Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

And in the Acts they are called the children of the covenants,¹ because they were the offspring of of the Prophets. The other thing that is to be considered, is, that they are properly called the sons of promise, in whom the virtue and efficacy thereof appeareth. And in this respect Paul here denieth all the sons of Abraham to be the sons of God, although the covenant of the Lord were made with them: because but few did stand in the faith of the covenant: when yet notwithstanding God himself doth testify by Ezekiel, they are all unto him in stead of sons. To be brief, when the whole people is called the inheritance,² and peculiar people of God, it is meant they are adopted of the Lord, the promise of salvation being offered unto them and confirmed by the seal of circumcision, But because many of them ⟨image 133⟩refuse that adoption by their ingratitude, and therefore enjoy not the benefit thereof, hence ariseth among them another difference, whiles the fulfilling of the promise is respected. Least therefore it should seem wonderful unto any, that that fulfilling of the promise appeareth not in many of the Jews, Paul denieth them to have been comprehended in the true election of God. Or if any had rather in other words thus, the general election of the people of Israel letteth not, but God by his secrete counsel may choose out from among them, whom he thinketh good. And this is a singular testimony of Gods free mercy, that he vouchsafed to make the covenant of life with one nation: but yet his hidden grace aboundeth more in the second election, which is restrained unto a part only. And where he denieth all to be Israelites that are of Israel, and all to be sons, that are of the seed of Abraham, it is a kind of collusion of words (which is, when a word is repeated again not altogether the same, but somewhat changed) seeing in the first member he comprehendeth the whole progeny, in the other he noteth only the true sons, namely, which do not degenerate.

And in the Actes they are called the children of the couenants,¹ because they were the ofspring of of the Prophetes. The other thing that is to bee considered, is, that they are properly called the sonnes of promise, in whome the vertue and efficacie thereof appeareth. And in this respect Paule heere denieth all the sonnes of Abraham to bee the sonnes of God, although the couenant of the Lord were made with them: because but fewe did stande in the faith of the couenant: when yet notwithstanding God himselfe doth testifie by Ezechiell, they are all vnto him in steede of sonnes. To bee briefe, when the whole people is called the inheritance,