The Revelation of John the Divine is universally allowed to be the work of St. John the Evangelist. Its omission in some of the early catalogues arose, not from a doubt of its genuineness, but from an idea that its contents were too obscure and mysterious for public reading. St. John wrote it in the isle of Patmos, whither he had been banished in the reign of Domitian, about A.D. 95. The first three chapters are of an introductory kind, asserting the divine authority of the writer's predictions, which he delivers respecting the Churches of Proconsular Asia. The prophetic visions of a general kind commence at the fourth chapter, and contain a prediction of all the most remarkable events in the Christian Church, to the final consummation of all things. "To explain this book perfectly is not the work of one man or of one age; it will probably never be clearly understood till all is fulfilled." It is graciously designed that the gradual accomplishment of these prophecies should afford to every succeeding age additional testimony to the truth of our holy religion.

CHAPTER VI.

Sketch of the New Testament History.

OUR blessed Redeemer JESUS (called Christ, or Messiah *) having been miraculously conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of a virgin named Mary, betrothed + to a man named Joseph, was born at Bethlehem, a city of Judæa, in the reign of Herod the Great, king of the Jews, and whilst Augustus was emperor of Rome. Joseph and Mary, though in a low condition, were both descended from David. Their residence was at Nazareth, in Galilee; but they had gone to Bethlehem to be enrolled, according to a decree of Augustus, that being the city to which the family of David belonged. Whilst they were there Mary brought forth

* The words Christ and Messiah mean the same thing; the latter being a Hebrew and the former a Greek word, signifying "The Anointed One," and applied in a peculiarly eminent and significant degree to Jesus as the anointed Son of God.

It was a custom in the eastern countries for persons to be betrothed or affianced to each other for some time before the marriage took place.

her first-born son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and for want of room in the inn, laid him in a manger. The birth of Jesus Christ, and the manner and circumstances of it, were first announced by a host of angels appearing to some country shepherds watching their flocks by night*, who came to Bethlehem, and having found all as the angels had declared, returned praising and glorifying God. At his circumcision and presentation in the Temple, on the eighth day afterwards, two devout and aged attendants at the Temple, Simeon and Anna, under the influence of the spirit of prophecy, declared Him to be the Messiah +. The birth of Jesus was still more publicly announced afterwards by the arrival of wise men, or sages, from the East, who had seen his star, that is, some extraordinary meteoric appearance in the heavens; by this coming under a divine impulse, they were miraculously guided to the place where He was, and did homage before Him, presenting the gifts usual on visiting a royal person. age . Thus the birth of the Messiah was communicated both to Jews and Gentiles; and by them He was thus early acknowledged.

These things becoming publicly known, caused much wonder; more particularly as from prophecy

Luke ii. 6-14.

† Luke ii. 25-38.

Matt. ii. 1. et seq.

there was at that time an universal expectation of the appearance of some great personage in the world; the Jews especially were looking for a promised Prince to deliver and rule their nation. Herod, fearing his power might be endangered, endeavoured to destroy Him, by ordering all the children in Bethlehem, under two years of age, to be slain. Jesus was saved by God's directing Joseph and Mary to carry Him into Egypt, where they staid till Herod's death.

We have no accounts of the early life of Christ, saving that He lived in subjection to his parents; and on one occasion, at twelve years of age, shewed amazing wisdom before the Jewish doctors in the Temple *.

A short time previous to the birth of Jesus, John the Baptist was born. He had been miraculously promised to his father Zacharias † (a Jewish priest); his mother Elizabeth was nearly related to Mary the mother of Jesus. We have no further account of the Baptist till he entered upon his office as the forerunner of Jesus, (thirty years afterwards) in the fifteenth year of Tiberius, the Roman emperor, and whilst Pontius Pilate was Procurator of Judæa. He then appeared in the desert country about Jordan,

* Luke ii. 47.

+ Ibid. i. 13.

preaching the doctrine of repentance for the remission of sins,' and admonishing his countrymen that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. To frequent inquiries he uniformly answered that he was not the Christ, but only sent to prepare His way +. After multitudes had been baptized Jesus came to John, and (removing the Baptist's scruples about his inferiority to himself) was baptized by him; on which occasion there was a miraculous visible descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him; and an annunciation from heaven declared Him to be the Son of God ‡.

Being thus baptized, and then having sustained a conflict with the powers of darkness, after forty days fasting in the wilderness, Jesus Christ entered upon His public ministry, commencing in Galilee; preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God; speaking as never man spoke; and confirming His doctrine by miracles. His followers in consequence becoming numerous, He chose twelve persons, called Apostles, to be His constant attendants during his ministry. He declared that the purpose of His coming into the world was, to call sinners to repentance; that the world through Him might be saved; and that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He taught that the two great

*Luke iii. 3.

+ John i. 23.

Luke iii. 22.