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priests, and sometimes their prophets, were anointed and set apart to their several offices. The term is used twice respecting Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Both passages occur in the Gospel of John, and it is used also twice by Daniel in the Old Testament. They shall be here contrasted for the illustration of the subject. In Daniel ix. 25, 26, are these remarkable expressions : "Know, therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to 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 troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall 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." And John i. 41: "We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ;" as well as John iv. 25, 26 ; "The woman (of Samaria) saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ; when he is come he will tell us all things-Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He,”—are the corresponding passages of the New Testament.

BIRTH OF CHRIST.

The first fact of the New Testament is the birth of Jesus Christ, which is thus circumstantially detailed: "And it came to pass in those days, (Luke ii. 1—13,) that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governer of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be de

livered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you---ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men."

EARLY HISTORY OF CHRIST.

A curious fact respecting the circumcision of Christ is added by Luke: "And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." And towards the middle of the chapter, we are told that "the child Jesus grew, and waxed strong in spirit filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him ;" and that his parents missing him, "they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understand

ing and answers."

The chapter closes with the pleasing attestation, that " Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Such is the account

of the early history of the Saviour;-its inimitable simplicity will win its way to every heart.

BAPTISM OF CHRIST BY JOHN.

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The next fact is the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, who, agreeably to ancient oriental custom, was the precursor or forerunner of Jesus Christ. those days came John the Baptist (Matt. iii. 1, 11, 12.) preaching in the Wilderness, saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.-I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am nor worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." To this account is annexed the baptism of Jesus by John:-" Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water: and, lo! the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending (or hovering, dσE EQσεgav) like a dove, and lighting upon him; and lo! a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'

DIVINE MISSION OF CHRIST

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Soon after the opening of the ministry of Jesus Christ, he thus explicitly states the nature of his Divine Mission, involving the blessedness of belief and the evil consequences of unbelief with respect to mankind. John (Chap. iii. 14-19.) has these passages, too remarkable to be omitted: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the Wilder

ness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemed already; because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

Jesus Christ having entered upon his ministry, the Sermon on the Mount is a fair sample of the instructions he gave his disciples. The commencement and conclusion shall be transcribed. It begins in this strain, including what are usually denominated the beatitudes, fraught with wisdom and integrity: "And seeing the multitudes, (Matt. v. 1—12.) Jesus went up into a mountain, and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merci

Blessed are the pure in

ful, for they shall obtain mercy. heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake: rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

The conclusion of this Sermon on the Mount is equally impressive: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine

(Matt. vii. 24 to the end,) and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock And every one that heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the Scribes."

Concerning these very practical instructions contained in the Sermon on the Mount, it has been beautifully remarked-"Blessed Jesus! either these are not thy words or we are not Christians. Oh! season our hearts more effectually with thy grace; pour out that divine oil on our lamps! Then shall the flame brighten; then shall the ancient honours of thy religion be revived, and multitudes be awakened and animated by the lustre of it to glorify our Father in heaven."

SUMMARY OF DUTY.

The summary of our duty towards God and Man is thus explicitly portrayed by Jesus Christ in connexion with the unity and perfections of the deity: "And one of the Scribes came, (Mark xii. 28-34,) and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely, this-Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; there is none other commandment greater than these. And the Scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth, for there is One God, and there is none other but he; and to love him

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