3. ATTRIBUTES OF GOD POSSESSED BY HIM, Eternity past as well as future, represented as having come down from heaven, having been before Abraham, having been with the Father before the world was, and as Alpha and Omega. Omnipresence, as with all his people to the end of the world, Omniscience, seen in His knowledge of circumstances of absent persons and objects, the heart,thoughts, motives, character, and dispositions of men-unchangeablenessthe same past, present, and to come. 4. WORKS OF GOD ASCRIBED TO HIM. In creation, having made all things visible or invisible, in providence, upholding all things, in the resurrection, His voice obeyed by all in the grave, and in the final judgment, as before Him all shall give in their account. 5. DIVINE PREROGATIVES WIELDED BY HIM, On earth forgiving sins, and from heaven sending down the Holy Ghost in a vast variety of common and supernatural gifts. 6. WORSHIP OFFERED TO HIM. Ascription of glory and honour,-the presentation of prayer and praise, as foretold in prophecy, commanded also, practised in the church on earth, continued among the angels and saints in heaven, and never refused by Him. II. CHRIST'S HUMANITY. Born of a woman, named man, and the son of man, the seed of woman-the seed of Abraham and David-a brother of mankind-a par taker of flesh and blood-having bodily parts and senses-having a human soul, as growing in stature, as hungering and thirsting, as subject to weariness and sleep, and as sympathising, weeping, dying. III.-CHRIST'S MESSIAHSHIP PROVED BY PROPHECY. 1. PROPHECY ABOUT HIS BIRTH AND ITS FULFIL MENT. The place of his birth, the time of it, the supernatural manner of it, -born of a virgin, -his appearance in the Temple,-his descent from Abraham, through Isaac, Judah, and David, the massacre of the children of Bethlehem, and the refuge in Egypt. 2. PROPHECY ABOUT HIS CHARACTER AND ITS FULFILMENT. His meekness, his lowliness, and his zeal. 3. PROPHECY AND ITS FULFILMENT ABOUT HIS WORK. Prophet, a healer, a speaker in parables, a preacher of extraordinary wisdom and elo [JESUS CHRIST. quence, the characteristics of the territory, Galilee where he should commence and for the most part prosecute his ministry, a "land of darkness and the shadow of death." 4. PROPHECY AND ITS FULFILMENT ABOUT HIS APPREHENSION, TRIAL, AND DEATH, His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, rejection by men, opposition from the Jewish rulers, betrayal, silence during his trial, innocence, endurance of scourging, crucifixion, raiment divided by lot, bearing insults, dying between two thieves, being pierced with the spear of the Roman soldier, body without a bone broken, burial, resurrection and ascension to glory. IV.-SOME POINTS IN CHRIST'S HISTORY. 1. BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD. Recorded by Matthew, the espousal of Joseph to Mary, the appearance of an angel to him, the obedience of Joseph to the heavenly mission, his flight into Egypt with Mary and the child from the rage of Herod, their return on the death of that governor, and their taking up their abode in Nazareth,-Recorded by Luke, the appearing of an angel to Mary giv ing her promise of the Saviour, and informing her of the name he should bear, the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, accompanied by a throng of angels in the neighbouring field, the announce ment of the event to the shepherds, the circumcision on the eight day, the visit to the temple, Simeon giving. utterance to his prediction respecting the child, the growth of Jesus in wisdom and stature, and at the age of twelve years his disputation with the doctors in the temple. 2. CHRIST'S RELATIONS. His mother and brethren occasionally attended on his ministry, other connections opposed his Messiahship, his fellow townsmen, for the most part viewing him, "beside himself," taunted him as the carpenter, and the carpen'er's son; in the estimation of Jesus, "his mother and brethren were those who did the will of his Father in heaven." 3. HIS FORERUNNER, JOHN THE BAPTIST. Predicted under the name of Elijah, to prepare the way of the Messiah, promised to Zacharias his father in the temple,-spent his youth in retirement. entered on the ministry at the river Jordan,-drew around him multitudes, described by Jesus as the greatest of prophets, as a burning and shining light, and as a faithful witness he testified to the pre-existence of Christ to his divine excellence, and to his authority and power to 6. CHRIST'S UNWEARIED ACTIVITY. Labouring in every variety of circumstances, preaching on the mountain, in the plain, in the temple,-in the synagogue-on the sea-side, in the ship,-in the city,—the town, and the village. 7. CHRIST'S PERSON AND WORK OFTEN Seen in the conduct, and the language of all classes, the disciples, the priests, the rulers, the common people arising from ignorance, national prejudice, and self-righteous pride. 8. CHRIST OFTEN OPPOSED AND REVILED. By enemies endeavouring to entangle Him in his sayings, throwing odium upon him as being of Nazareth, representing him as a companion of sinners, a glutton and a wine-bibber, and as working his miracles by Satanic agency. 9. CHRIST PERSECUTED AND CONSPIRED By the Pharisees, the Herodians, the chief priests 1. TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS OF By Satan for forty days. 2. LABOURS AND TRAVELS OF JESUS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. In the districts of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and beyond Jordan, in the cities of Jerusalem, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Cæsarea, Philippi, Sychar, Nazareth, etc., preaching the Gospel, Confirming His commission by miraculous works, calling, ordaining, instructing His apostles, etc. 3. SOLEMN ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM, Riding on an ass's colt accompanied by multitudes strewing the way with branches of palm trees, and filling the air with exclamations. [JESUS CHRIST 4. THE LAST PASSOVER, Observed in an upper room, by Jesus and the twelve Apostles, after which the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was instituted probably in the absence of Judas who had gone out. 5. TREACHERY OF JUDAS, Bargaining for thirty pieces of silver to hand over Jesus to his enemies, and aproaching his master with a kiss the symbol of friendship, he betrayed him, afterwards smitten with despair, he committed suicide. 6. APPREHENSION OF JESUS, Designed by the chief priests, scribes, and elders,-Jesus in Gethsemane the scene of drops of blood,-Judas with a band coming sorrow, in an agony,-His sweat as great into the garden, apprehended him. feted, smitten on the head, crowned with Suffering manifold indignities, spat on, bufthorns, arrayed in a purple robe, worshipped in derision, and ignominiously crucified on Calvary nigh to Jerusalem, between two malefactors, attended by supernatural darkness, an earthquake,-rending of the veil of the temple, and the opening of the graves of saints, witnessed by the women of Galilee, tution and Roman soldiers, and by many of John, and Mary the mother of Jesus, the Centhe Jews, still mock d on the cross,-le behalf of his presented his prayer on persecutors,his promise to the thief,-his charge to John,-his complaint of thirst,-his attestation of his work being finished, He commended his spirit into the hand of His Father-His death designed as an atonement the determination of God through the instru in the room of sinners,-effected according to mentality of the wicked Jews,-variously regirded as foolishness—a stumblingblock, or as the wisdom of God. 9. HIS BURIAL. The body procured from Pilate-was taken down from the cross-wrapt in fine linen with spices, and laid in a new tomb-the persons who took part in it being Joseph of Arima. thea, Nicodemus, etc. 10. HIS RESURRECTION. The tomb secured by a great stone rolled to the mouth of it-sealed and guarded by a detachment of Roman soldiers,- -was opened on the morning of the third day by an angel descending from heaven-Jesus rising again to life-the event proved by the subsequent appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, to the other women from Galilee, to the disciples on their way to Emmaus, to the ten on the same evening, to the eleven on the following Lord's day, at the sea of Tiberias and on a mountain in Galilee, and by his frequent and familiar intercourse during a period of forty days-resurrection proving-his work was finished-approved-the Father giving as firstfruits the hope of a resurrection to all his people. 11. THE ASCENSION. On the Mount of Olives, and in the presence of His followers, in the act of blessing them, separated from them-seen to ascend and enter into a cloud, the disciples gazing after Him, addressed by two angels, who gave promise of His return again to earth, ascension necessary for the gift of His Spirit, the preparing of heaven for His followers, and making continual intercession for them. VI-CHRIST'S CHARACTER. ORIGIN OF THE JEWISH NATION. went about doing good, our example in purity, in meekness, in self-denial, in patience, and in love. VIL CHRIST'S OFFICES. A PROPHET. Confessed under the designations of prophet of Nazareth, the prophet of the Highest, the prophet thit should come into the word, a great prophet, a prophet mighty in word and in deed, names verified in toretelling of false Christs, the downfall of Jerusalem, the treachery of Judas, Peter's denial, His own Apprehension and Death, Burial, and Resurrection, etc. CHRIST'S OFFICE AS A PRIEST. CHRIST'S OFFICE AS KING, King of Zion, King of righteousness, etc., His Kingdom being universal, eternal, supreme, yet subordinate to the Father, Ilis mission being to glorify the Father, and to finish the work which the Father gave Him to do; exercising this office, accomplishing the conversion, sanctification, and glozilication of His people-the subjugation of his enemies at the last day, sitting as Judge of the righteous and the wicked, with full power to acquit and justify the one and condemn and punish the other. JEWS. Traced to Abraham; called a people above all cthers, a holy nation, a kingdom of priests; selected not because better, or more numerous than other nations, but simply of sovereign grace. HIGH PRIVILEGE OF THE JEWS. THE EXODUS. Six hundred thousand marching out of Egypt, besides women and children, accompanied by a mixed multitude, along with flocks and herds; achieved by the power of God; Egyptian pursuers drowned in Red sea. Covenant with God,-dwelling in his land,SUBSEQUENT RELATION OF THE JEWS TO Egypt, protected by his favour,-enjoying the services of his tabernacle, the ministrations of His priests, and the teachings of His prophets. Forbidden to look back to it, to traffic with it-to form alliances with it-Egypt a bruised reed to trust in, yet in the wilderness Israel often seeking to return to it. ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS, For forty years, by the way of the Red sea, Edom and the plains of Moab, led by Jehovah in the pillar of the cloud, fed by manna, and water from the flinty rock, defended from enemies by the Captain of the Lord's host. COMMISSION OF MOSES, Given by God at the burning bush to demand the release of the tribes; executed by doing signs and wonders, calling down plagues upon SINS IN THE WILDERNESS, Pharaoh and his people-eventually leading Murmuring against God, and against Moses forth the chosen people to the land of pro-and Aaron; committing fornication; with the mise. exception of Joshua and Caleb, the entire generation, above twenty years of age, which the captives to return and build Jerusalem, in conformity with which many went back. lelt Egypt in the wilderness, dying. (REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM, See under CANAAN.) ISRAEL IN CANAAN, Conquering the land, destroying thirty-one kings, settled in it, enjoined to separate themselves from all other nations, were forbidden to make covenant with them. THE SAMARITANS, In one of the provinces of Palestine in the time of our Lord, descended from a colony sent by the king of Assyria during the captivity; at first entirely idolatrous, but afterwards mingled the ceremonies of the Jews with their idolatrous rites: held in great aversion by the people of Israel WICKEDNESS OF THE JEWS, Forsaking the worship of God, and turning to the worship of idols, in following the customs of surrounding nations, and forming alliances with them, in "hardening their neck," and in disobeying the statutes of Jehovah; famine, and pestilence, and war sent upon the people, God forsook Ilis dwelling place," and sent the people into captivity. ISRAEL IN CAPTIVITY, The ten tribes conquered by Shalmanezer king of Assyria, and carried to Halah, Habor, etc.; Judah, by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and carried to Chaldea, where they remained for seventy years. CONDITION DURING CAPTIVITY, Their land mourning in solitude, Jerusalem sitting in widowhood, Zion covered with a cloud, and the other cities of the land as a wilder ness, the people in captivity as weeping by the rivers of Babylon. THE PRESERVED REMNANT, With the promise that they should be gathered again, restored to their own land, and there again take root, animated by the hope of deliverance, and by the expectation of seeing their temple again built up. RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY, Accomplished by the proclamation of Cyrus, who had taken Babylon, granting liberty to II. LAWS PROTECTING LIFE MURDER, OPPOSITION TO THE RETURNED TRIBES. From the Samaritans, false pretences of friendship, false representations to the king, and active opposition to the undertaking. FINAL DISPERSION OF THE JEWS, Predicted by Moses as the consequence of persisting in disobedience, by Christ as the consequence of rejecting him-was accom plished by the Romans under Titus when Jerusalem was destroyed, the Jewish polity broken up, and the people scattered over all nations. PROPHECIES REFERRING TO AND ILLUSTRATED IN THEIR HISTORY. Having allusion to the enemies of Israel, to captivity, to a return from it, to the joy attending such a return, to the enlargement of the nation, to Zion attired in beauty, to the Church of Israel as the light of the Gentiles, etc. PROPHECIES RESPECTING THE GENTILES AS THE SUCCESSORS OF THE JEWS. The heathen as the Messiah's inheritance, all nations flowing to the temple, the isles waiting for God's law, incense being offered from the rising to the setting of the sun, etc. JEWISH FAITH AND JEWISH PREJUDICE. Seen, the former in the converts on the day of Pentecost, and in the numerous converts to the gospel which were gathered by the apostles from all ranks, the latter seen in the obstinacy and zeal with which the nation at large maintained the perpetual obligation of the ceremonial law, instanced in Peter's preaching to Cornelius, in the church at Antioch, in the synod at Jerusalem. THE CHURCH AMONG THE GENTILES, Made up of believers from all nations, Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles. FINAL INBRINGING OF THE JEWS, Involved in God's promise to Abraham, often the theme of prediction by Isaiah, repeatedly foretold by Paul. LAW. Forbidden, by God to Noah, by the law of committed in purpose or fact. Cain, David, Pharoah. HUMAN PENALTY AGAINST MURDER Moses, by Christ, and by the Apostles-often Life for life without mercy DIVINE PENALTY. and entail, extending to daughters, on certain Punishments natural and supernatural-in conditions, as well as sons. this life and in the life to come. MALICE THE CAUSE OF MURDER. LAW OF DEBT. Regulations respecting the recovery of it, the remission of it, pledges in security of it, cau ture; the borrower as servant to the lender. Hatred of Esau towards Jacob,-of the breth-tionary, etc.; many allusions to it in Scripren of Joseph towards him-of Haman to wards the captive Jews-of Saul toward David -and of the Rulers of the Jews towards Curist. LAW OF MASTER AND SERVANT. Superiority of master-contracts-Abraham, Mephibosheth, and Solomon, and their servants-servants good and bad; the former, wise and faithful; the latter, as stubborn, unfaithful, and filling their master's houses with violence. VI. ANCIENT SLAVERY. Or service rendered among the patriarchs, LAW OF SLAVERY, OR BOND-SERVICE, Forbidding all trading in the persons of men, stealing of a Hebrew punished with death. the heathen alone held in bond service, the Hebrew, if so held, might redeem himself, at all events became free on the year of jubilee, and whether Hebrew or stranger, servants were to be kindly treated by their mastera NEW TESTAMENT PRECEPTS TO SERVANTS. Obedience to masters, singleness of heart, per- POOR LAW. POVERTY. An inevitable state of society-the poor shall never cease out of the land; the poor ye have always with you. BEGGING ALMS. In thoroughfares and places of public resort, as at the gate of the temple, and of rich mens houses, the wayside. RICH AND POOR. Often alluded to in their appropriate characteristics; the former,as strong, honoured, answer ing roughly. and having many friends; the latter, using entreaties, being hated, and being separated from their neighbours. GOD'S CARE OF THE POOR. Involving peculiar rights of primogeniture Maintaining their right, being their por |