Page images
PDF
EPUB

Things which plainly relate to the Meffiah; fome whereof are cited and applied to Chrift in the New Teftament, and feveral of them were attributed to the Meffiah by the ancient Jews. [See the Texts that follow ]

He tells us in Chapter vi. ver. 12. Thus fpeaketh the Lord of Hofts, faying, Behold the Man whofe Name is the Branch, he shall build the Temple of the Lord, he shall bear the Glory, and shall fit and rule upon his Throne; and he shall be a Prieft upon his Throne, and the Counsel of Peace fall be between them both: And they that are afar off, shall come and build in the Temple of the Lord. Wherein the Prophet informs us, that this Perfon, whom foregoing Prophets have called The Branch out of the Root of feffe, fhall build up the Church of God in the World, fhall be both a Priest and a King, with Counfels of Peace; and the Heathens that are, afar off fhall come and affift this Work of building up the Church."

This fame Prophet declares alfo, that Chrift fhould come to Jerufalem as the King of Zion, meek and bringing Salvation, riding upon a Colt the Fole of an Afs, Zech. ix. 10. which was fulfilled, Matt. xxi. 5. and John xii. 15.

22 Q. Does this Prophet fay any Thing concerning the Remiffion of Sins to be obtained through Jefus Chrift?

A. Yes, there is a remarkable Prophecy in Zech. xiii. 1. which must be referred to this Subject. In that Day there shall be a Fountain opened to the Houfe of David, and the Inhabitants of Ferufalem, for Sin and for Uncleannefs; that is, by the Death of Chrift, and his Blood making Atonement for Sin. And ver. 7. his Sufferings are described, which should be inflicted on him, when God himself should bruise him, and make his Soul an Of

fering for Sin, as Ifaiah expreffes it; and that his Difciples for a Seafon fhould forfake him. Zech. xiii. 7. Awake, O Sword, against my Shepherd, and against the Man that is my Fellow, faith the Lord of Hofts. Smite the Shepherd, and the Sheep fhall be fcattered, which was fulfilled Matt. xxvi. 56.

And befides all this, his Sufferings from the Hands of Men are alfo defcribed; namely, that he fhould be fold for thirty Pieces of Silver, which fhould be given to the Potter, Zech xi. 12, 13. which the Prophet speaks as perfonating the Meifiah, as David had often done before; and it was fulfilled Matt. xxvii. 9, 10. The Prophet foretels also the Manner of his Death, namely, that he fhould be pierced; and intimates the Converfion of some of thofe Jews who crucified him, Zech. xii. 10. I will pour out on the House of David, and the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, the Spirit of Grace and Supplication; and they shall look on me (or him) whom they have pierced, and mourn for him: Fulfilled in John xix. 34, 36. when his Side was pierced with a Spear, and his Hands and Feet with Nails; and As ii. 23, 36, 37, 41. when bis Crucifiers were converted; whereof a fuller and more glorious Accomplishment is expected in the latter Days among the Jewish Nation, who have been piercing him with Reproaches almoft ever fince.

23 Q. And what does Malachi, the laft of the Prophets, speak concerning Chrift?

A. His Prophecy is expreffed in pretty plain Language: Chapter iii. 1. Behold, I will fend my Mejenger, (namely, John the Baptift) and he shall prepare the Way before me, Matt. xi. 10. And the Lord, whom ye feek, fhall fuddenly come to his Temple, even the Meffenger of the Covenant whom you de

light

light in. And he shall fit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver; and he shall purify the Sons of Levi, that they may offer to the Lord an Offering in Righteou nefs. Now this was accomplished when Chrift came into the Temple, and when he reformed the evil Practices of the Priefts and People.

24 Q. You have given us a large Account of what the Jewish Prophets have foretold; but were there no others befides the Jews which prophefied concerning Chrift?

A Yes, there are two very remarkable Perfons who were not Jews, whofe Expreffions have a Reference to our bleffed Saviour; and these were Balaam and Job.

25 Q. What did Balaam fay concerning Chrift? A. There fhall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter fhall rife cut of Ifrael, and shall fmite the Corners of Moab, and destroy all the Children of Seth; Seir and Edom fhall be a Poffeffion; and out of Facob shall come HE who shall have Dominion, Numb. xxiv. 17, &c.

26 Q. What Reafon is given to prove that this refers to Chrift?

A. Chrift is called the Morning-Star, Rev. xxii. 16. He was of the Family of Jacob or Ifrael: He fhall fmite and deftroy the Enemies of the Church, and have the Heathens for a Poffeffion, and his Dominion is everlasting, Pfalm ii. 6—9.

my

27 Q What is the remarkable Prophecy which Job fpake concerning Chrift? A. Job xxix. 25, 26. I know that Redeemer liveth, and that he shall fand at the latter Day upon the Earth: And though after my Skin Worms deftroy this Body, yet in my Flefh fhall I fee God.

28 Q. When is this Prophecy to be fulfilled?
A. When Chrift the Redeemer, who lives in

[blocks in formation]

Heaven, fhall come to raise the Dead, and to judge the World, he shall stand at laft upon the Earth, after his Enemies are conquered; and the Children of God in their new raised Bodies fhall fee God; that is, fhall fee Jefus Chrift the Redeemer, who is Emmanuel, or God with us; and who is defcribed as God manifeft in the Flefb, 1 Thefs. iv. 16, 17. i Cor. xv. 24-26. 1 Tim. iii, 16.

29 Q. What great and evident Truths may be inferred from this long Rank of Prophecies concerning Jefus Chrift our Saviour?

A. We learn, that from the Beginning of the World, ever fince the Sin and Fall of Adam, throughout the feveral Ages of Mankind, there hath been a continual Succeffion of Prophecies given from God, who foreknows all Things, concerning fome great and glorious Deliverer and Saviour, who fhould be manifefted to the World in Time; and that he should appear as the King of Ifrael, and for the Salvation both of Jews and Gentiles: And accordingly he has been expected by thofe good Men in the feveral Ages who were beft acquainted with the Scriptures, and particularly in that Age wherein Jefus Chrift appeared. See Luke i. 69, 70. and xxiv. 27. Acts iii. 18-24.

30 Q. But does this determine Jefus the Son of Mary, to be this glorious Person, this expected Saviour?

A. Since all the Characters which fo many Prophets, in fo many different Ages, have given concerning the Meffiah or Chrift the Saviour, do really agree and meet together in Jefus, and in none befides; they leave us no Room to doubt whether this Jefus of Nazareth, the Son of Mary, be the Chrift or no.

THE

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

NEW TESTAMENT,

Abridged by Way of QUESTION and
ANSWER.

H

The INTRODUCTION.

AVING finished the Hiftory of the OLD TESTAMENT, and related in short the Affairs of the Jews, fo far as we find them recorded elfewhere, we proceed now to the Hiftory of the NEW: The chief Subjects of it are our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Saviour of Mankind; John the Baptift, who was his Forerunner; and the Apoftles, who were his Followers.

The Hiftory of John the Baptift is but fhort; it contains a brief Narrative of his Birth, his Miniftry, and his Death.

The Hiftory of Chrift our Saviour is much larger, and it may be divided into three diftinct Parts, namely, The Account of his Birth and Childhood; the Account of his public Life and Mi

N 2

nifir, ;

1

« PreviousContinue »