, 88 Compared with that of the 7manijis; And many other Teflimonies of the like importance might be collected out of them. We have alto afurer word for our own fätisfaction, in the Applicationof this place unto Satan in theDivineWritingsofthe New Teffament : as 2 Cor. i s. 3. 2 Tim.2. r }, Ram. 5. i i,12, 13, 15. Heb.,2. 14, 15. i John 3.8: Revel. 12. 9. andChap. zo. v. 2, 3. but weforbear to peels thetaon the Jews. Befides, it is molt evident from the thing it fell. For ( r. ) Who can be fo fottifh as to imagine, that this great Alteration which enfued on the works of God, that which caufed him to pronounce them accurfed, and to inflict fo fore a Punif amens on Adam and all his Pofterity, fhould arife from the Aátings ofaBrute Creatúre. Where is the gloryofthisclifpenfation ? How can weattribute it untothe Wifdom and Great- nefs of God ? What is there in it fuitable unto his Righteoufnefs and Holinefs? Whereas fuppofing this tobe the work of him whowas in himfelf the .beginning of all Apo(fafie, andwhofiatbrake the Law of his Creation, all things anfwer the Ex= + cellency ofthe DivinePerfections. -Moreover is it imaginable that the natureofman - then flourifhing in the vigourof all its intelleFtual Abilities, Reafon, Wifdom, Know- ledge; in that Order and Rectitude of them whichwas his Grace, fhould be fiirprized, feducedand broughtinto fubjeition, unto theCraft and Machinations of an inferiour Creature; aBeaft of theField, and that unto its own Ruine Temporal and Eternal ? Thewhole nature of the inferiour creatures, James tells us, is tamed by the nature of Man, Chap. 3.1/. 7. and that now in his leffened and depraved condition ; and Gail we think that this ExcellentNature, in thebloffom of its dtrength , and right unto Rule over all, fhould be tamed, corrupted, fubdued, by the nature of a Beaft or a Serpent. And yet again, whereas in the whole anion of the Serpent , there is an open deign againft the glory and honour of God , with the welfare and happinefs of mankind; and,that managed with Craft, Subtilty , and Forecali, how can we imagine that filch a contrivance fhould befall a brute Worm, uncapable of Moral .Evil, and newly framedout of theduff by the power ofits Creator ? Hitherto it had continued ,under the LawandOrder of itsCreation ; and Gall wenow think that fuddenly on an inftanr, it Gould engage thus defferaoey againfi God and man? And further the aitings of the Serpent were by Reafon andwith Speech. And Bothnot a fuppofalthae he was endowed with themplainly exempt him from that Order and kind of Creatures whereof he was, and place him. among the number of the intellrbival and rational' parts of the Creation ? And is not this contrary to the Analogie of the Scripture, and the open truth of the thing its Pelf, he being curled among. the Beaffs ofthe Field ? To fay, as Aben Ezra Items to do, that God gave himReafon and Speech for that oc- cation, is blafphemoufly to makeGod the foieAuthor of that Temptation which he fo much abhorred. Laftly, Confidering thePunifhment denouncedagainft mankind, of Death Temporali andEternall, that which is threatnedunto the Serpent bears nopro- -portion unto it, if-it concern only the Serpent its Pelf. And what Rule of Juftice will admit, that theAcceffory Gould be punifhed with greater Sufferings than the Principal ? Neither doth thisPunifhment as to the Principal part of it, the bruiting of the Head, befall all Serpents, yea, butfew of them incomparifon, doubtlefsnot one ofa Million, whereas all mankind noneexcepted were liable unto the Penalty denounced againft them.. Were no more men intendedherein than are bitten on the heel by Ser- pents, the matter were otherwise ; but death is.paffed upon all; in as.much as all have finned; Satan then it was, who was the Principal in this Sedu&ion, the Author of all Apoflafle from God, who ufing the Serpent its infirument, involved that allo fo far in the Curt, as to render it ofallCreatures the moltabhorred of mankind. $1. 27. Againft this Seducer it is denounced,, that his Head fhould be bruifed, The Head of Satan, is his Craft and Power. From theft iffued all that Evil whereinto mankind was fallen. In thebruifing therefore ofhis Head, the defeat of hisCounfel, the deftru- ¿tion of his Work, and the Deliverance ofMankind is contained, as our Apo file moil excellently declares, Heb. 2. Death mutt be removed, and Righteoufnefs brought in, and acceptance withGod procured, or the Headof Satan is not bruifed. This there- fore. is openly and plainly a promife of the Deliverance enquired after.. Moreover, There is a. Declaration made, how thisViilory Gall be obtained, and this Deliverancewrought, and that is by the Seed of the Woman. This feed is twice re., peated in thewords; once exprefly, and her feed; andSecondly it is included in the Pronoun Nln, it, Andas-by feedin theft/it place the Pofterity of tl1ee Woman , fome to beborn ofher race, partakers of humane naturemay be intended, as the fubjeéts of
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