God has done much—but when He works a miracle He Cananitish woman's daughter cured, Matt. xv. 21—28. Matt. xvii. 24-27. A lunatic possessed of a devil cured, Matt. xvii. 14-21, A demoniac cured, Peter's mother-in-law healed, A man both deaf and dumb cured, Widow's son raised from the dead, A man cured of the dropsy, Malchus' ear healed, Water turned into wine, A nobleman's son cured, A cripple at Bethesda cured, A man born blind restored to sight, Lazarus raised to life, Surprising draught of fishes, Matt. xx. 29–34. Matt. xxi. 18-21. THE PARABLES OF CHRIST. PARABLES are figures used to represent truths. Our Lord, in his parables, has taken similitudes from natural things to represent spiritual things, It was anciently common for philosophers to utter their sentiments in parables. And that the prophets made use of parables is very evident from the following passages. Judges ix. 7: 2 Sam. xii. 1 xiv. 1 1 Kings xx. 39: 2 Kings xiv. 9: Isa. v. 1, &c. The mode of instruction by parables was very common in our Saviour's time; and He carried it to the height of excellency and usefulness. In order to understand a parable, Observe, 1st. It is not necessary that the representation be strictly true; nor that all the actions spoken of be strictly just; because the design of the parable is not to inform concerning these, but some important truth. 2d. We must carefully gather the scope of the parable from what has preceded or immediately follows it. 3d. Several circumstances may be added in a parable for the sake of decorum, that cannot be illustrated in the explication of it; we must, therefore, chiefly attend to the design of the parable itself, We have the following recorded. The Sower, Matt. xiii. 1-23, Matt. xiii. 24-30. Matt. xiii. 31, 32. Matt. xiii. 33. Matt. xiii. 44. Matt. xiii. 45, 46. Matt. xiii. 47-50. Matt. xviii. 21-35. Matt. xx. 1-16. Matt. xxi. 28-32. Matt. xxi. 33—46. Matt. xxii. 1-10. The man without a wedding garment, Matt. xxii. 11—13. The ten virgins, Matt. xxv. 1—13, The servants who waited for their Lord, Luke xii. 35–48. Luke xiii. 6-9. Luke xv. 3-7. Luke xv. 8-10. Luke xix. 11—27. The pounds delivered for trading, REMARKABLE DISCOURSES OF CHRIST. THERE can be no doubt but an incredible number of volumes must have been written had all Christ's discourses been recorded. But Infinite Wisdom saw that such a vast number of Holy Writings would have allowed us no time for reading anything else; nor even meditating upon what we did read, or had expounded unto us; hence God has seen fit to leave us no more than what we are capable of improving. The following are some of the most REMARKABLE DISCOURSES delivered by our blessed Lord and Saviour. Sermon upon the mount, Ordination charge to the apostles, Matt. v. vi. vii. Matt. xi. 20-24. Discourse on the breach of the Sabbath, Refutation of the false charge, Matt. xii. 1-8. Matt. xii. 22-37. CC On occasion of the adultress, John viii. 1-11. On the bread of life, At the feast of tabernacles, The PPOPHECIES are predictions of future events. prophecies concerning Christ became more clear and minute as their accomplishment drew near. The whole chain of prophecy, extending from Eden's garden to Calvary's cross, which was first given to the Jews and is still retained by them, when compared with its accomplishment, most strikingly proves the reality of the Christian religion; and is well calculated to fill the mind with the most exalted views of the Redeemer. The following list of PREDICTIONS with their FULFILMENT, will, I hope, greatly assist the young reader in his search after Divine TRUTH, which alone can make him truly wise; and by which we must all stand or fall. In addition to the above remarks, I would also state, that in order to understand the prophetic language of the Bible, there ought to be an acquaintance with the Scriptures in general — the events of Providence the plan of salvation — and particularly with the symbolical language of the prophecies-especially the names given to Christ, antichrist, the church, nations, &c. &c. PREDICTIONS. Gen. iii. 15. FULFILMENT. Gal. iv. 4: 1 John iii. 8. Job. xix. 25, 26. 1 Cor. xv. 22-26: 1 Thess. iv. 16,17. Ps. cxviii. 22. Matt. xxi. 42: Eph. ii. 20: 1 Pet. ii. 7. Ps. ii. 1. Ps. xxii: Ixix. Ps. xvi. 10. Ps. lxviii. 17, Acts iv. 26, 27. Matt. xxvii. 35, 46, 48: John xix. 23,24. Acts ii. 31 xiii. 33, 38: 1 Cor. xv. 54. Eph. iv. 8: Col. ii. 15. 18. Ps. cx. 1-4. Matt. xxii. 42, 44: Acts ii. 33: Heb. v. 6. Ps. ii, 6-8. Acts xiii, 33: Heb. v. 4: Rev. ii. 27, Ps. xcvii. 7, 8: cii. 25-27. Heb. i. 6, 10-12. Matt. xiii. 13. Isa. vii. 14. Isa. ix. 1, 2. Matt. i. 20-23. Matt iv. 1416. Isa. xi 10: ix. 6, 7 : viii. 14. Rom. ix. 33 : 1 Pet. ii. 8. John iii. 3, 4: Col. ii. 3: John i, 32. Isa. xi. -1, 2. John x. 1, 16: Exek. xxxiii. 23,24: xxxvii. 21-24. Hos. xi. 1. Matt. ii. 19-21. Dan. vii. 13, 14. Matt. xxiv. 30: xxvi. 64: xxviii. 18. Dan. ix. 24, 26. Dan. ix, 27. Micah v. 2. John i. 41: Heb. ix, 26. Matt. xxiv. 15. Matt. ii. 1, 6: Luke ii. 4—7. Haggai, ii. 6, 7, 9. Luke ii. 10, 11, 27: Heb. xii. 26, THE BIBLE abounds with figures drawn from nature; such as light, darkness, sun, moon, stars, earth, mountains, trees, water, &c., from the persons and actions of men, as Adam, Moses, David, Elijah, &c., - and from the history of the church, &c. The Bible itself is the best guide to the interpretation of its own figures: — as the Epistle to the Hebrews to the ceremonial law. The discourses of our Saviour are highly figurative; and in consequence of their true meaning having been mistook, and a literal application given to those places which were only intended figuratively, the most absurd notions have been published for divinely-taught doctrines. A few examples will be sufficient to show you, that all the expressions of our Lord are not to be literally understood. For instance; |