No. CXXXI. The Annunciation by the Angel to the Shepherds, and the Concurrence of the heavenly Host, intimating the Blessings Christ should confer upon Mankind. No. 131. 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. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men. Luke ii. 10, 11. 14. No. CXXXII. The prophetic Song of Simeon, looking forward to the Salvation Christ should vouchsafe, and its Extension to all Mankind, to Gentiles as well as Jews. No. 132. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation; which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke ii. 29–32. No. CXXXIII, CXXXIV. A prophetic Intimation that the Times of the Messiah, the Kingdom of Heaven, were at hand-of the high Pre-eminence of Christ, the Strictness of his Justice, and the Weight of his Punishments. 66 No. 133. Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at "The kingdom of heaven;" i. e. "that kingdom which, according to Dan. ii. 44. the God of heaven should set up; that "kingdom which, according to Dan. vii. 14. should not be de"stroyed; that, in which, according to 1 Chron. xvii. 14. God "should settle one of David's line for ever; that, wherein, ac 46 cording to Isa. xxxii. 1. the king should reign in righteous"ness, and princes should rule in judgment." hand. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner: but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matt. iii. 2. 10-12. Luke iii. 3. 9. 16, 17. This No. 134. I (i. e. John) baptize with water: but there standeth one among you whom ye know not; he it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoes' latchet I am not worthy to unloose." Behold the Lamb "of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. "is He, of whom I said, ' After me cometh a man which "" is preferred before me: for he was before me: and I "knew him not, but that he should be made manifest to "Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water."I saw the Spirit descending from heaven, like a dove, "❝ and it abode upon him. And I knew him not; but he "that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto "me,' Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descend"❝ing, and remaining on him, the same is he which "baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.' And I saw and bare 66 record, that this is the Son of God." John i. 26, 27. 29-34, CHAPTER VIII. PROPHECIES AS TO CHRIST AND CHRISTIAN TIMES. BY CHRIST HIMSELF. No. CXXXV to CXLIII. Sect. I.-As to the Approach of his Kingdom-its Character and Nature. No. 135. From that time (i. e. after John was cast into prison) Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent: for "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. iv. 17. "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at "hand repent ye, and believe the Gospel." Mark i. 15. No. 136. He (i. e. Jesus) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. Luke viii. 1. No. 137. As ye (i. e. the twelve Apostles) go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt. x. 7. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God. Luke ix. 2. No. 138. The Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself would come, and said unto them, "Into whatsoever city ye enter, say unto them, 'The king""dom of God is come nigh unto you.'" Luke x. 1.8,9 No. 139. "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, "then the kingdom of God is come unto you." Matt. xii. 28. No. 140. "If I (Jesus) with the finger of God cast out "devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon "you." Luke xi. 20. No. 141. When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, "The kingdom of God cometh a not with "observation; neither shall they say, lo here, or lo "there, for behold the kingdom of God is within you." Luke xvii. 20, 21. 66 No. 142. "Verily, verily, I (i. e. Jesus) say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom "of God. Except a man be born of water and of the "Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John iii. 3. 5. No. 143. "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants 66 fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but "now is my kingdom not from hence." John xviii. 36. PROPHECIES BY CHRIST HIMSELF. No. CXLIV to CLXXXIX. Sect. II.-As to what should happen to himself. The Rejection of him by the Jews-his Sufferings=his being betrayed by Judas, and deserted by the other Apostles=his Crucifixion=his Burial-his Continuance in the Grave-his Resurrection-Ascension—and sitting on the right hand of God. No. 144. Jesus said unto them (the Jews), " Destroy "this temple, and in three days I will raise it up :" but he spake of the temple of his body. John ii. 19. 21. C No. 145. As Moses' lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John iii. 14, 15. No. 146. As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matt. xii. 40. a "Cometh not," &c. i. e. is not an object of sight. b"As Moses," &c. See Numb. xxi. 8, 9. "Lifted up;" i. e, " at his crucifixion." See John xii. 33. No. 147. What, and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before? John vi. 62. No. 148. "Yet a little while am I with you, and then 66 I go unto him that sent me : ye shall seek me, and shall "not find me, and where I am, thither ye cannot come." John vii. 33, 34. No. 149. "When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, "then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing "of myself," &c. John viii. 28. No. 150. "I (i. e. Jesus) am the good shepherd: the "good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." John x. 11. No. 151. "I (i. e. Jesus) lay down my life for the "sheep." John x. 15. d No. 152. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Matt. xvi. 21. No. 153. He taught his disciples, and said unto them, "The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men, "and they shall kill him, and after that he is killed, he "shall rise the third day." Mark ix. 31. No. 154. "The Son of Man must suffer many things, "and be rejected of the elders, and chief priests, and "scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day." Luke ix. 22. So Mark viii. 31. "And he spake that 66 saying openly." Mark viii. 32. No. 155. As they came down from the mountain (i. e. where his transfiguration took place) Jesus charged them, saying, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man be "risen again from the dead." Matt. xvii. 9. Mark ix. 9. No. 156. Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed: likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them. Matt. xvii. 12. d" That time;" i. e. "in the year 32.-six days before the "transfiguration." See Matt. xvii. 1. e 66 |