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The restoration of Israel ;-prophetic declaration of Herod's cruelty;-Christ is promised; -his dispensation and office. Jer. xxxi.

The return of the Jews promised, and Christ's kingdom;--salvation through him; he shall be King and High-Priest. xxxiii.

The promises and blessings of Christ's kingdom. Ezek. xxxvi, xxxvii.

His prophetic declaration concerning the Messiah; his coming and death for the sins of mankind, and to introduce everlasting righteousness. Daniel ix.

Type of Christ's death and burial. Jonah i. The glory and peace of Christ's kingdom. Micah iv.

The birth of Christ, and peace of his kingdom. V.

The restoration of Israel through Christ. Zeph. iii.

The latter dispensation superior to the former. Hag. ii.

Christ promised to the Gentiles. Zech. ii. The restoration of the Church through Christ the branch. iii.

The temple and kingdom of Christ foretold. vi. Zion is exhorted to rejoice for the coming of Christ and his peaceable kingdom; as follows:

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Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.-(See also Matt. xxi. 5. John xii. 15.)-He shall speak peace to the heathen; and his dominion shall be even from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great is his goodness, how great is his beauty! Zech. ix.

Christ promised;-is rejected of the Jews;— sold for thirty pieces of silver, and the money laid out in the purchase of the potter's field. xi. -See also Matt. xxvi. 15; xxvii. 3.

Christ promised;—the blessings of his kingdom and his death foretold. xii. xiii. xiv.

John the Baptist promised as the messenger of Jesus Christ; whose charaeter, office, majesty, power, and grace, is described. Mal. iii.

MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a

son, and shall call his name Immanuel (which is, God with us). Before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings-or, (as Lowth has it,) the land shall become desolate, by whose two kings thou art distressed. Isaiah vii. 14. 16. compared with Matt. i. 23. Luke i. 31.

DECLARATION OF GABRIEL.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said; Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called The Son of the Highest, &c. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the an

gel answered, The Holy Ghost shall come upon

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thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called The Son of God, &c. for with God nothing shall be impos sible. Luke i. 26 to 37.

ELIZABETH'S SALUTATION.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she spake with a loud voice, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the child leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke i. 41 to 45.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

Now the birth of Christ was in this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found of child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son

of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (vide Isaiah vii. 14.)-Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife and knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son: and he called his name Jesus. Matt. i. 18 to 25. Vide Luke ii. 4 to 7.

HIS BIRTH RELATED TO THE SHEPHERDS.

And Joseph went up from Galilee unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, &c. And so it was, that while they were there, the day's were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, 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 I bring you good.

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