And this is the meaning of these words. The doctrines which arise from them, are these. First, whereas the promises 1of God, concerning the gathering together of his Church, are made both to the Jews, Israelites, and Gentiles; and unto ⟨p. 118⟩the Jews in the first place. Hence we learn to lay aside that ancient enmity which is in worldly men towards that Nation, and to love those which are converted to the faith as brethren; and likewise to pray for those which are not yet called, that they may be added to the Church. The malice of men towards this nation hath bin such, that it is grown into a proverbial speech; to hate one as they hate a Jew: the which, howsoever it is a just judgement of God upon the Jews, for their obstinacy in their infidelity and unthankfulness; yet it is a sin in them, seeing this people have in divers respects deserved well at our hands; in that they were for a long time together, faithful treasurers of Gods divine oracles, the Law and Prophets; in that they were our mother Church, unto which we were added, from whom we have received our light and knowledge; and in that by their fall, salvation is come unto us Gentiles: Rom. 11. 11. And therefore 2let us not boast our selves against the natural branches, who were branches of the wild Olive tree. For if God spared not them, let us take heed lest he also spare not us: Rom. 11. 21. Yea, but will some say, they crucified the Lord of life, 3and therefore deserve to be hated of all. I answer, that we are rather to turn the edge of this hatred against our own sins, which were the principal cause of Christs death, whereof they were but instruments, and as it were our executioners. Besides, God in his exceeding mercy and goodness, hath turned this their cruel fact to our exceeding good, even to the redemption and salvation of our bodies and souls: and therefore if this were a sufficient cause to appease Josephs anger towards his brethren, because God turned their malice to all their good, even the advancement of Joseph, 4and preservation of their whole family: then surely the like reason should pacify our wrath towards our elder brethren the Jews, seeing God hath in his infinite goodness made their hatred and rage, a means of our redemption and eternal salvation, by Christs death and bloodshed.
And this is the meaning of these words. The doctrines which arise from them, are these. First, whereas the promises 1of God, concerning the gathering together of his Church, are made both to the Iewes, Israelites, and Gentiles; and vnto ⟨p. 118⟩the Iewes in the first place. Hence we learne to lay aside that antient enmity which is in worldly men towards that Nation, and to loue those which are conuerted to the faith as brethren; and likewise to pray for those which are not yet called, that they may be added to the Church. The malice of men towards this nation hath bin such, that it is growne into a prouerbiall speech; to hate one as they hate a Iew: the which, howsoeuer it is a iust iudgement of God vpon the Iewes, for their obstinacy in their infidelity and vnthankfulnesse; yet it is a sinne in them, seeing this people haue in diuers respects deserued well at our hands; in that they were for a long time together, faithfull treasurers of Gods diuine oracles, the Law and Prophets; in that they were our mother Church, vnto which wee were added, from whom we haue receiued our light and knowledge; and in that by their fall, saluation is come vnto vs Gentiles: Rom. 11. 11. And therefore 2let vs not boast our selues against the naturall branches, who were branches of the wild Oliue tree. For if God spared not them, let vs take heede lest he also spare not vs: Rom. 11. 21. Yea, but will some say, they crucified the Lord of life, 3and therefore deserue to be hated of all. I answer, that we are rather to turne the edge of this hatred against our owne sinnes, which were the principall cause of Christs death, whereof they were but instruments, and as it were our executioners. Besides, God in his exceeding mercy and goodnesse, hath turned this their cruell fact to our exceeding good, euen to the redemption and saluation of our bodies and soules: and therefore if this were a sufficient cause to appease Iosephs anger towards his brethren, because God turned their malice to all their good, euen the aduancement of Ioseph, 4and presetuation of their whole family: then surely the like reason should pacifie our wrath towards our elder brethren the Iewes, seeing God hath in his infinite goodnesse made their hatred and rage, a meanes of our redemption and eternall saluation, by Christs death and bloodshed.
- 1That we ought not to malign the people of the Jews.That we ought not to maligne the people of the Iewes.
- 2Rom. 11. 11.
- 3Rom. 11. 21.
- 4Gen. 50. 20.
