determined to introduce us to the blessings of salvation, he suf- fered them to reject these blessings, that so a way might be made for us, to occupy their place, and to possess their inhe- ritance.
This does, I confess, appear a strange and almost incredible statement : and, if it were founded on one particular ex- pression of the Scriptures, we might well doubt the justness of it. But this truth is so often repeated, that we cannot possibly entertain a doubt respecting it. The Apostle tells us, that, " through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles :" that their fall was the riches of the world ; that the diminish- ing of them was the riches of the Gentiles ; and that the casting away of them was the reconciling of the world*. Thus is it unequivocally declared, that the communication of sal- vation to us was the effect and consequence of their rejection. Shall I go farther than this, and say, that the communication of salvation to us was also the end of their rejection ? Yes ; mysterious as this is, it is unquestionably true : for the Apostle acquiesces in this very position as undeniable : " Thou wilt say, then, the branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well: because of unbelief they were broken offg:" that is, I acknowledge the truth of your position ; though, for the vindication of God's character, I must say, that his break- ing of them off from the stock was not a mere act of sovereignty on God's part : they deserved it richly ; and brought it on themselves by their own obstinacy in unbelief: nevertheless, you are right in what you say respecting God's intentions towards you : he did break them off, that you may be graffed in upon their stock : and the whole of this mysterious dispen- sation towards them has been permitted " for your sake."
But think not that they are cast off for ever : for,]
2. " As concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes" —
[The Jews were chosen in Abraham their father ; and all his posterity were comprehended in the promises made to him: not indeed in their individual capacity, (for then no one of them, not even Judas himself, could have ever perished,) but nationally, and in their collective capacity ; and to them, sooner or later, shall all the promises be fulfilled. The re- jection of the great body of the nation had taken place when the Apostle wrote this epistle : but yet he said, that " even at that present time there was among them a remnant according to the election of grace V And so may we say at this time ; " There is a remnant," whom God, from time to time, is gathering in from among them, and especially through the
f ver. 11, 12, 15. 8 ver. 19, 20. h ver. 5.