Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 11 · Verse 28
VERSE 28. As concerning the Goſpell, they are enemies for your ſake: but as touching the election, they are beloued for the fathers ſakes.
HEre Paul proues by reaſon, that the Iewes ſhall be pardoned, and ſo called. The reaſon is taken from the louelove of God; and followes thus:
Thoſe whom Gods loues, he will pardon and call.
But God loues the Iewes. Ergo.
The argument is brought in by a prolepſis. What, the Iewes (might ſome ſay) pardoned and called? Gods enemie? whom God hates? Yes, ſaith Paul, euen the Iewes: for though in ſome reſpect they are hated, yet in other they are beloued of God.
Here are two things auouched of the Iewes: firſt, that they are enemies: ſecondly, that they are beloued.
They are enemies: whoſe? Pauls; but not ſo here: but Gods enemies, hated of God. This is amplified two wayes: firſt from the meritorious cauſe, for the Goſpel, namely becauſe they refuſe and perſecute it: ſecondly, from the end, for your ſake, for your benefite, that is the Gentiles.
The hatred of the Iewes to the Goſpell, is deadly: as appeared in the crucifying of Chriſt, in their perſecuting the Apoſtles, and their extreme malice to Chriſtians of all times; being a chiefe cauſe, and principall agents in the tormenting of poore Chriſtians, as Tertullian reports of his times; and their dealings with Polycarpus doe teſtifie, mentioned by Euſebius.Iudaeorum Synagogae ſontes perſe eutionum. Pertul ſcorp. adnerſus Gent.
Hierome reports, that in his time the Iewes vſed to curſe Chriſt and Chriſtians, vnderunder the name of Nazarens.
In the dayes of Philip the long, a King of France, they hired certaine leapers to poiſon all the fountaines in that kingdome.
In this our land they committed many outrages, by crucifying children to death on Good friday, for which as they deſeruedly many of them ſuffered, ſo they were at length wholy baniſhed out of this kingdome.Robert. Gagnanus lib. 7. hiſt. Franco.
They were alſo for ſuch like things expelled Spaine, circa an. 1290.giuing occaſion of the beginning of the bloudy Inquiſition, circa an. 1493.which afterwards was turned againſt the Proteſtants.
In two Councels it was prouided, that at Eaſter, two dayes before and two after, they ſhould not be permitted to come abroad, becauſe of their inſolencies offered to Chriſtians at that time, which is yet obſerued in all Chriſtian cities where they are ſuffered.Aurelianeuſe 3. et Matiſconenſe 1. circa an. 537 et 575.
For this hatred of the Goſpell they are hated of God, and that for our good, as ver. 11. It is in the power of wicked men to ſinne; but by their ſinne to effect this or that good, is not in their power, but in his who deuides the darkneſſe and orders it.Auguſt. lib. 1. de praedeſt cap. 16.
2. They are beloued. loco Aug. modo citat.They are hated, and yet beloued: which may well be, becauſe they are not in the ſame reſpect time, or particular ſubiect. Theſe to be vnderſtood of the nation (as Auſtin ſaith) of whom ſome belong to Iacobs halting ſome to the bleſſing he receiued.
Beloued of God, in two reſpects, firſt of election, ſecondly of the fathers.
Election ſignifies the grace whereby they were choſen to be the people of God: by which it comes to paſſe that many of them belong to Gods ſecret election. For where God hath his Church, there is the treaſury of his Election.
Fathers ſake: Abraham, Iſaac and Iacob: not becauſe of their merits, but of the couenant made with them.
doctrine The Iewes are beloued of God, Eſay 1.1. &c. They were beloued: and Gods louelove is to the end.
Vſe.The certaintie of the calling of the Iewes, hereby is manifeſt, yet ſome hauehave gone about (abſurdely) to take away the ſubiect of the queſtion, denying there are any Iewes in the world, becauſe there are none in England, or becauſe they liue not in a countrey by themſelues; which are filly ſhifts to alledge againſt ſo manifeſt a truth.
HaueHave all learned men agreed to befoole the world? Doe Chriſtian Magiſtrates make lawes againſt ſhadowes? Doe all Trauellers conſent together to bely themſelues, who ſay they hauehave ſeene and talked with Iewes? What Country-men are they, which in Italy, Venice, and diuers free Cities, are vponupon penalties diſtinguiſhed by their habite from other Chriſtian? themſelues ſay they are Iewes: Are they not? Is the profeſſion of a Iew in ſuch account and eſteeme, that men ſhould counterfeit themſelues Iewes, which are not? Surely this is not worth the anſwering.
There is a place to the Theſſalonians, 1. Theſ. 2.14.which theſe accute diſputers hauehave not obſerued which hath more validity againſt the calling of the Iewes, then all which they hauehave alledged. Paul ſaith; That the wrath of God is come on the Iewes: foreign, which ſome hauehave tranſlated, for euer; but it is better tranſlated, to the vttermoſt, noting the extremity of puniſhmēt, not of time; or if of time, then to be applied to Pauls perſecutors, and thoſe of that time, which wrath they endured at the deſtruction of Ieruſalem.
Vſe 2.Many ſpeake and account looſely of the Goſpell: but for ſuch doing God hated the Iewes.
Vſe 3.Thou knoweſt a Papiſt or prophane perſon, though thou beeſt an enemie to him for his ſinne, yet thou muſt louelove him for the Election, becauſe for ought thou knoweſt hee may be the elect childe of God.
Vſe 4.Good fathers are a great bleſſing to their children. Salomon continues Prince all his dayes, and one Tribe is reſerued for his ſonne, for Dauids ſake: let vsus feare God euen for our childrens ſake, that the bleſſing of God doe not determine in vsus.2. King. 11.34.35.36.
Vſe 5.Thou loueſt the remembrance of Abraham, then louelove a Iew: as many times we ſhew fauour to one that is lewd, for his good fathers ſake: nay, though wee bee glad for our owne ſakes, yet wee muſt louelove them for Gods ſake: wee muſt louelove them whom God loues: woe vntounto them who hauehave no other cauſe of hating their neighbour, but becauſe hee is religious and beloued of God: ſuch are of the line of Cain, who hated his brother for his goodneſſe: or rather of the ſeed of the Serpent, who hates them moſt, whom God loues moſt.
Vſe 6.The Elect are beloued, the reprobate are hated of God, and the tokens of Gods louelove, are putting away and pardoning iniquitie, and effectuall calling. Examine thy ſelfe, doth God louelove thee? Then will he giuegive thee faith and repentance, which are Gods louelove tokens, as we giuegive tokens to them we louelove. Art thou prophane, and thinkeſt God loues thee? Eph. 5.25.26.27.Thou art deceiued, for if Chriſt louelove his Church, it is to clenſe it from ſinne, and alſpots and wrinckles. If thou loueſt thy houſe, thou wilt be repairing and beautifying it: if thou haſt a garden, thou wilt be weeding it, and planting it with the beſt herbes and flowers. So if God louelove thee, and delight in thee, he will not ſuffer the ſtinking weeds of ſinne to ouergrow thy heart, but will giuegive thee repentance and grace to a holy life.
If thou loueſt thy childe, wilt thou ſuffer it to ſtarue for want of bread? or if it fall into the water or fire, wilt thou let it lye and periſh? No, no, we need not to be bidden runne if our beloued childe be in danger. So if God ſuffer thee to be in want of ſauing knowledge, and to runne on into abominable ſinnes, whereby thou art in danger to fall into hell, hee loues thee not.