LEVIT. xxiv. V. 16.—And he that blasphemeth the name of JEHOVAH, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him, as well the stranger as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.

Again, in the above quotation, CHRIST applies to himself the first verse of the 110th Psalm, thus teaching the high-priest, &c., that he was the ADONI Who was to be seen sitting in power, and moreover he unequivocally asserts that he is the Son of GOD, in reply to the solemn appeal of the high-priest, who, as well as the other Jews, decide for us the full purport of this phrase, for they all immediately exclaim, “He has spoken blasphemy, for HE HAS MADE HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD."

CHAP. XXVII.

V. 63.-Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive," After three days I will rise again."

HOSEA, Ch. vi. V. 2.-After two days JEHOVAH will revive us, in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Here CHRIST was accused of saying, "I will rise again," thus assuming to himself the power of raising the dead, which power is universally believed to belong to GOD only.

ST. MARK.

СНАР. І.

St. Mark unequivocally asserts in the beginning of his Gospel, that this prophecy of Malachi foretells the coming of St. John, viz., Behold I will send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

MAL. Ch. iii. V. 1.-Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and GOD whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in. Behold he shall come, saith JEHOVAH of hosts.

Thus St. Mark begins his Gospel by saying that St. John is to prepare the way for the JEHOVAH of the Jews, who is also the JESUS CHRIST of Christians.

V. 3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make his paths straight.

ISA. Ch. xl. V. 3.-The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of JEHOVAH, make straight in the desert a highway for our GOD.

Thus St. Mark incontestably asserts his belief that St. John was appointed by these prophecies to prepare the way for JEHOVAH, the GOD whom Malachi declares will come suddenly to his temple. And it is as clear, as plain, unsophisticated language can make it, that he thought that JESUS CHRIST was this God, the IMMANUEL.

V. 8.-St. John saith, I indeed have baptized you with water, but he (JESUS) shall baptize you with the HOLY GHOST.

JOEL, Ch. ii. V. 27.—I am JEHOVAH your GOD; 28. And I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. 29. And upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

St. John unhesitatingly acknowledges the very great superiority of our blessed Saviour, whose shoe's latchet he confesses he was not worthy to loosen.

10. And

V. 9.-And JESUS was baptized of John, in Jordan. straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the SPIRIT, like a dove, descending upon him. 11. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

If we recollect the definition given to the phrase "Son of GOD," in the note affixed to v. 63, ch. xxvi. of St. Matthew, we shall be prepared to read the following Gospel with the attention the history so greatly deserves.

V. 38. Then said JESUS, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, for therefore came I forth.

ISA. Ch. lxi. V. 1.-The Spirit of ADONI JEHOVAH is upon me, because JEHOVAH hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

How fully does the Gospel history show that our blessed Saviour, while on earth, did minutely fulfil this prophecy of Isaiah concerning the MESSIAH that

was to come.

CHAP. II.

V. 5.-When JESUS saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 7. (Then say the scribes,) Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies?-Who can forgive sins but God only?

ISA. Ch. xliii. V. 15.—I am JEHOVAH your Holy One, the Creator of Israel-your King. 25. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

V. 9. (Our Saviour says) Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed and walk? 10. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, he saith to the sick of the palsy, I say unto thee, arise, and take up thy bed and go thy way into thine own house. And immediately he arose.

ISA. Ch. XXXV. V. 4.-Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even ELOHIM, with a recompense he will come and save you.

In the above instance CHRIST commands the sick of the palsy to walk, to prove to the scribes that he had the power to forgive sins, which it had been previously declared that GOD only could do. Well might the surrounding crowd glorify GOD, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

CHAP. IX.

V. 11. Then the disciples ask JESUS, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? He replies, 12. Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

ISA. Ch. liii. V. 3.-He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from him. He was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we esteem him stricken, smitten of ELOHIM, and afflicted.

Has not the use of ELOHIM, in the 4th verse, a wonderful import? CHRIST, or the MESSIAH, as one person of the Trinity, suffers to reconcile the justice and mercy of the whole Godhead, as is most beautifully described in the 45th Psalm :-I will hear what GOD JEHOVAH will say. 10. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12. Yea, JEHOVAH shall give that which is good. 13. Righteousness shall go before him, and show us in the way of his steps.

I cannot here resist giving what I conceive a more accurate translation of these very comprehensive and beautiful verses.

66

Surely his salvation is nigh those who fear him, causing glory to dwell in the land. Abundant mercy and truth have met together; justice and reconcilia

tion have touched together. Truth has sprung up from the earth, and justice has looked down from heaYea, JEHOVAH granted what is good, and our land yieldeth its increase. Righteousness shall go before him, and point out the paths of his steps.

ven.

CHAP. XII.

err, because ye know

V. 24.-And JESUS said, Do ye not therefore not the Scriptures, neither the power of GOD? 26. And as touching the dead, that they rise, Have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto them saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the GOD of Isaac, and the GoD of Jacob. 27. He is not the GOD of the dead, but the God of the living. Ye therefore do greatly

err.

EXOD. Ch. iii. V. 6.—ELOHIM called to Moses, and said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look on ELOHIM.

JOB, Ch. xix. V. 25.-For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see GOD.

In these three extracts the doctrine of the resurrection is clearly proved, and consequently our responsibility for the deeds done in the body. Can we weigh and reflect on those deeds, without eagerly seeking for our Saviour, our Redeemer and Advocate ?

V. 29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, the LORD our GOD is one LORD.

DEUT. Ch. vi. V. 4.—Hear, O Israel, JEHOVAH our GOD is one JEHOVAH.

me.

EXOD. Ch. xx. V. 3.-Thou shalt have no other ELOHIM before

HOSEA, Ch. vi. V. 6.—For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of ELOHIM more than burnt offerings.

Thus CHRIST, Moses, and Hosea, all agree.