Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 11:20

20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off , and thou standest by faith . Be not high-minded, but fear .

Here he brings in the Gentiles, alleadging a Reason for their Insulting over the Iews; because the Iews were broken off, that they might give place, or make way for them; and the less worthy, do alwayes give place to the more worthy. To this he Answers, First by way of Concession: Well (saith he) it is true, and I do not deny it, That the Iews were broken off, that the Gentiles might be graffed in: But then he further adds, by way of Correction or Negation; That the Worthiness of the Gentiles, was not the cause why the Iews were broken off; but it was because of their own Unbelief; they would not Accept of Christ, Iohn 1.11. They went about to establish their own righteousness, and would not submit themselves to the Righteousness of God, as 'tis in chap. 10.3. Therefore, if you Gentiles shall Reason after this manner, you plainly put a Fallacy upon your selves, and take that for a Cause which is none: You don't distinguish between the cause and the event; it fell out indeed, That the Iews being cast off, the Gentiles were received in, but this was not the Cause of that.

q. d. Neither is thy Worthiness the Cause of thy present Standing in the room of the Iews; or of having thy Station in the Church of Christ; but it is thy believing in that Christ, whom the Iews rejected. By Faith thou wast first Engraffed, and still continuest in the good Olive-tree.

q. d. Be advised, and take heed of being Self-conceited and Secure; if thou fall into their Fault, thou mayest expect the same Fate. Therefore stand in Awe, and Sin not: Thou art subject to Unbelief and Apostasy, as well as they.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 span].; Prov. 28.14. Isa. 66.2. Phil. 2.12.