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As the last part of the note, so the first part of this Section was too strong for your pallet, and therefore it was high time for you, to cry out, [all this Section fights against vaine imaginations,] of which kind of answers you have a very pregnant fancie. But as vaine
as they are, they have made the greatest Scholars in Chri∣stendome to confesse, that a generall conversion of the Jewes is here foretold by the Apostle; and to deny, that no more but a partiall and successive conversion of them with the Gentiles, throughout the whole time of the Gentiles calling, is here meant, as you would have the Apostle understood. For I would not Bre∣thren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, &c. saith St. Paul, what? was it a mystery, that some Jewes were then joyn'd with the Gentiles in the Church of Christ? or shall we thinke, that the Apostle would admonish them not to be ignorant of that which they could not be ignorant of? to wit, that some Jewes as well as the Gentiles, were then to be converted: No doubtlesse, but to be mindfull of that which being a mysterie they were ignorant of, untill he had now reveal'd it unto them; to wit, the conversion of All Israel, of the whole Nation when the fulnesse of the Gentiles should come in. And as I have before shewed, that Israel here is pro∣perly to be taken, so I dare say, that you cannot alledge any text of Scripture, that will justifie the mysticall acception of it, if it be throughly scan'd. And whereas you say [that the Prophec••••, Esa. 66. ver. 8. was fulfill'd truely (albeit not fully) when the believing Church travelled, and brought forth so great multitudes in one day, as may be call'd a Nation, as 3000. and 5000. Acts 2.41. and 4. ver. 4. and chap. 8. ver. 6. and chap. 19. ver. 10.17, 18.20.26. besides o∣ther great and miraculous conversions, whereof we read in Ecclesiasticall Histories;] Certainly your application failes you very much. For first the Prophet speaks of the conversion of a whole Nation, not of halfe a Nation; and much lesse of so small a number, as you (to maintaine your cause) would perswade us to take for a Nati∣on. Secondly, he speaks but of one Nation (to wit, the Nation of the Jewes) and not of the Jewes and Gentiles both; as you in these instances doe interpret him. Thirdly, he speaks of Sions travelling, when she should returne from her unbeliefe (as the contempora∣ting Prophecies in the same chapter doe shew) and not before she fell into unbeliefe; as the conversion of the Jewes which you men∣tion, was. And fourthly, the conversion he foreshewes, is to be so sodaine, that it is said to be performed [at once] which connot be affirmed of a conversion of my ordinarie continuance, and how then can it be affirmed of a conversion of so many yeares and ages,
as you understand it of, in applying it to the whole time under the Gospel? For suppose that a great summe of mony were to be paid to you [at once] would you give the creditour leave to make this construction of it, that it was to be paid by him and his heirs, to you and your heires, untill it were all paid? doubtlesse you would not: and yet as if all the time betwixt Christs first and se∣cond comming, were not time enough to be understood by [one day, and at once] you tell us too [It is certaine, it was in part ful∣fill'd at their returning from Babel, for then they reared up their walls, they planted Vineyards, &c.] Who ever heard of such a large [at once?] of an [at once] to begin at the deliverance of the Jewes from Babylon, and to continue to the next appearing of Christ? what? could the Prophet have made the speedie execution of that he speaks of, a matter of so great admiration, if it should have been any long time in fulfilling? or shall we say, that Adino the Eznite, who lift up his Speare against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time, did it at so many severall times as there were men slaine by him? 2 Sam. 23. ver. 8. or that when Abraham said, Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speake yet but this once, Gen. 18. ver. 32. it is to be understood that he spake more then that once? or that when the Lord said unto Joshua, Ye shall goe about the City once, Jos••. 6. ver. 3. it was to be done many times together? (for in all these texts there are the same words in the originall, as are here in the Prophet) were not this most wilfully to contradict the text? and yet you can very modestly, reverently, and righteously affirme that [It is certaine this [once] was in part fulfill'd at the Jewes returning from Babel.] But where are the reasons that prove this certainty, seeing there is neither in this verse, nor in the whole chapter, any mention of Babylon, or of walls and Vineyards? and if there had been mention of rearing up their walls and Vineyards: how could you understand it properly here, who take it figuratively, Amos 9. ver. 14.? so that all this being laid together, to wit, that this Prophecie doth speake of the conversion of a whole Nation, of but one Nation, of a Nation formerly given up to unbeliefe, and at once againe to return to the truth; it should me thinks, be motive enough to make any partiall or impartiall Reader, to understand the accomplishment of it particularly of the Nationall conversi∣on of the Jewes onely, by the plentifull effusion of Gods Spirit up∣on
them before the great and terrible Day of the Lords appearing, as Joel hath prophecied. And as for that which followes, any one that hath but halfe an eye may perceive how well your eye-sight serv'd you, when you conceived, that the Prophecie Matth. 21. ver. 43. was alledged by me to prove the temporall Kingdome of the Jewes; who have alledg'd it onely as a reason to shew, that this Prophecie of Isaiah could not be fulfill'd at the returning of the Jewes from Babylon, because the meanes of salvation (the King∣dome of God, as our Saviour cals it) was then amongst them on∣ly, of which they were to be destitute before the accomplishment of this Prophecie, which shewes their conversion to it againe. And he may perceive too how you take non causa pro causà, how inju∣riously you impute unto me the alledging of the accomplishment of our Saviours Prophecie; to shew that Joels Prophecie was not fulfill'd, which was indeed before prov'd by such reasons as you could not answer.