TO confirm and illustrate the grace and salvation, that hath hitherto been spoken of, the Apostle in these verses brings the testimony of the Prophets; which is set forth, 1. By the principal object thereof, which is nothing else but this selfsame salvation and grace, wherein the faithful Christians now stand, in these words: of which salvation that should come unto us they prophesied. 2. By the manner how they were employed about this object; They did it with great care and diligent heed, in these words, they enquired and searched diligently. 3. By the singular description of that object whereabout they were employed, vers. 11. and the manner how. The object, to wit, salvation and grace before spoken of, is described by the efficient cause thereof, namely, the mediation of Christ, consisting of two parts, his humiliation and exaltation at the end of the verse. And the manner how the Prophets are said to have been employed about this cause of our salvation, consisted in two things: 1. That they did not only desire to know the very thing it self, but also the very moment of time wherein it should be revealed, in these words, what, or what manner of time. 2. That it did not depend ⟨p. 16⟩upon various and uncertain conjectures, but they did religiously ask counsel of the Spirit of Christ, that was present with them, as of one that did foreknow and could foretell of all things that should happen, in these words, the Spirit of Christ which was in them, that testified beforehand, did signify.
TO confirme and illustrate the grace and salvation, that hath hitherto beene spoken of, the Apostle in these verses brings the testimony of the Prophets; which is set forth, 1. By the principall object thereof, which is nothing else but this selfesame salvation and grace, wherein the faithfull Christians now stand, in these words: of which salvation that should come unto us they prophesied. 2. By the manner how they were imployed about this object; They did it with great care and diligent heed, in these words, they enquired and searched diligently. 3. By the singular description of that object whereabout they were imployed, vers. 11. and the manner how. The object, to wit, salvation and grace before spoken of, is described by the efficient cause thereof, namely, the mediation of Christ, consisting of two parts, his humiliation and exaltation at the end of the verse. And the manner how the Prophets are said to have been imployed about this cause of our salvation, consisted in two things: 1. That they did not only desire to know the very thing it selfe, but also the very moment of time wherein it should be reveal'd, in these words, what, or what manner of time. 2. That it did not depend ⟨p. 16⟩upon various and uncertaine conjectures, but they did religiously ask counsell of the Spirit of Christ, that was present with them, as of one that did foreknow and could foretell of all things that should happen, in these words, the Spirit of Christ which was in them, that testified beforehand, did signifie.
