That first promise which God made to man after his fall (p He shall break thine head,) was a general promise: for by it is promise made of Christ Jesus, and of that full redemption which Christ should make of man. So that promise which God made to Abram (q In thy⟨p. 271⟩ seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed:) Here is all happiness in Christ promised to all the faithful. And that which the Apostle setteth down,a All things shall work together for the good of them that love God, &c. And again, bAll things are yours: that is, all things tend to your good, and help forward your happiness and salvation. Many other like general promises there be in the Scripture,5 which are the rather to be remembered, because they extend themselves to all estates, to all conditions, and to all kind of distresses whatsoever; so that if we cannot call to mind particular promises, fit for our present estate, we may uphold our selves with these general promises. For example,6 when the devil or any of that serpentine brood shall assault us, remember we that all that they can do, is but to nibble at our heels, he shall never be able to crush our head, to destroy our soul: yet his head shall be crushed, he utterly vanquished. If we be in any misery, remember we that blessedness is promised unto us,7 and blessed shall we be. If any thing seem to make against us,8 this is promised to be the issue, that all shall turn to our good.
THat first promise which God made to man after his fall (p He shall breake thine head,) was a generall promise: for by it is promise made of Christ Iesus, and of that full redemption which Christ should make of man. So that promise which God made to Abram (q In thy⟨p. 271⟩ seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed:) Heere is all happines in Christ promised to all the faithfull. And that which the Apostle setteth downe,a All things shall worke together for the good of them that loue God, &c. And again, bAll things are yours: that is, all things tend to your good, and helpe forward your happinesse and saluation. Many other like generall promises there be in the Scripture,5 which are the rather to be remembred, because they extend themselues to all estates, to all conditions, and to all kinde of distresses whatsoeuer; so that if we cannot call to mind particular promises, fit for our present estate, we may vphold our selues with these generall promises. For example,6 when the diuell or any of that serpentine brood shall assault vs, remember we that all that they can doe, is but to nibble at our heeles, he shall neuer be able to crush our head, to destroy our soule: yet his head shall be crushed, he vtterly vanquished. If we be in any misery, remember we that blessednesse is promised vnto vs,7 and blessed shall we be. If any thing seeme to make against vs,8 this is promised to be the issue, that all shal turn to our good.
- pGen. 3. 15.
- qGen. 22. 18.
- aRom. 8. 28.
- b1 Cor. 3. 22.
- 5Why general promises are to be observed.Why general promises are to be obserued.
- 6Gen. 3. 15.
- 7Gen. 22. 18.
- 8Rom. 8. 28.
