N01184:26
A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of…
A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of the Reverend and learned Mr. Baxter, Dr. Lightfoot, and others. : With an enquiry into the first resurrection. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard-College, at Cambridge, in New-England. ; [Three lines from Jeremiah]A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of the Reverend and learned Mr. Baxter, Dr. Lightfoot, and others. : With an enquiry into the first resurrection. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard-Colledge, at Cambridge, in New-England. ; [Three lines from Jeremiah]
London: printed by R. Tookey for Nath. Hillier, 1709
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. To affirm that […] was in the Apostles Days a National Conversion of the Jews is clearly against the Scripture. It is contrary to what the […] foretold would come to pass. The Spirit in them showed that Israel […] not be gathered, that that Nation would not esteem, but a••or and […] the […] and that they should therefore be themselves rejected and discovenanted, Isa. 49.5, 7. and 53.3. Zech. 11.8, 9, 10. It is very true that many Thousands of Jews ⟨p. 3⟩did believe, and that in the City of Jerusalem. So did the other Apostles say to Paul, Acts 21.20. and Myriads besides in other Places: Nevertheless all these were but a small Number compared with the Body of that wondrously multiplied Nation. It is very strange that any should call that the Time of the Jews Conversion which was the Time of their Rejection. Hence the Apostle speaks of [Greek or Hebrew], their diminishing ▪ Rom. 11.12. because the believing Jews were but a very small diminutive Number, compared with those that obstinately refused the Gospel; and he shows not only that Judicial Blindness was upon them, but that they would continue under that Blindness, until the Fullness of the Gentiles be come in, Ver. 25. The Fullness of the Gentiles is not come in to this very Day; therefore the Salvation of Israel, which the Apostle speaks of to the Romans, is not yet accomplished. Mr. Baxter's Notion (p. 58.) that when the Empire of the World fell into Christian Hands, that then the Fullness of the Gentiles came in, wants a solid Foundation: It might with as much Reason be supposed, that when Crowned Heads did, since the Antichristian Apostasy, embrace the Gospel, and defend the Reformation, that then the Fullness of the Gentiles c•me in, Rev. 14.14, 15. The Argument alleged to confirm his Interpretation is not cogent, viz. That it must either be so, or else the Meaning of it must be that when all the Gentiles are converted that shall ever be converted, then is the Fullness of the Gentiles come in. That great Man Dr. Prideaux (whose Learned and Orthodox Writings have been very useful to the Church of God) has given a better Interpretation of the Text, than either of those mentioned by our Reverend Author; scil. That when the Roman Idolatries and Mahometan Blasphemies are removed, the Fullness of the Gentiles will come in, and the Way be made clear for Israel's Salvation. Vid. Prideaux Orat. de Voc. Judaeorum.