Matthew Poole and continuators on John 10:26

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep▪ as I said unto you .

Acts 13.48. As many as were ordained to life, believed. Here our Saviour giveth this as one reason of the Iews unbelief, that they were not of his sheep; were they not Israelites? yes, but all are not Israel, that are descended of Israel. It seems a very hard interpretation that some would put upon these words; ye believe not, because you are not teachable, and fit to be made my sheep, the words are [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Nor can such interpretation be paralelled from any other Scripture. That by sheep, here, cannot be meant members of the Church, is [illegible: 1 word]; for they were of the Church of Israel, whom the Lord led as a stock, (as the Psalmist speaks, Psal. 80.1.) That Believers, and such as are truly called and sanctified, are not meant, is as plain; for then the sense would be, you believe not, because you believe not; besides, our Saviour had be[illegible: 4 letters] said, He had other sheep that were not of that fold, (by which he meant the Gentiles) such, for whom he prayed, Chap. 17.20. being such as should believe on him By sheep therefore he meaneth, certainly, such as were ordained to life, as Acts 13. 48. Nor will it therefore follow, that Gods not ordination of them to life, was the near and immediate [illegible: 1 word] of their not believing; but their own stubborn, and perverse wills in not repenting, that they might believe. As our Saviour tells them, Matth. 21.32. that is, not turning from their gross and sinful ways, which they might have done by vertue of that common grace of God, which was afforded them in the Gospel, by the Preaching of Iohn the Baptist, and of Christ himself.

Marginal references: Chap. 8.47.