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.

Through vnbeliefe they are broken.

* 1.1Heere wee see and vnderstand what a vile and dan∣gerous sinne, misbeliefe and infidelity is, it is the roote and fountaine of all disobedience, it draweth Gods an∣ger vpon vs, it hasteneth his iudgements, it depriueth vs of Gods promises, and nullifieth and maketh frustrate his couenant.

Hence it was that the Iewes were growne out of re∣quest with God, lost their prerogatiues, ceased to bee Gods people, and lastly most of them were excluded from the kingdome of Heauen.

Vnbeliefe was the first sinne of Adam and Eue, and was the cause of their fall, and so of all the sinne and miseries that befell vnto all their posteritie.* 1.2 Infidelitie debarred the Israelites from entering into the blessed land of Canaan, a Type of the kingdome of heauen: it is the cause of all Apostasie and reuolting from GOD and his Euangelicall trueth. It maketh Gods heauenly and sacred word vnprofitable vnto the hearers,* 1.3 it mak∣eth all things impure and vnlawfull vnto men, Titus 1. verse. 14.15. and (in a word) it is the fore-runner and meritorious cause of damnation and destructi∣on.

The reason hereof is, because it wilfully refuseth the grace of God offered: it doth distrust and discredit Gods word, contemne his promises, rebell against his will, and [to conclude] it reiecteth and shutteth out Christ,* 1.4 the cause, author and finisher of redemption, happinesse and holynesse.

1. Vse. Wee must therefore beware of infidelitie and vnbeliefe, wee must be prouident that it doe not wound vs with his dartes, and then the Gun-shotte of all other temptations shall neuer blinde nor batter vs: let vs therefore put on the complet harnesse of God, and the armour of proofe, i. a liuely faith, which will quench and blunt all Sathans Dartes:* 1.5 well may wee bee sedu∣ced for a time, but not alwayes, nor vnto death, for faith preserueth the Castle of our heart, and it ouer∣commeth the world.

Secondly▪ wee must alwayes thinke and speake ho∣nourably of Gods word, and labour to bee riche in the knowledge of his wil, and with full purpose of heart cleaue vnseperably vnto GOD, and by assent of minde applie and claspe fast Christ Iesus, and all his sauing graces and promises vnto our owne selues, and then nothing shall bee able to dampe or daunt vs, much lesse to seclude and seperate vs from Christ, and the certaine enioyment of the heauenly Ierusalem.

Thou standest by faith: that is. Thou profitest in thy profession and practise of Christianitie by faith. i. by a firme assent of thy minde, relying vpon Gods grace, and acknowledging and receiuing Christ, as he is reueiled in holy Scripture, from whence this necessary collection a∣riseth. The grafting in of the Gentiles into the Oliue,* 1.6 doth not depend vpon their owne worthinesse, vertues, and merits, but onely vpon faith, assenting vnto and firmly apprehending Gods gratious promises. Now this faith is a free yet a most rare gift of God, not common to all professors, but peculiar onely to the elect: from it proceedeth both the beginning and the continuance of their engrafting into Christ,* 1.7 and hereby wee are made partakers of Christ and of saluation, and without this faith wee are in worse estate then any vassall vnder the Turke, or any Spanish Galley slaue, for their seruice is onely bodily and temporall, but this is spirituall, hor∣rible, and (if they repent not) eternall. Heb. 2. ver. 15.

1. Vse. This doctrine serueth, to argue and reprooue those that condemne the doctrine of faith, whereas with∣out it there is neither iustification nor saluation. By it wee are made the children of God, Iohn. 1.12. and stand and sticke to Christ the true Vine,* 1.8 and hereby wee are interessed in Christ, and all his sauing merits and g••aces.

2. Vse. Wee must loue the Lord and feare him, for his great mercies shed vpon vs, and for his pretious promi∣ses made to vs, for they are not procured by our deferts or endeuours, but frankely and freely bestowed vpon vs, of God.

3. Vse. We must nourish and preserue faith, and see that it be not of story or a temporarie faith, but a true iustify∣ing faith. For a true iustifying faith is such a roote, such a foundation and assurance so built and founded vpon the Rock Christ, and the sacred Scriptures, that the gates and power of Hell cannot preuaile against it; and as for temporary and historicall faith like a flower,* 1.9 like pain∣ting, and like guilt, and it will soone fade away and bee defaced.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doctr.
• * 1.2

  Heb. 3. v 12, Heb. 4. v. 2.
• * 1.3

  Mark. 1••. v. 16 ••poc. 2••. v. 8.
• * 1.4

  Math. 13 v. 58
• * 1.5

  1. Iohn. 5. v. 4.
• * 1.6

  Doctr.
• * 1.7

  Heb. 3.14.
• * 1.8

  Eph. 3. v. 17.
• * 1.9

  Ma••••. 16.16.