1 490 An Expofztion upon _Chap,,«, DolIrine. Reafen. Vfe. 139. 21,22. And this Paul Both prove by two reafons. Firft, becaufe they be. leeve not the Gofpell, but ftrive and fight againft it. Secondly, for the Gen- tiles fake,which may have a double fenfe, either that the Jewes for their unbeleet being caft out, the Gentiles might be called in, and enter into their void room : or elfe for your fake, that is, be- caufe they fee you imbrace the Gofpell, even therefore they refill the Do&rine ofChrift, and abhorre you for making profeflion of it : and thus I judge it fhould be taken. T 1 M. What DolIrines are we to learns from thefe words, thus declared? S I L. Firft, that God is an ene- mie, and hateth fuch as be advcrfaries to the Gofpell of his Sonne. The reafon hereof is good, becaufe the Gofpell proceedes from God himfelfe, as au- thor; alto, it entreateth of his grace and mans falvation, and is the word of his Wifedome,wherein he bath uttered his counfell for mans eternal! happines, being a word of truth and reconcile - ment.Therefore fuch as oppofe and op- pugne this word, cannot be but odious to God. T i M.Wbat is the ufe that we are to make of this inffru£lien ? S i L. Firft, it fheweth the molt miferable ettate and condition of all Heretickes, Papifts, Jewes , Atheifts, fcoffers, profane worldlings; ofwhich Paul faith, Phil. 3. 18, I9. they be ene- mies to the croffe of Chrift, that is, to the do&rine of Chrift crucified; and therefore God abhorres them, and their end muff be damnation, without hearty repentance. If God will take vengeance in flaming fire of them which be igno- rant of his will, and do not know the Gofpell, a 7hef. 1.8. how will he tor- ment fuch as by word, falfe opinions, writing, or (word and perfecution, be enemies to the Gofpell ? Secondly, this admonitheth us whom we mull ac- count enemies, and how farre forth, namely, not for their private profit or pleafure, but for the Gofpell and mens falvation fake : with fuch as hurt theft, we muff have irreconcileable diffe- retice, fo long as they fee themfelves againft the Gofpcll, and do not repent, Which reprooves men - pleafers and time - fervors, who for lucre and world- ly cafe and dignity, are ready and for- ward to have unity with Gods enemies, to compound light and darkneffe, to fet agreement between Popilh Idolatry, and Chriftian religion, between Chrift and Antichrift, as if they would endevour to accord fire and water, a chatte Ma- tron, and an arrant Strumpet, heaven and hell : fee Deg. i 3. 5,6,7. 2 Cor. 6. 14., 15. T 1 M. What is meant by [beloved] and of thorn ú it meant ? S 1 L. Beloved fignifieth dear unto God, not to the faithful! onely; of which love there be two caufes rende- red.Firft, the ele &ion of God.Secondly, their Fathers, and the covenant with them. T 1 M. What is meant by [eletling ?] S I L. The external! grace of the covenant, whereby God chofe this people from amo ngft all other nations of the earth to be his people, Deut. 32. 8,9. Secondly, eternal! ele &ion where- by he chofe many of them in Chrift to be heires of eternal! life; this cove. nant and ele&ion are perpetual! and not temporary. T a M. What Fathers are thefe he fpeakes of ? S 1 L. Abraham, I faac, and Jacob, and the otherPatriarchs,to whom God made a folemne promife to be their God, and the God of their feed. The fumme is; Seeing the ele &ion of God hath fuch force and vigour in this people of the Jewes, and God did love their Fathers, and gave them a promife to fave them and theirpofterity:therefore God loveth their children,and will in his good time convert them,becaufe he hath fet his love upon them ;for his nature is fuch, that he repents not, nor changeth his holy purpofe, and heavenly calling. T 1 M. But what will it helpe the Jewes being themfelves unbeleevers and unho- ly, to defcend of holy and faithful! Fathers, more hereafter , then heretofore it bath done ? S a L. Interpret. Boubt.
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