they did not bclieve, but becauſe they believed, therefore they mar- velled. Thev had Revelations what Chriſt was, the Angel had ap- pearcd to :jeph, to WHary, to Zachary, and Elizabeth, the Wiſe men had come from the Eaft (if as ſome think they came ſo ſoon ) yet th-v marvelled, they did not Contemn and mock at theſe things, hat certenly neither did they fully underſtand them, but in the General blioved the Divine Revelation. I do doubt whether before Chrift was J:c/ared t5 be the Son of God with Power, by his Reſur- reftion from the Lead. Rem. I. 3, 44 either Mary or Chriſt's own Piſcipies did fieadily and firmly beiteve, that Chrift was the Eternal &%an 0; Ged ; rig? 1t 15 clear that before that time, they believed him to be crit of God, and a zreat Prophet, nay the promijed Meſſtss, the Chriſt of God, and gonerally believed what was ſpoken of the Meſſtns and the Chritt belonged to him 3 but whether they did rightly un- derſtand that the Meſiah was to be God-man, I cannot teil. John Baptift ſeemeth clearett ig the Caſe, Peter alſo made a famous Con- feſſion of it, but many things we Rezd of Peier atterward which ſpcak cyen Peter's Faith in the cafe, rather the Embryo of F aith, than a fixed and perfett Faith. But I impoſe nothing here on my Reg- dor. Ter him indie as he feeth reafon, ſuppoſing a ixcd firm Faitly in this Cafe, yet they might Marvel, for Cliriſt #5 to be admired of them that. beliowed. 24 And Sirmcon bleſſed them, and ſaid nnto Mary other, Echold, this ch:ld 1s ft for the * fall and ring again of many in Iſracl, and for a * ſign which z ſhall be ſpoken againſt. 35 (Yea, a * iword ſhall pierce through thy own ſoul alſo) that the thoughts of many hearts may be [Simeon bleſſ}zd them ;] ſome may queſtzon how it was that Simeon bletſed Chriſt, when as the Apoſtle tells us, The leſſer 3s bleſſed of the greater / But we muRt diſtinguiſh betwixt a Prophetical Bleſſing, as Jacob þlefſed his Sons, which was nothing but a Prediction how God wovld bleſs them. 2. An Authoritative Bleſſing, as the Pricſts bleſſed the People inthe Name of the Lord, Numb. 5. Which 1s no- thing but a pronouncing them blcfſed by Authority from God, | whom God hath bleifed. 3. A Charitable or Precatory Bleſſing, Praying God to Bleſs them. Thus Inferiors may bleſs Superiors, as well as Superiors may bleſs Inferiors. The firit, or Jaſt, or both thoſe is to be underſtood. here, not the ſecond. | And he ſaid to Mzry his Mother. | Not to Joſeph who he knew was not his Natural, but Legal ard Reputcd Father. | Behold this Child is ſet for the fall, &c. | that by the fall and iſzng again, 15 here meant the Salvation and Pamanztion of many 15 doubtcd by no valuable Interpreters. The Apofile fo applyeth; 1a. 8. 14. where he is ſaid to be for a Stone of Tumbling, and for a Rock, of offence, to both the Houſes of Iſrael, for a Gin, and for a Snare, to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, and many emmgſt them ſpall ſtumble and fall, and be brol;en, and be ſnared, and be tiben s fo doth Peter, x Pet. 2: 8. neither is it more than Chrift tclieth us, Joh. g. 39. For Judgment I am come into this Wirtz, that they which ſee nit mignt ſee, and that they which ſee might be made blind, Accordingly the Apoſtle ſaith, 2 Cor. 2. 16. that they were to ſome, the Sawvour of Death unto Death, to others ene Savor of Life wito Life. The reaſon 15, becauſe they that believe m him fhal. bs javed ;, they that believe not ſhall be Damned, Mar. £5f. 16, Toin 3. $8, 36. This js now granted on all Hands, That Chriſt will Le the occefion of many Peoples Damnation, cven all that cezett, and oppoſe him, 2nd believe not in him ; and the cauſe of many PEOPICE S2:V3tion, even all that ſhall be ſaved, For there ws n9 other name given wider Heaven, by which any can be ſaved, As 4. 12.fee Mitth. 23.44. 1 Pct, 2. 4, g. Andit is obſervable, tht the Salvation of Souls by Chriit is exprefſed by the Term Riſing. £0 as al! are fallen, Eph. 2, 2. and have need of the application of a greater Power to tem tor their Salvation, than an under-propping of the invare power orthcir Wilis, But the great queſtion is about £1] as Fs ſet , whether it 5zniheth only, an event, or ſome Coun di and Ordinaticn of God. Let us compare 1t with other Texts, where the lame \ord is uled, Phil. 1. 17. 1 Thefſ. 3. 2. How ſuch great iffucs of Providence thould happen, without the fore-knowledge
i
37 And ſhe m4 a widow of about fourſcore ang 'four years, which departed not from the tempiz, but ſerved Cod with faſting and prayers night 4 day.
| 3d Ard ſhe coming in that inſtant,gave thanks like- wiſe unto the Lord, and ſpake of him to all them thr
* looked for redemption in || Jeruſalem. :
| God took care that our Szviour's Nativity ſhould be fully 21tc{4, "i { To the Teſtimony of the Angels, the Iſije-men, the Sheverde, 53. 8 meon, hcre is added another,it is that of 4nna who is deſcribed here 35 4 \by her Trihe, and by her Father, She was of the Tribe cf- 46, © 4!
one of the meaneſt Tribes, and of thoſe Ten Tribes that were on ricd into the Captivity of Aria, having before made a Dcfetinn Cunder the Condut of Jeroboam) both trom the Bouſe of Di; and trom the true Worſhip of God, But tho tie Generality did