John Trapp on Matthew 23:37

Verse 37. How often would I, &c.] How then could they perish, whom God would have saved? It is answered, Voluntas Dei alia est praecepti, revelata Antecedens, alia beneplaciti, arcana Consequens. By the former God willed their conversion, but not by the later. A King wils the welfare of all his Subjects: yet he will not acquit those that are laid up for treason, [illegible: 1 word], and the like foul crimes. A father is willing to give his son the inheritance: yet if he prove an unthrift, he'l put him beside it, and take another. How oft would I have gathered? that is (say some) by the externall Ministery of the Prophets, sent unto thee, vers. 34, 35. Not by internall regenerating operation of the spirit. Even as a hen gathereth her chickens] Columbarum masculus Chytraeus in Levit. 12. ipse ovis incubat, [illegible: 1 word] Christus ipse ecclesiam suam fovet. Of unreasonable creatures birds, and of birds the hen excels in kindnes to her young: so that she doubts not, in their defence, to encounter a Kite, a dog, &c. Iniquo & impari praelio, though with greatest disadvantage. And ye would not] Men may nill their conversion then, thoughPareus. called by God, Quo nihil est verius, sed & nihil turpius, saith one. Men are not damned, because they cannot do better, but because they will doe no better. If there were no will, there would [illegible: 1 line] be no [illegible: 1 word], Joh. 12. 39. Therefore they could not believe; They could not, that is, they would not, saith Theophylact out of Chrysostom, who yet usually extolleth mans free-will more then is meet.