25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;



Ver. 25. Those that oppose themselves] Though they should deal as absurdly with us as those that deny the snow to be white, &c. Aristotle forbids to dispute with such. {a} But Christ commands not only by force of argument to convince them, Jdg_1:22, but also to handle them gently, and in meekness to instruct them.



If God will give them, &c.] Repentance is God’s gift: neither is it in the power of any to repent at pleasure. Some vainly conceit that these five words, Lord, have mercy upon me, are as efficacious to send them to heaven, as the Papists that their five words of consecration are to transubstantiate the bread. But as many are undone (saith a divine) by buying a counterfeit jewel; so many are in hell by mistake of their repentance.



{a} åëåã÷åôå äéáêñéíïìåíïé . Arguite disputatos; sic Lorinus vertit.