As regards Rom. 11, it is clearly the root and tree of promise from Abraham. No saint before him became the head of a stock, so that they should be for blessing -children of such a thing. None answered to the converse of Adam the head of a fallen race. The promised seed was of course the one in whom all was made good, and so Gentiles come in according to Gal. 3 But there was a natural seed, to whom the possession of promise in this world was assured, and in whom it will be made good-that is Israel, and the apostle is showing in this chapter that they are not cast off as a people. That stock of promise remains, but many branches have been broken off, and Gentiles have been graffed into their place, that is, of enjoyment of the promise on earth. But then the Gentiles are no natural seed, and draw their standing by faith. If they depart from this, if they do not abide in God's goodness, they will be broken off as the Jews were (save the remnant), but the tree will abide still in the earth as the place of promise, and the Jews be graffed in as to their own olive-tree. It is quite evident that the olive-tree cannot be the church; that could not be the own olive-tree of unbelieving Israel who were cut off when it was set up. But the tree of promise was originally theirs; even Christ came of them as concerning the flesh. Nor has God cast them off, as this chapter is written to show. Only they were set aside by their own rejecting the promises to be mere objects of mercy.
If there be anything these few words do not clear up, I shall be glad to write again.
Faithfully yours in Jesus.
1862.