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Eph. ii. 20. Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

Ver. 21. In whom all the building fitly framed together growth into an holy temple unto the Lord.

Ver. 22. In whom ye are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

2 Thess. i. 3. We are bound to thank God for you, brethren, because your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you toward each other aboundeth.

1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood.

CHAP. IV.

PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST.

PROPHECY AND MIRACLES.

I. THE testimony of prophecy appealed to as a foundation of faith in Christ. John v. 39. Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.

Ver. 44. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of ano

ther, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

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Ver. 45. There is one that accuseth you, even Moses in whom ye

trust.

Ver. 46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me. John i. 45.

Ver. 47. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Matt. xxvi. 24. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him. Mark ix. 12. It is written of the Son of man that he must suffer many things.

Luke xviii. 31. All things written by the prophets concerning the Son of man, must be accomplished.

xxii. 37. This that is written must be accomplished in me. xxiv. 44. All things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Ver. 46. Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.

II. The testimony of prophecy urged by the apostles. Acts xvii. 2. Paul reasoned out of the scriptures, ver. 3. opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead, and that this Jesus which I preach unto you is Christ.

xxiv. 14. After the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets.

xxvi. 22. I continue witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things, than those which the prophets and Moses did say should

come, ver. 32. that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead.

Acts iii. 18. Peter said, those things that God before had shewed, by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath fulfilled.

x. 43. To him gave all the prophets witness.

xviii. 28. Apostles mightily convinced the Jews, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

xxviii. 23. Paul expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets.

III. Prophecies concerning Christ fulfilled, in his incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Gen. iii. 15. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head.

Isa. vii. 14. The Lord himself shall give you a sign, behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ix. 6. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. See this fulfilled in the conception, and birth of Jesus. Matt. i. 18 to 25. Luke i. 28 to 35.

Gal. iv. 4. God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.

John i. 14. He was made flesh.

Heb. xii. 14. He took part of flesh and blood.
Ver. 17. Was made like unto his brethren.
Phil. ii. 7. Was made in the likeness of men.

Ver. 8. Was found in fashion as a man.

IV. The nation, tribe, and family he was to descend from. Gen. xii. 3. Abram, in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Acts iii. 25. Gal. iii. 8.

xxi. 12. In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Gal. iii. 16. Thy seed which is Christ.

xxvi. 4. Isaac-in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

xxviii. 14. Jacob-in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

xlix. 8. Judah—thy brethren shall praise thee, &c. Ver. 10. Isa. xi. 1. David-A branch shall grow out of his roots.

Ps. lxxxix. 29. His seed will I make to endure for ever. See Jer. xxiii. 5.-xxxiii. 15. Ps. xviii. 50.-lxxxix. 4, 36.-cxxxii. 11. John vii. 42. Christ cometh of the seed of David.

Matt. xxii. 42. He is David's son.

ix. 27. Thou son of David have mercy on us. Ch. xv. 22.-xx. 30. xxi. 9. Hosannah to the son of David.

Mark xi. 10. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David.
Heb. vii. 14. It is evident our Lord sprang from Judah.
Rom. i. 3. Jesus Christ was made of the seed of David.

Acts xiii. 23. Of this man's seed according to the flesh, hath God raised unto Israel a Saviour. See Christ's descent reckoned. Matt. i. 1 to 18. Luke iii. 23 to 34.

V. The time of Christ's life and death fixed by other events foretold in prophecy, well known when they happened. Gen. xlix. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet,

till Shilo come. 'As a proof that this sceptre, the ensign of govern"ment was departed from Judah at our Saviour's birth' Luke ii. 3. Joseph and Mary with others, went to be taxed by the authority of a heathen emperor.

Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision of prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.

Ver. 25. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, unto the Messiah the prince, shall be seven weeks; and threescore and two weeks, the street shall be built again, and the wall even in troublesome times.

Ver. 26. And after threescore and two weeks, shall the Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war, desolations are determined.

Hag. ii. 7. The desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house (viz. the temple) with my glory.

Ver. 9. The glory of this latter house, shall be greater than that of the former house.

The only glory it had above the former, but was in other respects inferior to it, (Ezra iii. 12.) this fixes the coming of Christ while the temple was standing.

VI. The country and town where Christ should be born. Mic. v. 2. Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel.-Fulfilled :

Matt. ii. 1. Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

John vii. 42. Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was.

VII. Of his forerunner John Baptist. Isa. xl. 3. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord.

Mal. iii. 1. I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare my before me. way

iv. 5. I will send you Elijah the prophet-Fulfilled :

Matt. iii. 1. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Luke i. 17.

Matt. xi. 14. This is Elias which was for to come.

xvii. 12. Elias is come already. Mark ix. 13.

VIII. His purging the temple. Ps. lxix. 9. The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Matt. xxi. 12. Jesus cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple. Mark xi. 15. Luke xix. 45. John ii. 13, &c.

IX. His working miracles. Isa. xxxv. 5. The eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Ver. 6. The lame shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing-Fulfilled:

Matt. xv. 30. Great multitudes came unto him, having with them

those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and he healed them. See New Testament Miracles.

X. That the Spirit of the Lord should be upon him. Isa. xi. 2. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, &c. Ver. 3.

Ixi. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach, &c.

Ps. xlv. 7. God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness, above thy fellows.-Fulfilled :

Matt. iii. 16. He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. John i. 33.

John iii. 34. God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Acts iv. 27. Jesus whom thou hast anointed. Ch. x. 38.

XI. That he should be a Prophet. Deut. xviii. 15. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet, unto him shall ye hearken. Heb. i. 1. God who spake unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son Christ. Heb. ii. 3. See Christ's predictions concerning his death, &c.

XII. That he should preach or teach. Ps. xl. 9. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation.

Isa. Ixi. 1. He hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. See Isa. xi. 2, 3, 4.-ii. 3. Mic. iv. 2.

Matt. iv. 23. Jesus went about preaching the gospel. Ch. ix. 34. Matt. xi. 27. Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Ch. xvii. 26.

John vii. 14. Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

Ver. 26. My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

xii. 49. I have not spoken of myself, the Father which sent me gave me commandment what I should say. Ch. xiv. 10, 24.-For the nature of his preaching, see his sermon. Matt. 5th, 6th, 7th chapters.

XIII. That he should not seek the applause of men. Isa. xlii. 2. He shall not cry nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the streets. John v. 41. I receive not honour from men.

When he wrought miracles he often said,

Matt. viii. 4. See thou tell no man. Ch. ix. 30. xvi. 20. Mark vii. 24. Mark v. 43. See that no man know it. Ch. ix. 30.

XIV. That he should be a sufferer. Isa. lii. 14. His visage was more marred than any man.

liii. 3. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

Heb. iv. 15. Was touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

The infirmities were,

Matt. iv. 1. He was tempted of the devil.

Ver. 2. He fasted and hungred. Ch. xxi. 18.

John ix. 28. He thirsted. Ch. iv. 10.

iv. 6. He was weary.

Matt. viii. 24. He slept. Ch. xi. 35. He wept.

Mark iii. 5. He was grieved.

xii. 27. His soul was troubled.

Matt. xxvi. 37. He was sorrowful.

Luke xxii. 24. In an agony he prayed.

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Matt. viii. 20. He had not where to lay his head.

XV. That he should be despised of men. Isa. xlix. 7. Thus saith the Lord to him whom man despiseth, whom the nation abhorreth.

liii. 2. He hath no form nor comeliness, nor beauty that we should desire him.

Isa. liii. 3. He was despised and rejected of men, and we esteemed him not.

Ps. xxii. 6. I am despised of the people. cxviii. 22.-Fulfilled: John i. 11. He came to his own, and his own received him not. Luke xix. 14. They say, we will not have this man to reign over us. Matt. xxvii. 23. The people said, let him be crucified. Ver. 25. His blood be upon us, and our children. Ver. 25.

Luke xxiii. 18. They cried out all at once, saying, away with this

man.

John xviii. 40. Release unto us, not this man, but Barabbas.
XVI. That he should be hated. Luke xix. 14. His citizens hated him.
John vii. 7. The world hateth me.

xv. 18. It hated me before it hated you.

Matt. x. 22. Ye shall be hated for my name's sake. Ch. xxiv. 9.. Mark xiii. 13. Luke xxi. 17.

XVII. That he should be reproached. Ps. xxii. 6. I am a reproach of men.

XVIII. The reproaches cast upon him were, Matt. xiii. 55. Is not this the carpenter's son.

Ver. 57. And they were offended in him.

Mark vi. 3. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary.

John i. 46. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth.

vii. 52. Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

Luke vii. 39. If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, for she is a sinner.

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Luke xv. 2. He receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Matt. xi. 19. He is a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend

of publicans and sinners. Luke vii. 34.

.xxvii. 63. A deceiver. John vii. 12. He deceiveth the people. John ix. 16. This man is not of God.

Matt. ix. 3. This man blasphemeth.

xxvi. 65. Ye have heard his blasphemy. John x. 33.

John x. 20. He hath a devil, and is mad, why hear ye him?

viii. 48. Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil. Ver. 52.

Matt. xii. 24. This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelze

bub the prince of devils. Ch. ix. 20.,

Luke xvi. 14. They derided him. Ch. xxiii. 35.

Matt. xxvii. 29. They mocked him. Ch. xxxi. Mark xv. 20.

John v. 16. They call him a Sabbath-breaker.

Heb. xii. 3. He endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.

XIX. That he should be persecuted. Isa. liii. 4. We did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.

Ps. Ixix. 26. They persecute him whom thou hast smitten, they speak to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. Ps. vii. 1.

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