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Evangelifts: The Jews were far from denying the Facts; but with a most inveterate Impiety, accuse our Saviour to have caft out Devils through Beelzebub, the Chief of the Devils.

THO' the greatest Number of our Saviour's Miracles were tranfacted upon human Bodies; yet were they not confined to thefe; but all the Elements manifeft his Almighty Power: WATER is turned into WINE; STORMS and Tempests were ALLAYED by his Word; the HEAVENS are OPENED; the SUN is DARKNED; the EARTH quakes; the Rocks are rent; and the GRAVES opened.

THE Matters of Fact next to be confidered, are what the Evangelifts have recorded relating to the Perfon, Paffion, Death, Refurrection, and Afcenfion of our Redeemer; wherein all the PROPHECIES in the Old Testament relating thereto, were accomplished in the minutest Circumstances; as will appear by the References annexed.

TO which is added, the Representation contained in other Parts of the New Teftament, of the End and Efficacy of our Saviour's Paffion and Death, to all that by Faith rely upon his infinite Merits; which Faith must be expreffed by an unreserved Obedience to the Divine Precepts.

HEREIN is difplayed the wondrous MysTERY of Man's REDEMPTION, which the Angels defire to Look into: wherein is manifefted the IMMENSITY of the DIVINE MERCY, that God was in Chrift RECONCILING the World unto himself. Herein is clearly difcovered the greatnefs of Man's GUILT and APOSTACY; that no

thing less than the DYING AGONIES and SACRED BLOOD of Chrift Jefus, could make an Atonement for Man's Tranfgreffion; who being in the Form of God, thought it not Robbery to be EQUAL with God; yet made himself of no Repu tation, by taking upon him the Form of a Servant; and being found in Fashion as a Man, he became obedient unto the Death of the Cross. For Such an High Prieft became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, Jeparate from Sinners, and made higher than the Heavens: Endued with fuch an Almighty Power, that he is ABLE to Save to the UTTERMOST thofe that come unto God by him; feeing he ever liveth to make Interceffion for them: Neither is there SALVATION in any other; there being no other Name under Heaven given whereby we must be faved.

IT was requifite that the Mediator fhould be GOD and MAN. He affumed the Nature of Man, in order to make Satisfaction for the Sins of the World: and He must be God, to be an all-fufficient Sacrifice for Sin: no mere Creature, how holy foever, could propitiate the Divine Majefty; fo juftly provoked by Man's Rebellion. Death, both Temporal and Eternal, was the Sentence denounced upon the Violation of the Law; from which nothing could deliver us, but the Sacred Blood of Jefus, prefented by the Eternal Spirit, as a Sacrifice for the Sins of the World; by which alone Pardon and Mercy is obtained for all that BELIEVE in and OBEY him.

WHOM God hath fet forth to be a Propitiation, through FAITH in his Blood, to declare his Righteousness, for the Remiffion of Sins, thro

the

the Forbearance of God; that He might be just, and the Juftifier of him which BELIEVETH in Jefus.

HE is ftiled the Lamb of God, that taketh away the Sins of the World, not only by removing its GUILT, and exempting the Criminal from the juft PUNISHMENT of it; but by healing the vicious INCLINATIONS of the Heart, from whence actual Sins proceed. He delivers not only from the DAMNATION, but from the DOMINION of Sin; for his Blood cleanseth from all Sin, and purgeth the Confcience from the dead Works thereof; that in Purity and Holiness we might serve the living God.

THE Confideration of what our Saviour hath done and fuffered for our Redemption, is furely the strongest Motive to engage all the Powers and Affections of the Soul to love, ferve, and obey him; For the Love of Chrift confrains us, because we thus judge, that if one DIED for all, then were all DEAD; and that be died for all, that they which live, should not LIVE unto themselves, but unto him which DIED for them, and ROSE again.

WHAT an high Provocation is it to neglect fo great Salvation, to despise such infinite Mercy? For if he who was Holy and Innocent, fuffered fo much to EXPIATE our Sins, what must they expect, who live in a WILFUL VIOLATION of the Divine Laws; neglecting and defpifing that Long-fuffering and Patience, which fhould lead them to Repentance: vainly flattering themselves with the Hopes of

Mercy,

Mercy, altho' they continue in a Course of Sin; and indulge all their vitious Appetites.

'TIS not from any Want of Mercy that Men inevitably perish; for if we Sin WILFULLY after that we have received the Knowledge of the Truth, there REMAINETH no more SACRIFICE for Sins, but a certain FEARFUL looking for of JUDGMENT, and fiery Indignation. He that DESPISED Mofes Law, died without Mercy; of how much forer Punishment fuppofe ye shall be be thought worthy, who hath troden under Foot the SON of God, and hath counted the BLOOD of the COVENANT wherewith he was SANCTIFIED, an UNHOLY Thing; and hath done DESPITE unto the Spirit of Grace?

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of the MESSIAH, was foretold by David and other PROPHETS.

THE Evangelifts have given fo exact and minute an Account of the full Completion of thefe Prophecies, by the actual RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of our Saviour, that if what is related by them be duly confidered, no Fact that ever was tranfacted in the World is attended with fo many Circumstances, to atteft the INFALLIBLE TRUTH thereof.

ITS firft Confirmation arifes from the inveterate Malice of the High Priests and Rulers of the Jews; by whose Instigation the Roman Governour was prevailed upon to put him to Death; these knowing that our Saviour had affured his Difciples, that tho' he was to SUFFER many Things, and to DIE, yet that on the b

third

third Day he would RISE again: To prevent this, they apply to Pilate to have a Guard to watch the Sepulchre.

JUST before his Refurrection, there is a great EARTHQUAKE; an Angel defcends from Heaven, and rolls away the Stone; whofe Appearance ftruck fo much Terror into the Soldiers and Officer that commanded them, that they all fled; and bringing this Account to the High Priests, they were brib'd to tell the most fenfelefs and CONTRADICTORY STORY, That his Difciples had come by Night and ftole him. away while they Slept; when alas, the Difciples were so terrified at his first Apprehenfion, that they all deferted him: And notwithstanding, our Saviour had fo often ASSURED them of his RESURRECTION, yet it is evident from their own Relation, that they had loft all Hopes and Expectation of any fuch thing.

THE Women that came firft to the Sepulchre, had no other Intent than to embalm his facred Body; and when they repeated to the Apoftles what was told them by the ANGELS, they look'd upon it as an idle Tale.

ÓUR Saviour at first appears to Mary Magdalene; afterwards to two of them, to whom he expounded in all the SCRIPTURES the THINGS concerning HIMSELF: then afterwards to all the Difciples, except Thomas; who was fo Incredulous, that when the other Disciples had told him of our Saviour's Refurrection, he openly profeffed his Disbelief thereof: of the Truth of which he was afterwards affured by our Saviour's fhewing him his Hands and his Side.

THE

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