DIAL. XVII.
Verses 20, 21. And thou standest by faith, bee not high minded but feare, for if God spared not the naturall branches, &c.
OF what kinde be these wordes?
They be extraordinary, stirring vp the be∣leeuing Romanes vnto Christian humility and godly feare: and they bee dehortatory, dehorting them from pride, arogancy, and security.
What be the parts of these words?
Two, first a proposition, [be not high minded] set foorth by the contrary [humble reuerence of God, or re∣uerent humility.] Secondly, the rendring of reasons to confirme the duty propounded. These be two, the one is taken from their present good condition, to wit, their free insition, or grafting into Christ by faith, [thoustan∣dest by faith.] The second is drawn from their future dan∣ger, if they should grow proud and carnally secure, then they also should bee broken off as the Iewes are. This reason should be thus amplified by an argument (a mino∣ri,) for it is lesse likely that God would cast away and cut off the naturall branches and true Oliue (the Iewes, his first and peculiar people,) then the wilde braunches the Gentiles, which were afterwards planted in. Therefore if hee haue done that, hee will also doe this, except they feare the offence of God, and bee humbled by the due sight of their vnworthines. The summe and scope then