Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter 11 · Dialogue 11
DIAL. XI.
Verse 13. 14. For in that I speak to you Gentiles, in as much as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles, I magnfie mine office, to try if by any meanes I might prouoke the of my flesh, to follow them, and might saue some of them.
Tim.
WHat doth Paul performe in this text?
Silas.
First, hee proueth the sentence which he put forth before, touching the saluation of the Iewes, by their emulation of the beleeuing Gentiles, verse 13. 14. Secondly, hee comforteth the Iewes, by giuing them hope of being restored to Christ before the end of the world.
Tim.
By what argument doeth Paul proue, that the conuersion of the Gentiles shall turne to the saluation of the Iewes?
Silas.
By a reason taken from his owne example, or from the end of his owne Ministery among the Gentils, which was, by conuerting the Gentiles, to prouoke many of the Israelites to follow them. The reason standeth thus: The end which God propounded to his own counsellProposition. in reiecting the Iewes, and which I set before mine eyes in my Ministery and preaching, must needes be attainedAssumption vntounto; But as God in his counsell, so I in my doctrine hauehave propounded this end, that the Iewes might be brought at last to desire grace, and be saued by means of that grace giuen to the Gentiles: Therefore it is certaine, that at the last many Iewes shal bee saued: OtherwiseConclusion. the end both of Gods decree, and my doctrine, should be frustrate, which cannot be.
Tim.
VponUpon what grounds doth Paul comfort the Iewes in the 14. verse?
Silas.
Vppon this ground, that seeing reconciliation came to the world of the Gentiles by their fall, therefore howsoeuer their case seemes to be desperate, as of dead men, yet God will quicken them, that they may be partakers of the common reconciliation.
Tim.
Why dooth Paul call himselfe the [Apostle of the Gentiles?
Silas.
Because hee was of God, appointed to bee aInterpret. preacher to the Gentiles, as Peter was to the Iewes, Gal. 2, 7, 8. 1 Tim. 2, 7.
Tim.
Wherefore doth Paul direct his speech to the Gentiles in this sort?
Silas.
By this insinuation to creepe into their mindes, and the more to knit their heart to him, as one that was ordained to set forwards their saluation.
Tim.
What is the doctrine from hence?Doctrine.
Silas.
That Ministers of the word must take all occasions to witnesse their lone to their flocke. And secondly, that it behooues the people to bee perswaded of the good affection of their Teachers towards them. The reason heereof is, because the doctrine of godlines willReason. more easily pierce the mindes of the hearers, if they bee well affected towardes their teachers: which made the Spirit of God in the Scriptures to charge both Ministers to behaue themselues mildly, as Pastors, Fathers, and Nurses amongest the people; and their people to hauehave their teachers in singular louelove for their workes sake.
Tim.
What Vse of this Doctrine?
Sil.
It serues to warne Christians to beware, least byVse. Satans suggestions, their owne corruption, or counsell of the wicked, any sinister bad conceit bee either dropped into, or entertained in the mindes concerning their teachers: for by this meanes their doctrine will become of none effect, and their saluation will bee greatly hindered. These things, God, Christ, Gospell, Teachers, Saluation, are so linked together, as to despise one, is to despise all. Honor one, and honor all.
Tim.
What doth this word [magnifie] import?
Silas.
Sometimes it signifies to make known the greatnesseInterpretation. and glorie of another, Luke 1, 46. but heere it is to honour, or to make glorious his office, that is, his MinistryDoctrine. of Apostleship. The Doctrine is that it behooueth a Minister to honor his function.
Tim.
Wherein doth stand the honour and glorie of the ministerie?
Silas.
In sundry thinges: …, in faithfulnesse whenHow the Ministerie is to be made honorable. Ministers both liue and teach well, 1 Cor. 4, 2. it is the credit of Stewards to be faithfull and trusty. Secondly, in patient suffering tribulations for the Gospel, 2 Cor. 6, 4, 5, &c. Thirdly, by diligence in preaching the Ministry is much adorned, 1 Cor. 9. Lastly, by the good successe of preaching, when thereby many are conuerted vntounto Christ. This last is meant heere, as appears by the words of the next verse, that Paules meaning is, that this would be the honour of his Ministery, that he might so preach to the Gentiles, as he might win some of the Iewes also: as the glorie and strength of a King consists in the number of worthy subiects, so the number of good schollers is the honor of their teachers: that made the holy Ghost to say in the Acts, that the word of God grew and was glorified, when many were turned to the Faith by the preaching of it; for to conuert sinners to righteousnesse is a greater matter then to worke wonders, nay then to make a world: therefore both the worde and the preachers of it are not a little honoured, when by sounde preaching, many are brought to repentance and amendment of life.
Tim.
What profit may wee take to our selues by this Doctrine?
Silas.
It confutes such men as place the honour of theVse. Ministery in pompe, worldly wealth, riches, and glory, stately ornaments, and precious garments; in which things, the false Prophets most excell. See Reuel. 18. Also they bee but accidentall and sophisticall Ornaments, they doe not appertaine to the nature and substaunce of the Ministery, which consists in preaching and doctrine, and conuerting soules thereby to Christ. Such as do not this, whatsoeuer they hauehave or do, they bring no dignity to the Ministery, which is magnified not by titles and shewes, but by doing the worke belonging to it. Secondly, it warneth Ministers to keepe their office from contempt, by flying licentiousnesse, idlenesse, couetousnesse, &c. by preaching painfully, and liuing honestly. Thirdly, it rebukes such hearers as will not be reformed by preaching, for they are a blot and blemish to the word and the Ministery thereof, as much as in them is, as if it were of no might to saue. Fourthly, it exhortes all men, euen as they tender the credit & honour of Gods blessed Ministery, to submit vntounto the Doctrine taught them: by this meanes they shall magnifie the Gospell, and cause it to be highly esteemed of.
Tim.
What are we to learne from hence, that Paul beeing sent to the Gentiles, yet labored to saue the Iewes too?
Silas.
That Pastors and Parents, hauing first and chiefly looked to their owne charge, may lawfully endeauour the saluation of many others, by publike and priuate teaching, prouided it be no preiudice to thē ouer whom we are specially set.
Tim.
But will not this example serue to iustifie such as commonly leaue their owne charge to teach others abroad?
Sil.
No, it will not; for these Iewes whom Paul taught were mixed with the Gentiles, so as in teaching them he neglected not his owne charge; and his commission was to teach all Nations.
Tim.
But seeing it is God onelyonly that can saue, how doth Paul write that he will saue some?
Silas.
God saueth otherwise then Ministers doe, he as efficient chiefe working cause of saluation, beeing both author and blesser of the ministry. Ministers saue as his voluntary instruments, whom he vseth not of neede but because he will, & to whom that is communicated which is proper to the chiefe agent: to teach all men to reuerence the ministry; and to see the great necessity of it. 1. Tim. 4, 16. Iames 5, 20. Rom. 1, 19.
Tim.
What else learne we heere?
Silas.
That in seeking to saue, our greatest care must be for friends and kinsmen, Luke 22. 32. Acts 10, 24. For charity is limited and ruled, iit beginneth at our selues & those next to vsus, and so stretcheth it selfe to others, both in temporall matters, and in spirituall. 1. Timotheus 5, 4, 8.