Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 11 · Verse 23
VERSE. 23. And they alſo if they bide not ſtill in vnbeleefe, ſhall be graffed in, for God is able to graffe them in againe.
HEre is the other correction, on the part of the Iew, by which Paul mitigates & allayes, the ſeuerity of his ſpeech which he vſed of them ver. 22. The ſpeech was, that Gods ſeueritie is on the Iew, the correction is here, If they continue in their vnbeleefe; but if they continue not in it, they ſhall be graffed in againe. This is proued by a reaſon from the power of God: God is able to do it.
Thus theſe words, pertaine to the former exhortation, and with all the Apoſtle in them falls into his former argument to proue the reiection of the Iewes not to be finall: and ſo we will conſider of this verſe, viz. as it belongs to thoſe things which follow.
In this verſe and thoſe which follow, the Apoſtle ſheweth three things concerning the generall calling of the Iewes before the end of the world. Firſt, that it is poſſible. Secondly, that it is probable. Thirly, that it is certaine. The firſt in this verſe: the ſecond in verſ. 24: the third from ver. 25. to the 33. In this verſe we hauehave two things: firſt a propoſition, The Iew if he continue not in his vnbeleefe, ſhall be graffed in. Secondly, a reaſon from the power of God, For God is able to graffe him in againe.
The Apoſtle here ſpeaketh of the multitude of the Iewes, of whoſe calling the Gentiles deſpaired, as of a thing impoſſible: but Paul tels them it is poſſible, by the almightie power of God.
Obiect. But from the poſsibilitie to the being of a thing, is no certaine concluſion.
Anſw. Paul proues not here directly it ſhall be ſo, but that it is poſſible, which is enough againſt the Gentiles, in this, that they held it to be impoſſible. But if we be certaine of the will of God, then from his power is a certaine Argument. Now a Quere may be heere made, whether that there bee not alway in things of this nature, a ſecret ſuppoſall of the will of God, as where Paul exhorts the Corinthians to almeſgiuing, leſt any man ſhould grudge and ſay, Heere is ſuch calling for almes, ſuch taxes & collectiōs eueryevery Sabbath that if we ſhould giuegive to eueryevery one, we and ours muſt want: leſt, I ſay, any man ſhould thus oppoſe; O, ſaith Paul, 2. Cor. 9.8.let no man argue thus, for God is able to make you abound in all ſufficiencie: where Paul reaſoneth not only from Gods power, (as I take it) but from his will alſo ſuppoſed, or elſe, me thinkes, Pauls argument ſhould not be perſwaſiue. But howſoeuer, it is moſt ſafe to follow Interpreters which ſay, that heere Paul proues onelyonly that the calling of the Iewes is poſſible.
Queſt. But cannot God doe more then he will?
Anſ. In regard of vsus there is a difference, betweene the Wiſdome, the Will and the power of God. The firſt being the directing, the ſecond, the commanding, the third, the executing beginning of things: but in God theſe differ not. And yet it is true, he can doe more then he will doe, but not then he can will to doe. He actually doth no more, then he actually will doe: but whatſoeuer hee can doe, hee can alſo will to doe, if he pleaſe.
The power and will of God are of equall latitude and extent, if we euenly examine them, viz. his actuall will, with his actuall power, and his potentiall wil, as I may ſo terme it, with the power anſwerable thereto.
Yet heere obſerue a difference betweene the Creator and the Creature: Man cannot do all that he actually willeth: God can doe more then hee actually willeth. It is not fit that the power of man ſhould be equall to his will, becauſe he is euill: but it is fitte that Gods will ſhould bee more then his actuall power, becauſe he is infinitely good.
doctrine The Doctrine in the Hypotheſis.The Iewes if they continue not in their vnbeleefe, ſhall be graffed in againe. Luk. 1.37. Matth. 19.26.
doctrine The Doctrine in the Theſis.Whatſoeuer ſinner beleeueth and repenteth, it is poſſible he ſhould be ſaued, Ezek. 18 21.
Vſe 1.If they continue not in their vnbeleefe: The chiefeſt barre to a mans ſaluation is an vnbeleeuing heart. Many will ſay of our ciuill men and women; if they goe not to heauen, Lord hauehave mercy vponupon vsus: and yet our Sauiour told the Phariſees, who exceeded all men in ciuil Iuſtice, that publicans and Harlots ſhould goe before them into the Kingdome of heauen: why? becauſe they beleeued not. Ciuill righteouſneſſe is not in it ſelfe euill, but good, but not good enough to ſaue a man. It may be without faith, but faith cannot be without it.
Moralities without faith, are like a goodly picture, which is faire to looke vponupon, but a man can hauehave no ſociety with it, becauſe it wants life; ſo a ciuill man is good to liue by, but his Iuſtice is but painting. Conſider a Iew, he liues ciuilly, yet is he accounted an odious creature, and thou wouldeſt not bee in his eſtate. What makes him odious? his Infidelitie. Labour therefore for faith, which is the ſoule of obedience, and will ſaue thy ſoule.
Vſe. 2.Heere is a ſingular comfort to poore afflicted conſciences, diſtreſſed for their abominable ſinnes committed. Art thou ſuch a one? Thus farre thou mayeſt be comforted: God is able to ſaue thee, and will, if thou continueſt not in thy ſinnes and vnbeleefe. It is a comfort to a ſicke man, if the Phyſition tell him his diſeaſe, though dangerous, is yet curable, if it bee not driuen too long before remedies be applyed. So God is able to ſaue thee, if thou deferreſt not thy repentance.
If we looke only to our ſelues, there is nothing but impoſſibilities and deſperation: but if we looke vp to heauen, to ſee what God can and is ready to doe: (only ſtaying for our beleeuing and repenting) there is great hope. Euen thou Iew, which haſt crucified and blaſphemed Chriſt, if thou canſt ceaſe from vnbeleefe, thou ſhalt be ſaued. For as all the promiſes in the world ſo the threatnings are conditionall. The King of Nineueh ſaid, Ionas 39.Let vsus repent, for who can tell if God will turne away his fierce wrath: but if thou repenteſt, I can tell thee on good aſſurance, that God will turne his wrath from thee, though thou wert one of them which crucified his Sonne. How ſhould this breake our hearts, and mooue vsus to repentance.
Vſe 3.Deſpaire not of the ſaluation of any, neither finally cenſure any though neuer ſo wicked: for God is able to turne the heart of a Iew: He that conuerted thee, can conuert thy neighbour alſo.
But ſay not when thou art reprooued for thy lewdneſſe; Why? I may bee ſaued as well as you: True, thou mayeſt: but yet I can ſay this vntounto thee (be it ſpoken with reuerence) that if thou continueſt in thy wickedneſſe and repenteſt not, God cannot ſaue thee; becauſe he cānot deny his word, wherin he hath reuealed that he will ſaue none, but ſuch as beleeue and repent. Vſe the meanes therefore that thou mayeſt hauehave experience of the power of God in thy ſaluation.
Vſe. 4.God is able to ſaue, ſo is he able to deſtroy. Let his power make thee wary how thou liueſt: Art thou ſtronger then he, that thou ſhouldeſt dare, by thy abominable ſinnes daily to prouoke him? Can any man carry it away from God? Our God is to be feared more then all gods.