dreadful Day of the Lord, to turn the Heart of the Fathers to the Children, and the Heart of the Children to the Fathers. He fent his Meffenger to prepare his Way before him; and then the Lord whom they fought came fuddenly to his Temple. (t) When he entered upon his public Ministry, God gave him the Tongue of the Learned, that he should know how to speak a Word in Seafon to him that is weary; and he was most painful and diligent in his Work; he was awakened Morning by Morn ing, his Ear was awakened to hear, and vigorously to attend to the great Business before him. (u)He began his Ministry in the mountainous Parts of Judea and how beautiful then upon the Mountains were the Feet of him who brought good Tidings, who publifhed Peace, who brought good 7 idings of Good, who published Salvation, who faid unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. (w) As he refided in Gallilee (as was before obferved) fo his Miniftry early and peculiarly enlightened those dark Corners, the Land of Zebulon, and the Land of Napthali; though they had dwelt in the Land of the Shadow of Death, this Light Shined upon them. (x) But then, his Miniftry was not limited to them. This Star which came out of Jacob (y) enlightened the whole Land of Ifrael, in that Time of grofs Ignorance, and thick Darknefs.- They might all be called upon to arife and fhine, for their Light was come, and the Glory of the Lord was risen upon them. Though Darkness had covered the Earth, and grofs Darkness the People, yet the Lord arofe upon them, and his Glory was feen upon them. (z) He preached Righteoufness in the great Congregation. (a) He came into the Temple, (b) and by his preaching (t) Mal. 4. 5, 6. and 3. 1. (u) Ifa. 50. 4. 7. (x) ifa. 9. 1, 2. (y) Numb. 24. 17. 1, 2. (a) Pfal. 40, 9. (b) Mal. 3. 1. (w) Ifa. 52. (z) Ifa. 60. there there made the Glory of that latter Houfe much greater than the Glory of the former, which was built by Solomon. (c) In what Manner he fulfilled his Miniftry has been already confidered. In Confirmation of his divine Miffion, he wrought many wonderful Miracles among the People whereThe Lord their God came among ever he went. them; he came to fave them: Then the Eyes of the Blind were opened, and the Ears of the Deaf unStopped; the lame Man leaped as an Hart, and the Tongue of the Dumb fung. (d) In that Day the Deaf heard the Words of the Book, and the Eyes of the Blind faw out of Obfcurity and out of Darkness; the Meek alfo increafed their Joy in the Lord, and the Poor among Men rejoiced in the holy One of Ifrael. (e) When the Stretching out of Immanuel's Wings had thus filled the Land of Judah, it might have been expected, that he would have met with a most joyful Entertainment amongst the People; but the Cafe was otherways. Though he was for a Sanctuary to fome, yet he was for a Stone of Stumbling and for a Rock of Offence to both the Houses of Ifrael, for a Gin and a Snare to the Inhabitants of Jerufalem; and many among them ftumbled and fell, were broken, and fnared and taken. For the Tefti•·mony was bound up, and the Law fealed among his Difciples; (e) known indeed and understood by them, but kept hid as a Secret from the Body of the Jewish Nation. Notwithstanding the indefatigable Labours of our blessed Lord, in inftructing this People, though God made his outh like a Sharp Sword, and made him a polished Shaft in his Quiver; yet did he find Caufe to complain, that (c) Hag. 2. 9. (d) Ifa. 35. 5, 6. (e) ijas 29, 18, 19. (e) Ifa. 8. 8, 15, 16. he ་ he laboured in vain, and spent his Strength for nought, and in vain. (f) Who among all the Jewish Nation were there, that believed his Report? and to whom was the Arm of the Lord revealed? He was rejected and defpifed of them, and they hid their Faces from him. (g) It is true, he had a confiderable Number of temporary Followers, there appeared fome Numbers of the Children of Zion, who rejoiced greatly; and of the Children of Jerufalem who fhouted when they beheld their King come to them, juft, and having Salvation; lowly, and riding upon an Afs, and upon a Colt the Fole of an Afs. (h) But we fhall quickly fee, that this Joy was all turned into Hatred, and Rage, and Malice. I proceed next to fhew the Manner of our Saviour's Sufferings from the Hands of this People. When their Rulers took Counfel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed, (i) he was betrayed into their Hands by one of his familiar Friends, in whom he trusted. (k) They wounded and bruifed him; the Chafifement of our Peace was upon him, that by his STRIPES we might be healed. (1) He gave his Back to the Smiters; and though they buffeted and fpit upon him, yet fuch was his aftonishing Meeknefs and Patience, that he gave his Cheeks to them that plucked off the Hair, and hid not his Face from Shame and Spitting. (m) They pierced his Hands and his Feet. (n) And when they had nailed him to the Crots, they gave him Gall for his Meat, and in his Thirft gave him Vinegar to drink. (0) They mocked and upbraided, and even laught him to Scorn, they fhot out their Lips, they fhook their Heads, faying, He trufted in the Lord, that he would deliver him, let him deliver him, feeing he de (f) Isa. 42. 2, 4. (g) Ifa. 53, I. 3. (h) Zech. 9. 9. (i) Pfal. 2. 2. (k) Pfal. 41. 9. (1) Ifa. 53. 5. (m) Ija. 50 6. (n) Pjal. 22. 16. (0) Pfal. 69: 21. lighted lighted in him. (p) In Time they cut him off from the Land of the Living. (q) Thus was the Meffiah cut off, but not for himself. (r) For the Tranfgreffion of God's People was he ftricken. He made his Soul an Offering for Sin, and he poured out his Soul unto Death, that he might bear the Sin of many, and make Interceffion for Tranfgressors. (s) After his Death, his Murderers parted his Garments among them, and caft Lots upon his Vefture. (t) And being dead, he made his Grave with the Rich, (u) that is, he was buried in a rich Man's Tomb. Thus I have followed our bleffed Saviour to the Grave. But could the Grave detain him? Could it keep him its Prisoner? No! I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter Day upon the Earth. (w) His Flefh might go to the Grave, and reft in Hope; for God would not leave bis Soul in Hell, nor fuffer his holy One to be fo long under the Power of Death, as to fee Corruption. (x) -After his Soul was made an Offering for Sin, he faw his Seed, and prolonged his Days. (y) He afcended to the right Hand of God; and the Lord faid to him, Sit thou at my right Hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footftool. (z)-He afcended on high, that he might lead Captivity captive, and give Gifts unto Men. (a) Having thus given you fome Account, from the ancient Prophecies, of the Life, Death and Refurrection of our Lord Jefus Chrift, I fhall now pro ceed to fhew you fome of the Confequences of this great Event. And it may be proper, in the first Place, to take Notice, what were the Effects of the Jews thus re (P) Pfal. 22. 7, 8. (q) Ifa. 53.8.. (r) Dan. 9. 26. (u) Isa. 53. (y) Ifa. E jecting 53.10. (z) Pfal. 110. I. (a) Pfal, 68, 16. jecting and murdering the Prince of Life; and to fhew you, that the People of Titus the Roman Prince came upon them, deftroyed the City and the Sanctu ary, caufed the Sacrifice and the Oblation to cease, and the Abominations (or abominable Armies) with their Eagles (and fuperftitious Rites) to overspread and to make them defolate. (b)-When God had laid in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious Corner-Stone, and a fure Foundation for all that would believe on him, he then took Notice of the fcornful Men that ruled in Jerufalem. He laid Judgment to the Line, and Righteousness to the Plummet; the Hail fwept away the Refuge of Lies, and the Waters overflowed their hiding Place. Their Covenant with Death was difannull'd, and their A ̈ ̈ greement with Hell could not ftand; when the overflowing Scourge passed through them, and they were trodden down by it; from the Time it went forth it took them; for Morning by Morning it passed over them, by Day and by Night, until it was a Vexation only to understand the Report. For the Lord rofe up as in Mount Perazim, he was wroth as in the Valley of Gibeon, and a Confumption was determin'd upon the whole Earth, or upon their whole Land. (c) The Lord numbered them to the Sword, and they all bowed down to the Slaughter; because when he called they did not answer, when he spake they did not hear; but did Evil before his Eyes, and chofe that wherein he delighted not; therefore the Lord faid unto them, Behold, my Servants (the Chriftians) hall eat; but ye shall be hungry. Behold, my Servants fhall drink; but ye shall be thirsty. Behold, my Servants fhall rejoice; but ye shall be ashamed. Behold, my Servants fhall fing for Joy of Heart; but ye shall cry for Sorrow of Heart, and fhall bowl for Vexation of Spirit. And ye shall leave your Name for (b) Dan. 9. 27. (c) Ifa. 28. 14. to the 22. a Curfe |