A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Romans · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
1. I Say then, Hath God caſt away his people? God forbid: for I alſo am an Iſraelite, of the ſeed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
1. But what? do I by all this conclude, that God hath broken his Covenant with Abraham and utterly caſt off the People of Iſrael? Not at all. For I, and all Believing Jews, are the Seed of Abraham, not caſt off.
2. God hath not caſt away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the ſcripture ſaith to Elias? how he maketh interceſſion to God againſt Iſrael, ſaying, 3. Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars, and I am left alone, and they ſeek my life.
2, 3. God hath among the Iſraelites his foreknown and choſen People: And theſe he doth not caſt off, though he leave the reſt in their Rebellion. Know ye not what Elias thought and ſaid of the Iſraelites in his time, That he was left alone, as if they had been all Revolters.
4. But what ſaith the anſwer of God unto hm? I have reſerved to my ſelf ſeven thouſand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
4. But God knew of more than Elias did: He had ſeven thouſand that were no Idolaters.
5. Even ſo then at this preſent time alſo, there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
5. So now alſo God hath his choſen Remnant, whom his Grace hath brought to Faith in Chriſt.
6. And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwiſe grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwiſe work is no more work.
6. And if they are choſen and made his juſtified People by Grace and Free Gift for the Merits of Chriſt, then it cannot be by the Merit of our own Performance of the Law. And if it be by the Merit of ſuch Performance; deſerving not Death but Life, then it is not of meer Grace or free Gift. For what need a man Pardon, who deſ…rveth not Puniſhment? or, to have life freely given him, which is his due for the Merit of his Work? (For I here give you notice, that it is no Works that I ſpeak of and exclude, but that which excludeth Free Gift and Grace, and not that which ſubo…dinately obeyeth Grace, and doth ſuppoſe it.)
7. What then? Iſrael hath not obtained that which he ſeeketh for: But the election hath obtained it, and the reſt were blinded.
7. The whole Nation of the Jews have not obtained deliverance by the Meſſiah, though they ſought, and hoped, and waited for him: But God's Elect ones have obtained it, and the reſt miſs of it, becauſe their Sin and Prejudice blindeth them.
8. According as it is written, God hath given them the ſpirit of ſlumber, eyes that they ſhould not ſee, and ears that they ſhould not hear until this day.
8. As it is written, Iſa. 29.10. Becauſe they would not obey the Spirit of God, that would have awakened and enlightned them, God hath juſtly given them up to the ſeduction of the Spirit of Slumber, Stupidity, and Blindneſs; from whence it is no wonder that they ſee not and hear not to this day, being deprived of his Spirits Illumination.
9. And David ſaith, Let their table be made a ſnare, and a trap, and a ſtumbling-block, and a recompence unto them. 10. Let their eyes be darkned, that they may not ſee, and bow down their back alway.
9, 10. And David Prophetically prayed for ſuch Judgments on the obſtinate Enemies of the Juſt, that for a Recompence of their Malice God would turn their Comforts into Puniſhments, and forſake them, ſaying, &c.
11. I ſay then, Have they ſtumbled that they ſhould fall? God forbid: But rather through their fall ſalvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealouſie.
11. But what? Are they utterly forſaken and caſt off? And had God no better End herein than their Deſtruction? No ſuch thing. But the greater part were permitted juſtly to drive away the Goſpel from them to the Gentiles, that theſe being converted, might after occaſion their Converſion in the Univerſal Church.
12. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminiſhing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulneſs?
12. And if the Gentiles have been ſo great Gainers by occaſion of the Sin and Fall of the Jews, how much more when they ſhall become Chriſtians, will they add to the Glory and Greatneſs of the Catholick Chriſtian Church.
13. For I ſpeak to you Gentiles; inaſmuch as I am the apoſtle of the Gentiles, I magnifie my office.
13. I ſpeak this to my own and the Gentiles comfort, as their Apoſtle, as well as for the Jews, as improving and glorying in that my Office, that the Caſe of the Jews is not wholly deſperate.
14. If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my fleſh, and might ſave ſome of them.
14. And that by glorying in your Faith, and hoping yet for their Converſion, I might provoke them to emulation, and win and ſave more of them.
15. For if the caſting away of them, be the reconciling of the world, what ſhall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
15. For if the Gentiles have received the Goſpel, and ſo are reconciled to God, by occaſion of the Jews expelling it, what a bleſſed State will the Church be in, and what a Mercy like a Reſurrection will it be to the Jews, when they ſhall come into the Catholick Church?
16. For if the firſt-fruit be holy, the lump is alſo holy; and if the root be holy, ſo are the branches.
16. For if God hath accepted thoſe Jews that are Believers, who are the whole Nation but as the Firſt-fruits to the Lump, he will accordingly accept the Nation when they come into Chriſt as we have done: And as he accepted Abraham and their believing Anceſtors, he will alſo accept them: And if thoſe Apoſtles be honoured of God as Holy, who from them are ſent with the Goſpel into the World, ſo ſhall the broken Branches be when they are reſtored.
17. And if ſome of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive-tree wert graffed in amongſt them, and with them partakeſt of the root and fatneſs of the olive-tree, 18. Boaſt not againſt the branches: but if thou boaſt, thou beareſt not the root, but the root thee.
17, 18. The Catholick Church I compare to an Olive-tree: The Covenant of Peculiarity is their Conſtituting Charter: It was made firſt with Abraham the Father of the Jews, and next, of all the Faithful: It was ſent to all the World by Apoſtles from Jude…: Theſe two are the Root: the Jews and Gentiles are Branches: The Jews are the firſt Branches, and the Gentiles the Branches of a wild Olive here graffed in. If the Jews be cut off, boaſt not againſt them; for the Covenant and Goſpel was not firſt given to you (that now receive its Benefits) but to them, and from them to you.
19. Thou wilt ſay then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20. Well; becauſe of unbelief they were broken off, and thou ſtandeſt by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear.
19, 20. If thou ſay, That God more eſteemed me than them, becauſe he broke them off, that I might be graffed in. Be not deceived. It was for their own Unbelief, and by it, and not undeſervedly, that they were broken off: And it is by Faith, and not for any Worldly. Preeminence, that thou art graffed in: Therefore be not pufft up, but fear that Sin that cut off them.
21. For if God ſpared not the natural branches, take heed left he alſo ſpare not thee.
21. For if God caſt off them with whom he firſt made the Covenant of Peculiarity, take heed of ſinning as they did by Pride and Unbelief againſt his Goſpel, leſt he alſo cut off thee.
22. Behold therefore the goodneſs and ſeverity of God: on them which fell, ſeverity; but towards thee goodneſs, if thou continue in his goodneſs; otherwiſe thou alſo ſhalt be cut off.
22. Rather here reverently admire Gods Goodneſs and Severity. On the ſinful rejected Jews, Severity of Juſtice: but Mercy to thee; which ſhall continue, if thou continue in the Faith, and Obedience and Gratitude him: Otherwiſe thou alſo ſhalt be cut off (As, alas! moſt of the Eaſtern Churches are.)
23. And they alſo, if they abide not ſtill in unbelief, ſhall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
23. And God hath not excluded them from the Grace of the Goſpel, ſo, as to make their Recovery impoſſible. If they be converted from the Unbelief, which God can effect, they ſhall be graffed into the Catholick Church.
24. For if thou wert cut of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive-tree, how much more ſhall theſe, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive-tree?
24. For if thou wert cut off from the Wild Olive-tree, which was natural to thee; and beſides or above Nature, and contrary to thy Deſert, waſt taken into Gods Covenant and Church; how much more will God take them in when they believe, who were Abraham's natural Seed, and firſt in his Covenant?
25. For I would not, brethren, that you ſhould be ignorant of this myſtery (leſt ye ſhould be wiſe in your own conceits) that blindneſs in part is hapned to Iſrael, untill the fulneſs of the Gentiles be come in. 26. And ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved:
25, 26. For I would not have you ignorant of this Myſtery of God's Providence, leſt Ignorance puff you up with falſe Self-conceits; That part of the Jews are now left in this Blindneſs, till the Gentile Churches be advanced to an Honourable State and Fulneſs: And then all the Iſrael of God, the true faithful Seed of Abraham, and therein the main Body of the Jews, ſhall make up the Catholick Church, and be ſaved from their State of Unbelief.
26. As it is written, There ſhall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and ſhall turn away ungodlineſs from Jacob.
26. As Iſa. 59.20. it was propheſied, That out of Sion a Saviour ſhould ariſe for Iſrael, to turn them from iniquity.
27. For this is my Covenant unto them, when I ſhall take away their ſins.
27. As he ſaith, That his Covenant made with them is to take away their Sin.
28. As concerning the goſpel, they are enemies for your ſake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers ſakes.
28. For your Converſion they were permitted as Enemies to Chriſt to drive away the Goſpel from them to you: But yet God hath not quite nulled his Covenant with their Fathers, but will perform it in the Converſion of all of them that are Elect.
29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
29. For God is not mutable, and will not for the Sin of theſe Men, forget his Covenant with their Fathers, but will yet perform it in the full ſenſe of it, and not repent of it and null it.
30. For as you in times paſt have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31. Even ſo have theſe alſo now not believed, that through your mercy they alſo may obtain mercy.
30, 31. For as you were formerly in unbelief, and diſobedient, and yet now are converted by occaſion of their Unbelief; ſo the unbelieving Jews ſhall be brought by Mercy into the Church, by the Preaching that ſhall be ſent from the Gentile-Churches, and by the Power and Glory of the Church under Chriſtian Emperours and Governours, and by your good Example.
32. For God hath concluded them all inunbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
32. For God in Juſtice and Wiſdom hath for a time left the main Body of the Jews in Unbelief, as formerly he did the Gentiles, that in his time he might in mercy call in the main Body of them into the Catholick Church, as he hath done you.
33. O the depth of the riches both of the wiſdom and knowledge of God! How unſearchable are his judgments, and his ways paſt finding out?
33. When we think of theſe myſterious Providences of God (freely ſhewing Mercy to the Unworthy, and permitting preſuming Men to miſcarry, and yet making uſe of their Sin for good) we ſhould be ſo far from queſtioning God's Mercy or Juſtice herein, that we ſhould admire the depth of the Riches of his Wiſdom, whoſe Judgments are unſearchable, and his Counſels and Ways not to be traced, and fitly judged of by the Wit of Man.
34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counſellor? 35. Or who hath firſt given to him, and it ſhall be recompenſed unto him again.
34, 35. How little know Men of the Mind of God? Nothing but what he freely tells them. He is not guided by the Counſel of Man, nor is Man acquainted with his ſecret Counſels. Who can oblige him to recompenſe by his Gifts, or hath any thing but what God giveth him?
36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
36. For as all Creatures have three ſorts of extrinſick Cauſes, viz. the Efficient, Dirigent, and Final, God is all theſe; the Chief Efficient, Chief Dirigent, and Chief Final Cauſe of all things: All is Of him, By him, and To him , and he of None: He is All in All things: And as he made and doth all things for his Glory, his Glory ſhall for ever ſhine forth in all, which Angels and Saints ſhall intelligently ſee, and praiſe for ever, Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
THe great Doubt about this Chapter is, what is propheſies of the full Converſion of the Jews. Concerning which, I ſhall onelyonly ſpeak ſo much as is certain, and leave the reſt to the Judgment of others.
1. It is certain, that God never meant to reſtore the Jewiſh Politie under Moſes's Law; for that Law is abrogated by Chriſt, and ſo that Politie. It's Jewiſh Contradiction of Chriſtianity to expect ſuch a Reſtoration.
2. Much leſs will God ever confine the Church and Covenant of Peculiarity to the Jewiſh Nation, and take it from the Gentiles, and ceaſe Catholiciſm.
3. Nor will God reſtore and confine the Jews to their ancient Country in Paleſtine; which being ſuch a Country of Wales, now barren, and about half as big as England, would be far from making them a People of eminent Glory in the World, but rather contemptible in that reſpect.
4. Nor hath God promiſed to make the Jews Lords and Rulers over the reſt of the Nations of the Earth, as the Carnal ſort of them did expect.
5. Therefore no other calling of the Jews can be expected, but that they become Parts of the Catholick-Church.
6. It ſeems to me by Hiſtory, that this is performed long ago, the main Body of their Nation being turned to Chriſtianity. To which purpoſe, conſider theſe things.
1. Myriads were converted in Judea by the Apoſtles.
2. In all other Countries of the Roman Empire, the ſcattered Jews had Synagogues, to which the Apoſtles firſt Preached, and where they firſt gathered the Rudiments of the Chriſtian Churches.
3. A vaſt Number of the unbelieving Jews were deſtroyed by Veſpaſian and Titus, when Jeruſalem was beſieged and deſtroyed.
4. Many more Jews were then converted, when they ſaw God's Judgements executed on them, and the Chriſtians ſpared.
5. Vaſt Numbers of the remainder of the Unbelievers were deſtroyed by Adrian, and the Chriſtians ſpared, and many turned Chriſtians then.
6. Since then many have been converted by Solemn Diſputes, and many Jews become eminent Doctors in the Church.
7. They were ever fond of their own Country, and therefore we may ſuppoſe, that as many as could, lived there. And it's known, that all Conquerours uſe to tranſplant only the Rich and Ruling Men, and leave the Multitude of the poor Labourers to manure the Ground, that it may yield them Tribute. So did Nebuchadnezzar: And ſo in England did the Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans: They left the Vulgar to poſſeſs the Land under them, or elſe the Land would have been unprofitable to them. It was the Rich and the Soldiers that they drove into Wales; ſo that we are moſtly of a Britiſh Off-ſpring. Now it is known, that in the Days of Conſtantine, and the following Chriſtian Emperours, (though no Country wholly turned Chriſtian of a long time) Judea turned as other Provinces did; and had their Biſhops, and their Patriarch in Councils; and proportionably rather more than in other Countries, were Chriſtians there. So that Judea was Chriſtian, as other Provinces were.