The Elect are many, yet not all, while no External State excludes a man from this number: the Poor, the Obscure, the Foolish in this world, Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-28; James 2:5.
The reasons are, α. So that the Glory might belong completely to God, and so that a greater and readier acknowledgment might be yielded to Him, 1 Corinthians 1:27-31, ἵνα τοὺς σοφοὺς καταισχύνῃ, etc., so that He might confound the wise, etc. β. So that the Elect might be conformed to Christ their Head even externally in the Cross, as also in holiness, joy, and glory, Hebrews 12:1, 2; Romans 8:29, in comparison with § 10 above. γ. So that God might remove the ordinary impediments of salvation in the case of many, Matthew 13:22; Mark 10:23-26. δ. So that the spiritual Excellence of the Elect above every bodily excellence might be openly shown, which Peter proclaims in 1 Peter 1:2-4; and Paul in Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18, etc.; Psalm 45:14-16. Which reasons are more fitting, than those borrowed from the distinction between the Old and New Testaments by AMELIUS and VITRINGA,[1]Sacrarum Observationum, book III, chapter II, pages 493-503; compare WOLF,[2]Curis philologicis et criticis, on 1 Corinthians 1:25-28; and STARINGH,[3]Bybels zakelyk Woordenboek, on the term Edelen/Nobles, part 2, section 2, pages 7-10.
[1] Campegius Vitringa Sr. (1659-1722) was a Dutch Reformed theologian and Hebraist. He was a critical Cocceian, and heavily influenced by his pastor, Herman Witsius. He served the university at Franeker, first as professor of Oriental languages (1681), then of Theology (1682) and Church History (1697). He is remembered for his work in Jewish antiquities, and for his commentaries on Isaiah and Revelation. [2] Johann Christoph Wolf (1683-1739) was a German Lutheran Hebraist and scholar. His Bibliotheca Hebræa (published in four volumes, 1715-1733) was a standard reference work on Jewish literature for more than a century. [3] Jacobus Gerardus Staringh (1717-1804) was a Dutch Reformed minister and scholar, serving at Gouderak.