--------- Ver. 1, the Epi flle to the Romanes. the faith of our Father Abrabam,uhich be bad when he war uncircumcifed. Ti MOTHEU1. WE at is the drift ofthis Text.? S a L. To Thew the end cf Gods counfell,in ¡unifying Abraham in time of his uncircunictlion, which was to thew, that the Gentiles which beleeve are Abrahams childrenthough they be un- circumcifed, afwell as the circhnicifed Jewe,. To expiable this better, in the formervcrfet, two things were affirmed of Abrahane,Firft,that he was ¡unified by the faith he had in his uncircumcifon. Secondly, that he received circumcidon as a Peale of forgiveneffe of finnes, by the redemption ofChrift, through faith in his blood. Now he fheweth the cattle of each,and that each bad his myftery. For the former was fo done, that he might be the Father of fuch as beleeve, being not circumcifed, that is, Gentile,: the latter happened, that he might be the Father alfo of the Circutncifion that `is, the yewes, riot univerfally, but par- ticularly fuck as walked in the ffeps of Abraham, faith : and all to this end, to teach that the benefit of imputed righte- oufneffe, pertaineth both to levee, and Gentile, which are beleevers, as being equally children'of Abraham,and there- fore heires of all the priviledges and rights which were Abrahams by verme of Gods promife that he made to him, Gen. 57. T will be thy sand th»God of thy feede.find againe,Thnu fbalt be the Fa. tber of many Nation,. Abrahatn,&e. in this name was this whole myftery e:tpreffed. Concerning the interpretation of the words this phrafe of walking in the Reps of the faith, &c. bath reference( as may feeme) unto the commandement, Gen. 17.1. Walks before me, &c. and is doth very fignificantly declare, that there is no ether faith required in the pofterity, then which was in the Parent Abraham ; namely, fuck a faith as feekes retnitfion of finnes, and life everlalling, in grace alone ; and not in Circumciti- on and workes of the Law. T i M Of how many fart, be the chil- dren of Abraham? 115 S t L. They be either /ewe' or Gen- tiles. The lewe, maybe dittinguifhed in- to circttnecifed and beleeving lows ; and uncircnmcifèd and bcleevutg, as Abra- ham did, but notcircuméiíed as he was; and they were which received the Go- fpell, when the law ceafed. T i M. Wbat ie it then that giveth this dignity to men, to be Abraham, Children ? S i L. It is not eircunicifion,but faith, beleeving the promifes after Abrahams example ; for it caufeth righteoufneffe to be imputed to them, yea, though they lack Circumcifion. T a M. What thing' are learnedframe hnce? S r L. That it was a great honour which God did unto Abraham, to make all beleevers his Children. Fielt, becaufe it is a large and honourable pofterity. Secondly, it is alto a marvellous great matter to have Abraham to be our fa- ther. For righteoufneffe, forgiveneffe of finite, and all happineffe belongeth to filch. We are here very diligently to ob- ferve ( left we erre) that fatherhood in refpe& of the faithful! is here given to Abraham not by efilcien y,as if he Ihoul be theworker and author of faith in all his children (for faith is the gift ofGod, it is not of our (elves, or of any other creature) but by a kind of proportion, becaufe the Grace of the Covenant was given him upon that condition and a- greement,and by that Law, that as car- nal, parents do paffe over and derive all their inheritances and goods unto their natural] children : fo doth Abraham this fpirituall father,,fhotild by covenant, otrine,and example, derive unto all the faithfull his fpirituall children, that free bleffedneffe -and juftice of faith, which he had received of God. Learnt the unity and harmony of the Church, Faith, riglfteoufnefle in the old and new Teftament;. There is but one Father of all the beleevers; and therefore but eme faith, one body, and one Church ; one Lord, head, and Sa- viour ; one Juftification,one falvation ; even as wee profeffe one catholike Church, the Communion of Saints, to which appertains remiffion of 6nnes, ref irreftion, and glory. Hence fats to ground,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=