A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the gradual breakings out of Gospel…A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the graduall breakings out of Gospel…

For the Church by how much it was nearer to her beginnings, by so much it was the ruder, and therefore to be instructed in a more rude form. As the time of the Sun approacheth nearer, or if further off, so is the light that goeth before it, greater or lesser: and as the time of the arising of the Sun of righteousness is more remote or nigh at hand, so was the revelation that went before more dim or clear. It was meet and expedient that when the coming of the glorious King of peace and righteousness did draw nigh, the hearts of men should be raised up in desire and expectation of him: But the better they were acquainted with his person and office, the more distinctly they understood the time of his coming, the more lively taste they had of the benefits they should receive by him, and the greater tokens they saw of his glory approaching, the more their hearts would be enlarged to desire and expect him. Moreover it was the good pleasure of God to manifest the riches of his grace, not all at once, but by degrees, as he saw it most expedient for the glory of his great Name, and the good of his people in several ages and states of the Church, of which we shall have occasion to speak largely in the Chapters following. But here two things must be noted to prevent some doubts that may arise. First that clearness of Revelation is twofold. One on the part of the revealer, when the revealer dealeth so, that unless he have a rude hearer, or altogether malicious, it may be understood of the hearer what he meaneth. The other clear, even on the part of the hearer, when it is so great that the rudeness of the hearer cannot hinder, that he should not perceive what is spoken, but his malice only. In the first sense, the revelation of Christ in the Covenant of the promise was clear: but the testimony concerning the Kingdom of Christ could not be understood of a rude hearer before the accomplishment.

For the Church by how much it was neerer to her beginnings, by so much it was the ruder, and therfore to be instructed in a more rude forme. As the time of the Sunne approacheth neerer, or if further off, so is the light that goeth before it, greater or lesser: and as the time of the arising of the Sonne of righteousnesse is more remote or nigh at hand, so was the revelation that went before more dimme or cleare. It was meete and expedient that when the comming of the glorious King of peace and righteousnesse did draw nigh, the hearts of men should be raised up in desire and expectation of him: But the better they were acquainted with his person and office, the more distinctly they understood the time of his comming, the more lively tast they had of the benefits they should receive by him, and the greater tokens they saw of his glory approaching, the more their hearts would be enlarged to desire and expect him. Moreover it was the good pleasure of God to manifest the riches of his grace, not all at once, but by degrees, as he saw it most expedient for the glory of his great Name, and the good of his people in severall ages and states of the Church, of which we shall have occasion to speake largely in the Chapters following. But here two things must be noted to prevent some doubts that may arise. First that clearenesse of Revelation is twofold. One on the part of the revealer, when the revealer dealeth so, that unlesse he have a rude hearer, or altogether malitious, it may be understood of the hearer what he meaneth. The other cleare, even on the part of the hearer, when it is so great that the rudenesse of the hearer cannot hinder, that he should not perceive what is spoken, but his malice only. In the first sence, the revelation of Christ in the Covenant of the promise was cleare: but the testimony concerning the Kingdome of Christ could not be understood of a rude hearer before the accomplishment.