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 he was, his miracles, his Apostles, his torments, his cross, his death, his resurrection and ascension into heaven; all these were foreshowed and fore-told long before they came to pass. Therefore some said, Who is this that is so often spoken of by 1the Prophets? Who is this that can do many miracles that the Scribes and Pharisees cannot do? that can raise the dead, that can cease the winds, that can calm the waters: at whose suffering the earth quaked, the Sun hid his face, darkness came over all: and being dead, 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, and every thing? For there was nothing which had not a tongue 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 which should live in the latter times, should forget him and his coming ⟨image 38⟩which was so long before, 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 and had felt the smart of sin: 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 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 not withstanding he came in the perfect age thereof, yet he found all things unperfect.
He was prepared long agoe, as it doth most plainely appeare, for the virgin which bare him, the place of his birth, the poore estate wherein he was, his miracles, his Apostles, his torments, his crosse, his death, his resurrection and ascension into heauen; all these were foreshewed and fore-told long before they came to passe. Therfore some said, Who is this that is so often spoken of by 1the Prophets? Who is this that can doe many miracles that the Scribes and Pharises cannot doe? that can raise the dead, that can cease the windes, that can calme the waters: at whose suffering the earth quaked, the Sunne hid his face, darknes came ouer all: and beeing dead, 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 knowne before the face of all people, which was so manifest by dreames, by visions, by oracles, by power; by authority, and euery thing? For there was nothing which had not a tongue to speake for God. Euery thing was prepared for him before hee came to bee reuealed: hee came not in the beginning, nor in the ending: hee came not in the ending, that wee which come after him might long for his second comming. He came not in the beginning, because that such a Prince as hee should haue many banners and triumphs before him. Hee came not in the beginning, because the eies of faith should not bee dazeled in him, and lest they which should liue in the latter times, should forget him and his comming ⟨image 38⟩which was so long before, euen as you forget that which I haue said as soone as you are gone hence. Hee came not in the beginning, because if he had come before man had sinned, man would haue acknowledged no neede of a Physitian; but when man had sinned and had felt the smart of sinne: for when they were cast out of Paradise they ranne vnto Christ, as the Israelites did to the Serpent. He came not in the beginning, but in the perfect age of the world, to shew that he brought with him perfection, perfect ioy, perfect peace, perfect wisedome, perfect righteousnes, perfect iustice, perfect truth, signifying thereby, that not withstanding he came in the perfect age thereof, yet he found all things vnperfect.
- 1John 11. Luke 8. Matth. 27. John 10. Mark 6.Iohn 11. Luke 8. Matth. 27. Iohn 10. Marke 6.
