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النشر الإلكتروني

ing had also the character of that ancient proHe neither phet, being thundering as his was. spared great men, nor those who had the reputation of the greatest sanctity, as the Pharisees particularly, whose pride and hypocrisy he touched to the quick. He set forth the coming of the Messiah, as at the door: "The kingdom of heaven," said he, " is at hand."

The fame of him was so great, that there went unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the regions round about Jordan; and such was the effect of his preaching, that they were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

He made so great a number of converts, that in the Acts of the Apostles, there is mention of some even in Asia, who received the Gospel, and the gifts of the Spirit, having only before received the baptism of John. John baptized publicly with water, but it may be remarked, it was only for the space of one year; for he solemnly enjoined repentance, in expectation of the sudden appearance of the Messiah, as he signified when the Jews inquired of him, why he baptized. His answer to them was; "I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you whom ye know not: He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose."

It is worthy of remark, that the very next day John seeth Jesus coming towards him; and then pointed out his person, as well as his office, in this striking and beautiful language: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world! This is he, of whom I said, after me cometh a man, who is preferred before me, for he was before me. And I knew him not, but that he should be made manifest unto Israel; therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit deseending from heaven, like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me: Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God.

"Again, the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed. Jesus." In this instance, is a remarkable fulfilment of the commission of the Baptist, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The office of the forerunner of Christ, had been predicted through a long succession of ages,

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and the appropriation of it in the person of John, the son of Zacharias, was at length certified by an angel sent from heaven, whose authority was confirmed by attendant miracles. But though John came in the spirit and power of Elias, to accomplish all that had been foretold of the forerunner of Christ, yet he positively and repeatedly asserted that he knew him not; from which it is evident, that his declaration to the Jews, of the Messiah standing among them, was by the spirit of prophecy. This being the last instance of the exercise of it, in relation to the coming of Christ, it was ratified and confirmed by an almost immediate accomplishment, and distinguished by a sign and voice from heaven.

And Jesus, as if to sum up all the evidence concerning John, and to confirm his mission, said to the multitude: "But what went ye out for to see? a prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet; for this is He of whom it is written: Behold! I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily, I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not been a greater than John the Baptist." And again he said : "If ye will receive it, this is Elias, who was for to come."

After giving as particular a description of

John the Baptist, as the nature of our plan will admit, we may observe that the oracles respecting the Messiah, which are to be found in the books of Genesis, in the predictions of Noah, of Jacob, of Balaam, and of Moses, have been already adverted to in the chapters of this work which treat on the prophecies.

In addition, we may remark, that the spirit of prophecy was given so amply unto David, that, more than a thousand years before the appearance of the Messiah, he describes the manner of his sufferings, his glorious deliverance, and exaltation at the right hand of God. He represents his hands and feet as pierced with nails; that he was stretched out, and exposed to the view of the world; that they might count all his bones, which strikingly expresses the idea of a man fastened naked to a cross: and in the most distinct manner, he points out the remarkable circumstances of parting his raiment, and casting lots upon his vesture. After the account of the deliverance of the person, who was thus to suffer, he observes, as an effect of it, that all the ends of the earth should remember, and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the earth should worship before Him.

In the 110th Psalm, he describes the dignity of that august King, who should be born of his

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seed, and the glory of his kingdom, which should never be destroyed. He advances him, not only above all men, by calling him his Lord, who was himself a king, but also above all angels, by making Him sit at the right hand of God. He describes the glory of his office by an everlasting, unchangeable priesthood, styling him " priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." He points out the progress of his kingdom, when he represents God as speaking to the Messiah: "Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thy enemies thy footstool;" which indicates, that he intended gradually to subdue his enemies, whilst the Messiah should be in his glory.

Nothing can be more particular than David's description of the exalted state to which the Messiah was to be advanced, after the extreme humiliation which he should undergo. The psalmist particularly notices, that he should destroy all that opposed his power, should bring all things under his dominion; and that his kingdom should spread itself over all the nations of the earth.

Jortin sums up the evidence of the prophecies concerning the Messiah, in the following language: "The prophets speak of a new and second covenant, which God would make with his people; they mention not once, or twice, but very

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