Moses Unveiled, Dedication
TO THE REVEREND AND RIGHT Worshipfull, D. YOVNG, Deane of Winchester.
Right Worshipfull,
THe Lord, who is the God of order, abhorring confusion, hath by degrees of light, from time to time manifested that hid treasure of his mercy, and our comfort, fore-shaddowing first by Types, then fore-shewing by Prophecies, and at last pointing more cleerely and particularly at that Lambe of God, by the Baptist his fore-runner. So that each age and manner of Reuelation hath had still the cleerer Demonstration of the Messiah, who was approching: Euen as the earth more and more is illuminate, the neerer the Sunnes arising vponupon our Horizon is at hand: like Noah who first opened the window of the Arke wherein he was, then remooued the couering thereof, and at last stept forth himselfe. This is the Ladder which Iacob saw comming thus downe from Heauen, by the seuerall degrees of cleerer and neerer manifestation; and the Starry fore-guiding light, leading at last to the place where the Babe was, but there standing and vanishing without further progresse.
So that it is a maruell how that the Vaile so long should be vponupon the eyes of Israel, or the Kall of induration vponupon the heart of Iudah; but that euen when hee came, marking eueryevery plain Prophesie, that was foretold of him, and seeing the fulfilling of the same in his Person, they might hauehave knowne their King.
Herod conuocates all the Ecclesiasticall sort, and askes where he should be borne; and they answere, At Bethleem: For so it was writtē, there they saw his Humilitie at his first entrance into the world: and why then trusted they not likewise their owne quotation, and embraced their Lord?
Let them peruse in like maner, the rest of these Prophecies that are spoken of him, (according to the particulars of the Treatise following) and (laying aside their stiffe-neckednes, of old vpbraided vntounto them) truely apply, and they shall beforced to come to that conclusion of Apollos, that it Acts 8. 28.is euident by Scripture, That Iesus is that Christ, all those things spoken of the Messiah, agreeing to him alone, and being applyable to no other besides.
The humble abasement of this lowly Lord, comming in the shape of a Seruant, and dying so ignominious a death for mankinde, beeing the cause of this stumbling of theirs, they expecting a worldly glorious King, and a corporall Deliuerance. Therefore Isaiah, foreseeing their incredulity for this cause, cryes out, Who will Isaiah 53.beleeue our report? or to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed? And holy Simeon Luke 2. 34.pronounceth him to be appointed for the rising & fall of many in Israel, and for a signe which should bee spoken against; the wise Economie of the Lords grace beeing herein manifested, that by the reiection for a time, the fulnesse of the Gentiles might bee accomplished, all men might taste of grace, & the ends of the earth might be his Sonnes possession.psal. 2.
But would they enter within the Vayle, and behold what glory of the Holiest is vnderunder the base outward couering of the Arke, and by a holy consideration digge within the earth of his humanitie, and they should finde the glorious Pearle and treasure of the incomprehensible Deity, manifesting it selfe in his life, in matchlesse miracles, possible onelyonly to that nature to performe; so that the simple people are forced to confesse, that none could do such things, except GOD were with him, discouering it selfe also in his death by fearefull wonders: so that the Centurion proclaimes, Of a surety he was the Sonne of God: and after his glorious Resurrection and Ascension, notwithstanding the mightiest opposition of the world, and Prince thereof, by strait Lawes, close imprisonments, cruel torments, farre exilements, and sundry sorts of death; yet this crucified Iesus, by a few Fishermen, whom he made Fishers of men, subdued the world in short space to himselfe, making Emperours to lay downe their crownes at his feet, who was crowned with Thornes, their Scepters to sway to the aduancement of his Kingdome, in whose hand a Reed, for a Scepter, was sometimes mockingly put; their Empires, Oracles, Idols, and former Heathenish worship, like Dagon falne before the Arke, lying ouerthrowne, striken dumbe, broken in pieces, and (as Sisera before Iael) prostrate at the foot of his Crosse, by ignorance (as the world accounted) subduing learning, by simplicitie, wisedome; by humilitie, pride; by weakenesse, power, by meeknesse, cruelty; by suffering, obtaining victory; and by shame, attaining to glory, the most glorious and most mighty Kingdomes which wee see, beeing but small pieces of their Conquests, and Monuments of their Trophe.
What a death then is this, that hath done such things … all the liuing could not doe? What matchlesse power is this that hath wrought such incredible things by weaknesse, by contempt, by the folly of preaching? What base meanes is this to bring down highest▪ Powers, Principalities, Thrones and Dominions? And how comes it to passe, that these conquerors at last glorie to dye for him, who dyed such a cursed, and shamefull death, but that they know hee liueth and reigneth for euer? and thereby they (hauing liued heere by grace in him, and dyed witnessing for him) should bee brought to liue and reigne in glory eternally with him?
But our hope (according to the promise) is, that the Vaile at last will be taken from their eyes, and Iapheth and Sem shall be found in one Tent: the Lord will powre wpon the House of Dauid, and vponupon Zech. 12. 10.the Inhabitants of Ierusalem, the Spirit of grace and of compassion, and they shall looke on him whom they hauehave pearced.
These paines, Sir, that I hauehave taken herein, I hauehave dedicate to your Name, as a testimony of my more then deserued duty and affection to you, which I shall thinke my selfe euer bound to owe, for your manifold courtesies, whereof at your last being in your owne natiue Countrey, I had sufficient proofe; especially, not onelyonly in that accesse of LEVI to his Sacred MAIESTIE, by your meanes, and your vnmerited speeches there-anent: but likewise in that Royall gracing of the same which thereafter ensued, and of the Author (though vnworthy) thereof. The experience therefore of your modest, humane, and most gentle inclination, assures mee at this time, of your owne courteous and kind acceptation of this harmonicall consent, (in making the Old Testament (as it were) by the hand to leade in the New; and the Trumpet of the Prophets to sound the newes of the Gospell) without the needing many (if any) words, earnestly to sute the same. Receiue therefore, Sir, from an affectionate heart, and dutifull hand, this small Pledge of gratitude and remembrance, and what weakenesse or defect is therein, let your better ability and learned Iudgement couer, support, and supply the same. Whereunto remitting and recommending it: Beseeching God to multiply vponupon you the growth of his grace, and sensible blessing, and that with our Master Iesus, you may dayly grow more & more in fauour both with God and Man.
Your Worships in all sincere and dutifull affection in the Lord, WILLIAM GVILD.