Grace revealed under the Goſpel, the Prophets forctold, but in a | more dark way , the Sun of Righteouſneſs not being yer riſen, ti. Shadows were not gone, and the Light was but obſcure. Wall
11 Searching what zz, or what manner of time 7 the * ſpirit of Chriſt o which was in ther did 4; nitzz, when ir p teſtihed before hand rhe ſufferins; ..; Chritt, and the glory 9 that ſhould follow, 2
m Whether near or turther off, or what particular part ot tmc This may relate particularly to Danzel's Weeks, Chap. 9. n Whe- ther peaceable or troubleſome, when the People were free, or when in bondage ; what were the Qualities of the time, or $i n+ by which 1t might be known, 7acob foretels Chriſt's cominz, when the Scepter was departed from Judah, Gen. 49. 10. Iſaiah, in a time of Univertal Peace, Chap. 2. 4. and 11.6. This dili-ent* c1- quiring atrer the tune of Chritt's coming, ſhewed their earneſt long- ing for it. 0 Softtiled, as being of the Son, no lefs than of the b4- ther, both by eternal Procciſion, and temporal Million, 7ohn 14. 16, 26, and 15. 25. This ſhews, that not only Chriſt had a Beins under the Old Teſtament before his coming 1n the Fleſh, (ror it Chrift were not, there could be no Spirit of Chriſt) and likewiſe that Chriſt 15 God, becauſe of his inſpiring the Prophets with the knowledge of future things, which none but God can do. p What the Prophets did toretel concerning Chrift, was not their own Cui jeture, but what the Spirit did diftate to them. q Gr, 67/25, in
the Pjural Number, 4. e. the manifold Glory which was to Coll, upon h1z many. Sufferings, the Glory of his Reſurrection, &-<niion fitting at the Right Hand of God, ſending the Spirit, 7c. Chiri tt Sufterings and Glory are often joyned together, Yſul. 110, 7, Ta. 5: 3, JO, I, 12. Inte $4. 26. Phd. 2: 8, 9. Heb. 2.9, 10. to ſhew that there is the ſame way ſand no other) tor the Salvation cf the Members, as for the Glory oi. the Head, wiz. by Sufferinzs,
12 * Unto whom 7 it was revealed s that not wv to themſelves 7, bur unto us they did minitter x the - things y which are now reported £ unto vou by thy a that have preached the goſpel unto-you, with Holy Ghoſt tent down from heaven &, which t c the angels deflire ro look into d.
7 Unto which Prophets. s Viz. by the Spirit of Chitift that ca in them, e who lived before Chriſt's coming in the klcſh. »« Not only Apoſtles, but Believers, who live ſince Chriſt came. x Þ: clare and toretel. The Preaching of the Word is called a Miuiltr, Adts 6.4. and 2 Cor. 4. 1.and $.18, y The whole Dodtrine oi th: Goſpel concerning Chriſt's Perſon, Offices, Benefits, Kingdom, and the whole New Teſtament-ſtate. z Viz. as fulfilled, and actually cx hibited now, which were only foretold by the Prophets. a Thc Apoſtles, and other Goſpel-Miniſtersaffiſtamtto them. The ſenſc is, The Prophets under the Old Teftament did, by the Spirit forcice, and foretel Chriſt's Paiſion, Reſurrettion, Aſcenſion, the Effuſion of the Spirit, the Enlargement of the Church, by the Calling ot the Gentiles, gc. but did not live to ſee their o;vn Prophecies, and God's Promiles fulfilled, Heb. 11. 13. as you now do. They di2 ſpread the Table that you might feed at it ; they had but a taſte}; Faith, and at a diſtance, of thoſe things you teatt upon in their Ac compliſhment ; yet they did nor grudge to declare theſe things, bc. Ing inſtrutted by the Spirit, that what they ſpake of, ſhould not be fulriiled 10 their time, but in the Generations to come ; ite! 1: ye, by comparing what they ſaid ſhould come to- paſs; with what you now have been aſſured 1s come to paſs, may be confirmed and eſtabliſhed in the Bclicf of the Truth, being the ſame held forth by the Prophets formerly, and Goſpel-Miniſters at prefent. 6 Chri!? promiſcd to ſend the Spirit, Lube 24. 49. John 14. 25. and 15 26, and 16. 17, and aQually ſent him, A4&s 2. the Apoſiles, not 03 themſelves, but a&ed by this Spirit, have declared unto you the fulfilling of thoſe things, which the former Prophets, by the ip!iintt and power of the ſame Spirit (the Spirit of Chriſt, which was 2 them) did foretel, would in their proper ſeaſon come to pil, c The things betore ſaid to be reported by them that preached tc Golpel. & It ſeems to be an Alluſion to the Citerubims that ſtood above the Ark, with their faces toward the Mercy-ſeat, whicit was a Type of Chriſt. The word fignifies a bowing down the Head, and ſtooping to look into a thing, Lube 24. 12. Fohn 20. 5. and impiics a prying, or looking narrowly into it ; which argues an eapneit detire to know it. The Angels thus look into the Mylterics vi the Goſpel, as defirous to ſee the accompliſhment of thero, adn ring the manifold Grace and Wiſdom of God in them, #þ/ e/. 3. i and rejo\ cing in the Salvation of Sinners, which is the cnd, and eftctt ot God's revealing them.
13 Wherefore e * gird up theloins of your tn /. * he lober g, and hope || ro the end þ tor the grice - Mat is © ve brought unto you at the revelation 4 of jt. Chin:.
e The tollowing Exhortation may be conneQted, either with 12 4. being ſo glorious an Inheritance 1s reſerved In Heaven tor you gird up, &c. or with ver. 12. ſeeing ye know thoſe things, whicn tNe Prophets that foretold them, did nor tully 1ce, and the Angct> themſelves deſire to look into ; the Grace of God vouchſafed to you, 1s ſo excellent and admirable, gird up, &c. f 7.e. Let your hincs He attent, prompt, ready, prepared for your Spiritual Wore, re ſtrained from all thoſe Thoughts, Cares, Affections, and Lults, which may entangle, detaiga, hinder them, or make thei unit 101 it. Itis a Metaphor taken from the Cuſtom of the Oriental Nations, who wearing long looſe Garments, were wont to gird them about their Loins, that they might not hinder them in their travelling, or workinsz, 1 Kings 18. 45. and 2 Kings 4.25. Lhe 17. 6. Sc On Luke 12.35,37. Pcrhaps it may have a ſpecial retpee to the like Eite uſed at the Paſſover, Exod. 12.11. when fhe Tract! Were ready to enter upon their Journey, and go out of EzYÞ?. £ l; i may relate, either, 1, to the Body, and then the ſenile Jgrece Wie Luke 21. 34. where the Cares of ths Life ſeem f9 be oppoice to the girding up the Loins of the Mind, and 5-f- nels, to Sobricty here. Or rather, 2. To the 598, and
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