The Worlds Resurrection, Section 35
What shall their receiuing bee but life from death?
Q. Shall not the generall calling the conuertion of the Iewes bee in occasion of the diminishing and reiection of the Gentiles?
A. No, but a reuiuing of their faith and a quickning of the word. For the ouerflowing and streaming fountaine of Gods merciemercy and goodnesse is neuer drawne drie, and the more that men vse it, the more it runneth out and sloweth.
Secondly, if that which is euill in it selfe. viz. the fall of the Iewes was sauing to the Gentiles (albeit accidentally and by occasion) much more that which is good off, and by it selfe, shall produce and bring forth good effects.
V. If the first fruites bee holy, then the whole Lumpe, and if the roote, then the branches.
Q. Are they, that are borne of holy parents holy, or can parents deriue and transfuse grace and holinesse into their children?
A. No, for they are borne and conceiued in sinne, and are by nature the children of wrath, but they are holy by couenant and promise onelie, whether they bee Iewes or Gentiles, according to the tennor of the couenant I wilbe thy God and the God of thy seed for euer. Gen. 17.7. and Gall. 3.9. and they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Secondly holy and beleeuing parents beget not children as they are holy and beleeuing, (for this proceedeth onelyonly from grace and Gods free promise) but as they are men and naturall parents; and therefore that which is borne of the flesh is flesh (as all are by nature) and that which is borne (viz. againe) of the spirit is spirit. Iohn 3.6:
Q. In that the patriarckes and Ancesters of the Iewes are called, the first fruites, the roote, the naturall oliues are not the preferments, prerogatiues and excellences of the Iewes farre greater then of the Gentiles?
Rom 5.2.Ans. Yes, much eueryevery manner of way, but not in repect of righteousnesse and merite, for herein they are equall and all one Eph. 2.23.Eph. 2. ver. 3 but in outward priuiledges and ornaments onelyonly.
Question What then were then the speciall and singular ornaments and prerogatiues of the Iewes?Rom. 9.4.5
Ans. Nine specially (as they are numbred by Saint Paul). First the glorious title of Israelites, which name Iacob first obtained by reason of wrestling and preuailing with the Angell.Gene. 32. ver. 24.25.
Secondly the Adoption to bee Gods people in generall. Thirdly the Glorie. i. the honour and dignity, in that the Lord of glory did (as it were) dwell amongst them signes of whose speciall presence were the Arke and the Temple.
Fourthly, the couenants, that is not onelyonly the testament but also many compactes and the agreements that passed betweene GOD and the people.
Fiftly the giuing of the law, Moral, Iudicial, Ceremonial, vnderunder, which is comprehended the Kingly dignity and Magistracie.
Sixtly the seruice of God, that is, the whole Leuiticall Ministerie, and the Administration of Gods worship.
Seuenthly the promises, that is, of earthly and spirituall blessings, and of the Gospell promised to the Fathers. Rom. 1. v. 2. Eightly the honorable descent from the holy Fathers and Ancestors, for whose sake God doth often times blesse the posteritie: Ninthly and lastly, the hauing of Christ for their kinsman, Noel. A kinsman.for of them concerning the flesh came Christ, who is God blessed for euer-more.
Vers. 15. If the casting away of them, &c? what the reconciling, &c.
Obs. The conuersion of the nation of the Iewes, shall be the worlds restauration, and shall wonderfully confirme the faith of the Gentiles, Rom. 11.12. Ioh. 10.16.
The reason hereof is, for that they both shall hauehave perfect ioy, when both Iewes and Gentiles shall alike enioy the common …elicitie, and all scruples, doubts, and all causes of any pretended separation, shall bee taken away and remooued.
Secondly, an increase, augmentation and an honor and ornament shall be hereby added to the Church.
Vse. Let vsus therefore desire and seeke after their conuersion, and heartely pray for it, and by writing, disputes, doctrine, and holy example, further and promote it, for this shall redound to Gods glory, and the amplification and improouement of our owne, both temporall and eternall happinesse.
Ver. 15. Be but life from death.
In that by the Ministerie of the Gospell,Doctr. the Iewes which were dead in sinne, are restored to life, and the Gentiles faith reuiued:Rom. 1.16. wee learne hence the sauing vertue, and effectuall power of it.
The first reason hereof is, because it is the power of God to saluation, Rom. 1.16.in all the Elect, for herein God reuealeth his true and absolute righteousnesse, with which life and saluation is alwaies ioyned, and by the meanes and ministerie hereof, it is conueied and communicated to them that receiue and obey it.
1 Pet 5. V. 23.Secondly it is the immortall seed of regeneration and eternall life; for hereby God doth call men to bee his children and doth conuert them,Heb. 4.13. hee raizeth and createth faith in them, and doth adopte and regenerate them.
Vse. 1. The first vse hereof is, to learne vsus, not onelyonly to magnifie and hauehave the Gospell in high account and esteeme, that bringeth such comfort and commoditie with it; but also to receiue it, yea to temper it (as men doe mixe and dulcifi… their tart wine with suger) with faith, and to apply it to our owne selues, otherwise it will bee altogether vnprofitable vntounto vsus.
Vse. 2. Secondly wee must hereby bee induced and perswaded to leade and liue a new life according to the tenor of the Gospell and the intent of the word of God,Titus. 2. V. 11. For the grace and Gospell of Christ hath brightly appeared, teaching vsus to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts, and to liue iustly, godlyly, and soberly in this present world. Titus 2.11.12.
Vse. 3. Thirdly hereby also wee are remembred and put in minde from whence the. Gospell hath his credit, authoritie and estimation, not from the approbation of mans reason, nor from the applause of the worlde, nor from the persons of the Ministers, but from God, and from the admirable and supernaturall effects and fruites of it:2 Tim. 3.16. For it is giuen by inspiration, it is the voyce and letter of GOD and is autentike of, and in it selfe, and no other doctrines hauehave any credit, authoritie or power but so farre forth as they receiue it from the Scripture or accord with it.