In the above instance CHRIST Commands the sick of the palsy to walk, to prove to the scribes that he had the power to forgive sins, which it had been previously declared that GOD only could do. Well might the surrounding crowd glorify GoD, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

CHAP. IX.

V. 11. Then the disciples ask JESUS, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? He replies, 12. Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

ISA. Ch. liii. V. 3.-He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from him. He was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we esteem him stricken, smitten of ELOHIM, and afflicted.

Has not the use of ELOHIM, in the 4th verse, a wonderful import? CHRIST, or the MESSIAH, as one person of the Trinity, suffers to reconcile the justice and mercy of the whole Godhead, as is most beautifully described in the 45th Psalm :-I will hear what GOD JEHOVAH will say. 10. 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. 12. Yea, JEHOVAH shall give that which is good. 13. Righteousness shall go before him, and show us in the way of his steps.

I cannot here resist giving what I conceive a more accurate translation of these very comprehensive and beautiful verses.

66

Surely his salvation is nigh those who fear him, causing glory to dwell in the land. Abundant Abundant mercy and truth have met together; justice and reconcilia

tion have touched together. Truth has sprung up from the earth, and justice has looked down from heaYea, JEHOVAH granted what is good, and our land yieldeth its increase. Righteousness shall go before him, and point out the paths of his steps.

ven.

CHAP. XII.

V. 24. And JESUS said, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God? 26. And as touching the dead, that they rise, Have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto them saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the GoD of Jacob. 27. He is not the GOD of the dead, but the God of the living. Ye therefore do greatly

err.

EXOD. Ch. iii. V. 6.-ELOHIM called to Moses, and said, I am the GOD of thy father, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look on ELOHIM.

JOB, Ch. xix. V. 25.-For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

In these three extracts the doctrine of the resurrection is clearly proved, and consequently our responsibility for the deeds done in the body. Can we weigh and reflect on those deeds, without eagerly seeking for our Saviour, our Redeemer and Advocate?

V. 29.-And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, the LORD our GOD is one LORD.

DEUT. Ch. vi. V. 4.-Hear, O Israel, JEHOVAH our GOD is one JEHOVAH.

me.

EXOD. Ch. xx. V. 3.-Thou shalt have no other ELOHIM before

HOSEA, Ch. vi. V. 6.-For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of ELOHIM more than burnt offerings.

Thus CHRIST, Moses, and Hosea, all agree.

CHAP. XIV.

V. 61. The high priest asked JESUS, and said unto him, Art thou the CHRIST, the Son of the Blessed? 62. And JESUS said, I am. And ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Ps. cx. V. 1.—JEHOVAH saith to ADONI, sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Among the unfounded assertions of the present times, it is asserted that JESUS CHRIST never affirms that he is GOD. Here, in answer to a very solemn appeal from the high priest, he assumes to himself the office of the ADONI, the Judge of the whole world, whom elsewhere Daniel declares to be ELOHIM JEHOVAH and the Great GOD. Can the divinity be more strongly asserted? And remember this argument is not enforced by quotations from the learned of this or that denomination, but merely by references from the Scriptures themselves, and prophecies and declarations made hundreds of years before the Gospels or New Testament were extant.

CHAP. XV.

V. 1. The chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and they bound JESUS and delivered him to Pilate.

Ps. ii. V. 2.-The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against JEHOVAH, and against his anointed. 4. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, JEHOVAH shall have them in derision. 10. Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings, be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve JEHOVAH with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

The Jews had the above admonition in their hands, but how very little did it advantage them; and why? Because, probably, like other modern cavillers, they were not well read in the Law and the Prophets, for they it is which so clearly testify of Jesus.

V. 3. And the chief priests accused him of many things, but he answered nothing.

ISA. Ch. liii. V. 7.-He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

V. 24. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

Ps. xxii. V. 18.-They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

How extraordinary it is that this last trivial prophecy should have been fulfilled by the very people who were acting in opposition, and whose wish was to set at nought all the pretensions of CHRIST and his followers. Thus does GOD make use of the foolish things in this world to confound the wise.

V. 27. And with him they crucify two thieves, the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

ISA. Ch. 53. V. 12.—He poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

This prophecy tallies so exactly with the Gospel text, that we should suppose no one could read them and continue in unbelief.

V. 29. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself and come down from the cross.

Ps. Ch. xxii. V. 7.-All they that see me laugh me to scorn, they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on JEHOVAH that he would deliver him, let him deliver him if he will have him, seeing he delighted in him.

The facts related by St. Mark agree precisely with the Psalm.

V. 33.—And when the sixth hour was come there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

AMOS, Ch. viii. V. 9.—And it shall come to pass in that day, saith ADONI JEHOVAH, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.

JOEL, Ch. ii. V. 10.-The earth shall quake before them, the heavens shall tremble, the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

How awfully these prophecies agree with the events described in the Evangelists, need not be pointed out particularly; but I wish to remark, that it is said they are to take place on the great and terrible day of JEHOVAH, and what day was ever so great and so terrible as the day on which our Blessed LORD was crucified.

V. 36.—And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone, let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. 37. And JESUS cried with a loud voice, and gave up the Ghost.

Ps. lxix. V. 20.-Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness, and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. 21. They gave me also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Well might our blessed Saviour refer us to the Psalms, for the above awful prophecy was uttered about a thousand years before its fulfilment; and the actors who verified the prediction were the infidels of those days. Ye unbelievers and irreligious of the present times, reflect on these things, and remember that you are commanded by CHRIST himself to search the Scriptures, because they testify of him.