Six sermons preachedSixe sermons preached

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