VER.IO. Ephefians,Chap.i. teach in every generation. Laftly, thewords fit no fenfe but this, which to Thewwe mull fearch a little the meaningof them. Firft, touching thetime. Secondly, the thing tobe done in time. In the time twothings muft be opened ; firft, what is meant by Difpenfa- tian , fecondly, byfulneffeoftintes. Diffienfation, is a word taken from Stewards, and fuchas have the keepingof things in common, and are to diftribute themas they fee fit, for fingularperfonsand occafions: To difpenfe then,is todiflribute that I have incommon, asis fitting in wife- dome, to perlons andoccafions inparticular. Now the difpenfation oftimes, is put by a Melon. ofthe adjunél,for fulneffe oftimeswifely dilpenfed. The fulneffe oftimes indefinitely, unviverfally, noting the confum- mation ofall thofe feafons fucceflively, which God hath appointed for thegatheringofhis children. In the thing to be done, markethe AQion, that çodmightgather toa head in Chrift ; that is the force of the word. Secondly, marke the Object of this a6tion, all things ; that is all perlons, who in Gods coun- fell belonged,as members making that bodywhereof Chrifk is head. Thirdly ; Notethe point as it were inwhich all are to be gathered into one,or united in Chrift,in him : Having'propoundedthe objeét,he doth explaine themby adiftribution taken from the place; all things which now are in heaven with Chrift, glorioufly conjoyned to him ; and all who are inearth, that is,whoare in all places, and all times,to be gathe- red to Chrift in the earth.The fummeofthem is thus much. God I told you did open to us the Go(pell of falvation, which thing' he didaccording to that his gracions pleafure, whereby itpleafedhim to open it to all his chafe, which he purpofedfteely within himfelfe, that thusby opening his will hemight in the con ummation ofall obofc fea . fns, which his wifedomebath difpenfed, that he might (I fay) have gatheredas it were to a head, all things in Chrifi, both shaft' members who had intheir times this r.2cyflery revealed to them andare nowglo- rioafly united tohim in the heavens : and all chafe whoby wanes ofthis revelation,lhall in all places andthrough all times,ro theendoftheworld,, begatheredupon earth, as it were toone head in him. Thus we have to my conceit the moil probableconnexion and mea- ningof thefewords ; we have feene the partsalto into which they may be divided : Now it remaineth that we come to the infiruElions. Fit-a, whenhe fairh,that in the fulnefi'e of times inwhich God hath dif- penfed, God willdoe thus and thus ; obferve hence, that Godhath fet feafons wherein he will accomplifh all his purpofed will, Ecclef. 3. He bringeth out every thing beautiful! in the feafon ofit. As he bringeth things natural!, the Spring, Summer, Autumne, Winter, every thing in feafon, fo in all the workes he will doe about his children, whether it be thepunifbing ofwickednefle for their fake, the delivering his chil- dren from evils, the giving them benefits, he will bring them all forth in the fit appointedfeafons: The Canaanite,when his iniquity is full and ripe, fhall be vilited ; Ifrael, when 430, yeares expired, (hall be delive- L a red, 111 2. Doli le
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