6 For if the first fruits. Now by comparing the dignity of the Jews with the Gentiles, he taketh from these, pride, and pleaseth or pacifieth those as much as he can. For he showeth how the gentiles do no way excel the Jews, if they pretend any prerogative of honour that is their own: yea if they did strive therein, they should be left far behind. In which comparison we must remember, that man is not compared with man, but nation with nation. Therefore if they be compared together between them selves, herein they shall be found like that they are both the sons of Adam: this only is the difference, that the Jews were separated from the gentiles, that they might be a peculiar people to the Lord. Therefore they were sanctified by the holy covenant, and adorned with peculiar honour, wherewithal the Lord did not vouchsafe the gentiles at the time: but because little virtue of the covenant appeared then, he biddeth us look unto Abraham and the Patriarchs, with whom assuredly the blessing of God was not in vain or void. He therefore gathereth, that hereditary holiness descended from them to all the posterity: which collection could not hold, if he spake of the persons only, and rather had not regard unto the promise. For it followeth not straightways because the father was just, therefore he passeth over his honesty into his son: but because the Lord sanctified to himself Abraham upon this condition, that his seed also should be holy:1 and so put sanctity not only into the person of Abraham, but also into the whole kindred: thereupon Paul doth not reason amiss, that all the Jews were sanctified in their father Abraham. Finally, to prove that, he bringeth two similitudes: the former being taken from the ceremonies of the law: and the other taken from nature. For the first fruits which were offered, did sanctify the whole lump: likewise from the root, the goodness of juice is dispersed into the branches: But the same reason have posterities with their parents of whom they come, which the lump hath with the first fruits, and branches with the root. Therefore it is no marvel, though the Jews be sanctified in their father Abraham. Here shall be no difficulty, if thou doest understand sanctity to be nothing else, then spiritual nobility of stock, and the same not proper to nature, but which did proceed from the covenant.
6 For if the first fruites. Now by comparing the dignity of the Iewes with the Gentiles, he taketh from these, pride, and pleaseth or pacifieth those as much as he cā. For he sheweth how the gentiles doe no way excel the Iewes, if they pretend any prerogatiue of honour that is their owne: yea if they did striue therin, they should be left farre behind. In which comparison wee must remember, that man is not compared with man, but natiō with nation. Therfore if they be compared together between thē selues, herein they shalbe found like that they are both the sonnes of Adam: this only is the difference, yt the Iewes were separated from ye gentiles, that they might be a peculiar people to the Lord. Therfore they were sanctified by the holy couenant, and adorned with peculier honour, wherwithal the Lord did not voucsafe the gentiles at ye time: but because little vertue of the couenaunt appeared then, he biddeth vs looke vnto Abraham and the Patriarches, with whom assuredly the blessing of God was not in vaine or voide. He therefore gathereth, that hereditarie holinesse descended from them to al the posteritie: whiche collection could not hold, if he spake of the persons only, and rather had not regard vnto the promise. For it followeth not straightwaies because the father was iust, therefore he passeth ouer his honestie into his sonne: but because the Lord sanctified to himselfe Abrahā vpon this condition, that his seede also should be holy:1 and so put sanctitie not onely into the person of Abraham, but also into the whole kinred: therupon Paul doth not reason amisse, that al the Iewes were sanctified in their father Abrahā. Finally, to prooue that, he bringeth two similitudes: the former being taken from the ceremonies of the law: and the other taken from nature. For the first fruites which were offred, did sanctifie the whole lumpe: likewise from the roote, the goodnes of iuice is dispersed into the braunches: But the same reason haue posterities with their parents of whom they come, which the lumpe hath with the first fruites, and braunches with the roote. Therfore it is no maruell, though the Iewes be sanctified in their father Abraham. Here shall be no difficultie, if thou doest vnderstande sanctitie to bee nothing els, then spirituall nobilitie of stocke, and the same not proper to nature, but whiche did proceede from the couenaunt.
- 1How the whole nation of the Jews is said to be sanctified in Abraham.How the whole nation of the Iewes is said to be sanctified in Abraham.
