260 / 652
T50
FAITH
EVPLT
ON
KNOWLLJCt.
tDIS.C.
fx,
from
God
which
the inspired
prophets
of
old
delivered
to men,
and
which gave
divine
testimony
to
the
Saviour
that
should
be
born. Who
was
the angel
of
the cove-
nant,
that
was
sent
to
conduct
the
Jews
through the
wilderness,
and to
keep
that
nation, and
to
bring them
safe to
Canaan
?
who was
the
Captain of
the
Lord's
host,
that
was
sent and
appeared
to
Joshua,
engaging
for
the
protection of
him
and
his
army
?
What
was
the
vision
that
appeared
to
Isaiah, the
Lord sitting
upon
a
throne
in much glory and power,
but
so
many prefigu-
rations
of
the
Son
of God,
that
was
to
take our
nature
upon
him;
and
become
a
Saviour? What
were
all
these
appearances of
God
in
the form
of
man,
but
signs
and
pledges, and,
as
it
were, essays
towards
his incarnation
?
What
were
the types
of
the Old
Testament, but
emblems
of
deliverance,
atonement and salvation, that
were to
be conferred
by
Christ,
upon
those sinners
that
would
trust
him
with
their
souls
?
What
was
the
ark
wherein
Noah
was
saved, when he committed his
life to
the
keep-
ing of
God,
in
that
floating
house,
amidst
the flood
of
waters,
but
an
assurance
of
safety
to those
sinners
who
make
Christ their
refuge,
when
the
floods
of
divine
wrath
rise
high
?
What
was
the design
of
the
bloody sacrifices,
the
sacrifices
of
expiation, but
to
hold
forth the
method
whereby Christ
should
secure guilty
souls from
death
?
Time
would
fail me to
speak
of
the brazen
and the
golden
altar
;
of
burning the
flesh
of
beasts,
and the
smoking
incense
:
of
the ark
of
the
covenant
where the
law
was kept,
and
the cover
of
it,
which
was
called the
mercy -seat, where the
God
of
glory
dwelt
under the
form
of
a
bright
cloud
:
Time would
fail me to
speak
of
the
tabernacle
of
Moses, and
the temple
of
Solomon
;
of
the
cities
of
refuge,
appointed
for the safety
of
casual
murderers
;
of
the high-priest,
of
his
garments, and
of
his
offices,
who
was
to
keep
the
naines
of
the tribes
of
Israel
upon
his
breast
and
upon
his
shoulder. These
were
all the
institutions
and
appointments
of
God him-
self,
to
assure
us by
various carnal
emblems
of
the ful-
ness
of
that
salvation
by
Jesus Christ;
for
which
no
single emblem
was sufficient.
Let
us
descend to
later
times,
and behold God
the
Father
giving
testimony
to
his
Son,
by
kindling
a new
tar
in
the
heavens
at
his
birth,
and sending
it
as
a
guide