HABAKKUK prophecied during the reign of Manasseh; and was living in the time of Jeremiah. In chap. 1. He foretells the destruction of Judeah and the surrounding countries by the Chaldeans, for their iniquity. 2. He predicts the overthrow of the Chaldeans for their having overthrown, oppressed, and murdered others. 3, He trembles in his prayer. and in a manner the most sublime, celebrates God's former goodness in appearing for Israel for bringing them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and through the wilderness to Canaan encourages himself and others to trust in God though every visible mean fail. Let us, like him, rejoice in the God of our salvation in the worst of times. You will derive further assistance by reading attentively 2 Kings xxi: and 2 Chron. xxxiii. This prophet's name signi fies he that embraces or wrestles,

ZEPHANIAH.

ZEPHANIAH lived in the days of Josiah, king of Judah; an account of whose reign you will find, in 2 Kings xxii: xxiii and 2 Chron. xxxiv: xxxv. Chapter 1. He reproaches and threatens the Jews for their wickedness. 2. He earnestly exhorts them to repentance, that the threatened evil might be averted and predicts the ruin of the Philistines Moabites, Ammonites, Ethiopians, and Assyrians. 3. He reproves Jerusalem for the wickedness found in her, especially among her princes—judges, prophets, and priests and exhorts them to wait for the restoration of Israel-seeing God would work out a glorious salvation for them, after he had prepared them for it. His name signifies the secret of the LORD. Ps.

xxv. 14.

HAGGAI,

HAGGAI began his prophecies about two months before Zechariah; and after the Jews had returned from their captivity. Read Ezra v. 1: vi. 14. All the prophecies we have recorded by this prophet, were delivered in the short space of four months. See chapter i. 1: and ii. 1, 10, 20. He, together with Zecheriah, greatly encouraged their brethren to finish the building of the temple. He assured them that the Messiah should come

in the flesh

that the glory of the latter house should be greater than that of the former. See chap. i. 7-9. The name of Haggai signifies feast, solemnity.

ZECHARIAH.

THIS prophet began to prophecy while young; and about two months after Haggai. His preaching was plain and practical; such as was well calculated to make a good impression on his hearers. In chapter 3. He foretells of Christ the BRANCH. 9. Zion is exhorted to rejoice for the coming of Christ and his peaceable kingdom. 11. He speaks of the rejection of Christ, and the price for which he was sold. 13. Of the death of Christ. 14. The coming of the Redeemer and the graces of his kingdom. His name signifies what he was, a man of the LORD,

MALACHI.

THE Scriptures give us no account who were the parents of this prophet, nor to what country he belonged. But it appears plain, that he prophecied after the second temple was built; and about 397 years before the birth of Christ. In chapter 1, after reminding the Jews of the great things God had done for them and their fathers, he sharply reproves them for their irreligion and profaneness. 2. He reproves the priests for their neglect of duty and the people for their adultery and infidelity. 3. Of the near approach — majesty — and grace of the Messiah rebukes them for their sacrilege and blasphemy — and declares the great regard that God has for all those who truly fear his name. 4. He predicts the terrible judgments that awaited those who should reject the Messiah and concludes by referring to the mission of John the Baptist. Malachi signifies my angel.

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TESTAMENT.

THE word "TESTAMENT" signifies the will of a dying man left in writing; by which he determines how his property shall be disposed of after his death: Gal. iii. 15. And the TESTATOR is the deceased person who left the testament, or will. JESUS CHRIST is called a TESTATOR, on account of his having bequeathed to sin

ful men his peace; John xiv. 27; together with all the unsearchable riches of his grace and glory: Heb. ix. 16, 17. The writings of Moses and the prophets are called the Old Testament; and this testament, or will was published before the birth of the Redeemer. Notwithstanding, it was ratified by his typical death in the many sacrifices that were offered; and which observances are now entirely abolished, or done away: See 2 Cor. iii. 15: Heb. ix. 15.

The writings of the Evangelists and Apostles are called the NEW TESTAMENT; and may be considered the voluntary act and deed of JESUS CHRIST, duly executed and witnessed, bestowing legacies on such characters as he has described; and, being ratified by the death of the Testator, can never be abolished. The New Testament is the same in substance with the Old; but is more spiritual, clear, efficacious, and extensive. The wine in the Lord's Supper is called the " new testament in Christ's blood," Matt. xxvi. 28, because it represents the blood which sealed the covenant God has been pleased to make with his creatures; and all the benefits and privileges of it are owing to the merits of that blood represented by the wine: Luke xxii. 20. The Old Testament was confirmed by the blood of bulls and of goats; Exod. xxiv. 8;, but the New with the blood of Christ; and without the shedding of which our sins could never have been removed, nor heaven have become our inheritance: Heb. ix. 22.

The word we have rendered Testament might well be rendered Covenant; for it signifies both; and so it would read New Covenant. But in speaking of Christ's act and deed, it is most proper to render it Testament ; for he is the Testator, and by his death it became in force Heb. ix. 16, 17. There is nothing in the Old Testament laid aside by the New Testament but the ceremonial law, and peculiarities of the Jews.

GOSPEL.

THE word "Gospel," signifies good news, or, glad tidings; as it exhibits the Covenant of grace; and is an absolute declaration of the good-will of God to man, in freely giving Jesus Christ and salvation in him, to be

received by the vilest, without money and without price: See Luke ii. 10, 11: Mark xvi. 15. It is called the Gospel of God, on account of its originally coming from him: Rom i. 1. It is called the Gospel of the grace of God, because it comes from, and makes known to us, the favor of God; and is the channel through which His grace is conveyed to us: Acts xx. 24. It is called the Gospel of Christ, because He is the Author and subject matter of it: Rom. i. 16. It is called the Gospel of salvation, because it not only tells us that salvation may be had, but points out the way of obtaining it; and offers it to us: Eph. i. 13. It is the same Gospel that the Spirit of God preached unto Abraham : See Gal. iii. 8: Gen. xii. 3: xviii. 18: xxii. 18; xxvi. 4. Gospel, is also taken for a historical account of what Jesus Christ did and said; of his life, doctrines, miracles, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension: hence we say, "the Gospel according to Matthew, or Mark, -or Luke, or John. That is, as recorded by them" See Mark i. 1.

MATTHEW.

THIS Evangelist was, by birth, a Galilean; by profession, a publican, or inferior tax-gatherer; by religion, a Jew; and ordinarily a resident of Capernaum. He left his occupation and followed Christ at his command; and was one of those who constantly accompanied the LORD JESUS from the baptism of John unto the day that he was taken from them: Acts i. 21, 22. He is supposed to have written the Gospel, or the good news of Christ Jesus coming into the world to save sinners, about A. D. 41. But in what language he wrote it the learned are not agreed, whether in Hebrew, Syriac, or Greek. He commences with the Redeemer's parentage. birth the ancestors from whom he descended -and the manner of his coming into the world. He has exhibited the most evident parts of the Saviour's conduct and sufferings in a plain, grave, and dignified manner; and as he was one of the twelve disciples who constantly attended our Lord, this history is an account of what he heard and saw. And the other Evangelists relate things as they heard and saw them. Matthew signifies a reward.

It is a matter of uncertainty who was the writer of this book; but, be who he may, we are told his name was MARK. And though MARCUS was quite a common name among the Romans, the Scriptures leave us little room to doubt of this writer being a Jew by birth. In Acts xv. 37, we read of John whose surname was MARK; and with whom Paul was greatly displeased for a time; but afterwards showed him great kindness, and ordered the churches to receive him: Col. iv. 10. He sent for him to assist him in the ministry; and afterwards spake of him as being his fellow-laborer: Philemon 24. Peter, also, speaks of one MARCUS, and calls him his son; on account of his having been made the honored instrument of his conversion: 1 Pet. v. 13. But whether that is the same as the one spoken of by Paul, and, if not, which of the two wrote this book the Scriptures do not inform us.

He begins with the preaching of John the Baptist; and though much of what he has written is a repetition of what we have in Matthew, he relates many remarkable circumstances omitted by that Evangelist; such as you will find in the following passages: Mark i. 23 — 26; vii. 31-35: viii. 22-27. Mark signifies polite.

LUKE.

LUKE is supposed to have been a native of Antioch, in Syria; and that his name is a contraction of Lucilius, or Lucius, which signifies luminous: Rom. xvi. 21. Whether he was converted to Christianity through Paul's instrumentality, or whether Paul first met with him at Troas, we cannot learn from the Scriptures. By profession, he was a physician; and, his first mentioning himself as being Paul's companion begins at Troas. He afterwards, frequently speaks of himself as being a fellow-traveller with him. Compare the following passages: Acts xvi: Col. iv. 14: Philemon 23: 2 Tim. iv. 11. Luke wrote the history of the life of Christ; and is the supposed writer of the Acts of the Apostles. He has given in this book a circumstantial account of the birth of Christ - his preaching, &c, - the baptism of John-and is the only one who mentions the commission given by Christ to the 70 disciples: Chap. x. 1 — 20.