Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

of his miracles to the difciples of John, and which plainly refer to the Prophecies, are confirmed by the Gospels, in the fullest manner : "The blind receive their fight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleanfed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up."

The reward given by the High Priests to Judas the betrayer, is exactly specified by Zechariah". They weighed for my price thirty pieces of filver. Thus the Evangelifts relate, that " Judas Iscariot went unto the chief Priests, and faid unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of filver."

[ocr errors]

The cruel and moft undeferved treatment, which he fuffered previous to his death, is thus mentioned by Ifaiah. I gave my back to the fmiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and Spitting. It is particularly recorded, "that they did fpit in his face, and buffet him, and that others fmote him with the palms of their hands."

[blocks in formation]

His particular kind of death, by being nailed to á cross, is defcribed by David P. They pierced my hands and my feet. And the Evangelifts fay exprefsly, that "the Jews crucified him."

And the particular kind of drink that was offered him is mentioned likewise by David 9. They gave me alfo gall for my meat, and in my thirft they gave me vinegar to drink. The Evangelists relate, that "they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall."

And the manner likewife, in which his garments were adjudged to the foldiers who attended his execution, is exactly stated in the Pfalms. They part my garments among them, and caft lots upon my vesture. Thus in the Gofpel it is particularly mentioned, "that they parted his raiment and caft lots for his coat, as it was without feam, and woven from the top throughout."

The manner of his interment is foretold by Ifaiah. That he should make his grave with

Pfalm xxii. 16.

• Pfalm lxix. 21.

Pfalm xxii. 18.

Ifaiah liii. 9.

Matt. xxvii. 35.

Matt. xxvii. 34.
John xix. 23.
Matt. xxvii. 57, 58.

the

the rich. Thus "a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, took the body of Jefus, and laid it in his own new tomb."

That he should rife again, without being fubject to decay, is the glorious declaration of the Pfalmift'. For thou wilt not leave my foul in hell, neither wilt thou fuffer thine holy one to fee corruption. Thus the angel affures the woman, "that Jefus which was crucified is rifen as he said." David fpake of the refurrection of Chrift, "whom God raised up, whereof," faid St. Peter when he applied this Prophecy to our Lord, "we are all witneffes."

The manner in which the Evangelists fhewed the fulfilment of the prophecies by Christ is remarkable, for they applied them not with hesitation, as if they were doubtful as to their sense, or undecided as to their object. Their boldness of affertion bore the stamp and character of truth. They had the most clear proofs, more particularly from miracles, that their divine Master was the promised Messiah, and therefore were fully perfuaded that all the prophecies centered in him. They appear

Pfalm xvi, 10. Matt. xxviii. 6. Acts ii. 31, 32.

to

to have had no conception, that this evidence could in the nature of things be referable to any one else, and therefore they pressed the arguments drawn from the Old Teftament upon the minds of the unconverted, with all the fincerity of conviction, and all the authority of truth.

All perfons are encouraged, by the gracious example of our Lord himself, to seek the light, and the evidence thus brought to illuftrate the character, and the miffion of Christ, the Meffiah of the Jews, and the Saviour of the world. For, when he was about to take his final leave of his Disciples after his refurrection, and was defirous of pointing out to them the clearest testimonies, that, in addition to his miracles and his precepts, could confirm his divine miffion, "BEGINNING AT MOSES AND ALL THE PROPHETS, HE EXPOUNDED UNTO THEM IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES, THE THINGS CONCERNING HIMSELF" "

"Luke xxiv. 27.

CLASS

CLASS I.

CHAPTER THE TENTH,

The Deftruction of the City and Temple of Jerufalem, and the Subverfion of the Jewish Government according to the Prediction of Chrift.

THE awful catastrophe of the destruction of Jerufalem, was a fubject prefented to the minds of the most diftinguished Prophets. Mofes faw, from a remote distance of time, the peculiar calamities that would refult from the disobedience of his people. And to close the wonderful series of predictions, our Lord denounced in terms of pity and affection the approaching fall of the holy city, and fixed the period of its complete deftruction, and the total fubverfion of the Jewish government. Upon this fignal event the authority of Chrift as a Prophet very materially depended;

« AnteriorContinuar »