The vvorldes resurrection, or The generall calling of the Iewes A familiar commentary vpon the eleuenth chapter of Saint Paul to the Romaines, according to the sence of Scripture, and the consent of the most iudicious interpreters, wherein aboue fiftie notable questions are soundly answered, and the particular doctrines, reasons and vses of euery verse, are profitable and plainly deliuered. By Thomas Draxe. Minister of the word of God.

The riches of the world, the riches of the Gentiles.

* 1.1Here by riches is meant the sauing knowledge of the Gospell, the grace of Gods spirit, remission of sinnes, and the assured promise and expectation of eternall life, whence I gather and propound this doctrine. That the grace and knowledge of God, is the onely true and last∣ing riches, and that alone that maketh the owners and possessors blessed. Hence the godly poore, are sayde to be rich in faith,* 1.2 to be riche in GOD, Luke. 12.21.

This is the true riches, and properly the••r o••ne, for they shall neuer bee taken away from them,* 1.3 and they that are possessed of them shall neuer hunger nor thirst. Io. 4.

This is the treasure hidde in the field of the Church, which when a man hath found, bee hideth,

preserueth it,* 1.4 and for ioy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field.

This is that pretious pearle which a marchant finding sel∣leth all that he h••th and buyeth.* 1.5

And as a man, (albeit otherwise, as poore and misera∣ble as Lazarus,) being possessed with no worldly goods and hereditaments,* 1.6 yet if hee haue of his owne a goodly pretious and costly Iewell he cannot bee but rich: euen so he that is enriched, with the pretious Iewell of the grace and knowledge of God, albeit hee otherwise haue nothing, yet before God hee is verie rich. That Gods Sonnes are rich (albeit they are in the account and esti∣mate of the world and in worldly respects they are many times poore and bare,) the Scriptures in other places af∣ford plentifull Testimonies. 1. Cor. 3.21. Ephesi. 2.17. 1. Tim. 6.19.

1 Vse. Wherefore let vs not dote vpon earthly and pe∣rishable things, which can neuer make the possessors happy and blessed before God: but let the word of God dwell richly and plentifully in vs, let vs seeke to com∣passe the knowledge of it with all care and indeauour; for of all other things it is most pretious, and it alone be∣ing tempered and receiued by faith, doth solace and satis∣fie the heart, and yeeldes true and perfect contentment vnto it.

2 Vse. We must so labour and so order the matter that Christ be our treasure and our rich pearle and where our treasure is,* 1.7 there must our heart bee also: otherwise if wee make neuer so goodly and great purchases in the world, and bee neuer so stored and furnished with worldly wealth, and want this spirituall treasure, this spirituall gould, siluer, Iewels &c. we are in the eyes of God, and so shalbe one day declared before the eyes of all men, to bee most beggarly and banckrupt, naked and ignoble. Luk. 12.21. Apoc. 3.17.

V. 13 For in that I speake to you Gentiles, in as much as I am an Apostle of the Gentiles I magnifie (or

adorne) mine office.

V. 14. (To trie) if by any m••anes, I might prouoke them that are of my flesh to follow them, and might saue some of them.

* 1.8I speake to you Gentiles, viz. which are called from a∣mong the Gentiles: in as much as I am an Apostle of the Gentiles. i. I haue beene called of Christ, principally that I should bee the Doctor of the Gentiles, that I might car∣rie his name before them. Act. 9.15. Gal. 2. ver. 7. and 8. I magnifie mine office. i. I ommit nothing that may ap∣pertaine to set it forth and make it famous and illustri∣ous, for this is glorious to my ministery. 1 Cor. 15.10. 1. Thess. 2. vers.

If by any meanes I might prouoke. i. by preaching and my example stirre vp, them that are of my flesh▪ i. those that are sprung of the same Ancestors and so entirely be∣loued, to follow them. i. to beleeue in Christ and embrace the gospell, and might saue some of them. i. bring to the o∣bedience of faith and, by consequence, to saluation.

Q. It is proper to God alone to conuert men to God, how then can the ministers be said to conuert & saue? he alone giueth faith. Eph. 2.20 he alone giueth repentance. 2. Tim. 2.25. and hee alone softneth and mollifieth the heart. Ezek. 32?

An. God conuerteth and saueth as the proper effitient cause and author of it, working inwardly and making the ministers doctrine effectuall, but the ministers and prea∣chers do it as outward meanes and instruments, propoun∣ding, offring and applying Gods promises vnto their hearts, whose ministery is onely so farre-forth sauing and conuerting, as it pleaseth God to prosper & blesse it. Act. 8. v. 31.37.38. Act. 10.43. 2. Cor. 5▪ v. 18. Act. 16. v. 14.

V. I magnifie my Ministery▪ that I might prouoke them, and might saue some of them.

Wee, here from Pauls practice and paines in the ador∣nation of this ministery, learne, wherein the dignitie,

ornament and true honor of the ministery doth consist, not so much in titles, pompe, prebends, multiplication of benefices, glorious apparrell, eminencie and superiority of place; (albeit there is and needes must bee an inequa∣lity and difference of order and degrees, in the ministers for composing of controuersies and auoyding of confu∣sion) as in diligence of teaching, in aduancing true reli∣gion, doctrine and life, and in winning many to Christ. 2. King. 2.12. Act. 20. ver. 28.

The reasons hereof are these. First God hath ordained them and their calling to this end Act. 26. and if they execute it not their sinne is greeuous and their iudgment most fearefull. Secondly hereby Gods name is magnified amongst men; and the sweet oyntment and smell▪ of his gospell is dispersed farre and wide. Thirdly they confirme their ministery and comfort their soules here, and gaine addition of glory in the life to come. 2. Cor. 2.16. Apoc. 11. Dan. 12.3.

Vse. The vse hereof is first to taxe and condemne the couetous, idle, worldly, vitious, vnteaching, dumbe, ab∣sent, and negligent ministers, who because either they do not Gods worke at all (especially in preaching, or els▪ exe∣cute their functions very negligently, are subiect and lie open to Gods curse, and are to answere for the dam∣nation of so many soules as perish through their de∣fault, Hier. 48.10. Ezek. 33. vers. 6. and 8. Acts 20▪26.27.

2 Vse. Secondly ministers neglecting all other by-matters that nothing concerne them, and the hunting and hauking after worldly goods and glory must striue with all diligence to performe their duties, and to make this their onely scope and marke to spread Christ his gospell farre and neere, and so to conuert and saue soules. 2. Tim. 4. ver. 2. and 3. Act. 26. ver. 18.

V. Which are my flesh, and chap. 9. ver. 3. my brethren, my kinsmen.

* 1.9Out of these words the instruction naturally ariseth, viz. the spirit of Christ doth not make men stockes and blockes, or bereaue them of naturall affection, (for these are of God, they are in themselues good, and without the helpe and ministery whereof, we can neither truly serue God; nor performe the duties of righteousnesse and loue to men) but it rather causeth and confirmeth them.

This sympathy and indulgent affection appeared most notably in Christ Iesus in weeping ouer the Cittie Ieru∣salem, and bewayling the aproching ruine of it, it mani∣festly also discouered it selfe towards Mary his Mother, whom hee so much respected and had such a prouident care of,* 1.10 and here it (as in other places) appeared most eminently in Paul, who with the often hazard of his owne life, labored the Iewes conuersion.

Vse. Let vs haue a due regard to procure good, spiritual and corporall to our country and kinsfolkes, for this both nature and religion requireth and commendeth; If nature bind vs to prouide for and doe good to our parents, chil∣dren and kinsfolke, much more must grace and religion bind and vrge vs to care for their spiritual good and com∣fort.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doctr.
• * 1.2

  Iam. 2.5.
• * 1.3

  Luk. 16.11, 12
• * 1.4

  Math. 13.44.
• * 1.5

  V. 46.
• * 1.6

  A similitude.
• * 1.7

  Math. 6.21.
• * 1.8

  Paraphrase.
• * 1.9

  Doctr.
• * 1.10

  Act. 9. v. 21.22.23.