Vert. >< . the Epiftle to the Romans. 455 Interpret. Summe. the Gentile, their refloring fhall not hinder but further it more. For if God can do that which it lefi'e likely,to draw good out of evil!; much more he can turne that which is good, to the good of the Gentile. Again, a thing which is good (as the refloring of the Jew) hath a proper inbred vertue, to bring forth that which is good;; but a thing which is evils (as the fall of theJews) bringeth forth good accidentally, not as a caufe, but as an occafion only. T t Nt. Expound the wordy, and tell us what is meant by [fall ? ] S 1 L. The calling off of the Jewes from Chrift in part, and not wholly; therefore called (diminution, or mini - fhing) by which word we are not to underftand the Apoftles, which were but few and abje &, yet enriched the Gentilesby their preaching: but the falling away of the Jew unto a few and (mall number: for the molt of them re- futing Chrit by unbeleef, the refidue were but a few ; and therfore fitly cal- led a minifhing, or a diminution,which is not an excifion or cutting off the whole, but a decifion or cutting a part from the whole. T r M. What is meant by [world andtheir riches ?] S t L. [World] fignifieth the Gen- tiles, fo expounded in the words fol- lowing : and the riches of the Gentiles implyeth both the great multitude of the Gentiles called to Chrif by the Go.lpell, and the thing wherewith they were enriched,even the plentiful' know- ledge of Chrift,and the abundant graces of the Spirit. T i M. What frgnifies abundance ? S s L. Two things : Fitt, the great company of the Jewes which (hall be called, towards the end of the world. And fecondly, the encreafe oflpiritttail graces beftowed on the Jewes in their generali convert-ion. So as this is the furntne of this whole vérfe; Seeing the Tewesbeing fallen away from God,and brought toa little nnmber, did occafi- on the plentiful! and general! vocation of the Gentiles unto grace, therefore' i the Jewes themfelves being generally called and abundantly bleffed 1,vith the riches of Chrift, there Thal] aloft cer- tainly thereby come great good to the Gentiles. T a Ns. Let 114 now fer what DoOrines doe arife out of this. aa. -verfe thus ex- pounded ? S r L. Firfl, we learn the exceeding great feverity and moft fharpe wrath of God, in the great fall and mifery of the Jewes, his own and only people, for many thoufand years endowed with innumerable priviledges, as in Rom. 9. 5,6,7. yet the greateft part of the whole Nation was fallen from God into ex- treamedefolation. The reafon hereof, is themalice and infidelity the Jewes, Driving againft Chrift the Son of God, and his Gofpell preached by himfelte and hisApoí les,and calling them Tweet -t ly unto falvation, fee ver. 2o. T t M. What afe it to be made cf this dotlrine ? S e L. It warneth all men to 'land ins Vfe. awe of Gods feverity, and to keep froml fin, through fear of his jufice, Pial.4.5. How will he (pare thee, when he did not fparea whole Nation ? how will hel pity a wilde branch, which did cut off the true Olive? Therefore fear him a 11 ye people, becaufe he judgetlr without refpe& of perlons, i Pet. 2. 17. The fe- cond ufe is to exhort us to beware as of all fin, fo chiefly of unbeleef, which thruf Adam out of paradife, the Jews out of the Church, and out of brawn too, aud tumbled them down to hell, Reve. 21.8. Unbeleef molt difhonour- eth God, moll hurteth men, being the root of all fins, and caufe of all tempo. rail and eternal] tormeü.ts: therefo re we ought much miflike it, and mightily Drive againfi it. T t M. What is the feronddu irine? S 1 L. That the Jews thall be re'lored to grace towards the end of the world, and that not by two or three, or a few; but by great companies. As the whole Nation in a manner departed from Chrif,foina manner shall the whole Nation return to him: the proof hereof sin this verfe,in the word [abundance] and in verfe 26. T IM. DaEiriné. Reafon. Marine.
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