Vert. 28. the Epiflle to the Romans. Dottrine. vf. S t L. Firff, the covenant which was given to the Fathers, makes all fuch as come ofthen CO be holy, though not with perfonall holines,yet with federali fo far as to be counted Gods people, and w have right and title to the word and Sacraments,as before. Secondly, he fpeakes now of fuch as are not only under the covenant, but under Gods free ele& ion, and therefore fuch as mu fl be called in time, and made to walke in the fleps of their Fathers faith,who (hall be loved and received, not fo much for their Fathers, as becaufe of Chrift, in whom they bcleeve,as their Fathers did before them. T s M. What is our doilrine from hence? S t L. That God extendshis love to the godly parents and to their iffue, which imitate their faith and goodness even as among( men, the friend(hip and kindnc(fe of parents,we often fee is con- veyed to their children; as David loved Jonathan the Father; and Mephibofheth his Sonne. So God deriveth his love to the children, which be like unto their good and righteous parents,Pfal. 112.2. and we read that God remenbred Ifaac for Abrahams fake : and did good to Solomon for David his fathers fake: fee'the 2.cona- mandem en t, Exod. 2o. T i M. What (hould this teach us? S 1 L. Firfi, it warneth us all herein to imitate God, to continue our love in a confiant tenour from Father to the childe, there being no jufi caufe to the contrary, as David loved and honoured Cbirnham,when he could not doe his Fa- ther Barzillai any good, by reafon of his old age, 2 Sam. 19.38. Secondly,not to hate the wicked longer then they a- bide in their refufall of the Gofpell, but as God and Angels receive love, and joy at fanners when they convert, fo ought wemen, Luke 15. Thirdly,that children which have had godly parents, (hall be inheritours of the fame grace and love, fo as they be followers of the piety of their parents. lfthey degenerate, God will hate them as he did the Jewes which grew out of kinde, but if they be like to their beleeving progenitors, they (hall tafle of the fame love. Lafily, feeing 491 God loveth many of the Jews, let not Ghrifiians katethem, negle &ordefpife, or be uncoùrteous or hurtfull to them; but daily and earndtly pray for the con - verfion ofiùch amongft them, as pertain to Gods ele &ion and covenant, provok- ing them by our Chriftian and godly converfation to come unto, and to like of the Gofpell, and not drive themmore backwards from Chrifl, by fuperßitious ufages and corrupt manners, for which the Idolatrous Papifis and carnali pro- feffors have much to anfwer to God, who will be a fevere revenger of fuch fcandals. T r M. Go forward fo verfe 2. which bath a new realm from the nature of God, to prove his unchangeable love to the Nation of the jewel, becasJeGod himfelfe cannot change his own counfell. Tell as what is meant by [ gifts and calling,] and by [without repen- tance,] and what is our inftruflion from this whole verfe ? S t L. By [gifts] he meaneth not either corporali good things, as health, ftrength,beauty; nor yet naturall gifts of the minde, as wit, memory, &c. nor worldly goods, as riches, honours; nor all fpirituall good things,as knowledge, gifts of preaching, prayer, &c. for thefe may be, and lare loft, and taken away from many. Whereas Patel (peaks ofgifts which be irrevocable, and oncehad, are no more loft ; as ele &ion and the fpeci- all fruits thereof, viz. remiflion of fins, juftification,faith,repentance,fan&ifica- Lion, hope, love, prefeverance in grace, and glorification ; thefe peculiar gifts which flow out of Gods eternall pre - deftination and love : Alto that calling which is according to Gods purpofe, which is ever effettuall to the change and renewing of the heart, and of thefe it is written, they be without [Repen- tance,] that is, immutable without any alteration. Repentance the caul of change,being by a Metonymic, put for mutation which is the effe &: for there- fore men change becaufe they repent; not that thefe gifts and others, fail- ing in themfelves, as things created be Cubje& to change, (God alone being abíolutely without change, being fim- ply'
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