Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter 9 · Dialogue 3
DIAL. III.
Verse 6. Notwithstanding it cannot be that the worde of God should take none effect. For all they are not Israel, that are of Israel.
Tim.
VVHat doth the Apostle now in these words?
Silas.
Hitherto of the first part of this chapter, wherein is contained the graue protestation of Paul touching his great griefe, for the reiection of the most part of the Iewes from Christ. Now he setteth on the second part (to …) the Apologie and defence of God & his promises, against the reproaches which humane reason obiecteth & layeth in against God. These reproches be three: First inconstancy, to verse 14. Secondly, iniquity or iniustice to verse 19. Thirdly crueltie, vntounto verse 23.
Tim.
How doth the Apostle Paul knit this Verse with the former?
Silas.
Thus; If the Iewes be separate from Christ, thenCoherence. Gods promises faile. For God promised Abraham to be his God, and the God of his seede: which promise concerned Christ to bee giuen them, and saluation by him: but if the Iewes which be Abrahams seede bee accursed, hauing lost Christ and his saluation, then howe did God stand to his promise? Againe, the promise of the Messiah, was chiefly and first made to the Iewes. No we, if more Gentiles be saued by him then Iewes, how doth GOD keepe his promise? Hence it might be coniectured, Pauls griefe to arise, because God seemed inconstant, breaking promise? which the Apostle denies, and answearethMethod. this cauill by a strong negation or deniall. Secondly, by a distinction of Abrahams seede, which distinction hee confirmes both by the word of God, and from the mystery of Gods eternall election and reprobation; which mystery vponupon this occasion he openeth and prooueth in Hypothesis, by particular instances giuen of some personsSumme. elect, and some reprobate. The summe of this answer is this; that the true Iewes to whom Gods promises were made, were to be esteemed neither by woorthynesse of blood, carnall generation, nor by any workes present or foreseene, but by Gods election. The elect onelyonly were the true Israelites and children of Abraham: and therefore so long as God fulfilled his promise of saluation to the elect, he cannot be counted false of his word and promise made to Abraham, howsoeuer many thousands which descended carnally of Abraham be lost.
Tim.
What is meant by (notwithstanding?)
Silas.
Thus much, that albeit the Iewes mutter againstInterpretation. God, charging God with breach of promise (if they were cursed & separated from Christ,) yet it cannot be that God should be vnfaithfull.
Tim.
What is meant by [cannot be?]
Silas.
That it is simply and absolutely vnpossible to bee, that Gods word should fall.
Tim.
What is meant by [word?]
Silas.
Not the word of the lawe, but the worde of promise which God spoke to Abraham, saying; I am thy God and the God of thy seede; and againe, In thy seede shall all Nations be blessed Gen. 17. 3.
Tim.
What signifies [fall?]
Silas.
It is set against (remaine,) verse 11, by which is signified firme steadinesse, when the effect followes the promise: therefore to fall, in this place is to bee frustrate, voyde, and of none effect, when the promise is not kept.
Tim.
What is the doctrine out of these words?
Sil.
This, howsoeuer many men doe perish, to whomeDoctrine. the promises bee offered and preached, yet God is euermore true and constant in performing his promise. This doctrine may be proued first by scripture, Mat. 5. 18. HeauenReasons and earth shall passe away &c. 2 Sam. 7. 28. Rom. 3. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Secondly by reason, as first from the nature of God, who is trueth itselfe, and therefore he cannot deceiue. Thirdly, hee is vnchangeable, and therefore what he sayeth he will do. Fourthly, he is powerfull and therefore able to keepe his promise, Rom. 4. 21. Fiftly, GOD standeth vponupon his honour, and it were against his honour to break his promise; as it is written, I will not giuegive my glory to another. Moreouer, this doctrine may bee declared and illustrated by comparison, thus. If honest men keepe their promise, much more God, whose fidelity and trueth is infinite: and lastly this may be proued by iust and long experience: for it was neuer knowne in any age, but what promises God mercifully made, hee did faithfully keepe; no one instant to be giuen to the contrary, thorough the whole booke of God.
Tim.
Yet many temporall blessings hauehave beene promised theA doubt. righteous, which they neuer enioyed?
Sil.
It is true; but these promises were made with conditionA solution. of obedience, and exception of the crosse; therfore if these promises were not performed, it was because their disobedience drew chastisement on them, or for that God saw it fitter for them to bee exercised with afflictions, prosperity being not good for them. Psal. 34. 10. and 119. It is good for me that I was troubled?
Tim.
Yet the Iewes were Abrahams seede, notwithstandingA 2. doubt. the promise of sauing them was not true Israelite, and that is sufficient to discharge God, as shall be seene afterwards.
Tim.
What profit is to be made of this point of doctrine?
Silas.
It she was vnbeleefe to be a great sinne, becauseVses. it spoiles God of his truth and makes him a lyar. Secondly, it affoordes matter of strong comfort to such as after their calling are tempted to doubt of their saluation; for it cannot bee that they which beleeue shoulde euer perish, God hauing spoken it that they shall be saued, and his promise cannot fall, Iohn 3. 17. 18. Thirdly, it encourageth the godly, firmely to rest on Gods promises; for he cannot deceiue them, they bee not yea and nay, but yea and Amen.
Tim.
What is the second part of Paules answere to the first obiection?
Silas.
By distinguishing of Israelites into true & false.
Tim.
What is meant heere by Israel?
Silas.
By Israel in the first place is meant all the elect and beleeuers amongst the Iewes collectiuely, such as be Israelites in deede and truth, as well as in name, as NathanaelInterpretation. was, in Iohn 1, 47. and such as Paul speaketh of, Rom. 2, 29. And by Israel in the second place, is meant Iacob indiuidually, who was called Israel for his wrestling with God, as yee would say a Prince of God, one which preuailed with the mighty God.
Tim.
What are we to learne from this partition or diuision of the Israelites?
Sil.
That euer from the beginning, there hauehave beene two sorts of men in the Church of God, both good and bad, true and false Israelites. This Doctrine may be prouedDoctrine. first by plaine Scripture, distinguishing the visibleReasons. Church, into the children of the flesh and of the Spirite, Rom. 9, 7. Secondly, by examples, as Isaac and Ishmael, Iacob and Esau, Dauid and Saul. Thirdly, by comparing the Church to a net, Math. 13. to a fielde, Math. 13. to a Barne, Math. 3. Lastly, by reason; because all that bee within the Church be not elect, therefore all cannot bee beleeuers: there be many in the Church, who be not of the Church, 1 Iohn 2, 19.
Tim.
What profit is to be made of this point?
Silas
It confuteth them that hold the godly alone toVses. be members of the visible Church. Secondly, it reproues such as forsake the visible Church, for the wickednesse of them that liue in it, and doe in that regard condemne it for no Church. Thirdly, it warnes all men not to content themselues with this, that they liue in the Church; for so false Israelites doe, so Hypocrites and wicked men do. Lastly, it exhorts vsus neuer to giuegive rest to our soules, till we become true Israelites, true members of the visible Church: for to such and to none other, the promises of grace and life by Christ, be efficacious and fruitfull.