Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 11 · Verse 4 – Verse 5
VERSE. 4. I hauehave reſerued to my ſelfe 7000 men who hauehave not bowed the knee to the Image of Baal.
IN theſe words is the ſubſtance of Gods anſwere: Gods whole anſwere is not ſet downe but onelyonly ſo much as might confute Eliah his paralogiſme, which ſerues Paules purpoſe. Eliah did thus argue.
The Church which is not quite extinguiſhed, hath markes whereby it might be diſcerned.
But I (ſayth Eliah) diſcerne no ſuch in Iſraell: therefore.
Thou doeſt not Eliah: what art thou? But I doe (ſayth the Lord) know the heart, and who are Iewes within. I hauehave reſerued 7000 as good as thy ſelfe, who hauehave not bowed their knees to Baal.
7000. Some curiouſly ſpeake of this number: but a number certaine is put for an vncertaine. By 7000 ſayth one, the perfect ſumme of theſe who dealt worthily in not conſenting to idolatry is expreſſed.
Seuen thouſand men, that is, men and woemen noted by the more worthy ſex.
I hauehave reſerued to my ſelfe. That is: though I hauehave ſuffered many to fall away, yet I hauehave reſerued to my owne vſe ſeuen thouſand. I hauehave reſerued: he ſaith not, here are left me ſome, by chance or at a venture, or by Ahabs, Ieſabels, and the diuels courteſie. Nor ſome hauehave reſerued themſelues; but I hauehave reſerued: as ver. 5. A reſeruation is made, not a few, but ſeuen thouſand: not ſome, which were then Idolaters, and after to be conuerted, or Infants that had no reaſon, but men that hauehave not bowed to Baal, but ſincerely worſhipped me.
Who hauehave not bowed the knee, that is (by a figure) worſhipped in the leaſt ſigne, as making a leg. It is added in the booke of Kigns, nor bleſſed him; by which it appeares, that the Iſraelites when they came to their Images, did both bow, and kiſſe their Images; as the Papiſts when they come by a Croſſe or Crucifix, put off their hats, make a legge, and alſo kiſſe ſome part of their Idols, beſides the Popes toe. Thus in Hoſee the Idolaters ſay, Hoſ. 13.2.Let them kiſſe the Calues: ſo Iob ſaith, Iob. 31.26.27.When I beheld the Sun or Moone, if my mouth did kiſſe my hand, &c. as the Heathen which worſhipped the Sunne, becauſe they could not kiſſe it, kiſſed their hand, which was abominable Idolatry. Kiſſe the Sonne, ſaith Dauid, Pſal. 2.12.that is, worſhip him. So Emperours hauehave their knees, Kings their hands kiſſed in token of ſubiection.
To Baal: that is, To the Image of Baal. So was the god of the Sydonians called. The word is good in the ſignification, for it is as much as Lord, or Husband; ſo they that worſhipped it, declared thereby that, that they were vaſſals, and bound to ſubiection to it, as the wife to the husband: and therefore is Idolatry called fornication. Baal is of the Maſculine gender, and the Article prepoſed is of the Feminine, implying the Image, as it is heere well ſupplied. And heere we may find the Papiſts tardie, making many Baals maſculine and feminine, and bowing to their Images, which hence appeares to be flat Idolatry.
Now in theſe words two things are to bee conſidered, the Summe of them, and the Circumſtances: who are two. Firſt, the Author of this Reſeruation. Secondly, a deſcription of the Reſerued.
doctrine Doct. out of the ſumme.The Church of God ſhall neuer be brought to ſuch an exigent in the moſt difficult times, but that there ſhall be many thouſands which ſhall worſhippe God in Spirit and truth. It can neuer faile, Matth. 16.18. and 28. verſ. laſt, I am with you to the end of the world. If to the end there ſhould not be true worſhippers, this could not be true.
Vſe 1.The beſt on earth may erre, as Elias, much more the Pope; who is the worſt of Cardinals, who are the worſt of Prieſts, who are the worſt of Papiſts, who are the worſt of Chriſtians. Eliah came into this errour by a paſsion of anger and feare: Order your paſſions by the law of grace, for if they be vngouerned they blinde the minde, and as vnruly horſes draw the chariot of our iudgement into the by-pathes of error.
Vſe. 2.Eliah erred in his cenſure concerning true worſhippers: Be not then raſh in cenſuring, thou mayeſt erre. I would our Browniſts would conſider this, who are quick-ſighted abroad and blinde at home. It is raſhneſſe to cenſure particular men, much more whole Churches to be Idolatrous, Antichriſtian, no Church: without God &c. God accepteth of vsus, and of our deuotions, and bleſſed be his name, crowneth our publique worſhip of his name with vnſpeakeable comfort: why then doſt thou condemne vsus, holding vsus abominable in that wherin God accounts of vsus. Art thou more iuſt and pure then the Lord? How dareſt thou refuſe communion with them who hauehave communion with Chriſt? Repent of thy ſeparation.
Vſe 3.Nor multitude, nor viſibility are certaine notes of the true Church: for then there had beene no Church in Eliah his time in Iſrael: for the multitude was with Ahab and Ieſabel, and Eliah could not diſcerne one beſide himſelf, yet there were ſeuen thouſand.
The Papiſts ſay the Church was alwaies actually viſible to mans eye. Nay, they ſay that the Catholike Church is alwaies viſible: but the Creed confuteth them; for we beleeue the holy Catholike Church. It is beleeued, therefore not ſeene; diſcerned by faith, not by ſenſe But they anſwere that the Holineſſe is inuiſible, not the Catholikeneſſe. Indeede the holineſſe of their Church cannot be ſeene; neither can the Catholikeneſſe, qua talis, no more then the ſubſtances of things can be diſcerned with the eye.
If they had ſaid that particular Churches are alwayes viſible, they had ſaid ſomewhat, and yet heere, ſome cautions are to be remembred: It is alwayes viſible potentiâ, but not actu. It is ſimply in it ſelfe viſible, though in ſome reſpect it may be inuiſible, which reſpect is threefold. Firſt, of place: As the Sunne is alwaies viſible, but to vsus then only, when it ariſeth in our Hemiſphere. So at Ieruſalem the Church is not to be ſeene, when it remoued to Pella. Secondly, of the Time, as of perſecution, as in Eliah his time, and in Queene Maries dayes, when the Church was faine to flye into the wilderneſſe. As the Sunne, behinde a cloud in ſome reſpect is inuiſible, ſo may it be ſaid of a Church. Thirdly, of perſons which ſhould diſcerne it, for a Church is ſometimes inuiſible, not through the fault of the Church, but of mens eyes, which are eyther weake eyes, as of Eliah, or blinde eyes, as of them which hate the Church. If Eliah had rubbed his eyes, and cleared them from their dimneſſe, occaſioned by feare and anger, he might hauehave diſcerned ſeuen thouſand. And it is the nature of hatred to put out the eyes of them which are poſſeſſed with it, that they can no more diſcerne any good thing in their oppoſites, then a blinde man can ſee the Sunne.
The Papiſts ſay, that the Church is as a houſe ſet vponupon a hill: True, but the toppe of the hill may be couered with a cloud, and ſo a while vnſeene, and though the cloud be gone, yet eueryevery eye cannot diſcerne it. He that cannot ſee the hill, can much leſſe ſee the houſe on the top of it.
The Circumſtances are two. Firſt, from the Author of this Reſeruation, which is God; I hauehave reſerued to my ſelfe.
doctrine Thoſe which in dangerous times are preſerued in grace, are ſo preſerued meerely by the power and goodneſſe of God. 1. Sam. 25.39. 2. Theſſ. 5.23. 2. Tim. 4.18. Iude 24.
Vſe 1.Though Ieſabel ſearch eueryevery corner of the Land, yet God reſerueth ſeuen thouſand which bow not the knees to Baal. God can keep vsus from our enemies: let perſecutors ceaſe their malicious practiſes, and let vsus ſerue God without feare.
Vſe 2.In regard of the preaching of the Goſpell, theſe are golden dayes, but in regard of the ouerflowing of iniquity, as Drunkenneſſe, Pride, Couetouſneſſe, Vncleanneſſe, &c. theſe are perillous times. Art thou preſerued from theſe ſinnes? glorifie God. It is not thy goodneſſe, that thou doſt not as others, but the goodneſſe of God. It was Chriſt that ſaued Peter from drowning not his owne skill or actiuitie. He had infidelity enough to hauehave drowned him, if Chriſt had not beene merciful; ſo we hauehave enough within vsus to eaſt vsus away, if God reſerue vsus not: namely a prophane heart, which is as inclined to take the worſt part, as gunpowder to flaſh on a fire. And if we looke without vsus. What examples of great ones, which ſtrike as thunder-bolts, of the multitude, which beat downe all as thick hayle, what occaſions of euill, from ill company, the flouriſhing of the wicked, and the great diſgrace caſt vponupon ſuch as are moſt religious: many among vsus are ſick of the Italian bocth. In Italy an Ideot or Aſſe-head is called il baon Chriſtiano, ſo he that feareth an oath, that is temperate, continent, a louer of the word, is counted meere curious, ſilly. How weake alſo are wee to reſiſt? When Eue ſaw the beauty of the apple, and Achan the golden wedge, they had not power to keepe their hands off. When mighty victorious Dauid ſaw Bathſheba, how ſoone is he ouercome? When Peter heard the voyce of the Damſell, how eaſily he fayled? ſo that if theſe things be conſidered it can be no leſſe a miracle of grace to be reſerued.
The deliuerance of Lot and the three children, is accounted (as it is indeede) wonderfull, ſo if in theſe times thou be not tainted with ſinne, thy preſeruation is no leſſe, then to be in the midſt of the ſea, and not to be drowned, as Peter: or in the midſt of Sodom and not periſh as Lot, or in the midſt of fire and not be burnt as the three men.
Vſe 3.Be admoniſhed of two things. Firſt preſume not of thine owne ſtrength: Peter bragd of his courage, and yet plaid the coward, ſo many ſay they would be aſhamed to doe as ſuch and ſuch doe, when alaſſe, it is not in their power to abſtaine. 2. Kin. 8.12 13. 2. Kin. 13.7.22Hazael thought great ſcorne euer to doe as Eliſha foretold to him, and yet afterwards he did ſuch things.
Be not ſecure and careleſſe. God reſerueth ſome, but thoſe which vſe the meanes to perſeuere in weldoing. Which while ſome refuſe to doe, its eaſie to obſerue, how thick and threfold men fall away: ſome to couetouſneſſe; ſome to pride &c many to a fearefull deadneſſe & hardneſſe of heart. If thou wouldſt be preſerued, heare the word, receiue the ſacraments, and pray leſt thou be made a pray to the diuell.
The ſecond circumſtance is from a diſcription of true worſhippers reſerued; who are ſuch which hauehave not bowed their knees to the image of Baal.
doctrine Sincere worſhippers of God, muſt not in the leaſt manner worſhip an Idol. Pſal. 16.4. Ephe. 5.3.
Vſe.Many take liberty for their outward behauiour, ſo long as they keepe their heart: though they heare no ſermons, nor can talke of religion, nor make ſuch ſhew as others doe; yet they hauehave as good a heart to God as the beſt. Heres a ſubtle diuell; becauſe ſome make ſhew of that is not in them, to perſwade that though there be no outward ſhew of appearance of godlineſſe in word or deede yet there may be a good heart, which is as impoſſible as the ſunne to be without light, and the ſea without water. For according to the heart, are all parts and ſenſes of the body ordered.
Vſe.Walke accurately, yeeld not the breadth of a naile, to idolatry or any ſinne: for a man ſerues Idols, not onelyonly when he offers Sacrifice vntounto them, but when he ſinnes; for ſinne is the worſhip of the diuell. Hate therefore the very garment ſpotted with the fleſh. Some take liberty to vnhallow the Saboth, and then ſay, is this ſo much? An inch breakes no ſquare. The beginninges of all ſinne are ſhamefaſt, but yeeld to a litle, and the diuell will eaſily draw you to the mickle. As the ſeepent if he get in his head, will eaſily winde in his whole body, ſo is it the nature of ſinne. We diſcipline our children, telling them that firſt a pin, then a poynt, & then a penny, and then a horſe, and ſo to the gallowes, ſo will ſinne increaſe by degrees, if we giuegive intertainment to it at firſt in a little. As Eliah his cloud, was no bigger at firſt then as a mans hand, and afterward darkened the whole skie. So he that makes no conſcience of little ſinnes, will eaſily be brought at laſt to commit any ſinne. If thou makes not conſcience of a ſpot on thy knee, thou wilt not be perſwaded to the higheſt degree of Idolatry.
Remember how Moſes would not yeeld to Pharaoh in a hoofe: nor the orthodoxall Chriſtians to the Arrians in a letter. One Marcus Biſhop of Arathuſa, old in yeeres, but yong in ſtrength to endure, choſe rather to endure moſt grieuous torments, then to giuegive a farthing to the building of an Idolatrous Temple, which he had demoliſhed. True worſhippers will not yeeld in any thing to the diſhonor of God.
VERSE 5. Euen ſo at this preſent time alſo there is a remnant, according to the election of Grace.
IN this verſe is the application of the former example, which alſo is amplified in the ſixt verſe.
In the time of the generall defection in the dayes of Eliah, there were ſeuen thouſand reſerued, ſo alſo now. The like times of the Church are wiſely to be compared. But the preſent eſtate of the Iewes is the ſame with that of the Iſraelites, therefore as then, ſo now a reſeruation is made, and by conſequence, their reiection not totall.
Heere we hauehave two things. 1. A Propoſition. 2. An Amplification.
The Propoſition, that in the time of Paul, though the Iewes were generally caſt off, yet there was and is a reſeruation.
Obſeruation.When thou heareſt of perſecution, and of killing vp the Prophets and profeſſors, be of good-comfort, God will ſaue ſeuen thouſand. He will reſerue one Eliah, as in the dayes of Ahab: one Athanaſius, as in the time of the Arrian Hereſie: one Wicliffe, one Huſſe, one Luther, in the moſt darkſome and hideous times of Antichriſt.
The Amplification, is from the cauſe of this Reſeruation, which is Election, ſet foorth alſo by the eauſe of it, which is Grace.
Through the Election of Grace; not actiuely to be vnderſtood on mans part, as Chryſoſtome; but actiuely on Gods part, and paſſiuely on ours: nor is Election to be heere expounded faith, the ſeale of it, as ſome; but the decree, called election of Grace, that is, gratious or free election.
doctrine The cauſe why ſome are reſerued in dangerous times is their Election. For as ſaith, ſo perſeuerance is proper to the Elect, Act. 13.48. and 20.21.
Vſe 1.As to be preſerued from Idolatry, when true Religion is aboliſhed and perſecuted, ſo in theſe dayes to be kept from ſin, and to ſtand, when a thouſand fall on one hand, and ten thouſand on another, is a comfortable note of Election. Iniquitie abounds. Neglect not ſo faire an occaſion of making thy Election ſure. If God beſtow his grace on thee, ſtoppe thee in the way of ſinne, make thy heart bleed for the tranſgreſſions of the time, and preſerue thee in his feare thou art elected: for if thou wert a reprobate, he would not hauehave ſuch care of thee, but giuegive thee quite ouer to follow the ſwinge of thine owne luſts vntounto perdition. Therefore by thy life thou mayeſt know; for God hath not elected vsus to ſerue the Diuell, but himſelfe.
Vſe. 2.If perſecution come, ſeare not, many ſuffered conſtantly in the dayes of Ieſabel, and ſeuen thouſand could not be found, being hidden as a treaſure, by God. So in Queene Maries daies, many were taken and burned; and many were ſought after, and could not be found, for God couered them with his hand, and ſmote the eyes of them which ſought their liues, as he ſmote the Sodomites ſometimes, when they ſought the dore of Lots houſe. Reſolue thus, If ſuch fiery times ſhould come, and God ſhould call thee out, and ſuffer thee to bee found, he will alſo ſo ſtrengthen thee, that thou ſhalt glorifie him in thy ſufferings: If God giuegive thee not ſuch ſtrength, he will ſo hide thee from thy perſecutors, that though Ieſabel her ſelfe ſearch all the corners of the Land for thee, as narrowly as Laban ſearched Iacobs ſtuffe, yet ſhee ſhall not finde thee.