the atonement he made by his death for the fins of mankind. Thus the jewish facrifices in all their various kinds, fet forth in different views, the fhedding of his facred blood, and that expiation for fin, which it was intended to make. Thus again, the fcape-goat, which was fent into the wilderness, after the fins of the people had been confessed over it, reprefented the fame great end. The paffover too, tho' instituted in remembrance of the angel's paffing over the houses of the Ifraelites, when he flew the first-born of the Egyptians, had reference to that great paschal lamb, which was flain for the fins of mankind.-The veil of the temple alfo, which feparated the Holy of Holies from the other parts of the temple, and which was rent at Chrift's death, fhewed its connection with that great event; intimating, that the partition-wall between the Jews and Gentiles, was now broken down.Laftly, the high-prieft entering the Holy of Holies to make atonement for his own fins, and the fins of the people, refpected plainly that great atonement, which was afterwards made by Christ.

The third, and laft kind of prophetic evidence contained in what Mofes, and the prophets did write, confifts in written prophecies. In the history and ceremonies of the Jews, we see the life

and office of the Meffiah reprefented as it were by vifible figns. But left these should not be fufficiently ftriking, the third and last prophetic evidence is delivered in language. This kind of evidence is indeed much fuller, and more complete, than either of the other kinds, inafmuch as it comprehends with more circumftantial exactness, the lifeministry-death, and refurrection of Christ.

To go over, even in a flight way, the whole of these prophecies, would take up much time. I fhall therefore just mention a few of thofe, which are the most remarkable; and are, for that reason, generally taken notice of by the evangelists themfelves. Obferve how very exact they are; and how like what you read in the New Teftament. Behold a virgin fhall conceive, and bear a fon. Thou Bethlehem, tho' thou be little among the thoufands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth, who is to be ruler in Ifrael.-Unto us a child is born; unto us a fon is given; and the government fhall be upon his fhoulders; and his name fhall be called wonderful-counfellor-the mighty God-the everlasting father, the prince of peace. Yet he hath no form, nor comeliness. He was defpifed, and we esteemed him not. He was oppreffed, and he was afflicted. He was brought as a lamb to the flaugh

ter

ter; and as a sheep before the fhearers is dumb, fo opened he not his mouth. Falfe witnesses did rife up against him. They laid to his charge things that he knew not. They pierced his hands, and his feet.— They gave him gall to eat; and when he was thirsty, they gave him vinegar to drink. They parted his garments among them; and caft lots upon his vesture. Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our forrows: He was wounded for our tranfgreffions; he was bruifed for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. on him the iniquity of us all. Thou shalt make his foul an offering for fin. He was numbered with tranfgreffors; and he shall bear the fins of many; and make interceffion for tranfgreffors. Yet thou fhalt not leave his life in the grave; neither fhalt thou fuffer thine holy one to fee corruption. After two days he will revive him. On the third he will raise him up.

The Lord hath laid

Thus I have fummed up the three kinds of prophetic evidence, contained in what Mofes, and the prophets did write-arifing from the history of the Jews from their rites and ceremonies-and laftly from their prophetic writings. Let us then,

as I propofed fecondly, apply the cafe of these two difciples, Philip, and Nathaniel, to the chriftians of these times.

It is plain, that very little of this evidence could have any weight with them, at the time of their believing in Jefus. We may suppose indeed, that these holy perfons, like Simeon, waited for the confolation of Israel-we may suppose they were well verfed in the fcriptures; and knew the Meffiah was about that time to appear: but still the greatest

part of these types, and prophecies of the Meffiah,

were at the time when Philip, and Nathaniel came to Jefus, yet unfulfilled-nor had Jefus, fo far as appears, performed one fingle miracle, in proof of his authority. But ftill he had given ground fufficient to these honest, and well-intentioned men to believe him to be the Messiah.

The great ground of their belief must have rested first on the authority of John the Baptist, whose disciple at least one of them was. With John's miraculous birth they were well acquainted; and they knew, that he was marked by the prophets, as the forerunner of Chrift-the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. They might have learned alfo, the wonderful circumstances of the birth of Chrift-that he was born

of

of a virgin; and had at least fo far compleated that great prophecy of Ifaiah with regard to Emanuel.- From John alfo they might have known, (what Philip probably was an eye-witness of) that wonderful testimony, which was given to Jefus at his baptifm, when a voice from heaven proclaimed, Thou art my beloved fon, in whom I am well pleased.

They had both of them also seen Jesus—that divine perfon, in whom fhone all the fulness of the godhead bodily-and had liftened to that gracious. voice, which pake as never man fpake. The doubts alfo of Nathaniel had been difpelled by Jesus's telling him in a miraculous manner, fome of the most fecret tranfactions of his life. All this evidence for their belief in Chrift they had; and on the foundation of this they firmly believed him to be the Meffiah, who should afterwards fulfil, but had not yet fulfilled, all that Mofes, and the prophets did write.

Thus then we fee, on how flight a degree of evidence, in comparison of the evidence we have, these two well difpofed perfons believed in Chrift. All the evidence which they had, we have: and let us fee what evidence we have befides. We have not only all that evidence arifing from the prophetic hiftory-the types and prophecies of the Old

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