Verf. 17. the Epiflle to the Romans, 461 fie all the Gentiles' which ferved Idols of, is changed into the good juice of for the living God ; becaufe they were the good branch : but in the fpiritual as the wilde Olives,namely herein, that I ingratfìng, it is quite contrary ; for as the wilde Olive, though it have the then wilde branches (which are wicked unnatural men) are graffed and joyned to the good and noble ftock Chriff, by whole Spirit and grace, they are alter- ed and made new creatures like himfelf, Ephef 4. -4 otheiwife both kindesof planting agree in this; that they make the branch and flock to be one. T Ina What it Mir root into which the), were graffed ? S a L. It is Abraham in regard of Interpre- the covenant made with him, and as be tertian. was joyned to Chrift, and to be graf- ted into this rout, is to become one people of God with the jewes,growing up into one Church with them, as It they had been derived from Abraham by carnal generation, and ' fo to be made parts and members of the body of Chrif, which is the fellowfhip of all faithful people. T I *n. Whatir meant by Olive? S I L. The Church' of the Jewes, whereof Abraham was the root and fa- ther: fo called for rekmblance fake unto an Olive. Which Metaphor, we finde in Yet. I I.16. and Pfal. 52. 8. and _judg. 9.9. And it is like thole other Metaphors of a Vine, yob. 15. I. and of a Fig -tree : all which fitly reprefent theeflateof the true Church ofGod,in refpe& of the conjun&ion which is be= tween the root and the flock; and in re- gard of their great fruitfulneffi, and fweet plea Iantneffe. T I M. What it meant by the fatneffe of the Olive ? S t L. The Do&rine of the Gofpel, all the benefits of Chrif, all the graces of the Spirit,with the priviledges of the Church, called in the Pfalne, the mar - row and fatneffe of Gods houle, Pfal. 63.3. T 1M. What learn we hence.? S I L. That we bring no merits to our own juffification, no more then a branch can help a grafe it felt, or a man to beget himfelf. Secondly, it is a great excellency to be à true member of,Gods Church : for fuch be united j) with ' form and fhape ofa true Olive,yet lacks the generous and fruitful juice ofa true Olive, and therefore yeelds no pleafant fruit: fo the Gentiles being without the faith andprofèflìou ofChrift, and truepit ty,and fhadowes of many Ver- tues,and thewes ofgoodneffe,yet indeed were very unclean and accurfed, as Ephef. 2. I, 12.8C 4. 17,18,19. T 1 M. What do we learn from hence ? Doîtrine. S 1 L. The miferable condition of us all without Chrift, that howfoever we may be commended for very honef men, and have fome appearance of the Image of God, and Come thew of faith and godl ineffe, yet before our incorpo- ration into Chrift,we lack his fpirit ut- terly, and bring forth fruit which is bitter, even fruit to death, fuch as be Reap!. reckoned up,Gal 5.19i zo, 21. The rea- fon is,becaufeall is fin anddeath,which iseftranged from Chrift. , T I m. What profit h- to be made by the knowledge andmeditation of tiro condition ? Vfe S I L. lt ferveth to inftru& and fir us up unto modefly and humility,unto which end it is here prefented to the Gentiles, even to fiippreffe their pride and arrogancy. Alfo it provoketh us to thankfulnef3-e for the benefit of de- liverance from it, when it is compared to the contrary condition wherein men did lie before fuch deliverance, as Ephef. 2.4, 5. And the benefit when it is per- ceived in the worthineffe of it (which without fuch comparifon cannot be) caufeth an higher efteem and fweeter fettle of it ; and that kindleth the more love towards the giver GOD, and more rejoycing in his bounty, whence fow- 1 eth all Chriftian and true gratitude. T I M. What other matter do we obferve here? Doîirine. S I L. The difference which is be- tween natural and fpiritual grafting. For in natural( grafting a good and Tweet fcions or branch, is graffed to a fowre crabbed flock, by flitting and pricking the fame : the bad Cap where-
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