CHAPTERXXIII. ,bM bright cloud broke forth avoice, " This is my beloved Son, hear him ; Mat. xvii. 1 -5. ÿECT. IL Of the Subjects -of -his Preaching, his Parables, his Disputes. 23. -Q. What was the second part and design of his public life and ministry ? A. Topreach and teach many neces- sary truths and duties to the people; Mark i. 38. Is. lxi. 1. ,Luke iv. 18. 24. Q. In what manner did our Lord Jesus Christpreach to the world and teach mankind ? A. He spake several things to them in public sermons or discourses, others in .tree con- versation or dispute : Sometimes he spake in plain language, at other times by way of parable or similitude ? Mat. v. 2-48 and xiii. 3. 25. Q. What were some of the chief subjects of our Sa- viour's public preaching? A. 'These that follow, viz. 1. He explained the law of God in its full latitude, as it reaches the thoughts, as well as words and actions, and rescued it from the grievous corruption, the false glosses and mistakesof the Jewish teachers; and by this means he convinced his hearers of sin, and shewed them the need of a Saviour; Mat. v. 6, 7. Mat. ix. 12, 13. , 2. He taught them the vanity of depending upon any out- ward privileges, as being the children of Abraham ; he sheaved them the danger of putting ceremonies and forms of any kind in the room of real and practical godliness ; he severely repro- ved the scribes and pharisees on this account, and assured men there was no salvation for them, no entrance into heaven, without being born again, or becoming new creatures. See John iii. 3-8. John viii. 33-41. Mat. vii. 21-24. and viii. 12. and xxiii. 13-33. 3. He corrected several sinful customs and practices, with other foolish traditions among the people, and reproved the teach- ers of the law for mingling their traditions, and the inventions of men with the pure appointments of God; Mark vii. 1 -13. John ii. 13-17. Mat. v. and vi. and vii. 4. He called the people aloud to repentance of every sin, because the kingdom of the gospel was at hand ; See Mat. iv. 17. Luke v. 32. 5. He gave particular directions for the practice of many duties, viz. spiritual worship, prayer, dependence upon God, bearing the word, giving alms, loving our neighbours, forgiving our enemies, &c. Mat. v. vi. and vii. and xiii. 6. He preached the gospel, or the glad tidings of pardoning grace to sinners, who repented of their sin, and believed in him ; he promised the assistance of the holy Spirit to them that asked it of God; he represented himself as sent of God,
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