Bible Commentaries

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

I say then, Hath God, … — As I may seem to have said, Romans 10:1-21 Ministers must do their utmost to prevent mistakes. Zuinglius, when in his sermons he had terrified the wicked, was wont to shut up with Bone vir, hoc nihil ad te, Thou good man, I mean not thee.

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God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

Saith of Elias — A man of such transcendent zeal, that to heighten the expression thereof some have legended of him, that when he drew his mother’s breasts, he was seen to suck in fire.

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Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

And I am left alone — To withstand and reform the common corruptions. Some have commended it to our consideration, that from the first service in the temple when it was built, and the time of Elijah’s reformation, was about a hundred years. And from the reformation in King Edward VI’s days until now is about the same proportion of time.

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But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

The image of Baal — Τη Βααλ , to that lady, as our modern idolaters also call the Virgin Mary, whom they despight with seeming honours. They would persuade the world, that Christ by dying obeyed not his Father only, but his mother too, that she is the complement of the Trinity, that she entreateth not, but commandeth her Son, is the most imperious mother of our Judge, with many like horrid blasphemies, which I tremble to relate. a

a Salazar Jesuita in Proverbs 8:19 ; Proverbs 8:23 ; Proverbs 8:29 .

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Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

According to the election of grace — St Paul was Constantissimus gratiae praedicator, as Austin calleth him, a most constant preacher of God’s free grace.

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And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Then is it no more of works — Whatsoever conferrumination Soldering together; fig. intimate union or combination. ŒD of grace and works Papists dream of. They think that as he that standeth on two firm branches of a tree is surer than he that standeth upon one only; so he that trusteth to Christ and works too is in the safest condition. But, 1. They are fallen from Christ that trust to works, Galatians 5:4 ; Galatians 2:1-21 . He that hath one foot on a firm branch, and another on a rotten one, stands not so sure as if he stood wholly on that which is sound. But let them be Moses’ disciples, let us be Christ’s. Set not up a candle to this Sun of righteousness; mix not thy puddle with his purple blood, thy rags with his raiment, thy pigeon’s plumes with his eagle’s feathers. He can and will save his to the utmost,Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 7:25 . Detest all mock stays; and account accursed for ever that blasphemous direction of the Papists to dying people, Coniunge, Domine, obsequium meum cum omnibus quae Christus passus est pro me: Join, Lord, mine obedience with all that Christ hath suffered for me.

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What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

Israel — i.e. The carnal Israelite.

He seeketh for — viz. Righteousness and salvation by works.

Hardened — By a judiciary hardness.

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8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

The spirit of slumber — So that with those bears in Pliny they cannot be awakened with the sharpest prickles; and with those asses in Etruria, that feeding upon henbane they lie for dead, and awake not till half-hilded. Such a dead lethargy is now befallen Papists.

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