Mather - Houston-Packer Collection BS478 .M3 1705

Tef7ament, atfiindry times. 39 the Calf which Aaron made. From whence the Jews have a Proverb, that in every affliaion,in every calamity that comes upon them, therebe fome grains of the Molten Calf in it. Therewere frequent Degeneracies and Oppreffions under the Judges° 3. The Tabernacle was unfixed. Upon all which accounts the Lordhad not yet fatisfied himfelf, in the expreflions of his own Love towards them ; but his Heart was full, and he was refolved to do yet more for them, and fo to try them to the utmofl. Thereforehe was pleatd to put a period unto this Difpenfation, which began about the year of theWorld two thoufand five hundred and thirteen, and lafted about four hundred eighty feven or eighty eight Years, i Kings 6. r. 2. The Lord'sfecond Lirpenfation under the Lam, was from the Temple to the Captivity in Babylon. In this Period the Gloryof.the Legal Difpenfa- tion rofe up to the greateft height and fplendor and that chiefly in two particulars, the Glory of the Kingdom, and Te;mple. z. The Kingdom wasfitted in the -Houfe of David, as the Type and Progenitor ofthe Meffah. And in his days and Solomons it extended to the utmoft bounds, that God had fpoken of to Abraham : tho' afterwards for their own fins they were cut fhort; the neighbour Nations fhaking offthe yoke, and the Kingdom it felfdivided into two parts ; two Tribes only left to Solomon's Pofterity. The Lord had promifed Abraham, that his Seed, fhould poffefs all the Land to the River Euphrates, Gen. s 5. 18. And it was performed in David's time, and in Solomon:, r King. q.. 21, 24. 2 Coon. g z6. And this Kingdom was a Type of the Kingdom of Chrift. 2. The other piece of their Glory was the Temple. Before God had dwelt in Tents ; but now he had an Houfe built unto his Name. The Lord turned his flitting Tabernacle into a fixed Temple; for which David made plentiful Preparation ; Solomon did ere& and fet it up. He did it in feven or eight years time, or more, precifely feven years and an half: For hebegan it in the fecond month, and finifhed it in the eighth, t King. 6. I, and nit. and he began it in the fourth year of his Reign, and .finifhed it in the eleventh : Moreover he began it in the 48oth year after the coming out ofEgypt; anddedicated it feven or eight years after, which fell: into the year of the Worldthreethoufänd, or three thoufand and one, as you will find, ifyou take the pains to compute and put all the former Periods together. And their Kingdom and Temple flood in fome degree of outward Glory about four hundred ÿeafs;,`frOtii .the finifhing and dedicating ofit, to the beginuing'of their' Bondage and y the Yoke of Babylon. And

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