A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

From this state of the Promises three things have fallen out. (1) That in all Ages the Faith of True Believers hath been greatly and peculiarly exercised, which hath been to the singular advantage of the Church. For the exercise of Faith is that whereon the flourishing of all other Graces doth depend. And from hence hath there been a Treasure of fervent Prayers laid up from the beginning, which shall in their proper season have a fruitful return. In that Faith and Patience, in those Supplications and Expectations, wherein in every Age of the Church the Faithful have abounded with respect unto the difficulties that have lain in the way of the Promise, hath God been exceedingly glorified; as also they were the means of drawing forth new encouragements and assurances as the comfort of the Church did require. (2) Hence it was that in most Ages of the Church there have been mockers and scoffers, saying, Where is the Promise of his coming, for since the Fathers fill asleep all things continue as from the beginning of the Creation, 2 Pet. 3. 4. The Fathers were they who received the Promises; especially that of the coming of Christ. These they preached and declared, testifying that they would be accomplished, and that great alterations should be wrought in the world thereby. The ⟨p. 143⟩sum of what they so declared was, That the Elect of God should be delivered, and that Judgement should be executed on ungodly men, by the coming of the Lord, Jude 14, 15. But what now is become of these Fathers, with all their great Promises and Preachments upon them? Things go on in the same course as they did in the beginning, and are like to do so to the end of the world; what, we pray, is this Promise of his coming you have so talked of? Such Scoffers have most Ages abounded withal; and I think none more than that wherein our Lot is fallen. Observing that all things are in a most unlikely posture to an eye of carnal reason for the Accomplishment of the great Promises of God that are upon Record in the Word, they scoff at all who dare to own an expectation thereof. (3) Some through haste and precipitation have fallen into manifold mistakes of the Promise on the same account. Some have feigned to themselves other things than God ever promised;

From this state of the Promises three things have fallen out. (1) That in all Ages the Faith of True Believers hath been greatly and peculiarly exercised, which hath been to the singular advantage of the Church. For the exercise of Faith is that whereon the flourishing of all other Graces doth depend. And from hence hath there been a Treasure of fervent Prayers laid up from the beginning, which shall in their proper season have a fruitful return. In that Faith and Patience, in those Supplications and Expectations, wherein in every Age of the Church the Faithful have abounded with respect unto the difficulties that have lain in the way of the Promise, hath God been exceedingly glorified; as also they were the means of drawing forth new encouragements and assurances as the comfort of the Church did require. (2) Hence it was that in most Ages of the Church there have been mockers and scoffers, saying, Where is the Promise of his coming, for since the Fathers fill asleep all things continue as from the beginning of the Creation,