2. Because the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world according to his humane nature, was an Israelite, Gen. 12.3. Heb. 3.16. And of the Tribe of Judah, Heb. 7.14. It is evident (saith the Apostle) that our Lord sprang out of Judah: Although now the Jews have raised great controversies about the Genealogy of Christ, yet in those days it was so manifest that Jesus of Nazareth was sprung from Judah, that no Jews (although such as denied that Jesus was the Christ) could ever deny that he came of the Tribe of Judah; Therefore the Apostle saith, that it is evident, our Lord came of Judah, q. d. no man doubteth of that. For Messiah came from the house of David, Acts 2.30. therefore he was of the Tribe of Judah: And this is manifest, if ⟨p. 59⟩we compare Matthews and Lukes Genealogy of Christ. Mary the Mother of Christ was of the house of David. Eli was Maris natural father, for he was Josephs legal Father (or Father-in-law) Luke 2.23. which is evident, because Jacob was Josephs natural Father, Matth. 1.16. Therefore Mary being Ely's Daughter, was naturally descended from the line and loins of David; Therefore Christ sprang of Judah. It is true indeed, that Christ descended from Ruth, who was a Moabitess, to signify that Gentiles should by him be saved as well as Jews, but the rest of his Predecessors were Israelites. Now this is the greatest thing which the Jews have to glory in, and that which maketh the Israelitish Nation to be above others desirable, Hag. 2.7. Therefore the Apostle speaking of the privileges and glories which the Israelites had above other people, mentioneth this in the last place, as being more than all other things that may be said or thought of, Rom. 9.5. As it is true, that the humane nature is exalted above the Angelical nature in respect of Christ, Eph. 1.20, 21. Col. 1.15. because it may be said that Christ is a man, but not that Christ is (in respect of nature) an Angel; So, in respect of Christ, the Jewish Nation is exalted above every Nation, because it may be said that Christ was an Israelite, but not that he was of any other Nation.
2. Because the Messias, the Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world according to his humane nature, was an Israelite, Gen. 12.3. Heb. 3.16. And of the Tribe of Iudah, Heb. 7.14. It is evident (saith the Apostle) that our Lord sprang out of Iudah: Although now the Iews have raised great controversies about the Genealogy of Christ, yet in those days it was so manifest that Jesus of Nazareth was sprung from Iudah, that no Iews (although such as denyed that Jesus was the Christ) could ever deny that he came of the Tribe of Iudah; Therefore the Apostle saith, that it is evident, our Lord came of Iudah, q. d. no man doubteth of that. For Messias came from the house of David, Acts 2.30. therefore he was of the Tribe of Iudah: And this is manifest, if ⟨p. 59⟩we compare Matthews and Lukes Genealogy of Christ. Mary the Mother of Christ was of the house of David. Eli was Marys natural father, for he was Iosephs legal Father (or Father-in-law) Luke 2.23. which is evident, because Iacob was Iosephs natural Father, Matth. 1.16. Therefore Mary being Elie's Daughter, was naturally descended from the line and loins of David; Therefore Christ sprang of Iudah. It is true indeed, that Christ descended from Ruth, who was a Moabitess, to signifie that Gentiles should by him be saved as well as Iews, but the rest of his Predecessors were Israelites. Now this is the greatest thing which the Iews have to glory in, and that which maketh the Israelitish Nation to be above others desirable, Hag. 2.7. Therefore the Apostle speaking of the priviledges and glories which the Israelites had above other people, mentioneth this in the last place, as being more than all other things that may be said or thought of, Rom. 9.5. As it is true, that the humane nature is exalted above the Angelical nature in respect of Christ, Eph. 1.20, 21. Col. 1.15. because it may be said that Christ is a man, but not that Christ is (in respect of nature) an Angel; So, in respect of Christ, the Jewish Nation is exalted above every Nation, because it may be said that Christ was an Israelite, but not that he was of any other Nation.
