Then is a new, most absolute reformation begun, by Ezra, Nehemiah, &c. The Temple is rebuilt; the men of the great Synagogue instituted. A most diligent consideration of the exemplars of the Holy Scriptures is set upon. The word of God is sedulously Preached, Neh. 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. The wicked are excommunicated, Ezr. 4.2, 3. From the mixed People, there's a perfect separation, Ezr. chapters 9.10. Neh. ch. ult. So that the Church seems to be again comely, through the comeliness that God put upon her: But long abides not firm with him, pollutes his Worship, with the inventions, traditions of men; departs from the Doctrine he had delivered to her; particularly, the Doctrine of the free Justification of a sinner before God; in opposition to which, they introduce justification by the works of the Law. In a word, they become as filthy, and abominable every way, as a people can well be▪ Nevertheless, God bears with them, their ⟨image 14⟩Church-state is not dissolved, they have their Temple, Ordinances, and even the most holy amongst them attend there, as Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon. The Lord sends a Prophet to them, John (Elijah in spirit) to reform, bring them back from their Apostasy. At last he sends his Son to reclaim them; Who▪ would have gathered them as a Chicken under his wings, but they would not. Him they refused, thrust away, by wicked hands, took, condemned, crucified, slew him; and now the measure of their Fathers iniquity being filled up, and the time appointed by Jehovah, to take down that Tabernacle, being fully come, and to set up another in the room of it by the Messiah, CHRIST, he puts a full period to it, apotomizes, cuts them off, perfectly unchurches them, and (at last) lays waste, destroys their City, Temple, with an utter Destruction. Now was the total ruin of that Apostatic Judaic Church. And to purpose, in capital letters, is Lo-ammi, and Loruhamah written upon them, viz. Ye are not my People, I have no mercy for you; and not so plainly at any time as now. 'Twere easy to make many remarks to the advantage of the present truth we are risen up in the defence of, from the foregoing discourse. The prudent Reader, can do it himself. To whom we leave it. The whole Church-polity of the Jews, being virtually dissolved at the death of Christ, a New-Church-state is introduced by him:
Then is a new, most absolute reformation begun, by Ezra, Nehemiah, &c. The Temple is rebuilt; the men of the great Synagogue instituted. A most diligent consideration of the exemplars of the Holy Scriptures is set upon. The word of God is sedulously Preached, Neh. 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. The wicked are excomunicated, Ezr. 4.2, 3. From the mixt People, there's a perfect separation, Ezr. chapters 9.10. Neh. ch. ult. So that the Church seems to be again comely, through the comeliness that God put upon her: But long abides not firm with him, pollutes his Worship, with the inventions, traditions of men; departs from the Doctrine he had delivered to her; particularly, the Doctrine of the free Justification of a sinner before God; in opposition to which, they introduce justification by the works of the Law. In a word, they become as filthy, and abominable every way, as a people can well be▪ Nevertheless, God bears with them, their ⟨image 14⟩Church-state is not dissolved, they have their Temple, Ordinances, and even the most holy amongst them attend there, as Zachary, Elizabeth, Simeon. The Lord sends a Prophet to them, John (Elias in spirit) to reform, bring them back from their Apostasie. At last he sends his Son to reclaim them; Who▪ would have gathered them as a Chicken under his wings, but they would not. Him they refused, thrust away, by wicked hands, took, condemned, crucified, slew him; and now the measure of their Fathers iniquity being filled up, and the time appointed by Jehovah, to take down that Tabernacle, being fully come, and to set up another in the room of it by the Messiah, CHRIST, he puts a full period to it, apotomizes, cuts them off, perfectly unchurches them, and (at last) layes waste, destroyes their City, Temple, with an utter Destruction. Now was the total ruin of that Apostatick Judaick Church. And to purpose, in capital letters, is Lo-ammi, and Loruhamah written upon them, viz. Ye are not my People, I have no mercy for you; and not so plainly at any time as now. 'Twere easie to make many remarks to the advantage of the present truth we are risen up in the defence of, from the foregoing discourse. The prudent Reader, can do it himself. To whom we leave it. The whole Church-politie of the Jews, being vertually dissolved at the death of Christ, a New-Church-state is introduced by him:
