534 A SIIORT VIEW OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. the Lord." Wherein the prophet informs us, that thisperson whom foregoing prophets have called, " The Branch out of the root of Jesse," shall build up the church of God in the world, shall be both a priest and a king with counsels of peace; and the heathens that are afar oft shall come and assist this work of building up the church. This same prophet declares also .that Christ should come to Jerusalem as the king of Zion, meek, and bringing salvation, riding upon a colt, the foal of an ass ; Zech. ix. 10. Which was fulfilled ; Mat. xxi. 5. and John xii. 15. 22. Q. Does this prophet say anything concerning the re- mission of sins to be obtained through Jesus Christ ? A. Yes, there is a remarkable prophecy in Zech. xiii. 1. which must be referred to -this subject : " In that day there shall be à fountain opened to the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness ;" that is, by the death of Christ, and his blood making atonement for sin. And verse 7. his sufferings are described which should be inflicted on him, when God him- self shall bruise him, and make his soul an offering for sin, as Isaiah expresses it ; and that his disciples for a season should forsake him ; Zech. xiii. 7. " Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts. Smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered." Which was fulfilled ; Mat. xxvii. 56. And besides all this, his sufferings from thehands of men are also described, viz. that he should be " sold for thirty pieces of silver," which should be " given to the potter ;" Zech. xi. 12, 13. which the prophet speaks as personating the Messiah, as David had often done before ; and it was fulfilled : Mat. xxvii. 9, 10. Theprophet foretels also the manner of his death, viz. that he should be pierced, and intimates the conversion of some of those Jews who crucified him ; Zech. xii. 10. " I will pour out on the house of David, and the inhabitants of' Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplication ; and they shall look on me [or him] 'whom they have pierced, and mourn for him." Fulfilled in John xix. 34, 36. when his side was pierced with a spear,. and his hands and feet with nails ; and Acts ii. 23, 30, 37, 41. when his crucifiers were converted ; whereof a fuller and more glorious accomplishment is expected in the latter days, among, the Jewish nation, who have been piercing him with reproaches almost ever since. 23. Q. And what does Malachi, the last of the prophets, speak, concerning Christ? A. His prophecy is expressed in pretty plain language. Chapter iii. 1. " Behold I will send my messenger, viz. John the baptist, and he shall prepare the way before me ;" Mat. xi. 10. " And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the cove- nant whom you delight in. And he shall sit as a refiner and
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