36 Of god's government, Alph.,a Ca,ftro. and mofl.fo fpeak : And Vafquez denyeth the Lawof Na- ture asfuch, to have properly a Divine Obligation, faith Suarez , which he confuteth de Leg. 1. 9. c. IL p. 764, 765. But this controverfie when examined, containeth not much morethan verbal difagreement, and fo their mutual forbearance doth confefs. 34. Theyews infleadofexcelling inHalinefs proportionably to their priviledges, did grow carnal andproud,and 1. Much neglected the Law of Nature. 2. Much over- looked thefpiritual Covenant ofGrace, made with them and all the world. 3. And mifunderftood the chiefpart of the fpecial Promife made to Abraham, notunderftandingcommonly the high, fpiritual or univerfal Office and Kingdom of the Meffrah , but dreaming that he was but tobe their Monarch, tomake themgreat, and to fubjerk the world to them. 4. And theymifunderftood the Law of Mofes or Covenant on Mount Sinai; as if thedefign ofit had been but by its fpecial holy excellency to juftifie the doers of it, by and for the doing, and topardon all the fpiritual and perpetual punifhment of Sin,, upon thofe terms which it appointed for a Political pardon, and to give life fpiritual and eternal , upon thofe bare conditions on which their Law gave them Political benefits. Over - looking the great caufes of Juftification and life in the Meffiah , and the common Covenant of Grace, and Promifeof the Mefftahmade toAbraham. And this is the error which Chrift and hisApoftles found them in. Yet proudly boafting of their Lawand Political priviledges, anddefpifing all the reft of the world, as out-calls in comparifon of them. 35. Though the behaviourof all the reft of the world, till Chrifl's coming be little notifyed to us, yet this much is lure, that they were commonly more Ignorant and Idolatrous than the yews, that yet they retained the common notices of nature; that they remembred by Tra- dition thofe intimations of the necefiity of propitiatory Sacrifice, fo as to keep up the cuftom of Sacrificing among them : That many. of them with exceeding diligence fought to find God, or know him inthe works of Nature and Providence, and attained to great and excellent underflanding, efpecially in Greece andRome : And manyofthetnlived very flriûaiftere andlaborious lives, in great Juflice and Love, and in the practiceof many excellent Precepts towards God : For theHea- vens .declared the Glory of God , and the firmament (hewed his -handy- work: Dayuntoday utteredfpeech, andnight untonight 'hewed knowledge; There was no fpeech or language where their voice was not heard : Their lin went through the earth, and their words to the worlds end, Pfal. 19. 1,2,3,4. For allGods works do praife him, and the Lord is good to all, his tender mercies are over allhis works : Pfal. 145. 9, to, 17. He is King in all the earth. He was not the God of the yews only, but of the Gentiles alfa. Rom. 3.29. Becaufe that which may beknown of God was manifehi in (or to) them, forGodhad 'hewed it to them. For the invJible things of him from the Creation of the world, are clearly feen , being underfiood by the things that are made his Eternal power and Godhead , fo that they are without excufe, becaufe that when they knew God, theyglorifiedhim not as God, neither were thankful, Roai. 1. 19, 20, 21. God left not himfelf without witnefs, in that he didgood and gave men rain from heaven and fruitful feafons, filling their hearts withfood andgladnefs, A6t.14. 15,16. seeing he giveth to all life andbreath and all things , and bath made of one blood all Nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and bath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation , that they fhould fee( the Lord, if happily theymight feel after hint
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=