Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 9 · Verses 1-2
VERSE 1. I ſay the truth in Chriſt, I lye not, my conſcience alſo bearing me witneſſe in the holy Ghoſt.
2. That I hauehave great heauineſſe and continuall ſorrow in my heart.
IN this nynth Chapter Paul ſhewes, that though the Iewes be reiected, yet the promiſe failes not; which was originally neuer meant to any vnbelieuing, either Iewe or Gentile. And therfore he expounds the promiſe made to the Iews: vponupon that occaſion falling into the doctrine of Predeſtination, & of the reiection of the Iewes, & calling of the Gentiles: wch before he enters into, he premiſeth a Preface to prepare the minds of the Iews to the patient reading of the ſame.
So that in this Chapter are two parts. 1. A Preface in the fiue firſt verſes. 2. The Treatiſe it ſelfe, concerning the ſtability of the promiſe of God, notwithſtanding the caſting off of the Iewes.
Becauſe it was odious to the Iewes to heare of their reiection, and that the Gentiles ſhould bee admitted to fauour: Therefore Paul in the Preface proteſteth ſolemnely both of his louelove to his Nation, and exceeding hearts griefe for their Reprobation, that it might appeare theſe things to be ſpoken not of malice and ſpleene, as they were ready to interpret, but of conſcience towards God and his Truth, which was his office to deliuer.
In the Generall, from this Preface a note may be obſerued for Miniſters.
Ʋſe 1.Miniſters are to ſpeake the Truth though it diſpleaſe: yet with ſobriety of wiſedome after the example of Paul, ſo as we may, if it be poſſible, with gentle and louing means, winne the affections of the Auditors both to vsus, and our doctrine.
In this, two ſorts of Miniſters much faile: Firſt, thoſe which are ſo tender & ſtudious to pleaſe, that they are loth to ſpeake any but ſweet words, though men rot in their ſinnes.
Secondly, thoſe which are as farre on the other extreme, accounting all prefacing and louing ſpeaking to bee dawbing, and no ſentence to be zealouſly deliuered, vnleſſe Damnation and Damned be at the end of it: vvhereby many times, they driue them farther from Chriſt, whom they would hauehave conuerted vntounto him. Let ſuch imitate Pauls diſcretion here, who might hauehave been rough with theſe ſtubborne and obſtinate Iewes, and hauehave ſpoken hardly to them, being haters and Perſecutors of Chriſt and his members: but hee chuſeth rather to ſpeake mildly, as beeing likely to doe more good. So he aduiſed Timothy: 2. Tim. 2.24.25The ſeruant of Chriſt (ſaith he) muſt be gentle towards all men, euen euill men, inſtructing them with meeknes. So he practiſed himſelfe, with his kind words, ſo inſinuating into King Agrippa his affections, that he had almoſt perſwaded him to be a Chriſtian: Acts 26.28.when rough words might hauehave much exaſperated his mind.
Ʋſe 2.Hearers would be alſo admoniſhed, not to preſcribe their Teachers what they ſhall preach. For ſome ignorantly, either deſire neuer to heare of their ſinnes, becauſe of their great profanenes. Or out of a pride and preſumption of their own righteouſneſſe aboue others, All preaching which is not declamatory, and inuectiue againſt ſinne, is cold preaching vvith them.
Pray for thy Teacher, and be content to heare thy ſinne reproued; and aboue all, deſire to heare of Chriſt Ieſus, and the mercy of God in him, the next and immediate cauſe of conuerting a ſinner.
The ſumme of the Preface in the fiue firſt verſes, is a proteſtation of his louelove, manifeſted by his exceeding griefe for their Reiection. Or a proteſtation of his griefe, iſſuing from his louelove.
In it there are two parts. 1. A Complaint. 2. A Iuſtification of it. The Complaint is in the ſecond verſe, firſt to be handled. The Iuſtification, ver. 1. 3. 4. 5.