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16. THEY CAME WITH HASTE.

they not only believed the word, but acted according thereto so Abraham went forth:-Ge. xii. 1-4-see p. (32). to Moriah:-xxii. 2, 3, 9-see p. (1).

Israel went forth out of Egypt, and that in haste:-Ex. i, 34-.9, 42-see ch xii. p. (44). 11, And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded,' &c. punished for not immediately and cheerfully going into the land-Nu. xiv. 29-31. 29, Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30, doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31, But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, then will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.'

Paul rent as called into Macedonia :-Ac. xvi. 10, And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.'

he conferred not, &c. :-Ga. i. 15, .6. 15, But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.'

LYING IN A MANGER.

14 price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; 15 and there is none else, there is no God. Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the 16 Saviour. They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion toge17 ther that are makers of idols. But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without 18 end. For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there 19 is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I dec are things that are right.

20

Tell

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near toge ther, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven 21 image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God

Jesus as being made flesh is the food of his people:- 22 and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto Jno. vi. 48-58, § 43.

the words of eternal life:-ver. 68, ib.

must be more than wondered at, &c.:-Lu. i. 18-comp. Ac. xiii. 40, .1. 40, Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41, Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.'

must be kept and pondered, as by Mary :-ver. 19-comp. Is. lv. 2, 3. 2, Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3, Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.'

19. Кирт.

so Jacob:-Ge. xxxvii. 11, And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.'-See Lu. ii. 51, § 6, p. 42.

21. WHICH WAS SO CALLED.-See Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.

his great manifestation:-Is. xlv. 21-.5.

ISAIAH XLV. Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the 2 gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of 3 iron and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, 4 am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

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I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not 6 known me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside 7 me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and 8 create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up 9 together; I the LORD have created it. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy 10 work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith

unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woIl man, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning 12 the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their 13 host have 1 commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for

me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I 23 am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee 24 shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that 25 are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

PSALM XXIV. The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established 3 it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn 5 deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salva6 tion. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob [or, O God of Jacob]. 7 Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory 8 shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come 10 in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Yet

ΙΒΑΙΑΗ ΧΧΧΙ. Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto 2 the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work 3 iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fail 4 down, and they all shall fail together. For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shal' the LORD of hosts come down to fight 5 for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

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6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel 7 have deeply revolted. For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin." Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his 9 young men shall be discomfited. And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem.

PSALM XXIV. The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell there2 in. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and estab3 lished it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy 4 place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn 5 deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salva6 tion. This is the generation of them that seek him, 7 that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting 8 doors and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, 9 the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the 10 King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

PSALM LXXII. Give the king thy judgments, O 2 God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy 3 poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteous4 ness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in 5 pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: 7 as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long 8 as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of 9 the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow 10 before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: 11 the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall 12 serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he erieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the 14 souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be 15 in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. 16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish 17 like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun:

and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call 18 him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of 19 Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth 20 be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

PSALM CXLVII. Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and 2 praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusa lem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their 4 wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he call5 eth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and 6 of great power: his understanding is infinite. The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked 7 down to the ground. Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our 8 God: who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to 9 grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast 10 his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He de lighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh Il not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in 12 his mercy. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise 13 thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within 14 thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth 15 thee with the 8 finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very 16 swiftly. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the 17 hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like 18 morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth

out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind 19 to blow, and the waters flow. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Is20 rael. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

MARGINAL READINGS:- Or, O God of Jacob.

ISAIAH XLIX. Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother 2 hath he made mention of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished 3 shaft in his quiver hath he hid me; and said unto me, Thou art iny servant, O Israel, in whom I will be 4 glorified. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

5

And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, * Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glori ous in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my 6 strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. 7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, "to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy 8 One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the 9 desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide my highways shall be exalted. 11 them. And I will make all my mountains a way, and

10

12

Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his 14 afflicted. But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken 15 me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may 16 forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls 17 are continually before me. Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

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Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind 19 them on thee, as a bride doeth. For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be 20 far away. The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that 21 I may dwell. Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I 22 was left alone; these, where had they been? saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy 23 daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

24

Thus

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the 25 Plawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the 9 captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and 26 I will save thy children. And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

b Heb. till there be no moon. d Heb. shall be as a son to continue his father's name for ever. e Heb. griefs. peace. 5 Heb. fat of wheat. h Heb. his words. i Or, my reward. k Or, to him, and I may, &c. Or, Art thou lighter than that thou shouldest, &c. P Heb. the captivity of the just.

him that is despised in soul.

o Or, raise up.

Heb. one shall give. Heb. who maketh thy border That Israel may be gathered m Or, desolations. " Or, to

4 Heb. captivity.

THE FATHER SENT THE SON TO BE

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew, being that of his supposed father, Joseph;-the Genealogy, according to St. Luke, sheu ing his descent through Mary.

1

2

(G. 10.) Matt. i. 1-17.
The-book of-the-generation of-Je-
sus Christ, the-son of-David, the-
son of-Abraham.

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Ju3 das and his brethren; and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Es4 rom begat Aram; and Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat 5 Salmon; and Salmon begat Booz

of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 and Jesse begat David the king;

And David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the 7 wife of Urias; and Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; 8 and Abia begat Asa; and Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 and Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz 10 begat Ezekias; and Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time-theywere-carried-away-to Babylon:

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And after they-were-brought-to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; 13 and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; and Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim be14 gat Azor; and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim 15 begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was-born Jesus, who is-called Christ.

Luke iii. 23-38.

Jesus being (as was-supposed 23 EvoμCETO) the-son of-Joseph, which-was the son of-Heli, which-was the son of-Matthat, 24 which-was the son of-Levi, which-was the son of-Melchi, which-was the son of-Janna, whichwas the son of Joseph, which-was the son 25 of-Mattathias, which-was the son of-Amos, which-was the son of Naum, which-was the son of Esli, which-was the son of-Nagge, which-was the son of-Maath, which-was the 26 son of-Mattathias, which-was the son of-Semei, which-was the son of Joseph, which-was the son of Juda, which-was the son of-Joanna, 27 which-was the son of Rhesa, which-was the son of-Zorobabel, which-was the son of-Salathiel, Which-was the son of-Neri, which-was the 28 son of-Melchi, which-was the son of-Addi, which-was the son of-Cosam, which-was the son of-Elmodam, which-was the son of Er, which-was the son of Jose, which-was the son 29 of-Eliezer, which-was the son of Jorim, whichwas the son of-Matthat, which-was the son of-Levi, which-was the son of-Simeon, which-30 was the son of-Juda, which-was the son of-Joseph, which-was the son of Jonan, which-was the son of Eliakim, which-was the son of-31 Melea, which-was the son of-Menan, whichwas the son of-Mattatha, which-was the son of-Nathan, which-was the son of David,

Which-was the son of-Jesse, which-was the 32 son of-Obed, which-was the son of-Booz, which-was the son of-Salmon, which-was the son of-Naasson, which-was the son of-Ami- 33 nadab, which-was the son of-Aram, which-was the son of Esrom, which-was the son of Phares, which-was the son of-Juda, which-was the son 34 of-Jacob, which-was the son of-Isaac, whichwas the son of-Abraham, which-was the son of-Thara, which-was the son of-Nachor,

Which-was the son of-Saruch, which-was 35 the son of-Ragau, which-was the son of-Phalec, which-was the son of-Heber, which-was the son of-Sala, which-was the son of Cainan, 36

[Jesus Christ, the Anointed Saviour, is called the son of David, the Beloved,' to whose son was promised the throne of universal sovereignty; and the son of Abraham, the father of a great multitude,' unto whose one seed' was given the promise of the land. The names in the genealogy between Abraham and David are all expressive of promises respecting the kingdom and inheritance promised unto the fathers. The names between David and Jechonias describe the history of the church until the captivity in the mystical Babylon. The names between Jechonias and Jesus describe the church of Christ as coming out of Babylon, into the light and glory of the latter day, so much the subject of Scripture promise, and of which assurance is given in the birth of Emmanuel.

The genealogy in Matthew, whose gospel has most frequent reference to prophecy, is, thus, not to be regarded merely as a historical document, in which view it would seem to be somewhat defective; but it is on this account the more complete in reference to prophecy, of which it is a most beautiful summary.

Jews, and Ruth, the Moabitess, from whom, in the third descent, was David.

Jeremiah (xxii. 29, 30) had prophesied of Coniah, or Jehoiakin, or, as here, Jechonias, that no man of his seed should prosper sitting upon the throne of his father David, and ruling any more in Judah; how then should come of him Jesus, the Messiah, the King of the Jews? The answer is, that Christ was the seed of the woman, and not literally the seed of Joseph, who was only the reputed father of Jesus, and this in Matthew is the genealogy of Joseph; whilst that in Luke is the genealogy of Mary; as being born of whom, Jesus was literally the son of David according to the flesh, as, by his reputed father, he had a legal claim to the throne of David.

Luke, who dwells more upon the priesthood of Christ, gives the genealogy of Jesus according to the flesh; tracing him up not merely to the great receivers of the promises, but to the first Adam, upon whose head was placed the crown of sovereignty, which hath fallen from our head, because of sin; and which is regained by our kinsman Redeemer, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. The relation to Adam, who was made possessor of the earth and the son of God, is here traced, of Him, who is emphatically the Son of God; and the Heir of all things; and who shall yet claim the dominion, for which the redemption price hath been paid. See ADDENDA, Genealogies, p. 30. *See ADDENDA, Book.'

This genealogy in Matthew is most expressive of grace to the Gentile, as well as full of promise to Israel: the first two of the four women mentioned in the genealogy being Tamar, the Canaanitess, who, by the third from Abraham, was the mother of the

FOREORDAINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.-1 Pet. i. 20.

23

THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.-1 John iv. 14.

KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, LOOKING FOR THE MERCY

17

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying-away-into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying-away-into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

which-was the son of Arphaxad, which-was the son of Sem, which-was the son of-Noe, which-was the son of-Lamech, which-was 37 the son of Mathusala, which-was the son of Enoch, which-was the son of-Jared, whichwas the son of-Maleleel, which-was the son of Cainan, which-was the son of Enos, which- 38 was the son of-Seth, which-was the son of Adam, which-was the son of-God. [iv. 1, 29.] (G.11.) Jesus is presented in the temple; Simeon and Anna bear witness. Luke ii. 22—38.

[For Matt. i. 18, see ? 2, p. 13.]

[ch. ii. 21, p. 22.] At Jerusalem.

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were-accom23 plished, they-brought him to Jerusalem, to-present him apaστnoa to-the Lord; (as it-is-written in the-law of-the-Lord, Every male that-openeth the-womb shali-be-called 24 holy to-the Lord;) and to-offer a-sacrifice according to that which-is-said in the-law of-the-Lord, A-pair of-turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.

25

And, behold, there-was a-man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout evλaßns, waiting-for the-consolation of Israel: and 26 the-Holy Ghost was upon him. And it-was revealed кExpηuatioμevov unto-him by the Holy Ghost, that-he-should-not-see death, before he-had-seen the Lord's Christ.d MARGINAL READINGS:- Cleansing; expiation. Hearing. Communicated. d The Anointed of Jehovah. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

22. purification-prescribed, Le. xii.

present him to the Lord-Every male that,' &c. Of Israel. (the Lord's first-born, Ex. iv. 22) the first-born males were to be redeemed, as xiii. 11-.6. xxii. 29 the Levites accepted in place of the first-born of Israel, Nu. iii. 12, .3; viii. 5-22-redemption of the remnant, iii. 40-51-Aaron, chosen to represent the first-born, bare all Israel upon his shoulders, and upon his heart, for a memorial before the Lord, Ex. xxviii. 1, 9-12, 29-his consecration by blood, &c., Le. viii. 22, 3, 30-confirm.: Jesus is the first-born among many brethren,' Ro. viii. 29- redeemed with the precious blood of Christ,' 1 Pe. i. 18-21-who hath entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, He. ix. 21; Col. i. 14-.9-see Hebrews throughout.

24. a pair of turtledores-offering of the poor, Le. xii. 8-the dove is the emblem of simplicity, love, and peace, Ca. i. 15; ii. 14; v. 2; vi. 9-see Christ's bap tism, Lu. iii. 22, § 8-and be... wise as serpents, and harmless as doves,' Mt. x. 16, § 39-the wisdom from above, Ja. iii. 17, .8.

25. Jerusalem- the seeing of peace.'

Simeon

Hearing,' Ge. xxix. 33-see Simeon's recognition of Christ, as our Peace, and The Light,' in whom we are given to see peace: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared,' &c., ver .29-32, p. 25-The Lord will hear the cry of a people waiting to see the Lord Himself provide peace for his people, Is. xxx. 18, .9The people that truly and obediently hear the word of the Lord will be given to see the promised peace, xxxiii. 13-22-see also li. p. (60), lii. p. (45). 26. Lord's Christ- Messiah,' or anointed.' Aaron, chosen to represent the Lord's first-boru, and typifying the first-born of every creature, was anointed with most precious ointment, Ex. xxx. 30-.8-described, Le. viii. 12, 30-referred to, Ps. cxxxiii.David, i.e. beloved,' anointed to be king of Israel, 1 Sa. xvi. 13-a type of the true Beloved, Ps. lxxxix. 20-whose anointing is foretold, Da. ix. 24- Messiah the Prince,' ver. 25- to be cut off, but not for himself, ver. 26-for confirmation, see the New Testament throughout. Upon the Pentecostal anointing, Jesus was declared to be both Lord and Christ, Ac. ii. 36.

NOTES.

[22. Days. Among the Hebrews, a mother was required to remain at home for about forty days after the birth of a male child, and eighty for a female; during that time, she was not permitted to go to the temple, or to engage in religious services with the congregation, Le. xii. 2-5.]

To Jerusalem. The place where the temple was, and the ordinances of religion were celebrated; and also the seat of the civil government among the Jews. It had been established as such by David. Its name means sight or vision of peace, which it partly was during the reign of Solomon, but he was only a type of the greater Son of David, the true Prince of Peace, of whose government and peace... no end. See GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.

To present him to the Lord. Every first-born male child, in Israel, was regarded as holy to the Lord, Ex. xiii. 2. The first-born were presented to the priest, as God's representative, at the eastern gate.

[If the day of our Saviour's birth coincided with the first day of the week, the fortieth day, reckoned from the day of his birth, according to the usage of the Jews, inclusive, coincided with the fifth, or fell on the Thursday. The forty-first, therefore, which was

the day after the purification of the Virgin Mary
would be complete, (Le. xii. 2-6,) and of the presen-
tation of our Lord in the temple, when he was mani-
fested to Simeon and to Anna, coincided with the
sixth, or fell on the Friday; that is, our Lord's pre-
sentation in the temple after his birth at first, coin-
cided with the same day of the week on which he
suffered at last.'-Greswell, vol. I. Diss. xii. p. 410.]
[23. As it is written. In Ex. xiii. 2; Nu. iii. 13.
When God smote the first-born of Egypt, he saved
the first-born of Israel; hence this claim of redemp
See Nu. iii. 12, 13, 46, .7, and xviii.

tion.

15, .6.]

24. And to offer a sacrifice, &c. Those who were able, on such an occasion were required to offer a lamb for a burnt-offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin-offering. If not able to bring a lamb, then they were permitted to bring two turtle-doves or two young pigeons.-See Le. xii. 8; xiv. 21, .2.

Just. Righteous before God and man; approved by God as a righteous man, and discharging faithfully his duty to man; and pious and devout, scrupu lously performing his duty towards GoD.-See Ac. x. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

[22 ver. May all those who seek to present others to the Lord, seek to be first themselves pure.]

so as, with Simeon, to know both what he hath promised, and what he would have us to do; and, in the spirit of humble and loving obedience, look and long for the accomplishment of his promise.

[Let us seek that both ourselves and all that may be placed under our care, he not only called holy to the Lord, but be actually made so, through a union [26, 7 rer. Let us earnestly desire that the anointwith Jesus, in whom alone we can be accepted being from our great exalted Head, may descend upon fore God.] all the members of the body of Christ, so that both our minds may be enlightened, and our feet may be led, like those of Simeon, by the Holy Ghost.]

24]

25 ver. Let our ears be opened to the word of God,
THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOR EVER.-1 Pet, i. 25.

OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST UNTO ETERNAL LIFE.-Jude, 21 ver.

22. PURIFICATION:-prescribed, Lev. xii.
PRESENT HIM TO THE LORD.

every male that, &c., of Israel, (the Lord's firstborn'): -Ex. iv. 22, And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn.'

the firstborn males were to be redeemed:-Ex. xiii. 11-6. 11. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, 12, that thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD's. 13, And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. 14, And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: 15, and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. 16, And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.' the Levites accepted in the place of the firstborn of Israel:-Nu. iii. 12, .3. 12, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13, because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.'-And viii. 5–22. redemption of the remnant:-iii. 40-51.

Aaron chosen to represent the firstborn, &c. :-Ex. xxviii. 1, 9-12, 29. 1, And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.' 9, And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: 10, six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. 11, With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signer, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. 12, And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.' 29, And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.' his consecration by blood, &c.:-Lev. viii. 22, 3, 30. 22, And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. 23, And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 30, And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and his sons' garments with him.' confirmation:-Jesus is the firstborn among many

brethren,' Rom. viii. 29.

redeemed with the precious blood of Christ:-1 Pe. i. 18-21. 18, Forasmuch as ye,' &c.

who hath entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:-He. ix. 24, For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.'-Col. i. 14-.9-Hebrews throughout.

24. A PAIR OF TURTLE DOVES.

offering of the poor:-Le. xii. 8, And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.'

the dove is the emblem of simplicity, love, and peace:Ca. i. 15: ii. 14; v. 2; vi. 9.

see Christ's baptism:-Lu. iii. 22, § 8, p. 59. Be... wise as... and harmless as doves,' Mt. x. 16, § 39. the wisdom from above:-Ja. iii. 17, .8-see p. (5), ver. 17, WISDOM OF THE JUST,' under the wisdom,' &c. 25. JERUSALEM, the seeing of peace.'

there the Lord provides a lamb for a burnt offering, &c.: -Ge. xxii. 8-14-see p. (1).

F

(24) Simeon, hearing :-Ge. xxix. 33, And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon." was given to see Him, who is our peace, presented as a lamb without blemish :-ver. 29-32, p. 25.

the Lord will hear the cry of a people, &c. -Is. xxx. 18, 9. 18, And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. 19, For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.'

the people that truly and obediently hear the word, &c.: -Is. li. 1, 4, 7.-xxxiii. 13-22. 13, Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. 14, The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 15, He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands front holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 16, he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 17, Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. 18, Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? 19, Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. 20, Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. 21, But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. 22, For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.'see also ls. li. p. (60), lii. p. (45).

26. THE LORD'S CHRIST, Messiah,' or, Anointed. Aaron chosen to represent, &c.:-Ex. xxx. 30-.8. 30, And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. 31, And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. 32, Upon man's flesh like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other be holy unto you. 33, Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people. 34, And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: 35, and thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36, and thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congremake, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the gation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. 37, And as for the perfume which thou shalt composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. 38, Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.'

described:-Le. viii. 12, 30. 12, And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.' 30, And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood,' &c.-see ver. 22, 'his consecration,' &c. referred to:-PSALM CXXXIII. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2, It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3, as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

David, 1. e., beloved,' anointed to be king of Israel :1 Sa. xvi. 13.

a type of the true beloved:-Ps. lxxxix. 20, I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have 1 anointed him.'

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