First, the Gospel had now dilated it self to the very utmost bounds of the Jews terri∣tories in Canaan, Judaea, Samaria, and Galilee, had been preached to, and through, and now is it got to the very walls of their dominions round about: And there wanteth no∣thing but laying the partition wall flat, that the Gospel may get out unto the Gentiles: and that is done in this Chapter; where the great partition and distance that was be∣twixt Jew and Gentile is utterly removed and taken away by God himself, who had first pitched and set it betwixt them.
Secondly, the two first and mainest stones of interposition that were laid in this wall, were circumcision and diet: the one in the time of Abraham, Gen. 17. the other in the time of Jacob, Gen. 32. 32. And in reference to these two it is, that they of the Circumcision contend with Peter, upon his return to Jerusalem, for they are grieved that he went in to men uncircumcised, and ate with them, Chap. 11. 3. These were the proper distinguishers betwixt Israel and other Nations; for all their other Ceremonies were not so much to distinguish them from other people, as to compose them among themselves and towards God, they being first distinguished from others by these.
Of these two, singularity of Dyet, or Prohibition of certain meats, was the more proper difference, and the more strict distinctive: For all the seed of Abraham was cir∣cumcised, and so in regard of that Ceremony, there was no difference betwixt an Ismae∣lite and a Jew: But abstaining from such and such meats, was a proprium quarto modo, a singularity that differenced an Israelite from all the world besides.
Thirdly, therefore it was most proper, and of most divine reason, that the liberty of eating any meats, did denote and shew a liberty of conversing with any nation, and that the inlarging of the one, is the inlarging of the other.
Fourthly, the first-fruits of this inlargement, and entertainment beyond the partition wall is Cornelius, a Convert, but not a Proselyte: a man that was already come in to God, but not come in to the Church of Israel: a man as far contrarily qualified for such a business, in all humane appearance, as what could be most contrary, as being a Ro∣man, a Souldier, a Centurion; and yet he of all men chosen to be the first-fruits of the Gentiles, that God herein might be the more plainly shewed to be no respecter of per∣sons.
Fifthly, it had been now 2210 years since the Heathen were cast of at the confusion of Babel, and had lain so long in darkness, sin, superstition and Idolatry, strangers to God, and aliens from the congregation of Israel; bondslaves of Satan, and under his do∣minion, and even all the world (Israel only execepted) become the Kingdom of Hell and the Devil.
Sixthly, Satan had by this very time brought his Kingdom among these Heathens to the very Apex and perfection, when he had gotten one into the throne of the Roman Em∣pire, (which was now over all the world) who by the very sword and power will force the people to adore him for a God, and had the sword and power in his own hand to force them to adore him: as we saw by Caius even now. And here I cannot but look back from Caius as he sate in his throne as an ungodly Deity when the Gentiles began to be called in, to the first Idol that they proposed and set up for themselves to adore at Babel, as he is described by the Jerusalem Targum at their first casting off: For thus doth it Paraphrase those Rebels plot and conspiracy, for the building of that Idolatrous City, Gen. 11. 3. And they said, Come let us build a City and a Tower, whose top may reach to heaven, and in the midst of it, let us build a Chappel, and an Idol in the head of it with a sword in his hand to fight for us that we be not scattered.
Nor can I but look forward also from the same Caius Deifying himself, and that in the Temple of God as we shall see ere long, to the succeeding times of the Gentile Church, which is now beginning: wherein a man of sin, the successor of Caius Caligula a thousand fold more likely, than the successor of Simon Peter, hath set up himself to be adored, and exalts himself above every thing that is called God.
Seventhly, the instrument of the first introducing of the Gentiles, by the bringing in of Cornelius, was Peter: not for any Primacy or universal Bishopship that he was invested withall, but rather because he was the most singular minister of the Circumcision: for his bringing in of the Gentiles would stop the mouth of the Judaizing believers the more.