A01136:32
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at LondonA sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at London by John Fox. Containing an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romans. Translated out of Latin into English by James Bell.A sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London by Iohn Foxe. Conteining an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romanes. Translated out of Latine into English by Iames Bell.
London: printed by Christopher Barker, 1578
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1The manner and kind of his instruction here, wherein he resembleth the Church of God to an Olive tree, is metaphorical, and ⟨image 13⟩prophetical. Which Olive tree consisteth of three parts:2 Of the root, of the stock, and of the branches. Under the title of the Root, he doeth note Abraham, and other holy Patriarchs unto us, because in them appeared the first buds and blossoms of Gods promise. By the stock or body of the tree, he representeth unto us the Church scattered upon the face of the earth, a congregation gathered together, out of the whole number of the faithful, which at the first, budding in small issues from out that holy root, and so by little and little, increasing in strength, and obtaining a proportionable stature• doeth at the length through the plentiful fatness of the bountiful root, with outstretched compass, spread abroad it self into most beautiful branches and bows. By which plain demonstration, we have an apparent view painted out, as it were, both of the old synagogue of the Jews, and the new Church of the Gentiles. And because no man shall think that this Olive tree is sprung up at all adventures, or planted by mans industry: he calleth it by the name of an holy issue, out of a holy Root. There is no man made husbandman or woodward of this Olive t•ee, but almighty ⟨image 14⟩God him self alone: who with all possible diligence, attendeth to the addressing, and nourishing thereof, and will continually preserve the same. Howsoever this Olive tree doeth alter the beauty of his blossoms, or change the hue of his leaves, yet endureth it still unremovable, nor is at any time •ut clean away. In like manner fareth it with the Church of God:3 which being wholly established upon the eternal foundation of Gods most sacred promise, standeth as it were in a certain eternity unvanquishable, and so shall continue permanent beyond all ages, though the members and branches thereof, remain not always in one estate, and although it happen many times, that the first issues become the last, and contrariwise, the last made first: the natural buds yield place to the savage slips, the proper and old grown branches are cut of, and new taken in: