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and the rest were left to their blinded hardened heart; 8. As it is written, God hath left them to fall asleep with the spirit of slumber, (having great stupidity) eyes that see not, and ears that hear not, even to this day. 9. And David saith, Their table shall become a trap and a snare, and an occasion of stumbling, as a recompence to them (for their wickedness): 10. Their eyes shall be darkened that they shall not see; and they shall keep their back continually bent (under a load of evils for their infidelity.)

11. I say then, Have they stumbled so as to fall (irrecoverably)? not at all; but by this (Acts xiii. 46.) fall of theirs, salvation is now come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to emulation.

12.

But if their fall be (occasionally) the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness? 13. For I speak to you, Gentiles, as being the apostle of the Gentiles I magnify mine office; 14. If by any means I may provoke to emulation them who are of my flesh, and save some of them. 15. For if their rejection were (the occasion of) the world's reconciliation to God, what will their reception be, but as it were life from the dead? 16. For if the first fruits (those that believe) be holy, so is the lump, (the rest will believe at last); and if the root (the patriarchs) be holy, the branches are likewise so. 17. And tho' some of the branches were broken off (by unbelief,) and thou (O Pagan) being like a scion of a wild olive, wert grafted in instead of them, and partakest of the (nourishment of the) root and fatness of the good olive, (the church,) 18. Boast not against the natural branches; but if thou boastest, remember that thou bearest not the root, (hast done no spiritual good to Is. rael) but the root beareth thee.

19. Thou wilt say then, The branches were brok en off that I might be grafted in. 20. Well; be

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cause of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; 21. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22. Behold, then the goodness and severity of God: on them who fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; other wise thou also shalt be cut off. 23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24. For if thou wert cut off from the olive tree, which was naturally wild, and contrary to the course of nature wert grafted on the good olive tree, how much more shall these which are the natural branches, be grafted on their own olive tree (at last)? 25. For I would not have you ignorant of this mystery, brethren, lest you should have too high an opinion of yourselves, that blindness is happened to part of Israel till (A. D. 2000, the time when they, with) the fulness of the Gentiles, shall be brought in (at the last, as the riches of the Gentiles, ver. 12. were at first.)

26. So all the Israelites shall then believe and be saved; as it is written, The Deliverer shall come out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27. And this is my covenant into which I will bring them, when I shall take away their sins (as a nation). 28. With respect to the gospel, they are regarded as enemies for your sakes and benefit (2000 years, as ye were for theirs;) but as to their election, they are beloved for their fathers' sakes. 29. For the gifts and callings of God are not revoked. 30. For as ye Gentiles were (many ages) in times past disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy on occasion of their disobedience, 31. Even so they also have now been disobedient (to the gospel, on occasion of your receiving it), that thereby they may also receive it at last. 32. For God hath included all together in unbelief (for

a time), that he might (the more remarkably) have mercy on all.

33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35. Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? (God is not indebted to any.) 36. For of him (as the author,) and by him (as the preserver,) and for him (even his glory as the end) are all things; to whom be glory, for ever. Amen.

CHAP. XII.

GOD TO BE PRAISED FOR HIS MERCIES.

I BESEECH you, then, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves a living sacrifice, holy, well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may experience what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. 3. For I say, thro' the grace given to me, to every man among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought; but to think modestly according to the measure of faith which God hath distributed to every man. 4. For as we have many members in one body, but all have not the same office; 5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace given to us, whether prophesying, let us prophesy according to the analogy of faith; 7. Or ministring let us wait on our ministrations; or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8. Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth alms, let him do it with sincerity; he that ruleth, let him do

it with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor what is evil; cleave to what is good, 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another; 11. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12. Rejoicing in hope (of future glory); patient in tribulation; continuing in prayer; 13. Distributing to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality. 14. Bless them who persecute you; bless, and curse not. 15. Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16. Be entirely united in your regards for one another; affect not high things, but suit yourselves to mean things and mean persons: be not wise in your own conceits. 17. Recompense to no man evil for evil; do what is decent in the sight of all men. 18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to God's wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay it, saith the Lord.

20. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head, (to melt him into a better mould, or consume him.) 21. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.

CHAP. XIII.

OF SUBJECTION TO MAGISTRATES.

LET every soul be subject to the superior authorities; for there is no authority but of God; such authorities as exist, are ordered by God. 2. Whoever, therefore, resisteth the authority, resisteth the ordinance of God; and shall receive judgment: (authority, exusia, exists of right, and acts rightly;

power, dynamis, the contrary, being assumed, or violent, and by force; they differ, as right and wrong, Psalm Ixii. 10-12. 1 Pet. iii. 22.) 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the authority? Do what is good, and thou shalt have praise from it: 4. For he is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou do what is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain; but as a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5. Therefore, ye must be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6. And for this cause pay ye tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attending continually to this matter. 7. Render, therefore, to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom; fear, to whom fear; honour, to whom honour. 8. Owe no man any thing but love to each other; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9. For this precept, Thou shalt not commit whoredom, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other command, it is comprehended in this precept, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10. Love worketh no ill to one's neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

12.

11. And knowing the season that now it is time to awake out of sleep, (or sloth); for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. The night of time is far spent, the eternal day draws near; let us, therefore, put off (the vices), the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, (the Christian graces). 13. Let us walk decently as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and envying; 14. But put ye on (the graces and virtues of the) Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for pleasing the flesh, to fulfil its lusts.