VII.  Previous  notice  was  given  of  fome  of  the  principal  difpenfations,
cither  for  warning,  or  to  prepare  men  for  the  reception  of  them.  The
deluge  was  preached  by  Noah  120  years  before  it  came  to  pafs.  The
Jewifh  difpenfuion  was  predicted  to  Abraham  430  years  beforehand.  Je-
remiah foretold  the  Babylonifli  captivity  ;  and  Paul,  and  John  at  large,

predict


Chs,  III.  tolv'tnt  'Difpenfations.  I?

predict  and  ilefcrTBe  the  grand  apoftacy.  But  the  coming  of  the  MeJ/iah,
and  thegofpeldifpenfation,run  through  the  whole,  from  the  beginning  to
the  end,  in  a  lefs  or  clearer  degree  of  light.  And  it  was  fitting  that  this,
which  is  the  chief  of  God's  works,  fhould  receive  the  brighteft  evidence
from  prophecy.  And  therefore  it  was  not  fit  it  fhould  be  introduced  till
fuch  time  as  it  had  received  that  evidence;  which  in  Scripture  is  called
thefulnefs  of  time.  Gal.  iv.  4.
