The words of the Text will afford us full ground for the Handling and Discovering of this Truth, To prepare a People fitted for the Lord: Which words make known the main Task that was imposed upon John the Baptist, and that great Work of his Ministry, (being the Forerunner of our Saviour Christ) wherewith he was betrusted, and for which he was1 every way fitted with Gifts and Graces proportionable; Therefore its said in the beginning of the Verse, He shall come in the Spirit and Power of Elijah. i. e. He shall have that large measure of gracious and Ministerial Gifts, that special presence and assistance of the Spirit of the Lord accompanying of him, as sometimes Elijah had; that so in the corrupt and declining state of the Church, which was now exceeding great, he might set things in a better frame, build up the Breaches made, taking off those Dissentions, Errors, and Divisions, which had spread over the Body, and eaten into the Bowels of the Church of the Jews like a Gangrene or Cancer. And therefore as it was foretold of him, so it was performed by him Matth. 17. 11. He did restore all things: Namely ⟨p. 143⟩such was the lively and over-ruling power of his Ministry, that he wrought the Hearts of the Children, otherwise […] and rebellious to the wisdom of the just men, that laying aside all carnal wisdom of the […] which was enmity against God, and caused […] and strifes among men, they came to judge […] of things that were excellent, to set the greatest Price and account upon those things which were of greatest worth, the Truth of God, his Will and Ways, warily to observe the seasons […] these are Dispensed, and Revealed; And so with readiness to attend thereupon, and to entertain those opportunities and means of Grace and Good, whence follows a mutual agreement between the […] […], and these their converted Posterity: They long before expected a Saviour, […] now fitted […] Receive the Lord Christ their Saviour, now […].
The words of the Text will afford us full ground for the Handling and Discovering of this Truth, To prepare a People fitted for the Lord: Which words make known the main Task that was imposed upon John the Baptist, and that great Work of his Ministery, (being the Forerunner of our Savior Christ) wherewith he was betrusted, and for which he was1 every way fitted with Gifts and Graces proportionable; Therefore its said in the beginning of the Verse, He shall come in the Spirit and Power of Elias. i. e. He shall have that large measure of gracious and Ministerial Gifts, that special presence and assistance of the Spirit of the Lord accompanying of him, as somtimes Elias had; that so in the corrupt and declining state of the Church, which was now exceeding great, he might set things in a better frame, build up the Breaches made, taking off those Dissentions, Errors, and Divisions, which had spread over the Body, and eaten into the Bowels of the Church of the Jews like a Gangrene or Cancer. And therefore as it was foretold of him, so it was performed by him Matth. 17. 11. He did restore all things: Namely ⟨p. 143⟩such was the lively and over-ruling power of his Ministery, that he wrought the Hearts of the Children, otherwise 〈…〉 and rebellious to the wisdom of the just men, that laying aside all carnal wisdom of the 〈…〉 which was enmity against God, and caused 〈…〉 and strifes among men, they came to judge 〈…〉 of things that were excellent, to set the greatest Price and account upon those things which were of greatest worth, the Truth of God, his Will and Wayes, warily to observe the seasons 〈…〉 these are Dispensed, and Revealed; And so with readiness to attend thereupon, and to entertain those opportunities and means of Grace and Good, whence follows a mutual agreement between the 〈…〉 〈…〉, and these their converted Posterity: They long before expected a Savior, 〈…〉 now fitted 〈…〉 Receive the Lord Christ their Saviour, now 〈…〉.
- 1Johannis Ministerium, nec plane Propheticum, nec plane Apostolicum, sed intermedium quoddam Ministerium fuit. Calvin. Instit.
