It cannot be denied but that it is a usual thing in Scripture to set down things in way of Prolepsis and Anticipation, as they call it, i. to set down things aforehand in the history, which many years happened and came after in order of time, but there is no such Prolepsis or Anticipation here (as our adversaries dream) so that when God is said to sanctify the Sabbath in Genesis, the meaning should be, that this he did 2500. years after the creation, for this assertion wants all proof, and hath no other prop to bear it up, then some instances of Anticipations in other places of Scripture: the Jesuits from some unwary expressions of some of the Fathers, first started this answer, whom Gomarus followed, and after him sundry others prelatically minded: but Rivet, Ames, and others have scattered this mist long since, and therefore I shall leave but this one consideration against it, viz. That throughout all the Scripture we shall not find one Prolepsis, but that the history is evident and apparently false, unless we do acknowledge ⟨p. 155⟩a Prolepsis and Anticipation to be in the story: so that necessity of establishing the truth of the history, only can establish the truth of a Prolepsis in the history: I forbear to give a taste thereof by any particular instances, but leave it to trial; bu• in this place alleged of Gen. 2.2. can any say that the story is apparently false, unless we imagine a Prolepsis? and the Sabbath to be first sanctified in mount Sinai, Exod. 20. for might not God sanctify it in Paradise, as soon as Gods rest, the cause and foundation of sanctifying of it, was existing? will any say with Gomarus that the Sabbath was first sanctified,1 Exod. 16. because God blessed them so much the day before with Manna, whenas in the Commandment it self, Exod. 20. the reason of it is plainly set down to be Gods resting on the sieveth day, and sanctifying of it long before?
It cannot be denied but that it is a usuall thing in Scripture to set down things in way of Prolepsis and Anticipation, as they call it, i. to set down things aforehand in the history, which many years hapned and came after in order of time, but there is no such Prolepsis or Anticipation here (as our adversaries dream) so that when God is said to sanctifie the Sabbath in Genesis, the meaning should be, that this he did 2500. years after the creation, for this assertion wants all proof, and hath no other prop to bear it up, then some instances of Anticipations in other places of Scripture: the Jesuites from some unwary expressions of some of the Fathers, first started this answer, whom Gomarus followed, and after him sundry others prelatically minded: but Rivet, Ames, and others have scattered this mist long since, and therefore I shall leave but this one consideration against it, viz. That throughout all the Scripture we shall not finde one Prolepsis, but that the history is evident and apparently false, unlesse we do acknowledge ⟨p. 155⟩a Prolepsis and Anticipation to be in the story: so that necessity of establishing the truth of the history, only can establish the truth of a Prolepsis in the history: I forbear to give a taste thereof by any particular instances, but leave it to triall; bu• in this place alledged of Gen. 2.2. can any say that the story is apparently false, unlesse we imagine a Prolepsis? and the Sabbath to be first sanctified in mount Sinai, Exod. 20. for might not God sanctifie it in Paradise, as soon as Gods rest, the cause and foundation of sanctifying of it, was existing? will any say with Gomarus that the Sabbath was first sanctified,1 Exod. 16. because God blessed them so much the day before with Manna, whenas in the Commandment it selfe, Exod. 20. the reason of it is plainly set down to be Gods resting on the seveth day, and sanctifying of it long before?
- 1Gomar. Inv. Se••. & Orig. Sab. 126.
