§. 276. Of Christ the prime promise not received by true Believers.
OF the Believers before mentioned, and of others that lived before Christ was exhibited, is is said, they that received not the promise, that is, Saints under the old Testament had not an actuall exhibition of Christ. This was one of* 1.1 the promises, concerning which it was said of the Patriarks, they received not the promises. v. 13. In this respect it is said, that many Prophets and righteous me•…•… desired to see those things. (Math 13. 17.) namely, Iesus Christ Incarnate, Li∣ving, Preaching, working Miracles, &c. and that the Prophets enquired and searched diligently about those things. 1 Pet. 1. 10. Therefore they did not en∣joy them.
God was herein pleased to manifest his wisedom in reserving such a promise to a fulness of time. Gal. 4. 4. and that,
- 1. That his goodness might by degrees encrease, as the Sun doth: and so be the better discerned. For by degrees it was more cleerly revealed.
- 2. That so great a blessing might be the more expected, enquired after, and longed for.
- 3. That the patience and other graces of Saints might be the better exer∣cised.
- 4. That Christ himself might be the more honoured, in that he was reserved to the latter age of the world, as being a blessing which surpassed all other blessings before it.
- 1. Hereby we have instruction in the nature of Faith, which is to rest upon promises for things future, as if they were actually accomplished.
- 2. This doth much amplifie the Faith of former Believers, in that they did and endured so great things for Christ before they enjoyed him.
- 3. It checks our backwardness and dulness in believing, who live in the times wherein the promise may be and is received.
- 4. This should stir us up to seek to excell them, in that we have received the promise which they received not.