More reasons for the Christian religion and no reason against it, or, A second…

Thirdly, But if it be the Time of his coming that doth offend you, I have answered that, and further add. First, What is there in foolish man that should encourage him to dream, that he better knoweth the fittest season for Gods works, than God himself. Secondly, Man was not all the while before, without the Benefits of this designed and undertaken Redemption: He was still under a Covenant of Grace. Thirdly, Consider well that God did not intend to give mankind that had so heinously sinned (by preferring the Devils word before his,) a present and a perfect pardon, but only to give a new Law and Covenant which should be a conditional gift of pardon, to be obtained in full perfection, in time, and by degrees, we had made our selves voluntarily the Slaves of Satan: And God would not deliver us all at once. We had forfeited the heavenly assistance of the holy ⟨p. 104⟩spirit, and God would not give it us all at once. Mans time of healing the wounds of his own sin is the time of this life: and the perfect cure will not be done till our entrance into the perfect world. And as it is with Individual men, so it is with the world of all mankind. Grace mitateth nature and doth all by degrees, darker Revelations were meeter for the Infancy of the world, and clearer at noon day, and riper knowledge fitter for its maturity. And when Satan by Divine permission had played his part, and seemed to triumph over the sinful world, it was time for Christ to come, by Power, Wisdom and Goodness meanly clothed to cast down his Temples and Altars, to subdue his Kingdoms, and to triumph over the Triumpher.

Thirdly, But if it be the Time of his coming that doth offend you, I have answered that, and further adde. First, What is there in foolish man that should encourage him to dream, that he better knoweth the fittest season for Gods works, than God himself. Secondly, Man was not all the while before, without the Benefits of this dedesigned and undertaken Redemption: He was still under a Covenant of Grace. Thirdly, Consider well that God did not intend to give mankind that had so heinously sinned (by preferferring the Devils word before his,) a present and a perfect pardon, but onely to give a new Law and Covenant which should be a conditional gift of pardon, to be obteined in full perfection, in time, and by degrees, we had made our selves voluntarily the Slaves of Satan: And God would not deliver us all at once. We had forfeited the heavenly assistance of the holy ⟨p. 104⟩