A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 3 · Exposition of verse 1, 2
Verſe 1. What is then the preferment of the Iew? or what is the profit of circumciſion?
Verſe 2. Much eueryevery manner of way: for chiefely, becauſe vntounto them were committed the oracles of God.
THis Chapter, firſt, continues the allegations of the Iewes in behalfe of themſelues, and the Apoſtles anſweres to the ſame; ſecondly, after reſumes the aſſumption diſcontinued; that Iewes alſo are tranſgreſſours of the law; and thirdly, proſecutes the firſt concluſion; that man is iuſtified by faith, without the workes of the law.
Their firſt allegation, propounded by way of queſtion is verſe 1. If the caſe be ſo, that Iewes equally with Gentiles, are lyable to condemnation for ſin, belike then the Iew hath no preferment aboue the Gentile, neither is there any benefit of circumciſion: but the Iewes hauehave prerogatiues aboue the Gentiles, and circumciſion is ſure profitable, Ergo. The Apoſtles anſwere conſiſts, firſt, of a conceſſion to the firſt member; ſecondly, a proofe of it; and thirdly a deniall of the reaſon, as it ſerues to ouerturne the firſt concluſion. verſe 9.
The conceſſion propounded, verſe 2. much is the prerogatiue of the Iew, proued by inſtance, the oracles of GOD were committed vntounto them: the reſt ſhall be ſhewen in order. Obſerue here firſt, the excellencie: ſecondly, proprietie: thirdly, manner: fourthly, the title of their prerogatiue.
And hence obſerue; firſt, Obſer. that it is an excellent and chiefe priuiledge, to enioy the word and miniſterie thereof; this is ſaith Paul primarium; Excellencie.for ſo I take that particle; to note rather the excellencie of the bleſſing, then the order of enumerationaPſal. 147.19.20. Deut. 4.8.9. Pſal. 19. 2 Tim. 3. Rom. 15.4.. See Pſal. 147. where the excellencie of it is ſhowne, by attributes, effects, compariſons. Firſt, it conuerteth the ſoule: ſecondly, it is ſure, we may build on the truth of it: both in promiſe of merciemercy, and threatning of iudgement: thirdly, it giueth wiſedome, and that to the ſimple: fourthly, it is righteous altogether, no errour in it: fiftly, reioyceth the heart: ſixtly, pure in all points: ſeauenthly, enlighteneth the eyes; compared to gold for profit; to hony for ſweetnes: eightly, maketh circumſpect: firſt, in ſhewing the danger of ſinnebRom. 6.25.: ſecondly teaching how to auoide, verſe 10. ninthly it encourageth to obedience by propounding rewards, comforts our diſtreſſescRom. 15.4.: inſtructs in righteouſnes, diſcouereth errours; checks our ſteppings aſide, which Dauid counted a great benefitdPſal. 141.5.: as the Arke amongſt the Iſraelites, ſo this amongſt any people is a pledge of Gods preſence.
How much then are we indebted to the maieſty and Ʋſe 1 bounty of our God, that hath graced vsus with this pri… bleſſingePſal. 147.19.20.? but to ſee how coldly thankes for this benefit comes from vsus, is ſtrange: our peace and plentie, wee can ſometimes thankefully acknowledge; but this bleſsing of bleſsings, the glad tydings of peace, wrought with GOD by Ieſus Chriſt; and publiſhed in the Goſpell; this plentie of the word, how ſeeme wee eyther to loath, as the Iſraelites Manna; or at leaſt coldly to commend and publiſh the rich grace of GOD to vsus in that behalfe.
Reaſons of it in many, earthly mindednesf: firſt, becauſe it allowes none but lawfull profits, and in ſome, for that it reſtraines carnall libertie, and reproues corruptionsgIoh. 3.19.20.21. Am. 8.5.11.12..
Ʋſe 2 Is it ſuch a bleſsing? then by the truth what ere it coſt thee, ſell it not, what ere it looſeth theehPro. 23.23.?
Sinnes depriuing vsus of this bleſsing, firſt, contemptiActs 13.41.46.51.; ſecondly, barrenneſſe of good fruitskIſay 5.4.5.: thirdly, perſecution of the miniſterslMat. 23.30.37 Mat. 21.28..
Obſer. Next, note the appropriation of this bleſsing to the people of the Iewes in the dayes before Chriſt;Mat. 21.19. compare Pſal. 76. & 1.147.20. Deut. 4.7.8. Act. 14.17. Epheſ. 2.12 & 3. dim d.
Proprietie.The time of this appropriation, ſeemes to hauehave bin about their deliuerance out of Egypt; Iob an Edomite, yet a true worſhipper of God; Melchiſedech alſo a Prieſt of the moſt high GodmGen. 14 18..
Reaſons of it giuen are: firſt, Gods vndeſerued and ſpeciall louelove, ſecondly, truth of his promiſenDeut. 7.7.8.9..
Vſe 1 Apparent therefore, that grace then was not ſo vniuerſall as Papiſts would hauehave itoAct. 14.17. Mat. 10.5.6.: ſith knowledge of the meanes of ſaluation was denied to the nationsp1 Tim. 2.4..
Vſe 2 And ſecondly, this muſt be acknowledged for a ſingular bleſsing, that the Lord hath reſerued vsus for theſe laſt dayes wherein the word of God formerly limitted to the coaſts of Iury and Paleſtina, is now publiſhed, vntounto vsus of the Gentiles; and let vsus all praiſe God for his mercyqRom. 55.9., foreign entruſted with it, as with an excellent treaſure;*Manner. where wee may obſerue how the word is committed vntounto the Church; and what our duetie is in reſpect thereof, faithfully to keepe it; and imploy it to the vſes of the truſtr1 Tim. 1.11. & 6.20.: this that depoſitum, the doctrine of the Goſpell & whole word of God, parts of faithfulneſſe: firſt, that we adde nothing theretosDeut. 4.2. & 12.32.: which part of faithfulneſſe how well our aduerſaries hauehave diſcharged, he that knowes the … adding of the Apocriphall bookes to the canon, and equalling their owne traditions to the written word of God, except he will be blind cannot but acknowledge, with how ſeuere a charge we are adiured to take heed hereof: See Apoc. 22.18.19.
And to what purpoſe need we ſuch a ſupply, ſith what is written: firſt, it ſufficeth to faith and ſaluationuIoh. 20.31.: and ſecondly, is able to make the man of God compleatly perfect to eueryevery good worke of his callingvv2 Tim. 3.17.?
A ſecond thing in fidelitie is; that nothing be diminiſhed of what it hath pleaſed God to entruſt vsus vvith allxDeut. 12.32. Apoc. 22.18.19.: herein alſo our aduerſaries hauehave deceiued the truſt repoſed in them; ſhouldering out the ſecond commandement that they might make roome for Images, and ſcanting the ſenſe of the law as the Phariſies their predeceſſorsyMat. 5.: with them thoughts of ſinne ariſing from corruption, are no ſinnes; though it be commanded, that God be loued with all the thought; and the law hath ſaid, thou ſhalt not luſtzRom. 7.: and ſuch motions draw away and entice the heartaIam. 1.14..
A third part of faithfulneſſe; that we keep it vnmingledb2 Cor. 2.17., and not as deceitfull vintners, mingle this Wine of the Lords truth, vvith the water of humane fancies.
A fourth part is to beautifie and adorne the truth in all thingscTit. 2.10..
The fift is that we be carefull and choiſe to whom we communicate: theſe holy things are not for dogges, nor theſe pearles for ſwinedMat. 7.6..
The ſixt and laſt; that we defend, maintaine, and publiſh this truthe1 Tim. 3.15..
Laſt thing obſeruable, is the Title giuen to the word;Title. Oracles of God: partly becauſe deliuered either by liuely voyce, or by immediate inſpiration from God; in which reſpect, they are called foreign, liuely OraclesfActs 7.3.8., partly becauſe they ſhould be to vsus as Oracles, whereto in all doubts vve ſhould reſort. Therefore Iſaiah cals vsus to the law and to the teſtimoniegIſay. 8.20., and Dauid makes Gods ſtatutes the men of his counſellhPſal. 119.24..
Ʋſe 1 And if in ſteed of aduiſing with Councils and Fathers, men had carefully enquired at theſe Oracles, for matter of faith: doctrine, no doubt, had continued much freer from corruption.
Ʋſe 2 And if thoſe ſuperſtitious ones amongſt vsus, in ſteed of enquiring at ſpirits of diuinationiIſay 8.19., and wearying themſelues with conſultations of Aſtrologers, would tye themſelues to theſe Oracles, both the comfort and ſucceſſe of doubtfull attempts, would be much the greater.