A discourse concerning prodigies: wherein the vanity of presages by them is reprehended. And their true and proper ends asserted and vindicated / By John Spencer, B.D.

  • John Spencer
Date:
1663
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A discourse concerning prodigies: wherein the vanity of presages by them is reprehended. And their true and proper ends asserted and vindicated / By John Spencer, B.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    70/150 (page 48)
    / . objections mjwtred Seft#7. hugeimportance [as, that Je/ia was the promifed Mefllah, that all the fhadows, and rites of the law, were to expire and conclude (like the Phanix in a Reft of fpices) in the graces, truths and glories of the Gofpel-ftate; that the wall of partition was now to be. taken away, and all Nations to own themfelves brethren under one common Father] Thefe things, all men were concern'd to know and believe, and therefore God taught them by great figns, as well as excellent Preachers. Whereas Prodigies are fuppos’d the figns of wrath and Pf \/ul t judgements, which yet often furprize men (not unfitly therefore *** 9 lbia Gods arrows y which give a fatal, but withall a fuddain and a fi- lent wound) and befides are prefum'd to come forth to ferve fome worldly and little ends and interefts, which men eaftly perfwade themfelves. Heaven hathefpoufed with as much paflion as them¬ felves. 5. The di[parity of the times' fpo\en of fin that Text) from our own: The times there intended. Were times rather prefent then future : times wherein theMofaical Oeconomy, (brought on With mighty figns and wonders; was to determine 5 Times wherein the Church Was to be put under an immutable and excellent form of adminillra- tion fftifd therefore the laft times jn Scripture) Now necefiary it was that fome remarkeabl<f figns of thofe times fliould be given forth in feripture, that fo the age wherein that mighty change fliould fall, might the better acquiefce therein, and fucceeding generations might have the more feCure a faith of the exhibition of the true Meffm3 becaufe obferving all the figns of the times to which he was promifed, exa6tly confpiring in thofe wherein he was exhibited. Whereas all the changes which chequer and vary the times of the World now, are of no name and reckoning, if compar’d with this. The world is fo acquainted with civil changes, that I fliould expedt a Prodigie rather to give notice of fome days of peace and fettled tranquillity (to which the world is the greateft ftranger) 4. The Difparhy between the Perfons to whom thofe words were fpo\en* and our [elves; The Jews Were a People fo us'd to figns, that the ■4pofile tells us, 1 Cor. 1. 21. the Jews require-a fign. And it was the vulgar opinion amongft them, that as all extraordinary Prophets were to feal their commiiTion with a miracle, fo all events extra- ordinary were to be forefhewn by align. Hence the Jews come to ix. our Saviour with that bold demand, TVhatfign Jbcvoeft thou unions* joeing that thou doeft all thefe things ? Jo. 2.18. and the Difciples (upon the credit of this common conceit) no fooner hear our Saviour fore- Mat. r»4. tell ftrange events in reference to Hierufalem, and the Temple, but they prefently ask him [whatfhallbe the figns when all thefe things Jhall tome to pafs ? J God perhaps gave them figns, to afiure them that the evils which befell them arofenotoutofthe duft,but came upon them Irom the fore-appointing counfels of heaven 5 and to awaken their dull and worldly minds into a lively fenfe of his juftice and provi¬ dence. But now in the broad day light ofthe Gofpel, ?tis expe&ed that we fliould hot need awakening by any iuch monitors into a fenfe and awe of the Divine Majefty. We mull now believe without a fign.