THE

ADVENT, KINGDOM, AND DIVINITY

OF

THE MESSIAH.

PART II.

Zechariah, xiii. 7.-587 years B. C.Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts; smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones!

St. John's Gospel, 10th chapter, 11th verse.— I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep!-Ezekiel, 34th chapter, 31st verse-And ye my flock, the flock

of

my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.

These verses from the two prophets and the apostle St. John, have a most perfect corres

pondence. In the first the Messiah is appointed to be slain, and he is termed "a Shepherd," and the "fellow" of God (i. e. the equal.) In the verse from the Evangelist, Jesus Christ applies this word "Shepherd" to Himself, and in the text from Ezekiel it is assumed by God!

Daniel, ix. 26.-538 years B. C.—And

after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off; but not for Himself!

Isaiah, liii. 1, 2, 3.-712 years B. C.

Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?-For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him!

On this pathetic exclamation of the prophet, who foresaw that the Jews would reject so humble a Messiah, I shall quote the words of a celebrated convert to Christianity, the once profligate Earl of Rochester-"The meanness of Christ's appearance and person, has made vain and foolish persons disparage Him, be

cause He came not in such a fool's coat as they delight in!”—(See Bishop Burnett's Life of Rochester, page 85.)

He is despised

a man of sor

Isaiah, same chapter. and rejected of men! rows and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were, our faces from Him! He was despised, and we esteemed him not!

Zechariah, xi. 10, 11.-587 years B. C. And I took my staff even beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people, and it was broken in that day; and so the poor of the flock that waited on me knew that it was the word of the Lord!

Psalms of David, xl. 6—10.—1000 years B. C.-Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire. Mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt offering and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required!

Saint Paul on this text observes, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of

goats should take away sins.”—(Hebrews, 10th chapter, 4th verse.) These sacrifices were the types and shadows only of the sacrifice of Christ, the shedding of whose blood they prefigured.

(Continued.) Then, said I, lo, I come!

In the volume of the Book, it is written of me; I delight to do thy will, O my God; I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart, I have declared thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy loving-kindness, and Thy truth from the great congregation !

When Jesus Christ was brought before the Jewish council, the High Priest asked him of His doctrine, to which Jesus made the following reply, "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the temple, whither the Jews always resort, and in secret have I said nothing!"

(See Saint John 18th chapter, and 20th verse.)

Zechariah xi. 12, 13.-587 years B. C.