3. The Prophesies and Predictions of the Word: Neither Men nor Angels can fore-tell those things which depend not on natural Causes, or which may not be deduced from moral or political Grounds, and even in such things as these are, they may be, and have been deceived. Therefore it was the subtlety of the old Serpent to deliver his Oracles often ⟨p. 172⟩in ambiguous words, and in deceitful Speeches, that whatsoever happened, his Credit might be salved, as his Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse, & Ibis redibis nunquam per bellae peribis, &c. But God fore-tells what hath no print of any footing in Nature, what neither moral nor political Principles can direct unto, and never fails in his Predictions. He fore-tells the Birth of Cyrus, 100 years before he was born, Isa. 48.28. The Birth of Josiah, 200 years, 1 Kings 13.2. The Conversion of the Gentiles and falling off of the Jews, above 2000 years before it came to pass, Gen. 9.27. Isa. 49.6. Isa. 54.9, 10. He fore-tells the Birth of Christ, near 4000 years before he came into the World, Gen. 3.15. And it is very observable, how punctual and particular he is herein, (as knowing how much the well-fare of the World did depend upon the Knowledge of the true Messiah,) he tells you long before-hand, of what Tribe he should come, of Judah; of what Family, Davids; of what Person, a Virgin; where he should be born, in Bethlehem; whence he must be called, out of Egypt; what his condition should ⟨p. 173⟩be; in general, full of Sorrows and Griefs; in particular, that he should be disgraced and reviled, tempted, betrayed, apprehended, deserted by his Father and Brethren; that he should die, be pierced, not have a Bone broken; be buried, make his Grave with the Rich and the Wicked, and rise again from the Dead, and reap the fruit of all his Passion, to his full satisfaction.
3. The Prophesies and Predictions of the Word: Neither Men nor Angels can fore-tell those things which depend not on natural Causes, or which may not be deduced from moral or political Grounds, and even in such things as these are, they may be, and have been deceived. Therefore it was the subtilty of the old Serpent to deliver his Oracles often ⟨p. 172⟩in ambiguous words, and in deceitful Speeches, that whatsoever happened, his Credit might be salved, as his Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse, & Ibis redibis nunquam per bellae peribis, &c. But God fore-tels what hath no print of any footing in Nature, what neither moral nor political Principles can direct unto, and never fails in his Predictions. He fore-tells the Birth of Cyrus, 100 years before he was born, Isa. 48.28. The Birth of Josiah, 200 years, 1 Kings 13.2. The Conversion of the Gentiles and falling off of the Jews, above 2000 years before it came to pass, Gen. 9.27. Isa. 49.6. Isa. 54.9, 10. He fore-tells the Birth of Chirst, near 4000 years before he came into the World, Gen. 3.15. And it is very observable, how punctual and particular he is herein, (as knowing how much the well-fare of the World did depend upon the Knowledge of the true Messiah,) he tells you long before-hand, of what Tribe he should come, of Judah; of what Family, Davids; of what Person, a Virgin; where he should be born, in Bethlehem; whence he must be called, out of Egypt; what his condition should ⟨p. 173⟩be; in general, full of Sorrows and Griefs; in particular, that he should be disgraced and reviled, tempted, betrayed, apprehended, deserted by his Father and Brethren; that he should die, be pierced, not have a Bone broken; be buried, make his Grave with the Rich and the Wicked, and rise again from the Dead, and reap the fruit of all his Passion, to his full satisfaction.
