ming of Chrift, wherein the body of Chrift, that is, the Church, fhall be abfolute and perfect every way. Not to infift upon this, that the former Tabernacle standing, the way to the Holieft was not fully manifefted, and that there must be fome proportion betwixt the manifeftation of the way unto and fenfe of the future life, in this life,in them that be of ripe age, and the fruition of it in the life to come: This is certaine, the Fathers who died before Chrift, did expect in Heaven their Redeemer, on whom they had beleeved for forgivencffe of finne and life everlafting: even as foules now expect the Resurrection of the body, the fecond appearance of Chrift to Judgement, in regard of which things they are not perfected. Now hence followed a want of much light and joy, which on the fight of Christ, God man, entring the Heavens, did redound unto them: as we in earth now have not the fulneffe of joy which then we shall have, when we shall fee the accom plishment of what we expect. CHAP. V. of the Covenant of Promife made with Adam im- He Covenant of Promife began immediately upon the fall,and Treached unto the comming Chrift in Yell, which ass fcure in comparison of the new Covenant, but in it felfe receiveth diftinction of degrees, according to the severall breakings out of it to the darke world, and the growth from feverall manifeftations of God, as was proportionable to the number and qualities of thofe, who in fucceeding ages fhould take benefit: fo that at first being like a young fapling, it grew to be firme, alwayes a fruitfull tree. In Scripture it is delivered unto us under thefe degrees of growth, both in refpect of fuller and more cleare manifeftation, and as we may fuppofe of numbers that received benefit by it. Firft,from Adam untill Abraham. Secondly, from Abraham untill the Covenant made with Ifrael upon the Mount. Thirdly, from Mofes to Christ: which must be fubdiftinguished: for the Covenant which God did promife to make with Ifrael and Judah upon the delivery from the North Countrey, was to exceed the former former Covenant, which he had made with their Fathers, when he brought them out of Egypt. fer.23.5, 6,7,8. The firft breaking forth of this gratious and free Promife and Covenant was iminediately upon the fall, and is expreffed in these words, I will put Gen.3.15. enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy feed, and her feed: He fhall bruise thy head,and thou shalt bruife his beele. Herein God fetting downe the irrevocable judgement and finall overthrow and deftruction of Satan, the arch-enemy of his glory, and mans Salvation, Gods fearefull doomes-man: into whole power man was now fallen, he proclaimeth his rich grace and mercy towards mankind in Jefus Chrift, the womans feed, who fhould breake the Serpents head. In the malediction of the Serpent is included the greatest bleffing of God moft mercifull to wards miferable and wretched finners. In reference to this gratious antient Proclamation of mercy the Gospel is called everlafting. Revel.14.6. I saw another Angel flying through the middest of wvov. Heaven, having the everlasting Gospell, not in refpect of the future, but of the time paft, fcil. which was promifed from the beginning of the world. For as the hils, paths, and defolations are faid to be everlasting or antient, fo the Gofpell, that is from the beginning. This firft Promile of grace and life was published by the Lord himfelfe to mankind now dead in finne, and enemies to God, that as they had heard from him the curle againft finne, and faw and felt the fame in part executed upon them, fo they should heare from him the promise of abfolution, left they should be fwallowed up in defpaire. When they should heare peace proclaimed by the Author of Peace and Judgement, both by him that was immediately provoked and offended by finne, and came now to sentence the tranfgreffours: when they fhould heare peace proclaimed by him in his owne perfon, by his owne voyce, it must needs put more life and encouragement into them, then if the glad tidings had. been brought by fome Meffenger, or divulged by fome Herauld only. The party upon whom the Promifes of mercy are fetled, is here propounded as the feed of the woman, and under the next degree: ivaninior ål Apoc.14.6. lai 58. 12 & 61.4 Tea avia. Jer. 6. 16. & 18. 16. vol d'avio Deut. 33.15. Gen. 49.16. Ifai.5 4.4. doxμ¤ á¡á G. προςαγμα αιώνιον. saa as the feed of Abraham: called the Angel of the Covenant, The Mal.3.1. head of all things to the Church: even fefus Christ the only be- Eph.1.22. gotten Sonne of God, who being God over all blessed for ever.. F 3 Rom.. Joh. 3.18. Rom. 1.3. Rom.9.5. fhould come of David and Abraham, and fo of Eve according to the flesh, for she was the mother of all living. Chrift God and man is made of God an Adam (often opposed to the first Adam, I Cor.15.21, 22, 23, 45.) Head, root, common receptacle and ftore-house, in whom are treasured all good things, which from him are communicated to the faithfull. As in Adam our being naturall, cur hopes of life and death, and in event our condemnation, was received, before ever they came to be applyed and received actually in us: So in Chrift as in a common ftorehoufe every thing is firft placed, which afterward is to be imparted to any beleever. The firft Adam, created after the Image of God, but a meere creature only, was intrufted with the Promife of life Matth.18.19. for his pofterity, and he betrayed all the body: But now God of his infinite mercy ordaineth a fecond Adam, even the feed of the woman, that is, Christ-man, but lifted up above the condition of a creature by union unto the Divine Perfon, that fo as man he might be fit to receive that trust for men, as God he might undergoe the burden and charge, which Was now greater then God laid upon the first Adams shoulders. To have put the prime right of the Covenant upon every particular, had left occafion to infinite fals; and withall opened a gap to dif-union, which the Lord abhorreth: To have chofen out a meere creature, and under the fall, how could he have made fatisfaction for finne formerly committed, or free himselfe from the bondage of Satan? Therefore that the Promife might be fure to the Heires of Promife, God puts this honour and charge upon Jefus Chrift, who was the feed to come, to whom the Promifes were made and in whom all the Promiles for all his brethren are Yea and Amen. It is cleare, that this battle pertained to the woman and her feed on the one party, and to this Deviil that fpake by the Serpent, and all the wicked,on the other party. Dom. But then it cannot in fpeciall be applyed to the Virgin Mary. If the Virgin Mary may be faid to bruise the Serpents head, because Chrift was borne of her, by the fame reason we may fay, he was crucified and died for us, & c. Gil.3.19. 2 Cor. 1.20. Gen.4.25. and 21.13. The parties who are to partake of the benefits promised are inclosed in the woman as the Mother of the good, or rather under the former terme, the womans feed. For the word feed is fometimes taken for one, but often collectively, which must be judged by the circumstances of the place. Now in this Text by the woman is meant Eve, and by the feed of the woman, the posterity of the woman, those, fcil. which degenerace not not into the feed of the Serpent, which is pro- The Papifts reade it pfa, contrary to ved by the oppofition of feeds there made. all Hebrew copies,and all circumstances For as the feed of the Serpent must be taken of the Text. The Septuagint tranflates. collectively, fo alfo the feed of the woman, it durds or durò: Chryfoft. Hom. 17. in that the oppofition may be fit. But by the Gen. hath duris, though his Latine InSerpents feed are meant not only venomous terpreters hath made him fay Ipfa. Iven.. beafts, but wicked men. 17ok.3.12. And the read it Ipfum. Andradius def.l.4. Comas 1.3. aduers baref. c. 38. feems to have enmities fore-fpoken of do pertaine to all the ... 15. Cajetan. Steuchu. Cofmop. in godly pofterity of Eve, even from the be- Ger.. 3. Pagnine, Ar. Montana, Sacraginning, fo that the faithfull who lived before bofc, Francif. Georg. tom. 1. Pathemat the manifeftation of Chrift in the flesh, can- probl. 15. Felifins elucidat. Gen. 17, 2. not be excluded, but they must be understood Gal.3.16. Decal.prac. 1.6.49. Riber. in Hab.1.15. de Tempt.l.2.6.2. Perer. in under the name of the feed. Chrift peculiarly Dar.cap. Lindan. de opt. genere interpre→ was the feed of the woman, but the faithfull tandi. l. 7. pag. 126, 127. diflike the reaare comprehended under that title alfo; the ding. See Cypr. feet, Adverfus Iudeos.. feed of the woman is to be taken collectively, Dom, Rainold. prafat, de Idol. Rom. §. 6. but fo as it doth comprehend them only, who !.2.6.. Panel Leo. Sermo a. de Nativ are not the Serpents feed, but oppofite to them. Chrift properly is the feed by which the Promife is to be fulfilled: the faithfull are the feed to whom the Promife is made: The Promife is made to the faithfull, and they are and fhall be partakers of the Promife: but Chrift only is the caule of the blefling to be communicated. Chrift and the faithfull are comprehended under one kind of feed fpirituall,not carnall: but Chrift the principall, who in that feed doth to excell, that in him he doth bring all the feed of Abraham - according to the Spiricunto unity; the faithfull are the feed also,as they shall inherit the Promile in and through Jefus Chrift. 3 The worke of Chrift the womans feed is to bruife the Serpents. head which is a phrase of speech fitted to the condition of the Serpent, which is obnoxious to this hurt, when he is compelled to creep on the ground, that his head fhould be crushed and bruised by the feet of men. And thereby is fignified, that Christ should deftroy death, and him that had the power of death,that is, the devill, Heb. 2. 14. that be fhould deftroy the workes of the devill. Job.12.33 1 Fab.3.8. And this is true of the faithfull allo by communication with Chrift. Chrift hath bruifed the Serpents head by his owne power: but the faithfull overcome by the power of Chrift. The victory is common to all the feed: but the author of victory in the feed is he who is the Head and chiefe, and to whom as to an Head, the Rom 16.20. Tit.1.2. παρὰ χρόνων αιωνίων, Mead. in Ap. 14.6. Ier. 28, 8. the unity of all the reft is reduced. Ye have overcom: the evillone, But how must the Serpents head be bruised? even by Christs fuffering death to fatisfie revenging Iuftice, which was offended by tranfgreffion under the former Covenant. This is expounded under this terme of bruifing his heele by the Serpent and his feed: which worke and labour of love is typified in the blood of the Sacrifices, executed in his crosse and paffion. The devill and all his inftruments (the Scribes and Pharifees and Romanes whom Chrift calleth |