Touching these Jews, two points are to be considered: I. What they are in their own opinion: II. What they are in the judgement of Christ. For the first, because they were Jews, by birth descending from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Gods ancient servants, therefore they thought themselves the only true worshippers of God, as their forefathers were. And this is the manner of all wicked men; to bless (a)themselves in their wickedness: and whatsoever they do, yet still to say and think, God will bless them. Take an heretick•, who overthrows the truth of God by his errors, and he will say he teacheth that which in conscience he is persuaded is the truth, for which he will shed his blood, and whereto he would have all men yield. So take a professed witch, man or woman, they will say, all that they do is by the power of the good Angels, and by some special gifts given unto them above others; but they will not be brought to acknowledge, that they do any thing by virtue of their league with the devil, from whence indeed cometh all they can do. And so the carnal protestants of our time, they look for Gods blessings in this life, and for eternal life by Christ after death, and yet walk in the broad way to destruction, in sin & profaneness. Thus they bless themselves in their evil ways, and make Christ a pack-horse for their iniquities. But in the example of these Jews we must learn to lay down all presumptuous thoughts of our own goodness and vain persuasions of gods favour, without his true grace, and rather look unto our sins, and be humbled for them, that God may lift us up. II. point. Christs judgement of them is this: They are not Jews, but a Synagogue of Satan; that is, a company of men that seemed to serve God after the Jewish manner, but did indeed worship the devil. Herein are many things to be considered, I. How this could be true of any company of the Jews, who were the chosen people of God? Answ. Election is twofold: special, and general. Gods special election is, when in his eternal couns•ll he chooseth a man to life eternal; and •his befell not all the Jews, but some only:
Touching these Iewes, two points are to bee considered: I. What they are in their owne opinion: II. What they are in the iudgement of Christ. For the first, because they were Iewes, by birth descending from Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, Gods auntient seruants, therefore they thought themselues the onely true worshippers of God, as their forefathers were. And this is the manner of all wicked men; to blesse (a)themselues in their wickednesse: and whatsoeuer they doe, yet still to say and thinke, God will blesse them. Take an heretick•, who ouerthrowes the truth of God by his errors, and he will say he teacheth that which in conscience hee is persuaded is the truth, for which hee will shed his bloud, and whereto he would haue all men yeeld. So take a professed witch, man or woman, they will say, all that they doe is by the power of the good Angels, and by some speciall gifts giuen vnto them aboue others; but they will not bee brought to acknowledge, that they doe any thing by vertue of their league with the deuil, from whence indeed commeth all they can doe. And so the carnall protestants of our time, they looke for Gods blessings in this life, and for eternall life by Christ after death, and yet walke in the broad way to destruction, in sinne & profanesse. Thus they blesse themselues in their euill wayes, and make Christ a pack-horse for their iniquities. But in the example of these Iewes we must learn to lay downe all presumptuous thoughts of our owne goodnesse and vaine persuasions of gods fauor, without his true grace, and rather looke vnto our sinnes, and bee humbled for them, that God may lift vs vp. II. point. Christs iudgement of them is this: They are not Iewes, but a Synagogue of Sathan; that is, a companie of men that seemed to serue God after the Iewish maner, but did indeed worship the deuill. Herein are many things to be considered, I. How this could be true of any companie of the Iewes, who were the chosen people of God? Answ. Election is twofold: speciall, and generall. Gods speci•ll election is, when in his eternall couns•ll he chuseth a man to life eternall; and •his befell not all the Iewes, but some onely:
- (a)Psal. 10.•.
