wilderness except two!— Christ also was given to a generation not less wicked and perverse; his instructions and his miracles were lost upon them; and in about the same space of time, after they had rejected him, they were destroyed. (iii.) As to his prophetic office and character.- Moses foretold the calamities that would befal his nation for their disobedience — Christ predicted the same events, fixed the precise time, and enlarged upon the previous and subsequent circumstances. Moses chose and appointed seventy elders to preside over the people — Christ chose the same number of disciples. Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land which was to be conquered-Christ sent his twelve apostles into the world, to subdue it by a more glorious and miraculous conquest. (iv.) As to the benefits conferred.· Moses delivered the Israelites from their cruel bondage in Egypt; he contended with the magicians, and had the advantage over them so manifestly, that they could no longer withstand him, but were constrained to acknowledge the divine power by which he was assisted. Moses conducted the Israelites through the desert; assuring them that if they would be obedient, they should enter into the happy land of promise, which the wiser Jews usually understood to be a type of the eternal and celestial kingdom, to which the Messiah was to open an entrance. And Moses interceded with the Almighty for that rebellious people, and stopped the wrath of God, by lifting up the brazen serpent in the wilderness. The people could not enter into the land of promise till Moses was dead — by the death of Christ "the kingdom of heaven was opened to believers."— But JESUS has delivered us from the far worse tyranny of Satan and sin, and He saves ALL who truly believe in him, and unfeignedly repent, from the guilt, the power, and the punishment of their sins. (Matt. i. 21.)- Jesus Christ cast out evil spirits, and received their acknowledgments both of the dignity of his nature and the importance of his mission. He was lifted up on the cross, and was the atonement for the whole world. He has also brought life and immortality to light; and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. As our forerunner, he hath entered into heaven, that where he is, there his followers may be also (Heb. vi. 20. ix. 24.; John xiv. 2, 3.): and as an Advocate he ever liveth to make intercession for all that come unto God by him. (1 John ii. 1.; Heb. vii. 25.) Moses wrought a great variety of miracles, and in this particular the parallel is remarkable; since besides Christ there arose not a prophet in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, and all the signs and the wonders which the Lord sent him to do. (Deut. xxxiv.) Moses was not only a lawgiver, a prophet, and a worker of miracles, but a king and a priest. He is called king (Deut. xxxiii. 5.), and he had indeed, though not the pomp, and the crown, and the sceptre, yet the authority of a king, and was the supreme magistrate; and the office of priest he often exercised. In all these offices the resemblance between Moses and Christ was striking and exact. Moses fed the people miraculously in the wilderness Christ with bread and with doctrine; and the manna which descended from heaven, and the loaves which Christ multiplied, were proper images of the spiritual food which the Saviour of the world bestowed upon his disciples. Moses expressly declares, "that it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which the prophet shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." The Jews rejected Christ, and God rejected them. In the whole course of the history of the Jews there is no instance recorded, where, in the case of disobedience to the warnings or advice of any prophet, such terrible calamities ensued, as those which followed the rejection of the Messiah. The overthrow of the Jewish empire, the destruction of so many Jews at the siege of Jerusalem, the dispersion of the surviving people, and the history of the Jews down to the present day- calamities beyond measure and beyond example — fulfilled the prophecy of Moses. (v.) As to the circumstances of his death. Moses died in one sense for the iniquities of his people: it was their rebellion, which was the occasion of it, which drew down the displeasure of God upon them and upon him: "The Lord," said Moses to them, "was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou shalt not go in thither, but thou shalt die." (Deut. i. 37.) Moses therefore went up in the sight of the people to the top of Mount Nebo, and there he died when he was in perfect vigour," when his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." Christ suffered for the sins of men, and was led up in the presence of the people to Calvary, where he died in the flower of his age, and when he was in his full natural strength. Neither Moses nor Christ, as far as we may collect from sacred history, were ever sick or felt any bodily decay or infirmity, which would have rendered them unfit for the toils they underwent. Their sufferings were of another kind. See p.549. supra, of this volume. As Moses a little before his death promised the people that God would raise them up a Prophet like unto him- —so Christ, taking leave of his afflicted disciples, told them, I will not leave you comfortless: I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter. (John xiv. 18. 16.) "Is this similitude and correspondence, in so many particulars, the effect of mere chance ?" says Dr. Jortin, to whom we are principally indebted for the preceding circumstances of resemblance between Jesus Christ and the Great Prophet and Legislator of the Jews; "Let us search all the records of universal history, and see if we can find a man who was so like to Moses as Christ was. If we cannot find such a one, then we have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, to be Jesus of Nazareth, THE SON OF GOD." 1 § 2. The Messiah was to be a Teacher, who was to instruct and enlighten men. (i.) Messiah was to be a Teacher. PROPHECY.Isa. lxi. 1. The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.-Isa. liv. 13. All thy people shall be taught of the Lord.Psal. Ixxviii. I will open my mouth in a parable. FULFILMENT. Mark i. 14. Jesus came preaching the kingdom of GodLuke viii. 1. He went throughout every city and village, preaching, and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God." Mark vi. 6. He went round about all the villages teaching. - Luke iv. 15. 44. He taught in their synagogues; and he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. See also Matt. iv. 23. ix 35.; Mark i. 38, 39.- Mat. xi. The poor have the Gospel preached unto them. Mat. xiii. 54. All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables. - Mark iv. 53. With many such parables spake he the word unto them. The following list of parables may serve to illustrate the prophetic character of the Messiah as a teacher; it is borrowed from Mr. Archdeacon Nares's Veracity of the Evangelists demonstrated, pp. 287 -289. 1 Jortin's Remarks on Ecclesiastical History, vol. i. pp. 135-150. second edition. See also Bp. Newton's Dissertations on the Prophecies, vol. i. pp. 90—101. London, 1793, ninth Edition. Luke xv. Ibid. Luke xvi. Ibid. Luke xvii. 29. Of the Piece of Silver lost 30. Of the Prodigal Son 31. Of the unjust Steward..... 32. Of the rich Man and Lazarus....... 33. Of the Master commanding his Servant....................................................................................... 34. Of the unjust Judge and Widow 35. Of the Pharisee and Publican ..... 36. Of the Labourers hired at different Hours....... .............. Luke xviii. Ibid. Matt. xx. Luke xix. Matt. xxi. Matt. xxi. Mark xii. Matt. xxiv. Mark xiii. Luke xxi. Matt. xxiv. Mark xiii. Matt xxiv. S Matt. xi. 48. The strong Man keeping his House - {Luke vii. Matt. xii. Mark iii. Luke xi. (ii.) Messiah was to instruct and enlighten men. 3. He was to be the Messiah, Christ, or Anointed of God. FULFILMENT.-John iv. 25. 42. I know that the Messiah cometh, which is convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. See also Acts ix. 22. and xvii. 5. — Acts ii. 36. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ. Phil. ii. 11. That every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. $ 4. The Messiah was to be a Priest. PROPHECY.-Psal. cx. 4. Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek (cited in Heb. v. 6. vii. 21.)-Zech. vi. 13. He shall be a priest upon his throne. FULFILMENT. Heb. iv. 14. We have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. (See also viii. i.)— Heb. iii. 1. x. 21. Consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. - Heb. ii. 17. That he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. - Heb. vii. 24. This man because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable priesthood. § 5. The Messiah was, by the offering of himself as a sacrifice for sin, to make an end of sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to make men holy, and to destroy the power of the devil. PROPHECY. Isa. liii. 6. 10, 11, 12. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. He shall bear their iniquities. He bare the sin of many. Dan. ix. 24. To finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in an everlasting righteousness. Gen. iii. 15. It (the seed of the woman, the promised Messiah) shall bruise thy (Satan's) head. FULFILMENT.-Eph. v. 2. Christ hath given himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God. (See also 2 Cor. v. 21. Rom. viii. 3.) — 1 John ii. 2. He is the propitiation for our sins. Heb ix. 14. Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot, to God. - 1 Pet. i. 19. Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish. - 1 Pet. iii. 18. Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust. — Heb. x. 12. This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God. Heb. ix. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place. - Heb. vii. 27. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins, and then for the people's; for this he did once when he offered up himself. Heb. ix. 25, 26. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others. But now, once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.― John i. 29. The lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. — Acts v. 31. To give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.-1 Cor xv. 3. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.- 1 John i. 7. The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.· Rom. v. 10. We were reconciled to God by the death of his son.-2 Cor. v. 18. Who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. Col. i. 20. By him (Christ) to reconcile all things unto himself.Heb. v. 8, 9. He became the author of salvation unto all them that obey him. 2 Cor. v. 15. He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them. (See also Rom. vi. 10-12. 1 Thess. v. 10.)— 1 Pet. ii. 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness.—Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. — 1 Cor. vi. 20. Ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's. — 1 Pet. iv. 1, 2. As Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. § 6. The Messiah was to be a Saviour. PROPHECY.-Isa. lix. 20. The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to them that turn from transgression in Jacob.-lxii. 11. Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh.' FULFILMENT. 1 John iv. 14. The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Luke ii. 11.. Unto you is born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (See also Matt. i. 21. Acts xiii. 23.) - John iv. 42. We have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world. Acts v. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.-2 Pet. ii. 20. Have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.) (See also 2 Pet. iii. 18.)-Tit. iii. 6. The Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, - 2 Pet. i. 1. Through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. - Phil. iii. 20. From whence (heaven) we also look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.Tit. ii. 15. Looking for.... the appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. § 7. The Messiah was to be a Mediator. PROPHECY.-Psal. cx. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand. Dan. ix. 17. 19. O our God, cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate for the Lord's sake. Defer not for thine own sake, O my God. — Isa, viii. 14. He shall be for a sanctuary. FULFILMENT.-John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way and the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.' - 1 Tim. ii. 5. There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. - Heb. xii. 24. Jesus the mediator of the new covenant. (See also Heb. vii. 22. viii. 6. ix. 15.)—John xv. 16. xvi. 23, 24. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you; hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name. — John xiv. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name I will do it. § 8. The Messiah was to be an Intercessor. PROPHECY.-Isa. liii. 12. He made intercession for the transgressors. Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Heb. ix. 24. Christ is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.— 1 John ii. 1. If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Rom. viii. 34. Christ, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.Heb. vii. 25. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. $9. Messiah was to be a Shepherd. PROPHECY. Isa. xl. 11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.. - Ezek. xxxiv. 25. I will set up one shepherd over them, even my servant David. —(See also Ezek. xxxvii. 24.) ... FULFILMENT.-John x. 11. 14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Other sheep (that is, the Gentiles) I have, which are not of this fold and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. - Heb. xiii. 26. Our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep. 1 Pet. ii. 25. Ye are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. 1 Pet. v. 1, 2. 4. The elders, I exhort, feed the flock of God; and when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown. § 10. Messiah was to be a king, superior to all others, the head and ruler of the church, and more particularly exalted as a king, after his sufferings and resurrection. (i.) upon my holy hill of Zion.Of the fruit of thy body will Zech. vi. 15.)-Jer. xxiii. 5. 6. Messiah was to be a King. PROPHECY.- Psal. ii. 6. Yet have I set my king Psal. cxxxii. 11. The Lord hath sworn to David, I set upon thy throne. (See also Isa. ix. 6. lv. 4. A king shall reign and prosper: this is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.' (See also Isa. xxxii. 1.)- Ezek. xxxvii. 24, 25. David my servant shall be king over them. (See also xxxiv. 23, 24. Jer. xxx. 9. Hos. 6 |