Men uncalled, are such as never heard of Christ by reason the gospel was never revealed unto them, nor means of revelation offered. That there have bin such in former ages, I make manifest thus. The world since the creation may be distinguished into four ages. The first, from the creation to the flood; the second, from the flood to the giving of the Law: the third, from the giving of the Law to the death of Christ: the fourth, from the death of Christ to the last judgement. Now in the three former ages, there was a distinction of the world into two sorts of men, whereof one was a people of God, the other no-people. In the first age in the families of Seth, Noah, &c. were the sons of God; in all other families the sons of men, Gen. 6.2. In the second age were the sons of the flesh and the sons of the promise, Rom. 9.7. In the third, Jews and Gentiles; the Jews being the Church of God, all nations beside ⟨p. 840⟩no-church. But in the last age this distinction was taken away when the Apostles had a commission given them that was never given before to any, namely, to go teach not only the Jews, but all nations. Now this distinction arose of this, that the Gospel was not revealed to the world before the coming of Christ, as the Scriptures witness. The prophet Isaiah saith, 52.14. that kings shall shut their mouths at Christ, because that which had not bin told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard shall they understand. And 55. 5. that a nation that knew him not shall run unto him. Paul saith to the Ephesians that in former times they were without God, and without Christ, strangers from the covenant, Eph. 2.12. And to the Athenians he saith, that the times before the coming of Christ were times of ignorance, Act. 17.30. And that it may not be thought that this ignorance was affected, Paul saith further that God in times past suffered the Gentiles to walk in their own ways, Act. 14. 16. and that the mystery of the Gospel was kept secret from the beginning of the world, and is now in the last age revealed to the whole world, Rom. 16.25. Some allege that the Jews being the church of God, had traffic with all nations, and by this means spread some little knowledge of the Messiah through the whole world:
Men vncalled, are such as neuer heard of Christ by reason the gospell was neuer reuealed vnto them, nor meanes of reuelation offered. That there haue bin such in former ages, I make manifest thus. The worlde since the creation may be distinguished into foure ages. The first, frō the creation to the flood; the second, from the flood to the giuing of the Law: the third, from the giuing of the Lawe to the death of Christ: the fourth, from the death of Christ to the last iudgement. Nowe in the three former ages, there was a distinction of the world into two sorts of men, wherof one was a people of God, the other no-people. In the first age in the families of Seth, Noe, &c. were the sonnes of God; in all other families the sonnes of men, Gen. 6.2. In the second age were the sonnes of the flesh and the sonnes of the promise, Rom. 9.7. In the third, Iewes and Gentiles; the Iewes beeing the Church of God, all nations beside ⟨p. 840⟩no-church. But in the last age this distinction was taken away when the Apostles had a commission giuen them that was neuer giuen before to any, namely, to goe teach not onely the Iewes, but all nations. Now this distinction arose of this, that the Gospel was not reuealed to the world before the comming of Christ, as the Scriptures witnes. The prophet Esai saith, 52.14. that kings shall shut their mouthes at Christ, because that which had not bin told them they shal see, and that which they had not heard shall they vnderstand. And 55. 5. that a nation that knew him not shall runne vnto him. Paul saith to the Ephesians that in former times they were without God, and without Christ, strangers from the couenāt, Eph. 2.12. And to the Athenians he saith, that the times before the comming of Christ were times of ignorance, Act. 17.30. And that it may not be thought that this ignorance was affected, Paul saith further that God in times past suffered the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies, Act. 14. 16. and that the mysterie of the Gospell was kept secret from the beginning of the world, and is now in the last age reuealed to the whole world, Rom. 16.25. Some alleadge that the Iewes beeing the church of God, had traffique with all nations, and by this means spred some little knowledge of the Messias through the whole world:
