The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applied: or, A discourse concerning the general…The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applyed: or, A discourse concerning the general…

It is an usual observation, that ^(†)precious things are attained with ⟨p. 149⟩much difficulty; so may we say concerning truths▪ as well as things, precious truths are found out with much difficulty. The sweetest kernel is many times hid under the hardest shell: even so before a man come to the kernel of these truths, there's an hard shell to be broken which will cost some pains and difficulty. I say there is difficulty and obscurity in these truths. Hence, 2 Pet. 3.16. In which (saith the Apostle) are some things hard to be understood. The Antecedent to that relative [which] is not Epistles, but things (for ^(e)the Greek is [Greek or Hebrew], and not [Greek or Hebrew], h. e. those things concerning the Lords coming to judge the world, and to create the new heaven, & the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Our beloved Brother Paul, saith Peter, hath spoken not only in his Epistle unto ^(f)you Hebrews, but in all the rest of his Epistles concerning the coming of Christ to judge the world, and to set up his glorious kingdom upon the earth, in which things there are some matters hard to be understood. Moreover, this is wont to be noted as one difference between truths fundamental and extra-fundamental. In that, as for fundamental truths, the knowledge of them is easily attained▪ As he ^(g)said of old, In perspicuo & facili stat aeternitas. Truths absolutely necessary to salvation are clear and easy to be discerned: whereas extra-fundamental ⟨p. 150⟩truths are many times involved in great difficulties and obscurities. And of this sort are the truths which concern that glorious visible kingdom which Jesus Christ shall one day possess upon the earth. Let no one say, then we will not labour after the knowledge of these truths, if they are of a circumstantial nature only: By the same reason you may say that you will not labour to be acquainted with the order which God hath appointed for the Government of his Church which is his house, because the knowledge of those things is extra-fundamental; yet surely we should labour to be acquainted not only with matters of faith, but of order; not only with matters of Doctrine, but with matters of Worship and Discipline: But inasmuch as these truths concerning Christs kingdom are extra-fundamental, therefore the knowledge of them is difficult And inasmuch as the knowledge of them is difficult, therefore the truths are excellent.