VER,IZ. Ephejansghap.I. 135 hope; which is amplified from the circumfianceoftime, and the objeét aboutwhich it was occupied, Who hoped in Chrifl frfi ofall ; that is, then when as yet the Gentiles were not called tobeleeve and hopeon him ; which here is mentioned to their honour : Theend is, that we mightbe to the praifeofhis glary, that is, to the fetting forth both by words and workes ofhis glorious mercy ;,foglory is taken, Rem. 9.as is above noted moreat large. Obferve then, that this is fee downe in commendation ofthe Jew, that they firft hoped on Chrift ; whence we learne; That tobe brought ro faith before others, is a prerogative which perlons fo called have above others : The Jewes had a promife that Chrift Mould begiven them, & feeke them first; It is Ifrael inwhom I will be glorious through thee-; accordingly'Chrifl did walke with them, as the minifler of them who were circumcifed, and did charge his Difciples to keepe them within the fame bounds, to feeke the loft fheepe ofIfrael ; Accordingly, a Churchwas gathered amongft them, though for their number they were but few in Chrifts time, in comparifon of the multitude which would not receive him, yet the kingdomedid fuller violence, the poore did receive the Gofpell : yea after his Afcenfion, the Church inJeru- f:tlem did grow numberfome before the Gofpell was carried to the Dea.,i Gentiles : Now this is here fet downeas an honourable circumftance, thatthey did believe, when yet the Gentiles were ftrangers from the Covenant. When Subjects have made a revolt from their lawfull Prince, chofe who (hall first retorne and receive againe their lawfull King, it is unto their cohmendations : Thus a Sam.19.1 j. it was Judah his praife, to be jirft in fetching home David their King ; fo for us whohave made defection from God and Chrift, it is our glory to be with the firft in receiving him our true Davidand King: Againe,thefirft bornehath a priviledge, and fohere it was a priviledge oftheJew,that he was the first begottento the faith. Let usthen acknowledge with honour, this circumftance inothers : yfe i; Have they beene long in the faith beforeus, we muff honour this anti- quity : The young rife up before the ancient in nature, fo fhould it be with us whoarebabes, when we meet with them who are old men in Chrift : See Rom. r 6.6. Paul mentioning Andronicus and ]unirea,dothnot omit this circumftanceofhonour, thatthey were before him in Chrift ; and fo hedoth repute it the honour ofanother, that he was the firft fruitsof Achaia, I Car. 16. This mutt move thofe who are before others, towalke worthy this dignity, by adorning this their age inChrift, with graces correfpon, dent, viz. experience,wifdome, weanedneffe,allkinde ofmortification: y¡ a. Should one of 5o. have no more wifdome nor ftayednes, then another at 15. yeare olde, it were able tomaketheir age defpifed : Let us looke tothis, many that were firft prove Taft, even as it is with thefe Jews, then before all, nowbehinde all. Obferve fecondly, what is theend of all our benefits we attainein Chrift, even this, that we may fet out his glorious grace andMercy Dea.a. N 2 toward
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