"Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." Philip. ii. 6. From this passage we may learn that he was no Messiah, much less a God.

* Hitherto we have proved that the Messiah is not yet come, and that there is no Messiah for the gentiles, and that Christ was not the promised Messiah and I will bring only one proof more that

CHRIST WAS NOT THE MESSIAH.-" For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak." John xii. 49. I ask, 1. What was his commission?" I am sent only to the house of Israel." Matt. xv. 24: this was his commission. 2. * Why did they not believe him, if he was sent as the Messiah? *Whose word will stand, the word of God, or the word of man?

We find, when Moses was sent to Israel they believed him; but now, how is it that God sent the Messiah to his people, and they would not receive him? By this it appears that the word of man will be established before the word of God. * God said Yes, but I Israel said No.

GOD KNOWS THE FUTURE.-He foreknew, therefore, that Israel would not receive Christ: * to what purpose was he then sent? *did God intend to impose on his firstborn son Israel, and lay before him a great stumbling block that he might fall? Let us see how this matter ended: first, the word of God came to nothing; secondly, the Messiah was despised and rejected; and thirdly lost his life.

*We also learn from the words of the apostle Paul; "For God hath concluded them all in

unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” Romans xi. 32. But hear the words of Christ:

he says, "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." What is here to be done, if the words of Paul are true then the question will remain, Why was Christ then sent to Israel? It appears plain from the words of Paul, * that, had Israel received him he never would have been the Messiah of the gentiles; but in favour of the gentiles Israel was made blind on purpose to save the gentiles; and afterwards Israel was to be made guilty, and was punished, because they despised the word of God, and slew the Messiah.

Can it be believed that a true God would do wrong, and impose on his creatures, purposely that they should fall? Will not every man of understanding say that God is true, and all his actions perfect? If this be acknowledged, then Christ could never have been sent by God; and so it will be proved that God is a true and a just God; for his delight is to save his creatures, but not to destroy them without cause and even those who do offend him wilfully, yet their punishment is executed in mercy; for that is his name, to pity the work of his hand; and if Christ had been sent by him, certainly he would have been received by Israel; but, as he was not sent by God, then the word of God was not prophaned by Israel, and he received due punishment, for by the law he was guilty: and this is a proof that he was not the Messiah ; *For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the

sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it." Isaiah lv. 10, 11.

These passages will teach us, that, at the time when God shall send the true Messiah, he will prosper, and Israel will receive him, and that he will accomplish every thing: but see here what is further said; " For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." v. 12. Here you may observe, that when he is sent he will be the leader of Israel, and will restore them to their own land with great joy.. Nothing can be more true than the following passage; *" Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." Philip. ii. 6. On this account he could not prosper: because he wished to set up for himself, and to be equal with God: but, when the Royal Messiah shall come, he will not say that he is a God; but he will say, *The Lord God of our forefathers has sent me to bring you home; I am the son of David, and the servant of our God, who has anointed me to be your Messiah.

Only one thing more we have to examine, which is, WAS THE MESSIAH OF THE GENTILES A PROPHET OR NOT? I think not. I do not speak of myself, but every thing I advance is proved by the holy scripture. "We see not our signs, there is no more any prophet, nor is there among us any that knoweth how long it will be so." Ps.

Ixxiv. 9. By the whole of this Psalm, it is to be observed that the prophet complaineth of the desolation of the sanctuary, and of the miserable state of Israel in this long captivity. In former times our forefathers had seen signs and wonders; they had also among them prophets; but since our sanctuary is destroyed we have no more a prophet. Every one may learn that this psalm speaks concerning the present dispersion of Israel, and that until the restoration they shall have no prophet. This will shew that Jesus was no prophet.

DANIEL. In the book of this prophet we have it thus; "The commandment came forth to seal up visions, and prophecy:" ix. 24. But mark here, in the text it is not said prophecy, but the proper meaning is a prophet; that is, there shall be no more a prophet: and accordingly we find that Malachi was the last of all the prophets, and that until the restoration of Israel there shall be no other prophet. One thing more you ought to know, which is, that the coming of the Messiah, or the restoration of Israel, is all the same; both mean one thing, for the Messiah is Israel, and Israel is the Messiah.

*The next prophet who will appear in this world will be the Messiah, and from thence prophecy will cease no more; and so we are told by the word of God. "And it shall come to pass afterwards that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew

wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke." Joel ii. 28-30. Learn here that whatever is declared by the mouth of the prophet will come to pass by the restoration, but not before.-* Thus far it is proved, that Jesus was no God, no Messiah, and no prophet.

* The GentileS QUESTION.-Only one question is left for me to ask, which is, How a Jew will account for the miracles which Jesus wrought?

* THE ANSWER OF THE JEWS.-Miracles are a poor and miserable defence in behalf of the coming of the Messiah. Miracles are no sign of his coming; for bad and wicked men also can do miracles, and shew wonders. First, we find that those miracles which Moses performed, in the sight of Pharaoh and his people, were done by the power of God; * yet we find that the wise men of Pharaoh performed also the same miracles that Moses did; and we have the testimony of scripture that these wise men are called sorcerers, magicians, and that their doings were by enchantment.

*To drive devils out of possessed men is no miracle at all; for we find a common man could do it. See Josephus, book viii, page 118. Nay, they have even power to prophesy; for the damsel possessed with the spirit of divination was able to prophesy. Acts xvi. 16. By the art of enchantment, and by witchcraft, men may do great wonders. In the second epistle to Timothy iii. 8. we read of two men in the time of Moses by the name of Jannes and Jambres; according to tradition, these two men were the heads of all the wise men of Pharaoh; and when the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, *