of Jubile, as long as he liveth, as long as the Law of Ceremonies is in force, or as long as the earth endureth, and such like, as, He shall serve thee for ever, Deut. 15. 17. and is untill the yeare of Jubile, Lev. 25. 40, 41. he shall serve them for ever, Lev. 25. 46. that is, all the dayes of his life. He shall appeare before the Lord for ever, 1 Sam. 1. 22. Horat. Serviet, æternum qui pacto nesciat uti
1 Sam. 13.13that is, as long as he liveth. I will praise the Lord for ever and ever, Psal. 145. 1, 2. that is, as long as I shall have any being, Psal, 146. 2. So the cares of this age, Matth. 13. 22. is put for the cares of this life, Luk. 8. 14. The Covenant of the Sabbath and Circumcision is called everlasting, Exod. 32. 16, 17. Gen. 17. 13. that is, during the time of the Old Testament, or untill the time of Reformation. The earth standeth for ever, Eccles. 1. 4. Psal. 104. 6. that is, as long as the world shall endure, as long as the fashion, tenor or forme of the world shall continue, 1 Cor. 7 31. The grave is called the house of ages, or an everlasting house, Eccles. 12. 7. The desolations which shall end in the space of 70 yeares, are called everlasting desolations, Ier. 25. 9. Ovid, Meta l. 1. Ad mea perpetuum deducite tempora carmen.And that which whiles it lasteth, is never interrupted, is said to be everlasting, Psal. 25. 6. Thy mercies which are everlasting, that is, which thou alwayes usest, being never interrupted. So it is a perpetuall speech, which is never interrupted or broken off, though it may have an end. So that we must wisely consider what doth agree to every place, even to the appointed end, and that rather hidden in the will of God, then made knowne to men. And if we take the Land of Canaan properly and literally, it was not the everlasting Inheritance of Israell absolute, but relative, not for ever, but for a long time prescribed of God, even untill the time of Reformation: But if we looke to the thing signified it is an everlasting inheritance to the spirituall seed.
These promises were freely made of grace, and of meere grace the blessings promised were conferred upon the seed. Josh. 24.2For Abraham himselfe was an Idolater, when it pleased God to call him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and to make these rich promises unto him. And as Abrahams calling was of grace, so are all the promises made unto him when he was first called. Rom. 4.4.The wages is due unto him that worketh upon desert, but the inheritance was given to Abraham by promise. Gen. 15.6.Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse. Rom. 4.2.And if faith be reckoned to Abraham for righteousnesse, he hath not to glory before God. We reade indeed the Lord said untoAbraham
