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destroyed; of his daily care and diligence in reading the Lam; of Behemoth and Leviathan, and many other matters, are fo abfurd, that is would be irkfome even to repeat them. Howbeit, the Jews in all this time have neither turned to the worship of falfe Gods, as they did in times paft; neither have they defiled themselves with bloody Murders, nor are they accused of Adulteries: But by prayers and faftings they la bour to appease God's wrath, and yet are not heard. Which things being fo, one of these two must needs be granted; namely, that either the covenant that was given by Mofes is quite abolished; or the whole body of the Jewish Nation lies under the guilt of fome notorious crime, which hath continued for fo many Ages together; which what it is, let themselves fpeak; or if they cannot tell, then let them believe us, that this fin is no other, but the contempt of the Meffias, who was come before that thefe evils began to fall upon them.

SECT. XVII.

Jefus is proved to be the Meffias, by thofe things which were foretold concerning the Meffias.

Y this which hath been fpoken, it is manifeft that the Meffias came many Ages ago: We add further, that he is no other but Jesus. For what other Perfons foever either were, or would have been accounted the Meffias, they have

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left no Sect behind them to uphold and maintain that opinion. There are not any at this day that profefs themselves to be followers either of Herod, or of Judas Gualonita, or of that great Impoftor Barchochebas, who living in the times of Adrian, faid that he was the Meffias, and deceived fome, even of the most learned. But those that profefs the Name of Jefus, have continued from the time that he lived upon Earth, even until this day; and are still not a few, only in this or that Country, but very many, difperfed as far as the World extendeth. I could alledge many other Teftimonies anciently fortold or believed concerning the Meffias, which we believe were accomplished in Jefus, fince they are not fo much as affirmed of any other: As, namely, that he came of the Pofterity of David, and was born of a Virgin; which was divinely revealed to him that married that Virgin, when he would have put her away, fupposing she had been got with child by another. Alfo, that this Meffias was born at Bethlehem, and began first to publish his doctrine in Galilee, healing all kinds of Diseases, given fight to the Blind, and making the Lame to walk. But this one may fuffice for many, the effect of which continues unto this day: It is most manifeft by the Prophecies of David, Ifaiah, Zachariah and Hofea, that the Meffias was to be an Inftructor, not only of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles; that by him the worship of false Gods fhould fall to the ground, and an huge multitude of Aliens and Strangers should be brought to the Worship of the only true God. Before Jefus his coming, almoft the whole World was over-fpread with falfe Worships and Religions; which afterward, by little and little, began to vanish away, and not only fingle perfons,

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but both People and Kings were converted unto the worship and service of one God. This was not owing to the Jewish Rabbins; but to the Disciples of Fefus, and their Succeffors. Thus they were made the People of God, that before were not the People of God: And the faying of old Jacob, Gen. 49. was fulfilled, That before all civil Authority should be taken from Judah, Shilo, fhould come. Which the Chaldee, and other Interpreters, expound of the Meffias; to whom even foreign Nations fhould be obedient.

SECT. XVIII.

Answer to that which is objected, of fome things that are not fulfilled.

HE Jews ufually object, that fome things were foretold, concerning the times of the Meffias, which are not yet fulfilled. But for anfwer, Thofe matters which they alledge, are obfcure, and admit of divers fignifications: Wherefore we ought not, because of them, to forfake those things that are manifeft; fuch as the Holiness of the Commandments of Jefus, the excellency of the Reward, and the perfpicous Language wherein it is propounded: To which, if we add the Teftimony of his Miracles, thefe ought to be fufficient inducements to the receiving of his Doctrine. As for thofe Prophecies which go under the name of a fhut or clafped Book, oftentimes, for the right understanding thereof, there is requifite fome Divine helps and affiftances, which they are worthily deprived of, that neglect

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manifeft Truths. The places of Scripture, which they object,are diverfly expounded,as themfelves cannot deny. And if any Men please to compare either the ancient Interpreters, which lived when the People were led Captive into Babylon, or fuch as lived about Chrift's time, with those that writ after that Chriftianity began to be hateful and odious unto the Jews, he fhall find new Expofitions, purpofely invented, to cross thofe forms, that well agreed with the fenfe of Chriftians. They know well enough that there are many things in the holy Scriptures, which must be un-, derstood by a Figure, and not in Propriety of Speech; as, when God is faid to have defcended; and to have a Mouth, Ears, Eyes and Noftrils. And why may not we likewife expound divers things, that are spoken of the times of the Meffias, after the fame manner; as that the Wolf fhall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard fhall lie down with the Kid; and the Calf, and the young Lyon, and the Fatling together; and the fucking Child fhall play with the Serpents, and the Mountain of the Lord fhall be exalted above other Mountains, whether Strangers shall come and worship.

There are fome things promifed,which by antecedent or confequent words, or by the very fenfe, imply a tacite Condition in them. Thus God promifed many things unto the Hebrews, upon condition they would receive the Meffias that was fent, and obey him: Which fame things, if they come not to pafs acordingly, then may they blame themselves, that are the cause thereof.

Again, other matters were promifed determinedly, and without all condition; which if they be not already accomplished, yet may be hoped for

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hereafter. For it is evident, even among the Jews, that the time or Kingdom of the Meffias must endure unto the end of the World.

SECT. XIX.

And to that which is objected, of the mean condition and death of Fefus.

Many do take exception at the low and mean

condition of Jefus, but unjustly, because in

Sacred Writ it is often faid, that God will exalt the humble, but caft down the proud. Jacob, when he paffed over Jordan, carried nothing with him, fave his staff only; and yet returned enriched with a great flock of fheep.

Mofes was a poor Exile, and feeding the flocks, when God appearded to him in the bush, and gave him commiffion for the conduct of his People. David alfo was called to his Kingdom, when he was feeding Sheep. And with many other fuch. like Examples doth the Sacred Story abound. Now concerning the Meffias, we read, that he fhould be a glad fome Meffenger unto the poor, that he should make no noise in publick, nor use any ftrife and contention; but deal gently, forbearing to break the fhaken reed, and cherishing that heat which remains in fmoaking flax.

Neither ought the reft of his afflictions, no not his ignonimus death, to make him despicable to any. For God oftentimes fuffereth the godly not only to be vexed and difquieted by the wicked, as righteous Lot was by the Citizens of Sodom; but also even to be destroyed, and flain; as is

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