Exodus, ch. xix. & xx. vii. tremendous manner. That they received them by the voice of God, attended with thunderings, lightnings, fire, fmoke, and earthquakes and they believed thofe laws were to end but with the world itself. They expected a Meffiah, and in Jeremiah, him a mighty prince, who would fubdue all the xxxiii. 17 to nations of the earth; and then govern them by 22 those very laws. Here comes a man, poor and 2 Samuel, friendlefs; whofe origin they knew Jefus the Chapter Verfe fon of Jofeph, a carpenter of Nazareth;' defpifed, and thruft out by his own townsmen for his prefumption. Accompanied by a few poor fishermen, whom he called his difciples and by some women of no great reputation, who miniftered unto him. He tells them that he is the Meffiah predicted by their prophets: that indeed his kingdom was not of this world; but that was of little confequence, its duration being just at an end, and the kingdom of Heaven was at hand. He at first, told the Jews that he came not to deftroy, but to fulfil their law, &c. But his fubfequent fpeeches and actions ran counter to that declaration; as I have noticed page 225. They had more than once, afked him for a fign from Heaven in confirmation of his miffion, if it was from thence. Such a fign would have been unequivocal; beyond the power of collufion: but thefe requests had been evaded *. Putting thefe • Vide page 67. Q 4 *things E Chapter Verfe things together, without fupernatural affistance; xi. no wonder they exclaimed-He hath a devil, and is mad! In the eleventh chapter, John records a miracle performed by Jefus in Bethany, unnoticed by the other three. Bethany was in the vicinity of Jerufalem, and feems to have been the habitation, or place of refort, for Jefus and his particular affociates; into the neighbourhood of which he often retreated in cafes of danger. There dwelt Lazarus, and his fifters, Martha and Mary, whom Jefus loved; Simon the leper, &c. Here Jefus was, when the coftly anointing was performed by Mary: in a garden near this, he was betrayed; and near this was the spot, chosen by St. Luke, for his afcenfion into Heaven. Here Lazarus being fick, his fifters fent to Jefus, who was abfent, to acquaint him therewith. Jefus, two days after he had received this intelligence, fat out for Bethany; and was met, upon his approach, by the two fifters and their friends, weeping he also wept; but why, I know not. It is evident, from his converfation with the apostles three or four days before this; that he not only knew Lazarus was dead, but that he had determined to raise him again to life. It is faidHe groaned in fpirit, and afked-Where have ye laid him?' Being anfwered come and fee; he went with them to the cave, (convenient things for refurrections) ordered the ftone to be taken off; Chapter Verfe off; and cried with a loud voice-Lazarus come xi. After the last fupper, and previous to the ap- ⚫ come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be alfo. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas (very properly) faith unto him; Lord we know 6 not whither thou goeft; and how can we know the way: Jefus faith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto • the Chapter Verfe the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye 'fhould have known my Father alfo and from henceforth ye know him, and have feen him. Philip faith unto him, 9 and it fufficeth us. xiv. 8 C Lord, fhew us the Father, Jefus faith unto him, Have 'I been fo long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me Philip? He that bath feen me, bath feen the Father: and how fayeft thou then, 'fhew us the Father.' And yet in this fame dif courfe, he after this (verfe 28) faid to them My Father is greater than I :' and in chap. xv. v. 10. being a continuation of the said discourse, he said to them-' I have kept my Father's com mandments.' Jefus had, in the presence of his difciples, repeatedly faid-' No man can come to 'me, except the Father draw him.' Here he tells them- No man cometh unto the Father, but by me; afks-if he had been fo long with ' them without being known, and adds-He that hath feen me, hath feen the Father.' Thefe, though they do not exprefs it in plain terms; plainly enough imply, that he was God, and would have them believe that he really was fo: and doth not this fhew that the accufation, and refentment of the Jews was well warranted, when, in Solomon's Porch, he faid to them- I, and my Father are one *.' John, ch. x. v. 30. To accelerate this belief in the minds of his disciples, and at the fame time reconcile them to his departure, though they knew not how, or when, * Vide page 228. ΟΙ 12 or where; he in the 12th verfe fays to them- Chapter Verfe Verily verily I fay unto you, he that believeth xiv. on me; the works that I do, shall be do alfo; and greater works than thefe fhall be do; because I go Father' unto my In these days, when we know no such power attends fuch belief: we cannot, without making an entire furrender of our intellects, receive it with that profound fubmiffion, which fome would perfuade us is neceffary to falvation. But in thofe days, and in many ages following; this promife operated in a way that poffibly was not foreseen; and probably was not intended. Ignorant, and perhaps well-meaning enthusiasts, endeavoured to perfuade theinfelves that they poffeffed this belief; and, in courfe, the pow→ ers annexed to it. Their goodness of heart, or prefumption, generally excited them to exhibit proofs of this power; but failing in the attempt, were exceedingly chagrined, and moft likely had the additional mortification of being laughed at by the fpectators. This being obferved by fome artful and defigning knaves, and communicated to others; there foon started to view a number of wonder workers; no wonder then we are told that many thousand miracles were performed by the loweft clafs of Chriftians. Devils were caft out, the fick healed, the lame walked, the blind faw; and even the dead were raised to life. Jofephus was born in 37 and died in 93. He |