A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at LondonA sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London

¹The answer hereunto, first as concerning the faith of the Gentiles, and the infidelity of the Jews. I confess in deed that these may seem to carry some show in the eyes, and judgement of some to be deemed the very original causes of the free acceptation of the Gent•les, and likewise of the repulse of the Jews. But for all this we hear not yet, what were the causes of the faith of the one, and of the unbelief of the other. And therefore if we will enter into a deep and more especial enquiry after the principal causes ⟨image 23⟩of this action, truly we shall never find them else where, then in the hidden and secret closet of Gods election. For be it so admitted, that the Gentiles were for this cause engrafted into the true Olive tree, because they did believe, yet if question be moved, from whence their faith proceeded first, it may well be answered, not from any their merits truly, neither in respect of any their own worthiness more, then as the imps which do issue out of the natural wild Olive tree, can boast of any their excellency, wherefore they ought to be transplanted into the fatness of the true Olive tree. The like answer in sensible wise may suffice touching the Jews, when as if the cause of their dismembering from their true natural Olive tree be enquired: I answer, For their unbelief undoubtedly: And yet this answer doth not satisfy the purport of Pauls disputation. For sithence faith is an especial gift of God, issuing from out the only mercy and grace of God, and not from mans free choice, the question reboundeth back again from whence it began. What was the cause then why the natural branches were so bereft of this singular gift after the revealing of their Messiah? whether because ⟨image 24⟩the barren unfruitful wild Olive tree did surmount the true Olive in excellency of fatness? to wit, in integrity of life and merits? surely I think not so. Wherefore then were the Jews forsaken, and the Gentiles received? S. Paul maketh this answer. First, that this repulse reached not to all the Israelites in general. Then, as concerning the remnant whatsoever work was wrought in them, was not administered without the singular counsel and foreknowledge of God:² which foreknowledge doth evidently appear by the continual discourse of the Prophets & Psalms: