Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 9 · Verses 27-29
VERSE 27. *Eſay 10.22.23Eſay alſo cryeth concerning Iſrael, Though the Number of the children of Iſrael bee as the ſand of the Sea, a Remnant ſhall be ſaued.
28. For he will finiſh the cOr account.worke, and cut it ſhort in righteouſneſſe, becauſe a ſhort worke will the Lord make vponupon the earth.
29. And as Eſaias ſaid before, eEſay 1.9.Except the Lord of Sabbath had left vsus a ſeede, we had beene as Sodoma, and beene made like vntounto Gomorrah.
IN theſe verſes Paul proueth that not all the Iewes, yea, not many, but a very few ſhall be ſaued: by two Teſtimonies out of Eſay, both which are to the ſame effect.
The firſt, is verſe 27, 28. out of Eſay 10.21,22.
The ſecond, verſe 29. out of Eſay 1.9.
In the firſt Teſtimony are two things. Firſt, the thing witneſſed. Secondly, the Amplification.
The Thing witneſſed, is, that but a Remnant of the children of Iſrael ſhall be ſaued. A Remnant notes a ſmall Number in compariſon of the whole.
Saued: The Prophet Eſay ſaith, ſhall returne: not onelyonly from the captiuitie of Babylon, but from ſinne, as appeares, verſe 21. They ſhall returne vntounto God. Hence one obſerues, Gualter.that none can be ſaued, but they which returne, that is, which repent.
The Amplification is foure-fold. Firſt, from the Perſon bearing witneſſe, which is Eſay. Paul deliuers not this in his own Name, which he knew was odious to them, but in Eſayes, a Prophet of chiefe account. Paul was not inferiour to Eſay, nor his Teſtimony of leſſer Authoritie: for they wrote by the ſame Spirit: but he knew they would except againſt him: therefore he takes one, againſt whom lay no Exception.
Obſeruation. It was a great corruption in the Iewes, to examine truth by the perſon: and a foule fault in many among vsus, who hauehave the Word in reſpect of perſons. If the Preacher bee of their Cut, they will heare him, and admire him, how ſillily ſo euer he ſpeakes; but if he be not, they eſteeme not the Word, though neuer ſo ſoundly deliuered.
2. From the Manner of the Teſtimonie: He cryed: wherein, ſome note the Prophets zeale, which alſo ſhould be in all Miniſters, but others vnderſtand it of plainneſſe and boldneſſe alſo: as if Paul ſhould ſay to a Iew, What? Art thou angry, becauſe I ſpeake ſo plainely and boldly of thy reiection? Is not Eſay as plaine and bold?
3. By a Conceſſion Indeed their number is as the ſand of the ſea, and therefore much to be pitied, that of ſo many, ſo few ſhould be ſaued. Anſelme notes the Iewes to be as the ſand, in regard of their barrenneſſe of Faith, vvhichwhich is true; but here it ſignifies their great multitude and Number.
4. The fourth Amplification, is verſ. 28. which the Ancients hauehave expounded of the manner, how the Remnant ſhould be ſaued; Amb. Hieron. Anſelm. Aqum.namely; by a ſhort word: that is, ſay they, by the Goſpell which teacheth Faith: wherein the Law alſo is by Chriſt abbreuiated into the louelove of God, and of our Neighbour. And this word is abbreuiated in Righteouſnes; becauſe the Righteouſneſſe which the Law could not giuegive, is giuen by the Goſpell. Chryſoſt. Ambroſ. Phot. Cyprian. l. 2. cont. Iad. c. 3.Or, becauſe the Word of Faith bringeth a Conſumption of ſinne. Or becauſe another Goſpel ſucceedes not this, as this did the Law. Or this Word is Chriſt, The Word Incarnate, ſo abbreuiated to the Nature of man, that He whom the heauens cannot containe, ſhould bee contained in a Manger.Hier. ad Alg. q. 10
The later Writers expound it as a reaſon why but a Remnant ſhould be ſaued: namely, becauſe God hath purpoſed to make a ſhort word, that is, buſineſſe or worke, as it is well tranſlated in his Maieſties Bible. The Hebrue terme ſignifying both. And thus it notes, either the greatneſſe of the Deſtruction of the Iewes by Titus, and then the Remnant ſhould teach and publiſh Righteouſneſſe in all the world. Corneli. Corn…a Lapide.Or the ſpeedineſſe: as if the Prophet ſhould ſay, As I hauehave ſoone ſaid it, ſo ſhall the Lord in a trice bring it to paſſe. Cōment. Hieron. aſcripti.Or the certaintie from the Decree of God, which hee ſhall fully execute, ſo that no ſtrength ſhall reſiſt: euen as the courſe of a Riuer cannot be ſtopt.Tremellius in Eſay 11.
In the other Teſtimonie, verſe 29. we hauehave alſo two parts. Firſt the Poſition. Secondly, the Amplification.
The Poſition: A ſeede ſhall be ſaued. By ſeede is not meant The Goſpell, or the Apoſtles, or Chriſt: but the ſame that is meant by Remnant: that is, a few: That as but a few were preſerued at the Captiuitie of Babylon: So but a few ſhall obtaine the Promiſes. Beza.This Remnant is called a Seede, not only becauſe the life of things is preſerued in the Seede, but alſo becauſe that, of a mans whole crop, the moſt is ſold and eaten, and the leaſt part reſerued to ſeede the land for another harueſt.Piſcator.
This is amplified two wayes.
Firſt, from the Author of this Reſeruation, God, here called the Lord of Hoſts. All creatures are his Hoſts, in regard of their multitude, as an Armie conſiſts of many troupes. Secondly, in regard of their order, which is admirable, as order makes an Armie-beautifull. Thirdly, in regard of obedience: for no Souldier is ſo ready and preſt, at the command of his Centurion, as all creatures are ready to fulfill the will of God. Euen Flyes, and Lice, if God muſter them together. God can arme all the creatures againſt ſinfull man, the leaſt whereof, euen a Flye, is able to make an end of vsus, if God giuegive Commiſſion.
Secondly, it is amplified from the grieuouſneſſe and totalitie (as I may ſay) of the Deletion of the Iewes, if God had not beene mercifull. Expreſſed by a Similitude of the deſtruction of Sodom and Gomorah, where all periſhed ſaue Lot and his two Daughters.
The ſumme is, that as many thouſands of the Iewes periſhed by the ſword of Hazael, Ioaſh, Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, &c. and had all, if God had not preſerued ſome few: ſo but a few onelyonly of them ſhall bee ſaued from euerlaſting deſtruction, of which thoſe deſtructions before named were types.
doctrine But a Remnant of the multitude of the Iewes ſhall be ſaued, Eſay 8.18. & 24.13. Amos 3.12.
Ʋſe 1.Dignitie and multitude moue not GOD to hauehave merciemercy, but hee delighteth in them that feare him though but a few. 2 Eſd. 8.2.Though the wicked bee ten times ſo many as are the good, yet they ſhall bee damned, theſe ſhall bee ſaued.
Vſe 2.As there is much Pot-earth to a little gold Ore; ſo the Reprobates are many more then the Elect. Theſe are a little flocke *Luke 12.32.in compariſon, though in themſelues an innumerable company. Yea, in the Church, Many are called, but few are choſen cMat. 20.16.: And of foure ſorts of grounds, there is one onelyonly goodeLuke 8.. Many hauehave ſtony hearts, many hauehave thorny, but they which hauehave good hearts, are the leſſer Number.
If we ſhould ſuruey Town-ſhips, alas, how many Ignorant ſhould we finde, to one that hath ſound knowledge! How many Swearers, to one who feares an Oath! How many Drunkards, Vncleane Perſons, Couetous, Proud, Hypocrites, to one godly and true-hearted Profeſſor!
Bee not offended then at the pouertie of Beleeuers and godly perſons, neither follow the multitude. For the greateſt part is commonly the worſt part. There vvere many that cryed Crucifie, to one Nichodemus or Ioſeph of Arimathea, that ſpake in the defence of CHRIST. It is a common Argument: Doth not eueryevery body thus, or thus? Shall I follow a few ſingular perſons? Better it is to follow a few to Heauen, then a multitude to Hell, and to be damned for company.
Why are the multitude of the Iewes reiected? Had they not the Law? Offred they not ſacrifice? They offred, but to Idols. They had the Law, but obeyed it not. They acknowledged not GodgEſay 1.2,3.. Were the worſe for correctionsiIbid verſe 5.. Deſpiſed the Prophets, till there was no remediek2. Chr. 36.15,16.. Profaned the SabbathlNeh. 13.17,18. Tranſgreſſed and turned backmDan. 9.6.20., &c. Theſe were the cauſes.
O let England lay it to heart, and repent: for what corner of it is free from all theſe grieuous abominations? As Ieruſalem iuſtified Sodom, ſo we may well iuſtifie Ieruſalem; abounding in all damnable tranſgreſſions, and contempt of the Word. Let vsus be wiſe by the example of the Iewes, leſt others become wiſe by our example.
Seeſt thou any to feare God, & take a good courſe in theſe perilous times, wherein ſinne ſo abounds, and ſo many occaſions, and prouocations to euill offer themſelues? Surely, it is the great mercy of God. Wee ſay its ſtrange to ſee men ſo vile: but indeed it is not ſtrange, that our corrupt nature ſhould bring forth abominable fruites: but this is ſtrange, that any, hauing ſuch a corrupt nature as we hauehave all, and liuing in ſuch ſinfull dayes, ſhould feare God, and make conſcience of his waies. Let eueryevery one ſay, If the Lord had not been mercifull, and ſowne in my heart the ſeed of Grace, I had beene as a Sodomite; yea, as the vileſt that can be named.