& because he disputeth not of every one of the elect particularly, but of the whole body, a condition is added, if they shall abide in his lenity. In deed I confess, so soon as any abuseth the goodness of God, he is worthy to be deprived of the offered grace: but improperly should this be spoken of any of the godly particularly, that God had therefore mercy on him, when he chose him, if so that he did abide in his mercy. For the perseverance of faith, which maketh perfect the effect of the ⟨image 169⟩grace of God in us, proceedeth from election. Paul therefore teacheth,1 that the Gentiles are received into the hope of eternal life, upon this condition, that by their thankfulness they should hold the possession of it. And surely that horrible defection of the whole world which followed afterward, doth plentifully testify how this admonition was not in vain. For when God had almost in a moment so watered far & wide with his grace, that religion flourished every where, shortly after the verity of the Gospel vanished, & the treasure of salvation was taken away. And whence came so sudden a change, but because the Gentiles were fallen from their calling? otherwise thou shalt also be cut off. Now we understand in what sense Paul threateneth unto them cutting off, whom before he confesseth to be grafted into the hope of life by the election of God. For first, albeit this can not happen to the elect, yet they stand in need of such exhortation, to tame the pride of the flesh: which as it is in trueth contrary to their salvation, so ought it to be terrified with the fear of damnation. As christians therefore are illuminated by faith, they hear to their assurance, that the calling of God is without repentance: but as they carry the flesh about with them, which wantonly kicketh against the grace of GOD, by this speech they are taught unto humility, take heed thou be not cut off. Howbeit that resolution which I brought is to be remembered, namely that Paul speaketh not here of the particular election of every one, but opposeth the Jews to the Gentiles: and therefore in these words he doth not so much speak unto the elect, as unto such as did falsely boast them selves to have gotten the place of the Jews. Yea he speaketh unto the Gentiles to gather, and generally the whole body, wherein many were only in title faithful and the members of Christ.
& because he desputeth not of euery one of the elect particularly, but of ye whole body, a condition is added, if they shal abide in his lenitie. In deed I cōfesse, so soone as any abuseth the goodnes of God, he is worthy to bee depriued of the offered grace: but improperly should this be spoken of any of the godly particularly, that God had therefore mercie on him, when he chose him, if so that he did abide in his mercy. For the perseuerāce of faith, which maketh perfect ye effect of the ⟨image 169⟩grace of God in vs, proceedeth from election. Paul therefore teacheth,1 that the Gentiles are receiued into the hope of eternall life, vpon this condition, that by their thankfulnesse they shoulde holde the possession of it. And surely that horrible defection of the whole worlde which followed afterward, doth plentifully testifie how this admonition was not in vayne. For when God had almost in a moment so watered far & wide with his grace, that religion florished euery where, shortly after the veritie of the Gospel vanished, & the treasure of saluation was taken away. And whēce came so sudden a change, but because the Gentiles were fallen from their calling? otherwise thou shalt also be cut off. Nowe we vnderstand in what sence Paul threatneth vnto them cutting off, whom before he confesseth to be graffed into the hope of life by the election of God. For first, albeit this can not happen to the elect, yet they stand in neede of such exhortation, to tame the pride of the fleshe: which as it is in trueth contrary to their saluation, so ought it to be terrified with the feare of damnation. As christians therefore are illuminated by fayth, they heare to their assuraunce, that the calling of God is without repentaunce: but as they carrie the fleshe about with them, which wantonly kicketh agaynst the grace of GOD, by this speeche they are taught vnto humilitie, take heede thou bee not cut off. Howebeit that resolution which I brought is to be remembred, namely that Paul speaketh not here of ye particuler electiō of euery one, but opposeth the Iewes to the Gentiles: and therfore in these words he doth not so muche speake vnto the electe, as vnto suche as did falsely boast them selues to haue gotten the place of the Iewes. Yea he speaketh vnto the Gentiles to geather, and generally the whole bodie, wherein many were onely in title faythfull and the members of Christ.
- 1This is a necessary watchword in all ages.This is a necessarie watchword in all ages.
