True gain, opened in a sermon preached at Pauls, Nov. 9. 1656

And because they might be offended at this doctrine, as contrary to those opinions which they had entertained of their Messiah (whom they believed him to be) who was in their apprehensions to restore the Kingdom unto Israel Acts 1.6. and to be King of all the world (whence there arose a general belief,¹ not only amongst Jews, but others, as Tacitus observeth, that out of those Countries should arise a Prince who should rule over all the world, which the Romans thought to have been verified in Vespasian, who was sometimes Praefectus Judeae, (and afterwards Emperor of Rome) therefore our Saviour further showeth them,² that in these reasonings they had indeed too low apprehensions, of him and his Kingdom, for they ought to look upon their Messiah, as a Prince who would deliver them from the greatest of all evils, and advance them to a condition, beyond which a more blessed, could not to be ⟨p. 3⟩found. But now admit that he were to be King of all the world, and would advance them proportionably to as great dignity as such a Kingdom could dispense; yet, if after all this, they die, and their souls perish and go to hell, what good would such a Kingdom, such a Messiah do them? Is there any thing worth the soul of a man which he would not expend, and part with to save that? Therefore he would not have them to think that a worldly domination was such as he came to purchase for them; but a glorious and eternal kingdom, which at last he would come with his Angels to take them into, the first fruits and glimmerings whereof are more worth then all the crowns and diadems of the world, whereof he promiseth quickly after to give them a taste, which accordingly he did the eighth day following in his Transfiguration on the mount.

And because they might be offended at this doctrine, as contrary to those opionions which they had entertain'd of their Messiah (whom they beleeved him to be) who was in their aprehensions to restore the Kingdome unto Israel Acts 1.6. and to be King of all the world (whence there arose a general belief,¹