Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 9 · Verse 24
VERSE 24. Euen vsus whom he hath called, not of the Iewes only, but alſo of the Gentiles.
HItherto hath beene ſhewed, that the promiſe was neuer made nor meant to the only carnall ſeede of Abraham: Now followes the other part of Pauls Anſwere, that it is made to the Elect of all Nations. And he falls into it from the occaſion of that which is verſ. 23. deliuered of the veſſels of mercy and glory. For in this verſe he ſhewes who they be, and by conſequence who are Abrahams ſeede, to whom belong the promiſes; and that by an effect of election, which is Calling. This calling is enlarged by a diſtribution of the Subiect, viz. Iewes and Gentiles.
The Argument or ſumme of the words is: That the ſeede to whom the promiſes pertaine, are the Elect, which are not the Iewes only; but the Gentiles alſo: nor all the Iewes, but only the Elect. The firſt is approued, verſe 25, 26. The laſt, verſe 27, 28, 29. Then followes a collection from theſe things, verſe 30. to the end of the Chapter. Euen vsus whom he hath called: Calling is an action of Gods louelove whereby he calleth men to ſaluation. It is two-fold.
1. Outward, when we heare the Word preached with the eare of the body.
2. Inward, when God bends the heart to beleeue the promiſe offered, and ſwayeth the whole man to obedience. Pareus.This is here meant; not of the Iewes only, but alſo of the Gentiles: Not all the Iewes, nor all the Gentiles; but of the Iewes and Gentiles: the Propoſition being partitiue: ſome ſingulars of both.
doctrine They which are effectually called, are elect veſſels of glory: for the execution of the decree of election begins in Calling, Rom. 8.30. Tit. 1.1. Ioh. 10.16. Act. 13.48.
Vſe 1.In time paſt they ſang: God is knowne in Iewry, his name is great in Iſrael; at Salem is his Tabernacle, and his dwelling at Sion. Pſal. 76.1.2. Pſal. 79.6. Ierem. 10.25. Luke 2.32. Acts 10.Then were the Prophets bold to ſay: Powere out thy wrath vponupon the Gentiles: Yea, wee were as dogges: But now he that is the glory of Iſrael, is the light alſo of the Gentiles. Peter could not vnderſtand this without a viſion. The Iew, the elder brother, could not endure his younger bretheren to be entertained: but they had no reaſon for it; for neither did we grutch their glory, neither doth our admittance, but their owne infidelity exclude them from God. Truth it is, that in all times of the Iewes excellencie, ſome few of the Gentiles were receiued into the fellowſhip of the promiſes, as Iob, Iethro, Ruth, &c. for the ſaluation of ſome, and for a witneſſe vntounto all: but now, the multitude of the Gentiles receiue the Goſpell.Vt quibuſdam eſſet in remediū, omnibus in teſtimoniū. Amb. de voc. Gen.
Whether Iew or Gentile, ſuch as are called are the elect of God. It is not the hauing, or wanting of the prerogatiue of Nation, Sex, Condition, &c. that makes or marrs. In Chriſt, ſaith Paul, Galat. 3.28.(not in a Chriſtian Common-wealth) is neither Iewe nor Gentile, &c. But all, rich, poore, maſters, ſeruants, Iewes, Gentiles, hauehave an equall right in Chriſt: vvhichwhich I thinke was ſhadowed, Exod. 30.15. Where the rich ſhall not paſſe, nor the poore diminiſh.
Art thou rich? if thou beeſt not effectually called, thou ſhalt bee damned: Art thou poore? If thou beeſt effectually called, thou art rich. A poore man wanting grace, is twiſe miſerable: and a rich man belieuing, hath a double portion.Nemo dicat ideo vocauit me deus, quia colui eum. Quomodo, coles, ſi non voceris. Augu.
There is nothing in vsus which is the cauſe of effectuall calling: He calleth vsus. Good deſires and thoughts, &c. follovv calling, as calling followes Election, and Election the mercy of God.
Wee are the ſubiect of Calling; but power to obey the Calling of God wee hauehave not, till God hath created it in vsus. As water, being by nature cold, may be made hot, and yet it hath no naturall inclination to heat: ſo the Fleſh hath no eares to heare, nor eyes to ſee, but as GOD createth them. Neither doth God giuegive vsus a power, and wee educe it into act, but both power and act as from God.
The preaching of the Word is Gods ordinary voice to call. Firſt, be thankfull that this voice ſoundeth among vsus, for it ſoundeth not in all places of the vvorld. Secondly, that thou haſt eares to heare: vvithout hearing, a voice profits not. Hearing is the ſenſe of learning. Faith comes by hearing, how miſerable then wert thou, if thou wert deafe! for deafe men muſt needs be miſerable, beeing depriued of the ordinarie means of faith: howſoeuer, ſuch deafe which are elected ſhal be ſaued. For God is not tied to eyes and eares, hee can ſaue without theſe; yet great is the comfort of hearing. Hee that hath eares to heare, let him praiſe God, and heare. Thirdly, that thou haſt a mind to vnderſtand that which is taught, for eueryevery one cannot: as fooles, and frantikes, and ſuch a one might God hauehave made thee. Fourthly, that thou haſt a heart to obey: for many hauehave the Word, and heare it, and vnderſtand it, being witty and apprehenſiue, and can diſcourſe of it, yet are moſt profane in their liues; they know euill, but hauehave no power to auoid it: when thou ſeeſt ſuch, take occaſion to acknowledge the mercy thou haſt receiued.
Ʋſe 4.We may know our Election by that which followes it; The foundation of our Election is in God; The tokens of it are in vsus. That is immoueable; Theſe are infallible. A principall token is Effectuall vocation. By this (not by extraordinary reuelation, Paul knew hee was a veſſell of honour, as he ſaith, Euen vsus whom he hath called, &c.
Examine thy Election by thy inward calling: God hath often outwardly called thee by his Word, but thy hart knoweth that thou haſt not obeyed: but if thy heart anſwere as an Eccho in obedience, then art thou elected. Shew thy election by thy reformation, and by thy good fruites.
Many are like that ſonne, Math. 21.30.who ſaid to his father he would goe, but went not. They hauehave ſome fleeting motions and purpoſes of Repentance while they are at the Sermon; but afterward returne to their vomit. Euen as a melancholik man is cheered with Muſike while the Inſtrument ſoundeth, as in the example of Saul, but after are vexed with the euill ſpirit. So many are moued, it may be, to teares for the preſent, who afterwards reioyce in euill. While Felix heard Paul, Acts. 24.26.he trembled: ſo a man may hauehave ſome ſuddaine motions and glances of ſorrow, while Paul preacheth; but the continuance of theſe things, being powerfull to a daily increaſe of godlines, is a comfortable marke of our election.
The Word is the inſtrument of Calling: vvait vponupon it, & remember, the time of calling is called a Day. Some dayes are very ſhort, and the longeſt hauehave an end. It may be thou haſt ſpent thy day, euen to the laſt houre, in vanity and rebellion: looke to it, the time is ſhort; if thou dyeſt vncalled, thou dieſt damned.