Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 9 · Verse 2
VERSE 2. That I hauehave great heauineſſe, and continuall ſorrow in my heart.
IN this Complaint, principally is to be cōſidered that which hee complaines of: which is his great griefe: which muſt needes argue great louelove. Conceruing which griefe are tvvo things: 1. The greatnes of it. 2. The Cauſe.
The greatnes is ſet forth three wayes. 1. By a Compariſon expreſſed in a vvord, ſignifying the paines and ſorrow of a vvoman in trauellaforeign.. 2. By the Continuance of it: It was without intermiſſion. 3. From the feat of this ſorrow. It was not outward, or in the face, in a few Crocodiles teares, but in the heart, and therefore a ſharpe and dangerous ſorrow.
The Cauſe is not expreſſed for the horror of the thing: his minde trembled to name it: and it would hauehave beene full of Enuy. But it is eaſily gathered out of the matter following; namely, for the Reiection and Reprobation of the Iewes.
doctrine The children of God grieue for the hardnes of heart, and condemnation of the wicked. So they are deſcribed, Ezec. 9.4. So did Ieremy, Ieremy 9.1. So did Dauid, Pſalme 119.53. So did Chriſt, Ioh. 11.33.
Q. Is it lawfull ſo to mourne, their deſtruction being the execution of Gods iuſt Decree, which wee are cheerefully to reproue, and reioyce in?
A. In the puniſhment of ſinners, when wee looke vponupon the glory of Gods Iuſtice, we ioyfully approue it: When on the deſtruction of the Creature, we lament it. As the Cameleon is coloured according to that which is next it: ſo the mind putteth on affections, after the nature of the thing it doth contemplate. As a Iudge, when malefactors are arraigned before him, is moued with indignation as they are malefactors, and with compaſſion as they are miſerable men; ſo is it in this caſe.
Vſe 1.Becauſe Paul loues the Iewes, hee grieues for their downefall: for griefe ariſeth from the hurt of the thing wee louelove. If we louelove not, we are not moued and according to the degree of our louelove, is the meaſure of our griefe. Dauid exceedingly grieued for Abſolon; for he loued him exceedingly.
Examine thine affection in ſpirituall things; thy louelove by thy ioy and griefe. Doeſt thou louelove the Word of God? then thou wilt reioyce to heare it, and that it ſhould hauehave free paſſage; and wilt grieue, if it be hindered or ill reported of. If thou doeſt not thus, thou loueſt it not. Thou ſayeſt thou loueſt Gods glory; then is it meat & muſike to thee, to ſee men to feare God, to keepe his Sabbaths, &c. and, as a dagger at thy heart, to heare men blaſpheme, and to ſee men follow after vngodlineſſe; otherwiſe, thou loueſt not God not his glorie.
Ʋſe 2.The Iewes reſiſt Pauls doctrine through the hardneſſe of their hearts: This cauſed both his griefe, and alſo their Reiection.
If the Husbandman plow eueryevery yeere, and ſowe, but his ſeed rots vnderunder the clots, and neuer comes vp, he cannot but grieue: ſo Paul, when his doctrine hath no ſucceſſe. The thriuing of the flock, is the glorie of the Shepheard, and the wound of the ſheepe, is more to the Shepheard then to the ſheepe.Plus Paſtor in gregis ſui vulnere vulneratur. Cypr ſerm. de lapſis.
Though we be not afrayd; yet if our people be, it toucheth vsus neerely; What if we ſaue our owne ſoules, yet if our people periſh, wee cannot but ſorrow, as a carefull Father, for the deſtruction of a wretched ſonne.
Eaſe thou thy Teachers heart, and ioy him by thy repenting. It will be good for thee, if thy Teacher can praiſe God for thy conuerſion: and on the contrary fearefull, and vnprofitable, if in his prayers, he hauehave cauſe to complaine of thy ſtubbornneſſe.Heb. 13.17.
Ʋſe.Let vsus mourne for the ſinnes of the Times, and weepe in ſecret for the Iniquitie of the people; ſo let vsus reioyce when God is glorified by the conuerſion of men. Chriſts gaine, and Satans loſſe ſhould cauſe our ioy. Wee can grieue when our children proue vnthrifts, and when our friends decay in their worldly eſtate, and on the contrary reioyce; but ſuch ioy and griefe are carnall. The conuerſion of thy friend, howſoeuer he goe backward or forward in the world, ought to bee matter of thy Ioy, and if he be profane, how rich ſo euer, matter of thy mourning. Luke 15.23.The Father of the Prodigall reioyced when his ſonne came home a Conuert, though he had ſpent all, and had not a ragge to hang on his backe.
What Monſters are they which make the ſinnes and deſtruction of men, matters of their greateſt mirth? which ought to wring euen teares of bloud from them. When thou heareſt a blaſphemer, ſeeſt a drunkard, &c. canſt thou laugh? If thou ſhouldſt ſee a man grieuouſly wounded, fetching deadly grones, and drawing his laſt breath, wouldſt thou account it ſport or paſtime? How much leſſe ſhouldſt thou reioyce, when thou ſeeſt thy brother wounding and ſtabbing himſelfe euen to the heart by his abominable ſinnes? Wee lament ouer the bodies of our friends, which we beleeue ſhall bee raiſed to glory at the laſt day; much more ouer the ſoules of men which goe downe vnderunder the power of euerlaſting death.
It is the Diuels delight (if thoſe helliſh ſpirits can hauehave any delight.) It is their delight to ſee men ſinne and offend their God: Luke 15.10.Euen as the holy Angels reioyce at the conuerſion of ſinners. Let vsus not be like the Diuell; but contrary to him, and grieue at that which he takes pleaſure in, which if wee would doe, it might ſo come to paſſe, that our griefe might worke alſo a griefe in them that offend: as many times the ſeeing others fall heartily to their meate, brings on our ſtomake.
When thou ſeeſt ſinners in words or behauiour to bee out of the way; If thou couldſt in ſtead of a ſmile, afford a teare: thy teare might make them relent, whom thy ſmile confirmeth in their wretchedneſſe.