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

What shall we say then? Is God to be accused of ingratitude, because he departed from his own? or of inconstancy, for making innovation of his ancient covenant? God forbid. For he did never constrain the performance of his promise to any place or people.¹ He made a promise to Abraham only, that out of his seed a sprought should issue, in whom all nations and kindreds of the earth should be blessed. For he doeth not say, In thee all nations shall be blessed: but in thy seed: in whom all men truly should be rewarded with life everlasting, as many as would receive him: as on the other side, he that did refuse him, should obtain no mercy nor favour at Gods hands. And it is not to be doubted, that this seed is the very Son of God, whom if the Jews would once at the last lovingly embrace, they should no more be excluded from the benefit of the promise. But for as much as they do yet not only refuse him, but continue also their cankered outrage against ⟨image 100⟩him with execrable cursings, and cruel spoiling this seed in his members so horribly: there is no cause, why they should presume to challenge any prerogative of the promise, sith the person could not prescribe upon the promise as made unto him, but in respect of the seed. But why was not this benefit of faith and belief in Christ impartened to the Jews, as well as to the Gentiles indifferently? Some question in deed might be moved herein, if the same had not already been discussed by his Prophets sufficiently: to wit, That the Jews them selves should loathe, reject, yea and procure the death of their own Messiah. And if yet any person will seem so captious, to be further inquisitive to learn why the Jews are not able to comprehend that, which is laid open to the Gentiles, the same may be satisfied with this •itte and reasonable answer:

What shall we saye then? Is God to be accused of ingratitude, because he departed from his owne? or of inconstancie, for makyng innouation of his auncient coue•aunt? God forbydde. For he dyd neuer constrayne the perfourmaunce of his promyse to any place or people.¹ He made a promyse to Abraham onely, that out of his seede a sprought shoulde yssue, in whome all nations and kynredes of the earth should be blessed. For he doeth not saye, In thee all nations shall be blessed: but in thy seede: in whome all men truely shoulde be rewarded with lyfe euerlasting, as many as would receyue him: as on the other side, he that dyd refuse him, shoulde obtayne no mercie nor fauour at Gods handes. And it is not to be doubted, that this seede is the very Sonne of God, whome if the Iewes woulde once at the last louingly embrace, they shoulde no more be excluded from the benefite of the promyse. But for as much as they doe yet not onely refuse him, but continue also their cancred outrage against