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Mk. i. 5. CONFESSING THEIR SINS:-Pr. xxviii. 13, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.'

so Job-ch. xxxiii. 27, .8. 27, He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28, he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.-Ps. xxxii. 5, I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thon forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.'-1 Jno. i. 8, 9. 8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'

spoken of Israel:-Le. xxvi. 40-.2. 40, If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41, and that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42, then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.'-Is. Ixiv. 5-9. 5, Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 6, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7, And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 8, But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. 9, Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.'Ho. v. 15, I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face in their affliction they will seek me early.'

call thereto :-Joel ii. 12-8-see ch. ii. p. (57). exemplified:-Da. ix. 9-23.

DANIEL IX. In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made 2 king over the realm of the Chaldeans; in the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

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And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, 4 and ashes: and I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his com5 mandments: we have sinned, and have committed iniquiry, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy 6 judgments: neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the 7 people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they 8 have trespassed against thee. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to 9 our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, 10 though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the Il prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of 12 God, because we have sinned against him. And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusa13 lem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our ini14 quities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

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O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a re17 proach to all that are about us. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanc18 tuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great 19 mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God 21 for the holy mountain of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the even22 ing oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give 23 thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in 26 troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah: be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations 27 are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. and in the returning prodigal :-Lu. xv. 18-23, § 68. Mt. iii. 7. PHARISEES.-See Scrip. Illus.' page opposite. SADDUCEES.

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said there is no resurrection:-Mt. xxii. 23, § 85.

neither angel, &c. -Ac. xxiii. 8, For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.'-See Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.

Lu. iii. 7. GENERATION OF VIPERS.-See page opposite. seed of the serpent predicted:-Ge. iii. 15, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.'

8. FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE.

represented by washing, as in baptism :-Is. i. 16, Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil."

clearing of yourselves:-2 Co. vii. 10, .1. 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11, For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter."

amend your ways:-Je. vii. 3, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

works meet for repentance:-Ac. xxvi. 20, But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.'

exemplified in the younger son :-Mt. xxi. 28, .9, § 84. 28,But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. 29, He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.'

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THESE STONES.

representing the twelve tribes, &c. :-Jos. iv. 19-24. 19, And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. 20, And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. 21, And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? 22, then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23, For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: 24, that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.'

and twelve were set up in the river:-Jos. iv. 9, And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.' 9. THE ROOT OF THE TREES.

Christ the root:-Rev. xxii. 16, I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.'

for his sake Juda had been preserved:-Is. x. 27, 'And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from. off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.'

while Israel was cut down:-Is. x. 15, 33, .4. 15, Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.' 33, Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. 31, And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one."

EVERY TREE:-Is. v. 1-7. 1, Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2, and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3, And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4, What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5, And now go to ; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6, and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain. upon it. 7, For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.'-xxvii. 11, When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.'-See page opposite.

11. HE THAT HATH TWO COATS.

love, practical charity, called for, &c.:-De. xv. 7-10. 7, If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8, but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. 9, Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand, and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10, Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.'

by the prophets:-Zec. vii. 9-11. 9. Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10, and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 11. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear."

the same under the gospel:-Mt. xxv. 36, § 86; Lu. vi. 30-.6, § 27.-2 Co. viii. 14, But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality.'-1 Ti. vi. 17, .8. 17, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy ; 18, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.'-Ja. ii. 15, .6. 15, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?'-1 Jno. iii. 17, 'But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?3

Christ the example:-Rom. v. 7, 8. 7, For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a 8. But God good man some would even dare to die. commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'-2 Co. viii. 9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.' 13. EXACT NO MORE.

Justice required, under the law, just judgment:-De. xvi. 18-20. 18, Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19, Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. 20, That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.'

landmarks:-De. xix. 14, Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.'

as to servants' wages:-De. xxiv. 14-.7. 14, Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15, at his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee. 16, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. 17, Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge.'

as to weights:-De. xxv. 13-.6. 13, Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. 14, Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. 15, But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 16, For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God."

by the prophets :-Is. i. 17, Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.'-Zec. vii. 9, 10-see above, ver. 11, HE THAT HATH TWO COATS,' under by the prophets.'Am. ii. 6, Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes.'

under the gospel :-Mt. vii. 12, § 19.-1 Co. vi. 7—11.7, Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer your selves to be defrauded? 8, Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.'

Christ the example:-Rom. viii. 3, 4. 3, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.'-Ga. i. 4, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.'

[Continued-see next page.]

IT IS A REPROACH TO MANY RICH MEN, THAT GOD SHOULD GIVE

MATT. iii. 9, 10.

9 and think not to-say within yourselves,
We-have Abraham Tоv Aẞpaau to-our-father:
for I-say unto-you, that God is-able
of these stones to-raise-up children
unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is-laid unto the
root of the trees: therefore every tree which
bringeth-not-forth good fruit is-
hewn-down, and cast into the-fire.
[ch. iii. 11, see p. 54.]

LUKE iii. 8 14.

and begin* not to-say within yourselves,
We-have Abraham to-our-father:
for I-say unto-you, that God is-able
of these stones to-raise-up children
unto-Abraham.

And now also the axe is-laid unto the 9
root of-the trees: every tree therefore which-
bringeth-not-forth good fruit, is-
hewn-down, and cast into the-fire.
And the people asked him, saying, What shall- 10
we-do then? He-answereth and-saith unto-them, He that- 11
hath two coats, let-him-impart to-him that-hath none; and
he that-hath meat, let-him-do likewise.

Then came also publicans to-be-baptized, and said unto 12 him, Master, what shall-we-do? And he said unto them, 13

Exact paσoere no more than that which-is-appointed you.
And the-soldiers likewise demanded-of him, saying, And 14
what shall-we do? And he-said unto them, Do-violence-to
diaσεionтe no-man, neither accuse-any-falsely; ouкopar-
τήσητε and be-content-with your wages oψωνιας.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

these stones-twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes, were taken out of Jordan by Joshua, and left for a sign at their encampment at Gilgal, Jos. iv. 19-24; and twelve were set up in the river, ver. 9.

9. the root of the trees-Christ the root, Rev. xxii. 16-it had been for his sake that Judah had been preserved, Is. x. 27-while Israel was cut down by the Assyrian, ver. 15, 33, .4.

every tree, Is. v. 1–7; xxvii. 11-the unfruitful fig tree to be cut down, Lu. xiii. 6-9, § 64-every branch that beareth not fruit in Christ, Jno. xv. 2, § 87. 11. he that hath two coats-love, practical charity, called for under the law, De. xv. 7-10, open thine hand wide unto thy poor brother-by the prophets,

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Zec. vii. 9-11-the same under the gospel, Mt. xxv. 36, § 86; Lu. vi. 30-.6, § 27; 2 Co. viii. 14; 1 Ti. vi. 17, .8; Ja. ii. 15. .6; 1 Jno. iii. 17-Christ the example, Rom. v. 7, 8; 2 Co. viii. 9.

13. exact no more-justice required, under the law, just judgment, De. xvi. 18-20-landmarks, xix. 14as to servants' wages, xxiv. 14-7-as to weights, xxv. 13-6-by the prophets, Is. i. 17; Zec. vii. 9, 10; Am. ii. 6-under the gospel, Mt. vii. 12, § 19; 1 Co. vi. 7-11-Christ the example, Rom. viii. 3, 4, Ga. i. 4. 14. do violence to no man-peace, Ex. xxi. 12-27; Mi. ii. 2, 8; Mt. v. 38-42, § 19.

neither accuse any falsely--truth, Ex. xx. 16; De. xix. 16-.9-comp. Is. xxxiii. 15-.7; 1 Pe. ii. 1, 2. NOTES.

Begin not to say, &c., un donte ayev, presume not to say.' Think not the Messiah will advance you for being the carnal seed of Abraham, without his faith and holiness.

These stones. The words, however, are meant to shew the omnipotence of God, who can raise up instruments to effect his own wise and benevolent purposes from the meanest subjects.

[9. The axe is laid, i.e. the axe of judgment and punishment is now being directed at; directing the axe at the root of a tree denotes that it is to be cut down, not merely lopped. It was customary with the prophets to represent the kingdoms, nations, and individuals, whose ruin they predicted, under the notion of forests and trees doomed to be cut down.See Je. xlvi. 22, .3, of Pharaoh's overthrow. The Baptist follows the same metaphor, representing the Jewish nation as the tree, and the Romans as the axe.] The root of the trees. In all the calamities that had befallen the Jewish nation, the line of Jesse could never be rooted out or extinguished, because the promised Messiah was to proceed from it. But now Messiah was come, and about to be cut off. When Such was the case, the Jewish nation, which until this time had been preserved-might well stand in fear. Bringeth not forth, &c. This is a beautiful and very striking figure of speech, and a very direct threatening of future wrath. John regarded them as making a fair and promising profession, as trees do in blossom. But he told them, also, that they should bear fruit as well as flowers.

PRACTICAL

[7 ver. Those who are the most familiar with the forms and doctrines of religion, such as the Pharisees, are in the greatest danger of remaining unwarned; such are particularly called to self-examination.]

[9 ver. We are not to trust in what our ancestors were, nor in what they may have done for us, any more than in our own Pharisaic observances or Sadducean philosophy. Those may be manifested as the children of Abraham, yea, as the sons of God, who have been the least expected to be found as such.]

He that hath two coats, &c. It is remarkable that one of the first demands of religion is to do good; and in this way it is that it may be shewn that the repentance is not feigned. For, 1st. The nature of religion is to do good. 2d. This requires self-denial, and few will in truth deny themselves who are not assisted by divine grace. And, 3d. This is to imitate Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet, &c.

12. Publicans. Collectors of the public monies or taxes belonging to the Roman government, an office generally undertaken, among the Jews, by those who had not much regard for the esteem in which they were held by their fellow countrymen, who felt it degrading to be under a foreign yoke. There is reason to think that the publicans or tax-gatherers were peculiarly oppressive, and hard in their dealings with the people; and that, as they had every oppor tunity of exacting more than they ought, so they often did it, and thus enriched themselves. evidence of repentance in them would be to break off their sins, and to deal justly.

The

13. Exact no more, &c. That is, by the government. Though it was hated by the people-though often abused, and therefore unpopular-yet the office itself was not dishonourable.-See Rom. xiii. 1, 6.

14. Do violence, diagione, signifies, to take a man by the collar and shake him.' This forbids bullying conduct. Neither extort any man's goods or money by threats of violence.' The Romans governed chiefly by military force.

Neither accuse any falsely, ovxoparre, signifies, 'to circumvent' and 'oppress."

REFLECTIONS.

10 ver. The repentance which John required was a real change of heart and life, from selfishness to justice and benevolence.

Lu. iii. 12-.4. It becomes us to inquire into what is our own more especial duty in our particular station or occupation, that we may therein adorn the gospel of the grace of God. The repentance which John taught is that which is taught us in the gospel, see 11-.3 ver., mercy and righteousness; 14 ver., peace and truth.

* On verbal differences, &c., ADDENDA, p. 62. LOVE THE TRUTH AND PEACE.-Zech. viii. 19.

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THEM SO MUCH, AND THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE THE POOR SO LITTLE.

NO MAN SPEAKING BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD CALLETH JESUS ACCURSED:

(G. 4.) The people beginning to doubt whether John were not the Christ, he foretells the coming of another and a greater person, after him; which is the first of his testimonies to the Messiah or Christ.*-At Bethabara, East of Jericho.

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SCRIPTURE 16. baptize with water, &c.-as to the contrast between John's baptizing and that by Jesus-see their testimony, Jno. i. 26-33, § 10; Ac. i. 5; xi. 16.

he shall baptize with the Holy Ghost-pour my Spirit upon thy seed,' Is. xliv. 3-predicted, Eze.

17

xxxvi. 25- pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,' Joel ii. 28-confirm., Ac. ii. 2-4; 1 Co. xii. 3.

17. throughly purge his floor-same figure used, Job xxi. 17, .8; Ps. i. 4; xxxv. 5-prediction, Mal. iii. 2, 3; iv. 1-confirm., wheat and tares, Mt. xii. 30, § 32 -see also xxv. 31, § 86; also ver. 41, .6, § 86.

NOTES.

15. In expectation. In suspense, and looking for the full evidence of his being the Messias.

Mused in their hearts. Thought of his character, his preaching, and success, and anxiously inquired whether he did not do the things which were expected of the Messias.

At

I baptize, &c.-See Baptism of repentance,' p. 50. One mightier, &c.-See He was before me,' p. 48. Mk. i. 7. Whose shoes I am not worthy, &c. first, in order to keep the feet from the sharp stones, or the burning sand, small pieces of wood were fastened to the soles of the feet, called sandals. Leather, or skins of beasts dressed, afterwards were used. The foot was not covered at all; but the sandal, or piece of leather or wood, was bound by thongs. The people put off these when they entered a house, and put them on when they left it. To loose and bind on sandals, on such occasions, was the business of the lowest servants; and their office was, to loose and carry about their masters' sandals. The general sense is, I am not worthy to perform to him the humblest offices.'

Mt. iii. 11. The Holy Ghost. The third person of the adorable Trinity, whose office it is to renew, enlighten, change, and comfort the soul.

[With the Holy Ghost and with fire. Flames appeared on the heads of the apostles and first converts on the memorable day of Pentecost, when they reeeived the miraculous effusion of the Spirit, of which these flames were the symbols. It is also to be remarked, that accompanying the Holy Spirit's cleans ing of the soul by the application of the word, there are fiery trials, (1 Pe. iv. 12, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.') There are painful providences, which not only give occasion to the exercise of newly-acquired

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grace, but which are intended to consume all impure desires and unprofitable habits of thought and action.]

12. Whose fan.

Winnowing shovel,' mentioned Is. xxx. 24. It seems, they had two kinds of them; one with teeth, wherewith they turned up the corn to the wind, that the chaff might be blown away; another that made wind, if the air was calm. [God's judgments are likened to a fan; he thereby turns up persons and nations, and scatters and disperses them for their wickedness; and his thus scattering and overturning them are called his fanning of them, Je. xv. 7, I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, (of whatsoever is dear, MARG.) I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways."] Purge. Shall cleanse, or purify.

His floor. The threshing-floor was an open space, or area, in the field, usually on an elevated part of the land, Ge. 1. 10; Ju. vi. 37; Ho. ix. 1. It had no covering or walls. It was a space of ground thirty or forty paces in diameter, and made smooth by rolling it, or treading it hard. A high place was selected, for the purpose of keeping it dry, and for the convenience of winnowing the grain by the wind. It is said they were formed of clay and lees of oil beaten together; which, when once dried, no water could enter it, no weed grow on it, nor any mice, rats, or ants, penetrate into it. The grain was usually trodden out by oxen. Sometimes it was beaten with flails, as with us; and sometimes with a sharp threshing instrument, made to roll over the grain, and to cut the straw at the same time, Is. xli. 15. After being threshed it was winnowed. The grain was then separated from the dirt and coarse chaff by a sieve, and then still further cleansed by a fan, an instrument to produce an artificial wind. This method is still practised in eastern nations.-See Chaff, next page, 'Notes.'

On this first testimony of the Baptist, see Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. xix. p. 175.

OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.-Heb. xii. 29.

AND NO MAN CAN SAY THAT JESUS IS THE LORD, BUT BY THE HOLY GHOST.-1 Cor. xii. 3.

[Continued from page 53.]

14. DO VIOLENCE TO NO MAN. peace:-Ex. xxi. 12-27. 12, He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. 13, And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. 14, But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. 15, And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. 16, And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. 17, And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. 18, And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: 19, if he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed. 20, And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. 21, Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money. 22, If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23, And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. 26, And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. 27, And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.'-Mi. ii. 2, 8. 2, And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.' 8, Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.'-See Mt. v. 38-42, § 19.

NEITHER ACCUSE ANY FALSELY.

truth-Ex. xx. 16, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.'-De. xix. 16-.9. 16, If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; 17, then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; 18, and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19, then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.'

compare Is. xxxiii. 15-7. 15, He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 16, he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 17, Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.' - Pe. ii. 1, 2. 1, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.'

NOTES.

9. the axe is laid-see Je. xlvi. 22, .3. 22, The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood. 23, They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable."

13. exact no more, &c.:-Rom. xiii. 1, 6. 1, 'Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.' 6, For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.'

16. BAPTIZE WITH WATER.

(54) predicted:-Eze. xxxvi. 25, Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.'

pour out my spirit, &c.:-Joel ii. 28, And it shall come. to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.'

confirm. :-Ac. ii. 2-4. 2, And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3, And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4, And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.'-1 Co. xii. 3, Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

17. THROUGHLY PURGE HIS FLOOR.

same figure used:-Job xxi. 17, .8. 17, How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18, They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.'-Ps. i. 4, The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.'-xxxv. 5, Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase

them.'

prediction:-Mal. iii. 2, 3. 2, But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he ap peareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope: 3, and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.-iv. 1, For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor confirm.-wheat and tares-see page opposite.

branch.'

NOTES.

12. whose fan:-Is. xxx. 24, The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.'

his floor :-Ge. 1. 10, And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.'-Ju. vi. 37, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.'-Ho. ix. 1, Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.'-Is. xli. 15, Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.'

Re

PSALM CXVI. I love the LORD, because he hath 2 heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call 3 upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon 4 me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, de5 liver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; 6 yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the 7 simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. turn unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath 8 dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my 9 feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in 10 the land of the living. I believed, therefore have 1 11 spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, 12 All men are liars. What shall I render unto the I will take the 13 LORD for all his benefits toward me? 14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the precup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. sence of all his people. 16 LORD is the death of his saints. Precious in the sight of the O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine 17 handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon. 18 the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the 19 LORD now in the presence of all his people, in the. courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

see John's testimony:-Jno. i. 26-33, § 10, p. 69.-Ac. i. 5, For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.15 i 16, Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.'

HE SHALL BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY GHOST. pour my spirit upon thy seed:-Is. xliv. 3, For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.'

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