Sect. 1. Of the pleasures of sense, or mere sensation, Sect. 3. The pre-eminence of living fources of pleasant Sect. 4. Of the most delightful living objects of contem- Sect. 1. In producing or destroying happiness, the effects of different kinds and degrees of contempla- tion are different, and even sometimes oppofite, 399 Sect. 2. Influence of the affection with which we contem- Infinite perfection of God, and God's infinite esteem, love, and complacency, in his infinite perfections, Important consequences from these obfervations, relating to the obligations of natural religion, the fears fuggeft- The law magnified by the Redeemer. Ifaiah xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleased for his righteouf- Acts xi. 20. 21. And fome of them were men of Cyprus, and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, Spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the 46. 29. read anointed, Pf. xlv. 7.- a transposition. 48. 9. for promises read premises. 49. 33. delete the afterisk *. 466. 32. for make read makes. 505. 4. for and read or. 509. 38. for cruelties read cruelty. 512. 29. infert are before in those places. AN ESSAY ON THE PROPHECIES RELATING TO THE MESSIAH. INTRODUCTION. T HE proofs of Christianity from the prophecies in the Old Testament, applied to Christ in the New, are founded on fome general principles, which it will be needful to have in view all along, and frequently to mention, in the reasonings contained in this Essay; and particularly on the following three propofitions: First, That these prophecies are truly applicable to Christ, according to the most uncontested rules of interpretation of words or writings; fecondly, That they are applicable to Christ only, especially when taken complexly; and, thirdly, That the things contained in these prophecies are of fuch a nature, that they could not be foreseen by human fagacity, nor be fulfilled by mere chance. A By By prophecies relating to Christ are meant, in this Essay, not only those that relate more directly to his person, or to his life and death; but also those that relate to the fuccess of his doctrine, or to the oppofition made to it; which take in the predictions relating to his church, and to his enemies. Concerning the first of the three general principles just now mentioned, it is proper to observe the following things. First, That though fome of the prophecies applied to Christ are not yet fulfilled; yet this cannot invalidate the arguments taken from those that are fulfilled already; provided these be applied to Chrift in the manner above mentioned, viz. really and peculiarly; and that the things foretold be fuch as could not be foretold by mere fagacity, or by chance. To deny this, is to pretend, that if the prophecies in view were truly divine, it behoved them to foretell nothing that was to happen after fuch or fuch a particular age; which is a supposition utterly unreasonable. If the prophecies that are not yet fulfilled cannot be improved as arguments for Chriftianity, neither can they be reafonably improved as objections against it. It is needful to make another remark with respect to the order in which men ought to proceed in inquiring, whether the prophecies in view be truly applicable to Christ or not. The characters of Chrift which the New Testament affirms to be found in the Old, may be usefully divided into three forts: First, Those that may be most properly called doctrinal characters, because they relate to the doctrines concerning his peculiar personal glory, and mediatory offices. Secondly, Thofe that may be called miraculous or fupernatural characters, because they relate to facts which all own to be miraculous and fupernatural, if true; fuch as the characters relating to his miraculous conception, the miracles he wrought during his life, his refurrection from the dead, and the fubfequent steps |