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will

A.D. 30.

have

power and grace as revealed in the Gospel, appears to be the best antidote to every despondency. I have no doubt that we are much wanting to ourselves in not having more direct dealings strength to withwith the Saviour, or not addressing Him now in the same spirit in stand it."-Ephwhich He was applied to for the relief of bodily diseases. He is rem Syrus. exalted at the right hand of God, for the purpose of dispensing d Gerbk. pardon, peace, and eternal life, to all that humbly seek His aid; e Robert Hall. and, wonderful condescension! He has declared, "He will in no wise cast out whosoever cometh unto Him."e

66

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Ma. ii. 23; xxi. 11; Mk. i. 24; x. 47; Lu. iv. 34; xviii. 37; xxiv.

22-24. men .. Israel, Gk.,a 'Iopanλirai=Jews, yet a ref. to vindication the promises. a distinction within the nation." Nazareth, of Christ he boldly applies to Jesus their scornful epithet.d approved..a See Trench, Syn. you, lit. shown forth, accredited to you. miracles, wonders, bec. of N. T. 164 f. they are inexplicable to men: signs, bec. they attest character and b Cf. Ph. iii. 5; 2 claim.e Wonders excite attention, signs signify something for the Co. xi. 22. mind's instruction. delivered, etc., according to the determined counsel, i.e. plan. wicked hands, by the hand of the lawless having.. death, "having loosed the birth-pangs of death." not possible, for the Divine purpose cannot fail. The Death of Christ.-I. Its nature: 1. Violent: 2. Most painful; 3. Shameful; 4. Cursed; 5. Slow and lingering; Unalleviated. II. The manner of the execution. III. The reasons why He thus died: 1. He must bear the curse in death; 2. To fulfil the types and prefiguration made of old; 3. To accomplish predictions.i

ones.

19: Jo. i. 45;

xviii. 5,7; xix. 19. 6.d Jo. i. 46; cf.

vii. 41.

e Olshausen
Ma. viii. 1.

on

f Trench, Intro. to Mir.

"By

lawless hands is meant

the instrumentality of the heathen Romans, whom the Jews had used as their tools to compass our

Sublimity of the Gospel.-The Bible contains a complete series of facts and of historical men to explain time and eternity, such as no other religion has to offer. If it is not the true religion, one is very excusable in being deceived; for everything in it is grand, and worthy of God. I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the Gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor the ages, nor nature offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or explain it. Here everything is extraordinary. The more I consider the Gospel, the more I am assured that there is nothing there which is not beyond the march of events, and above the human mind. h Wordsworth; cf. Even the impious themselves have never dared to deny the sub- Col. i. 18. limity of the Gospel, which inspires them with a sort of com-i J. Flavel. pulsory veneration. What happiness that book procures for those that believe it! What marvels those admire there who reflect upon it !k

Lord's death."- Lightfoot, Rev. of N. T.

120.

k Napoleon I.

25-27. David speaketh, and Peter shows (vv. 29-31) that Christ is David's words could not ref. to himself but to Christ. (So also David's Lord Paul.) Lord.. moved, he looked to this Lord as his helper, a Ps. xvi. 8-11. defence, support. tongue, i.e., soul. Here the Gk. substitutes b Ac. xiii. 36. the instrument wh. the soul uses in expressing its joy. flesh, Hackett. body as disting. fr. soul. rest, in the grave. hope, confidence. d Ibid. my soul, Heb. idiom myself. hell, Hades, the Heb. Sheol, e As in Lu. ii. 26. never place of torment, but, properly, the place of the dead. see, experience.e

See Pearson, on
Creed, Art. V.;
Barrow on v. 27;
Bp. Bull, i. 33.
"The Apostle
David to speak
these things first
of himself, and

The descent of Jesus into Hades, and its import.-I. An" evidence of His perfect humanity. II. The lowest depth of His does not make humiliation. III. The turning point to His exaltation. IV. The standard of measurement of the comprehensive extent of the work of redemption.

A.D. 30.

b Hackett.

c Dr. Green.

"The

Holy Ghost, as He is

a cloven tongue,

of Messiah," the world's last great moral epoch." all flesh, not Jews only. prophesy, not merely foretell, but teach (forthtell). visions, revelations to waking sense. dreams, “sleep."

The pouring out of God's Spirit.-I. Some observations on these words: 1. The blessing promised-God's Spirit; 2. The manner of its dispensation; 3. The extent of its influence; 4. The season of its communication; 5. The certainty of its effusion. pass, that reaches II. Some applications of them: 1. The strong claims wh. this over all our map, subject has on our attention; 2. The duties to wh. it urges us; Over all our world; from our 3. The hopes with wh. it inspires us.d

opens as a com

to

from our cradles

east to our west, A remarkable dream.-Although little or no attention is to be from our birth paid to dreams in general, it cannot be denied that they are someour death; times remarkable, and followed by striking effects. The followto our graves; ing is an instance of this kind, in the case of a lame boy who had and directs us, been very wicked and undutiful. Adjoining a room where he lay, for all things, to was a passage. He dreamed that this was on fire, and thought it all persons, in all places, and at was hell. He imagined that he saw many devils flying about all times."-Dr. in the flames, and that they were coming to take him away. Donne. Awaking in great terror, he attempted to alarm his mother; and put out his arm to her, but in vain. Though he said nothing of "Printing is an his dream for several months, a great alteration had been reart, in which man marked in his temper. He was very desirous that his mother was indisputably should read the Scriptures to him, and some hymn-books. He instructed by the great delighted in reading, as he could, the Scripture texts on the re

d Anon.

same

embroider for

Teacher, who ward tickets, which his brothers and sisters obtained at a Sabbath taught him to school. So great was the pleasure he derived from the Word of the service of the God, that he would say in an evening, "I could keep awake all sanctuary; and night to hear my mother read the Bible." His mother sitting by wh. amounts his bedside, he said to her, "Mother, though I am in so much almost to as great "What makes you happy, my a blessing as the pain, I am happy." She replied, gift of tongues." dear?" "Because," said he, "I am not afraid to die." My dear, do you know that death has a sting? "Yes," he replied, "but Christ has taken it away." A little before his departure, he was heard saying, "He will never, never forsake me." Soon after, he looked up, and exclaimed, "Jesus and His angels! Hallelujah Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!"e

-Cowper.

e Whitecross.

who may be saved

a Cyril.

b Mk. xiii. 24.

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19-21. wonders, etc., prodigies, as at the crucifixiona_the eclipse-rending of rocks-earthquake at Resurrection. day.. Lord', acc. to Heb. prophets, the day when God will punish His enemies for rejection of His mercy, etc. whosoever, every one, no union with any external association or succession required; "Judgments the promise is to individuals as individuals."c name.. Lord, against the wick-i.e., of Christ. saved, fr. doom of rejectors, and admitted to joys ed come quick of His Kingdom.

c Alford.

after these grand

former is a warn

66

and

manifestations The language of the Holy Ghost.-I. How it causes itself to be of grace; the dis- heard. II. How it is heard: to 1. Bewilderment; 2. Offence; play of the 3. Salvation.-Standt.-How in the light of Pentecost every secret ing to us to ac- thing is brought to light.-I. The secrets of the heart: 1. The cept the latter." scorners; 2. The disciples. II. Those of Scripture: 1. Its promises; -Bengel. 2. Its threatenings. III. The ways of God: 1. In the present; "Never forget 2. In the future.d

come, when all

that the day will Reliance on Christ.-Might I be permitted to advert to my own our virtues will experience, I should say, that I have found nothing so salutary as be tried, as with to turn the mind immediately to the Saviour. "Whosoever fire; and that calleth upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." To pray humility alone immediately to Christ, to cast ourselves incessantly upon His

will

A.D. 30.

have

strength to withstand it."-Ephrem Syrus.

power and grace as revealed in the Gospel, appears to be the best antidote to every despondency. I have no doubt that we are much wanting to ourselves in not having more direct dealings with the Saviour, or not addressing Him now in the same spirit in which He was applied to for the relief of bodily diseases. He is exalted at the right hand of God, for the purpose of dispensing d Gerbk. pardon, peace, and eternal life, to all that humbly seek His aid; e Robert Hall. and, wonderful condescension! He has declared, "He will in no wise cast out whosoever cometh unto Him."e

c

a See Trench, Syn.
of N. T. 164.
Cf. Ph. iii. 5; 2
Co. xi. 22.
Ma. ii. 23; xxi.
Mk. i. 24;

22-24. men.. Israel, Gk.,a 'Iopanλirai Jews, yet a ref. to vindication the promises. " a distinction within the nation." Nazareth, of Christ he boldly applies to Jesus their scornful epithet.d approved. you, lit. shown forth, accredited to you. miracles, wonders, bec. they are inexplicable to men: signs, bec. they attest character and b claim.e Wonders excite attention, signs signify something for the mind's instruction. delivered, etc., according to the determined counsel, i.e. plan. wicked hands, by the hand of the lawless ones. having.. death, having loosed the birth-pangs of death." not possible, for the Divine purpose cannot fail. The Death of Christ.-I. Its nature: 1. Violent: 2. Most painful; 3. Shameful; 4. Cursed; 5. Slow and lingering; 6. Ünalleviated. II. The manner of the execution. III. The reasons why He thus died: 1. He must bear the curse in death; e Olshausen 2. To fulfil the types and prefiguration made of old; 3. To accomplish predictions.

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x. 47; Lu. iv. 34; xviii. 37; xxiv. 19; Jo. i. 45; xviii. 5,7; xix. 19. d Jo. i. 46; cf.

vii. 41.

Ma. viii. 1.

on

f Trench, Intro. to Mir.

66
g By lawless
hands is meant

the instrumental-
ity of the hea-
Romans,
then
whom the Jews
had used as their
tools to compass
our
death."- Light-

Lord's

Sublimity of the Gospel.-The Bible contains a complete series of facts and of historical men to explain time and eternity, such as no other religion has to offer. If it is not the true religion, one is very excusable in being deceived; for everything in it is grand, and worthy of God. I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the Gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor the ages, nor nature offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or explain it. Here everything is extraordinary. The more I consider the Gospel, the more I am assured that there is nothing there which is not beyond the march of events, and above the human mind. h Wordsworth; cf. Even the impious themselves have never dared to deny the sub- Col. i. 18. limity of the Gospel, which inspires them with a sort of com-i J. Flavel. pulsory veneration. What happiness that book procures for those that believe it! What marvels those admire there who reflect upon it !k

a

foot, Rev. of N. T.

120.

k Napoleon I.

25–27. David speaketh, and Peter shows (vv. 29-31) that Christ is David's words could not ref. to himself but to Christ. (So also David's Lord Paul.) Lord.. moved, he looked to this Lord as his helper, a Ps. xvi. 8—11. defence, support. tongue, i.e., soul. Here the Gk. substitutes Ac. xiii. 36. the instrument wh. the soul uses in expressing its joy. flesh, c Hackett. body as disting. fr. soul. rest, in the grave. hope, confidence. d Ibid. my soul, Heb. idiom=myself. hell, Hades, the Heb. Sheol, e As in Lu. ii. 26. never place of torment, but, properly, the place of the dead. see, experience.e

The descent of Jesus into Hades, and its import.-I. An evidence of His perfect humanity. II. The lowest depth of His humiliation. III. The turning point to His exaltation. IV. The standard of measurement of the comprehensive extent of the work of redemption.

See Pearson, on

Creed, Art. V.;
Barrow on v. 27

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Bp. Bull, i. 33.
"The Apostle
does not make
David to speak
these things first
of himself, and

then

A.D. 30.

The grave lighted by Jesus.-It is said that the Romans had a In Essex a tomb was once of the practice of lighting up their tombs. Messiah, only in opened, when a lamp was found in the corner, and a chair near a secondary it indicating the rank of the tomb-tenant; and it is recorded that sense; but fifteen hundred years after the death of Tullia, Cicero's daughter, her tomb, which was accidentally opened, was found illuminated with a lamp. It was but a glimmering light, the rays of which were confined to the catacomb walls. But the light Christ sheds upon the grave falls on the vista of eternity. You can now stoop, look in, and see immortality beyond.

quotes them as

referring to

Christ alone."
Jeffery.
f Lechler.

g Blacket.

David's Sepulchre

a Ac. xiii. 36, 37. b Jos. Ant. xiii.

8. 4.

e Ibid. xvi. 7. 1. The mosque still

shown as Neby David, on S. brow of Zion, cannot be far fr.

28, 29. Thou. . life, God would lead Him, through death and the grave, to life. full. . countenance, Heb., fulness of joys is with Thy presence. freely, with freedom, and not being judged deficient in respect for his memory. patriarch," as founder of a royal house. sepulchre, sacrilegiously opened by Herod.c

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life.-I. All the ways which Jesus, in His humiliation and exaltation, has trod, in His passage through suffering to glory, are ways of life for all men. II. All the ways by which He leads souls from the beginning of their conversion to their full perfection are ways of life.-Apost. "David is our Past.-Living fellowship with God an earnest of eternal life. Simonides, Pindar, Alcæus, Ho-How body and soul rejoice in the living God. The prophetic race, Catullus, word a light in a dark place."

true site.

from the dead." -Jerome.

"Almost all the

They represent

and Serenus. He The Tomb of David.-Josephus states that Solomon having playeth Christ on buried a vast treasure in the tomb, one of its chambers was his harp, and on B ten-stringed broken open by Hyrcanus, and another by Herod the Great. It psalter he raiseth is said to have fallen into ruin in the time of Hadrian. Him up, rising Its situation is now unknown. Jerome speaks of a tomb of David as the object of pilgrimage, but apparently in the neighbourhood of Bethlehem. A large catacomb at some distance to Psalms repre- the north-west of the city has, in modern days, borne the title of sent the person "The Tombs of the Kings," and has been, of late years, by an of Christ. ingenious French traveller, claimed as the royal sepulchre. The the Son's address only site which is actually consecrated by traditional sentiment to the Father; as the tomb of David, is the vault underneath the Mussulman that is, Christ Mosque of David, on the southern side of modern Jerusalem. speaking to God." Tertul- The vault professes to be built above the cavern, and contains only the cenotaph, usual on the tombs of Mussulman saints, "It is the cir- with the inscription in Arabic, "O David, whom God has made cumstance and vicar, rule mankind in truth." In the Louvre may now be seen collation of what M. de Sauley believed to be the lid of David's sarcophagus. Scripture, that The main objection to this theory, apart from any archæological argument to be drawn from the character, or the design or workmanship of the remains, is that these sepulchres must have been outside the walls, and therefore cannot be identical with the tomb of David, of which the peculiarity was that it was within the walls.e

lian.

makes it plain." -Bp. Latimer.

d Dr. Lechler.

e Stanley, Jewish Ch.

David spoke of Christ

a 2 S. vii. 12, 16; cf. Ps. cxxxii. 11; lxxxix. 3537.

30, 31. prophet, inspired; hence, being a prophet, if David did not mean himself, he must have meant the Messiah. knowing, fr. Nathan.a raise.. throne, Resurrection of Christ, involved (1) restoration to life; (2) elevation to power. seeing.. before, having a prophet's spirit of inspiration. left, Peter uses the past tense speaking of the prediction as accomplished.

was..

Jesus' Death and Resurrection a twofold mystery.-I. That He A.D. 30. should die who has life in Himself. II. That He should rise who came to give His life for many.

"He carried away His manhood into heaven; and instead

thereof He sent

The Resurrection of Christ.-A man may suffer his child to fall to the ground, and yet not wholly lose his hold of him, but still keep it in his power to recover and lift him up at his pleasure. down God upon Thus the Divine nature of Christ did for a while hide itself from the earth."-AuHis humanity, but not desert it; put it into the chambers of gustine. death, but not lock the everlasting doors upon it. The sun may b Gerok. be clouded and yet not eclipsed, and eclipsed but not stopped in "David often his course, and much less forced out of his orb. It is a mystery spoke concernto be admired that anything belonging to the person of Christ ing himself; but the Spirit, who should suffer; but it is a paradox to be exploded that it should spoke in David, perish. For, surely, that nature [Life] which, diffusing itself in allusion throughout the universe, communicates an enlivening influence Christ."-Alford. to every part of it, and quickens the least spire of grass, accord-c Barrow. ing to the measure of its nature and the proportion of its capacity, would not wholly leave a nature assumed into its bosom, and, what is more, into the very unity of the Divine person, breathless and inanimate, and dismantled of its prime and noblest perfection.c

to

the Father
a Ac. v. 31, 32;

xiii. 31; x. 39

Winer and

Ascension, but before His In

but

32, 33. this Jesus, i.e. the Christ ref. to by David, the sub- Jesus exeject of the prediction. witnesses, the special work for wh. the cutes the Apos. were chosen. by, "to." promise, i.e., its fulfilment. promise of shed forth, poured out. see, the boldness of men who once denied the Lord, forsook Him, and fled, met in fear with closed doors: together with the spectacle of a great multitude gathered 41. in Jerus. to hear these men. hear, the astonishing things said; and the not less astonishing thing, that they should be spoken others. by illiterate men in so many languages thus suddenly acquired. "It is true, our Christ exalted and humiliated.-I. His humiliation :-1. What Saviour had a was it? 2. What was its object? 3. What was its influence? II. peculiarkingdom in this world, His exaltation. We may consider Him exalted:-1. In the place that is, the JewHe now occupies; 2. As a Mediator in His own moral perfections, ish Church, not illus. in the plan of Redemption. III. In the execution of His media-only before His torial office, and in the praises of the redeemed.c The outpouring of the Holy Spirit.-The hour is coming, and, carnation; it may be, even now is, when the Holy Ghost shall be poured out as for that right again in such a wonderful manner, that many shall run to and of dominion over fro, and knowledge shall be increased the knowledge of the Lord too, by which He shall cover the earth as the waters cover the surface of the great became universal deep; when His kingdom shall come, and His will shall be done Lord and King, on earth even as it is in heaven. We are not going to be dragging vested with it on for ever like Pharaoh, with the wheels off his chariot. My heart till His Ascenexults and my eyes flash with the thought, that very likely Ision into heashall live to see the outpouring of the Spirit; when "the sons and the daughters of God again shall prophesy, and the young c R. W. Bailey. men shall see visions, and the old men shall dream dreams.' Perhaps there shall be no miraculous gifts, for they will not be required; but yet there shall be such a miraculous amount of holiness, such an extraordinary fervour of prayer, such a real communion with God, and so much vital religion, and such a spread of the doctrines of the Cross, that every one will see that verily the Spirit is poured out like water, and the rains are Medley. descending from above.d

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the Gentile world

He was not in

ven."

Scott.

Dr. J.

"The law was all precept; the Gospel all' promise; for its precepts are enclosed in its promises.

d Spurgeon.

Bp.

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