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Elijah in his ways, and habits; and preaching repentance to the Jews: it is marvellous that they were not at once convinced of the fulfilment of part of Malachi's prediction; and of the now approaching completion of that immediately foretelling their Messiah Prince.

He, Jesus of Nazareth, descended by his Mother, the Virgin Mary, from David, King of Israel, one of the lineal sons of Abraham; suddenly came to his Temple.

The Jews had, at that period, long neglected the more important parts of their Law; and the bare performance of its rites and ceremonies appeared, to the generality of their Nation, sufficient to insure God's favour, and protection.

While they neglected the spiritual light pervading their Sacred Records; and engaged in frequent insurrections, and wars, against the Romans, who had conquered Judea, and made it a province of their Empire: they wished only for an earthly Messiah, or conqueror, to rescue them from their oppressors.

Therefore, the remarkable way in which

Zacharias the Priest was struck dumb in the Temple; and his miraculous restoration at the

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baptism of his son, John the Baptist, were totally unheeded. For on that occasion, the Holy Ghost, who spake by the Prophets, distinctly permitted Zacharias, his Priest, to announce the precursor of the Messiah. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people; and hath raised up a mighty Salvation for us; in the house of his servant David: as he spake by the mouth of his Holy Prophets which have been since the world began-to perform the oath which he sware unto our Father Abraham.”

Now here was a public declaration at the Altar of Jehovah; made by the Priest, whose turn it was to officiate, at the time he was struck speechless; as the people well knew. For the people waited for Zacharias," as St. Luke tells us; "and marvelled that he tarried so long in the Temple. And when he came out he could not speak unto them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple : for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless."

His recovery was thereby rendered more remarkable, as if to give more efficacy to the gracious words uttered by this Priest; surely, my brethren! such is the mercy of

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Heaven; it was intended to call an earnest attention from his faithless, and fallen, Countrymen! Turning, with a father's rapture, to his son, whom God had granted to him in his old age; thus renewing the mercy shewn to his forefather Abraham: Zacharias continued to foretell—" And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt before the face of the Lord, to prepare go his ways; To give knowledge of Salvation unto his people for the remission of their sins. Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us; To give light unto them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death; and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Was it not most extraordinary that the Jews should be unmoved by this scene in their Temple; and the wonderful prediction of Zacharias? They had evidently forgotten Malachi's prophecy of " the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing in his wings; or they must have again recognised the same characteristic marks in the visitation of " the day-spring from on high:" and his office as "the Prince of Peace."

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Nor could they otherwise, have neglected to see Elijah in John the Baptist; either when Zacharias proclaimed his office, "to prepare the ways of the Lord:" or when John, "crying aloud in the wilderness;" would have reminded them of Isaiah's having foretold his coming to preach the baptism of repentance.

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And again their blindness is most surprising when the child Jesus was brought into the Temple by his Mother, the blessed Virgin Mary, to be presented unto the Lord JehoWhen Simeon, to whom "it had been revealed by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ;"-" came by the Spirit into the Temple"-" and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the Law; then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said; Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation; which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel! To Jesus also, at that same moment, Anna the Prophetess gave witness;

and spake of him to all them that looked for Redemption in Israel."

Thus had the Lord" whom the Jews sought, their long wished for Messiah," suddenly come to his Temple :" "the Messenger of the Covenant," in whom, Abraham, and his forefathers, had believed. Well therefore might that very Jesus of Nazareth say; "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.”

It appears, from St. John's Gospel, that this conversation with the Jews took place in the third Passover of our Saviour's Ministry in public; and in the thirty-third, or last year of his life. Consequently, the Jews had not only the circumstances, already enumerated, to guide them to their Messiah; but also the many miracles which he had actually then performed; and the extremely perfect holiness of his benevolent life, and Ministry; wherewith to confirm their faith,

But, instead of that, they said unto him, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Can a man of your time of life have seen our Father Abraham, who has been dead these eighteen hundred years; surely that were impossible."

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