not that of the interpreters, be then manifested thereby to the world."-" To explain this book," says Bishop Newton, "perfectly, is not the work of one man, or of one age; but probably it never will be clearly understood, till it is all fulfilled." It is graciously designed, that the gradual accomplishment of these predictions should afford, in every succeeding period of time, additional testimony to the divine origin of our Holy Religion. PART II. CHAPTER THE THIRTY-SECOND. THE NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY ABRIDGED. JESUS, called the Christ, having been conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of a virgin named Mary, who had been betrothed to a person whose name was Joseph, was born at Bethlehem, a city of Judæa, when Herod the Great was king of the Jews, and Augustus emperor of Rome. Joseph and Mary were both descended from David; but, though of royal extraction, they were persons in a low condition of life. The usual place of their residence was Nazareth in Galilee, and they had gone to Bethlehem for the purpose of being enrolled, in obedience to a decree of Augustus, that being the city to which the family of David belonged: "And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that Mary should be delivered; 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 around 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 (a)." After the angel had departed, the shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem, and "found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen (b).” On the eighth day Jesus was circumcised, and being the firstborn of his mother, he was afterwards presented VOL. 1. (a) Luke, c. 2. v. 6-14. LL in in the temple, and a sacrifice offered for him, as the law of Moses commanded (c). Upon that occasion Simeon and Anna, two devout and aged inhabitants of Jerusalem, were supernaturally directed to go into the temple, and seeing the child Jesus, they declared in the spirit of prophecy, that he was the promised Messiah (d). The birth of Jesus was more publicly announced at Jerusalem by the arrival of wise men from the East, who had "seen his star” in their own country, and had come under a divine impulse "to worship him." The star conducted them to the place where Jesus was, and they worshipped him, and according to eastern custom presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (e). And thus was the birth of the Messiah, the universal Saviour of mankind, communicated, by especial Revelation, both to Jews and Gentiles; and select persons of each description acknowledged him as such upon his first appearance in the world. All these wonderful occurrences were quickly made known, and they could not but produce general astonishment; and in the mind of the jealous and profligate Herod they occasioned great (c) Exod. c. 13. v. 2. Numb. c. 18. v. 15. Lev. c.12. v. 6 & 8. (d) Luke, c. 2. v. 25, &c. (e) Matt. c. 2. v. 1, &c. great alarm. Thinking that Jesus, whose birth. was attended with these extraordinary circumstances, might be the great temporal prince, who was now universally expected to arise in Judæa, or in some part of the East, and fearing that he might deprive him or his family of his kingdom, he endeavoured to destroy him by ordering all the children of Bethlehem, under two years of age to be put to death. God was pleased to frustrate his design, by commanding Joseph and Mary to carry Jesus into Egypt; and the death of Herod happening soon after, they returned to Nazareth after a short absence (ƒ). But It is said in general terms, that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man (g);" but the only circumstance recorded of the early part of his life is, that at the age of twelve years he went to Jerusalem, at the feast of the Passover, and was found 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 understanding and answers (h)." He returned to Nazareth, and was subject to his parents (i). (f) Matt. c. 2. v. 13, &c. A few (g) Luke, c. 2. v. 52. (i) Luke, c. 2. v. 51. |