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I say then, have they stumbled, that they should fall? God forbid. But rather through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Rom. xi. 11.

III. Before I conclude this argument I choose to mention a few remarks and observations, which I hope may be of

some use.

1. The argument afforded us for the truth of our religion from the subsistence and afflictive circumstances of the Jewish people was not absolutely necessary; but yet it was expedient, and is very useful.

It was not absolutely necessary: for though the Jewish nation had been long ago extinct; that is, though they had not now been a distinct people, but had been lost and mingled with other nations, so that no remains of them had been now observable, following any of the ordinances of the law of Moses; yet we should have had sufficient evidence of the truth of the christian religion, or that Jesus is the Christ, and his doctrine from heaven. This we could have been assured of from our Lord's character, the excellence of his principles, his miracles, his resurrection, and other particulars, well known, and formerly mentioned.

But yet this argument, from the being and afflictive circumstances of the Jewish people, was expedient, and is very useful; as abundantly appears from the considerations which have been insisted on in the discourses upon this subject.

2. We may likewise observe, that some evidences of the truth of the christian religion are not weakened, but do rather gain force by length of time.

A history of facts may be thought to lose some degree of credibility in a long tract of time: and therefore it might be feared, that the evangelical history might some time suffer upon that account: but indeed it is so circumstanced, and has in it so many internal characters of truth, and is so supported by external testimonies of various kinds, that its credit must remain to the latest ages inviolable.

However it is sufficient that this kind of evidence remains as it is; but then some other evidence advances and gains strength by time.

Christ assured Peter that he would build his church upon a rock, and "that the gates of hell should not prevail against it," Matt. xvi. 18. The longer christianity has a being in the world, the fulfilment of that promise is the

more remarkable, and the foreknowledge of Christ the more conspicuous; especially considering what oppositions of various kinds, in all ages, are made against this doctrine; some by force, and some by art and sophistry: and considering likewise the weakness and inconstancy of mankind, and that some, who in name are friends, weaken the interest they profess to uphold.

When a certain woman, not long before our Lord's removal out of this world, opened a very precious vessel of ointment, and poured it upon his head, some had indignation, and seemed to think it too great and expensive a mark of respect but he answered them: "Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also that which this woman has done be told for a memorial of her," Matt. xxvi. 6-13. And every time this portion of scripture is read, especially in late ages, it establishes the belief of our Lord's great

character.

Jesus often spoke of many coming" from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven," Matt. viii. 11; that is, to partake of the privileges of the gospel, and the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom. So long therefore as there are Gentiles in the world, who thankfully embrace the gospel, this declaration is fulfilled. And the longer it is since these words were spoken, the more are they verified. And every accession to the church of Christ from among ignorant and darkened Gentiles is a fresh confirmation of the truth of his doctrine.

The dispersion of the Jews, the longer it lasts, still more and more does it strengthen the evidences of the christian religion; it is the more remarkable: it is a plainer and a more affecting token of divine displeasure against them. The greater assurance does it afford that the Messiah is already come: and the more impossible it is rendered for any man to prove himself of the tribe of Judah, and the family of David, whence the Messiah was to rise. For these reasons their present dispersion is prolonged, and may it be duly attended to by all to whom the consideration of it may be of use !

3. These things ought also to be considered as warnings

to us.

Paul, the apostle more especially of the Gentiles, fails not to make this use of the argument he is upon: "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive, See Whitby upon Matt. viii. 11, 12.

wast graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree, boast not against the branches: but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then: the branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed, lest he spare not thee," Rom. xi. 17-23.

In the subject we have been treating of there is not only an argument for the truth of our religion, but likewise an admonition to us to take heed to ourselves: for from us too the glory may depart, if we improve not our privileges. The seven churches of Asia, in the Revelation, were warned, and most of them threatened with the removal of their candlestick; unless they speedily repented, and did the first works. Many christian churches, planted by apostles of Jesus, and watered by their fellow-labourers, have fallen to decay and ruin. The name and title of christian will not save particular persons in the day of judgment. Nor will the name of Jesus, or christian alone, secure churches and societies in this world. There should be not only the leaves of a fair profession, but also fruits of love and peace, and all the branches of righteousness and true holiness. Christians should have heavenly minds, and their lives should be adorned with acts of meekness, patience, selfdenial, and zeal for each other's welfare. With such, Christ will dwell. They honour him, and he will honour them with a distinguished care and protection.

4. From this argument we may be able to form some judgment concerning the general conversion of the Jews. It is not a likely thing: if ever it is to be, there does not appear good reason to think it nigh.

b

It is not a likely thing, considering that their prejudices are still very great and strong, and have been so all along from the beginning; notwithstanding the great care of the apostles of Jesus, and other zealous preachers of the gospel, to remove them.

If ever there is to be a general conversion of the Jews, there is no good reason to think it near at hand. The advantages afforded to believers in Jesus as the Christ, from the dispersion and afflictive circumstances of the Jewish people, in their argument for the truth of their religion, lead us to this apprehension. So long as there remain great numbers of Gentile people unconverted to the faith of Jesus, b See Lightfoot's Works, vol. I. p. 375, 376.

who are strangers to God, and his Christ: so long as there is, and is likely to be, a strenuous opposition made by many, several ways, against the christian doctrine: so long, it is likely, the Jews will remain, and continue to be a distinct people, scattered abroad upon the face of the earth: forasmuch as their subsistence in that manner tends mightily to awaken men, and to confirm and strengthen divers arguments for the truth of the christian religion.

Nor is there any injustice done them herein: as they at first generally rejected Jesus, they were justly rejected and cast off as a people: but still by the faith and reception of the Gentiles, they are called upon and excited to believe in Jesus and whenever any of them are awakened, convinced, and converted, they shall be accepted.

St. Paul's argument in this context leads us into this way of thinking: "Have they stumbled, that they should fall? By no means. But rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."

And his words at the twenty-fifth verse of the chapter may be reckoned strong to this purpose: "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceit: that blindness in part is happened unto Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in :" that is, as an admired expositor paraphraseth the verse: For to prevent your being conceited of yourselves, my brethren, let me make known unto you what has been ' yet undiscovered to the world; that the blindness, which has fallen upon a part of Israel, shall remain upon them 'but till the time come, wherein the whole Gentile world 'shall enter into the church, and make profession of chris'tianity.'

6

This may be the thing intended by our Lord, when he says: "And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled," Luke xxi. 24.

As for St. Paul's words at the twenty-sixth verse, they are understood by some in this manner: " And so all Israel shall be saved:" And so all Israel shall be converted to the christian faith, and the whole nation become the peo'ple of God:' that is, when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in.

But I rather think the meaning to be: In this way, ac'cording to this method of Divine Providence, alle good • Locke upon the place. d Locke as before.

• Παντα δε Ισραηλ καλει τις πιςεύοντας, είτε εξ Ιεδαίων είεν, την φυσικήν

and well-disposed men, both Jews and Gentiles, will be 'saved; that is, will be brought into the way of salvation, 'taught by the gospel; or will embrace the means of salvation proposed therein; the Jews being all along pro'voked to emulation by the Gentiles, and the Gentiles being 'confirmed in their faith by the circumstances of the Jewish 'people.'

However this seems evident, that as in past ages the Jews had been of great service in upholding religion in the world, and from them at length it was brought to the Gentiles; so, if in the end the Jews are converted to the faith of Christ, it will be through the Gentiles: and probably, upon some more general conversion of them than has yet been. So says St. Paul: "For as ye," Gentiles, "in time past have not believed in God, yet now have obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy," Rom. xi. 30, 31.

And possibly we may now perceive, that some notions concerning the conversion of the Jews are false and groundless, or at best doubtful and uncertain. For some imagine, that upon their general conversion to the christian faith, they will be established again in the land of Judea, and that Jerusalem, with its temple, will be rebuilt with great splendour and magnificence.

But that supposition is liable to many difficulties and objections. Should their ancient polity be restored, and they be a distinct people in the land of Israel, separate from all the other people of the earth? The gospel revelation

συγγένειαν προς τον Ισραηλ εχοντες, είτε εξ εθνών, κατα την της πίτεως EVYEVELAV AνTY σvvaптоμεvo. Theodoret, in loc. T. 3. p. 91. D.

See the sentiments of Origen and Chrysostom, and others, in Grotius upon Luke xxi. 24. And see Lightfoot's Works, vol. I. p. 375-377. and p. 737, 738. What was Eusebius's sentiment upon this point, may be seen in his Commentaries upon the Psalms, not published till since the time of Grotius. Διδασκονται ευχεσθαι τυχειν της απο των εθνών συναγωγης, ιν' ηδη ποτε της διασπορας απαλλαγέντες επι το αυτο συναχθωσιν οπερ Ιεδαίοι μεν φανταζουται μελλειν εσεσθαι εν τῳ παροντι βιῳ, επισαντος αυτοις το ηλειμμενες ημείς dε, K. X. Euseb. in Psalm 105. al. 106. ver. 47, 48. p. 690. edit. Montf.

Not that Jerusalem should be built again, when the fulness of the Gen'tiles is come in, which the Jews conceit: nor that then the Jews should be 'unblindfolded, and become a gospel-church, as the Gentiles had been. For what a strange world does such a supposal imagine? And how often does the gospel gainsay such distinctiveness and peculiarity?' Lightfoot, vol. I. p. 377. The same author says, 'That the calling of the Jews shall be in the places of their residence among christians; and that their calling shall not cause them to change place, but condition.' p. 738.

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