SECT. II. Prophecies in the book of Pfalms, 286 Gofpel-doctrines in the book of Pfalms, 308 SECT. III. General remarks on prophecies after Da 388 390 Sect. 1. Of the pleasures of fenfe, or mere fenfation, Sect. 2. Of mental pleasures, ftrictly fo called, or the pleasures of thought, knowledge, or contemplation, Sect. 3. The pre-eminence of living fources of pleasant contemplation above those that are lifeless, 392 Sect. 4. Of the moft delightful living objects of contemplation, Sect. 5. Perpetual fullness of joy cannot refult from the mere contemplation of created things, PART II. 393 395 401 Sect. 1. In producing or deftroying happiness, the effects of different kinds and degrees of contemplation are different, and even fometimes oppofite, 399 Sect. 2. Influence of the affection with which we contemplate objects; on the joy that results from contemplation, Infinite perfection of God, and God's infinite efteem, love, and complacency, in his infinite perfections, Important confequences from thefe obfervations, relating to the obligations of natural religion, the fears suggested by reason to the guilty, the neceflity and fitneis of the interpofition of the Mediator, &c. 404.- 408. 404 SER Pag. SERMON I. In two parts. The law magnified by the Redeemer. Ifaiah xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleafed for his righteouf nefs fake, he will magnify the law, and make it honourable, 409 The neceffity of divine grace to make the word effectual. 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 Jefus. And the band of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord, SERMON III. The knowledge of Chrift crucified the fum and fubftance of faving knowledge. 1 Cor. ii, 2. For I determined not to know any thing among you, fave Jefus Chrift, and him crucified, 437 498 Pag. lin. ERRAT A. 5. 20. for believed read behoved. 10. 11. after the infert 11th. 15. for 11th read 56th. 17. 34. for lxii, read xlii. 46. 29. read anointed, Pf. xlv. 7.-a tranfpofition. 48. 9. for promises read premises. 49. 33. delete the afterisk*. 34. infert an afterisk* after name. 124. 31. for 4. read 1. 2. 146. 10. delete ver. 31. 209. 12. after xxxi. add 31.32. 4. for more read mere. 394. 8. for one read our. 398. 15. for external read eternal. 18. read to an eternal fulness of joy. 401. 25. for himself read him. 423. 26., for the Deity read government. 434. II. for is read is not. 12. for is read is not. 14. for to love read to make us love. 435. 17. for our read their. 25. for defpifes Chrift read despises the law. 466. 32. for make read makes. 505. 4. for and read or. 509. 38. for cruelties read cruelty. 512. 29. infert are before in thofe places. A N ESSAY ON THE PŘOPHECIES RELATING TO THE MESSIAH. INTRODUCTIO N. HE proofs of Chriftianity from the prophecies in the Old Teftament, applied to Chrift 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 Effay; and particularly on the following three propofitions: First, That these prophecies are truly applicable to Chrift, according to the most uncontested rules of interpretation of words or writings; fecondly, That they are applicable to Chrift only, especially when taken complexly; and, thirdly, That the things contained in thefe 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 Chrift are meant, in this Effay, not only thofe that relate more directly to his perfon, or to his life and death; but also thofe that relate to the fuccefs 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 firft of the three general principles juft now mentioned, it is proper to obferve the following things. First, That though fome of the prophecies applied to Chrift are not yet fulfilled; yet this cannot invalidate the arguments taken from thofe that are fulfilled already; provided thefe be applied to Chrift in the manner abovẹ mentioned, viz. really and peculiarly; and that the things foretold be fuch as could not be foretold by mere lagacity, or by chance. To deny this, is to pretend, that if the pro hecies 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 fuppofition utterly unreafonable. If the prophecies that are not yet fulfilled cannot be improved as arguments for Chriftianity, neither can they be reasonably 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 Chrift or not. The characters of Chrift which the New Teftament affirms to be found in the Old, may be ufefully divided into three forts: First, Thofe that may be moft properly called doctrinal characters, because they relate to the doctrines concerning his peculiar perfonal 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 teps |