Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

to each of which it is proper to fpeak fomething particularly.

The Lord our God did, in the Person of our blesfed Saviour, raise up unto his People a PROPHET, like unto Mofes, the greatest and moft eminent Prophet of the Jewish Church: He put his Words into his Mouth, that he might fpeak unto them whatfoever he commanded him; and held his People under the ftrongeft Injunction, upon their Peril, to hearken to the Words which this Prophet should fpeak in his Name. (c) And as our Lord Jefus "Chrift was defined by God the Father unto the Prophetical Office, he chearfully undertook it. Lo I come, (fays he) in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me, I delight to do thy Will, my God: Yea, thy Law is within my Heart. (d) And as he chearfully undertook, fo he diligently and faithfully difcharged this facred and important Truft. He, as a wonderful ounsellor, (e) preached conftantly to the People, and made known the whole Mind and Will of God to them; and could make this Appeal to his heavenly Father, l'have preached Righteoufnefs in the great Congregation. Lo, I have not refrained my Lips, O Lord, thou knoweft. I have not hid thy Righteoufnefs within my Heart, I have declared thy Faithfulness and thy Salvation. I have not conceated thy loving Kindnefs and thy Truth from the great Congregation. (f) He con ftantly preached among the People the bleffed and joyful News of a glorious Salvation from their Sin, Guilt, Danger and Mifery. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, because the Lord had anointed him to preach good Tidings unto the Meek; he fent him to bind up the broken hearted; to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prifon to (c) Deut. 18. 18, 19. (d) Pfal. 40. 7, 8. (e) Ifa. 9. á (f) Pfal.40. 9, 10.

D3

them

them that were bound, to proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord, to comfort all that mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, and to give unto them Beauty for Ashes, the Oil of Joy for Mourning; and the Garment of Praife for the Spirit of Heaviness. (g) He exercised most tender Compaffion to dark, doubting and tempted Souls. The bruifed Reed did he not break, and the finoaking Flax did he not quench, until he brought forth Judgment unto Truth. (b) He ftrengthened the weak Hands; and confirmed the feeble Knees; anl faid to them of a faint Heart, be ftrong, fear not. (i)

He warned the carelefs and fecure Sinners of their Mifery and Danger; and proclaimed unto them the Day of Vengeance of our God. (k) He warned them to be wife, to ferve the Lord with Fear; and to kifs the Son, left he should be angry, and they perifh by the Way, when his Wrath is kindled but a little. (1)He made the Path-way of Salvation plain before the Eyes of all those who believe in him; like an high Way, where the Wayfaring Men, though Fools, could not err. (m).

He confidered his People as his Flock; and took Care of them, as a most watchful and careful Shepherd. He fed his Flock like a Shepherd, he gathered his Lambs with his Arm, he carried them in his Bofom, and gently led thofe that were with young. (n) I next proceed to give you a View of our Lord Jefus Chrift, as the great HIGH PRIEST of our Profefion. As fuch, he undertook to make an Atonement and Expiation for our Sins. He bore our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows; the Chaftifement of our Peace was upon him, and with his

[blocks in formation]

Stripes we are healed. God laid upon him the Iniquity of us all, and he made his Soul an Offering for our Sins. (o) Thus he finished the Tranfgreffion, made an End of Sin, and made Reconciliation for Iniquity. (p) He likewife wrought out a perfect Righteousness for Sinners, whereby they fhould be juftified before God, and accepted of him. God raifed up this righteous Branch unto David, in whofe Day Judah is faved, and Ifrael dwells fafely; and this is the Name whereby he is called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (q) He is one who speaks in Righteousness, mighty to fave. (r) For he has brought in everlafting Righteoufnefs. (s) As a Priest likewife, he brings us into a Covenant-Relation to God. He is the Mellenger or Angel of the Covenant. (t) The Lord in an accepted Time heard him; and in a Day of Salvation has helped him, has preferved him, and given him for a Covenant of the People, to eftablish the Earth. (u) By the Blood of his Covenant, God has fent forth bis Prifoners out of the Pit, wherein there is no Water; and God has promised that he will keep his Mercy for him for evermore; and that his Covenant fhall ftand faft with him. (w) Thus the Counsel of Peace was between God the Father and him. In a Word as our Priest, he is our Advocate with the Father, and makes Interceffion for Tranf greffors. (x) Thus we fee, that according to God's Oath concerning him, he remaineth a Prieft for ever, after the Order of Melchifedec. (y)

This bleffed Saviour fuftained likeways the Office of a KING. God hath fet this his King upon his holy Hill of Zion. (z)—The Throne of God (our

(p) Dan. 9.

24.

(0) Ifa. 53. 4, 5, 6, 10.
5, 6. (r) Ifa. 63. 1. (s) Dan. 9. 24.
(w) Pfal. 89. 28.
(z) Pfal. 2. 6.

(u) Ifa. 49. 8.

(y) Pfal. 110. 4.

(9) Jer. 22.

3.

(t) Mal. I. (x) Isa. 53. 12.

Saviour) is for ever and ever; and the Scepter of his Kingdom is a right Scepter. (a)-As a King he reigns in the Hearts of his People, brings them into Subjection to himself; and makes them willing in the Day of his Power. (b) As a King he fits at God's right Hand; and rules in the midst of his Enemies. (c) In his Majefty he rides forth profperously; and his Arrows are sharp in the Heart of the King's Enemies. (d). -His regal Office was not limited, to the Time of his bodily Refidence among us; for of the Increase of his Government and Peace there is no End. He fits upon the Throne of David, and in his Kingdom, to order it and to eftablish it, with Judgment and with Justice, from henceforth even for ever. (e)-Such Caufe had Zion to rejoice greatly, and the Daughter of Jerufalem to fhout for behold, her King came to her, juft, and having Salaation. (f)

Having thus fhewn, from the prophetic Account of our bleffed Saviour, the Time of his Manifestation, his Descent, the Place of his Birth, and the Place of his principal Residence, with the Circumftances of his appearing in the World, and the Characters in which he appeared, I proceed to obferve fome of his diftinguishing Qualities, and the more remarkable Incidents of his Life and Death.

As to his perfonal Properties, he was perfectly innocent, and most exemplarily holy both in Heart and Life; and in that Respect fairer than the Children of Men. Grace was poured into his Lips, therefore God hath blessed him for ever. (8) He was God's righteous Servant, and there was no Deceit found in his Mouth. (h) He was the Sun of Righteouf (a) Pfal. 45. 6. (b) Pfal. 110. 3. (c) Pfal. 110. 1, 2. (d) Pfal. 45. 4, 5. (e) Isa. 9. 7. (f) Zech. 9. 9. (8) Pfal. 45. 2. (h) Isa. 53. 9. 11.

nefss

nefs, which arofe upon his People, with healing under his Wings, or in his Rays. (i)

He was of a meek and lowly Difpofition. This King of Zion came to her, not only just and having Salvation, but fhewed himself lowly, by moft aftonishing Condefcenfions. (k)-He gave his Back to the Smiters; and his Check to them who plucked off the Hair; he hid not his Face from Shame and Spitting. (1) Though he was opprefed and afflicted, yet he opened not his Mouth. (m) He did not cry, nor lift up, nor caufe his Voice to be heard in the Streets. (n)

He was endowed with astonishing Wisdom and Capacity. The Spirit of the Lord refted upon him, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge, and of the Fear of the Lord. (o) Thus did the Servant of the Lord deal prudently, he was exalted and extolled; and was very high. (p) He, and only he, of all the human Race, could fay, Counsel is mine, and found Wifdom, I am Understanding, I have Strength. (9)

Previous to his entering upon his public Ministry, there was a Meffenger fent before him, to prepare the Hearts of God's People for his Reception, whofe Voice cried in the Wilderness, Prepare ye the Way of the Lord, make straight in the Defart a high Way for our God. Every Valley fhall be exalted; and every Mountain and Hill fhall be made low; and the crooked fhall be made straight, and the rough Places plain; and the Glory of the Lord fhall be revealed; and all Flefh fhall fee it together: For the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (r) Thus God fent one to his People in the Spirit of Elijah the Prophet, before the coming of the great and (i) Mal. 4. 2. (k) Zech. 9. 9. (1) Ifa. 50. 6. (m) Isa. 53. 7.(n) Ifa. 42. 2. (0) Ifa. 11. 2, 3. (P) Ifa. 52. 13. (9) Prov. 8. 14. (†) Isa. 40. 3, 4, 5,

dread

« AnteriorContinuar »