11 Have they stumbled? &c. Thou shalt trouble thy self greatly in this disputation, unless thou observe that the Apostle sometime speaketh of the whole nation of the Jews,1 sometime but of particular men. For thence cometh that diversity, that sometime he saith the Jews were banished from the kingdom of God, cut off from the tree, and by the judgement of GOD, thrown into destruction: other some time again he denieth them to be fallen from grace, but rather to abide in the possession of the covenant, and to have place in the Church of God. So then according to this distinction he speaketh now. For seeing the Jews for the most part did reject Christ, so that, that perversity did in a manner possess the whole nation, and there appeared but few amongest them of a better mind. He demandeth, whither the nation of the Jews had so stumbled, that it were for ever to be despaired of, neither were there any hope of repentance left. And here he worthily denieth the salvation of the Jews to be past hope, or that they are so cast off, of the Lord, that there is no restitution to be looked for, or that the covenant of grace is utterly extinguished, which God once made with them: seeing there remained alway in that nation, a blessed seed. That his meaning is thus to be understood it appeareth by this, namely, that before he joined most sure ruin unto excecation, & now maketh hope of rising again: ⟨image 165⟩which two cold not agree in one. Then they are fallen, & fallen to destruction, who were obstinately offended at Christ: yet the nation is not so fallen, that it should follow of necessity, who so is a Jew he is lost, or fallen away from God. But their fall is salvation to the Gentiles. The Apostle in this place noteth two things: namely, that the fall of the Jews turned to the salvation of the Gentiles: but to this end, that they might be kindled with a certain jealousy, & so bethink themselves of repentance. Surely he respected the testimony of Moses which he had already cited: where the Lord threateneth Israel, that as he was provoked of them through false Gods unto emulation: so also by the law of retaliation he would provoke them with a foolish people. The word that is used there, noteth the affection of emulation and jealousy: namely, that we burn, when we see another preferred before us.
11 Haue they stumbled? &c. Thou shalt trouble thy selfe greatly in this disputation, vnlesse thou obserue that the Apostle sometime speaketh of the whole nation of the Iewes,1 sometyme but of particular men. For thence commeth that diuersitie, that sometime he saith the Iewes were banished from the kingdome of God, cut off from the tree, and by the iudgement of GOD, throwen into destruction: other some time againe he denieth thē to be fallen from grace, but rather to abyde in the possession of the couenaunt, and to haue place in the Church of God. So then according to this distinction he speaketh now. For seeyng the Iewes for the most part did reiect Christ, so that, that peruersitie did in a manner possesse the whole nation, and there appeared but fewe amongest them of a better minde. Hee demaundeth, whither the nation of the Iewes had so stumbled, that it were for euer to be dispaired of, neyther were there any hope of repentaunce lefte. And heere hee woorthily denyeth the saluation of the Iewes to be past hope, or that they are so cast off, of the Lord, that there is no restitution to be looked for, or that the couenant of grace is vtterly extinguished, which God once made with them: seeing there remained alway in that nation, a blessed seede. That his meaning is thus to bee vnderstoode it appeareth by this, namely, that before he ioyned most sure ruine vnto excecation, & now maketh hope of rising againe: ⟨image 165⟩which two cold not agree in one. Then they are fallen, & fallen to destruction, who were obstinately offended at Christ: yet the nation is not so fallen, yt it should follow of necessitie, who so is a Iewe he is lost, or fallen away from God. But their fal is saluatiō to the Gentiles. The Apostle in this place noteth two thinges: namely, that the fall of the Iewes turned to the saluation of the Gentiles: but to this end, that they might be kindled with a certaine ielousie, & so bethinke thēselues of repentance. Surely he respected the testimonie of Moses which he had already cited: where the Lorde threatneth Israel, that as he was prouoked of them through false Gods vnto emulation: so also by the lawe of retaliation he would prouoke them with a foolish people. The word that is vsed there, noteth ye affection of emulation and ielousie: namely, that we burne, when we see another preferred before vs.
- 1A note for the better understā ding of the whole disputation.A note for the better vnderstā ding of ye whole disputation.
