all that was said concerning the Remnant and first Churches and Israel at the restitution of all things that they now belong to them and are made good to them in this time although they find not in them what is there promised but many vainly imagine through their mistaken Notions that they are now so secured by Christ's Righteousness as they cannot finally fall away and so little regarding the plain words of Christ as his Sermon on the Mount Matth. 5. to the eighth Chapter And also that he laid down his life for the world John 3.17 And his general Invitation to accept of Salvation by taking his Yoke upon them Matth. 11.28,29 And Christ faith If thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments Matth. 19.17 And in loving God and our Neighbours hangs all the Law and the Prophets Matth. 22.4 And is commanded us by Christ and his Apostles Rom. 2.13 And not the hearers of the Law are just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified and it is said to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no Light in them Isaiah 8.20 Therefore St. Peter terms it a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in their hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 For in the Prophecies is declared the promises of the blessedness in time to come in which time will be given an inherent perfect righteousness which is the day Star that will then arise in their hearts for in time to come is given the eternal life 1 Tim. 6.19 Now the Bereans were said to be noble because they searched the Scriptures to see if those things which were spoken by the Apostles were so or no Acts 17.11 And the Scriptures then was only the Old Testament and all the Prophesies were to be fulfilled and as many of them as has not yet been fulfilled remains still to be made good in as much as it is impossible for God to lie Heb. 6.18 Jer. 31.33,34,35,36,37 Isa 54.9,10,11 Chap. 62.8 much less forsworn and Christ saith Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil for verily I say unto you till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled Matth. 5.7,18 That is not till all the great Promises and Prophesies that are written in the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled both as to the Punishments and the Glory that should follow Dan. 7.27 Isaiah 60.21 Which promised Glory could never come to pass had not the Lord laid down his Life to purchase to himself a glorious Church in time to come without spot or wrinkle but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 Isaiah 60.21 And accordingly in Isaiah it is declared and in the Rev. 5.10 For the glorious time will not be till Israel receives the Promises Now all our mistaken Notions are quite contrary to the Law and the Prophets and therefore not to be received by us and though Christ Abolished the Ceremonial Law it was no ways contradictory to the Prophets for David Typically speaking of Christ saith Sacrifice an Offering thou desirest not then said I lo I come in the volume of the Book it is written of me I delight to do thy will O God Psalm 40.6,7 Christ was that acceptable Sacrifice which only could take away Sin which the Sacrifices of the Ceremonial Law could not do and therefore were to be Abolished Ezek. 20.25 But whereas Christ saith Matth. 11.13 All the Prophets and the Law Prophesied until John which was because the Ceremonial Law was then to be Abolished and then part of the Prophesies was fulfilled in Christ's first coming but there is other of the Prophesies are still to be fulfilled which not only foretels the Lord's second coming but also what will be in time to come agreeable to which the Lord Revealed to St. John by Revelation Now though the Gentiles were not commanded the outward Circumcision yet there is required of them the inward Circumcision of the Heart Rom. 2.29 The performance of which has been little observed but unto this Circumcision Baptism is a Figure and though we keep the eighth day or otherwise call'd the first day for our Sabbath yet this is not repugnant to the Scripture for when God blessed the Sabbath Day he pronounced the Blessing to the Sabbath Day not naming the seventh Day in the Blessing but in that God said the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God from hence it doth not appear that it should remain so for ever and ever Which words are added to that which is so to continue and the eighth Day was the great Day of the Feast which was likewise the Jewish Sabbath which was a Figure of the great Feast or Sabbath in time to come unto which their being Circumcised on the eighth Day doth allude in which God will Circumcise their Hearts that they shall no more Sin against him by the then Establishing the promised new everlasting Covenant which Crowns Life to the Soul which Covenant now is but a Covenant of Promise but when Established God's People will be all Righteous and then it is Israel will inherit the Land for ever Isaiah 60.21 And this God declaring we are bound to believe in as much as it is imppssible for God to lie Heb. 6.18 And God never left himself without Witness to confirm the Truth of his Word that we might have Ground for Faith for by that time most of the Elect among the Gentiles were taken off by Death Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews became a scattered People through the World according as God by the Prophets and Christ hath declared and which is to this day evidently known and that they were thus scattered because of their Sins this the whole Book of God declares and themselves acknowledge and by them the Scriptures of the Old Testament have been more safely preserved all along amongst the Nations whilst the Nations were deprived of the New Testament by the Pope and so lost the right apprehension of the meaning of the things therein contained and likewise the Ordinances spoken of 1 Cor. 11.2 Which he praises them for keeping them as he delivered them the which St. Peter foreseeing according as by the Prophet is declared that the Goats would eat the good Pastures and tread the residue with their Feet and foul the deep Waters Eze. 34.17,18 Therefore St. Peter terms the Writings of the Prophets a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed 2 Pet. 1.19 And the Scriptures declare concerning Israel first their Rise their Continuance their scattering and there remaining scattered till the Messiah again comes and there being such a scattered People among us and through the whole
formerly lean'd too much to the received Notions thinking they had been right till by the abuse of the fore-mentioned Text I made further search into the Scriptures concerning it begging God's assistance by which means I found we are in great Mistakes II. Shewing whom the Seeds are between whom God put Enmity NOw as to the Curse the Lord laid upon the Serpent Gen 3.14,15 Thou art cursed above all Cattel and above every Beast of the Field upon thy Belly shalt thou go and Dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy Life And I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Now this Serpent is to be understood under a twofold Head First That this Old Serpent called the Devil did appear in the shape of a Serpent or rather entred into a Serpent and so spake in the Serpent Whose going was not so uncomly as we may understand from the Words of the Text before the Curse was laid upon him as after Neither any such enmity between the Woman and the Serpent For God made all the Creatures subject to Adam and therefore then there was no enmity between them And after Adam's transgression it was that God placed Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent And when we would bruise the Serpent it is at his Head we strike and he at our Heels And that there was a real Serpent it doth further appear in that he was to go upon his Belly all the days of his Life which accordingly he doth But in that the Scriptures are of more then a private Interpretation 2 Pet. 1.20 And therefore this Scrrpture hath its chief tendency to the Old Serpent called the Devil whom Christ the Seed of the Woman should bruise And likewise between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Old Serpent God hath also put Enmity But who this Seed of the Old Serpent was or is is here to be considered Whereas God said I will put Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 And the Serpent has no other Seed but what does adhere to him and then none had adhered to him to give themselves to his dispose but the Angels whom he drew off with him when he revolted and therefore he is called Belzebub the Prince of the Devils Matth. 12.24 And it was for the Devil and his Angels that Hell-Fire was prepared Matth. 25.41 And it was between this Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman that God did then put Enmity for the Prince of darkness then had no other Seed but the Angels that fell For when Eve bore Cain she said I have gotten a Man from the Lord And therefore then he was not the Seed of the Serpent And for Cain's first Offence God did not cast him out of his presence but said If thou dost well shalt thou not be excepted but if thou dost Evil Sin lieth at thy Door Gen. 4.7 But he by adding Sin to Sin thereby became of that Evil One for which God cast him out of his presence So the Seed of Seth whilst they served God were called the Sons of God But when they had corrupted their Way whereby the earth was filled with Violence they were alike cut off together And so Israel of whom God said I had planted thee a noble Vine a holy and a right Seed Jer. 2.21 God having before proved and tryed Abraham Gen. 22.16,17,18 of whom Israel sprang and had they continued in the steps of Abraham they would have remained Blessed but they turned into the degenerate plant of a strange Vine ver 21. For when they forsook the holy Commandment and did strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camel Mat. 23.23,24 For they wanted Faith in the Belief of the Writings of the Prophets as to think that the threatned Judgments from God by them would fall on them if they were disobedient to the weightier matters of the Law and therefore Christ said in the Parable If they will not believe Moses and the Prophets as to be warned by them neither will they believe though one rose from the Dead Luke 16.29,30,31 And also Christ saith For had they believed Moses they would have believed me for he wrote of me John 5.46 For had they lived blamelesly Luke 1.6 according to the rule God had given Israel had never been left to Blindness And it was better for them to whom Christ spake in Parables and dark Sentences and did not his mighty Works amongst them nor suffered his Disciples to declare them that so they might be left to Blindness then those where he did his mighty Works which never Man did Mat. 12.24,35 thereby to convince them Yet they would wilfully set themselves in opposition therefore Christ said It should be more tolerable for Tire and Sidon and Sodom in the Day of Judgment then for such Mat. 11.22,23,24 Deut. 32.5 And whereas some of Israel were elected and to others of them a door of mercy set open but the greater number of Israel were left to Blindness And St. Peter saith of Israel Acts 2.47 The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Because some of them were likewise saved by afore-appointment whilst it happened that for Sin the major part of Israel were left to Blindness Rom. 11.25 And the major part in Scripture is often called as the whole or all but it was the major part was left to blindness So likewise the Gentiles that were fore-chosen and who first believed Ephes 1.12 were appointed by God that the World through them might believe John 17.21 For there was a particular and a general Calling by the Gospel by which general Call the Nations embraced the Faith and became the Seed of Abraham But when they came to have no Love to the Truth but took pleasure in Unrighteousness God gave them up to strong Delusions to believe Lyes that they might be damned 2 Thes 2.10,11,12 Here are two things lays People under Damnation first In having no Love to the Truth 2dly In taking pleasure in Unrighteousness And those that have no Love to the Truth are not only those that laid the World in Darkness but also all those that doe wilfully oppose the Truth thereby to keep the World in Darkness For all such as would rather let God be dishonoured and the Bible made to contradict it self and his People destroyed for lack of Knowledge Hosea 4.6 rather than themselves be found in a mistake Such may easily conclude what will be their portion III. How the Spirit of Christ must be in us if we are his ROmans 8.1 There is therefore no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit That is such as walk after the Spirit are in Christ Jesus For such are said not to be in the Flesh but in the Spirit
matter Dan. 7.28 Of this Vision which did appertain to this Mystery which has to this day been hid from Israel And Daniel heard but understood not therefore said O my Lord what shall be the end of these things And the Lord said go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end verse 8.9 And the Disciples asked the Lord why he spake to the Jews in Parables the Lord said to them It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given Matth. 13.10,11 For indeed this Kingdom of Heaven or Heavenly Kingdom is a great Mystery which when the Christians had lost the knowledg of this Secret it was then to remain a Secret till the time of the end and now is the time the Lord will have it Revealed and they that desire spiritual Wisdom shall understand it Dan. 12.10 And the Lord will first come in the Clouds of Heaven before the last or seventh Angel soundeth Matth. 24.31,32 And the Saints that are under the Altar receive white Robes Rev. 6.9 In which they will accompany the Lord into the world before their Bodies are raised and then will the Nations know the two Witnesses which now they understand not And all this is to be after the Lord comes and before the seventh Angel soundeth Rev. 11.15 And when the seventh Angel sounded there were great Voices in Heaven Saying the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And the Saints receiving their Bodies at the sound of the last or seventh Trumpet 1 Cor. 15.52 the Elders fell upon their faces and worshiped God Rev. 11.16 But our Predecessors having lost the right Apprehension of these things by reason of the Apostacy so as they that came after did not understand how God could make his Promise good to the raised Saints in providing Mansions in the Heavens for them in that Tabernacle which the Lord shall pitch and not Man at which time the Lord will restore Israel to their own Land Likewise then God will make good his Word concerning the Heathen so as all the Families of the Earth shall be blessed in Christ after the wilfully Wicked are Condemned accordingly as God hath threatened that he would send his Angel and gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend as I have fully proved For God by the Law and Gospel speaks but to them that are under it and they are the World and Heavens and Earth that will be Condemned by it Isaiah 34. Chap. 24 5,6 For transgressing the laws changing the ordinances breaking the everlasting covenant therefore the curse devoureth the earth that is the Earth upon whom the Curse falls for the Offences For the Ordinances which St. Paul would have the Church keep as they were delivered unto them 1 Cor. 11.2 God by this Prophet declares they have changed And in Ezekiel 34.18 it is said they have eaten the good Pastures which must be those Ordinances which Isaiah saith they have changed that is put them away and made new ones in their room that is new Articles of Faith new Church Government new ways of Administring the Sacraments in all these things the Romish Church is horribly out of the way besides all their other Abominations and likewise others as to some of these things will be found dangerously out of the way for treading down with their Feet the Residue of their Pastures and also fouling of the deep waters with their feet so as the flock eat that which they have trodden with their feet and drink that which they have fouled with their feet verse 18.19 This place and the foremention'd Chapters of Isaiah have peculiar References to the second coming of Christ to Judgment at which time he will Judge between Cattel and Cattel and the Rams and the hee Goats v. 17. And then the Lord will feed his Sheep himself so as then they shall no more be a prey when he is Prince among them verse 22.23,24 and the offending Shepherds will God then feed with Judgment But after the Teachers of the Romish Church had changed the Ordinances or eaten the good Pastures or as the Lord saith hid the Talent they thereby made way to set up their own Institutions and so transgressed the Laws and brake the everlasting Covenant for the moral Law is an everlasting Covenant Isaiah 24.5 as well as the new Covenant when Established will be an everlasting Covenant to them with whom it is Established for the old Covenant will only then be done away as a conditional Covenant as now it is for the Lord will then give an inherent perfect Righteousness to all with whom that Covenant will then be made as thereby they shall be enabled perfectly to keep the moral Law for then God will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable Isaiah 42.21 But when the Nations came to have no love to the Truth and their Rulers would not any longer be holden with the Cords of the Laws of the Lord according as it was Prophesied of Psalm 2. Then God permitted the Prince of Darkness to hoist up the Beast an Instrument whom Satan had prepared for his purpose who thought to change times and laws and they were given into his hands till the day of judgment and then shall his dominion be taken away Dan. 7.25,26 But God all along preserved the Law and the Testimony of the Prophets safe in the Hands of the Jews whom he scattered throughout the World that they might be a Light to the World in the cloudy and dark Day when the Beast had deprived the Nations of the rest of the Scriptures and the Christians knowing that Christ was come and that the Ceremonial Law was Abolished and that Christ was that great Sacrifice that had made an Attonement for Sins that were past for all those that would walk in Obedience to the rest of God's Laws and Commands and Precepts that Christ would then compleat their sincere Endeavours they not forgetting Baptism and the Lord's Supper For all the Prophets as they declare Christ first coming to Suffer so also they declare that he will come again to Judge and Reign And in the way of well-doing God has declared by the Prophets that we may stay our selves upon his Promises in that he will shew his Salvation to all that walk uprightly by their improving the Day of Grace whilst it was in their Hands that they might not be hardned through the Deceitfulness of Sin by accustoming themselves therein which had the Christians taken heed to the Law and to the Prophets herein they could have been very little out of the way ' for whosoever speaks not according to the Law and the Testimony of the Prophets it is because there is no light in them Isaiah 8.20 But many being deceived by the Popish Idolatrous Worship and with their pretended Pardons and also
Lord comes the which will not be till after the Lord comes as I have fully made appear in the fore-mentioned Book For Idumea will be the Figurative Heavens with their Hosts that will be destroyed Isaiah 34.4,8 When Israel is Restored which Idumea in the Revelation is termed mystical Babylon and the Figurative Heavens and Elements which will be destroyed Rev. 6.3,4 And the Heaven and Earth that will pass away with which are included the rest of the Wicked that know his Laws for the Covetous Man is said to be an Idolater as well as he that Worships an Idol Eph. 5.5 Col. 3.5 And those that walk after the Lust of the Flesh will fall under the Condemnation for the Wicked shall perish and the Enemies of the Lord shall be as the Fat of Lambs they shall consume into smoke shall they consume away Psalm 37.20 And we reckon our Enemies always to be them that knows us and not them that knows us not And St. Peter's Charge was that they should be mindful of the words that were spoken before by the Holy Prophets and of the Commandment of us the Apostles 2 Pet. 3.20 Which was that they might not be ignorant of the coming of the Lord which the Scoffers are willfully ignorant that by the word of God the Heavens were of old and the Earth standing out of the Water and in the Water whereby the World that then was being overflowed with Water then perished verse 5.6 The which World was the World of People and then they were not distinguished by Heavens and Earth for then there was no Ruling Powers but what belonged to Parents over their Children and Families and therefore alike termed the World and not the Heavens and Earth As Israel was not termed Heavens and Earth till they became a Ruling Power and People So likewise the Heathen when they became a Ruling Power and People then were they termed a Heavens and Earth as I have already proved but in that St. Peter saith the Heavens and Earth that are now by the same word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly Men verse 7. But in that he saith the same Heavens and Earth which are now are kept in store unto Judgment Therefore he had no reference here to those that were of old and the Figurative Heavens which was then in the Apostles time was the Roman Power by which the Servants of Christ were then opprest and it is the Roman Power which are now likewise their Afflictors and will remain till the Lord comes and then will they be destroyed with Fire with the Perdition of the rest of the ungodly Men who knowing the Laws of the Lord will not obey them And then not only the fore-mentioned Heavens and Earth of People will be burnt up that is that paâ—t of the Earth where the devouring Storm cometh mentioned Psalm 11.6 Vpon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tsmpest and then it is the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies Isaiah 28.17 Whereby it sheweth there will be Hail mixed with Fire as was in Egypt Exod. 9.23,25 For the Storm of Hail in Isaiah and the Storm of Fire in the Psalms hath â—ts tendency to one and the same time And this Hail is said to come down on the Forrest Isaiah 32.19 At which time Israel and the rest of the Nations that are saved will be safe in Israel's Land whilst the Earth is renewing as I have largly proved in the fore-mentioned Book of the Figurative Speeches But because the Adopted Seed to whom this is spoken have ' transgressed the Laws changed the Ordinances therefore the Curse devoureth the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof burned and few Men left ' Isaiah 24.5,6 That is few Men will be found Righteous among the fore-mentioned so as to be left when the other are destroyed for this Earth of People that has so wilfully offended â—he Transgressions ' thereof shall be heavy upon it and it shall fall and not rise again ' verse 20. So as in the first Judgment there will be some Sentenced to everlasting Punishment according as the Lord by the Parable declares Matth. 25.46 And the wilful Opposers of the Truth will likewise be raised to receive their Condemnation for then the Saints will rise to everlasting Life and some to Shame and everlasting Contempt Daniel 12.2 For they that neglect the greater Salvation fall under the greater Condemnation For then the Heathen Powers of Rome or otherwise called Heavens that wilfully resisted the Truth when the Holy Ghost was given for the Confirmation thereof will rise to receive Punishment and therefore likewise said to be kept in store as well as the Heavens of the Christian Rome which has made Lies their Refuge For these sdumean Heavens or mystical Babylon will be the Heavens that will be on Fire and the Elements that will melt with fervent heat of which St. Peter spake But he saith neverthelâ—ss we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new eaerth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 2 Pet. 3.12,13 For the Apostles always had their Eye to the Prophesies as not to teach in contradiction to the Promises And God saith Isaiah 65.17,18 For behold I create new heavens and new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind But be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her People a joy And because God would have us take notice what this is that he here Creates he therefore saith Behold I Create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her People a joy This is the new Heavens and new Earth that God Created upon the old Foundation the which is Israel of which Foundation Christ is the chief corner Stone And why is it here said that God will Create new Heavens and new Earth because they are such Heavens and such Earth as was never here such before as to have Righteousness dwelling in them as will be when Jerusalem is made a rejoycing and her People a joy For when Christ first came the ruling Power was not given him though he had then Righteousness dwelling in him and it is said these Heavens came down from above Isaiah 45.8 Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness let the earth open and let them bring forth salvation and let righteousness spring up together I the Lord have created it This Righteousness the Lord Creates when he comes down with all his Saints which are the Heavens that comes from above then will he pour down Righteousness and then the Earth of his People will bring forth Salvation and then Salvation and Righteousness will spring up together For the Covenant is to them and their Children and to as many of us as are found in our Obedience and in that day God will appoint Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks Isaiah 26.1 Thus the Prophets
and Apostles agree that Salvation will be when the times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19,21,22 And Christ saith Search the scriptures for they were they that dâ—d testifie of him John 5.39 And then there was no other Scriptures but the Old Testament Now all Christ's Sufferings being fulfilled in the plain Letter of the Word and left us upon Record ever to believe the same And as in the Word it is Prophesied that Israel should be scattered so we evidently see the same and we ought also and are bound to believe all the great Prophesies and Promises relating to Christ's second coming that they will be performed in the plain Letter of the Word and as it was Prophesied that God would pour forth his Spirit Joel 2.28,29 Of which St. Peter saith It was made good to them in that time Acts 2.16,17,18 Which was for the Confirmation of the Gospel and as an earnest of their Inheritance in time to come or Restitution Before which time as in Joel 2.30,31 God will shew wonders in heaven and in earth blood and fire and pillars of smoke which accordingly has come to pass for by wars much blood hath been spilt And the Lord in a great and wonderful manner hath sent out of the earth fire and pillars of smoke for these many hundred years but much more of late And it is said verse 31. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord come This came to pass when the Nations which had embraced the Faith came to have no love to the Truth God then gave them up to Delusion 2 Thess 2.10,11 For when the people could not endure sound doctrin but after their own lusts they did heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and they turned away their ears from the truth and were turned unto fables 2 Tim. 4 3,4 And when the Seducers and false teachers went about to deceive they then became deceived ch 3.12,13 For God doth never so punish without a cause Eze. 14.23 And then was the Sun turned into darkness for in the Scriptures the Teachers are termed the Light of the World and when the Sun the Teachers were darkned the Moon which is the World of People which receiveth her Light from the Teachers as the Moon doth her Light from the Sun the People were soon turned into Blood by hating and killing one another The Pope and his Clergy pretending to be the true Church Mahomet the true Prophet and every Sect the right Remnant and thus the Prince of Darkness carries on his Designs in setting Men to hate and kill one another through these Divisions Now in that Prophesie of Scripture is of more than a private Interpretation 2 Pet. 1.20 But we must be sure to put no other Interpretation on it but what we can make plain from the Word And in Joel 3.15 It is also said The sun and moon shall be darkned and the stars shall withdraw their shining Here the Prophet may have a Reference to the material Sun Moon and Stars which by the Glorious Appearing of the Lord will be obscured by his Brightness But when the Nations came to have no love to the Truth God suffered a Spirit of a strong Delusion to go forth 2 Thess 2.11 For God hath determined that those that will not deny themselves for him shall suffer by him for unto them that are contentions and will not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile but glory honour and peace to every man that worketh good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile Rom. 2.8,9,10 For there will be a Redemption in time to come for all that order their Conversation aright and have not been wilful Opposers of the Truth which is one of the worst of Unrighteousnesses And though it is those who comes in Heirs to the Promises made to the Fathers that are made partakers of the greater Glory yet there is Glory and Salvation for others of a lower degree And though the Jews that have been since Christ's time were cast off for the Sins of their Parents yet not for ever and ever to be forgotten of God without their own Sins does occasion it for there will be a Redemption in time to come for some and if Israel for the Sin of their Parents has been left to stumble on the dark Mountains these seventeen hundred years no wonder if the Adopted Seed has been left to stumble thereon for above this thousand years For it is Israel who as touching the Election is beloved for their Fathers sake Rom. 11.28 For though there was but a Remnant chosen from among them that were chosen according to the Election of Grace verse 5. Yet they were all Gods chosen and elected People for their Fathers sake Isaiah 45.4 And this God did because he loved their Fathers because they had walked with a perfect Heart before him The which when the Lord proved Israel in the Wilderness they did not And therefore the Lord saith Deut. 31.21 For I know their imaginations which they go about even now before I have brought them into the land Here because God would have us take notice when it was he knew it therefore he redoubles his Words and saith even now at the time when they were in the Wilderness But we do never read of God's foreknowing his Drowning of the World till he saw the Wickedness of Man was great and then it was that it grieved him at his Heart that he had made Man but God's choosing Israel was for their Fathers sake and not that he had Elected them without a why or a wherefore but when God had proved and tryed Israel in the Wilderness and as they had there often miscarried God saw they would again fall away for which he determined to leave them to Blindness the like God foreseeing that the Gentiles would fall away for which he determined to leave them to Delusion For as of old when the People fell away Rom. 1.18,20,21 the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and godhead so that they were without excuse because when they knew God they glorified him not as God but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned verse 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them up to a reprobate mind So we see Man 's not improving his Day of Grace has been his Destruction all along and not that they had not a Day of Grace given them and it is such that God gives up to Delusion that first deceives and deludes themselves