A01136:85
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.
And to begin first with the prophet Isaiah, what answer can all the offspring of the Hebrews make to these words written in the ninth chapter of his prophecy?1 For the yoke of their burden, and the staff of their shoulder, and the rod of their oppressor hast thou broken, as in the day of Midian. You have heard a very honourable promise of the Prophet, wherein he pron•• ̄ceth a wonderful triumphant victory to all them that walk in the night of darkness, and in the shadow of death, prophesying likewise, that it will come to pass, that the chains of cruel captivity being cracked asunder, & yoke of servile bondage being crushed in pieces, they shall once at the length enjoy most happy ⟨image 47⟩calm of gladsome freedom. Well then. To whom was this promise made? to the Jews alone? is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Then by what means shall this victory be obtained? by any foreign power, or warlike broil? No. The Prophet doth utterly deny that, pronouncing these words forthwith: Because every spoil (saith he) of the warrior that is with noise, and with tumbling of garments in blood, shall be abolished with burning and consuming fire, even as in the victory that Gideon obtained against the Midianites, the conquest was achieved by the only hand of God, and the presence of Gideon, mans force & power little availing thereunto. In like manner the prophet by like comparison persuadeth us to believe, that this victory and freedom must be purchased by the only blessing of God, and not by any force or policy of man: and that this blessing of God is sufficiently effectual of it self, without all force of bloody battle, to establish assured and undoubted peace and everlasting freedom to all creatures. Go ye to now, let me this demand of you, when, and from whence this so great blessedness shall happen? The Prophet him self maketh answer, By ⟨image 48⟩the birth of a child (saith he) and by giving a son unto us. For unto us a child is borne (saith he) & unto us a son is given, & the Judgement is upon his shoulders. &c. Such is the excellent dignity of the son, so great is the majesty of his nature, proceeding from so notable a father, that he needeth none other aid in the world, to the attainment of absolute perfection of most blessed felicity.