Romans 9:14–18

Verse 14. What shall we say, then? Is there injustice with God, when he bestows special favours and benefits on some, and not on others? He answers, by no means. And he justifies almighty God’s conduct, verse 22. In the mean time, it is certain that there is no injustice in not giving what another has no right to: and besides all men having sinned, deserved punishment. If then, he shews mercy to some, it is an effect of his goodness and liberality only which they do not deserve. If he leaves others in their sins, they are only punished according to their deserts. His mercy shines upon his elect; and his divine justice is displayed against the wicked and the reprobate, but only according to what they have deserved. Witham.

Verse 15–16. I will have mercy, and so forth Then it is not of him that willeth, and so forth By these words he again teaches that God’s call and predestination of those whom he has decreed to save, is not upon account of any works or merits in men, but only to be attributed to the mercy and goodness of God. See S. Thom. of Aquin on this chap. lect. iii. See Saint Augustine Encher. c. xcviii. Epis. 194. in the new Ed. Ep. 105. ad Sixtum de lib. Arbit. c. xxv. and so forth Witham.

Verse 15–16. I will have mercy, and so forth Then it is not of him that willeth, and so forth By these words he again teaches that God’s call and predestination of those whom he has decreed to save, is not upon account of any works or merits in men, but only to be attributed to the mercy and goodness of God. See S. Thom. of Aquin on this chap. lect. iii. See Saint Augustine Encher. c. xcviii. Epis. 194. in the new Ed. Ep. 105. ad Sixtum de lib. Arbit. c. xxv. and so forth Witham.

Verse 17. For the Scripture saith to Pharao, and so forth Saint Paul had shewn that there was no injustice in God by his giving special graces to the elect; now he shews that God cannot be accounted unjust for leaving the reprobate in their sins, or for punishing them as they deserve; for this purpose he brings the example of Pharao, who remained hardened against all the admonitions and chastisements of him and his kingdom.—Have I raised thee up, placed thee king over Egypt; I have done so many miracles before thee, I have spared thee when thou deservedst to be punished with death, and at last shall punish thee with thy army in the Red Sea, that my name may be known over all the earth. Witham.

Verse 18. And whom he will, he hardeneth. [3] That is, permits to be hardened by their own malice, as it is divers times said in Exod. that Pharao hardened his heart. God, says Saint Augustine is said to harden men’s hearts, not by causing their malice, but by not giving them the free gift of his grace, by which they become hardened by their own perverse will. Witham.—Not by being the cause, or author of his sin, but by withholding his grace, and so leaving him in his sin, in punishment of his past demerits. Challoner.