Love of Christ unchanging.

Paul's sorrow for the Jews.

"For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.") 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than con38 querors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAPTER VIII. 1. We learn what dreadful work sin has made in the world! It has turned the natural bent and bias of the heart to earthly and sensual things; and even into enmity to a holy God and his law. The depraved, carnal mind refuses all subjection to God's moral government; it is full of pride, selfdependence and obstinacy. Sin has brought men under spiritual death and condemnation, and produced a moral impotency through the whole mass of mankind. While it has subjected the body to various afflicting and most painful diseases, and finally to dissolution, it has disordered all the powers and passions of the soul. Well may mankind groan under this bondage of sin, misery, and corruption! Even believers experience many infirmities, tribulations and distresses, from which they do most earnestly long to be delivered.

2. We learn how great and inestimable are the blessings of the gospel, and the privileges accorded to believers. They are in Christ; and how great is their safety, honour and happiness, arising from this blessed, vital union! To them there is now no condemnation, as they are pardoned through the blood of the Saviour. By the work of the Spirit they are happily renewed, and do not sinfully and inordinately mind and relish the things of the flesh, but of the Spirit. They are led by, walk after, and live according to the Spirit; and by his influence they mortify the body of sin. They are the sons of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; and though their bodies are mortal, like those

CHAPTER IX.

D. 60. Paul's grief on account of the Jews; the promises are fulfilled to Abraham's spiritual seed; God's sovereign mercy and the calling of the Gentiles and rejection of the Jews.

I SAY the truth in Christ, I lie not, my 1 conscience bearing me joint witness with the Holy Spirit, That I have great sorrow and 2 continual grief in my heart. For I could 3

of other men, yet their souls are alive to God, and shall live for ever with him; and even their bodies shall be raised to immortal glory, in resemblance of their risen Saviour. They have the Spirit as a spirit of adoption; and he aids and assists them in their addresses to their heavenly Father, both as to the matter and manner of their addresses. He bears testimony, by his own influence, that they are the sons of God; and by the comfort and joy which he imparts, he becomes the earnest and pledge of their final felicity.

3. We learn what grounds of assurance, of final triumph and blessedness they have. They are called according to God's purpose, justified through the redemption which is by Christ Jesus; and as he their head and ever-living intercessor is now at the right hand of God, in glory, so are many of his people glorified with him, and the rest shall in due time partake of the same glory. For the love of Christ, and of God in him, is unchangeable and eternal; so that no circumtsances of life, or forms of death; no allurements of prosperity, or terrors of adversity; no fears or dangers from any quarter, can ever separate between the love of God, and those who love him; or alienate the heart of Christ from them, or theirs from him. No; they are now justified, and shall be glorified with Christ. Amidst all their sufferings, trials and persecutions, divine grace shall support them; and they shall be not only conquerors, but shall, finally and joyfully triumph over all opposition and enemies!

33-35. Shall God who accounteth? I follow Harris, Newcome, and others in this punctuation, which makes the whole of these questions uniform and more emphatical.- Who intercedeth, &c. By his presence there as the lamb that has been slain; and by maintaining the cause and interest of his church. Who shall separate us, &c. The apostle by saying 75, who, hath personified the things following.

36. As it is written, &c. For what was said of God's people, Ps. xliv. 22, may be applied to our circumstances.

37. More than conquerors, &c. We not only sustain their assaults; but we are enabled to triumph and rejoice in the assurance of everlasting victory, through the love of Christ.

38, 39. Death nor life, &c. The fear of death, or the desire of life, or the temptations of the most powerful evil angels, or present or future suferings, or height of prosperity, or depth of adversity, or any other matter, will not be able, &c.

CHAP. IX. 1, 2. I say the truth, &c. While the apostle exulted in the blessings and privileges of believers, he could not contemplate the state of unbelievers, and especially of his unbelieving brethren, the Jews, but with the greatest grief and sorrow. The manner in which he appeals to Christ shows his earnestness and sincerity.

3. For I could wish, &c. It would require a long discussion to state all the renderings of this verse, and to canvass the reasons of them. Wakefield from the sense of rʊxquat val, in Homer, gives us, "For I also myself was once an alien from Christ;" a version truly singular for such a critic! When did avaμa ever siguify an alien? Newcome, "accursed by Christ," which he explains, devoted to temporal destruction, if I could thus prevent their excision. Macknight, "separated from Christ," that is, the church, as he explains it; and many others in like manner, one excommunicated. I have adopted the version of Doddridge, which is supported by the sense of the preposition ano, 2 Tim. i. 3. See also 1 John iii. 16. Christ was ac

Privileges of the Israelites.

Sovereignty of mercy.

6

But it is not possible that the word of God should fail. For they are not all Israel, who 7 spring from Israel Nor because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children of promise: but, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called." 8 Which is, They who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for 9 the seed. } For this is the word of promise, "At this time will I come, and Sarah shall 10 have a son.' And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived twins by one, even 11 by our father Isaac; And the children being not yet born, and having done neither good nor evil, that the purpose of God according to his election might stand, (not of works, but 12 of him that calleth ;) It was said to her, 13 "The elder shall serve the younger." As it As it

counted one accursed, as being crucified. Gal. iii. 13. Paul was willing to suffer and die in like manner, provided that this would remove the prejudices of his brethren and induce them to believe. Or, if the sense given to aro be not sufficiently supported, we might render, “made as one accursed, on account of Christ," as this sense of the preposition is common; and the general meaning will be nearly the same. To suppose that the apostle could wish himself to be eternally accursed, would be as absurd as inconsistent with piety.

4. Whose is the adoption. They have been taken and made his family, and called "his sons, his first-born." See Exod. iv. 22, 23. Jerem. xxxi. 9, 20.-—— The glory. Of God in the pillar of cloud, and in the tabernacle and temple.- The covenants, made with Abraham, and by Moses with the whole people; and "the giving of the law" at Sinai, and "the service of the temple" belonged to them, together with many promises.

5. Whose are the fathers, Of the church and of many nations. And of whom, &c. The unbiassed sense of this text supports the doctrine of two natures in the person of our Lord. As to the human, he descended from the fathers; but as to his divine, he was, and ever will be God over all, blessed for ever. The utmost effort of critical ingenuity, has failed in every attempt to weaken, much more to destroy this testimony to the divinity of Christ. The learned reader may see Middleton in loc. Wardlaw's sermons on the So cinian Controversy, and Ecclectic Review of Improved version.

6. But it is not possible, &c. But though some Jews will be rejected, yet the promises will not fail to be accomplished to the believing seed of Abraham.- Not all Israel, &c. All the descendents of this patriarch are Hot God's children now, any more than formerly, as the next verse states.

8-13. Which is, they who, &c. In these verses the apostle proves his

What shall we say then? Is there unrighte- 14 ousness with God? By no means. For he saith 15 to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." So then it is 16 not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy. For the 17 scripture saith to Pharoah, "Even for this same purpose have I preserved thee, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth." So then he hath mercy on whom he 18 will, and whom he will, he suffereth to be hardened.

Thou wilt therefore say to me, Why doth 19 he still find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou 20 that repliest to God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" Hath not the potter power 21 over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What now if God, willing to show his 22 wrath, and to make his power known, have endured with much long-suffering the vessels

assertion, verses 6, 9, from the examples of Abraham and Israel's children.

-According to his election, &c. He freely, without any respect to works, chose Jacob to be the heir of the promise of Canaan, and his posterity to enjoy national and religious privileges and advantages; and many among them to spiritual blessings and eternal life.- -I loved Jacob, &c. See Mal. i. 3, and note.

14. Is there unrighteousness, &c. Is it unjust in God to bestow favours to whom and in what measure he pleaseth? Surely not: for in the exercise of kindness and mercy, he does and must act according to his own good pleasure, these not being in any respect deserved.

16. Him that willeth, &c. Esau ran to hunt venison for Isaac, and strongly desired the blessing; but it was not bestowed on Jacob, nor refused to Esau for any thing they did, but from God's mere mercy. That God has a right, and exercises this sovereign right and power, is clear from another instauce.

17. For the scripture, &e. See Exod. ix. 16, and note. God continued him in being to display his power, and spread abroad his name, as the one true God.

18. Mercy on whom, &c. See verse 14.- -He suffereth to be, &c. See Exod. vii. 3, and note.

19. Who hath resisted his will? Or who can? When he determines to destroy a nation, or a person, who can prevent it?

20-24. Nay, but O man, &c. The apostle answers that there is great irreverance in such language; and it as unbecoming as it would be for the clay to com lain of the potter, for not making it into a more honourable vessel.If God willing, &c. As he may show his wrath in punishing the guilty, without any impeachment of his justice; especially when it is con

Calling of the Gentiles.

23 of wrath fitted for destruction: And what, if willing to receive us that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared for 24 glory; Even us, whom he hath called, not from among the Jews only, but also from a25 mong the Gentiles? As he saith also in Hosea, "I will call those my people, who were not my people; and her beloved, who was not 26 beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, 'Ye are not my people;' there shall they be 27 called the sons of the living God." But Isaiah crieth out concerning Israel, " "Though the

number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant only shall be saved: 28 For he will finish, and cut short the account in righteousness: because a short account will

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAPTER IX. 1. We are taught how false the charge was which was circulated against Paul, that he was the enemy of his own people and nation; and how false are similar charges made against other real believers, of want of affection to their friends, and to their country. Paul could most solemnly appeal to Christ, under the sacred influence of the heart-searching Spirit, that he felt the most tender regard to his kinsmen according to the flesh; and that their continued unbelief occasioned him the most painful feelings of sorrow, and grief of heart; and every believer feels in like manner, and prays, if it be the will of God, that such as are enemies may be reconciled. Yea, what would they not suffer, that those who are favoured with the means of grace, might eome to the saving knowledge of the glorious Redeemer? How wonderful his person? The son and yet Lord of David! Sprung from the fathers according to the flesh; and yet God over all blessed for ever. How safely may sinners confide in him; for his infinite merits are such as to support the hope of the chief of sinners.

2. We learn how sovereign God is in the displays of his grace. He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, among persons alike sinful and unworthy; and he influences some so to run and seek inercy that they obtain, while he leaves others to follow their own ways, and to harden their hearts from his fear. However this proceeding may offend human pride, it is obviously suitable to God's universal dominion; and is consistent with the strictest righteousness and

The Jews stumble at Christ.

the Lord make in the land." And as Isaiah 29 hath foretold, "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah."

What shall we say then, That the Gentiles, 30 who followed not after righteousness for justification, have laid hold on righteousness for justification, even the righteousness which is by faith? But Israel, who followed after the 31 righteousness of the law, hath not attained to the righteousness of the law. Wherefore? Be- 32 cause they sought it not by faith, but as if it were to be attained by the works of the law. For they stumbled at the stone of stumbling; As it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone 33 of stumbling and a rock of offence; and yet whosoever confideth in it shall not be ashamed."

equity. In bestowing his favours on some he doth no injury to others; and though for wise and holy reasons he exercises his grace in calling, sanctifying, and conducting some to glory, he does not appoint any to destruction, but on account of their sin, and continued unbelief, by which they have fitted themselves for it. Nor let such charge their ruin to his decrees. These are secret until the events declare them; and he has given to men a plain and sufficient rule of duty, and the strongest motives to follow after righteousness by faith; by which alone they can be justified and saved! For neglecting and despising the method of divine grace, and violating God's holy law, they will hear the sentence, Depart.'

3. We are admonished to submit to the dispensation of God, believing, that while he manifests on the one hand the riches of his grace, and on the other, the severity of his justice, he in both doeth what is right. Never let us arraign the conduct of God at our tribunal, nor quarrel with the grace, sovereignty, or justice of his proceedings, lest we be confounded for our insolence, in daring to reply, against so great and glorious a Being! Nor let us stumble at the humiliation, and sufferings of Christ; nor at the method of pardon and acceptance by him. There is in his work all that is requisite for the justification of every believer; and in him every believer is accepted How dreadful is the case of those who stumble

and shall be saved.

at Christ, to whom he is a rock of offence, against which they dash themselves to their own ruin. Happy they who build on this rock!

sidered, that he has borne with great patience long with them, as he had with you Jews. Vessels of wrath, &c. These are opposed to the "vessels of mercy;" and what is said of each should be carefully observed. The former are fitted for destruction" or, "have fitted themselves for destruction," as some render the text, by their own sins and crimes; but as to vessels of mercy, it is God who before prepares them for the glory which he has purposed to confer upon them. I have supplied the ellipsis.

25, 26. In Hosea, &c. Comp. Hos, Ch. i. 10.; ii. 23, and notes. VOL. III. PART XXII.

Мм

27-29. But Isaiah crieth out. See Is. x. 22, 23, and i. 9, and the notes. 30. Righteousness for justification. See Cb. i. 17, and note. The Gentiles knew nothing respecting the doctrine of righteousness for justification, while in their heathen state; but on their embracing the gospel, they laid hold of this blessing, and enjoyed pardon and acceptance. I point after Henman, Bowyer's Conj.

31. Righteousness of the law, &c. I consider the genitive as that of the object. See 2 Cor.i.5, #abquato te Xpire, "the sufferings for Christ." Eph. 273