes her Chickens to her, putteth forth her wings, and ſpreads her feathers to cheriſh them with her warmth: or as a Mother calls her child, and holds forth her armes to embrace it in tender affection: ſo did God deale with the Iewes, ſeeking to gather them into the boſome of his louelove.
Ʋnto a diſobedient and gaineſaying people. The word ſignifies ſuch a one, as will not be perſwaded, but is incorrigible. Not eueryevery diſobedience is here meant, but when neither faire meanes, nor foule, will bring vsus to a better courſe.
Gaineſaying: This is a farther Riſe of ſinne; ſignifying not onelyonly ſuch a one as refuſeth to obey, but beeing reproued, thwarteth, mocketh and perſecuteth their reprouers. Of this Steuen accuſed the Iewes. Act. 7.51.Eſay hath but one word for both theſe, but ſuch is the force of it, that both theſe will ſcarcely expreſſe it. Socer.It is attributed to the ſtubborne ſonne that vvas to be ſtoned to death. Deut. 21.18.Me thinkes Dauid makes a Commentary of it in the 78. Pſalme. The Iewes are there called a rebellious generation, in Eſays word. Dor. Socer.What a one is that? A generation (as it followes) that ſet not their heart aright, whoſe ſpirit was not faithfull to God, that kept not the Couenant of God; that he refuſed to walke in his Law, that forgate his workes, that tempted God, that ſpake againſt God, &c. Such were the Iſraelites, as Eſay ſaith, that prouoked him to his face.
doctrine Diſobedience ioyned with contradiction and perſecution of Gods Meſſengers, was the cauſe of the reiection of the Iewes, 2. Chro. 36.16. Mat. 23.37. Mat. 21.
Vſe 1.If we be damned, the cauſe is in our ſelues, refuſing the ſaluation which God offers to vsus. To whom hath not God offered mercy? What drunkard or wicked perſon is there among vsus, to whom God hath not ſent his Miniſters, or ſome godly man or other, to tell him that if he repent not, he ſhall be damned?
Vſe 2.Gods Patience is infinite. As a Nurſe beares with her crying froward Child: ſo did God beare with the Iewes, euen many hundred yeeres, and did not caſt them off, though they many thouſand times deſerued it. Had not the Lord beene God, hee could not hauehave holden his hands off them, they were ſo rebellious. This patience God vſeth toward vsus: by this we are ſaued: for if God hath not long waited for vsus, we had beene ere this ſwept away by his fearefull iudgements, as the doung of the earth. Therefore let vsus bee thankefull.
Vſe 3.Is God ſo patient toward Rebels? O how mercifull and louing will hee bee to them which with contrite hearts ſeeke vntounto him!
Ʋſe 4.The Miniſtery of the Word, is the ſtretching forth of Gods armes: when thou reſorteſt vntounto it, thou runneſt into the armes, into the very boſome of God.
Ʋſe 5.Rebels, and gaineſayers, are in continuall danger to bee reiected of God: they are euen at the pits brinke. Search your boſomes whether you be ſuch, or no. If thou mockeſt and contemneſt admonitions, ſtubbornly walking on in wickedneſſe, thou art ſuch a one. Many when they heare of Predeſtination, of the neceſſity of preaching, of puritie of life, &c. they cauill, mocke, and blaſpheme. Is it not equall that ſuch profane mouthes ſhould be ſtopped? Such a profane heart puniſhed? Such contempt reuenged? Let vsus obey in all holy ſubmiſſion, leſt the hand that is ſtretched forth to receiue vsus, bee lifted vp to ſtrike vsus, and to throw vsus to hell.