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SECT. 10. The prayers of the servants of God for the prosperity of his sanctuary, and the ministers thereof.

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For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will be still praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them, who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation". Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints shout for joy. For thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of thine Anointed. glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord'. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee: my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God"? O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me, let them bring me unto thine holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God'.

§ 10.

a Isa. lxii. 1.
d Psal.cxxxii. 8, 9, 10.
Psal. Ixiii. 1, 2.

b Psal. Ixxxiv. 4-7.
e Psal. cxxii. 1.

Psal. xlii. 1, 2.

Psal. cxxxii. 18. f Psal. lxxxiv. 1, 2. Psal, xliii. 3, 4.

CHAP. III.

OF THE CHURCH OF GOD UNDER THE GOSPEL.

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SECT. 1. It was revealed unto the Fathers, that the Gentiles should be called into the church of God at the coming of the Messiah.-2. The opening of the dispensation of the Gospel by the preaching of John the Baptist.-3. A general idea of the church of Christ.-4. It is founded upon this great and comprehensive truth, that Jesus is the Son of God. 5. The commission given by our Lord Jesus to his Apostles.-6. The effusion of the Holy Ghost, and the establishment of the church at Jerusalem.-7. The gospel preached first to the Jews.-8. To the family of Cornelius, as the first fruits of the Gentiles. 9. Preached to all the Gentiles.-10. The change of the dispensation, the abolition of the Levitical law, and the decree concerning Gentile converts, particularly the proselytes of the gate.-11. The superior glory of the dispensation of the gospel above that of the law. 12. Jews and Gentiles have equal access to the privileges of the church of Christ.— 13. The blissful change to the Gentiles, in virtue of the dispensation of the Gospel. 14. Jesus Christ is the Lord and head of the church. 15. The church considered as espoused unto Christ.-16. The intimate relation of all the members of the church of God to one another.-17. The dignity of all the members of the church of Christ, even in this militant state. 18. Their relation to the blessed in heaven. -19. Of the church triumphant. - Concerning the Catholic church and churches established in different places.

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SECT. 1. It was revealed unto the Fathers, that the Gentiles should be called into the church of God at the coming of the Messiah.

IN thee shall all families of the earth be blessed".

§ 1. Gen. xii. 3.

There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest 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. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reinsa. And the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious. He will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations 3. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations". And it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem'.

I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not; I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name*. Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles'. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law". I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people; for a light of the Gentiles". And the glory of

1

b Isa. xi. 1.

• Isa. xi. 9.

h Isa. Ixi. 11.

Isa. xlii. 1.

c Isa. xi. 2.
! Isa. xi. 10.

i lsa. ii. 2, 3.

m Isa, xlii. 4.

a Isa. xi. 5.
* Isa. xxv. 7.

Isa. lxv. 1.
Isa. xlii. 6.

the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it°. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will go also. Yea, many people, and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord'. And many nations shall be joined unto the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. For it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues, and they shall come and see my glory'. For from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering; for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts".

SECT. 2. The opening of the dispensation of the gospel by the preaching of John the Baptist.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came unto all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins; and saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable **.

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SECT. 3. A general idea of the church of Christ. When Jesus was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come? he answered them, and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say, Lo here, or lo there; for behold the kingdom of God is within you". The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree; so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind; which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. My kingdom is not of this world. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven".

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Then came unto him the mother of Zebedee's children, with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask;-to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles

a

§ 3. Luke, xvii. 20, 21. d John, xviii. 36.

b Matt. xiii. 31, 32.
• Matt. v. 3.

Matt. xiii. 47, 48.
Matt, xviii, 1—4.

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