Vert. 25,26. the Epifile to the Romans. S s L. The caufe hereof is manifold : not for that every one were fuch in truth, asIfrael an holy Nation, .yet had many hypocrites among, them : but firft,becaufe they were all fuch by ex- ternal vocation,whereby being fevered from the reft of the unclean world, they are confecrated to Chrift. Second - ly,they had all the Sacrament of fan&i- fication, an outward feal of eleétion. Thirdly, becaufe the judgement of cer- tainty belongs to God only, man is boundto judge by charity.Fourthly,be - caufe the denomination tollowes the better put, as the foul bears the appel- lation of the whole man. Fifthly, to teach the mark that they that live in the Church muff aim at, and ftrive to, namely,to be holy.Sixthly,becaufethey were inch in theirown opinion, and in the opinion of the Church. La ftly, be- caufe the holy things of God, as the Word, Sacraments,&c. were committed unto them. T I M. What ufe of this point ? S t L. Firft, it is a barre and bridle to rafh judgement. Secondly,it is a fpurre to quicken Chriffians to all care, to paffe beyond reprobates, in the pra- aife of Chriftianity, that they may get a lure tei}imony of their own predefti- nation. There is no greater motive to caufe us to follow after tr ue godliueffé, then to confider that perlons baptized and profeffors, may perifh when they bel Chriffians, not within,but without onely. T r M. What infirullions Pearn we from the latter part of the 24. verte ? S I L. That all the Jewes are not rejc &ed, for there were fome in whom Gods ele&ion and promife took place. Secondly, that the Gentiles are ad- mitted to the fellowlhip of grace with the Jewes, Pince the publilhing of the Gofpel,thediffcrence of nation taken away, by pulling down the partition wall of Legali and Leviticall Cere- monies. 365 D I A L O G U E XVII. Veil. 25, 26. As he faith alfo in Ofee, I will call them my people, which were not my peopl : a d her beloved, which was not beloved. And it 171(111 1p the place where it was faid .unto them, ye are not my people, tl at there they fhallbe called, the children of the living God. In citing this Text out of the Prophet Ofee, Paul inverteth the words, letting that laft, which is firft in the Prophet; he alfo leaveth out fome words, and putteth in others, partly for brevity fake,and partly to fit it to his purpofe; but changeth nought either of time or ícope : all that he retained' entire and untouched. Ti MOTH EUS. WHat may thePope of the Apoftle be here? S I L. Ta fhew, that to be now ful- filled touchingthe calling of theGen- tiles, which was before by Ofee fore- told : Ofee had faid the Gentiles fhould be Gods people, Paul tels us that they now are fo, being called to the faith of the Gofpel. T t M. But to f eakthiswasathing like to be grievous to the loves, who couldendure no- thing leffe. See Aé1. i o. & Is. S r L.Very true: therefore the Apoffle very wifely proveth it, not by his own teftimony and report, but by the Pro- phets,, and bringeth in God, f peaking by the Prophets to flop their mouthes the better,that they Ihould have no eva- liion. T t pM. But this place of Ofee, is directly fpoken for the comfort of the 'ewes ; how Both Paul draw it to the calling of the Gentiles? S it L. Paul being direlted by the Holy Ghofl,could not erre in his alle- gation. Secondly, though the Prophet fpake it of the Jews, difperfed for their Idolatry, telling them that God would gather them again ; which was done both temporally at their return from their captivity of Babylon; and fpirituó ally by the preaching of the Gofpel : lie yet
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