Filter authors and titles

:140img 78

The residue of the week doth appertain to the preaching of the Apostles, to the calling of the Gentiles, to the establishing of the covenant with many, to the abolishing of the old circumcision, & external sacrifices of the ceremonial Law, to the confirmation of free remission of sins, & to the performance of the promise of rising again, & life everlasting. All which were of all parts completed, & ended in y• last week: that is to say, in those 7. latter years, wherein the Messiah shall be anointed, slain, rise from death to life, ascend up into heaven, endue his Church with the inestimable benefits of the holy Ghost, and allure the Gentiles ⟨image 79⟩to the free mercy pronounced by his Gospel: which week being added to the former, will make the just number of 70. weeks, to wit, 490. years.

The residue of the weeke doth appertayne to the preaching of the Apostles, to ye calling of the Gētiles, to the establishing of the couenant wt many, to the abolishing of the old circūcision, & external sacrifices of ye ceremonial Law, to ye confirmatiō of free remissiō of sins, & to the performāce of ye promise of rising againe, & life euerlasting. All which were of al parts cōpleted, & ended in y• last weeke: that is to say, in those 7. latter yeres, wherein the Meschias shalbe annoynted, slayne, ryse from death to lyfe, ascende vp into heauen, endue his Churche with the inestimable benefites of the holie Ghost, and allure the Gentiles ⟨image 79⟩to the free mercy pronounced by his Gospel: which weeke being added to the former, will make the iust nomber of 70. weekes, to wit, 490. yeres.

:141img 79

For so many years did the merciful God of Israel, of his unspeakable bounty preserve that nation in peaceable tranquillity, not for any their deservings, but for his dear sons sake only, which was to issue out of that seed & generation. It remaineth now, that we make a proportionable comparison of the number of those years, with the records of the continual proceedings and successes thereof. First, this is a matter confessed: That the delivery of the Jews from their captivity, was by the Proclamation of Cyrus, the first year of his reign, at what time the foundation of the Temple was laid,¹ which being hindered with sundry interruptions, was yet at the last brought to full perfection, in the sixth or seventh year of Darius reign. The Temple being thus perfected in all furniture,² commission was given at length to Nehemiah, in the xx. year of the reign of the same Darius, with absolute authority to repair their city again. The same year in the 25. day of the month Elul, the wall was erected ⟨image 79⟩and finished: the whole doing whereof lasted 52. days only, as Esdras reporteth in his sixth chapter.³ But houses were not builded as yet, as appeareth in the seventh chapter: for accomplishment whereof were allowed xii. years more, as appeareth plainly in the fifth chapter of the same, where you may hear what Nehemiah him self speaketh after this manner:⁴ From the twentieth year (saith he) even to the xxxii. year of king Artaxerxes, that is xii. year, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor, &c. So that it is evident, that whiles the city was building, so many years passed over.⁵ For so we read, the Nehemiah gave his promise to return to the king and queen, as soon as the work was finished.

For so many yeres did the mercifull God of Israel, of his vnspeakeable bountie preserue that nation in peaceable tranquillitie, not for any their deseruings, but for his deare sonnes sake onely, which was to yssue out of that seede & generation. It remaineth now, that we make a proportionable comparison of the nomber of those yeres, with the records of the continuall proceedinges and successes therof. First, this is a matter confessed: That the deliuerie of the Iewes from their captiuitie, was by the Proclamation of Cyrus, the first yere of his reigne, at what time the fundation of the Temple was layd,¹ which being hindered with sundry interruptions, was yet at the last brought to full perfection, in the sixt or seuenth yere of Darius reygne. The Temple beeyng thus perfited in all fourniture,² commission was giuen at length to Nehemias, in the xx. yeere of the reygne of the same Darius, with absolute authoritie to repaire their citie againe. The same yere in the 25. daye of the moneth Elul, the wall was erected ⟨image 79⟩and finished: the whole doing whereof lasted 52. dayes only, as Esdras reporteth in his sixt chapter.³ But houses were not builded as yet, as appeareth in the seuenth chapter: for accomplishment whereof were allowed xii. yeres more, as appeareth playnely in the fift chapter of the same, where you may heare what Nehemias him selfe speaketh after this maner:⁴ From the twentieth yere (sayth he) euen to the xxxii. yere of king Artaxerxes, that is xii. yere, I and my brethren haue not eaten the bread of the gouernour, &c. So that it is euident, that whiles the citie was buylding, so many yeeres passed ouer.⁵ For so we reade, the Nehemias gaue his promise to returne to the king and queene, as soone as the work was finished.

1The building of the Temple.The building of the Tēple.
2•• Esdr. 1.2.
32. Esdr. 6.7.
42. Esdr. •.
52. Esd. •.

:142img 79

Thus much touching the ix. chapter of Daniel: neither is this all that Daniel reporteth of the Messiah, for besides this, many other his prophecies do foreshow, and as it were directly lead us by the hand, to the kingdom of Messiah, yea to the very distinct time thereof:¹ as is that of the Stone, which being hewen out of a great hill without mans hand, smote the image that represented the four Monarchies of the world, and brake ⟨image 80⟩his head, his breast, his legs, & his feet in pieces, that no place was found for them, but the stone it self became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Thus much touching the ix. chapter of Daniel: neither is this al that Daniel reporteth of the Messhias, for besides this, many other his prophecies doe foreshewe, and as it were directly leade vs by the hande, to the kingdom of Messhias, yea to the very distinct time thereof:¹ as is that of the Stone, which being hewen out of a great hill without mās hande, smote the image that represented the foure Monarchies of the worlde, and brake ⟨image 80⟩his head, his breast, his legges, & his feete in pieces, that no place was founde for them, but the stone it selfe became a great mountaine, and filled the whole earth.

1Daniel. •

:143img 80

But what is the purport of all these things? And first, what is meant by the stone hewen down without hands, & falling from a great hill? what by that striking and breaking the image in pieces? by that huge mountain? by that exceeding increase of the stone into an unmeasurable quantity: the incredible greatness whereof overthrowing all other kingdoms of the earth, should possess the whole world besides? Whereunto tend all these? what do they import? what do they represent unto us else, than the same which we perceive most plainly was accomplished in the son of God? who descending from the highest heavens into the won •e of a base virgin, & borne of his mother without all carnal knowledge, who alone coming into the world, without all aid of natural generation, did vanquish all power and pomp of the world and the devil, by holding his peace only: brake the gates of hell in sunder with suffering only: overcame death with dying only, and purchased thereby an everlasting kingdom of perpetual ⟨image 80⟩felicity for his chosen and elect, which kingdom shall endure in unmoveable eternity, above, and beyond all other kingdoms and empires of the world. For all other empires standing in most fickle estate, by interchange of elder years wax transitory and vanish away, and with mutual enmity do pursue each other to utter destruction.¹ This only kingdom raised up without hands by the eternal God, can not be shivered with any violence, or wax old with any process of time, nor be subdued by any force or policy of man, but with his unperishable perpetuity shall crush in pieces and wear out all other kingdoms, and it self persist nevertheless unvanquishable, for ever and ever. And this so incomprehensible Majesty of this kingdom, the Prophet doeth not in one place alone prophesy should come, nor doeth he promise it only, but discovereth also the very minute and instant of time, wherein this kingdom should flourish: so that the commendation, wherewith your Joseph doeth so highly advance this Prophet,

:144img 81

I could vouch out of the same Daniel sundry sentences, many also out of other prophets, to the like effect: for what else doth the whole prophetical history of the Bible, even from the beginning to the end thereof describe unto us, then Christ Jesus, & his kingdom, very base & simple in the eye & judgement of carnal capacity, but to the spiritual beholders, most beautiful & glorious? What doth the delivery of Jonah out of the whales belly the third day, prefigure unto us other, then the resurrection of Christ? What doeth the translating of Elijah into heaven in a fiery chariot, signify other, then the ascension of Christ? What doeth that brazen serpent foreshow other, then Christ crucified upon the cross? What do the manifold afflictions of king David represent, but the continual persecution of Christ in this world? What doth Moses signify, but a deliverer? Joshua, but the victorious conquest of Christ over all his enemies? What doth the rule & government ⟨image 81⟩of Joseph, with a certain royal majesty over the Egyptians imply, but the kingdom of Messiah, at whose b••ks all things in earth and heaven should be obedient and subject? It would require a long discourse, t• overrun all the mystical sayings of the prophets. I will add hereunto one or two places out of the prophet Malachi.

I coulde vouche out of the same Daniel sundry sentences, many also out of other prophets, to the like effect: for what els doth the whole propheticall history of the Bible, euen from the beginning to the ende thereof describe vnto vs, then Christ Iesu, & his kingdome, very base & simple in the eye & iudgement of carnall capacitie, but to the spiritual beholders, most beautiful & glorious? What doth the deliuery of Ionas out of the whales belly the thirde day, prefigure vnto vs other, then the resurrection of Christ? What doeth the translating of Elias into heauen in a firy charriot, signifie other, then the ascension of Christ? What doeth that brasen serpent foreshewe other, then Christ crucified vpon the crosse? What doe the manifold afflictions of king Dauid represent, but the continual persecution of Christ in this world? What doth Moyses signifie, but a deliuerer? Iosuah, but the victorious conquest of Christ ouer all his enemies? What doth the rule & gouernmēt ⟨image 81⟩of Ioseph, with a certaine royall maiestie ouer the Egyptians emply, but the kingdome of Messhias, at whose bks all thinges in earth and heauen should be obedient and subiect? It would require a long discourse, t ouerrunne all the mystical syings of the prophets. I wil adde hereunto one or two places out of the prophet Malachie.

:145img 81

Malachi being of one mind & judgement that Daniel and our Paul were of,¹ dot• not only foretell the casting away of your •••ion, but rendereth also the reason, that procured Gods wrath against your people. For Malachi and Daniel do both agree in this point:² that the utter destruction of that nation was decreed upon by the secrete counsel of God, to the end they should become a president; whereby the wicked might be forewarned of the severe Justice of God: as also for this cause chiefly, by reason that else the vain persuasion, that hath taken root so long in the hearts of the people, touching the righteousness of the Law, touching circumcision, […] to offerings, & sacrifices, could not be razed out of their minds, if the ceremonial Law should continue in her former authority. And therefore it pleased Almighty God, to ⟨image 82⟩make manifest to all men, that th•se e•t•• nall rites, shadows, and Cerem••ie•, were not available to procure true righteousness: and that the righteousness of the Law was not that pure righteousness, whereunto the promises did direct them. But let us hear: •he words of Malachi:³ I have no pleasure in you, (•ayeth the Lord of hosts) neither will I accept of•ring at your hande•• •or from the rising of the Sun, unto […] going down of the same, my name is great among the Gentiles. And in every […] offered unto my name, for my name is great among the Gent•les, sayeth the Lord of hosts • Amongst m things wthie […] be noted in th saying of the Prophet, there are hre special […] to ee conered:

:146img 82

And the Lord shall kill thee, and shall call his servants by an other name, &c. The words are somewhat unlike, but the sense is all one, nothing differing from the saying of Malachi,¹ I have no pleasure in you, &c. Doest thou not perceive in these words, how thou shalt •e cast away, thou proud generation• And because you shall know• that God will nevertheless not be destitute of a people, that shall glorify his name though you be clean •ewen of from the Olive tree, My name (sayeth he) is great among the Gentiles.

And the Lorde shall kyll thee, and shall call his seruauntes by an other name, &c. The woordes are somewhat vnlike, but the sense is all one, nothing differyng from the saying of Malachie,¹ I haue no pleasure in you, &c. Doest thou not perceyue in these woordes, howe thou shalt •e cast away, thou proude generation• And because you shal know• that God wil neuerthelesse not be destitute of a people, that shall glorifie his name though you be cleane •ewen of from the Oliue tree, My name (sayeth he) is great among the Gentiles.

1The place of Malachi expounded.The place of Malachie expounded.

:147img 82

I have declared unto you, what shall become of your nation and people. Now will I proceed to explain unto you of your Temple, and place of prayer, whereupon you ⟨image 83⟩vaunt your selves so much. The Prophet therefore goeth forward: In all places shall pure offerings be offered unto my name, from the rising of the Sun, even to the going down of the same. As if God would say, You Jews are so addicted to that only Sanctuary and Temple of the Lord, which he did erect amongest you long ago, as though he ought not be worshipped in any place else, and as though no nation in the whole earth might offer sacrifice unto the Lord, except you alone. And under colour of this prerogative, being puffed up with pride, you swell with immeasurable vain glorious persuasion of fleshly courage, and set all other nations at naught, as though you alone were the only inheritance of the Lord, and as though you held him fa•• tied to your generation, with an inseparable chain of privileged bounty and favour, and so fast locked within the walls of your Temple, that he could not be of power to depart from you, nor would not for any cause sequester him self from your Temple. But to the end your blundered senses may no longer lumper in darkness, stroking your selves with vain and counterfeit ⟨image 83⟩confidence of falsely conceived opinion, I will by way of friendly advertisement pronounce, and even now do denounce and forewarn you, That the calling upon the name of the Lord, is not unseparably bound to place, time or persons: but that the largess of his mercy is extended also upon all people, nations and tongues, whether they be Jews, or Gentiles, Scythians or Indians:¹ and that this his loving kindness, wherewith he embraceth all mankind, will reject no person from his fatherly protection: wheresoever his name is feared, and his Majesty worshipped, there he doth indifferently distribute the gifts of his grace towards all persons, without partiality.

I haue declared vnto you, what shall become of your nation and people. Now wil I proceede to explane vnto you of your Temple, and place of prayer, whereupon you ⟨image 83⟩

:148img 83

Yea and because you shall understand my saying more plainly, behold, I do protest unto you in the word of the Lord, that it shall come to pass, that you your selves being Jews, & your whole race for the most part being cast away, and this your Sanctuary (whereupon you boast so much) being utterly rejected, the Lord will transpose his loving countenance, not into one angle of the world among the Jews only, but will be magnified, & have the glory of his name called upon, in every place throughout ⟨image 84⟩all nations & tongues, wheresoever s••••tered over the face of the earth, from the r• sing of the sun, to the going down of th• •ame. For my name is great among the Gen tiles, saith the Lord of hosts. Hitherto yo• have heard the words of Malachi used towards your people.

Yea and because you shal vnderstande my saying more playnly, beholde, I do protest vnto you in the word of the Lorde, that it shall come to passe, that you your selues being Iewes, & your whole race for the most parte beyng cast away, and this your Sanctuarie (whereupon you boast so much) being vtterly reiected, the Lord wil transpose his louing countenaunce, not into one angle of the worlde among the Iewes onely, but wil be magnified, & haue ye glory of his name called vpō, in euery place throughout ⟨image 84⟩all nations & tongues, wheresoeuer s••••tered ouer the face of the earth, from the r• sing of the sunne, to the goyng downe of th• •ame. For my name is great among the Gē tiles, sayth the Lorde of hostes. Hitherto yo• haue heard the wordes of Malachie vsed towards your people.

:149img 84

It remaineth lastly, that we speak of y• sacrifices. For the Prophet doeth evidently •• clare, that innovation shall ensue of the Sacrifices also, speaking in this wise: Among the Gentiles, and in every place, incense and a pure offering shall be offered unto my name. Well now: what manner of offerings be these of the Gentiles, which the Prophet doeth commend so highly? Be they sacrifices of goat•, or calves? They be sacrifices of calves truly, but such as the Prophet Hosea me• tioneth in his prophecy. And we will render (sayeth he) the Calves of our lips. ¹Ueri•• these be the calvest where with the Lord is now well delighted. These calves do we offer, when reknowledging our v•rygh•• ousnesse, we yield humble thanke• to the gracious goodness of God, who cleansing our wickedness with the fountain of the blood, & death of his dearly beloved son Christ I• su, ⟨image 84⟩doth endue us with the inheritance of everlasting life. These be the spiritual offerings of the Gentiles, differing very much from the sacrifices of the Jews: for these are the pure offerings of the Spirit, that consist not in bloody broiling of brute beasts, nor in smelling of flesh, nor are offered with the hands of Priests imbrued with gore. And for that cause, the Prophet doeth call them clean.² Well then: and why are these offerings called clean, rather then the Jewish Sacrifices? What? shall we say, that their blood offerings are unclean, and their sacrifices defiled then? Verily, albeit the Prophet doeth not in express words verify the same, yet who so shall duly ponder the substance, and pith of his talk, shall easily discern, that the Prophet by secrete implication, doth condemn the Jewish sacrifices, as polluted, and profane in the respect of offerings of the heathen.

:150img 84

But here will one of your sect urge again,¹ and demand, whether these Sacrifices were not instituted by God at the first, and the ordinances of the same prescribed unto us by Moses? whether in them also were not contained the calves of ⟨image 85⟩thanksgiving, and purging of sins? whether God could be the author of any observances and ceremonies, tha• were not of all pa•tes sincere, pure and without blemish?² For answer whereof, we d• not deny, that those Sacrifices were instituted for your behoof, by special commandment and sufferance of the hyghe• and most excellent Lawmaker Almighty God. But consideration must be had of the meaning, purpose, end & time, wherein they were to be frequented. No• that they were of value of their own nature, to purchase true righteousness, but to direct & lead us to the righteousness, that was to come: not that you should account them as infallible pledges of perfect piety, but that almighty God might train & instruct you with these, as with certain principles meanwhiles, until you might be made apt to receive higher mysteries. Not because that great Lord and father of Spirits was delighted with the slaughter of brute beasts, of bloody gore of his creatures: but his good pleasure was under these shadows, types, and figures, to prefigure the death of his only son:³ who by his bloodsheadding should be of power ⟨image 85⟩to wash mens consciences clean from all filth & corruption of sin: not because you should alway lye no•zeling in these, and proceed n• further, but to nurture your childhood, for a time were they delivered, least by pursuing the error of the Gentiles, ye should either rush headlong into the idolatrous abominations of the heathen, or at the least restrain you in stead of a schoolmaster, in some orderly comeliness for a time, until the clear day should appear, wherein better things should be revealed, and the trueth it self should shut up, and abolish those shadows and sacrifices.

:151img 85

Briefly to satisfy this matter in two words, two notes are chiefly to be observed in these kinds of sacrifices:¹ namely, the use, and the time. As concerning the use: Truly the due observation of those sacrifices was not of force by their own nature, to make a chosen and beloved people of God: but to be rules and principles, for that people whom Moses had gathered to minister in his synagogue: not because they were able of them selves to give eternal salvation:² but that they should foreshow the coming of him, in whom rested true safety, and withal should represent an outward shadow of inward holiness ⟨image 86⟩and cleanness of mind. And for that cause provision was made for such beasts only, t•at were clean, unspotted & undefiled: hereby inducing the people of y• old Synagogue to learn, how they ought to be have them selves in their daily conversation unblameable. As to that which appertaineth to the consideration of the time,³ this ought to be holden for certain, that those blood offerings of the Ceremonial law, were not delivered, because they should never cease, even as neither the Temple was builded, to the end it should never be razed, and destroyed: or as though the overthrow thereof, should forthwith extinguish all worshipping of god withal, but were given for a time only, not to continue for ever, but transitory rather, and removable, remaining in use as certain exercises and introductions of outward discipline, until the blessed seed should come, in whom the promise took effect. And therefore almighty God did with great care, long time as it were allow the Sacrifices, to nurture the weak capacity of the people of •hat rude age: by means whereof the said sacrifices had th•n their certain use & estimation, nor were adjudged unclean, during that ⟨image 86⟩season. But as now, the estate of the time being altered, sithence the truth it self doeth overspread the world with wonderful lightsomeness, and the Sun of righteousness displayeth his clear and palpable brightness: these carnall Sacrifices and blood offerings do utterly cease, and are altogether discharged from further use.

:152img 86

For what availeth to gaze after shadows, where the body is present to be beholden plainly? What senseless man will burn candle, or light a torch, in sunshine at midday? who will grope for darkness in open light? or seek for night in clearest day? The cause why that butchery of silly beasts was permitted you for a time, was to inform your grossness, and tame the hardness of your hearts: that so, by view of visible signs, and representations of spectable shadows, the Lord might train you along, to the true and pure cleansing of sins, which was then to come. But now, sithence we are come to the truth it self (whereof the other were but shadows) it is a necessary consequent, that those things which were sometime esteemed for clean, the very same again through alteration of time, may be accounted not only unclean, ⟨image 87⟩and defiled, but filthy also, and abominable.

For what auaileth to gaze after shadowes, where ye bodie is present to be beholden plainly? What senselesse man will burne candle, or light a torche, in sunneshine at midday? who will groape for darkenes in open light? or seeke for night in clearest day? The cause why that butcherie of siely beastes was permitted you for a time, was to enfourme your grossenesse, and tame the hardenesse of your heartes: that so, by viewe of visible signes, and representations of spectable shadowes, the Lorde might traine you along, to the true and pure clensing of sinnes, which was then to come. But nowe, sithence wee are come to the truth it self (wherof ye other were but shadowes) it is a necessarie consequent, yt those things which were sometime esteemed for clean, ye very same again through alteratiō of time, may be accounted not only vncleane, ⟨image 87⟩and defiled, but filthie also, and abominable.

:153img 87

¹Which things being undoubted true (ye men of Israel) as may most manifestly appear unto you by the testimoni•, & discourse of Malachi and other Prophets, what e• treme madness is this in you, to persevere still in so deep a slumber, dreaming yet about your old rotten tabernacles, your forlorn Temple, your carnal worshippings, and motheaten sacrifices? But let us imagine and grant by way of a case put, that you may recover your Jerusalem again: which notwithstanding will never come to pass, (unless God himself and all his Prophets do lie) I would fain learn of you then what you would do there. First you will procure your Temple to be built up again. And why so? because ye may offer incense and sacrifice to God after your accustomed manner? As though that general Lord of all nations can not be worshipped else where, then in a blind angle of the world, at Jerusalem perdy? And how then will the saying of the Prophet Malachi be verified?² who sayeth that the time should come, when the Lord of hosts should be worshipped in all places, and incense offered unto him throughout all the world, from ⟨image 87⟩the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof. If you will so straight and restrain• all worship due unto God, within the walls of your Temple only, as it were, locked fast in some closet, then I demand of you further, with what kind of sacrifice you will pacify your God, within that Temple? forsooth with blood and butchery of beasts. But where is then that pure and undefiled offering mentioned by Malachi, which is not embrued with slaughter, I suppose, but performed by spiritual sacrifices?

¹Which things being vndoubted true (ye men of Israel) as may most manifestly appeare vnto you by the testimoni•, & discourse of Malachie and other Prophets, what e• treme madnes is this in you, to perseuer still in so deepe a slumber, dreaming yet about your olde rotten tabernacles, your forlorne Temple, your carnall worshippings, and motheaten sacrifices? But let vs imagine and graunt by way of a case put, that you may recouer your Ierusalem againe: which notwihstanding will neuer come to passe, (vnlesse God himselfe and all his Prophets doe lie) I would fayne learne of you then what you would do there. First you will procure your Temple to be built vp againe. And why so? because ye may offer incense and sacrifice to God after your accustomed maner? As though that generall Lord of all nations can not be worshipped els where, then in a blinde angle of the world, at Ierusalem perdy? And how then will the saying of the Prophet Malachie be verifid?

:154img 87

Finally, with what argument can you persuade that the living God ought to be worshipped more properly and peculiarly of you Jews, then of all other nations, namely sith you are so plainly convinced with the express testimony of Malachie• who making no mention of the Jews, doth prophesy, that the name of God shall be had in great admiration amongst the Gentiles. What answer• will you make also to that promise of the same Malachi, in the Chapter following: where foretelling the signs and tokens that should go before the coming of the Messiah: to wit,¹ That his forerunner should come first and prepare the way before the face of the ⟨image 88⟩Lord? And immediately sayeth. And […] Lord whom ye seek, shall speedily come to his holy Temple, even the Angel of the covenant whom you desire &•• What• came not that same forerunner• that was promised? Was not his voice heard also in the desert according to the prophecy of Esay• ²crying out as loud as he could, to the end you should prepare the way of the Lord, and should make straight in the desert • path for your God. Why did you no• […] preparation then? Why did you not receive the Angel of the Covenant, whom ye desired, coming into his holy Temple? Nay rather, why did you banish him from out your Synagogue? why did you daily exclude him from thence, railing continually upon the Lord with outrageous reproaches, and taunting blasphemies? What punishment or torture may •e imagined horrible enough to countervail so execrable outrages?

Finally, with what argument can you pers•ade that the liuing God ought to bee worshipped more properly and peculiarly of you Iewes, then of all other nations, namely sith you are so plainely conuinced with the expresse testimonie of Malachie who making no mētion of the Iewes, doth prophesie, that the name of God shal be had in great admiration amongst the Geniles. What answer will you make also to that promise of ye same Malachie, in the Chapter following: where foretelling the signes and tokens that should go before the comming of the Messhias: to wit,

:155img 88

¹Also by the way here is not to be passed over in silence, the saying of the same prophet, annexed in the end of the same chap. concerning the dreadful & terrible day of the Lord, wherewith he will overwhelm the proud & wicked doers, whom that hot scorching day, even as an hot ⟨image 88⟩burning oven should devour, as flame consumeth the stubble, leaving neither branch nor root of them.

¹Also by the way here is not to be passed ouer in silence, the saying of the same prophet, annexed in the end of the same chap. cōcerning ye dreadful & terrible day of the Lord, wherwith he wil ouerwhelm the proud & wicked doers, whom that hote scorching day, euē as an hote ⟨image 88⟩burning ouen should deuoure, as flame consumeth the stubble, leauing neither branche nor roote of them.

1Malac. 4.

But what is the purport of al these things? And first, what is meant by the stone hewen downe without hands, & falling from a great hill? what by that striking and breaking the image in pieces? by that huge mountaine? by that exceeding increase of the stone into an vnmeasurable quātitie: the incredible greatnesse whereof ouerthrowing all other kingdomes of the earth, should possesse the whole world besides? Wherūto tend al these? what do they import? what do they represent vnto vs els, thē the same which we perceiue most plainly was accōplished in the sonne of God? who descēding from the highest heauēs into the wō •e of a base virgine, & borne of his mother without al carnal knowledge, who alone comming into the world, without all ayde of naturall generation, did vanquishe all power and pompe of the world and the deuill, by holding his peace onely: brake the gates of hell in sunder with suffering onely: ouercame death with dying onely, and purchased thereby an euerlasting kingdome of perpetuall ⟨image 80⟩felicitie for his chosen and elect, which kingdome shall endure in vnmoueable eternitie, aboue, and beyonde all other kingdomes and empires of the worlde. For all other empires standing in most fickle estate, by enterchaunge of elder yeeres waxe transitorie and vanishe awaye, and with mutuall emnitie do pursue eche other to vtter destruction.¹ This onely kingdome raysed vp without handes by the eternall God, can not be shyuered with any vyolence, or waxe olde with any processe of tyme, nor be subdued by any force or polycie of man, but with his vnperysheable perpetuitie shall crushe in pieces and weare out all other kingdomes, and it selfe persiste neuerthelesse vnuanquisheable, for euer and euer. And this so incomprehensible Maiestis of this kingdome, the Prophete doeth not in one place alone prophecie shoulde come, nor doeth he promyse it onely, but discouereth also the very mynute and instant of tyme, wherein this kingdome shoulde flouryshe: so that the commendation, wherewith your Ioseph doeth so hyghly aduaunce this Prophete,² is not vnaptly applyed: To wytte, that he doeth not onely foreshewe ⟨image 81⟩the euents and successes to tymes, (as other prophets doe) but with a most playne viewe, as it were, doth poynt with the finger to the time it selfe, in which all these things should come, that should ensue. &c.

Malachie beyng of one minde & iudgemēt that Daniel and our Paul were of,¹ dot• not onely foretell the casting away of your •••ion, but rendreth also the reason, that procured Gods wrath agaynst your people. For Malachie and Daniel doe both agree in this poynt:² that the vtt•r destruction of that nation was decreed vpon by the secrete counsell of God, to the ende they shoulde beco•e a president; whereby the wicked myght be forewar•ed of the seuere Iustice of God: as also for this cause chiefely, by reason that els the vaine •ersuasion, that hath taken roote so long in the hearts of the people, touching the righteousnes of the Law, touching ••rcumcision, 〈…〉 to offrings, & sacrifices, could not be rased out of their mindes, if the ceremoniall Law should cōtinue in her former authoritie. And therefore it pleased Almightie God, to ⟨image 82⟩make manifest to all men, that th•se e•t•• nall rytes, shadowes, and Cerem••ie•, were not auaylable to procure true ryghto••nesse: and that the rygh•eousnesse of the Lawe was not that pure ryghte•u•snes, wher•unto the promyses dyd direct th•m. But lette us heare: •he woordes of Malachie:³ I haue no pleasure in you, (•ayeth the Lorde of hostes) n•yther wyll I accept of•ring at your hande•• •or from the rysing of the Sunne, vnto 〈…〉 goyng downe of the same, my name is great among the Gentiles. And in euery 〈…〉 offered vnto my name, for my name is great among the Gent•les, sayeth the Lorde of hostes • Amongst m••• thynges w•••thie 〈…〉 be noted in th•• saying of the P•rophete, there are •hre• spec•all 〈…〉 to •ee con•••ered:⁴ Namely• th• one co•cernyng you that are Iew•s: secondly, concer•••• your Sacrifices: lastly, the pl•c• it selfe, where offryng shalb• made. For the 〈…〉 had promysed, •hat he woulde alter 〈…〉 •enew• eu•ry of these; to the ende 〈…〉 thereby despoyle you of all matter to glory vpo•: as vpon yo•r parentage, 〈…〉 •o• shippings, yea your temple it selfe, your offrings ⟨image 82⟩and Sacrifices. And why•s because he had determined to make an innouation of them (as ye doe heare) and to translate them from you to others: which thing the same holie Ghost doeth manifestly set downe in an other place in like woordes, by his Prophete Esay:⁵ Beholde (sayeth he) I wyl create newe heauens, and a newe earth, and the former shall not be remembred, nor come into minde. And agayne in an other place:

But heere wyll one of your secte vrge agayne,¹ and demaunde, whether these Sacrifices were not instituted by God at the first, and the ordinaunces of the same prescribed vnto vs by Moyses? whether in them also were not conteyned the calues of ⟨image 85⟩thankesgyuing, and purging of sinnes? whether God coulde be the author of any o•seruaunces and ceremonies, tha• were not of all pa•tes syncere, pure and without blemyshe?² For answere whereof, we d• not denye, that those Sacrifices were instituted for your behoofe, by speciall commaundement and sufferaunce of the hyghe• and most excellent Lawemaker Almyghtie God. But consideration must be had of the meaning, purpose, ende & tyme, wherein they were to be frequented. No• that they were of valew of their owne nature, to purchase true righteousnes, but to direct & leade vs to the righteousnes, that was to come: not that you should accompt them as infallible ple•ges of perfect pietie, but that almighty God might trayne & instruct you with these, as with certein principles meanwhiles, vntil you might be made apte to receiue hygher mysteri•s. Not because that great Lorde and father of Spirites was delyghted with the slaughter of brute beastes, of bloody go•re of his creatures: but his good pleasure was vnder these shadowes, types, and figures, to prefigure the death of his onely sonne:³ who by his bloodsheadding shoulde be of power ⟨image 85⟩to wash mens consciences cleane frō all filth & corruption of sinne: not because you should alway lye no•zeling in these, and proceede n• further, but to nourture your childhode, for a time were they deliuered, least by pursuing the error of the Gentiles, ye shoulde either rush headlong into the idolatrous abominations of the heathen, or at the least restrayne you in steade of a scholemaster, in some orderly comelines for a time, vntil the cleare day should appeare, wherein better things should be reueiled, and the trueth it selfe should shut vp, and abolish those shadowes and sacrifices.

Briefly to satisfie this matter in two words, two notes are chiefely to be obserued in these kinds of sacrifices:¹ namely, the vse, and the time. As concerning the vse: Truly the due obseruation of those sacrifices was not of force by their owne nature, to make a chosen and beloued people of God: but to be rules and principles, for that people whom Moyses had gathered to minister in his synagogue: not because they were able of them selues to giue eternall saluation:² but that they shoulde foreshewe the comming of him, in whome rested true safetie, and withall should represent an outward shadowe of inwarde holines ⟨image 86⟩and cleannes of minde. And for that cause prouision was made for such beastes onely, t•at were cleane, vnspotted & vndefiled: hereby enducing the people of y• old Sinagogue to learn, how they ought to be haue thē selues in their dayly conuersation vnblameable. As to that which apperteineth to the consideration of the time,³ this ought to be holdē for certaine, that those blood offrings of the Ceremoniall lawe, were not deliuered, because they should neuer cease, euen as neither the Temple was builded, to the end it should neuer be rased, and destroyed: or as though the ouerthrowe thereof, shoulde forthwith extinguish al worshipping of god withal, but were giuen for a time onely, not to continue for euer, but transitorie rather, and remoueable, remayn•ng in vse as certaine exercises and introductions of outwarde discipline, vntill the blessed seede shoulde come, in whome the promise tooke effect. And therefore almightie God did with great care, long time as it were allowe the Sacrifices, to nourtour the weake capacitie of the people of •hat rude age: by meanes whereof the said sacrifices had th•n their certaine vse & estimation, nor were adiudged vnclean, during that ⟨image 86⟩season. But as now, the estate of the time being altered, sithence the truth it selfe doeth ouerspread the worlde with wonderfull lightsomnesse, and the Sunne of righteousnesse displayeth his cleare and palpable brightnes: these carnall• Sacrifices and blood offerings do vtterly cease, and are altogether discharged from further vse.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at LondonA sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London