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25. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid, 28. After days thou shalt be visited: in the lat. ter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them,

xxxviii. 8. See also on ver. 54.

VER. 72. Ποιῆσαι ἔλεος μετὰ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, καὶ μνησθῆναι διαθήκης ἁγίας αὑτοῦ·

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

a See on ver. 54.

bAs for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram; but thy name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, Gen. xvii. 4-9. He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, Psal. cv. 8. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant, cxi. 5. Nevertheless, I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant, Ezek. xvi. 60.

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Αφόβως, ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν ῥυσθέντας, λατρεύειν αὐτῷ,

That he would grant unto us, a that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

a The wilderness, and the solitary place, shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given Sharon; they shall see the glory of unto it, the excellency of Carmel and God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, the LORD, and the excellency of our and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold, your God with a recompence; he will come and will come with vengeance, even God shall be opened, and the ears of the save you. Then the eyes of the blind deaf shall be unstopped: Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the and the thirsty land springs of water: parched ground shall become a pool, in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass, with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there but the redeemed

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shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away, Isa. XXXV. But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end, xlv. 17. O thou afflicted, tossed with the tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundation with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear; and from terror; for it shall not come near thee, liv. 1114. For, behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, 1 create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner, being an hundred years old, shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble: for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear: the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor

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destroyin all my holy mountain, saith the Lonp, lxv. 17-25. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD, Ezek. xxxiv. 12-15. And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, the King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an

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VER. 75.

Ἐν ὁσιότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ ἐνώπιον αὐτ τοῦ, πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν.

him, all the days of our life. In holiness and righteousness before

a But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the great

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est of them, saith the LORD: for I
will forgive their iniquity, and I will
remember their sin no more, Jer. xxxi.
33, 34.
And I will give them one
heart, and one way, that they may
fear me for ever, for the good of them,
and of their children after them: And
I will make an everlasting covenant
with them, that I will not turn away
from them to do them good; but I
will put my fear in their hearts, that
they shall not depart from me, xxxii.
39, 40. And I will sanctify my great
name which was profaned among the
heathen, which ye have profaned in
the midst of them; and the heathen
shall know that I am the LORD, saith
the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanc-
tified in you before their eyes. For I
will take you from among the heathen,
and gather you out of all countries,
and will bring you into your own
land. Then will I sprinkle clean
water upon you, and ye shall be clean:
from all your filthiness, and from all
your idols, will I cleanse you. A new
heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you; and I
will take away the stony heart out of
your flesh, and I will give you an
heart of flesh. And I will put my
Spirit within you, and cause you to
walk in my statutes, and ye shall
keep my judgments, and do them.
And ye shall dwell in the land that I
gave to your fathers; and ye shall be
my people, and I will be your God.
I will also save you from all your un-
cleannesses; and I will call for the
corn,

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God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, 2 Thess. ii. 13. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim. i. 9. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Tit. ii. 14. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy, 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge têmperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. i. 4-8. See also on Matt. v. ver. 8. clause 1.

VER. 76.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

a See on Matt. xi. ver. 9.
b See on Matt. xi. ver. 10.

Καὶ σὺ, παιδίον, προφήτης ὑψίστου κληand will increase it, and lay no θήσῃ προπορεύσῃ γὰρ πρὸ προσώπου Κυρίου, famine upon you, Ezek. xxxvi. 23-iтaμácαι doùs aútoυ• 29. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: a for he shall save his people from their sins, Matt. i. 21. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love, Eph. i. 4. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them, ii. 10. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, iv. 24. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness, 1 Thess. iv. 7. But we are bound to give thanks alway to

VER. 77.

Τοῦ δοῦναι γνῶσιν σωτηρίας τῷ λαῷ αὐτ τοῦ, ἐν ἀφέσει ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν,

a To give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the bremission of their sins, *Or, for.

And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

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Luke iii. 3. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, Mark i. 4. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, John i. 7-9. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand, John iii. 27-35. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, That they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus, Acts xix, 4. b See on Matt. vi. ver. 12. clause 1.

VER. 78.

Διὰ σπλάγχνα ἐλέους Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ἐν οἷς ἐπεσκέψατο ἡμᾶς ἀνατολὴ ἐξ ὕψους, aThrough the b* tender mercy of our God; whereby the + dayspring from on high hath visited us,

*Or, bow: Is of the mercy. + Or, sunrising, or, branch.

a For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John iii. 16. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead

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in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Eph. ii. 4, 5. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins, 1 John iv. 9, 10.

b Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies, and thy loving-kindnesses; for they have been ever of old, Psal. xxv. 6. Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? Isa. Ixiii. 15.

For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ, Phil. i. 8. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, ii. 1. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, Col. iii. 12. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John iii. 17.

c And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots, Isa. xi. 1. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee for they are men wondered at; for, behold, I will bring forth my servant, The BRANCH, Zech. iii. 8. Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD, vi. 12. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall, Mal. iv. 2. I Jesus-am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star, Rev. xxii. 16.

VER. 79.

Επιφᾶναι τοῖς ἐν σκότει καὶ σκιᾷ θα

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LUKE 1. 79, 80.-II. 1.

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γάτου καθημένοις, τοῦ κατευθῦναι τοὺς | ask for the old paths, where is the πόδας ἡμῶν εἰς ὁδὸν εἰρήνης.

a To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, bto guide our feet into the way of peace.

a See on Matt. iv. ver. 16.

b Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies, Psal. xxv. 8-10. What man is he that feareth the LoRD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose: His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth, 12, 13. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good: and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set us in the way of his steps, lxxxv. 10-13. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, Prov. iii. 17. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment; that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures, viii. 20, 21. Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea, Isa, xlviii. 17, 18. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked, lvii. 19-21. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace, lix. 8. Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways and see, and

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good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein, Jer. vi. 16. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light, Matt. xi. 28-30.

VER. 80.

Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ἤυξανε καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πνεύματι· καὶ ἦν ἐν ταῖς ἐρήμοις ἕως ἡμέ ρας ἀναδείξεως αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν Ἰσραήλ.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in a the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

a And, as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed shaken with the wind? Matt. xi. 7.

CHAP. II.-VER. 1.

Εγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, ἐξῆλθε δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου, ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from a Casar Augustus, that ball the world should be *taxed.

* Or, enrolled.

a Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Luke iii. 1.

b Destruction upon destruction is cried: for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment, Jer. iv. 20. And there stood up one of them, named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar, Acts xi. 28. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world, Rom. i. 8. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed

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