412 An Expofition upon Chap. m. ward meanes, but not every one that heareth, proveth a beleever. Juf#iftcation preluppofeth vocation, but vocation is not alwayes accompanied with Juflifi- cation. T i M. What is the reafon why all which hear, de not prove beleevers S 1 L. Becaufe all are not eleit, and it is a certaine thing, that onely filch as are ordained to life, do beleeve, Adis 13.48. Thence it is called the Faith of the ele&, Tit. 1. t.and they are laid to be called which are predeflinate, Rom. 8.31. Secondly, becaufe outward hea- ring is not enough to engender faith, there mutt be alfo an opening of the eyes and heart by the Spirit, Alts 26. 18. and s 6,i 4. But this Spirit the world can not receive,John 14. 17. Such only receive it to whom it is given, Mat. 53. t ',And Efay 53.1. having laid, few be- leeved their report, addeth this as a rea- ton, becaufe The arme of the Lord was not revealed, that is, Gods powerful! fpi- rit did not touch their hearts effe &ually. Thirdly, infome their pride andover- weening, by conceiving too highly of their owne wit and underflanding, lea. fling unto theirown naturali wifdotne, is a very great hindrance to faith, Mat. 11.25. 1 Cor. 1.26. Fourthly, many flumble at the poverty of Chrift and his followers, Mat. I1.6. To which may be added the wicked examples of Prea- chers and profeffors of the Faith, as a great obítacle. T I M. What efe is to be made hereof ? S r L. That we now do not the lefíe efteeme the Gofpell, though we fee it generally unfruitful], becaufe this bath been the portion of other times and ages ; and herewith Chriftians mutt arme themfelves that they be not of- fended to fee the multitude of unbelee- vers : and there is no place fo full of un- righteous men, as where the word is molt preached ; which is a great occafi- on of Rumbling, to caufe men to thinke ill of the do&rine, as if it were the pro- per caufe ofwickedneffe, or at the leaR- w ife unable to convert (inners : whereas the fault is not in the word, nor alwayes in the teachers, but in the indifpofition and naughtineffe of the hearers, the feed being'good, but the ground barren and evil]. Secondly, it confutes fuch as think the faith of the ;Gofpell to proceed (in part at the 1 emit ) from the naturali ftrength of mans free will : whereas this being equal] and of the like force in all men, then fhould all men have faith, and equally obey the Gofpell. If free will were the caul of beleeving, that is, if men did therefore beleeve and receive Grace offered, becaufe they are willing to receive it, andmight refute it if they would ; if faith might come after this fafhion, who is it but he would be con- tent to be a beleever ? But the Scripture teacheth us, that faith is the gift ofGod. T t M. From whence Both the Apofile fetch this toffimony of Efay, to Prove the fewnefe of beleevers: and what is the drift of that Oracle? S I L. He doth fetch it from Efay 53 t. The drift both of the Prophet there, and the Apoftie here, is all one, even to complaine of the Jewes infideli- ty, namely, that the joyful]. meffage of. the Gofpell had fo hard fucceffe and unhappy end among them, as that the greateft nnmber fhould (till abide in their unbeliefe; wherewith feeing men were not moved, therefore Paul turneth his complaint to God, and mourneth for it before him. T t M. What are we to underffand by this queffion [Who bath ?] S t L. This queftion fignifies fome- times [Norma all,] as Rom. to.6. and it is fometimes put for few, as Pfal. 14. I, and here likewife. T t M. What fignifies [Report ?] S t L. The word in the Hebrew fignifies hearing, or the do &rine which was heard,not which the Apoftles them- felves heard ofGod,but which the Jewess heard from the Apoftles : therefore it is Paid [Our report,] in which word, the thing which is the obje& of hearing, is put for hearing it felfe. T t M. What Dolrines from hence ? S t L. That the Prophets by the Spi- rit ofprophele, did forefee what effe &s would follow the Gofpell preached to the Jewes. God forefeeth all things of himfelf bitrrtd> Dotárine
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