D. God might well have taken greater & more redoubted titles, but it pleased him rather to use those that were more favourable and less fearful,1 which do set him forth to us more gracious and merciful, than sharp and rigorous: to the end that he would not make us to flee from him, fearing us with the greatness of his majesty, but rather that he would draw us unto him by the sweetness of his mercy.2 On the other side, he hath also taken the names and titles, according to the time, the places, and people, unto whom he showed him self, and according to the manners and fashions that he used: and because that he would declare him self more familiarly, he did take those titles that were most special, to make him self ⟨p. 431⟩the better known unto us, to the end we should not be overmuch discouraged, if he had left us in an over-large contemplation of him self, without giving any term or end to our spirit, to cause him self to be known to it by some benefit more particular, and more worthy of his loving kindness.3 Before that departure Jacob, because of the promise and alliance the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of out of Egypt, he was oftentimes called made with them: whereas before he was commonly called the maker of heaven and earth. And from the departure out of Egypt, he hath taken this title, even to the coming of Christ, of whom it was said by the Prophets, that he should no more be called, the God which hath brought us out of Egypt, but, the Lord which hath drawn us out from all parts and countries wherein we were dispersed,4 even from the time that he was called God, Father of Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing and heavenly things in Christ, and hath redeemed and delivered us from all evil: which thing was not done without good ⟨p. 432⟩and just cause. And also we must beside all this consider that which hath been already spoken, to wit, that that commemoration of the delivery out of Egypt, is taken for a remembrance of all the benefits of God toward his people, because that it was the beginning, whereby he did more excellently and more apparently declare what care he had for his people, & doth help them in a more authorised and authentic manner than he did before, and afterward he hath always continued his mercy upon them, and upon all those which by Christ have ben won & joined to this people.
D. God might well haue taken greater & more redoubted titles, but it pleased him rather to vse those that were more fauourable and lesse fearfull,1 which do set him foorth to vs more gracious and mercyfull, than sharpe and rigorous: to the ende that he would not make vs to flée from him, fearing vs with the greatnesse of his maiestie, but rather that he would drawe vs vnto him by the swéetenesse of his mercy.2 On the other side, he hath also taken the names and titles, according to the tyme, the places, and people, vnto whom he shewed him selfe, and according to the maners and fashiōs that he vsed: and bicause that he would declare him selfe more familiarly, he did take those titles that were moste speciall, to make him selfe ⟨p. 431⟩the better knowen vnto vs, to the ende we should not be ouermuch discouraged, if he had left vs in an ouer-large contemplation of him selfe, without giuing any terme or ende to our spirite, to cause him selfe to be knowne to it by some benefite more particular, and more worthy of his louing kindnesse.3 Before that departure Iacob, bicause of the promise and aliance the God of Abraham, of Isahac, and of out of Egypt, he was oftentimes called made with them: wheras before he was commonly called the maker of heauen and earth. And from the departure out of Egypte, he hath taken this title, euen to the comming of Chryst, of whom it was sayde by the Prophets, that he should no more be called, the God whiche hath brought vs out of Egypt, but, the Lorde which hath drawen vs out from al parts and countreys wherein we were dispersed,4 euen from the time that he was called God, Father of Iesus Christe, who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessing and heauenly things in Christ, and hath redéemed and deliuered vs from all euill: which thing was not done without good ⟨p. 432⟩and iust cause. And also we muste beside all this consider that which hath bene already spoken, to wit, that that cōmemoration of the deliuery out of Egypt, is taken for a rememberaunce of all the benefites of God towarde his people, bicause that it was the beginning, wherby he did more excellently and more apparantly declare what care he had for hys people, & dothe helpe them in a more authorised and authentike maner than he did before, and afterwarde he hath alwayes continued his mercy vpon them, and vpon all those which by Christ haue ben woon & ioined to this people.
- 1Mark. 13.
- 2Exod. 19. Deut. 32.
- 3Exod. 3.
- 4Ephe. 1.
