An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Thus also Christ will take the kingdom, that is, the kingdom of the Gospel, the rain of holy doctrine, from an unthankful and unfruitful people, and give it to a Nation that will bring forth the fruits of it, as he threatened the Jews (Matth. 21.43.) and afterwards fulfilled that threatening upon them (Acts 13.46.) Lo we turn to the Gentiles. Ye having refused and abused the offers of Christ made to you by us; we will now go with our rain to the wast and desolate ground, or to the wilderness; that is, to the Gentiles, and they will receive it, and be thankful. The scarcity of Gospel mercy which God brings upon any place,¹ is a punishment of their barrenness under Gospel means. And have not we cause to fear at this day, that forasmuch as we are so like that earth spoken of (Heb. 6.8.) which drinketh in the rain, yet (instead of fruit meet for his use by whom it is dressed) beareth briars and thorns; have not we cause I say to fear) that we are nigh to some curse and burning, or that the Lord will carry away the rain to Heathens, who as yet are a desolate and waste ground.

Thus also Christ will take the kingdome, that is, the kingdome of the Gospel, the rain of holy doctrine, from an unthankful and unfruitful people, and give it to a Nation that will bring forth the fruits of it, as he threatned the Jewes (Matth. 21.43.) and afterwards fulfilled that threatning upon them (Acts 13.46.) Lo we turn to the Gentiles. Ye having refused and abused the offers of Christ made to you by us; we will now go with our rain to the wast and desolate ground, or to the wilderness; that is, to the Gentiles, and they will receive it, and be thankful. The scarcity of Gospel mercy which God brings upon any place,¹ is a punishment of their barrenness under Gospel means. And have not we cause to fear at this day, that forasmuch as we are so like that earth spoken of (