Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

25 As he saith also in Hosea. Now he declareth that the calling of the Gentiles ought not to seem new: as which was testified long before, by the oracle of the prophet. The sense is plain enough, but that there is somewhat to do for applying the testimony: for none will deny, but the Prophet speaketh there of the Israelites. For the Lord being offended at their wickedness, denounceth, they should no more afterward be his people. After that he addeth a consolation: and of not beloved, maketh them beloved, of not a people, a people. And Paul goeth about to apply that unto the Gentiles, which is precisely spoken unto the Israelites.

25 As hee sayth also in Osee. Nowe hee declareth that the calling of the Gentiles ought not to seeme newe: as which was testified long before, by the oracle of the prophete. The sence is plaine inough, but that there is somewhat to doe for applying the testimonie: for none will denie, but the Prophete speaketh there of the Israelites. For the Lorde being offended at their wickednesse, denounceth, they shoulde no more afterwarde be his people. After that hee addeth a consolation: and of not beloued, maketh them beloued, of not a people, a people. And Paule goeth about to applie that vnto the Gentiles, which is precisely spoken vnto the Israelites.

They who hitherto have best unfolded this knot, have thought that Paul would reason thus: that which might be supposed an impediment to the Gentiles, to hinder them from being partakers of salvation, was also in the people of Israel: as God therefore in old time did graciously receive the Jews into favour, whom he had cast off and banished: even so now he useth the same bountifulness towards the Gentiles. But because that interpretation, although it may be suffered, yet seemeth unto me to be somewhat forced, let the readers consider, whither this be not more apt, if we do believe, that consolation of the Prophet was not given to the Jews only, but also to the Gentiles. For it is no new or strange thing among the Prophets, after they have published the vengeance of God, against the Jews for their iniquities, to turn themselves unto the kingdom of Christ, which was to be dispersed over the whole world. Neither did they that without reason. For seeing the Jews by their sins did so provoke the wrath of God, that they deserved to be divorced from him, there remaineth no hope of salvation, unless they turn themselves unto Christ: by whom the covenant of grace is restored, and as it was founded in him, so now by his intercession it is renewed. And assuredly seeing Christ is the only refuge in desperate affairs, or such as are past all hope: no sound consolation can be brought unto miserable sinners, and such as see the wrath of God hang over them, but by setting Christ before their eyes. Yea this (as we have admonished) is ordinary amongest the Prophets, when they have humbled the people being pricked with the threatening of Gods vengeance, to recall them unto Christ, the only sanctuary of those have no other refuge. And where the kingdom of Christ is erected, there also that heavenly Jerusalem is raised up, into which the Citizens out of all parts of the world are gathered. And that chiefly availeth in the present oracle: for when the Jews were cast out of the family of God, by that means they were brought into a vulgar or common estate, and were made like unto the Gentiles. After the difference is taken away, now the mercy of God hath place indifferently amongst all nations.