147 / 808
V
ER,IZ.
Ephejansghap.I.
135
hope;
which
is
amplified from
the circumfiance
of
time,
and
the objeét
aboutwhich
it was
occupied,
Who
hoped
in
Chrifl
frfi
of
all
;
that
is,
then when
as
yet the Gentiles were
not
called tobeleeve and hopeon
him
;
which
here
is
mentioned
to their honour
:
The
end
is,
that
we
might
be to
the praife
of
his
glary,
that
is,
to the
fetting
forth both by
words and workes
of
his
glorious mercy
;,fo
glory
is
taken,
Rem.
9.
as is
above noted more
at
large.
Obferve
then, that
this
is fee
downe
in
commendation
of
the Jew,
that they
firft
hoped on
Chrift
;
whence we learne;
That
to
be brought
ro faith before
others,
is a
prerogative which perlons fo
called have
above
others
:
The
Jewes had
a
promife
that Chrift
Mould
be
given
them,
& feeke
them
first;
It
is
Ifrael
in
whom
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
of
Ifrael
;
Accordingly,
a
Church
was
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 kingdome
did
fuller violence, the poore
did receive
the Gofpell
:
yea after
his
Afcenfion, the
Church
in
Jeru-
f:tlem
did
grow numberfome before the
Gofpell
was carried
to the
Dea.,i
Gentiles
:
Now
this
is
here fet
downe
as
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
who
have made defection from
God
and
Chrift,
it
is
our
glory to
be
with the
firft in
receiving him
our
true
David
and King:
Againe,the
firft
bornehath
a
priviledge,
and fo
here
it
was
a
priviledge
ofthe
Jew,that
he was
the
first
begottento the faith.
Let
us
then acknowledge with honour,
this circumftance in
others
:
yfe
i;
Have they beene
long
in
the faith before
us,
we
muff
honour this
anti-
quity
:
The
young
rife up
before the
ancient
in
nature, fo
fhould
it
be
with
us
who
are
babes, when
we
meet with
them who
are old men
in
Chrift
:
See
Rom.
r
6.6. Paul
mentioning
Andronicus
and
]unirea,doth
not
omit this circumftance
of
honour, thatthey were before him
in
Chrift
;
and
fo he
doth
repute it
the
honour
of
another, that
he was
the
firft
fruits
of
Achaia,
I Car.
16.
This mutt move thofe who
are
before others,
to
walke
worthy
this
dignity,
by
adorning this their
age
in
Chrift,
with graces correfpon,
dent,
viz.
experience,wifdome, weanedneffe,all
kinde
of
mortification:
y¡
a.
Should one
of
5o.
have no more
wifdome nor ftayednes, then another
at
15.
yeare olde,
it
were able
to
make
their
age
defpifed
:
Let
us
looke
to
this, many
that
were firft prove
Taft,
even
as
it
is
with thefe Jews,
then before all, now
behinde
all.
Obferve fecondly,
what is
the
end
of
all
our benefits we attainein
Chrift,
even this,
that
we may fet
out
his glorious grace andMercy
Dea.a.
N
2
toward