Verf. 20,21. the Epiflle to the Romans. 41ì 7 AoEfrine. Yeafon. he well knew that the Jewes would hate and perfecute him, for his foretelling fo plainly the abjeaion of themfelves, and the adopting of the Gentiles to be Gods people in their fread; yet he did not covertly and fearefully, but openly and confidently fpeake of it without feare of their cruelty, or refpea of dan- ger. This grace is commended in Paul, AW 28. 31, and in Peter and john, 4175 4.13. for where there isno perill propofed, there is no caufe of boldneffe, but boldneffe and libertie of fpeech ar- gueth that it could not be Paid without hazard. T i M. What inflru1ions may we learn from hence ? S i L. Firff, the condition of the Mi- niflers of Chriff, that they (hall fall into dangers, if they be faithfull and ready to fpeake the truth freely ; as the Gala- tians became enemies to Paul, Ahab to Elias, Herod to John Baptifl, the Pha- rifeer to Chrift , and all becaufe they fpake the truth : this lewd unthanke, full world can afford no better wages to the fervants of God. Secondly, that Minifters of the word may not for feare of danger conceale the truth, be- caufe that God who commanded them to declare his will without feare, can and will recompcnfe them with good ehings,ifthey doe their duty, and with evill things if they faint becaufe of men: fee Jeremy 1. 17, 18. T t _14.11/hat learn ye hereby that God was found of them that fought him not? S i L. The woefitlleftate of the Gen- tiles, even of us all by nature, as we are corrupt in Adam. The reafon hereof is, becaufe we are naturally ignorant of God, and careleffe of him, of his favour and worship ; we neither of our (elves feeke him, or fo much as aske after him. Such are all men by nature without the Spirit of Chrift, as is to be feen in the example of Paul, Ails 9. and Zaeheus, Luke 19. and the Theefe on the Croffe, and by teftimonies of Scripture, Pf. 14. 1,2,3.Rom.5.7,8Gal.4. 8. Eph.4. 18. Tit. 3. 3 . We do no more think of God be- fore our converfion, then the loft groat on her which loft it, or the loft (Beep mindes his (hepheard from whom he (frayed. T i M. We at ufe of this point ? S i L. It ferveth CO humble us in our owne eyes, when we (hall meditate upon our old effate, and to cattle us to extoll the 'love and mercies of Chrilf, freely of his owne goodneffe, calling us to him, and feeking us when we not fo much as once minded him,no more then a dead man mindeth the things of this world. T i M. /tit elfemhere written, that filch asfeekGod(halfinde,as Day 55 6.1 am found of them that Peek me, and Mat.7.7. Seek and ye (hag find ; how then is it faidhere, that he it found of them who fought him not ? S i L. This is underffood of the time going before their firft converfion, and calling of the ele& which Peek not God, till he firft leek and finds them ; but the other places and Texts fpeake of fuch as once being converted and moved by the Spirit of Cheif,do hence- forth leek him, and by feeking finde him, When God inwardly flirreth the ele&, then they feeke him, John 6.44 and by leek ing find, but before they be firft found of God, they no more leek him, then a dead man feekes life, or a fleeping man food. T i M. What doth the 21 verfe contain? S t L. It doth de(cribe Gods excee- ding great mercy towards the )(Ives and their wicked ingratitude in de- (piling it,being lovingly and conffantly offered : but more particularly it doth let forth two excellent venues in God, and two notorious vices in the Ifrae. lites. . T i M. What be the twovertuerinGod ? S i L. Firft, Gods kindneffe, fignifi ed in firetching forth the hand,which is a fpeech borrowed from mothers, who allure their wanton children to them by caffing abroad their hands,therein (hew- ing how ready they are to embrace them when they come : in like manner God by benefits, threatnings, exhorta- tions, promifes yea by all meanes, taire or foule, inviteth and calleth to faith and repentance,the obllinate Jewrs,that he might reclaime them. The fecond vertue 7lfe. A doubt. Solution.
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