IV - Of the Revelation of the Promises

For this we constantly believe, That God, after the fearfull and horrible defection of man from his obedience, Gen. 3.15. Gen. 3.9. Gen. 12 3. Gen. 15 5, 6. 2 Sam. 7.14. Isai 7.14 Isai 9 6 Hag 2.6 John 8.38. did seek Adam again, call upon him, rebuke his sin, convince him of the same, and in the end made unto him a most joyfull Promise, to wit, That the Seed of the Woman should breake downe the Serpents head; that is, He should destroy the works of the devill: which Promise, as it was repeated and made more cleer from time to time, so was it embraced with joy, and most constantly retained of all the faithfull, from Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, and from Abraham to David, and so forth to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ; who all (we mean the faithfull Fathers) under the Law, did see the joyfull dayes of Christ Jesus, and did rejoyce.