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23. SALIM, OR SHALEM:-as Ge. xxxiii. 18, And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.'

27. CAN RECEIVE, &c. :-similar confession by David: -1 Ch. xxix. 11-5-see p. (96).

the Spirit divideth, &c.-1 Co. xii. 11, But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.'-xv. 10, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.'-So Ga. i. 1, Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.)'

29. HATH THE BRIDE.

the bride described :-Ps. xlv. 9–17.

PSALM XLV. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready 2 writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath 3 blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy ma4 jesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy 5 right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; 6 whereby the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom 7 is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made 9 thee glad. Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen 10 in gold of Ophir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, 11 and thy father's house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou 12 him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy 13 favour. The king's daughter is all glorious within: 14 her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto 15 thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be 16 brought: they shall enter into the king's palace. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou 17 mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

ISAIAH LIV. Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the mar2 ried wife, saith the LORD. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and 3 strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be 4 inhabited. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy 5 widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole 6 earth shall he be called. For the LORD hath called. thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with 8 great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the 9 LORD thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke 10 thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. 11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, 12 and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbun13 cles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall 14 be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it

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15 shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall ga ther together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.-Is. lxii. 4, 5-see p. (30). with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one hus the church:-2 Co. xi. 2, For I am jealous over you band, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.' -Ep. v. 25-7. [xix. 7-9.

the joy when the bride hath made herself ready :-Rev. identified with outcast Israel:-Is. liv. 4-8-see above. Je. iii. 8-14-see ch. iii. p. (39).

and with Jerusalem:-Is. xlix. 14-8-see p. (23). days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell which as being given, &c.:-Je. xxxiii. 16, In those safely and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.' identified with the new Jerusalem:-Rev. xxi. 2-10.

NOTES.

about purifying:-2 Pe. i. 9, But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.'

PSALM C. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all 2 ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come be3 fore his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his 4 pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and 5 bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

MALACHI III. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of 2 hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is 3 like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering 4 in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the 5 days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, 6 and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

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8

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and 9 offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have 10 robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall 11 not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD 12 of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. 13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much 14 against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD 15 of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his 17 name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I [Continued-see next page.]

HEARKEN UNTO ME, YE STOUTHEARTED, THAT ARE FAR FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS.-Isaiah xlvi. 12.

SECTION 13.-AFTER THE PASSOVER, JESUS REMAINS IN JUDEA;* HIS DISCIPLES BEGIN TO BAPTIZE; JOHN ALSO CONTINUES BAPTIZING. A DISPUTE HAVING ARISEN BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN, CONCERNING PURIFICATION, JOHN RENDERS THE LAST, AND THE MOST EXPLICIT, OF HIS TESTIMONIES TO JESUS CHRIST. JESUS DEPARTS INTO GALILEE; AND, ON HIS WAY, ABIDES TWO DAYS AT SYCHAR, IN SAMARIA-JOHN NOT BEING YET CAST INTO PRISON. John iii. 22-iv. 42.

(G. 13,) No. 13. Jesus' disciples baptize; John also continues baptizing. John iii. 22—.4. Enon, near to Salim.

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After these-things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he23 tarried derpße with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in non near-to Salim, because there-was much water idara πоλa there: and they-cane, and were-baptized. For John was not-yet cast into prison.

24

(G. 14,) John's last testimony to Jesus. John iii. 25-36.-The same. 25 Then there-arose a-question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about 26 purifying. And they-came unto John, and said unto-him, Rabbi, he-that was with thee beyond Jordan, to-whom thou barest-witness, behold, the-same baptizeth, and all men 27 come to him. John answered and said, A-man can receive nothing, except it-be given 28 him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear-me-witness, that I-said, I am not the Christ, 29 but that I-am sent before him. He that-hath the bride is the-bridegroom: but the SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

22. baptized-that was said to be done by him, which was done by his disciples, see ch. iv. 2. 23. Salim, or Shalem-as Ge. xxxiii. 18. 24. prison-see as to the cause and result of John's imprisonment, Mt. xiv. 3-12, § 40.

26. to whom thou barest witness-John's witness to the excellency of Christ's baptism, and the purifying he will effect, Mt. iii. 11, 2, § 7, p. 54; Jno. i. 19-28, § 10, p. 68; 29-34, p. 69; 35, .6, p. 70.

27. can receive, &c.-similar confession by David, 1 Ch. xxix. 11-5-the Spirit divideth 'to every man

severally as he will,' 1 Co. xii. 11-by the grace of God I am what I am,' xv. 10; so Ga. i. 1.

29..... the bride-the bride described, Ps. xlv. 9-17; Is. liv.; lxii. 4, 5-the church, 2 Co. xi. 2; Ep. v. 25-7-the joy when the bride hath made herself ready, Rev. xix. 7-9-identified with outcast Israel, Is. liv. 4-8; Je. iii. 8-14-and with Jerusalem, Is. xlix. 14-.8-which as being given the name of her Husband is to be called The LORD our Righteousness,' Je. xxxiii. 16-identified with the New Jerusalem, Rev. xxi. 2-10.

NOTES.

22. Land of Judæa; i.e., the territory of Judæa, as distinguished from its metropolis.

And baptized. Jesus did not himself administer the sign-see eh. iv. 2. Thus what a king's servants do, is often spoken of as done by himself.

23. Near to Salim. Salim was a few miles west of Enon. See GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICE, p. 96.

Much water there, idara noλλa. Abundance of water. A multitude of waters.' 'Many waters.'

24. For John was not yet.-See Lu. iii. 20, §7, p. 55. 25. A question. Rather controversy; a dispute. About purifying. [The methods of purification from ceremonial defilement were very different in form; but all represented the gradual purging of our conscience, heart, and life, by the word, the blood, and Spirit of Jesus Christ. He that offered the expiation-goat, or sprinkled his blood; he that led the scape-goat into the wilderness; he that burned the flesh of a sin-offering for the high priest or congregation; and the person or garment merely suspected of leprosy, was purified by a simple washing in water. The brazen pot wherein the flesh of a sin-offering had been boiled was to be washed and rinsed in water, Le. xvi., vi. 28, xiii., xiv. He that burned the red heifer, or cast the cedar wood, scarlet, or hyssop into the fire; he that carried her ashes; he that sprinkled, or unnecessarily touched the water of separation; he that did eat or touch any part of the carcase of an unclean beast, washed himself in

water, and continued unclean until the even, Na. xix.; Le. vi., xv.; De. xiv., xxiii.]

It would seem that the discussion was on the nature, efficacy, and necessity to Jews of baptismal purification, as κadaрiμos signifies in 2 Pe. i. 9: which, however, was closely connected with another, on the comparative efficacy of the baptism of John,

26. Rabbi. Master.-See ADDENDA, § 12, p. 87. hyperbole usual in the language of those who speak All men, Tavres for où rodλol, very many;' by an under the influence of passion and prejudice. Come to him. Eрxovтaι πpòs aúròv, resort to him.' 27. A man can receive nothing. It is not from man, but from heaven, that the cleansing represented by baptism, and gift of the Spirit, must come. one entrusted with a commission must exceed his commission.

No

28. Bear me witness. You remember that I told Jno. i. 19, 20, § 10, p. 68. I came not to form a sepa you I was not the Messiah, Mt. iii. 11, § 7, p. 54; rate party, a peculiar sect, but that the people might be prepared for His coming; so far from indulging in envy, I greatly rejoice at his success.

29. He that hath the bride, &c. So the church, the bride of the Messiah, belongs to him- see Ep. v. 25-.7. It is to be expected, therefore, and desired, that the people should flock to him. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

22-5 ver. Disputes about ceremonial purifying do not become the disciples of Jesus. It would have been well had they ended as they began, with John's disciples and the Jews.

[Soon may He give from above the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.]

public life of one who was likely to prove so powerful a supplanter. Let the servants of God beware of this spirit. Let us rather rejoice in seeing the work of God go forward, whether by means of ourselves, or others.

27 ver. With John, let us in all simplicity look up to our Father in heaven, from whom, through the Son of his love, the blessing alone can come.

[29 ver. Let the servants of the Lord beware of drawing attention to themselves, in place of introducing their hearers to Jesus.]

26 ver. To the Jews, as being worldly-minded professors of religion, had they occupied John's position, the superior success of Jesus would have been a cause of great unhappiness; they would have deeply regretted having contributed to the introduction to Possibly Bethel, or Bethar, on the confines of Samaria and Judæa, twelve Roman miles from Jerusalem, and twenty-eight from Sychar.-See Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. xxi. pp. 210, ..9.

A WORD SPOKEN IN DUE SEASON, HOW GOOD IS IT!-Prov. xv. 23.

[89

NO KNOWLEDGE CAN EQUAL THAT OF CHRIST, NO GROWTH CAN EQUAL THAT OF GRACE.

THE ECLIPSING OF ANOTHER'S SUN, WILL NOT MAKE OURS SHINE THE BRIGHTER.

JOHN iii. 30-.3.

friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly xapa xaipei 30 because-of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is-fulfilled. He must increase, 31 but I must decrease. He that-cometh from-above av@dev is above all: he that-is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that-cometh from heaven is above all. 32 And what he-hath-seen and heard, that he-testifieth; and no-man receiveth his testi33 mony. He that-hath-received his testimony hath-set-to-his-seal coppayiσev that God is

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

30. he must increase of the increase of his government and peace... no end,' Is. ix. 7-the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth,' Da. ii. 34, .5, 44, .5-the kingdom likened to a grain of mustard-seed, becoming the greatest of herbs, Mt. xiii. 31, .2, § 32it is to spread till the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever,' Rev. xi. 14-.8.

I must decrease-John's baptism belonged to the ceremonial dispensation, Mt. xi. 11-.3, § 29-which was to pass away, He. ix. 10, see also xii. 27-'even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth,' 2 Co. iii. 10.

31. from above-so Jesus testified, Jno. viii. 23, § 55'the second man is the Lord from heaven, 1 Co. xv. 47. above all-see his exaltation as King over all, Ps. xlvii. the glory on the heads of the four living creatures representing the hosts of Israel, Eze. i., x. -the children of Judah and of Israel to be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, Ho. i. 11 -the LORD on the head of them,' Mi. ii. 13he is Lord of all,' Ac. x. 36-over all, God blessed for ever,' Rom. ix. 5-far above all principality, and power,' &c., Ep. i. 21-a name which is above every

name,' Ph. ii. 9-11-angels and authorities and
powers being made subject unto him,' I Pe. iii. 22.
31. earthly-as is the earthy, such are they also
that are earthy,' 1 Co. xv. 48the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for
they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned,' 1 Co.
ii. 14-see as to carnal ordinances,' He. ix. 9, 10-
'how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly ele-
ments?' Ga. iv. 9.
32. no man receiveth his testimony-although they
were all baptized with John's baptism, Mk. i. 5, § 7,
p. 52-but their observance of ceremonies had been
like the conduct of children playing in the markets,
Mt. xi. 16-9, § 29-this neglect of Jesus' testimony
had been predicted, Is. 1. 2; liii. 1—3.
scribed and sealed in the presence of witnesses, as
33. set to his seal-evidence or records were sub-
Je. xxxii. 10-2-God claims to have believing wit-
nesses, as Is. xliii. 10-2-see as to Abraham's faith,
Rom. iv. 18-21-the apostle's trust in the Lord, 2 Ti.
i. 12-if we receive the witness of men, the witness
of God is greater.... He that believeth on the Son of
God hath the witness in himself,' 1 Jno. v. 9, 10-
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salva-
tion,' Rom. x. 9, 10.

NOTES.

But the friend of the bridegroom. He whose office it is to attend him on the marriage occasion. This was commonly the dearest friend, and was a high honour.

31. He that cometh from above. The Messiah, represented as coming down from heaven.-See ver. 13, § 12, p. 85; ch. vi. 33, § 43; viii. 23, § 55. He that is of the earth. He whose only origin or

[ Exor the rouny, &c. The subject is here illus-existence is in this world. trated by a similitude derived from common life, (as in Mt. ix. 15, § 36, and Mk. ii. 19, § 22,) in which the Baptist compares Christ to the bridegroom at a marriage feast, and himself to the rapávvμpos, or brideman; i. e., a friend who had been employed to negociate the marriage, and had acted as his agent throughout the whole affair. The allusion at ἑστηκὼς χαίρει διὰ τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ νυμφίου is variously traced. But the words are, with most probability, supposed to allude to the ceremony of the formal interview, previous to marriage, of the betrothed pair; who were brought together by the brideman into a private apartment, at the door of which they were themselves stationed, so as to be able to distinguish any elevation of voice on the part of the future bridegroom in addressing his intended bride;, from which, and from the tone of it, they would easily infer his satisfaction at the choice made for him by them, and feel corresponding joy.'] The sense, then, may be thus expressed: "As at a marriage the bridegroom is the principal person, and his brideman willingly cedes to him the preference, and, rejoicing in his acceptance, is content to play an under part, so do I willingly sustain the part of an humble forerunner of Christ."-Bloomfield. 30. He must increase. His kingdom and glory must increase to perfection, but my preparatory ministry will soon end."

I must decrease. My teaching must cease when he is fully established, as the light of the morning star fades away and is lost in the beams of the rising sun.

32. And what he hath seen, &c.-See ver. 11, § 12, p. 84. This is a beautiful instance of humility in John, and is his third testimony to the exalted character of Jesus, whom he had before pointed out as the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. A man, though a prophet from God, can be of no greater dignity or authority than God has thought fit to confer on him. Jesus having entered upon his ministry, his kingdom and glory must increase to perfection; and John having fulfilled the office to which he was sent, a harbinger or messenger of the bridegroom, must retire and make room for Him whom the Father loveth, and into whose hands he hath given all things. The Baptist speaks officially, as it were, for the last time; he describes his own ministry as more than antiquated, and as almost superseded entirely: his own joy was now fulfilled; his proper part and province in a common work had been discharged, and were, therefore, to cease: Christ was to increase, and to go on increasing, while he was to decrease and to dwindle, in comparison to him, to nothing.'-Greswell. No man receiveth his testimony. The world flocked to a carnal ordinance, but few received the testimony of Jesus,' which is the spirit of prophecy,' Rev. xix. 10.

33. He that hath received his testimony. Hath received and fully believed his doctrine-hath yielded his heart to its influence.

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HE ENJOYS GREAT GOOD, WHO IS THANKFUL FOR THAT WHICH IS BUT LITTLE.

[MALACHI III. continued.] will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that 18 serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

30. HE MUST INCREASE.-Is. ix. 7-see p. (14). the stone that smote the image:-Da. ií. 34, .5; 44, .5. 34, Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35, Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.' 44, And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdorn shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45, Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.'

the kingdom likened to a grain of mustard seed and leaven:-Mt. xiii. 31-.3, § 32.

the kingdoms of this world, &c. :-Rev. xi. 14-8. 14, The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 15, And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16, And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18, And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.'

I MUST DECREASE.

John's baptism, &c. :-Mt. xi. 11-.3, § 29, p. 225. which was to pass away :-He. ix. 10, Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal or dinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.' see also He. xii. 27, And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.'-2 Co. iii. 10, For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth."

31. FROM ABOVE.

so Jesus testified:-Jno. viii. 23, § 55-1 Co. xv. 47, The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.'

ABOVE ALL.-See his exaltation as King above all:

PSALM XLVII. O clap your hands, all ye people; 2 shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all 3 the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and 4 the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he 5 loved. Selah. God is gone up with a shout, the LORD 6 with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises 8 with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: 9 God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted. the glory on the heads of the four living creatures representing the hosts of Israel-Eze. i. x.

The

the children of Judah and of Israel to be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head:-Ho. i. 11, Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.'

the LORD on the head of them:-Mi. ii. 13, 'The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.'

he is Lord of all:-Ac. x. 36, The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.)'-Rom. ix. 5, Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came,

who is over all, God blessed for ever. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and Amen.'-Ep. i. 21, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.'

a name which is above every name:-Ph. ii. 9-11, 'Wherefore God hath,' &c.-1 Pe. iii. 22, Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.'

31. EARTHLY:-1 Co. xv. 48, As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.'-1 Co. ii. 14, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' see as to carnal ordinances:-He. ix. 9, 10. 9, Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience,' &c.-Ga. iv. 9, But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?'

32. No MAN RECEIVETH HIS TESTIMONY.-See Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.

had been predicted:- Is. 1. 2, Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.'-liii. 1-3-see p. (55).

R

33. SET TO HIS SEAL. [10-.2-see p. (67). evidences or records were subscribed, &c. :-Je. xxxii. God claims to have, &c.-Is. xliii. 10-2-see p. (27). see, as to Abraham's faith:-Rom. iv. 18-21. which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I the apostle's trust in the Lord:-2 Ti. i. 12, For the am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have 9, If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God committed unto him against that day.'- Jno. v. 9, 10. is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10, He that believeth on the Son of

God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.'-Rom. x. 9, 10. 9, 'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'

NEHEMIAH VI. Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates ;) 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mis3 chief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come 4 down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same man5 ner. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6 wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. 7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take 8 counsel together. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but 9 thou feignest them out of thine own heart. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now there10 fore, O God, strengthen my hands. Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to 11 slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into 12 the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah 13 and Sauballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, [Continued-see next page.]

[NEHEMIAH VI. continued.] and that they might have matter for an evil report, 14 that they might reproach me. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadial, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

15

So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day 16 of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

17

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah 18 came unto them. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan. had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Bere19 chiah. Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

33. GOD IS TRUE:-so 2 Co. i. 18, .9. But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. 19, For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Sylvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.' Christ is the truth:-Jno. xiv. 6, § 87.

was a minister of the circumcision:-Rom. xv. 8, Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.'-2 Co. i. 20, For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.'-Rev. iii. 14, And unto the angel of the church. of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.'

34. GIVETH NOT THE SPIRIT BY MEASURE. the Spirit descended, &c. :-Lu. iii. 22, § 8, p. 59. and not like... as on the disciples :-Ac. ii. 3, And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.'-Comp. 1 Co. xii.... .....See Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.

all fulness:-Col. i. 19, For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.'-ii. 9, For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.'

hath the seven Spirits of God:-Rev. iii. 1, 5, 6. 1, 'And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.' 5, He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.'

35. THE FATHER LOVETH THE SON.

see Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.

Is. xlii. 1, Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.' ALL THINGS.-See Scrip. Illus.,' page opposite. heir of all things:-He. i. 2, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.'

for whom are all things:-He. ii. 10, For it became. him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.'

as was predicted:-Ps. ii. 8, Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.'-Ps. viii. 5, 6. 5, For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6, Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.'Da. vii. 14, And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an,' &c.

36. HE THAT BELIEVETH, &c. :-Ga. ii. 20—see p. opp. see the contrast:-Rom. v.

WRATH.

danger of incurring wrath for neglecting to embrace the Son:-Ps. ii. 12, Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.' for holding the truth in unrighteousness:-Rom. i. 18, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.'

for obeying not the truth:-Rom. ii. 8, 9. 8, But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9, tri

bulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile [or, Greek].' coming wrath:-2 Th. i. 8, 9. 8, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.'-Jude 15, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.' Rev. vi. 15, .6. 15, And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.'-xiv. 9-11, .9, 20-. ..xix. 15, And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he tread. eth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.'-xxi. 8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.' [Paul-1 Co. i. 10-.7.

iv. 2. JESUS HIMSELF BAPTIZED NOT.-See also as to 1 CORINTHIANS I. Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes 2 our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs 3 and ours: grace be unto you, and peace, from God our 4 Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which 5 is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all know6 ledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed 7 in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting 8 for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blame9 less in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his 10 Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my breth12 there are contentions among you. Now this I say, ren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that

that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of 13 Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye bap14 tized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I bap15 tized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: be17 sides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ 18 should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto 19 us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the 21 wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that 22 believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks 23 seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks 24 foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the 25 wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger 26 than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many 27 mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the 28 world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are 29 not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh 30 should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

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