Part 751 (1/2)

10:11. For the scripture saith: Whosoever believeth in him shall not be confounded.

10:12. For there is no distinction of the Jew and the Greek: for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon him.

10:13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

10:14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

Or how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

10:15. And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things?

Unless they be sent... Here is an evident proof against all new teachers, who have all usurped to themselves the ministry without any lawful mission, derived by succession from the apostles, to whom Christ said, John 20.21, As my Father hath sent me, I also send you.

10:16. But all do not obey the gospel. For Isaias saith: Lord, who hath believed our report?

10:17. Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ.

10:18. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, verily: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the whole world.

10:19. But I say: Hath not Israel known? First, Moses saith: I will provoke you to jealousy by that which is not a nation: by a foolish nation I will anger you.

10:20. But Isaias is bold, and saith: I was found by them that did not seek me. I appeared openly to them that asked not after me.

10:21. But to Israel he saith: All the day long have I spread my hands to a people that believeth not and contradicteth me.

Romans Chapter 11

G.o.d hath not cast off all Israel. The Gentiles must not be proud but stand in faith and fear.

11:1. I say then: Hath G.o.d cast away his people? G.o.d forbid! For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

11:2. G.o.d hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture saith of Elias, how he calleth on G.o.d against Israel?

11:3. Lord, they have slain thy prophets, they have dug down thy altars.

And I am left alone: and they seek my life.

11:4. But what saith the divine answer to him? I have left me seven thousand men that have not bowed their knees to Baal.

Seven thousand, etc... This is very ill alleged by some, against the perpetual visibility of the church of Christ; the more, because however the number of the faithful might be abridged by the persecution of Jezabel in the kingdom of the ten tribes, the church was at the same time in a most flouris.h.i.+ng condition (under Asa and Josaphat) in the kingdom of Judah.

11:5. Even so then, at this present time also, there is a remnant saved according to the election of grace.

11:6. And if by grace, it is not now by works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

It is not now by works, etc... If salvation were to come by works, done by nature, without faith and grace, salvation would not be a grace or favour, but a debt; but such dead works are indeed of no value in the sight of G.o.d towards salvation. It is not the same with regard to works done with, and by, G.o.d's grace; for to such works as these, he has promised eternal salvation.

11:7. What then? That which Israel sought, he hath not obtained: but the election hath obtained it. And the rest have been blinded.

11:8. As it is written: G.o.d hath given them the spirit of insensibility; eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, until this present day.

G.o.d hath given them, etc... Not by his working or acting in them; but by his permission, and by withdrawing his grace in punishment of their obstinacy.