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Isaiah, lii. 7.) which shewed that God's assistance went along with the Apostles in the work :

Χ. 15. πως δε κηρύξεσιν, &c.

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

AND whereas the Jew objects, that the success of the preaching of the Gospel had not been universal; but rather the disbelief and rejection of it almost universal among the Jews; (see III. 3.) which might seem some disparagement to a Divine Commission:

x. 16. αλλ' ε παντες ὑπηκεσαν τῳ ευαγγέλιῳ.

"But they have not all obeyed the Gospel:"

He replies, that the strange, and almost universal incredulity of the Jewish nation, had been plainly foretold by the prophet Esaias; and therefore the want of success among them could be no

reasonable objection to the Divine Commission of the Apostles:

x. 16. Ησαΐας γαρ λεγει, Κύριε, τις επίσευσε τη ακο huwv ;

"For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?"

FURTHER, how great soever the mass of incredulity might be, it must be attributed altogether to the perverseness and malignity of the hearers; and by no means to any want of diligence in the teachers; who had indeed most zealously fulfilled their commission: insomuch that what the Psalmist says concerning that universal teaching, by which "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy-work," may fitly be applied to the preaching of the Apostles:

χ. 18. αλλα λεγω, Μη εκ ήκεσαν ; &c.

"But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."

LASTLY, by way of reconciling these things to their belief, he shews that both the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and their joyful reception of it, and the rejection of it by the Jews, had been foretold by their own Prophets:

Ver. 19-21.

CHAPTER XI.

THIS Chapter relates to the nature of the judgment which has come upon the Jewish nation, and to the plan and design of the Divine Providence in thus casting off his antient people.

As the Prophets of the Old Testament generally close their denunciations of wrath against God's people, with promises of brighter times of reconciliation and refreshment; in order to keep alive the embers of piety, which the exclusion of hope would entirely extinguish; so St. Paul closes this gloomy subject of the Jews' Rejection, with a prophecy of their Restoration and Conversion.

FIRST, with respect to the nature of their Rejection, he enquires, whether it be Total and Universal? Whether God has cast off, in one body, the whole number of his people?

xi. 1. Aɛyw sv, un απώσατο ὁ θεος τον λαον αυτ8 ;

"I

say then, Hath God cast away his people?"

And he answers ;

xi. 1, 2. Μη γενοιτο εκ απώσατο ὁ θεος τον λαον αυτε ὁν προεγνω.

"God forbid: God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew:"

GOD has not cast off his chosen and beloved* people, either totally or finally: no, they are still his beloved for the Fathers' sakes; (ver. 28., and compare Deut. iv. 37,) and as in the general apostasy in the days of Elias, there was still left a small number who had not bowed the knee to Baal;

* See Levit. xxvi. 42. 44; Deut. iv. 31. 37; Deut. vii. 6, 7,8; Deut. xxix. 13, 14, 15.

xi. 5. οὕτως εν και εν τω νυν καιρῳ, &c.

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

viz. the small number, comparatively speaking, of converted Jews; who, together with the believing Gentiles, are chosen to be God's peculiar people, out of pure grace and favour, through faith, without any regard to any merit of works. As to the great body of the nation, it has happened unto them according to the word of prophecy; they are hardened and blinded judicially, in consequence of their impenitence, and obstinate rejection of all the means employed by God for their conversion.

Ver. 7-10.

SECONDLY, with respect to the design of God's providence in their present Rejection, he enquires,

xi. 11. λεγω εν, Μη επταισαν ίνα πεσωσι;

"I say then, Have they stumbled, that they should fall?"

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