Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 11 · Verse 32
VERSE 32.—That he might hauehave merciemercy on all.
THis is the Amplification, from the end (not of Infidelity, but) of the counſell of God, in concluding men therein. The full meaning of this will appeare in anſwering two or three Queſtions.
Queſt. 1. Doth infidelitie moue God to ſhew merciemercy?
Anſ. Noe: There is no ſin that doth more prouoke him: God is not moued hereby to bee mercifull, but hee ſo diſpenſeth ſaluation, that he awhile detaineth men in vnbeleefe, for the more manifeſtation of his merciemercy in their ſaluation.
God could hauehave ſaued both Gentile and Iew, without this long impriſonment: but then had not his merciemercy ſo clearely beene manifeſted, as now it is, by the comming betweene of ſuch a time of vnbeleefe. The Iew hath this 1600. yeares been working his iuſtification by his owne righteouſneſſe, and cannot attaine it, therefore it will appeare when they are called, that it is of meere merciemercy.
Queſt. 2. Shall none be damned? for he will hauehave merciemercy vponupon all?
Anſ. The greateſt part ſhall bee damned, for there are but few (in compariſon) that finde the way of life. All is not to be vnderſtood of particular men, but in generall of Iew and Gentile.
Queſt. 3. But doth not this generall (All) ſhew that it is Gods purpoſe to ſaue all, as other Scriptures alſo import.
Anſwere. Indeed ſo held the Pelagians; ſo doe the Papiſts partly; ſo doe the Latherans and Arminians, but God neuer purpoſed to ſaue all, and therefore to this Scripture and others of like ſound may be anſwered diuers wayes.
1. That, All, is to be vnderſtood of the kinds of ſingulars, not of the ſingulars of eueryevery kinde.
2. That God will all ſhould be ſaued, viz. that ſhall be ſaued, as we ſay, All, goe into this houſe by the doore, not that all the world goe that way, or into the houſe, but all that goe into the houſe go that way.Aug. lib. cont. Iul. cap. 12.
3. All, that is, all the Elect.
4. All, that is, in regard of the ſufficiencie, not efficiencie of the ſufferings of Chriſt, which are of an infinite price to ſaue all: but onelyonly ſuch are ſaued by them, for whom it was appointed. In regard of the greatneſſe of the price, not in regard of the proprietie of Redemption, ſaith Saint Auguſtine.Aug. reſp. ad art. falſo fibi impoſ.
5. Or God will that All ſhall be ſaued, by his reuealed wil, in regard of offering and giuing the meanes, and inuiting and commanding all to beleeue, but not in regard of his ſecret will.
6. He taketh away the ſinnes of the world: that is, of the reconciled world, not of the damned, as Saint Auguſtine diſtinguiſheth, or of Iewes and Gentiles, into which the world is vſually diſtributed.Aug. tract. 56. in Ioan.
7. Hee is the propitiation, not for our ſinnes onelyonly, but for the ſinnes of the whole world, that is, not of the ſinnes of the Apoſtles only, or of ſuch as liued in thoſe times, but of all to the end of the world, which beleeue in Chriſt.
doctrine God hath concluded all in vnbeleefe, that he might hauehave merciemercy on all, Gal. 3.22.
Vſe 1.Our ſaluation is of meere merciemercy, but it is a hard thing to be brought to acknowledge it. The Gentiles were two thouſand yeeres before they could take forth this leſſon, and the Iewes hauehave beene ſixteene hundred yeeres about it, and yet hauehave not learned it: yea there are many amongſt vsus that cannot ſay this leſſon right.
If a man that hath liued an honeſt ciuil life be on his deathbed, fooles will be readie to flatter him, that he ſhall be one of the firſt that ſhall be ſaued, or elſe (ſay they) we were all in a poore caſe. Moſt men hope to bee ſaued by their prayers and good ſeruing God: we are loth to loſe the commendation of our owne goodneſſe; and ſure the praiſe that many hauehave of their ciuill carriage, is a very iudgement of God vponupon them, whereby they are kept from the acknowledgement of their vnworthineſſe, and from ſeeking to Chriſt for the ſaluation of their ſoules.
Could all the world hauehave driuen Paul from the opinion of his phariſaicall righteouſneſſe? No I warrant you: Chriſt is ſaine to take him in hand, ſhewing him his ſinfull eſtate by the commandement, and giuing him power to beleeue, and then he accounts baſely of his owne righteouſneſſe, and himſelfe onelyonly happie in the knowledge and faith of Ieſus Chriſt.
Vſe. 2.Iewes and Gentiles ſhould liue together, ſeeing they are both priſoners in one priſon, for one end, and ſet free by one and the ſame mercy.
Vſe. 3.If any be ſet free, it is by the mercy of God, who hath the key of our vnbeleeuing hearts, doth open and ſhut them at his pleaſure. As a man committed by the King, can bee ſet free by none but the King. So God committed vsus, and none can ſet vsus free but himſelfe.
Crie therefore to the Lord for merciemercy, and ſay, O the Iron is entered euen vntounto my ſoule, hauehave merciemercy, Lord, hauehave merciemercy.
Our freedome in this life is not abſolute, but wee carrie about vsus, not the priſon it ſelfe, but the Kings Irons, as a token of the remainder of vnbeleefe in our hearts, to humble vsus for our ſpirituall pride, and to call ſtill vntounto him for merciemercy, who in the end (being only able) will knocke off our Irons, and quite ſet vsus free.
Vſe 4.There are two notes whereby we may diſcerne, whether we be releaſed out of the priſon or no.
1. Our ioy, A man that hath beene long in priſon, ſo ſoone as he can get out of the doores, he leapes and dances, ſo as no ground will hold him: ſo birds and beaſts eſcaping from their reſtraint, skudde and flye about, as ſenſible of the ſweetneſſe of libertie. How cheerefully doth Dauid praiſe God for this libertie, Pſal. 103.1,2.My ſoule praiſe thou the Lord, and all that is within me praiſe his holy name; and my ſoule praiſe the Lord, as if he knew not when to make an end, ſuch was his ioy for the merciemercy of God in forgiuing and deliuering him.
2. If a man be deliuered from the miſerie of impriſonment, he wil euer be careful not to commit any thing that may bring him into ſuch bondage. So he that beleeueth the pardon of ſinne, will for euer hate ſinne and iniquitie. For the moſt part priſoners are of wicked behauiour, ſo if thy conuerſation bee lewd, it is a manifeſt ſigne, thou art not yet deliuered.