CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

And 1. The time of Christs coming into the world was wholly determined by Gods wisdom and his good pleasure; Why Christ did not come sooner or later, who is able to give any other reason but the good pleasure of God? Hence it's called Rom. 5.6. a due time, and Gal. 4 6. the fullness of time. There was no such convenient time as that appointed by God, and it's observed as one reason, that then Christ came rather then at another time, because the devils power was so great over men; We never read in any age of so many ⟨p. 20⟩possessed by devils as was while Christ abode upon the earth; If therefore the wise man observe a time appointed by God for every work and purpose under heaven, then must this much more be true concerning that great and masterpiece of all Gods works: The sending his Son into the world, our Saviour judged it a blessed thing to live in those days, and see those times wherein Christ lived, doing the work of a Redeemer, Luk. 10.23, 24. It was Austins desire to have seen Christ in the Flesh, but though it was so happy a thing to have seen these things, therefore Simeon desired to depart as having happiness enough when he had seen Christ the salvation of Israel, yet unless also they did behold him with the eye of faith at the same time, they are so far from being the more happy, that they were the more miserable, as appeareth by what is said to Chorazin and Bethsaida.

And 1. The time of Christs coming into the world was wholly determined by Gods wisedom and his good pleasure; Why Christ did not come sooner or later, who is able to give any other reason but the good pleasure of God? Hence it's called Rom. 5.6. a due time, and Gal. 4 6. the fulnesse of time. There was no such convenient time as that appointed by God, and it's observed as one reason, that then Christ came rather then at another time, because the devils power was so great over men; We never reade in any age of so many ⟨p. 20⟩