Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 11 · Verse 12
VERSE 12. Now if the fall of them be the Riches of the world, and the diminiſhing of them, Or decay, or loſſe.the riches of the Gentiles: How much more their fulneſſe?
IN this verſe, is the ſecond Argument to proue the calling of the Iewes, taken from the effect of ſuch their calling, namely, the profite and benefite comming thereby to the world.
If the fall: The word ſignifies Fault as well as Fall, and ſo reade the Vulgar and the Ancient: expounding Fall infidelity; and then the meaning is: If their infidelitie, much more their faith: there is no difference in the ſenſe, if you ſay Fault; but Fall or Ruine is better, ſo is it the ſame with Diminiſhing: their fall, that is, from their excellent eſtate, their Caſheering as you may ſay.
The Riches: Not Temporall, but Spirituall, as the Goſpell, Faith, Repentance, &c.
Of the World: By World is meant all Nations beſide the Iewes: for when the Iewiſh Church ſtood, there could no ſtone be hewed for a Spirituall Temple, but in Iury, nor any pearle found but at Ieruſalem: but now God caſts his bounty ouer all the world, which was before, in compariſon of Iewry, a waſte wilderneſſe.
The Diminiſhing: Not the paucity of beleeuers, meaning the Apoſtles, as though when they ſhall be called, they ſhould be all Preachers with Enoch and Elias, for the conuerſion of the world; for that ſhall not need, in as much as the Iews ſhal not be called till the fulneſſe of the Gentiles be come in: but, their inferiority, their abaſing, they being thruſt, as we may ſay, into the loweſt forme; their leſſening in account with God.
Of the Gentiles: the ſame with World as before.
Their fulneſſe: That is, abundance, multitude, (in compariſon of their preſent fewneſſe recei…ing the Goſpel) as when much of a thing is in a veſſell, we ſay it is full,
The Argument is thus framed and conceiued, as Caluine obſerueth. Whatſoeuer is profitable for the world or Church, God will doe: but the conuerſion of the Iewes Nation will be exceeding profitable.
The Propoſition is grounded vponupon the exceeding goodneſſe of God: the Minor is proued in the text, from the leſſe to the greater, thus, If their caſting out be profitable, much more their calling home: for, if that which is euill and workes by accident doe good: then that which is good, will much more, working naturally and by it ſelfe. But the firſt is true, as experience hath proued: therefore the ſecond.
doctrine The generall calling of the Iewes, ſhall be the inriching of the world. Which ſo much the more appeares by Pauls manner of ſetting it downe. How much more? as if he admired it, and were not able to expreſſe or conceiue. Some learned men apply hither, Eſay 24.21. Ezech. 38.8. and Reuel. 21. I confeſſe I can bring no plaine place to back this: But Pauls owne authority is ſufficient, becauſe wee know hee wrote by the Spirit.
Vſe 1.God makes all mutations and changes of States and Kingdomes to ſerue to the good of the Elect: If the Iewes ſtand, it is good: ſo is it, if they fall; and ſhall bee in their riſing againe. The proſperity of Egypt ſhall ſerue the good of Abraham: the Deſtruction of Egypt, the good of his children. All his wayes are good to ſuch as keepe his Teſtimonies.Pſal. 25.10.
Vſe. 2.The Conuerſion of the Iewes ſhall bee the riches of the world: The more receiue of the treaſures of Gods grace, the greater is eueryevery ones part: ſo is it not in the treaſure of Princes: If the King beſtow a thouſand pound vponupon one man, it is a great gift: if vponupon two it is the leſſe to each by halfe, if vponupon a thouſand, it is but a ſmall matter to eueryevery one. But in Gods treaſures, multitude of partakers, diminiſh not, but increaſe anothers part. The more drinke of the waters of life, the more floweth the fountaine: the more the merrier. Where two or three are gathered together, there is Chriſt; but where more, there he is the more gratiouſly. If thou beeſt alone, thou ſhalt not want grace; but thou ſhalt hauehave more, if the number increaſe. The prayer of one auaileth much, how much more the prayers of many righteous? Vis vnita fortiorForce vnited is the ſtronger. Many ſtreames make a great riuer, many drops a great floud, many ſparkes a great flame. How might wee preuaile with God, if our whole people would ioyne with one minde and affection in the ſeruice of God?
If our Browniſts would leaue their corners (where ſome few ſilly ones of them meete) and ioyne with vsus, wee might both be bettered. Grieue not to ſee the number of profeſſors and hearers of the Word increaſe: it is no mans loſſe, but eueryevery mans aduantage: Helpe and further the conuerſion of others: ſo ſhall we hauehave the more to giuegive counſell and good example; to pray for one another, and to prouoke vntounto godlineſſe. Company oft times drawes vsus on to doe that cheerefully, which alone wee hauehave no courage to meddle with all. When we hauehave no ſtomacke, company oft-times ſets vsus on feeding: euen a iade, which is dull alone, goes cheerefully in company.
Vſe 3.The Goſpell, Faith, Repentance, &c. are true riches: gold, ſiluer, &c. but ſhadowes to theſe: therefore the man that had his barnes full, and his conſcience emptie, not being rich in God, is called Foole. We ſay in a prouerb, He is poore whom God hates: true, none ſo poore as the wicked, none ſo rich as the Righteous. The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour, ſaith Salomon. Prou. 12.26.Haſt thou the world at will? but thou haſt not heauen at will. Haſt thou ſiluer and gold? But if thou haſt not faith and a good conſcience, thou art miſerable: and whatſoeuer thou thinkeſt of thy ſelfe, the pooreſt man that feareth God will not change ſtates with thee: for a good conſcience is a continuall feaſt: pray for this, and ſay as Abraham for a ſonne: Lord what wilt thou giuegive mee, ſeeing I want the true riches, thy fauour, and a good conſcience. Lord make me rich in theſe.
Vſe. 4.The conuerſion of the Iewes ſhall be our riches; it ſhould make vsus thinke long, for their calling: Gaine is pleaſing to heare of, but more to hauehave it; wee ſhall bee gainers by their conuerſion. Knowledge ſhall then increaſe vponupon vsus, as the waters that couer the Sea, the light of the Moone ſhall be as the Sunne, and the light of the Sun ſeuen-fold. Zeale and all good graces ſhall increaſe: A great light is now riſen, but a greater ſhall ariſe.
Bleſſed are the eyes of them which ſhall behold that time, bleſſed ſhall our poſterity be, in whoſe dayes theſe things ſhal come to paſſe: Let vsus pray and long for the reuealing of ſuch riches, and in the meane time mourne for the hardneſſe of the Iewes, and cry vntounto God in their behalf, ſaying, O Lord, how long? Returne, O Lord; and viſite thy Ancient people with thy ſaluation.
Vſe 5.The caſting off of the Iewes, was our Calling; but the Calling of the Iewes ſhall not be our caſting off, but our greater inriching in grace, and that two wayes: Firſt, in regard of the company of belieuers, when the thouſands of Iſrael ſhal come in, which ſhall doubtleſſe cauſe many Gentiles, which now lie in ignorance, error and doubt, receiue the Goſpell and ioyne with them. The world ſhall then be a golden world, rich in golden men, ſaith Ambroſe. Secondly, in reſpect of the graces, which ſhall then in more abundance be rained downe vponupon the Church. There ſhall be more good, and they ſhall be alſo more good.