at xStte. Expoftion of the CRAP. I, Eternity is oppofed to theCreation and temporary duration of the world. If they fay, that they belong unto theFather primarily , but are attributed unto Chriff, as that of changing or abolifhing the world, becaufe the Fathercloth it by him, I defire to know what is the meaningof there words, thou art the fame by Chrift ? and thy yearsfail not byChrift ? Is not the Father Eternal but in the man Chrift Jefus ? If they fay, that they belongnot at all to Chrift; then this is the fumm of what they fay ; the begin- ning of the words, and the dofe ofthem, if fpoken ofChrift would prove his Irtft- taite Power, Eternity and Divine Nature ; One pottage there is in the words which we fuppofe will not do fo, therefore we will grant, that that paffage concerneth him; but not the beginning,nor end of the teftimony, though fpoken undeniably ofthe fame perfon s which whetherit becomes menprofeffing a Reverence of the Word ofGod is left to themfelves to judge. Befides, should we grant all therefieggeJfions tóbe true, theApoftle byhis citing ofthis Teftimony would prove nothingat all to his purpofe, .. no not any thing toward that which they affirm him toaim at ; namely, than he was mademore excellent thanthe Angels: For whenceout of theft words (hall any fuchmat- ter be made toappear ? they fay in that by him God will fold up the Heavens as a VeJture; but Ertl, Nofuch thing is mentioned nor intimated. He who made them, is faid to fold them ; and if they fay that fromother places it may be made to ap- pear, that it (hall be done by Chri)t ; then as this place mutt be laid afide as ofno ufe to the Apofile, fo indeed there is nothingafcribed to Chritt, but what the Angels (hall have a Chore in , and that probably the molt principal ; namely in folding up the Creation as a garment; which is a work thatfèrvants are employed in, andnot theKing, or Lord himfelf. Indeed he that (hall withoutprejud¡ce confider the ApoJfler Difcourfe, will find little need ofArguments to manifefl whom he applyes this Teftimony unto. He calls him '1tig}, in the beginning, ufing that word which perpetually in the. New Teltament denotes theLord Chrift, as plainly expounding the Textfo far, as to declare of whom it fpeaks. Nor doth this Teftimony afcribeany thing to him, but what in general he had before affirmedofhim ; namely, thatby him the worlds were made ; nor was it ever heard of, that anyman in his right witsshould cite a Teftimony to con- firm his purpofe, containing words that werenever fpokenof him to whom he ap plyes them ; nor is there fcarce any thingin them, that cantolerably be applyed un- to him; and the moll of it woulddeclare him tobe thatwhich he is not at all : fo that the words as ufed to his Purpofe muff needs be .both faire and ambiguous. Who then can but believe on this Teftimony of the Apoftle , that Chrift the Lord made Heaven and Earth; and if the Apoftle intended not to affert it, what. is there in theText or near it, as a buoy to warn men from running on a Jhe4f,' there where fo fair an harbour appears unto them ? From all that hath been faid itis evident, that this whole Teftimonybelongs toChriff, and is by the Apottleawed fo to do. Proceed wenow to the Interpretation of the Words ; The Perfan fpoken of, and fpoken unto in them; is the Lord; ad aifree, thou Lord. The words are not in the Pfalm in this Verle, but what isfpoken is referred unto 17762, myGod, I faid, OmyGod ; tale me not away in the midit of my dayes; comforting himfelfunder the confideration of the frailty and mifery of his Life, with the thoughts and faithof the Eternity and Power ofChriff. For beMir Lives never fo frail, yet as to life eternal, becaufe he livetb we(hall live a f ; and he is of Power to raife us up at the tali day, john 04. 59 r Cor. r 9. and that is the groundof all our confolation againti the brevity and mifery of ourlives. Whereby it alfofurther appears, that it the LordChrift whóm the Pfalmift addreffes himfelfunto; for from the abfolute confideration of the Omnipo- tencyand Eternity ofGod, no confolation can be drawn. And indeed, the people of the yews having openly affirmed that they could not deal immediately with God, but by a Mediator, whichGod eminently approved in them, wifbing that fuck an heart would almayesabide in them, Deut. 5. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. Soas hefurBred them not to approach his typicalprefence between the Cherubims, but bya typical Mediator, their HighPrietl; fb alfo werethey in(lruáed in their real approach unto God,' that it was not tobe made immediately to the Father, but by the Son whom in particular the Apoftle declares the Pfilmiff in this place to intend. Concerning this Perfon or the Lord he affirms two things; or attributes two things unto him; r. The Creation ofHeaven andEarth : 2. The Abolition or changeof them : from that Attribution he proceeds to ,a comparifoa between him and the moil glori- ous
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