304 P R O P H E T . pater was full of his Allegories and myílical Interpreta- tions, which, being interlarded with Fancies and Fables, could not but occafion Debates and Objeélions, both among themfelves and the re't of the Jews. But Jefus Chrift had nothing to do with thefe. They were of the Earth, earthy and their Profeffions, Views, and Altercations, were lik.ewife for the moft part (be- caufethe true Knowledgeof GOD and ofthe End of the Lawwas then declined), earthly, fenfual, devilifh. * By thefe, and other Means, they were ripening apace for the Judgements, which afterwards came upon them ; the Sum or finifhing Stroke of which was the Crucifixion of the Prince of Life, of whom they were the Murderers and Betrayers. ChrUt was revealed to be a Prophet, in the higheft and moft emphatical Senfe. He came into the World to publifh and declare the Will of Jehovah to his Re- deemed, and to fhew them the Way and the Means of his precious Salvation. He taught this Will by his Words, and confirmed the Truth of his Words by a thoufand wonderful and miraculous Deeds. Both his Deeds andhis Words were declarative of infinite Mercy, and demonftrated his Perfon to be completely full of Divinity, of Grace, and of Truth. 'Twas he that fpake, by his Spirit, in the Prophets of old ; and, what- ever good Tidings of Comfort and Salvation they bore to the Church, they received and derived the whole from him. They knew nothing by themfelves. All their Graces were his Gifts ; and he infpired them with holy Boldnefs, with Admonition, with PrædiCtions of Peace; as either they, in their own Perform, or the antient Church, had need. They fpake in the NAME JEHOVAH; and that bleffed NAME gracioufly accompanied, what- ever he led them to fpeak. Nor they alone ; but the Apofiles, Evangelißs, Prophets, Paftors, and Teachers, t James iii. s5. t Eph. iv. t t. The Apoftle here fets down the five Orders of Minigers, which Chrift hach given to his Church. t. ApsJlles. fence
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