IT seems the Prophet breaks off his speech to speak of Jesus Christ: but we must call to mind what we have said elsewhere: to wit,1 that it is usual with the Prophets in promising any thing, hard to be believed, forthwith to make mention of Christ: because all the promises are confirmed in him, which otherwise would be doubtful and uncertain. All the promises are in Christ, yea, and Amen, saith Paul 2. Cor. 2.20. For what acquaintance have we with God,2 unless this Mediator come between? we are so far separated from his Majesty, that we can neither be partakers of salvation, nor of any other benefit without Christ. Now when the Lord promised any deliverance to the Jews, his purpose therein was to lift up their minds far above the thing it self, that so they might conceive of better and greater things then their bodily liberty, and return into Judea.3 For these things were only as preparatives to that great redemption which they at last obtained, and which we now obtain by Christ Jesus. Yea, that grace of God that shined in the return of the people, had been imperfect, unless he had even then bin known to be the perpetual governor of his Church. We have also told you before that the deliverance out of Babylon, comprehended in it the absolute and full restoration thereof. It is no wonder then if the Prophets join this beginning of grace with Christs kingdom, for they use so to do almost in all their sermons. We must come to Christ then,4 without whom there is no (hearing) nor help in God: that is to say, we can lay no claim to the right of being in the number of Gods children, unless we be grafted into that body, of which he is the head. The very scope of the text therefore shows, that he is spoken of in this place, as of the head and first borne. Why so? Because the things here mentioned, cannot be attributed to any other then himself: but if this reason will not suffice, the Evangelists shall end the controversy for us. See Matth. 12.18, 19, 20, 21.
IT seemes the Prophet breakes off his speech to speake of Iesus Christ: but wee must call to mind what we haue said elsewhere: to wit,1 that it is vsuall with the Prophets in promising any thing, hard to be beleeued, forthwith to make mention of Christ: because all the promises are confirmed in him, which otherwise would be doubtfull and vncertaine. All the promises are in Christ, yea, and Amen, saith Paul 2. Cor. 2.20. For what acquaintance haue we with God,2 vnlesse this Mediator come betweene? we are so far separated from his Maiestie, that we can neither be partakers of saluation, nor of any other benefit without Christ. Now when the Lord promised any deliuerance to the Iewes, his purpose therein was to lift vp their mindes far aboue the thing it selfe, that so they might conceiue of better and greater things then their bodily libertie, and returne into Iudeah.3 For these things were onely as preparatiues to that great redemption which they at last obtained, and which we now obtaine by Christ Iesus. Yea, that grace of God that shined in the returne of the people, had been imperfect, vnlesse he had euen then bin knowne to be the perpetuall gouernor of his Church. We haue also told you before that the deliuerance out of Babylon, comprehended in it the absolute and full restauration thereof. It is no wonder then if the Prophets ioine this beginning of grace with Christs kingdome, for they vse so to doe almost in all their sermons. We must come to Christ then,4 without whom there is no (hearing) nor helpe in God: that is to say, we can lay no claime to the right of being in the number of Gods children, vnlesse we be grafted into that body, of which hee is the head. The very scope of the text therefore shewes, that hee is spoken of in this place, as of the head and first borne. Why so? Because the things heere mentioned, cannot be attributed to any other then himselfe: but if this reason will not suffice, the Euangelists shall end the controuersie for vs. See Matth. 12.18, 19, 20, 21.
- 1When the Prophets prophecie of any thing hard to be believed, they forthwith mention Christ.When the Prophets prophecie of any thing hard to be beleeued, they forthwith mentiō Christ.
- 2What acquaintance have we with God, unless Christ come between?What acquaintance haue we with God, vnlesse Christ come betweene?
- 3These promises were but preparatives to that great redemption accomplished by Christ.These promises were but preparatiues to that great redemption accōplished by Christ.
- 4No help in God without Christ.No helpe in God without Christ.
