The particle [until] (any other acception not pertinent to the matter under consideration omitted) either noteth a certain time, before which such a thing is to be, which was not before: or after which such a thing is not to be, which was before. The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a Law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. Gen: 49.10. But here it denoteth not any certain time in this life, after which we are not to attend upon the word written. For then, that certain time notified by the day dawning and the day-star appearing: must either relate to Christs coming in the flesh, or to the beginning of the Gospel-dispensation, or to the effectual revelation of Christ in vocation, or to some other term, that may rationally and scripturally be instanced in: but it cannot relate unto the first, because it is not an appearance in the flesh, but an appearance in the heart, that is here expressly spoken of: and the day-star arise in your HEARTS. Neither indeed, can it relate either unto the first or any other of the terms, or limits mentioned: because Peter writes unto such, still to attend upon the word of Prophecy, who were regenerate; who were believers: having obtained like precious faith with himself, Cap: 1.1. Yea such, who cannot be looked at otherwise, then of considerable standing & proficiency in the faith: and lived after his incarnation, and Gospel-dispensation: whence, were this Objection of force, it would ⟨p. 18⟩follow, that this exhortation of the Apostle had then been as much after its time, as that term of a believers attention unto the word of prophecy, be it either the incarnation, Gospel-dispensation, or regeneration of those; whom he puts upon this duty, was before this time. The Gospel (whether any of it were now written or not) was promulged by Christ & his Apostles, and therefore was obliging. If the particle until be said to denote a certain term, not in this life, but relating unto the dawning and rising of the vision of glory: the question is granted, and the objection falleth.
The particle [untill] (any other acception not pertinent to the matter under consideration omitted) either noteth a certain time, before which such a thing is to be, which was not before: or after which such a thing is not to be, which was before. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Law-giver from between his feet, untill Shiloh come. Gen: 49.10. But here it denoteth not any certain time in this life, after which we are not to attend upon the word written. For then, that certain time notified by the day dawning and the day-starr appearing: must either relate to Christs comming in the flesh, or to the beginning of the Gospel-dispensation, or to the effectual revelation of Christ in vocation, or to some other terme, that may rationally and scripturally be instanced in: but it cannot relate unto the first, because it is not an appearance in the flesh, but an appearance in the heart, that is here expresly spoken of: and the day-starr arise in your HEARTS. Neither indeed, can it relate either unto the first or any other of the termes, or limits mentioned: because Peter writes unto such, still to attend upon the word of Prophecie, who were regenerate; who were believers: haveing obteined like precious faith with himself, Cap: 1.1. Yea such, who cannot be looked at otherwise, then of considerable standing & proficiency in the faith: and lived after his incarnation, and Gospel-dispensation: whence, were this Objection of force, it would ⟨p. 18⟩follow, that this exhortation of the Apostle had then been as much after its time, as that terme of a believers attention unto the word of prophecy, be it either the incarnation, Gospel-dispensation, or regeneration of those; whom he puts upon this duty, was before this time. The Gospel (whether any of it were now written or not) was promulged by Christ & his Apostles, and therefore was obliging. If the particle untill bee sayd to denote a certaine terme, not in this life, but relating unto the dawning and rising of the vision of glory: the question is graunted, and the objection falleth.
