(1.) What greater Difficulties can possibly lye in the way of the Accomplishment of any of the Promises of God, which yet are upon the Sacred Record unaccomplished, as suppose, the Calling of the Jews, the Destruction of Antichrist, the Peace of the Church, and Prosperity of it in the plentiful Effusion of the Spirit; but that as great, and greater lay in the way of the fulfilling of this Promise? All the National Provocations, Sins, and Idolatries, that fell out in the Posterity of Abraham; all the Calamities and Desolating Judgments that over-took them, the cutting down of the House of David, until there was only a Root of it left in the Earth; the Unbelief of the whole Body of the People, the Enmity of the world, Acted by all the Crafts and Powers of Satan, were as Mountains in the way of the Accomplishment of this Promise. But yet they all of them became at length a Plain before the Spirit of God. And if we should compare the Difficulties and Oppositions that at this Day lye against the fulfilling of some Divine Promises, with those that rose up against this one of perfecting the Church-state in Christ, it would, it may be, abate our forwardness in condemning the Jews of Incredulity, unless we found our selves more established in the Faith of what is to come, than for the most part we are. (2.) Long and unexpected Procrastinations are Trials of Faith also. Now this Promise was given at the Beginning of the world, nor was there any time allotted for its Accomplishment. Hence it is generally supposed from the words there used in the imposition of the Name of Cain on her First-Born, that Eve apprehended that the Promise was actually fulfilled. The like Expectations had the ⟨p. 206⟩Saints of all Ages: and were continually looking out after the rising of this bright morning Star. Many a time did God renew the Promise, and sometimes confirmed it with his Oath, as unto Abraham and David; and yet still were their expectations frustrate so far as confined unto their own Generations. And though God accepted them in their cries and prayers and hopes, and longing desires, yet near four thousand years were expired before the Promise received its Accomplishment. And if we do believe that the Faith and Grace of the New Testament do exceed what was administered under the Old;
(1.) VVhat greater Difficulties can possibly lye in the way of the Accomplishment of any of the Promises of God, which yet are upon the Sacred Record unaccomplished, as suppose, the Calling of the Jews, the Distruction of Antichrist, the Peace of the Church, and Prosperity of it in the plentiful Effusion of the Spirit; but that as great, and greater lay in the way of the fulfilling of this Promise? All the National Provocations, Sins, and Idolatries, that fell out in the Posterity of Abraham; all the Calamities and Desolating Judgments that over-took them, the cutting down of the House of David, untill there was only a Root of it left in the Earth; the Unbelief of the whole Body of the People, the Enmity of the world, Acted by all the Crafts and Powers of Satan, were as Mountains in the way of the Accomplishment of this Promise. But yet they all of them became at length a Plain before the Spirit of God. And if we should compare the Difficulties and Oppositions that at this Day lye against the fulfilling of some Divine Promises, with those that rose up against this one of perfecting the Church-state in Christ, it would, it may be, abate our forwardness in condemning the Jews of Incredulity, unless we found our selves more established in the Faith of what is to come, than for the most part we are. (2.) Long and unexpected Procrastinations are Trials of Faith also. Now this Promise was given at the Beginning of the world, nor was there any time allotted for its Accomplishment. Hence it is generally supposed from the words there used in the imposition of the Name of Cain on her First-Born, that Eve apprehended that the Promise was actually fulfilled. The like Expectations had the ⟨p. 206⟩Saints of all Ages: and were continually looking out after the rising of this bright morning Star. Many a time did God renew the Promise, and sometimes confirmed it with his Oath, as unto Abraham and David; and yet still were their expectations frustrate so far as confined unto their own Generations. And though God accepted them in their cryes and prayers and hopes, and longing desires, yet near four thousand years were expired before the Promise received its Accomplishment. And if we do believe that the Faith and Grace of the New Testament do exceed what was administred under the Old;
