CHRIST CAME FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH, THAT WE MIGHT GO FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN. Jno. i. 6 There-was a-man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The-same came for a-witness, to biva bear-witness of wept the Light, that all men through him might-believe. 8 He was not that Light, To pws but was sent to bear-witness of that Light. 9 That 10 was the true Light, which lighteth every man that-cometh into the world. He-was in 11 the world, and the world was-made by him, and the world knew him not. He-came 12 unto his-own, εις τα ίδια and his-ownd οι ιδιοι received him not. But as-many-as received him, to-them gave-he power e§ovoiav to-become the-sons of-God, even to-them 13 that-believe on his name: which were-born, not of blood, nor of the-will of-the-flesh, nor of the-will of-man, but of God. MARGINAL READINGS:-a Grace of the Lord. b So that he might' is understood in the verb 'bear witness.' 6. sent from God-the same messenger predicted, 9. which lighteth every man, &c.-or which, coming into the world, lighteth every man, as All flesh shall see together,' Is. xl. 5- all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God,' lii. 10- when the eyes of man. as of all the tribes of Israel,... toward the Lord,' Zec. ix. 1-every eye shall see him,' Rev. i. 7. 10. was in the world, &c.-predicted, Is. vii. 14; ix. 6.7; liii. 1, 2-fulfilled, Lu. ii, 1-6, § 4, p. 19-comp. ver. 8-14, with He. i. 6-made the worlds,' He. i. 2 -the world knew him not,' 1 Jno. iii. 1. he was sought to be slain, Mt. ii. 13-.6, § 5, p. 34brought up at Nazareth, Lu. iv. 16, § 15, p. 102-from which he was thrust out, ver. 29, § ib. p. 105-his own house; his temple, Mal. iii. 1-comp. Jno. ii. 13-7, 12- mine house,' Is. lvi. 7-his authority questioned, Mt. xxi. 23, § 83. his own received him not-his own brethren: predicted, Mi. v. 1, 3; 1s. liii. 3-8-fulfilment: neither did his brethren believe in him, Jno. vii. 3-5, § 54his townsmen, Lu. iv. 28, .9, § 15-his nation, Mk. xv. 9-13, § 90; Ac. iii. 13-5. sons of God-the adoption by faith in Christ Jesus, Ep. 1.5; Ga. iii. 26-given the spirit of his Son, Ga. iv. 6-are led by the Spirit, Rom. viii. 14-they sepa rate from evil, 2 Co. vi. 16-8-are unknown to the world, 1 Jno. iii. 1-their future manifestation, ver. 2 -heirs of God, Ga. iv. 7-shall inherit all things, Rev. xxi. 7. 13. not of blood, nor, &c.-not as being, by nature, descended from Abraham, Mt. iii. 9. § 7, p. 53-children by adoption, Jno. viii. 33-.6, § 55; Rom. ii. 28, .9; ix. 7-11; Ga. vi. 12-.5. 7, § 12-not of him that willeth,... but of God that nor of the will of man-the new birth, Jno. iii. 3, 5, sheweth mercy,' Rom. ix. 16-For it is God which worketh in you,' &c., Ph. ii. 13- his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,' Ep. ii. 10of his own will begat he us, by the word of truth,' Ja. i. 18-begotten us again unto a lively hope,' 1 Pe. i. 3- of incorruptible seed, by the word of God-see also 1 Jno. iii. 9; v. 1. NOTES. 11. he came unto his own-his own land, Is. viii. 8 -born at Bethlehem, Lu. ii. 1-7, § 4, p. 19; where 7. Of the light; i.e. of Messiah.-See Is. lx. 1. That all men through him might believe. Jesus was to be regarded by all men as the author of salvation. 9. That was the true light. Not John, but the Messiah. A true light is one that does not deceive us, as the true beacon may guide us into port, or warn us of danger. John shone by reflection; Christ, in himself, and by his life and doctrine, was the 'true light." 10. He was in the world -See ver. 11. And the world was made by him.-See ver. 3, p. 46. [11. He came unto his own. These words affirm the appearance and existence of the Logos on earth in a human form: i.e. that he became incarnate. In this and the preceding verse, there is a kind of climax in the four particulars now presented concerning the True Light; q.d. The only and true Saviour came to, and abode in, the world-a world created by him, but which recognised him not as such.'] 12. As many as received him. As the Messiah and Son of God, Mt. x. 40, § 39; Jno. xiii. 20; xiv. 23, § 87. To them gave he power, &c. To all these he gave the power, privilege, or divine right, by adoption, of becoming the children of God. Sons of God. Children of God by adoption. Christians are called sons of God, 1st. Because they are adopted by him, 1 Jno. iii. 1, Behold,' &c. 2d. Because they are like him; they resemble him, and have his Spirit. 3d. They are united to the Lord Jesus, the Son of God-are regarded by him as his brethren, Mt. xxv. 40, § 86; and are, therefore, regarded as the children of the Most High. On his name. Name is frequently put for power.See Ac. iii. 16; iv. 7, 10-.2. 13. Which were born. This doubtless refers to the new birth, or to the great change in the sinner's mind, called regeneration, or conversion. The term, 'to be born,' is often used to denote this change.Comp. Jno. iii. 3-8, § 12; 1 Jno. ii. 29. see 'Pr. Refl.' Nor of the will of the flesh. Not by the individual's own will. Nor of man. Not by the power nor will of friends, teacher, or parents. But of God. Meaning, who obtained that privilege of sons, not by virtue of ancestry, nor by any affinity or connexion of human descent, but by the free grace of God.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Let us 7 ver. John, who proclaimed the grace of the Lord, and who so directed that it should influence the lives of all, had this written in his very name. hence learn to look for light in every word of God. 8, 9 ver. There is but one light to be looked to by all; and that light is for all, who will open their eyes to receive it-even Jesus Christ. 10 ver. Let us be warned not to neglect the opportunities afforded us of enjoying the light, however they may be slighted by others, as Jesus was both by Gentiles and Jews. [11 ver. The secret cause of blindness is unrighteousness, as evidenced in the case of the Jews. He came unto his own-his own land, his own house, his own throne; but his own, who might have been expected to acknowledge his claim, received him not-fearing man rather than God.] 12 ver. Men are made the sons of God, not by what is done for them of man, but by their receiving Christ, who was despised and rejected of men; as having no trust in the flesh, but as believing in him. ham; nor human rite, such as according to the law; 13 ver. No natural relationship, as being of Abranor any human device, nor exercise of authority, can give us to be heirs with Christ: but only the being born of God, of incorruptible seed, by the Word. KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD.-Jude, 21 ver. [47 BELIEVERS ARE NOT ONLY EXCELLENT CHRISTIANS; BUT DILIGENT CHRISTIANS. AS IT IS ONLY IN CHRIST THAT GOD CAN WITH COMPLACENCY LOOK UPON MAN, Jno. i. 14 And the Word was-made flesh, and dwelt" eoKnYwσev among ev us, (and webeheld elearauela his glory, the-glory as of-the-only-begotten of the-Father,) full of15 grace and truth. John bare-witness of him, and cried, saying, This was-he of-whom Ispake, He that-cometh after me is preferred-before me: for he-was before me. Tршτоs 16 nov nv. And of his fulness have-all we-received, and grace for av grace. 17 For the law was-given by Moses, but grace and truth in xapis kain aλnbeia came by Jesus 18 Christ. No-man hath-seen God at-any-time; the only-begotten Son, which is in es the bosom of the Father, he hath-declared him. enynσato. [For John i. 19, see ? 10.] MARGINAL READINGS:-a Tabernacled. b The grace and the truth. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 14. made flesh-of the seed of David, Rom. i. 3in the likeness of sinful flesh,' viii. 3-God was manifest in the flesh,' 1 Ti. iii. 16-see also Ga. iv. 4; Ph. ii. 6-8; He. ii. 14, .8; x. 5; 1 Jno. iv. 2, 3. we beheld his glory-as on the mount of Transfiguration, Mt. xvii. 1-5, § 51-referred to, 2 Pe. i. 16, .7 -see also Jno. ii. 11; He. i. 3; iii. 1-6. Only-begotten. This term is never applied by John to any but Jesus Christ. It is by John five times applied to Christ, ch. i. 14, .8, supra; iii. 16, .8, § 12; 1Jno. iv. 9.-Comp. Ge. xxii. 2, 12, .6. full of grace and truth-(in his tabernacling among men) went about doing good,' Ac. x. 38-the truth of Scripture, Lu. xxiv. 25-.7, § 94. abounded 16. his fulness-riches of his grace toward us,' Ep. i. 6-8- all fulness,' Col. i. 19-all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,' ii. 3- fulness of the Godhead bodily,' ver. 9, 10-see also Ep. i. 22, 3; ii. 4-7; iv. 7, 13-comp. also Jno. xv. 4, 5, § 87; Col. ii. 9. 17. grace and truth came, Ro. vi. 22, .3; viii. 2-4a better hope, He. vi. 18, .9. 18. no man hath seen God at any time-that is, apart from his only-begotten Son, who hath declared him: as, to Adam, Ge. iii. 8-11-to Abraham, Ge. xviii.-the Lord who appeared as a man, ver. 2-and with whom Abram pleaded for Sodom, ver. 23-.5the man with whom Jacob wrestled at Peniel, where he saw God face to face,' Ge. xxxii. 24-30-the angel who was with Moses in the wilderness, Ex. iii. 2-10. NOTES. 15. John bare witness-as Mt. iii. 11, § 7, p. 51-referred to, Juo. iii. 25, .6, § 13-and by Jesus, v. 33, § 23. 14. And the Word was made flesh. And (accordingly) the Logos was clothed with a human body, and sojourned among us men.' This addition of the human nature to the Divine, implies that conjunction by which the same person is both Son of God and Son of man. The glory as of the only-begotten of the Father. This glory was seen eminently on the Mt. of Transfiguration, § 51, and to this John had doubtless special reference. It was also seen in his miracles, his doctrine, his resurrection, and his ascension. [Grace and truth, &c. xápiros xai àλnoɛías, denotes the largeness of the possession, and the profuseness of infinite liberality of communication.-See Ep. iii. 8, 18, .9. As the moral law pointed out the disease which Christ cures, and the ceremonial law shadowed forth that which Christ indeed performed, therefore grace answers, by way of contrast, to the moral law, and truth to the ceremonial.] And ing;' correspondent to his counsel,' he, as our King, Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. A system of religion full of favours. The old system was one He was before me. Or, This is He of whom I said, of law, and shadows, and burdensome rites. This was He who cometh into the world [or entereth on his full of mercy to mankind, and was true in all things. office] after me, is become of greater dignity than This excludes proud boasting, by shewing that we myself, inasmuch as by his own divine nature, he was have nothing but what we have received; and si[always] before me; ie., more honourable than I.'-lenceth perplexing fears, for whatever we want, we Bloomfield See Sect. x, ver. 27-30. may receive it. [16. Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. In the 14th verse the Evangelist had said that Christ was full of grace and truth. Of that fulness he now says that all the disciples received grace answering or correspondent to that which is in Christ Jesus; that is, they derive from Christ, from his abundant truth and mercy, grace to understand the plan of salvation, to preach the gospel, and to live lives of holiness. The declaration had not exclusive reference probably to the apostles, but it is to be extended to all Christians, for all believers have received of the fulness of grace and truth that is in Christ.Comp. Ep. 1. 23; iii. 19; Col. i. 19; ii. 9. In all these places our Saviour is represented as the fulness of God, as abounding in mercy, as exhibiting the divine attributes, and possessing in himself all that is necessary to fill his people with truth, and grace, and love. -Yea of his fulness (ie., his exuberant abundance) have we ell received [grace], even grace upon grace, blessings superlatively great.'-Bloomfield.] [18. No man hath seen God at any time.-See Jno. v. 37, § 23; vi. 46, § 43; 1 Jno. iv. 12; Ex. xxxiii. 20. The prophets delivered what they heard God speak; Jesus what he knew of God as his equal, and as understanding fully his nature.] In the bosom of the Father. This expression is taken from the custom among the Orientals of reclining at their meals.-See Note on Mt. xxiii. 6. It denotes an intimacy of communion, not merely that of saints with angels, but of one who is his Son, in a sense absolutely unique; intimating that the acquaintance the Messiah has with the Divine nature, will, and purposes, is peculiar to him, and such as could be affirmed of no other being and corresponds with ver. 2, the Word was with God.'-Pye Smith. Declared him. Made him known.' Fully declared covenant, word, and works-his thoughts and schemes his nature, perfections, purposes, promises, counsels, of grace-his love and favour to the sons of men-his mind and will concerning the salvation of his people. -See Scrip. Illus.' above, No man hath, &c. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Grace for grace. Correspondent to his grace of wisdom,' he, as our Prophet, gives us understand [14 ver. Although Jesus leads many sons into glory, he is himself the only-begotten of the Father; and in him alone can they be found complete. In tabernacling among men, Jesus hath left us an example of the fulness of truth and grace which becomes the sons of God.] Those who behold and follow Jesus in humiliation, have the assurance that they will be with him in glory; for which, see Sect. 51, Jesus' Transfiguration. 15 ver. Jesus, although following John, as to his personal ministry, was before him as to office-his goings forth having been from everlasting. of which all must be supplied, with grace answering 16 rer. The fulness which is in Christ, is that out to the grace which shone forth in the only-begotten Son of God. WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.-1 John iv. 19. SO IT IS ONLY IN HIM THAT MAN CAN TRULY COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. 14. MADE FLESH. of the seed of David:-Rom. i. 3, Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.' in the likeness of sinful flesh :-Rom. viii. 3, 'For what the law,' &c.-see ver. 17, infra, GRACE AND TRUTH.' God was manifest in the flesh-1 Ti. iii. 16, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.' see also Ga. iv. 4, But when the fulness of the time. was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.'-Ph. ii. 6-8-see p. (36).-He. ii. 14,.8. 14, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. 18, For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.'-x. 5, Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.'-1 Jno. iv. 2, 3-see p. (56). WE BEHELD HIS GLORY. as on the mount of transfiguration :-Mt. xvii. 1-5, § 51. referred to:-2 Pe. i. 16, .7. 16, For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17, For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' see also Jno. ii. 11, § 11, p. 78.-He. i. 3, Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.'-And iii. 1-6-see p. (43). ONLY BEGOTTEN. applied by John to none but to Jesus Christ. It is by him thus applied five times:-ch. i. 14. 8.-see page opposite.- Jno. iv. 9, In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.' compare Ge. xxii. 2, 12, .6-see p. (1). FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. (in his tabernacling among men), went about doing good:-Ac. x. 38, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.' the truth of Scripture:-Lu. xxiv. 25-7, § 94. 15. JOHN BAre witness.-See page opposite. 16. HIS FULNESS. riches of his grace, &c. :-Ep. i. 6-8. 6, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8, wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.' all fulness-Col. i. 19, For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.' all the treasures of wisdom, &c. :-Col. ii. 3, In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' fulness of the Godhead bodily:-Col. ii. 9, 10. 9, 'For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.'-And see also Ep. i. 22, .3see p. (22); ii. 4-7, p. (49).—iv. 7, 13. 7, But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.' 13, Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' compare also Jno. xv. 4, 5, § 87.-Col. ii. 9. 22, 17. GRACE AND TRUTH CAME:-Rom. vi. 22, .3. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'-viii. 24. 2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 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.' a better hope:-He. vi. 18, .9. 18, That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.' 18. No MAN HATH SFEN GOD AT ANY TIME. that is, apart from his only begotten Son, who hath declared him: as to Adam:-Ge. iii. 8-11. 8, And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9, And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10, And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11, And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?' to Abraham-Ge. xviii. the Lord who appeared as a man:-Ge. xviii. 2, And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground.' and with whom Abraham pleaded for Sodom:-Ġe. xviii. 23-5. 23, And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24, Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25, That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" the man with whom Jacob wrestled at Peniel, &c. :-Ge. xxxii. 24-30-see p. (27), ver. 36, ASHER,' under obtained in answer. the angel who was with Moses in the wilderness-Ex. iii. 2-10. 2, And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3, And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not. burnt. 4, And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5, And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6, Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 7, And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8, and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9, Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 10, Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.' K ISAIAH XI. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of 2 his roots and the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge 3 and of the fear of the LORD; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither re4 prove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the 5 breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and 6 faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead 7 them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion 8 shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the 11 Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and [Continued-see next page.] (49) [ISAIAH XI. continued.] 12 from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of 13 Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy 14 Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and 15 the children of Ammon shall obey them. And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven 16 streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. Mk. i. I. BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL. good tidings of great joy :-Lu. ii. 10, § 4, p. 20. had been promised:-Rom. i. 2, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures.)' made flesh, &c. :-Rom. i. 3, 4. 3, Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.'-Ac. xiii. 24, When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.' the fellowship of the gospel:-1 Jno. i. 1-4. 1, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2, (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3, that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4, And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.' SON OF GOD.-See Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.-Rom. viii. 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.' 2, 3. BEHOLD, I SEND :-Mal. iii. 1, Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.' the voice:-Is. xl. 3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.' confirm.-see page opposite. 12 14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 13, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, 15 that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to 16 death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their 17 generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. 18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. GENESIS XVII. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, 2 and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceed3 ingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked 4 with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many 6 nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and 7 kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, 8 to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my 10 their generations. Covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circum11 cised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt 12 me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting 14 covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my cove 9 THESE THINGS WRITE WE UNTO YOU, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.-1 John i. 4. (G. 2,) No. 7. John the Baptist enters upon his public ministry. In the Wilderness of MATT. iii. 1-4. [For Matt. ii. 23, see 25, p. 35.] 2 3 Judea, East of Jordan. MARK i. 1-4, 6. As it-is-written in the prophets, Behold, I send LUKE iii. 1-6. [For Luke ii. 52, see 26, p. 42.] ? Now in the-fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, 1 Pontius Pilate being-governor of Judæa, and Herod beingtetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of-Ituræa and of-the-region of-Trachonitis, and Lysanias the-tetrarch ofAbilene, Annas & Caiaphas being-the-high-priests, the-word of- 2 God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.' SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mk. i. 1. beginning of the gospel-good tidings of great joy, Lu. ii. 10, § 4. p. 20-had been promised afore by the prophets, Rom. i. 2-concerning Jesus Christ our Lord: made flesh; declared the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, ver. 3, 4- When John had first preached,' Ac. xiii. 24-the fellowship of the gospel, 1 Jno. i. 1-4. Son of God-see Lu. i. 35, § 2, p. 10, and Rom. viii. 3-for a paraphrase on this first sentence in Mark's Gospel, see the Gospel of John, ch. i. p. 48-Jesus' testimony of himself, vi. 46, § 43; Mt. xi. 27, § 29-the attributes of God are often ascribed to him as the Son-see John's last testimony, Jno. iii. 31, .4, .5, § 13 testimony of the centurion, Mt. xxvii. 51, § 92his character as SoN is often plainly distinguished from his office as CHRIST-see Jno. i. 49, § 10-so Peter, Juo. vi. 68, .9, § 43, and Mr. xvi. 15, .6, § 50Jesus' testimony, Jno. vii. 29, § 55-and often by his silence he granted to his enemies that his claim to be the Son of God imported his asserting himself equal with GOD, Jno. v. 17-.9. § 23; Jno. x. 30-.8, $56-see Scripture Illustrations, Lu. i. 35, § 2, p. 10. 2, 3. behold, I send, Mal. iii. 1-the voice, Is. xl. 3confirm., Jno. i. 15-.8, p. 48; ver. 19, 20, § 10-John's last testimony, iii. 25-36, § 13. NOTES. Mk. 1. 1. The beginning of the gospel. The word gospel literally signifies good tidings, and particularly the good tidings respecting the way of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. Good tidings of the coming kingdom. Jesus Christ. The name of Jesus so often added to the name of Christ in the New Testament is, not only that Christ might be thereby pointed out as the Saviour, but also that Jesus might be pointed out as the true Christ, or Messiah, against the unbelief of the Jews. This observation will be of great use in many places of the New Testament.-See Ac. ii. 36, Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. See Jno. v. 31, § 23; 1 Co. xvi. 22; 1 Jno. ii. 22; iv. 15. Prepare thy way, &c. When a man of rank has to pass through a town or village, a messenger is des patched to tell the people to prepare the way, and to await his orders. Some then sweep the road, others spread garments, others form arches and festoons on the way. 3. The voice of.-See Came,' p. 50, also p. 51. Tiberius. He was a most infamous character-a scourge to the Roman people. He reigned twentythree years, and was succeeded by Caius Caligula, whom he appointed his successor on account of his notorious wickedness, and that he might be, as he expressed it, a serpent to the Romans. And yet it is said that Tiberius, hearing of the miracles of our Saviour, was earnest to have him enrolled among the Roman deities, but was hindered by the senate. He so favoured the Christians, as to threaten death to such as molested them on account of their religion. [Lu. iii. 1. Now in the fifteenth year. This was the thirteenth year of his being sole emperor. He was two years joint emperor with Augustus; and Luke reckons from the time when he was admitted to share the empire with Augustus Cæsar.] Pontius Pilate.-See ADDENDA, p. 55. Herod being tetrarch of Galilee. This was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, to whom Galilee had been left as his part of his father's kingdom. The word tetrarch properly denotes one who presides over a fourth part of a country or province; but it also came to be a general title, denoting one who reigned over any part, a third, a half, &c. It was this Herod who imprisoned John the Baptist, Lu. iii. 18-20, p. 55; and to whom our Saviour, when arraigned, was sent by Pilate, Lu. xxiii. 8-11, § 90. Philip. Another son of Herod, said to be of a mild disposition. He raised Bethsaida, in Decapolis, from a poor village to be a beautiful city, and named it Julia, after a daughter of the emperor Augustus.See Sect. 48, GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. 2. Annas and Caiaphas, &c. The law of Moses appointed one high priest, therefore in strict propriety there could be but one. But after the subjection of Judæa to the Roman yoke, great changes were made; and the occupants of an office, in which had been vested almost regal authority, were removed at the will of the conquerors. Annas had held the office eleven years, when he was deposed by the Roman governor, and succeeded by his son-in-law, Caiaphas. Probably the authority of Annas was still respected by the people, and he is on that account Some mentioned here conjointly with Caiaphas. imagine that the title is given to Annas, as being the chief of Aaron's family then alive, and regarded as the rightful high priest of the Jews, though Caiaphas held the office by appointment of the Roman gover nor. Both of them maliciously persecuted the apostles for preaching Christ.-See Ac. iv. p. (35.) The word of God.-See in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, &c., for many examples of the word of the Lord coming to the prophets. Came John the Baptist. So named, because he baptized those who professed to be contrite on *This, and other superior letters, are introduced to direct to the commencement of the history; and a mark as at the end of ver. 3, signifies that the reader is to find the succeeding or supplemental portion in another gospel; so that, by taking up in proper sequence each part, a continuous history may be obtained: as, Mk. i. 1. The beginning of, &c., going on to the end of ver. 3, indicated by after straight.-The second portion is in Lu. iii. 1, b Now in the, &c., ending at ver. 2, wilderness.-The succeeding portion is at Mt. iii. 1. In those days, &c., concluding at Judea.Continued at Lu. iii. 3, d And he came into, &c., to the end of the ver., the remission of sins.And is taken up at Mt. iii. 2, saying, Repent ye, &c. I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE.-John x. 30. [49 WHOSOEVER DENIETH THE SON, THE SAME HATH NOT THE FATHER.-1 John ii. 23. |