2. Its proper effect upon your own minds —
[It is lamentable to observe how " wise" the generality of Christians are " in their own conceits," in reference to this matter: how contemptuously they speak of the Jews, as if they were by native worse than ourselves ; and as if they were never again to be restored to the favour of their God. But, if we bear in mind what they once were, and what they are yet destined to become, we shall regard them with veneration, for their fathers' sakes, and seek their welfare with earnestness for their own sakes ]
Rom. xi. 28, 29. As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes : but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
IT is strange, that, when so much is spoken in the Holy Scriptures respecting the Jews, they should occupy so little the attention of the Christian world. We see them as monuments of God's indignation ; but never inquire, or but superficially inquire, either into the reasons of his conduct towards them, or into his ulterior designs respecting them. Were we to say that they were enemies to God for our sakes, we should be told that it was impossible : and were we to speak of them as yet objects of God's love, we should so astonish our hearers, as to make them cry out, in the language of Ezekiel's auditors, " Ah, Lord Go'd, doth he not speak parables3?" But the whole of their present state is a " mystery V a great and stupendous mystery0, into which we shall do well to search. For the assisting of you in this inquiry, I have selected the words which we have just read ; wherein are declared,
I. The mystery of God in relation to his ancient people —
8 Ezek. xx. 49. b ver. 25. c ver. 33.