And let us consider one another.] Vers. 24 I doubt not but he speaks particularly to the Jews, and specially directs this his exhortation to them. We know well how great the arrogance and pride of this nation was. For in regard they were of the stock and linage of Abraham, they so gloried therein, as if they only were received into the covenant of eternal life; and therefore rejected all others. And thus being puffed up with such a prerogative, and despising all people in regard of themselves, they only would have the estimation to be the Church of God: and which more is, they proudly attributed unto themselves the title of the Church, as being only proper unto them. Now to correct this their pride, the Apostles were constrained to take so much the more pains. And in mine opinion, the Apostles drift here is, that the ⟨p. 216⟩[…] ⟨p. 217⟩[…] ⟨p. 218⟩Jews should not be displeased to see the Gentiles made partakers with them, and to be united with them into the same body of the Church. Now in the first place he saith, Let us consider one another: for them God gathered his Church both of Jews and Gentiles, amongst whom in former time there had been always great discord, so as this society was as if one would have made fire and water to have agreed together. And therefore the Jews withdrew and separated themselves, thinking it an unreasonable thing, that the Gentiles should be compared with them. Against this perverse provocation of envy which pricked them forward, the Apostle sets a contrary provocation, to wit, of love: for the Greek word which he useth, signifies an earnestness of contention. To the end then that the Jews who were inflamed with envy, should not enter into combat against the Gentiles, he exhorts them to an holy emulation: to wit, that they should stir up and provoke one another to love. That which by & by after followeth, confirms this exposition: Not forsaking (saith he) the fellowship, or our assembling. The composition of the Greek word is to be noted, which signifies not simply an assembly, or a congregation, but a congregation augmented with new increasings. The wall being then broken down, God assembled those together which had bin strangers from the Church, to knit them unto his children, Ephes. 2.14. Thus the Gentiles were a new and unwonted increasing of the Church.
And let vs consider one another.] Vers. 24 I doubt not but he speaks particularly to the Iewes, and specially directs this his exhortation to them. We know well how great the arrogancie and pride of this nation was. For in regard they were of the stock and linage of Abraham, they so gloried therein, as if they onely were receiued into the couenant of eternal life; and therefore reiected all others. And thus beeing puffed vp with such a prerogatiue, and despising all people in regard of themselues, they onely would haue the estimation to be the Church of God: and which more is, they proudly attributed vnto themselues the title of the Church, as being onely proper vnto them. Now to correct this their pride, the Apostles were constrained to take so much the more pains. And in mine opinion, the Apostles drift here is, that the ⟨p. 216⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 217⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 218⟩Iewes should not bee displeased to see the Gentiles made partakers with them, and to bee vnited with them into the same bodie of the Church. Now in the first place he saith, Let vs consider one another: for thē God gathered his Church both of Iewes and Gentiles, amongst whom in former time there had been alwaies great discord, so as this societie was as if one would haue made fire and water to haue agreed together. And therefore the Iewes withdrew and separated themselues, thinking it an vnreasonable thing, that the Gentiles shuld be compared with thē. Against this peruerse prouocation of enuie which pricked them forward, the Apostle sets a contrarie prouocation, to wit, of loue: for the Greeke word which he vseth, signifies an earnestnes of contention. To the end then that the Iewes who were inflamed with enuie, should not enter into combat against the Gentiles, he exhorts them to an holy emulation: to wit, that they should stirre vp and prouoke one another to loue. That which by & by after followeth, confirmes this exposition: Not forsaking (saith hee) the fellowship, or our assembling. The composition of the Greeke word is to be noted, which signifies not simply an assemblie, or a congregation, but a congregation augmented with new encreasings. The wall being then broken downe, God assembled those together which had bin strangers from the Church, to knit them vnto his children, Ephes. 2.14. Thus the Gentiles were a new and vnwonted encreasing of the Church.
