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 calling and gifts of God are without repentance.

From the perpetuity and constancy of Gods calling and his sauing giftes and promises in his elect, I gather that none of Gods elect can wholy or finally fall or possibly be damned.* 1.1 Rom. 8.1.2. Tim. 2.19.

For first God is without change and alteration in his nature,* 1.2 decree, couenant, promises, and neuer wholy re∣uoketh and abolisheth his worke in them.

Secondly his mercies towards them faile not, but al∣waies streame forth to their continuall comfort; for God is truth and will alwaies performe his promises.

Lastly, God is almighty and cannot be hindred (much lesse ouer ruled by any creature) neither can any disanull that which God hath ratified, or condemne those whom he will saue. Rom. 8.33.34.

This doctrine checketh the corrupt and presumptuous opinion of the Papists, that teach constancy and saluation to reside in our owne power and potency, wheras it con∣sisteth wholy in the couenant and promises of God.

2. Vse. The second vse is, for comfort, and that is if we

once perceiue and find in our selues some pawnes and Printes of Gods loue and fauour,* 1.3 we may and must as∣sure our selues,* 1.4 of the perpetuity of it, without doubting, for God is constant in his giftes and neuer retracteth them though men doe often) and hauing begun a good worke, he wil finish and perfect it, he is not like him that in vs, beginneth to build a goodly house and cannot fi∣nish it, but he will make euery one of his Saints an holy and perfect temple in the Lord Ephe. 2.21.

3. Vse. Seeing that God is no changeling vnto vs, but his bounty alwaies continueth, and his promises are in their time duly accomplished, let vs first learne hence to cleaue fast vnto him, and sincerely and incessantly to serue and feare him all the daies of our life. Second∣ly let vs (in our words, deeds, couenants and promises) not deale hollowly and deceiptfully with men, but truly, iustly and simply, for he that halteth with men, is no better then an Hipocrite before God, and his religion is onely formall and fruitlesse Psa. 15.2.

30. Vers. For euen as ye in times haue not beleued God yet haue now obtained mercy through their vnbeleefe.

31. Vers. Euen so now haue they not beleeued, that by your mercy they may also obtaine mercy.

32. Vers. For GOD hath shut vp all in vnbeleefe that hee might haue mercy on all.

Sense: For euen as yee in times past .i. before Christ his incarnation, haue not beleeued in .i. obeied the word of God and his commandements nor acknowledged Christ Iesus for the sonne of GOD and your redeemer, yet haue now obtained mercy, i. God hath called you effectually, and endewed you with the true and sauing knowledge of God and his Gospell, through their vnbeleefe .i. by the oc∣casion that the Iewes would not receaue the Gospell, nor the Messias offered vnto them, but refuse both the one and the other.

Euen so now they .i. the Iewes haue not, beleeued viz. the Gospel, that by your mercy .i. by the mercy of God offered vnto you in your effectuall calling and in your sincere

profession and intertainment of the Gospell may be pro∣uoked and inflamed by an holy emulation to follow and affect you.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doctr.
• * 1.2

  Ioh. 5.24. Lam. 3 22.
• * 1.3

  Phil. 1.6.
• * 1.4

  Luk. 14.29.30