Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter 11 · Dialogue 2
DIAL. II.
Verses 2, 3. Know ye not what the Scripture saith of Elias, how he makes request vntounto God against Israel? saying, Lord, they hauehave killed thy Prophets, and digged downe … Altars, and I am left alone, and they seeke my life.
Tim.
VVHat doth this text containe?
Silas.
A third reason of his deniall, taken from the like example of Elias dayes, or from the like estate of the olde Church in the time of the Prophet Elias. TheSumme. summe hereof is thus much: That as it was in the time of Elias, so it is in the times of Paul the Apostle: then very many Iewes were preserued in Israel frō Idolatty, though Elias knew not of them, so now though Paul were ignorant of it, yet God by his election kept a great company of Iewes from infidelity. In this third argument the Apostle meeteth with and answereth a secret obiection. For some Iew hearing Paul affirme of himselfe, that hee being a Iew was elect, and not cast away, might easily say and what art thou alone? where then is that seed which God promiseth to Abraham, to be as the starres of heauen, or as the sand on the Sea shore? To which he seasonably replyeth, rhat there might be and were many more elect and beleeuing Iewes which were hid from him, as Israel had inumerable true worshippers, vnknowne to Elias. Argumentum apart.
Tim.
VponUpon what parts doth this comparison consist?Parts.
Sil.
VponUpon two: First a proposition or antecedent, in verse 2, 3, 4. Secondly, the reddition or consequent, verse 5. and in the proposition wee are to consider other two things, first the complaint of the Prophet verse 3. and secondly, the answere of God there-vntounto, verse 4.
Tim.
What are we to … in this, that Paul brings in the example of Elias time rather then any other?
Silas.
The great discretion of Paul, because Elias was highly esteemed among the Iewes, so that his authority could not bee gaynsayed, they woulde not contradict his witnesse; it teacheth Ministers to study for choyse and apt proofes and examples.
Tim.
But with what cautions or conditions, are examples of Scripture to be alleadged in Sermons, or made vse of in common life?
Silas.
Especially with these three conditions: First, that the examples alleadged be but few, Paul contents himselfe with one. Secondly, that they bee well suted and sorted, so as the comparison by example be made as touching like parties, as it was heere betweene the Iewes of Elias and Paul his time; for their blindnesse in both dayes was great, yet God stil kept his promises vntounto his elect, amongst them which were still the least number. Thirdly, examples must not bee repugnant against the common lawe of … to God and man: for good men are to bee imitated in good thinges onelyonly; and wee are to follow not eueryevery particular act of the Fathers, but to liue according to the lawe of God. The … thinking to call for fire on the Samaritans, Luke 9. 54. after the example of Elias, offended against the second caution, for they weere not like to Elias in Spirite and zeale: and such breake the third condition, as will defend lying by the example of Abraham, and the Midwiues, and …; or temporizing by the example of Naaman, or Nicodemus: the infirmities of the Saintes are not written to bee patternes to follow, but as cautions to make vsus heedfull.
Tim.
Come to the wordes and tell vsus what wee learne … by this, that Paul speakes of this example as of a famous story well knowne (wote, or knowe ye not,) as who should say, yee mayInterpretation. know it, ye ought not to be ignorant of it?
Silas.
It commends to vsus the diligent knowledge ofDoctrine. sacred story, that with all care and endeuour, wee seeke to hauehave it samiliar vntounto vsus; because it is a shame for a Christian to bee ignorant of Gods worde, 1. Cor, 15, 34. to bee a member of the Church, & not to know the estate of Gods Church (both as it was before and since Christ) it is as if anReason. Englishman shoulde bee ignorant of the fashions and customes of England. Also our knowledge serueth much to direct our mindes in doubtfull cases, and helpe others which are perplexed; therefore in any wise bee studious searchers, and wise obseruers, and carefull rememberers of holy Scriptures.
Tim.
What meaneth this [of Elias?]
Sil.
That is [touching Elias] or in the story of Elias.
Tim.
What doth this teach vsus, that the Scripture [sayeth or speaketh?]
Silas.
That the Scripture is not mute or dumbe, becauseDoctrine. it is the word, voyce, and speach of God; who were hee toReason. speake in his owne person, he would vse no other words or voyce, then that we finde in the Scriptures. Wherefore the Iesuites hauehave small reason to refuse the Scriptures to bee a Iudge of controuersies, vppon pretence that it cannot speake and giuegive sentence like a Iudge; for the Scripture doth speak, it is no dumbe letter, for God speaks by it, therefore it is a fitte Iudge.
Tim.
What is meant by Elias … making intercossion or request against Israel?
Silas.
The same word is here which is vsed, Rom. 8, 24. 26. but it hath not the same signification: for being spoken of the Spirite, verse 26. it signifies to stirre vp or cause vsus to make request; but beeing affirmed of Christ, it signifies the perpetuall merite and vertue of his passion, entreating and pleading with God for fauour towards the elect when they sinne of infirmity. But nowe it noteth out the complaint which Elias made to God, to whome hee accused the malice and obstinacy of the Iewes, as beeing sory for it, and grieuing at it: not praying for reuenge against thē; for it was the office of the prophet to make request for, and not against the people, as did Moses, Exodus 32, and Sam. 12. 23. God forbid that I shoulde cease to pray for you, vnlesse in certaine cases, where the people were desperate, so as there is left no hope of remedy, and the Prophets were stirred vp of God to wish their destruction, whereof wee hauehave many examples in the Psalmes of Dauid.
Tim.
What instructions arise from this complaynt of Elias?Doctrine.
Silas.
That the people ought to take heede how theyReason. ouer-greeue the Pastors with their stubbornnesse in errors or sinnes; for this will cause them with sorrowe to powre out their complaints to God, who wil regard the sighes of his seruants: hee who heares the cries of the poore, will heare his Ministers cries. Againe, the Apostle giueth an especiall warning touching this matter, Heb. 13, 17. to make the Ministers doe their office with heauinesse, is vnprofitable, nay pernitious and hurtfull to the people.
Tim.
What was it that gaue Elias occasion of this Complaint?
Silas.
The killing of the Priests of Boall, at the direction of Elias, so kindled Iezabels rage, as shee threatned to slay Elias, who therfore fled and hid himselfe in a den in the Mountaine Horeb; where God finding him, and expostulating with him, hee burst out into this most greeuous complaint, 1 Kings 19, 14.
Tim.
Of how many sinnes doth Elias accuse Israel in this complaint?
Silas.
Of foure; First, of cruelty toward the Prophets [They hauehave killed thy Prophets.] Secondly, of impietie towards God, [They digged downe his Altars,] that is, they corrupted his true worship, and set vp Idolatry insteade of it. Thirdly of the paucity or fewnesse of some woorshippers, which he thought to hauehave rested in himselfe alone, [And I am left alone.] Lastly, of tyranny towardes himselfe, whose life they sought to take away, 1 Kinges 19, 2. That there might be no more a Prophet in Israel, to teach Godr truth, or to maintaine his glory, or to feede his Church, with instructions of the word.
Tim.
What things are wee to gather for our instruction out of these parts of his complaint?
Sil.
Sundry things: First, the fury and extreame rageDoctrine. of Idolaters, who being vnable to defend their cause by Arguments, they will seeke to do it by the sworde, putting to death the seruants of God, vnderunder pretence that they be seditious and hereticall: with this weapon did the Israelites dispute against the Prophets, and the Pharifies against Christ, whom they would ouercome with stones, when they could not possibly ouercome with Scripture. Thus they dealt with the Apostles, and nowe at this day, Anti-christian Prelates deale thus with Protestants, whose neckes they get vnderunder their girdles. The reason of this their sauage proceeding is, because theyReason. will do the workes of their Father the diuell; for hee is a murtherer, and so bee his Children giuen to bloude, Iohn 8, 44.
Tim.
What profit serueth this instruction vntounto?Vse.
Silas.
First, to look for the like bloudy measure of our enemies, if they might get the vpper hand. Secondly, not to be offended with such fury whē it happens, as it were some new and strange thing. Lastly, to poure out our complaints in Gods lap, who can and will right and reuenge such wrongs: for he is the auenger of the helpelesse and oppressed.
Tim.
What other Instructions learne wee from his Complaint?
Silas.
That God suffereth his Church and seruants to fall into verie greeuous afflictions for trial of their faith and patience. Thirdly, in the example of Elias, wee see the infirmitie of Gods Saints, how weake they are, and subiect to error, euen the best of them. For Elias was deceiued, in thinking himselfe onelyonly to remaine: for Obediah had hid a hundred Prophets in a Caue, and Paul tels vsus, that a great many (euen seauen thousand) were reserued by God. Fourthly, that the actions of wicked Princes are imputed to the people oftentimes, when they applaude and consent vntounto them, as these Israelites did: therefore Paul saith, They killed the Prophets, whereas Iezabell acted the murther, the people onelyonly liked of it, and so made it their owne: as Achab is saide to hauehave killed Naboth, because hee agreed to it. All sinnes which wee giuegive allowance to, being committed or not hindred by vsus if we may, are ours, as if we committed them. 1. Commanders, 2. Abettors, 3. Consenter, 4. Concealer, 5. Coū sellor, 6. not hinderer, 7. and commender, each one of these seauen, will proue an offender.