32, The Evidences of the Truth, Vol. II; Line ; but to prove that Chrifl was really defcended from David inftead of the Genealogy of fofeph, they fhould have !hewn Mary's. This is a very malicious and fpiteful Obje&ion, and the yews infif} very much" upon it : but yet I think it is capable of a very fatisfaétory Anfwer, in which I Mall proceed by thefe flops. . (r.) We will grant that both theGenealogies of our Saviour, that in Matthew'and that in Luke, are intended to fhew that fofeph was of Abraham's and David's Line, and that neitherof them have the Genealogyof Mary. Some indeed have thought fo, but as feems to me with very little Probability : I incline much rather toGrotisss his excellentconje&ure about it, that Matthew's Genealogy gives us an aècount of theSucceffton of the Royal Family downas low as lofeph, and that inSr. Luke the dire feries of yofeph's Anceftors. (a.) The Yews grant that it hath been an ancient Tradition among Chriflians, that fofeph and Mary were of the fame Family, and that Mary was Virgo loMxhnpS., one that had no Brethren, an Heirefs, or Coheirefs, and fo according to the jewifh Cullom the was bound to marry in her Family ; which the yews were efpecially careful of in the Family of David, to preferve the Succelfion'of the Royal Line, of which the Meas was to come. (3.) The yews have nothing to objetlt agàinft this which (hews it improbable. (4.) If fo, that they were of the fame Family, then the Genealogy of jofepb, tho' not direaty and exprefly, yet by confequence was the Genealogy of Mary; and confequently thofe Genealogies in theGofpel do fulliciently Ihew,, that Chi-4 was the Son of David. (5.) It cannot be imagined that the Evangeiifts fhould have omitted the Gene- alogy of Mary, if it had not been included in that of 7ofeph, efpecially St. Matthew, who in his Genealogy exprefly tells us, that he intended to chew that he was the Son of David ; and alfo denies 7ofeph to have been his real Father. (6.) If there had been any Que(tion, whether Mary was of the Line of Do. vid, theYews would certainly in that time have reje&ed him from being theMefias upon that very account, nothing being more plaufible for them to have laid than this, That he pretended to have no Father, and to be born of a Virgin, who was not of the Line of David, how could he then be the Mefras, who was to be of the Seedof David I But that he was always owned by the )'ems to be of that Seed, appears by the Title fo frequently given to him, of the Son of David. It was Prophefied that the Melia.;fbould be born in Bethlehem ofJudea, Mic. q. z. which you fihd accordingly fulfill'd, Matth. a. 6. the Providence of God fo or- dering it, that Auguflus Mould then lay a general Tax, which occafion brought up yofeph and Mary to Bethlehem; not only that the might be delivered there, but that their names being there enter'd, their Family might be afcertain'd, and there might no doubt afterward arife, but that theywere of the Line of David. It was foretold he fhould be born of a Virgin, %fa. 7. 14. which you fee accord= ingly fulfill'd, Mat. t. That this is not the primary, but the myftical fenfe of that place in lfaiah, t think may without Prejudice be granted to the yews, who in in- numerable places of the Old Teftament, do, betides the firft and literal fenfe, al- low of a Myftical one : and if it be.obje&ed that this is only the Paying of us Chriftians, that Chrift was born of a pure Virgin ; to them it iseafily anfwer'd, That if this be foretold of the Megas, whoever he be, that he _hall be born ofa Virgin, asthe Yews generally grant, we have as much aflurance of this, as they can have, or imagine to have of theirs, whenever he Ihould come. For it is not any Report or Tradition that can give credit to fo ftrange a thing, but the unqueftio- nable Miracles which he wrought, which prove him to come fromGod, and con= fequently to be no Impoftor,, but to be all that be pretended he was. It was foretold of him that he thould be a great Prophet and Teacher, Dent, i 8. i S: A Prophet (ball the Lordyour God raife up untoyou, like untome. i fa. 61. r TheSpirit of the Lord is uponme, becaufe he bath anointed me topreach the Gofpel to the Poor, &c. Ezek. ;4. 2,3. AndIwillfet up one Shepherd over them, and he _hall feed them, even my Servant David ; he _hall feed them, and he ¡hall be their Shep. herd.
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