84. It was prophesied of MESSIAH, that he should make intercession for transgressors.-JESUS CHRIST interceded with. GOD for his very murderers, and now ever liveth at his FATHER's right hand to plead the cause of the sinful children of men*.

85. MESSIAH was to be cut off, but not for himself.JESUS CHRIST, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, was cut off by the hands of wicked men, to reconcile GOD to his rebellious creaturest.

86. When MESSIAH should come, there was to be a fountain opened to the house of DAVID, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin, and for uncleanness.—When CHRIST came, he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, and by the shedding of his blood once for all‡.

87. MESSIAH was to make atonement for the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of the world.-JESUS CHRIST was a propitiation for the sins of the whole world§.

88. MESSIAH was to make this atonement in the last of DANIEL'S seventy weeks.-JESUS CHRIST was crucified in that very week]].

89. MESSIAH was to abolish the old, and introduce a new dispensation.-JESUS CHRIST abolished the ceremonies of the Law of MOSES, and brought in a more perfect and rational economy.

90. The blood of MESSIAH was to be the blood of the * Compare Isaiah liii. 12; Hebrews vii. 25.

+ Compare Daniel ix. 26; Isaiah liii. 8; Matthew xxvi. and xxvii. chapters.

Compare Zechariah xiii. 1; and Hebrews ix. and x. chapters. § Compare Isaiah liii. 5; Daniel ix. 24; 1 John ii. 1, 2.

|| Daniel ix. 27. See this remarkable prophecy of DANIEL illustrated at large in PRIDEAUX, p. 1, b. v. Consult also the fourth and fifth of APTHORP's Discourses, and CHANDLER'S Defence, p. 132-150.- "The doctrine of atonement," says Bishop SHERLOCK, "is that which, together with the principles on which it is founded, and the consequences naturally flowing from it, distinguishes the Christian religion from all other religions whatever."

Sermons, vol. iv. dis. iii. p. 88.

The present excellent Bishop of London also tells us, "It is, without dispute, the great distinguishing character of the Christian dispensation, the wall of partition between natural and revealed religion, the main foundation of all our hopes of pardon and acceptance hereafter."

Compare Jeremiah xxxi. 31-34, with Hebrews viii. 6-13.

covenant, which should bring prisoners out of the pit where there is no water.-The blood of JESUS CHRIST was the blood of the new covenant-dispensation, which, whosoever disregards, shall bear the blame for ever*.

91. MESSIAH was not to lie in the grave and be turned. to corruption like other men.-JESUS CHRIST did not continue in the grave, nor did he see corruption like the rest of mankindt.

92. MESSIAH was to be raised from the grave on the third day after his interment.-JESUS CHRIST was buried on the Friday, and rose from the dead on the Sunday morning following+.

93. When MESSIAH should arise from the dead, he was to bring some tokens with him of his victory over the infernal powers. When JESUS CHRIST entered the state of the dead, he led captivity captive, unloosed the bands of death, and raised many bodies of the saints, which were confined under his dominion§.

94. MESSIAH was to ascend up into heaven, and reign there at his FATHER'S right hand, invested with universal dominion.-JESUS CHRIST did ascend up into heaven in the sight of many witnesses, and took his place at the right hand of power, invested with universal dominion.

95. When MESSIAH ascended into heaven, his ascension was to be attended with the ministers of heaven, to usher him into his FATHER's presence.-When JESUS CHRIST ascended up into heaven, two men stood by the Apostles in white apparel, and addressed them on the joyful occasion**.

96. MESSIAH was to send down from heaven the gift of the HOLY GHOST, as a token and pledge that he was exalted, and that his FATHER was pleased with what he

* Compare Zechariah ix. 11, with Hebrews x. 29; xiii. 20. + Compare Psalm xvi. 10, with Matthew xxviii. 6.

Compare Hosea vi. 2; Matthew xx. 19; Matthew xxvii. 1–7; 1 Corinthians xv. 4.

§ Compare Psalm lxviii. 18, with Matthew xxvii. 52.

Compare Psalm xvi. 11; lxviii. 18; Isaiah ix. 6, 7; Luke xxiv. 50, 51; Acts i. 9; and Matthew xxviii. 18.

The excellent TILLOTSON observes, that "all things which the Prophets had foretold concerning the MESSIAH were punctually made good in the person, and actions, and sufferings of our SAVIOUR."--Sermon 104.

**

Compare Daniel vii. 13, 14, with Acts i. 10, 11.

had done upon earth for the redemption of his people.JESUS CHRIST sent down the gift of the HOLY GHOST, in the most conspicuous and miraculous manner*.

97. The doctrine of MESSIAH was to begin to be preached at Jerusalem, and from thence to spread itself through the nations.The gospel of CHRIST was first preached in that city, and actually dispersed itself through all the neighbouring coun tries in the course of a few yearst.

98. Though MESSIAH was to be generally rejected and despised in his life-time; after his death the pleasure of the LORD, in the conversion and salvation of mankind, was to prosper in his hand.-How exactly these circumstances agree with the history of JESUS CHRIST, is well known to every Christiant.

99. The followers of MESSIAH should meet with great and severe trials and persecution for their adherence to his

* Compare Psalm lxviii. 18; Joel ii. 28-32, with Acts ii. 1- Ay and Ephes. iv. 8-12.

"When our LORD, after his resurrection, beginning ut MOSES and ALL the Prophets, had expounded unto his Apostles in all the seriptures the things concerning himself, and opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures: Luke xxiv. 27, 45; then they saw plainly (and any one now, who will trace the whole thread of the Old Testament, may plainly see) that there is a continued series of connexion, one uniform analogy and design, carried on for many ages by divine prescience through a succession of prophecies; which, as in their proper centre, do all meet together in CHRIST, and in him only; however the single lines, when considered apart, may many of them be imagined to have another direction, and point to intermediate events. Nothing is more evident, than that the whole succession of prophecies can possibly be applied to none but CHRIST. Nothing is more miraculous, than that they should all of them be capable of being possibly applied to him. And whatever intermediate deliverances or deliverers of GOD's people may, seemingly or really be spoken of upon particular occasions; nothing is more reasonable than to believe (in the Apostle's certainty, who conversed personally with our LORD after his resurrection, nothing could be more reasonable than to believe) that the ultimate and ge- : neral view of the prophetic SPIRIT always was fixed on him, of whom in some of the ancient prophecies it is expressly affirmed, that God's servant DAVID shall be the PRINCE over his people for ever; that his dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away; and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." CLARKE'S Sermons, vol. v. ser. 1. ↑ Compare Isaiah ii. 1--4; Micah iv. 1-4; with Acts 2d chap-ter, and Romans x. 18.

Isaiah liii. 10-12,

cause.

The followers of JESUS CHRIST had the whole world

in arms against them for several ages

100. The rejecters of MESSIAH should be rejected of GOD, and his followers called by another name.-The JEWS, who would not have CHRIST to rule over them, were rejected by him, and his followers were called by another name, through divine appointment, as it should seem, to accomplish this prophecy +

101. MESSIAH was to be opposed by kings, and persons in authority, with great vigour and resolution. JESUS CHRIST was very generally opposed, through the whole of his public ministry, by the great Ones of the world, and all the power of the Roman empire was in opposition to his cause and people for upwards of three hundred years .

102. Notwithstanding the opposition of the kings and princes of the world for a season, the time was to come when kings should be nursing fathers to the church, and queens nursing mothers.-Most of the governors of the nations of Eu rope have been protectors of the cause of CHRIST now for many centuries §.

103. It was upon a great variety of occasions predicted, that MESSIAH should enlighten the Gentile nations with the knowledge of the true GOD.-JESUS CHRIST gave particular commandment to his Apostles, no longer to confine their ministrations to the Jews, as he had done during his life-time; but to go out into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature II.

104. MESSIAH was to destroy the covering of the face, which was cast over all people, and the vail which was spread over all nations.-When JESUS CHRIST appeared, he, by his Word, Spirit, and Apostles, enlightened the minds of men, and effected a most surprising change in all the nations where his gospel was received ¶.

*

Compare Isaiah lxvi. 5. and Malachi iii. 1-3, with Matthew x. 16-18, and 1 Corinthians iv. 9.

+ Compare Isaiah lxii. 2; lxv. 15, with Acts xi. 26. Compare Psalın ii. 2; cx. 5, 6; Luke xxiii. 8-12. History of the Church for the First Three Centuries. § Isaiah xlix. 23; lx. 3.

| Compare Isaiah lx. with Mark xvi. 15.

See the

¶ Compare Isaiah xxv. 6–8; Acts ii. 1—11; xxvi. 17, 18.

R

105. To MESSIAH every knee was to bow, every tongue to swear, and every heart to submit. The whole Christian world, professedly at least, pay this obedience to JESUS CHRIST, the REDEEMER of Souls, and to no other being whatever. And in due time all opposing power shall be everlastingly annihilated *.

106. It was predicted, that all the enemies of MESSIAH should be ashamed and confounded.-JESUS CHRIST has already made an awful example of his enemies, the Jews; first, in the destruction of their city and temple; secondly, in their present dispersion; and, in the proper season,” every opposing power shall be brought into subjection †.

107. It was predicted, that MESSIAH would make a great and visible difference between his believing and unbelieving countrymen.-When the Romans besieged Jerusalem, near two millions of unbelieving Jews perished, while every single believer fled out of the city, and escaped in safety to the mountains.

108. MESSIAH was to appear in the world at the consummation of the ages, to raise mankind from the dead, and judge the human race in righteousness JESUS CHRIST is the resurrection and the life, shall appear again at the close of nature, and decide the final fates both of men and angels §.de

4

109. MESSIAH was to destroy death itself, triumph over the grave, and create new heavens and a new earth, wherein should dwell universal righteousness.-JESUS CHRIST is he who alone is equal to the mighty undertaking, and is divinely appointed to that office .

This is a concise view of the predictions contained in the Old Testament, concerning the nature, birth, life, doctrine,

*

Compare Psalm cx. 1; Isaiah xlv. 25; 1 Corinthians xv. 24-28; and Philippians ii. 10, 11.

↑ Compare Psalm ii. 9; Psalm cx. 1; Isaiah xlv. 24; liv. 17; lx. 12; with Matthew xxiv; 2 Thess. i. 7-9; and the History of the Jews.

Compare Malachi 3d and 4th chapters, with the History of that remarkable siege.

§ Compare Job xix. 23-27; Isaiah xxv, 8; Daniel xii. 1—3; Hosea xiii. 14; Micah ii. 13; Matthew xxv. 31-46; John xi. 25; Acts xvii. 30, 31; 1 Corinthians vi. 3; 2 Corinthians y. 10.

|| Compare Hosea xiii. 14; Isaiah Ixv. 17; lxvi. 22; 1 Corinthians xv. 54, 55; Revelations xx. 14; xxi. 4.