Romans 11

The sight of Caesar's bloody robe incensed the Romans against them that slew him: The sight of Christ's bleeding body should incense us against sin; let us not parley with it, let not that be our joy which made Christ a man of sorrow. Use 2. Is Christ our Priest sacrificed, see…

They who are effectually called, are candidates of heaven, they are princes in all lands (Psalm 45:16), though princes in disguise. 3. It is an immutable call (Romans 11:9). The gifts and calling of God are without repentance; that is, those gifts which flow from election, (as v…

Reason thinks God must go such a way to work, or the business will never be effected. This is to limit God to our reason, whereas he is infinite, and his ways are past finding out (Romans 11:33). In the deliverance of the church it is a limiting God either to set him a time, or…

It is he that has made us. We think it a great kindness in a man to spare our life, but what kindness is it in God to give us our life; we draw our breath from him, and as life, so all the comforts of life are from God: he gives us health, which is the sauce to sweeten our life;…

(Romans 9:20) Who are you, O man, that dispute against God? The plumb line of our reason is too short to fathom the depth of God's Justice, (Romans 11:33) How unsearchable are his Judgments! We are to adore God's Justice, where we cannot see a reason of it.

First, Take heed of presumption: Do not presume upon your own strength. Exercise a holy fear and jealousy over your own hearts (Romans 11:20). Be not high minded but fear (1 Corinthians 10:12).

1. Here was the masterpiece of divine wisdom, to contrive a way to happiness between the sin of man, and the justice of God. We may cry out with the Apostle (Romans 11:33), [illegible], O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! This posed men and angels.

2. We could give Christ nothing in lieu of his love. (Romans 11:35) Who has first given to him? We were fallen to poverty; if we have any beauty, it is from Christ.

17. It is mercy that there is a possibility of happiness, and that upon our pains taking we may have a kingdom; by our fall in Adam we forfeited Heaven; why might not God have dealt with us as with the lapsed angels? They had no sooner sinned but were expelled Heaven never to co…

Q. Is the decree of God secret within himself, or revealed and made known? A. It is secret within himself, till himself does reveal it, and therefore further than so it is not to be searched into (Romans 11:33, 34; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Deuteronomy 29:29). Q. How does God reveal h…

Q. For what end did God make the world? A. For the declaration of his own glory (Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16). Q. What was the state of all things by creation?

Q. What are the things whereto the providence of God does extend? A. All things without exception of any (Romans 11:36; Ephesians 1:11). Q. What are some sorts of them?

What meaneth this word world in this place? Surely not all men of all ages, but the Gentiles which were to be called after the ascension of Christ, as Paul plainly explaining his own mind shows (Romans 11:12). Therefore if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the dim…

2 Timothy 2:19: the foundation of God remains sure — the Lord knows who are his. Romans 11:2: those whom God foreknew are said to be elected according to the election of grace (verse 5). And therefore the foreknowledge mentioned by Paul does not signify the foreknowledge of fait…

Of this, speaks the Apostle, Romans 8:30. Whom God predestinated, them also he called: and Romans 11:29. The calling of God, is without repentance.

Answer. We must understand the Apostle according to his meaning: for, Romans 11.15, he expounds himself, and shows what he means by the world; saying, That the falling away of the Jews, is the reconciling of the world: which cannot be understood of men in all the ages; but in th…

As when God promised them to send a Redeemer out of Sion, to them which turn from transgression in Jacob (Isaiah 59:20), the Apostle expounds it, that Christ shall come out of Sion, and shall turn away transgression from Jacob: which is as much as if he should say, He shall work…

Therefore the promise is not made sure to faith out of works. From the opposition of grace, and works (Romans 11:6): And if by grace then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. The opposition stands not only between grace and works, but between grace and the m…

And the reasons hereof are evident, for (1) Although that perswasion which men may have of their spiritual condition, or which others may have or declare concerning them, may strengthen their peace, yet it neither does nor ought to incline them to security. You stand by faith, s…

(1) Supposing that expression, And I regarded them not, to intend the rejection of the Jews, yet it is manifest, that their excision and cutting off absolutely, was not in nor for their non-continuance in the Old Covenant, or not being faithful therein, but for the rejection of…

1. The words of the introduction are, [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] Admonished of God. [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] we render the answer of God (Romans 11:4). But what says to him [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], the Divine Oracle; a Responsum, a word or answer from God, giving caution or di…

And it is so called in opposition to that of Works, which was made with us in Adam. For these two, Grace and Works, do divide the ways of our relation to God, being diametrically opposite, and every way inconsistent (Romans 11:6). Of this Covenant the Lord Christ was the Mediato…

This was one of the first things that was preached to sinners, as was before declared; and without a compliance herewith they were not further to be treated with. For (1) the Lord Christ came not only to save men from their sins, but to turn them from their sins; to turn them fr…

Who knows but that by virtue of the engaged love and faithfulness of God declared in this promise, these withered branches may revive, and these dead bones rise again? Our Apostle places the hopes of it on this ground alone, that as touching the election they were beloved; they…

It denotes a concurrent operation, when one works with another. Nor does it always denote a subservient instrumental cause, but sometimes that which is principally efficient (John 1:5; Romans 11:34; Hebrews 1:2). So it does here; the eternal Spirit was not an inferior instrument…

For as the infinite sovereign wisdom of his being admits not of his taking counsel with any other; so the infinite simplicity of his nature and understanding comprehending all things in one single act of his mind, allows not of formal counsel or deliberation. The first therefore…

And when any provocation is high, we render it strife or contention, such as whereby the spirits of men are embittered one towards another (Acts 15:39). Howbeit, it is used sometimes for an earnest and diligent excitation of the minds or spirits of men to that which is good (see…

(2.) In that things were at a great stand as to the progress of the Gospel among the Hebrews. At the first preaching of it multitudes were converted to Christ, and the Word continued in efficacy towards them for some season afterwards; but now as our Apostle plainly declares in…

While there is in such persons any seed of light or conviction of truth which is capable of an excitation or revival, so as to put forth its power and efficacy in their souls, they cannot be looked on to be in the condition intended, though their case be dangerous. 3. Our Apostl…

This was that Gospel church gathered of the Hebrews which brought forth fruit to the glory of God, and was blessed of him. This was the remnant among them according to the Election of Grace, which obtained mercy when the rest were blinded (Romans 11:5, 7). For (2) the remainder…

(2) God pours out upon such persons a spirit of slumber, or gives them up to a profound security, so as that they take notice of nothing in the works or Word of God that should stir them up to amendment, or restrain them from sin. So he dealt with these unbelieving Jews (Romans…

Thus of the second particular, that the parents in question are immediate members. The third is, that their membership still continues in adult age, and ceases not with their infancy; 1. Because in Scripture persons are broken off only for notorious sin, or incorrigible in penit…

Do but compare these persons in question, whom the hasty and rigid severity of man here pronounces to be justly deemed breakers of the Covenant, and to have put themselves out of it, with those whom the holy, but merciful and gracious God does in Scripture call and account such…

5. See here the wisdom of God, who can make the worst things imaginable turn to the good of the Saints; he can by a divine Chemistry extract Gold out of dross. [...] — O the depth of the wisdom of God! Romans 11.33. It is God's great design to set forth the wonder of his wisdom.

And again it is said, that God by his son made the world (Hebrews 1:2). As for the Holy Ghost, the work of creation is also ascribed to him: and therefore Moses says, The spirit moved upon the waters (Genesis 1:2): and Job says, His spirit has garnished the heavens ([reconstruct…

God's love is not founded upon any temporal accident, but on his own counsel, in which there can be no change, because the same reasons that moved him to choose at first, continue for ever. God never repented in time of what he purposed before all time: (Romans 11:29) His gifts…

For all works done are in the matter of justification and salvation opposed to the grace of Christ. Romans 11:6: Election is of grace, not of works; if it be of works, it is no more of grace. Again, whereas they teach that we are saved by the works of Christ which he works in us…

If any ask the cause of this distinction, I answer: it is the very will of God, vouchsafing mercy to some and forsaking others by withdrawing his mercy from them, for the better declaration of his justice. Thus says the Lord in Romans 11:4: I have reserved seven thousand that ne…

We would degrade his omniscience and wisdom, and sway him by our foolish and purblind dictates; it is as if we would instruct him better in the management of the world, and direct him to a reformation of his methods (Job 40:2): shall he that contends with the Almighty, instruct…

The word does breed a quicke sence: they who have not this true voyce sounding to them, in hearing they doe not heare, and seeing they doe not see; their hearts are fat, their eares heavy, and their eyes shut (Isaiah 6:9). God has given them the spirit of slumber (Romans 11:8);…

Hence there were Baalim, though the one to whom all referred was one; and Baalim and Baal are used interchangeably. Indeed, the Holy Spirit so consistently regarded the actual images or statues in the Baalitic worship that Paul uses the name of Baal in the feminine gender, by wh…

Ans The same Apostle shall againe answer for himselfe. Rom. 11. 15. The casting away of the Jews, is the reconciling of the world, that is, of the Gentiles in the last age of the world: for so he said before more plainly, The falling avvay of the Ievv, is the riches of the world…

Thirdly, to what is the native use it calls for; and lastly, to some considerations to press this. For the first, when we say to all that hears this Gospel that there is a necessity of a powerful work of grace before this Word can be profitable, you should 1. Abstain from, and l…

Some are ready to think (as was hinted before) that the elect by nature were better than others, or that God foresaw they would be better, and therefore he elected them. This piece of Arminianism is in all naturally; but this text in down-right contradiction to such a groundless…

Thus you see what is the meaning of these words, "my people" — that is, his elect people in or by the decree of election. I shall shortly give you some few grounds from Scripture to clear and confirm this truth; the first of which is taken from the names that the people of God g…

4. They have a rich portion from Him, and are well provided for. 5. What good they get, is for His sake, who is their Father; here we may allude to that word (Romans 11), they are beloved for the Father's sake, by a right and title to Him; they come to have a good and goodly por…

It is so, first, that the Lord may humble all flesh, as the Apostle says (Romans 3:19): that every mouth may be stopped, and that all the world may become guilty before God. Second, it is so ordered, that His grace may shine the more conspicuously; when the person is found guilt…

A second sort, are such as want not affection to truth; nor love to piety, yet to them the studying of this doctrine, that concerns Christ, and His offices, is somewhat tasteless, and wearisome; they would be at hearing of duties, cases and questions spoken of; though we may, in…

Object 3. If the promise be made sure of God to faith, of grace, then it is not first made sure of faith to works. But the promise is made sure of God, to faith, out of grace (Romans 4:5), to him that works not, but believes: the opposition between grace and works (Romans 11:6;…

Argument 5. God (as Augustine says) has a greater dominion over our wills, than we have over them ourselves; as he is more master of the beings, so of the operations, (that are created beings) than the creature is, and so he must use the creature's operations at his own pleasure…