Besides this Promise hung longest on the File before its Accomplishment. There was not less than four thousand years between its giving and its performance. And many things happened during that season, whereby both its self, and Faith on God thereon, were greatly signalized. For (1) More and greater Objections against the Truth of it, more Temptations against it were raised and managed, than against all other Promises whatever. This long suspension of its fulfilling gave such Advantages to Satan in his opposition unto it, that he prevailed against every expectation, but that of Faith tried and more precious than Gold. And the Saints themselves had a great exercise in the disappointments which many of them fell into, as to the time of its accomplishment. It is not unlikely that most of them looked for it in their own days; great therefore was the Trials of all sorts about it. (2) It was All that the true Church of God had to live upon during that long season, the sole foundation of its Faith, Obedience and Consolation. It is true, in progress of time God added other Promises, Precepts and Institutions, for the direction and instruction of the Church; but they were all built on this one Promise, and all resolved into it. This gave life and signification unto them, therewith were they to stand and fall. (3) This was that the world broke off from God upon, and by rejecting it, fell into all confusion and misery. The Promise being given unto Adam was indefinitely given to mankind. And it was suited unto the Reparation of their lost condition, yea their investiture into a better state. And this increased the wrath and malice of Satan. He saw that if they applied themselves to the Faith hereof, his former success against them was utterly frustrated. Wherefore he again attempts them to turn them off from the relief provided against the misery he had cast them into. And as to the generality of mankind he prevailed in his attempt. By a Relinquishment of this Promise, not believing of it, not retaining it in their minds, they fell into a second Apostasy from God. And what disorder, darkness, confusion, yea what an Hell of horror and misery they cast themselves into, is known. And this consideration greatly signalizes Faith in God with respect to this Promise. (4) The whole Church of the Jews, rejecting the Accomplishment of this Promise, utterly perished thereon.
Besides this Promise hung longest on the File before its Accomplishment. There was not less than four thousand years between its giving and its performance. And many things happened during that season, whereby both its self, and Faith on God thereon, were greatly signalized. For (1) More and greater Objections against the Truth of it, more Temptations against it were raised and managed, than against all other Promises whatever. This long suspension of its fulfilling gave such Advantages to Sathan in his opposition unto it, that he prevailed against every expectation, but that of Faith tried and more precious than Gold. And the Saints themselves had a great exercise in the disappointments which many of them fell into, as to the time of its accomplishment. It is not unlikely that most of them looked for it in their own days; great therefore was the Trials of all sorts about it. (2) It was All that the true Church of God had to live upon during that long season, the sole foundation of its Faith, Obedience and Consolation. It is true, in progress of time God added other Promises, Precepts and Institutions, for the direction and instruction of the Church; but they were all built on this one Promise, and all resolved into it. This gave life and signification unto them, therewith were they to stand and fall. (3) This was that the world broke off from God upon, and by rejecting it, fell into all confusion and misery. The Promise being given unto Adam was indefinitely given to mankind. And it was suited unto the Reparation of their lost condition, yea their investiture into a better state. And this increased the wrath and malice of Sathan. He saw that if they applied themselves to the Faith hereof, his former success against them was utterly frustrated. Wherefore he again attempts them to turn them off from the relief provided against the misery he had cast them into. And as to the generality of mankind he prevailed in his attempt. By a Relinquishment of this Promise, not believing of it, not retaining it in their minds, they fell into a second Apostasie from God. And what disorder, darkness, confusion, yea what an Hell of horror and misery they cast themselves into, is known. And this consideration greatly signalizes Faith in God with respect to this Promise. (4) The whole Church of the Jews, rejecting the Accomplishment of this Promise, utterly perished thereon.
