Job 14.14 The Creature therefore must wait all the daies of their appointed time untill their change come Now the time when this shall be is here very significantly called the Manifestation or Revelation of these Sons of God which word of the Apostle is in Travel as Rebecca with a Twin of Interpretations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it may be taken not only in a Passive sense as some will have it but also in an Active Consider it first Actively These Sons of God that is The Angels shall be sent forth by Jesus Christ and employed in an eminent Work of Revelation four several waies First They shall break open the Chambers of Death and bring out the naked Bodies of the whole Race of Mankinde that have been there shut up and laid to sleep from the beginning of the World not one shall be missing Secondly They shall gather all the Saints which are God's Jewels together Mal. 3.17 and leave the Wicked which are the dross and dregs of the World by themselves thereby manifesting the one from the other each side to receive a Sentence from the Righteous Judge according to their Works Thirdly That Righteous Judgment which shall then pass must also have its manifestation according to the Apostles word Rom. 2.5 Rom. 2.5 And who but these Sons of God shall be the Messengers and Instruments of Justice at that day So saith Jesus Christ himself in the Parable of the Tares the Reapers that is Mat. 13.30 the Angels have their charge given them not only to gather the Tares together but to binde them in bundles to burn them and as for the Wheat they must bring that safely into the Barn Fourthly and above all these Sons of God shall be employed in the manifestation of the Son of man when he comes in his Glory for they shall in effect proclaim the Name of the Lord before him unto all the World as once it was when he passed before Moses being in a Cleft of the Rock Exod. 34. The Lord the Lord God Ex. 34.6 7 merciful and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the childrens children Ps 50.3 unto the third and fourth Generation A fire shall devour before him and the Lord shall descend from Heaven as the Apostle speaketh 1 Thes 4.16 with a Shout a Shout that will make the Earth to quake and the World to ring and with the Voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God And what doth this imply but that these Sons of God shall minister unto Jesus Christ at that day in the manifestation of his Glory The Scripture we know speaketh often of the Manifestation and Revelation of Jesus Christ and his Glory 1 Cor. 1.7 1 Pet. 1.7.13 1 Pet. 4.13 c. And though it be most true that the Lord will then make himself known by the Judgment which he then executeth and by his appearing in his peculiar Glory yet doubtless the innumerable multitude of the Heavenly Hostes that attend upon him at his comming will also make his Praise glorious else would not the Wisdom of God have so contrived it that his Appearance should be also made solemn and formidable by reason of his Attendants that wait upon him And to this purpose the Apostle speaks expresly 2 Thes 1.7 So Beza renders it Act. 14.27 15.4 2 Thes 1.7 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven But how With his mighty Angels in flaming fire or by his mighty Angels as the Preposition there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth also signifie And thus we see how these Sons of God shall be Active in the great Work of Manifestation at the last Day But then secondly the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is also as hath been said to be rendred in a Passive signification Thus these Sons of God shall themselves be manifested and that in two respects first of their Nature secondly of their Number First Their Nature shall be made manifest to the World for though they have appeared often under several Forms sometimes in the shape of Men sometimes like unto flaming fire for the comfort of the Godly and terrour of the Wicked yet doth it not clearly appear thereby what they are Spirits indeed they are Glorious and Heavenly and Immortal Spirits created after the Image of God of marvellous Agility excellent in Strength able to do Wonderously beyond the power of all other Creatures in the World Yet this and all else that we know of them doth not argue but that there will be a more perfect knowledge of them at the time of their Manifestation then shall it appear plainly what Relation they stand in unto God how they come to have cognizance of things done upon the Earth how they have been present in the Assemblies of the Saints and assistant unto them in the solemn duties of Divine Worship and Service 1 Cor. 11.10 then shall it be known and manifested how and wherein they have been a Guard to the people of God to keep them in all their waies and to conclude then shall they more freely and familiarly converse with men not keeping themselves at a distance as he did who reproved Maneah Judg. 12.18 saying Wherefore enquirest thou after my Name seeing it is secret So that a clear manifestation there will be of them in this regard Secondly Mat. 25.31 Their Number or whole Multitude shall then be also manifested For the Lord Jesus shall come with all his holy Angels not only with his Legions Mat. 26.53 Judg. 5.14 Es 40.26 Mat. 26.53 but his holy Myriads attending upon him He will bring out his Hosts by number saith the Prophet calling them all by Names as a General doth his Souldiers on a Training day not one of them shall fail Well may it therefore be called the Manifestation of the Sons of God when there shall be such a general Appearance of them The Lord among them as in the Holy Place Ps 68.17 Psal 68.17 Thousand thousands ministring unto him and ten thousand times ten thousands standing before him And thus have I given my sense of this Particular also which I submit to the examination of the Church it being I confess somewhat singular the Place being taken generally so far as the narrow extent of my poor Reading doth reach for the manifestation of the believing Saints of whom indeed the Evangelist speaketh after the like manner 1 John 3.2 1 John 3.2 which hath inclined Expositours to give the same Interpretation here Now saith he are we the Sons of God it should rather be rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Children of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him
for the sake of Christ and his Churches And now give me leave to premise an Apology for some things in this Treatise against which especially there may seem to lie some exceptions First I may possibly be adjudged too inconsiderate in fixing the Epistle to the Hebrews upon St. Pauls account because it doth not clearly appear as it is commonly conceived that he was the Authour thereof Secondly It may be said that here are sundry things inserted which have no natural co-incidency with the principal subject that is pretended As to the first of these Exceptions I know well there hath been some doubt made concerning the Authour of this Epistle for it hath been much controverted a long time whether it was Barnabas or Clemens Romanus or Saint Luke c. But for Saint Paul few were inclinable to entitle him unto it their reason was The style and idiom hereof seems to vary much from that which the Apostle ordinarily used in his writing neither doth he own it himself by setting his mark upon the front of it as he doth in all the rest of his Epistles but chiefly because the Writer of this Epistle acknowledgeth Heb. 2.3 that he had learned the Doctrine of Salvation from others which saith he was confirmed unto us by them that heard it Whereas the Apostle with very great confidence professeth that he never received if of men nor was taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ which last exception is indeed the most material Gal. 1.12 but answered sufficiently by a late Writer as may appear in the margine Doctor Hammond The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us is not to be restrained to the writer onely but so as to comprehend those to whom he writes uti patet Tit. 3.3 Eph. 2.5 Neither is it any new or strange thing for St. Paul to confirme the truth of the Gospel by the testimony of others and tradition from them which saw and heard See 1 Cor. 15.3 Hereupon it seems that doubts have risen concerning this matter And it is further conceived by some that it would savour of too much curiosity to resolve such doubts For so long as we believe the Holy Ghost to be the Enditer what need we perplex our selves about the Writer As When a Prince will vouchsafe to send a Letter to any of his Subjects it would ill become them to be inquisitive with what pen it was written rather we should say of this Epistle as once it was said of the Book of Job Ipse scripsit qui haec feribenda dictavit Ipse scripsit qui illius operis inspirator extitit He writ these things that dictated them unto the Writer c. Nevertheless though it be granted that it may not be of absolute necessity to make too curious inquiry after all those Pen-men and actuaries whom the Holy Ghost employed in that excellent service of being the perpetual Registers of the great Council of Heaven yet neither are they to be quite neglected We rejoyce in the message of good tidings that is brought unto us yet that hinders not but that we may make the messenger welcome and if he be missing though his presence should not add to the Authority of the message yet we would seek him out that we might gladly know him Here in an Epistle sent unto us from God and the messenger is supposed to be missing Let now the name of God be magnified and his will herein revealed be embraced by us as it is meet with all acceptation But if the knowledge of the instrument by whom it is handed to us may any whit conduce to Gods glory in the removal of prejudices against the truth herein revealed or in the conviction of the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ such as were the Arrians of old and the Socinians of late it is not fit that we should balke it especially when it is hinted unto us by the spirit it self in the holy Scriptures To say nothing of the Title prefixed to the Epistle it being no part of the Canon neither having been generally used by the Churches of Christ therefore not argumentative though it must be confessed it hath Antiquity to plead for it To let pass also the Salutation in the close which as the Apostle Saint Paul saith 2 Thes 3.17 is his token in every Epistle so he writes which might be more material but that it may be said Others in imitation of him do use the same Valediction too we have a more sure word of testimony whereunto we should do well to take heed and that is this Saint Peter the Apostle of the circumcision in his second Epistle which he writes unto the scattered Hebrews who were of his peculiar charge though dispersed into sundry remote Regions calling them therefore Strangers in regard of the places of their abode far distant from their own Country hath by a singular providence of God positively testified that his beloved Brother Paul and no other was the Writer hereof And to this purpose he gives us a plain demonstration 2 Pet. 3.15 Where he speaks of an Epistle of Paul written unto these scattered Hebrews which Epistle was it seems at that time extant and in high estimation among the faithful and which with other of Saint Pauls Epistles he commendeth as of equal Authority being as he saith written by him according to the Wisdom given unto him Now this Epistle there mentioned is very probably the same which in the Scripture goeth under the Name of the Epistle to the Hebrews otherwise how is the Church the pillar and ground of truth in holding out all the Oracles and whole Counsel of God if she hath been negligent in so eminent a part of her Depositum commended unto her by the Authority of two chief Apostles or as one saith lose Pauls Epistle and keep Peters that makes mention of it which is not with any colour of reason to be imagined We may therefore hereupon conclude that it evidently appears Saint Paul was the writer hereof But for that he here altereth his style and doth not put his Name unto this as he doth unto the rest of his Epistles there are sundry probable conjectures commonly for it given First the Jews had conceived against him a very great prejudice and least they should thereupon have rejected his writing with indignation he changeth his wonted style and omitteth his usual Introduction of Paul an Apostle c. Not regarding himself so that the word of God might run and be glorified Moreover he was design'd to be Apostolus Gentium the Apostle of the Gentiles as appears Gal. 2.7 8. Therefore thought it best here to conceale his Name and to waive his ordinary title least he should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assume to himself also the Title of Apostolus Hebraeorum the Apostle of the Hebrews which properly belonged to another And therefore though he might in an extraordinary way be employed by the Holy Ghost in writing this Epistle
his own and his own c. John 1.14 The word was made flesh c. Acts 1.6 When they therefore were come together c. Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the times c. Rom. 8.19 For the earnest expectation of the Creature c. Rom. 8.20 For the creature was made subject to vanity c. Rom. 8.21 Because the creature also it self shall be delivered c. Rom. 8.22 For we know that the whole Creation groaneth c. Rom. 8.29 The first-born among many Brethren c. Rom. 11.25 Blindness in part is hapned to Israel until c. Rom. 11.26 And so all Israel shall be saved c. Rom. 11.27 For this is my Covenant with them when c. Gal. 4.5 To redeem them that were under the Law that we c. Col. 1.15 Who is the Image of the invisible God c. 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour c. Tit. 1.5 For this cause left I thee in Crete c. Tit. 1.7 For a Bishop must be blameless c. 1 Pet. 4.17 For the time is come that judgement must begin c. 1 Pet. 4.18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved c. Rev. 1.11 I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last c. The Interpretation of these Texts of Scripture Gentle Reader as they are rendred in this Treatise I do leave unto thy most serious consideration Not but that there are besides these sundry Expositions of other places of Scripture here also given that are not usual yet nevertheless may well be conceived to be according to truth without condemning those that have been commonly received These likewise you will meet with as you go along in your reading and will require your most ponderous meditations Onely I do desire that when you meet with an interpretation of the Holy Scripture which may seem somewhat strange unto you not to be hasty in passing censure upon it till you have found the whole discourse about it to be fully finished Again it will perhaps be objected unto me by some that I do here take but a slight occasion to be very large and vehement in maintaining the honour of our Church against her Adversaries by justifying the Order which she observeth in the Publick Worship of God and Ecclesiastical Government Whereto it may well be answered Is there not a cause When not onely the Church which is our Mother the most eminent Pillar and Stay of Divine Truth hath been miserably rent and torn by Schismes and Divisions but our Lord Jesus Christ himself also was very much dishonoured thereby being made by a sort of wretched people the very Authour and Fautor of their Divisions as if he had not been and were not still to be to his poor Church what the Text here insisted upon proclaims him to be viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Same Cause enough then there is for every true Son of the Church to spend his Zeal in this Contrast upon all occasions and to marke them as the Apostle adviseth who cause these Divisions and Offences that they may be avoyded It must be confessed the late Schisme while it grew more and more prevalent in this Kingdome till it pleased God to reduce us to our pristine order by a merciful providence never to be forgotten did bring us especially of the Ministery into such a low despondency and pusillanimity of spirit that we had almost lost that Christian Valour yea and English courage pro aris focis for which our Church and Nation have in times before us been so much renowned But since the Lord God hath spoken who can but prophecy when deliverance hath been sent unto us by the out-stretched arm of an Almighty Power who can forbear to rejoyce in it And when God hath shewed us our Errour in suffering our selves to be deluded by a spirit of seduction who can but lament his back-slidings and appeare with his utmost strength in the vindication of that Truth and Church which have been so treacherously forsaken For my own part I do here in the truth and uprightness of my heart solemnly protest before God and men as I have been ashamed of my credulity in giving heed for some time to the cunning insinuations of those who pretended they were for the cause of God but were found Lyars so now though possibly it may be said of me as it was of Saint Paul 2 Cor. 10.10 that my bodyly presence is weak and my speech contemptible and therefore it is but little that can be expected from me that may be for the advantage of the Church in any kinde all which I will not deny yet I do and must account it my duty with that little strength that I have to endeavour what I can by all wayes and means the undeceiving of those poor seduced people who being bewitched with the like sorceries do yet continue in their perverseness against the Lord and against his Anointed What else should I do after so woful a defection that hath been among us when to my apprehension I hear often the word of our Saviour to his Apostle Saint Peter sounding in mine eares Luk. 22.32 tu conversus confirma fratres when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren Let no man therefore blame me for my forwardness and vehemency in this matter upon any occasion for I cannot but speak the things which I have seen and heard as the same Apostle also said yea let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth and my right hand forget her skill how poor and slender soever it be if my tongue and pen both be not now ready for the Churches service to fill up the acclamation at the setting on the Head-stone of this great Work of Omnipotency in the re-establishment of Order among us both in point of Divine Worship and of Civil and Ecclesiastical Government with Grace Grace unto it Lastly I should now also be loth to be so far mistaken as that by giving new experiments of rendring the sense of Scripture otherwise then it hath been generally taken I should thereby incline to favour that upstart Sect of holders-forth of new Lights and new Truths against whom I have alwayes protested my dislike with much loathing and abhorrency and do still account of them no better then the smoke that comes out of the bottomless pit which would in time darken the light of the Gospel as much as the foggy mists of Popery ever did where it prevaileth Deplorable is their estate and accursed be their attempts whosoever they are that set up any of their pretended Lights in competition with the Holy Scripture and are not contented with that truth which hath already been revealed to the Church in those things that are necessary to salvation The bed of divine truth is green all the year long Cant. 1.16 no filthy weeds of spotted Errour so much as once appearing therein nor no room at all to be found
have attained to that Eternal Glory even as good Fathers are wont for the honour of their Children to put some Ornaments upon their Servants Piscator also upon the same place writeth thus Rom. 8. Coelum Terra inn vabuntur quum Patâ—fiet Gloria filiorum Dei Heaven and Earth shall then be renewed when the Glory of Gods Children shall appear Ravanellus likewise a late Writer in his Bibliothecâ Sacrâ saith Etiam Terra quoad substantiam erit Eterna Yea the Earth in respect of its substance shall be Eternal Lastly To name no more Brentius Hom. 53. in Luc. thus argueth Num Coelum Terra transibunt ita ut nihil eorum omnino maneat Minime omnium non transibunt omnino sed mutabuntur abjicient vestimentum corruptionis induent novam vestem incorruptionis Futura quidem Coeli ac Terrae mutatio non autem in totum abolitio Shall Heaven and Earth so pass away that nothing of them shall remain No verily they shall not altogether pass away but they shall be changed they shall cast of the Garment of Corruption and put on a new Robe of Incorruption There shall indeed be a change of Heaven and Earth but not a total Abolition I have not here mentioned any of our own Writers who notwithstanding many of them Grave Learned and Reverend Divines whose Works praise them in the Gates do unanimously Assert the same Doctrine And thus we see the concurrent Judgment of Writers both old and new inclining this way viz. That it is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only as the Apostle's word is in another place 1 Cor. 7.31 and which some construe to this very purpose The Figure the Habit the Form and Fashion of the World that shall hereafter pass away not the Substance Nature and Essence of it for that shall be purified and perpetuated in Glory to all Eternity And though the Scripture speaks of a Conflagration Dissolution and Preterition which they who are of a contrary judgment in this Point do much insist upon yet since they speak no where of an utter Abolition or Annihilation we may with safety abide by what we have declared But here take this Caution it behoves us in these matters to be wise according to so briety and in all humble mod esty to content our selves with this general discovery of the renovation and restauration of the World for we see the Apostle speaks of it in the general term of the Creature meaning the frame and sabrick of the World as hath been said consisting of Celestial and Elementary Regions Now if we should enter too curiously to search what Creatures else of the World shall be restored what place shall contain them what actions they shall have what properties they shall be endued with wherein they shall be serviceable and useful to the Glorified Saints c. If we should I say launch out to venturously into this Deep we shall not have the Cynosure of the word to guide us and so shall certainly fall upon the flats of our own foolish Imaginations or run desperately upon the Rocks of most dangerous errours such as Cerinthus and the Chiliasts have done It is enough for us that we have this general discovery made of the Minde of God herein viz. That the Creature shall be restored and delivered from the bondage of corruption into or for the glorious liberty of the Children of God and that a reparation shall be made by Jesus Christ of that which sin hath so much defaced and disordered And now to conclude Doth not all this evidently speak out that Christ will not fail in the exercise of his power over the World But as he began to manifest it in the Creation and to continue it in the preservation so he will perfect it in the restauration of all things declaring himself thereby mightily to be the Son of God Yesterday to Day and the same for ever But before we dismiss this Point Let us as we have done with the former bring in some few Corolaries to wait upon it for it is not fit that a doctrine of so noble a sublimity should be without Attendants that may some way be useful for the Church of God The first then that appears comes with a rule or a rod to rectify an old errour newly revived For if this truth be admitted as it must unless wee will shut out the Lord Jesus Christ from a most eminent part of his Glory that is then an Errour to be exploded and repented of which is very confidently maintained by many in these times concerning that outward Glory made up of a temporal peace safety and happiness with an affluence of all good things which they have imagined the Saints shall here in this life be Partakers of before the end of the World grounding their opinion upon such Places of Scripture which make mention of this restauration that we have insisted upon But if this Restauration shall not be till after the general Judgment as hath been made to appear I hope such Persons who have been of that erroneous perswasion will finde cause hereafter to be of another Minde I will not deny but that upon the downfal of that Man of Sin the Church may shine forth in a more beauteous lustre in respect of spiritual Glory before the end commeth then now at this present can be discerned in her but whatsoever that may prove it shall certainly be attended with much trouble from the World and from the Divel for the promises that are made to the Church while she is Militant Mor. 10 30 2 Tim 3.12 are accompanied with this Proviso viz. That she must look for Persecution And therefore to look for a Kingdom of Saints here which shall continue a thousand years free from troubles is so Vain a thing that methinks without a strong delusion of Satan it should not enter into the hearts of any that pretend to be acquainted with the Counsels of God in his Word It is not meet that the Spouse should finde her way through Ease and Pleasure when her Lord is gone before through much Labour and Sorrow The Disciple is not to be above his Master nor the Servant to be above his Lord It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and for the Servant that he hee as his Lord If the Master of the House was rejected and despised by men yea made a Man of Sorrows while he was here upon earth Es 53.3 how much more should the same Lot befal those of his household It will assuredly be the Glory of the Church while she is in her warfare to be still in the feild fighting the Lords battels and to resemble the Captain of her Salvation who went through Water and Bloud and was made perfect by sufferings For him Luk. 24.26 2 Tim. 2.12 Mat. 30.23 He ought as he said of himself to suffer and so to enter into his Glory And surely the Church must follow
did Jer. 23.25 Jer 23.25 And his Dream must pass for Currant without a Scripture-interpretation though notwithstanding it may proceed from a filthy Dreamer There another will come and pretend Impulses of Spirit as some of late have impudently done in this Nation for the justifying of his coursel though the unwarrantableness of it be made so plain to his Face that it is past all Gainsaying Yea seeing that Satan transforms himself into an Angel of Light what meanes shall we have to distinguish between Diabolical Delusions and the Infusions of the Spirit of God if every man may obtrude upon us what he pleaseth for a Divine Revelation But we have a more sure word of Prophecy as the Apostle writeth 2 Pet. 1.19 my meaning is we have the Holy Scripture 2 Pet. 1.19 whereunto we should do well to take heed and to have a standing Word to be a constant Light unto us which is the Light of this our Day is far better then to have the several glimmerings of Revelations which were the Light of Yesterday and if we will not believe Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles our Faith will be little furthered by Visions and Revelations Say not therefore who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above even to pull the Sun of Righteousness out of his Orb or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead this were to overturn the Series of thy Salvation the Word is nigh thee and therefore content thy self with it and seek not to call back Yesterday which doth not belong unto thee This Scripture viz. Rom. 10.6 7 8. Rom. 10.6 7 8. I onely in this place make use of by way of allusion and no otherwise O but may some say if there were Miracles wrought now amongst us as there were formerly would not this conduce much to our Confirmation in the Faith I Answer this also was Yesterday's Light therefore of no use unto us and though it did continue also a while at the Dawning of our Day yet it served onely for the manifesting of Christ unto the World and the Propagating of the Gospel in those Primitive Times To this purpose saith Peter Martyr fuerant miracula ut buccinae praecones quibus Evangelium commendabatur Miracles were as Trumpets and Harbingers whereby the Gospel at its first appearance was proclaimed and made glorious which being done the Trumpets became useless Non nunc ut olim sunt necessaria miracula Priusquam crederit mundus necessaria fuere ad haec ut mundus crederet St. Aug. and therefore fit to be laid aside As the Law of Moses obtained Authority among the people by the Miracles done upon Mount Sinai and in the Desart which afterwards ceased upon the entrance of the Israelites into the Land of Promise so likewise Miracles being ordained to be subservient to the Gospel for the same End are now also to cease when the Gospel hath spread far and wide about the World in so much that we may well say if any man who lives under the Light that now shineth should waite to be converted by a Miracle it would bee a Miracle indeed if he were converted Nevertheless to satisfy such amongst us who are too like unto those of whom our Saviour speakes in the Gospel except yee see signes and Wonders Joh. 4.48 yee will not believe Be it known unto you that the Heavenly Oracles by which we are guided in this our Day are accompanied with continued and standing Miracles though Miracles of a more spiritual nature what is the demolishing of the Fortifications of Flesh and bloud and casting down of strong Holds mortifying the Old Man which is our corrupt Nature and ejecting the strong Man which is the Devil out of the Hearts of Sinners whereby the Arm of Lord is made Bare and the Spirit of Christ in the Gospel exerciseth its Virtue and Vigour more abundantly then ever it being as the Psalmist speaketh the day of the Lord's Power More Divels being Cast out since Christ's Ascension then were before what I say are these but Miracles The Miracles which the Lord wrought when he was upon Earth were indeed the Product of an Almighty Power yet he himself tells his Apostles that they and not onely they but others that should be employed in the same Ministery after them Joh. 12.14 should do greater things then those whereby he seemeth to mean the Conversion of Men to the Faith by the Preaching of the Gospel to this purpose saith Saint Austin who himself was a Miracle both in his Conversion and Conversation Mundi ad Christum conversio per Apostolos alios facta omnium miraculorum maximum est miraculum the Conversion of the World unto Christ is of all Miracles the greatest Neither is this an Hyperbole considering as it hath been observed that by so inconsiderable so despicable meanes against so implacable so powerful enemies Truth should triumph and so mightily prevail as that the Conquered should command subdue and at length give Laws to the Conquerours till almost the whole World became her Convert Reason cannot conclude less then non hac sinc Numine this must needs be the Lord 's doing A Miracle well worthy of Admiration that by the Foolishness of Preaching so many Millions have been Converted and made Wise unto Salvation To open the Eyes of the Minde is without all question more then to give bodily sight to make the Deaf to hear and the Dumb to speak were indeed great things But to pronounce Ephatha to the Heart and Mouth of a Wretch desperately set against Christ and his Gospel and he thereupon Immediately to rise up and give Glory to God what can it argue but a marvellous Work and a Wonder It was a Wonder heretofore to hear of Saul amongst the Prophets insomuch that it grew to a Proverb 1 Sam. 10 12 Is Saul also among the Prophets and is it not as great a Wonder to hear of Saul among the Apostles That he who persecuted the Saints in time past should after preach the Faith which he once Destroyed Gal. 1.23 Now if such Changes and Conversions were in other material or sensible things as from Water to Wine from Iron to Gold or a Transition from one Species to another what astonishment would arise thereupon whereas in Spirituals this Changing is more Wonderful though less discernable So then Miracles there are also in these times sufficient to evidence the Truth and Power of the Gospel and to confirm the Faith of those that do believe though not such as were of Yesterday which is past with all the Appurtenances of it and must not be recalled as hath been said and therefore Men had best beware how they quarrel at the present Dispensations of Grace by a pretended Zeal after the Light of Yesterday least that of our Saviour be in the end Charg'd upon them viz. That Light
is come into the World Job 3.19 but they love Darkness rather then Light Nevertheless albeit that Yesterday be past and of no account with us in the Time of the Gospel yet it was of some account with Jesus Christ for he was even then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Same which is the Second thing to be observed in order to this first Period of time here mentioned in the Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ the Same or the onely Hee Yesterday BUt what means the Apostle here by the Same or the onely Hee Yesterday what I say but this according to the sense of the Text which we are now upon and which is the Doctrine that falleth into our present Consideration viz. Jesus Christ the Saviour of his Church in the time of the Old Testament even as now in the time of the Now. A Common Saviour to them and us like as the Salvation wrought by him is called a Common Salvation Jud. v. 4. Then did the Faithful People of God believe that through the grace of the Messiah they should be saved even as we As we now believe that through the same Grace we shall be saved even as they Act. 15.11 For both They and We are fixed upon one and the same Foundation besides which never was there any other laid from the Beginning of the World To this purpose doth â—aint Paul joyn the Prophets of old with the Apostles of late in laying of this Foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 Eph. 2.20 which is Jesus Christ the chief Corner Stone insinuating thereby what a sweet Harmony and Agreement there is between them in the Doctrine of Salvation both intending one and the same thing Hence it is that the Apostles do frequently intersert the Testimony of the Prophets that the World might know it was no Novelty which they Preached but a Doctrine professed and maintained in all Ages which was That the way of Salvation was ever the same from the beginning viz by Faith in Jesus Christ and not by the Works of the Law But I hear a Question that must be resolved before we proceed any further least it should stick in the Minds of any to the Prejudging of that which may follow The Question is this Qu. How can this be seeing the Coming of Christ in the Flesh was not till the fulness of Time which the Scripture speakes of Gal. 4.4 could he be a Saviour to any before he was in a Capacity by taking upon him our Nature to suffer Death for the Expiation of Sin Ans 1 I answer first he was a Saviour notwithstanding from the Beginning of the World in two Respects viz. in the Acceptation of the Father and in the Application of the Faithful The Father gave his Approbation of him in that he did acquiesce in all those Sacrifices of old which had their Tendency unto him in which respect he is called the Lamb slain from the beginning of the World Rev. 13 8 The Faithful also according to that Paedagogy which led them did ever look through all those Mystical Types unto Christ alone expecting Salvation through him for els they were of no use at all unto them Heb. 10.4 The bloud of Bulls and Goates not being able to take away Sin which was indeed the onely Property of the bloud of the Lamb nor any other of those carnal Ordinances making them that did the Service of the Tabernacle perfect as pertaining to the Conscience which was also the Property of the Spirit that should afterwards be poured out abundantly in the Time of Reformation but of this their expectation more may be said hereafter Secondly Jesus Christ did in all the offices of a Mediatour shew himself effectually to be a Saviour to them of old albeit the work of Redemption was not really acted by him in the World till the Time appointed of the Father for it was but sutable to the superlative excellency of his Merit to have its Virtual operation long before his Appearance in the Flesh even as a Prince entituled to a Kingdom by Birth or Prowess is immediately vested with the Power and Government over the People though the Solemnity of his Coronation be for some Wise and Politick ends of State deferred to a longer Season Now therefore to give a clear Resolution in this matter which in truth is but requisite and which will be conducible also to the Confirmation of the Point in hand it shall here be made evident that the Lord Jesus Christ was the same Prophet King and Priest of his Church ever from the Beginning and if upon a due Inquiry we finde it to be so I hope it will then be granted on all hands that he was the Saviour of his Church from the Beginning also The same Prophet ab initio To begin with the first Jesus Christ fulfilled the office of a Prophet in all those Primitiar times of the World making known the Counsel of God unto Men which without him must for ever have been concealed from them and giving an effectual Virtue to those Sacraments which in their Order and Time were instituted and established in his Church Hence is he by the Prophet Esaiah called Wonderful Counsellour for so these two Words are to be joyned as much as to say Es 9 6 A Counsellour that revealeth Wonders and discovers Mysteries the greatest Wonder and profoundest Mystery indeed that ever was viz. of God being reconciled unto Man which hath been the Staff and Supportation of the World in all Ages And in this Counsellour doth the said Prophet with the People of God in that Age challenge a peculiar Interest for we finde it there spoken in the present Tense as a thing already done To us a Child is born to us a Son is given and the Government shall be or is or hath been so the Word may be rendred laid upon his Shoulder and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour I deny not but that it is the manner of Prophets to speak of things to come as if they were presently acted in their sight and this interpretation is commonly given of the Prophet in this place unto which I do willingly Consent But withall I conceive that hinders not but that the People of God then might be Apprehensive of the present Spiritual Benesit which they had by Christ and in this regard might the Prophet render it in the present Tense The Septuagints translation differs from our Latine and English Version bringing in these Words viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Messenger of the great Counsel he that brought the Tidings of Salvation from Heaven the best that ever was heard of in the World even that which was the result of an eternal Decree enacted in the Privy Council of the Almighty This Counsel I say the Lord Jesus Christ hath imparted ever from the Beginning for how els could Adam Henoch Noah Abraham David or any other in those several Ages of old
did to a greater perfection making this day to be more abundant then what hath been before for in so doing we shall also resemble Jesus Christ who made his work which the Father had given him to do to appear this day under the Gospel in a more spiritual glory then it did yesterday under the Law But my meaning is that we be still the same not forsaking our first love as the manner of some is nor declining from that close and sincere walking with God whereunto we have happily by reiterated vows and solemn engagements devoted our selves after we escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Jesus Christ A needful warning it will be to us for the truth is mans nature is a wondrous masterpiece of inconstancy No creature under the whole heaven being so variable as man is Nay it is a matter of some difficulty as the world goes amongst a multitude to finde a Man that is One who for a Masculine spirit indeed may deserve the name of a Man or as some render the original word in Scripture A Man A Man Lev. 15.2 Ps 49.12.20 that is A Man both wayes in regard both of the outward and inward man For there are some Men-Men and some Men-Beasts which made the Cynick at noon-day to go up and down in a throng of people with a Lanthorne and Candle in his hand searching as he said for a Man that is A Man for Constancy and Prudence as well as in outward appearance and Seneca also in his time counted it a great rarity Sen. Epi. 128. Magnam rem puta saith he unum hominem agere It is a hard thing to Act a Man kindly meaning to be alwayes One and the Same For one that doth so How many are there that disfigure themselves with diversities of shapes One while they will be frugal and grave another while prodigal and vain Such levity Holy Bernard sweetly taxeth Non paucos frequenter experimur c. We oftentimes meet with many who scarcely one houre continue in the same minde but are like drunkards nodding and reeling too and fro changing their judgment yea without judgment wavering still from what they had determined Semper quod non habent cupientes quod habent fastidientes Alwayes desiring what they have not and loathing that which they have This inconstancy speaks men to be like unto Reuben Vnstable as water Gen. 49.4 Far unlike this our Heavenly Pattern who was alwayes the same No nor like that honest Roman of whom it was said that it was as easie to turn the Sun out of his course as to make him go from his Word or change his resolution But especially in the high and weighty matters of Religion to be wavering and inconstant argues too much feebleness of spirit unbecoming those that are separated from the world to be the followers of Jesus Christ the Rock of ages who never changeth As Nehemiah said Is it for such a man as I to flee So say I for such to fall from their stedfastness One-while to be Zealous and forward in the wayes of Holiness another while backward and indifferent taking up a Form of Godliness according as their humour and fancy leads them like unto those of old whom Hilary speaks of that had a Monethly or a Yearly-Faith what a shame is it Sunt qui menstruan vel annu m fidem habent Yet alas too many there are in these dayes among us of this halting Generation who are apt to turn with every winde of temptation I speak not here with a reference unto changes in point of external order in the Church which may sometimes be excusable as we shall shew hereafter though there be a sort of dissolute and debauched people who can finde no other change to spend their invectives upon the better to palliate their own wickedness but when the life and power of Religion is so far neglected as that we can recede from those engagements and resolutions wherewith we have solemnly devoted our selves to God To turn aside after Vanity walking according to the course of this world in wayes of Licentiousness and Profaness this surely is matter of just complaint Alas we consider not it seemes what a dishonour we bring upon our holy profession How much we grieve the spirit of God nor what advantage we give unto Satan to encroach upon us when we are not Godly and Religious in a constant and continued Course but off and on fast and loose in the Covenant of our God which we made in our Baptisme When with Pilate we are inquisitive after Truth but presently as he did turn our backs upon it seeme to consult with God and his word about our spiritual estate and in the same breath many times cast him quite out of our thoughts as if we could do well enough without him Like unto Saul who in all haste calls out Bring hither the Ark But then go to it skills not greatly Socrates lib. 3. cap. 13. carry it back again Such unsavoury Salt as Ecebolius for his treacherous halting in Religion justly stiled himself can have no rellish in it acceptable to God or his Church Away therefore with this spirit of giddiness which hath too much prevailed in these dayes and let us quit our selves like men in being still the same When we have a Rock appointed for our standing by the wisdome and Faithfulness of the Almighty whereon we may be safe against all the stormes and tempests of the Prince of the power of the air shall we turn away from it and in our Conversation swim with the stream of this present evil world or in our judgement roll our selves upon the waves of new-fangled opinions where we may be tossed to and fro and carried about with every winde of Doctrine and where nothing is to be expected but to be swallowed up at last in the bottomless gulfe of errour and confusion Oh shall we thus dally in a business of so great moment Far be it from us Rather let us Look unto JESUS and follow his Example in being still The Same And now that we may deal impartially herein Let it be a Word in season to us of this Nation who have not like our Pattern been the same of late what we have formerly been We have made it our boast since we separated from Rome and cast off the Yoke of Anti-Christ that we have received Christ Jesus the Lord professing his Gospel to be a Law unto us But how we have walked in him and been Obedient unto it as we have been taught yea taught of God in the Ministery of his faithful servants our deeds may declare Time was when truth was of so high account with us that if it had been possible we would have plucked out our own eyes rather then to have parted with it But we have seen the time wherein Servis dormientibus The Lord pardon us in this Truth was fallen in our Streets and
they were all of such venerable Antiquity Howsoever the matter of them being sound and Catholick and because it is not to be imagined that one Osmund though an Earl and a Bishop should be generally owned for Os mundi the Speaker to the whole Church in the Liturgy of it we may safely affirm that the said Collects are of the same pure primitive Original with the rest of our Church-Service The form of Letany in the next place which is most cavill'd at was ordered by Saint Gregory Lib. 9. Indict 4. Epi. 45. while Rome continued in the state of innocency to be used in the Church of Sicily without intermission upon the fourth and sixth dayes of every week which our Liturgy in a conformity thereunto enjoyneth to be said or sung upon the same dayes viz. Wednesdayes and Fridayes Lib 1. De vocatione Gentium And Saint Ambrose who was above two hundred years before him saith That this form of publick devotion in the Church for the substance of it was so generally observed Vt nulla pars mundi sit in qua hujusmodi orationes non celebrentur à populis Christianis That there was no part of the world where these Prayers were not used in Christian Assemblies Non solum pro Sanctis in Christo regeneratis sed etiam pro omnibus infidelibus inimicis crucis Christi pro omnibus Idolorum cultoribus pro haereticis schismaticis c. Even as we do at this day in our Letany not onely praying that God would be pleased to bless and keep all his people but that he would bring into the way of Truth all such as have erred and are deceived Our Versicles and Responds we oftentimes meet with in Primitive Liturgies E. g The Lord be with you And with thy Spirit Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us c. Lift up your hearts We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto the Lord It is meet and right so to do c. Thus saith Saint Chrysostome The Priest in the holy Ministration speaks unto the people In 2. ad Cor. Hom. 18. and the people unto the Priest to quicken their devotion and to testifie their unanimity in the Service of God Neither is our Alternate singing though it be not enjoyned in our Liturgy without good warrant from that Antiquity which we ought to reverence Lib. 2 cap. 24. Theodoret writeth that Davids Psalms were sung in the Church of Antioch by the Quire of Singers one side answering the other in their singing Act. 11.26 Which order it seems beginning there as the Appellative title of Christian did Ad fines orbis terrarum tandem pervenit saith he was at length spread over the world And this saith Sozomen wrought marvellously upon Theodosius Lib. 7. cap. 23. diverting him from his intended purpose of destroying the Citizens of Antioch because of some contempts which they had put upon him For as the said Historian relates it they fearing the Emperours displeasure repented them of what they had done against him much bewailing their near approaching ruine and having prevailed with Flavianus their Bishop to intercede for them took this course according to his directions Some of them when the Emperour sat at his table came into his presence singing Psalms after the manner of Antioch that is Antiphonicws one answering the other wherewith the Emperour being a religious Prince was so taken that he let go his anger was reconciled to their City Phialam quam manu tenebat lachrymis obortis irrigavit The Cup which he held in his hand he watered with his tears and so mingled his drink with weeping In fine Lib. 6. cap. 8. This manner of Antiphone in the Church was saith Socrates occasioned first by a vision of Angels which Ignatius Bishop of Antioch that faithful servant of Jesus Christ who had been conversant with the Apostles had presented unto him whom he heard lauding the blessed Trinity with Responsory Hymns the Pattern whereof he commended to that Church to be ever after observed and practised by them Vnde ad omnes Ecclesias ista traditio promanavit saith the Historian From whence also that order of singing went among all the Churches Many more Instances might be produced to witness that our Liturgy is not of such an upstart Original as to derive its Extraction from Rome since by her Apostatizing she hath chang'd her name into Babylon But we must not extra oleas vagari and these few may suffice to convince gain-sayers of their false and uncharitable accusation of our Church-Service as that it is Superstitious and Idolatrous because Popish and Babylonish which is so unjust a calumniation that as it hath been observed There is not any one Protestant Divine of any note or eminency even among the Reformers of Religion who did ever condemn our Service-Book of the least point of Popery but rather many among them did highly commend it Yea and Sir Edward Cook that Oracle of the Law of England unto whom we have reason for his Gravity Courage and integrity in his place and calling notwithstanding all the oblatrations of Popish Rabshekah's against him to give some heed more then ordinary Such was P.R. in his reckonings with Bp. Morton about Equivocation The like is also a. vouched by D. Ben. Carrier in hit letter to K. James pag. 126. He I say affirmeth with much confidence That Pope Pius Quintus wrote unto Queen Elizabeth a letter about the tenth year of her Reign offering to allow and ratifie the English Service-Book if she would accept it as from him which she refusing to do he did excommunicate her and by his Bull roared out an Inhibition to all his party called Roman Catholicks that they should not from thenceforth go to any of our Churches while the said Service-Book was read though to the hearing of our Sermons a Toleration was granted unto them To conclude Since the Primitive Pattern is thought fit next to the holy Scriptures to be a Standard for Church-Orders in the Service of God throughout the Christian world let our adversaries and friends too but conform unto it in such a manner as we have done since we separated from Rome and I dare boldly say we shall have no just cause in the sight of God to charge one another with Superstition And now that Imputation of Superstition upon the account of our Liturgy being with as much brevity as the matter could well bear yet sufficiently if not satisfactorily to our irrefragable opponents removed We should undertake the vindication likewise of Episcopal Government for that also is by our Objectours brought under the same Censure But concerning this neither need there much be said it being abundantly cleared of late against those that have openly professed themselves enemies to that Government We shall not here repeat the Arguments that have been used in the behalf of Episcopacy such an unsipid crambe must
unto him in heaven and in Earth The exercise of which power he would first have to be manifested in discipling whole Nations of the Gentiles Matt. 28.18 19. receiving them into Covenant by the Sacrament of Baptisme as the Jews were by the Sacrament of Circumcision Where the word Nation in order to the Gentiles must without controversie be taken in the same sense as it was with a reference unto the Jews for as the Nation of the Jews was made up of all sorts and sexes old and young so in like manner are the Nations of the Gentiles And because his commission which he then gave unto his Apostles was not formed according to the erroneous fancy of these deluded people who in effect render it thus Go and Disciple all men But thus Go and Disciple all Nations baptising them in the name c. And Children being a part of the Nations we may conclude without any hesitancy that the intent and purpose of the Lord in this commission to his Apostles was that they should wheresoever they came baptise the Children as well as the Parents And seeing he came to break down the wall of partition that was between Jews and Gentiles which was actually done in the execution of this Commission It is not to be imagined that he would by it set up a partition-wall between Parents and their Children so as that they should be at as great a distance the one from the other in point of eternal Salvation as Heaven is from Hell A thing he never did in all the Ages before and undoubtedly whatsoever these Dreamers may blasphemously prate against him He hath not done it now because he is still the Same I will not dwell any longer upon the Conviction of these obstinate people least the more reason be shewed unto them out of the Scripture to lead them into the way of truth they be thereby according to their usual wont the more hardened in their errour The Lord open their eyes that they may see betimes what dishonour they bring unto Jesus Christ in the diminution of his power by their frantick Opinions What disturbance they create unto his Church and consequently what hazard they run notwithstanding their conceited assurance of their own everlasting Salvation We have now done with this second particular viz. Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Same to day which he was yesterday that is The Same to his Church in the time of the gospel which he was in the time both before and under the Law CHAP. III. Sheweth how JESUS CHRIST shall continue to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Same for ever Vnto his Church WE should now according to our prescribed method come to speak of the third course or computation of time here mentioned in the Text and of that which is predicated of it viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ the Same or the onely He for ever But to avoid Prolixity which hath already spun out the former parts into a greater length then was intended we shall not distinguish this into several propositions as hath been done with those before Neither indeed can we be able to speak of what shall come upon the Church in the continuation of this day of the Gospel to the end of the world Onely this we can say because the Holy Ghost witnesseth it That persecutions and Afflictions do abide it but withall that Jesus Christ will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto it which he ever hath been Hereupon therefore shall we fix the short remainder of our discourse deriving some inferences from it for the further edification of those that take pleasure in beholding the immutability of the Lord Jesus Observe then In the midst of all the various changes and chances that may come upon the Church to the end of the world Jesus Christ will be unto it still The Same No variableness nor shadow of turning shall ever be found in him either in his Mediation with the Father or in the dispensation of his power among his people But he will be Semper idem Alwayes the Same Now herein we can but speak of the exercise of Christs Mediatory office as we have already done and therefore it will be needless to spend many words about it As he began so he will continue to be the Prophet Priest and King of his Church The same word of truth which he hath revealed he will still continue no addition unto it or diminution from it will he ever suffer his Gospel is an everlasting Gospel Rev. 14.6 1 Pet. 1.25 His word abideth for ever And if an Angel from Heaven should come and preach any other we must therefore much more will he ho'd him accursed Gal. 1.8 He is a Priest for ever according to the oath of God not to be retracted saith the Prophet Hath an unchangeable Priest-hood saith the Apostle Ps 110.4 Heb. 7.24 A Priest established in his Dignity as master and Lord by virtue of his Son-ship not like unto the servants the Priests of Aaron's order Who when they entred into the most Holy place were not there to sit but otherwise to execute their office according to the order prescribed unto them by Moses Heb. 10 11 They stood as became servants saith the Apostle ministring before the Lord. But Jesus Christ when he had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever and according to the Law entred into the holy place to finish the Atonement Sat down on the right hand of God noting the perpetuity of his office according to the dignity of his person and that he ever liveth which was not possible for any other to do to make intercession Dan. 7.14 Mach. 4.7 His Throne in like manner is for ever and ever His Kingdom an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion endureth throughout all Generations No Salvation then to be expected for ever Act 4.12 but onely by him No other Name under Heaven given among men from the beginning of the world to the end of it whereby we must be saved For before him as he saith of himself there was no God formed Es 43 10 or rather as it may be rendred nothing formed of God for any such purpose as to be a Saviour Ec. 2.12 Ps 145.11 12. neither shall there be after him What alas can the man do that cometh after the King What He may speak of the glory of his Kingdom and talk of his power to make known to the Sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom But to imitate him in his power and his mighty Acts or to compare with him in the Majesty of his Kingdom would not onely be a contempt cast upon his Crown and Dignity but an utter impossibility and a meere vanity for men or angels to attempt it They poor Creatures being infinitely unfit and unworthy must let that alone for ever and they that will expect it of them will finde it to be folly
upon reason and was never before heard of as that a part should signifie the whole when that part which should express the whole is not included but shut out from it doubtless in all Synechdochichal speeches the part set down for the whole must be always a part of it as when Saint Paul said Yee shall see my face no more Act. 20. His face is a part of him And thus must all other Synechdoches whatsoever be understood the part signifying the whole must of necessity be included and contained in it If therefore all the Nation of Israel here be put for all the Nations of Believers in the World as a part of the whole then it must certainly follow that the Nation of Israel according to the flesh was included apart and not excluded from the whole Let us go on omitting for brevities sake what might be more added out of the Prophet Esay to this purpose wherein he hath abounded Consider how Jeremiah keepeth also in the same track For thus saith he in the Name of the Lord. Jer. 3 18. In those dayes the house of Judah shall walk with or to the house of Israel and they shall come together c. And again I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all Countryes wither I have driven them and will bring them again to their folds Jer. 23.3 4. and they shall be fruitful and encrease and I will set up Shepheards over them which shall feed them and they shall fear no more nor be dismayed neither shall they be lacking saith the Lord. Add hereunto Loe the dayes come saith the Lord Jer. 30 3.9 that I will bring again the Captivity of my people Israel and Judah saith the Lord And they shall serve the Lord their God and David their King whom I will raise up unto them The like also is prophecyed by Ezekiel Thus saith the Lord Ezek. 37.21 22 23. c. behold I will take the Children of Israel from among the Heathen whether they be gone and will gather them on every side and I will make them one Nation in the Land upon the Mountains of Israel and one King shall be King over them and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be divided into two Kingdoms any more at all and my servant David shall be their Prince for ever Moreover I will make a Covenant of peace with them it shall be an everlasting Covenant with them and I will place them and multiply them and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore My Tabernacle also shall be with them Yea I will be their God and they shall be my people and the Heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctifie Israel when my Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore Again Jer. 31.1 4. At the same time saith the Lord that is Jer. 31.1 4. in the later dayes as appears Jer. 30.24 I will be the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be my people Again I will build them and thou shalt be built O Virgin of Israel thou shalt be again adorned with thy Tabrets and thou shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry I willingly pass by many other places that might be alledged for it would be too much to insert all that is written thereof But I demand Hath any of these things as yet come to pass When was it that the house of Judah did walk with the house of Israel together since the time they were divided one from the other in the days of Rehoboam Hath the Lord as yet gathered the remnant of his flock out of all Countryes whither he hath driven them or set up shepheards over them to seed or to defend them so as they should fear no more nor be dismayed Do Israel and Judah this day unanimously serve the Lord their God and David their King that is the Messiah David's Son as Interpretersiboth Jewish and Christian expound it of whose government and peace there shall be no end Hath God set his Sanctuary in the midst of them or pitched his Tabernacle among them so as the Heathen do take notice of it that it is the Lord that doth sanctifie Israel If his Sanctuary hath been among some of them it hath been again removed but here it is said his Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore In fine Hath God as yet in these latter dayes declared himself to be the God of all the families of Israel since their defection from him and own'd them again for his people Is this Virgin as yet repayred since she was stript of her ornaments or hath she yet furbisht over and trimmed up her Tabrets that she might rejoyce at her restauration If none of all these things I say be yet come to pass and the word of God cannot be retracted they are yet to be fulfilled and shall in time most certainly have their due accomplishment Yea more that neither their divisions amongst themselves Israel against Judah and Judah against Israel nor their inveterate stubbornnes against the Lord might be any hinderance unto them the Lord promiseth by the Prophet Jeremy in these words Jer. 32.39 I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and of their Children after them And by the Prophet Ezekiel in these words A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Oh blessed and thrice happy shall this people be when these things are fulfilled I deny not but these promises have a measure reaching to us Gentiles even all among us that are interessed in the new Covenant But I say again the people that are mentioned cannot without violence done to the sense of the Holy Ghost be excluded from them in the dayes of the Gospel I omit what might be further added out of these Prophets to this purpose As the vision of dry bones in the Prophecy of Ezekiel restored to life again And that of two sticks made both one in the hand of the Prophet with sundry other discoveries of the minde of God concerning this truth which upon an unprejudicate perusal even by those that are contrary-minded would appear unto them to carry in them this sense viz. That this first-born of the Almighty this people so entirely beloved of the Lord shall not at this day be quite forgotten as dead men out of minde nor be ever divided one from another as they have been but shall restored again notwithstanding the seeming impossibilitie of it to their pristine glory and shall be happily re-united together into one as becometh brethren In the next place let us try whether the Prophecy of Daniel
for the whole number But because there are some amongst us who with much pertinacy do affirm that the Jews shall never be a people again so long as the World endures which assertion doth thwart the Doctrine of Christs Immutability which we have here maintained hear therefore what the spirit speaketh of it to the Churches out of the New Testament For even therein also have we a full and clear testimony from the mouth of Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles to assure us of this truth against all Cavils whatsoever First Luk 21.23 24. Then see what the Lord saith Luk. 21.23 24. There shall be great distress in the Land and wrath upon this people and they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away Captive into all Nations and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled See here how in wrath the Lord remembreth mercy saith venerable Bede upon the place Quia non in perpetuum donec tempora Nationum impleantur the judgement here written is not to be perpetuated till time be no more but onely to continue till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled Concerning which times though it be true that the Father hath reserved them to himself as a secret not fit to be imparted to the World in which regard it hath been and will be too much boldness to prescribe the very instant of their expiration yet we may safely say of them the words of our Saviour here importing no less that whensoever they do expire Jerusalem shall be delivered from her bondage and consequently that light and gladness joy and honour shall come upon the Jewish Nation Let us then for this end make a little enquiry into them and consider what is meant by these times of the Gentiles Sundry constructions are given of them by Interpreters nevertheless I doubt not but that which hath a tendency to our present purpose we shall finde to be most genuine Two Expositions I have met with which though the Authours thereof be of great note in the Church are not in my poor judgement to be allowed the one reaching beyond the sense of the Holy Ghost the other coming short of it as it shall here evidently appear First That which goeth too far makes the filling up of the times of the Gentiles to be contemporary with the final Consummation of all things and so consequently holdeth that neither the Jews nor Jerusalem shall ever be restored again Thus the Lutheran Expositors generally understand it But against this it may be Objected First We no where finde in Scripture that the fulfilling of the times of the Gentiles is rendred in such a sense viz. For the end of the World and in such cases the Holy Scripture hath been still wont the wisdom of God so ordering it to explain it self by some reiterations and paralel places to the end that the Church might in a form of sound words fully know the minde of the spirit Secondly It is inconsistent with the Prophecies that went before concerning the Gentiles that in the time of the Gospel they should generally submit unto the Church of the Jews as we have before undeniably proved when Jerusalem shall be again inhabited and made a praise in the earth Thirdly it is plain that our Saviour in this 21 of Saint Luke puts a difference between the desolation of Judea Vide Albertum magnum super locum and the dissolution of the world making the former a portentous omen and sad prefiguration of the latter As therefore the dissolution of the world shall be seconded with an eternity of rest to all Believers so that the type may sute the Anti-type shall the desolation of Judea be also attended with a sweet peace and happy deliverance to Gods antient people the inhabitants of that Land even in this World before the dissolution thereof All which considered this cannot be the meaning of our Saviour in this place The other exposition which I mentioned that cometh too short is given by a late learned and industrious writer amongst us Doctour Hammond by name who affirmeth that the times of the Gentiles here fore-told by our Saviour are already past having had their full end at that last and notable destruction both of the City Jerusalem and the people which was brought upon them by Aelius Adrianus sixty five years after the burning of the Temple by the Romans under the conduct of Titus the Son of Vespasianus All which time of the Romans possessing the City he makes the full extent of this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 untill and will have it reach no farther For then saith he Adrian rebuilt a part of the City and called it by his own name Aelia inhabiting it with Gentiles whereupon it followed that as all the Jews remaining such in opposition to the Christians were utterly banisht the City c. So the believing Christian Jews returned thither again from their dispersions and inhabited it again and joyned and made one Congregation one Church with the Gentiles which had there by that time received the faith also and till then continued a distinct Church from the Jews Thus he But against this novel conceit for so it may Salvo honore Docti defuncti Authoris well be called which as I said cometh short of the sense of our Saviour in the fore-cited place some just exceptions offer themselves to our consideration First If we examine the story upon which the said Authour groundeth his assertion we shall finde that the truth of this Prophecy concerning the treading down of Jerusalem by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled was so far from receiving its final accomplishment at that remarkable change under Adrian that it might well be thought it did then more then ever before begin most eminently to appear The story of which times related both by Ethnick and Christian Authours in short is this The Emperour Adrian being willing it seems to vex the Jews caused an Idolatrous Temple to be erected in Jerusalem dedicating it to Jupiter and commanding withall a certain number of Romans and other Foreiners devoted to that Idol to dwell in the City that they might resort unto his Temple whereat the Jews who till then had a toleration both for the exercise of their Religion and their abode in that Countrey being thereby much provoked and because as some report the Emperour had issued out an Edict against their Circumcision They brake out into open Rebellion whereunto they were stirred up by a Seditious person who called himself by the name of Barchochebas that is the Son of a Star pretending thereby and making the Jews believe that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sent to be as a light from Heaven unto them according to the Prophecy of Balaam and that he would deliver them out of their present bondage To him they are easily perswaded to yeild their Consent being deluded by