to the law." And to this purpose is what follows in Ifaiah, chap. lix. 21. concerning giving the Spirit of God in Ifrael, and the putting his word in their mouth. The fum of the whole is, that, by the efficacy of the Redeemer, the Jews are in due time to be converted from their rebellion and tranfgreffions.

But

XXVIII. 4thly, As this not yet accomplished, as to the whole body of the Ifraelites, and yet the fcripture must be fulfilled, the apoftle has juftly inferred, that in the laft times, it will be perfectly fulfilled. For, feeing the foundation thereof is God's covenant with Ifrael, and this a firm covenant, ftable, immutable, and suspended on no ambiguous condition (for what condition could that covenent admit, which allots both remiffion of fins and repentance to Ifrael? it is not poffible but that every thing fhall happen exactly, according to the promise and prediction. And this is my covenant with them faith God. concerning this covenant he fpeaks as follows, Ifa. liv. 10. "For the mountains fhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness fhall not depart from thee, neither fhall the covenant of my peace be removed faith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee." And again Jer. xxxiii. 25, 26. " Thus faith Jehovah, if my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth: then I will caft away the feed of Jacob, and David my fervant." Add Pfal. cv. 8, 9. and Deut. iv. 31. All this being addreffed to the whole body of the nation, it must of neceflity be fulfilled at the appointed time.

XXIX. 5thly, But because fome perhaps might think, that thofe horrid crimes, of which the Ifraelites had been guilty, might hinder that blefling of God from coming to them: the apoítle adds a teftimony whereby God promifes to take away their fins; which cannot but be accompanied with repentance and faith in the Meffiah, and the communication of his grace. True, indeed, it is, we have not those words in Ifa. liv. But yet they are in Ifa. xxvii. 9. where the Greek version has the very words οταν αφέλωμαι τας αμαρτίας αυτών. It is not unusual with the apoftle to collect feveral teftimonies into one, and to explain the words of one paffage by thofe of another. And indeed this obfervation was of great importance: for, if any thing should seem to ftand in the way of the restoration of the Jews, it was their extreme impiety. Wherefore there are frequent promifes concerning the expiation of the crimes they had committed, as Deut. xxxii. 43. Jer. xxxiii. 8. and Jer. 1. 20.

XXX. Some perhaps may fay, are there not clearer expreffions in proof of this matter in the prophets? Why then does the apostle pitch upon thefe, the force and cogency of which VOL .II.

3 G

does

does not at first fight appear? I answer, there are fuch, which we fhall presently produce: but here the fupreme and admirable wisdom of the Holy Spirit fhines forth, partly, because by felecting thefe, he would bring us to confider entire prophecies, which as it were, he points out to us, and of fuch a nature, as to give full conviction of this matter. Partly, that by arguing from prophecies lefs evident, he might constrain us to give credit to fuch as are more clear and exprefs. For, who will take upon him to wreft to a different meaning fuch evident testimonies, as by the very found of their words lead to this fenfe, when he obferves, that Paul draws his reafons from fuch as feemed much more remote from the purpofe?

XXXI. Should any one defire clearer teftimonies, we offer the following to his confideration: from Mofes, Lev. xxvi. 41-45. Deut. iv. 30, 31. Deut. xxx. 1-6. and Deut. xxxii. 43. From the Palms, Pfal. cii. 14-18. and Pfal. lxxxv. 9, 10. From Ifaiah, Ifa. xi. 11, 12. Ifa. xix. 24, 25. Ifa. xlix. 14, &c. If. Ixii. throughout. From Jeremiah, Jer. iii. 18, &c. Jer. xxxi. 1. and from ver. 31. to the end. Jer. xxxii. 37, &c. Jer. xxxiii. 24-26. From Ezekiel, Ezek. xxxvi. 24. to the end. Ezek. xxxvii. throughout, especially from ver. 15. Ezek. xxxix. 25. to the end. Add Hof. iii. 5. All these promises are more fublime, than that the time can be affigned, in which they can be fuppofed to have been as yet fulfilled. From the New Teftament, add Mat. xxiii. 29. Luke xxi. 24. 2 Cor. iii. 16. The reader may please to see what we have faid on this head in a particular book concerning the ten tribes of Ifrael, from chap. ix. to the end; where he will find moft of thofe prophecies carefully, and at greater length explained.

XXXII. As from all this it is evident, we are to expect the general converfion of the Ifraelites in time to come, not indeed of every individual, but of the whole body of the nation, and of the twelve tribes. We choose not to multiply minute quef. tions, either out of curiofity, or incredulity, concerning the time, place, manner, means, and the like circumftances of this myftery, which God has referved in his own power. Let us maintain the thing itself, and leave the manner of it to God. We shall then beit of all understand thofe obfcure prophecies which defcribes it, when we fhall be able to compare the event with them. Our Calvin, as his manner is, fpeaks with prudence and gravity. "When ever the longer delay is apt to throw us into defpair, let us recollect the name mystery, by which Paul clearly puts us in mind, that this converfion is not to be in the ordinary or ufual manner; and therefore they act amifs, who attempt to measure it by their own private fenti

ments.

ments. For, what more perverfe, than to account incredible what falls not in with our opinion? Being therefore called a mystery, because incomprehenfible, until the time of its revelation. Moreover, it is revealed to us, as it was to the Romans, that our faith, acquiefcing in the word, may fupport our expectation, until the effect itself be made manifeft," We fhall conclude these things with the with and words of Maimoinides at the end of his More Nevochim. "But may the great and good God himself purify all Ifrael, according to his promife; then the eyes of the blind will be opened. The people fitting in darkness have feen a great light to those who fat in the fhadow of death, the light is arisen."

XXXIII. Laftly, To this reftoration of Ifrael fhall be joined the riches of the whole church, and as it were, life from the dead, Rom. xi. 12. "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles;, how much more their fulness?" and ver. 15. " For if the cafting away of them be the reconciling of the world; what fhall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?" The apostle intimates, that much greater and more extenfive benefits fhall redound to the Chriftian church from the fulness and restoration of the Jews, than did to the Gentiles, from their fall and diminution; greater, I say, intensively, or with respect to degrees, and larger with refpect to extent.

XXXIV. As to intenfenefs or degrees, it is fuppofed, that, about the time of the converfion of the Jews, the Gentile world will be like a dead perfon, in a manner almost as Christ describes the church of Sardis, Rev. iii. 1, 2. namely, both that light of faving knowledge, and that fervent piety, and that lively and vigorous fimplicity of ancient Chriftianity, will, in a course of years, be very much impaired. Many nations, who had formerly embraced the gofpel with much zeal, afterwards almoft to be extinguished by the venom of Mahometanism, Popery, Libertinism and Atheism, would verify this prophecy: but upon the restoration of the Jews, thefe will fuddenly arife, as out of the grave a new light will thine upon them, a new zeal be kindled up; the life of Chrift be again manifested in his mystical body, more lively, perhaps, and vigorous than ever. Then, doubtlefs, many fcripture-prophecies will after their accomplishment, be better understood, and fuch as now appear dark riddles, fhall, then be found to contain a moft diftinct defcription of facts many candles joined together give a greater light; a new fire laid near another, gives a greater heat. And fuch will the acceffion of the Jews be to the church of the Gentiles.

XXXV. And not only fo, but also many nations, among whom the name of Chrift had long before been forgotten, fhall be feen to flock again to the standard of falvation then erected. For there is a certain fulness of the Gentiles, to be gathered together by the fucceflive preaching of the gospel, which goes before the reftoration of Ifrael, of which ver. 25. and another richness of the Gentiles, that comes after the recovery of Ifrael. For, while the gofpel, for many ages, was published now to this, then to that nation, others, gradually departed from Chrift: but when the fulnefs of the Jews is come, it is altogether probable, that thefe nations will in great numbers, return to Chrift. An almoft innumerable multitude of Jews refide in Afia, and Africa, among the Perfians, Turks, Indians, Chinefe, Japanese, and Tartars. When therefore, by the almighty hand of God, thefe fhall be brought to the communion of the Mefliah, their love to him will be the more ardent, as their hatred against him had been formerly more bitter. And is it not more than probable, that the nations, among whom they live, being excited by their example and admonitions fhall come into the fellowship of the fame faith? Certainly the words of the apoftle lead us to this.

XXXVI. Agreeably to which James has faid, Acts xv. 15— 17. "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, after this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will fet it up: that the refidue of men might feek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, faith the Lord, who doth all these things." The reparation of the fallen tabernacle of David fignifies the reftoration of true and fpiritual worfhip, among the Ifeaelites. And when that fhall come to pafs, the rest of mankind, who never gave up their names to Chrift, and the nations, upon whom his name was formerly called, but who, by their thoughtleflness, loft the benefit of the gofpel, will then with emulation

feck the Lord.

XXXVII. And what is more evident than that prophecy in Ifaiah? the prophet, chap. lix. 20, 21. having foretold the restoration of Ifrael, according to the apoftles commentary, immediately, chap. lx. 1. exclaims, " Arife, fhine, for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is rifen upon thee: ver. 3. and the Gentiles fhall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rifing," &c. Moreover, the riches of the church at that time are defcribed ver. 17. " for brafs I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring filver, and for wood, brafs, and for ftones iron;" the moft magnificent words to the fame purpose, follow

thefe,

thefe. From the confideration of which Peter Martyr has faid; "that, indeed, according to almost all the prophets, especially Ifaiah, the happiness of the church will be great: which it has not yet attained to, but it is probable that it will then (on the converfion of the Jews) attain to it." We have not indeed, the leaft doubt, that there are many prophecies both in the Old and New Teftament to this purpose the full meaning of which we ardently pray the fupreme Being may teach his people by the event, the only undoubted interpreter of prophecies. It is however our duty to be modest on the head, and not rafhly intrude into the fecrets of providence, nor boldly abufe, what we are neither allowed to know, nor fuffered to fearch into.

I.

THE

CHA P. XVI.

Of Baptifm.

I

HE ordinary facraments of the New Teftament are only two; baptifm and the Lord's Supper. Thefe are fignalized by the exprefs inftitution of our king. Thefe were made use of by our Lord himself, to fet us an example, and by this use they were confecrated to the elect. These are recommended to the Corinthians, as excellent privileges of the New Teftament church, and two like them, but of an extroardinary nature, were granted to Ifracl in the wilderness, 1 Cor. x. 1-4. Thefe are held forth by the apostle, 1 Cor. xii. 13. as facred feals of the union and communion of believers, both with Chrift, and with one another; and if there were any more of the kind, the apoftle, according to his ufual accuracy and diligence, would not have paffed them over in filence. These in fhort, are fufficient to fignify and feal the fulness of grace we have in Christ. For as two things are requifite to complete our happiness: first, our being abfolved from our fins, and wafhed from our pollution; that we may be regenerated by the communication of the Spirit of Chrift to a new life of grace: and then nourished in that life of grace, that is, fuftained, ftrengthened and increased therein, until we be promoted to the life of glory: both these are fufficiently confirmed to us by thefe two facraments. Our firft ingrafting into Chrift, and our regeneration by his Spirit, are fet forth by baptifm; and the nourishment of our fpiritual life by the holy fupper.

1

II. Concerning both thefe facraments of the New Teftament we are to obferve, that fomething correfponding to them, but

only