He was prepared long ago, as it doth most plainly appear, for the Virgin which bare him, the place of his birth, the poor estate wherein it was, his miracles, his Apostles, his torments, his cross, his death, his resurrection, & his ascension into heaven, all these were foreshowed and foretold long before they came to pass. Therefore some said, who is this that is so often spoken of by the Prophets? who is this that can do many miracles that the Scribes and Pharisees cannot do? 1that can raise the dead, that can cease the winds, calm the waters, at whose suffering the earth quaked, the sun hid his face, darkness came over all, and being dead, ⟨image 26⟩rose again by his own power, and ascended into heaven in the sight of a great multitude. How can it be then but it must be known before the face of all people, which was so manifest by dreams, by visions, by oracles, by power, by authority, & every thing had a tong to speak for God. Every thing was prepared for him before he came to be revealed, he came not in the beginning, nor in the ending, he came not in the ending, that we which come after him might long for his second coming. He came not in the beginning, because that such a Prince as he should have many banners and triumphs before him. He came not in the beginning, because the eyes of faith should not be dazzled in him, and lest they should forget him, and his coming so long since which lived in the latter ages, even as you forget that which I have said as soon as you are gone hence. He came not in the beginning, because if he had come before man had sinned, man would have acknowledged no need of a physician, but when man had sinned, that he might feel the smart of sin, therefore he came not then, for when they were cast out of Paradise, they ran unto Christ as the Israelites did to the serpent. He came not in the beginning but in the perfect age of ⟨p. 45⟩the world, to show that he brought with him perfection, perfect joy, perfect peace, perfect wisdom, perfect righteousness, perfect justice, perfect truth, signifying thereby that notwithstanding he came in the perfect age thereof, yet he found all things unperfect.
He was prepared long ago, as it doth most plainly appeare, for the Virgine which bare him, the place of his birth, the poore estate wherein it was, his miracles, his Apostles, his torments, his crosse, his death, his resurrection, & his ascensiō into heauē, al these were foreshewed and foretold long before they came to passe. Therefore some sayd, who is this that is so often spoken of by the Prophets? who is this that can do many miracles that the Scribes and Pharisies cannot do? 1that can raise the dead, that can ceasse the windes, calme the waters, at whose suffering the earth quaked, the sunne hid his face, darkenesse came ouer all, and being dead, ⟨image 26⟩rose againe by his owne power, and ascended into heauen in the sight of a great multitude. How can it be then but it must be known before the face of all people, which was so manifest by dreames, by visions, by oracles, by power, by authoritie, & euery thing had a tong to speake for God. Euerie thing was prepared for him before he came to be reuealed, he came not in the beginning, nor in the ending, he came not in the ending, that we which come after him might long for his second comming. He came not in the beginning, because that such a Prince as he should haue manie banners and triumphs before him. He came not in the beginning, because the eyes of faith should not be daseled in him, and lest they should forget him, and his comming so long since which liued in the latter ages, euen as you forget that which I haue sayd as soone as you are gone hence. He came not in the beginning, because if he had come before man had sinned, man would haue acknowledged no need of a phisitian, but when man had sinned, that he might feele the smart of sinne, therfore he came not then, for when they were cast out of Paradice, they ran vnto Christ as the Israelites did to the serpent. He came not in the beginning but in the perfect age of ⟨p. 45⟩the world, to shewe that he brought with him perfection, perfect ioy, perfect peace, perfect wisedome, perfect righteousnesse, perfect iustice, perfect truth, signifying therby that notwithstanding he came in the perfect age thereof, yet he found all things vnperfect.
- 1Luke. 4. 7. John 11. Luke 8. Mat. 27. John 10. Mar. 6.Luke. 4. 7. Iohn 11. Luke 8. Mat. 27. Iohn 10. Mar. 6.
