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PROPHECIES

RESPECTING CHRIST,

SELECTED FROM ISAIAH.

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ISAIAH, the first of the prophets, both in order and dignity, abounds in such transcendent excellencies that he may be properly said to afford the most perfect model of the prophetic poetry. He is at once elegant and sublime, forcible and ornamental; he unites energy with copiousness, and dignity with variety. In his sentiments there is extraordinary elevation and majesty; in his imagery, the utmost propriety, elegance, dignity, and diversity; in his language, uncommon beauty and energy; and, notwithstanding the obscurity of some of his subjects, a surprising degree of clearness and simplicity.

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"But, though the variety of his images and the warmth of his expressions characterise him as unequalled in eloquence, and though the marks of a cultivated mind are stamped in every page of his book, yet these are almost eclipsed by the splendour of his inspired knowledge. In the delivery of his prophecies and instructions he utters his enraptured strains with an elevation and majesty that unhal

PROPHECIES RESPECTING CHRIST.

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lowed lips could never attain; and from the grand exordium in the first chapter of his prophecy to the concluding description of the Gospel, to be brought forth' in wonders, and to terminate in the dispensation of eternity, there is one continued display of inspired wisdom, revealing its oracles and precepts for the instruction and salvation of man: so that the saying of Ezekiel may justly be applied to this prophet:

، ، Thou art the confirmed exemplar of measures,

Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.'

Ezek. xxviii. 12."- Br. LoWTH.

Isaiah, who is believed, on a current tradition, to have been the nephew of Uzziah, king of Judea, began to prophesy in his reign, 760 years before the birth of Christ, and seven years before the founding of the Roman monarchy.

Therefore JEHOVAH himself shall give you a sign;
Behold the VIRGIN conceiveth and beareth a Son,
And she shall call his name Immanuel
(Which is, by interpretation, GoD WITH US).

And He shall be unto you a Sanctuary:
But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence
To the houses of Israel, and the inhabitants of Jeru-

salem.

The land of Zebulon, and the land of Naphthali; Even the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of

the nations.

The people that walked in darkness,

Have seen a great light:

They that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Unto them hath the light shined.

Thou hast multiplied the nation,
Thou hast increased their joy :

They rejoice before Thee, as with the joy of harvest ;
As they rejoice who divide the spoil.

For unto us a Child is born;

Unto us a SoN is given :

And the government shall be upon his shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful; Counsellor ;

THE MIGHTY GOD;

The Father of the everlasting age,

The Prince of peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end;

Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To fix and to establish it, with judgment and with justice,

Henceforth, and for ever:

The zeal of JEHOVAH God of hosts will do this.

Wherefore thus saith the Lord JEHOVAH :

Behold, I lay in Sion, for a foundation,

A stone,

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an approved stone;

A corner-stone, precious, immovably fixed :
He that trusteth in HIM shall not be confounded.

Then shall the deaf hear,

And the eyes of the blind shall see.

The meek shall increase their joy in JEHOVAH ;
And the needy shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

SELECTED FROM ISAIAH.

Those that were led away with the spirit of error shall gain knowledge;

And the malignant shall attend to instruction.

Behold a King shall reign in righteousness;
And the MAN shall be as a covert from the storm,
as a Refuge from the flood;

As canals of waters in a dry place;
As the shadow of a great rock,

in a land fainting with heat.

And Him the eyes of those that see shall regard;
And the ears of those that hear shall hearken.
Even the heart of the rash shall consider,
and acquire knowledge;

And the stammering tongue shall speak
readily and plainly.

Say to the faint-hearted: Be ye strong;
Fear ye not; BEHOLD YOUR GOD!

Vengeance will come; the retribution of God;
He himself will come and will deliver you.
Then shall be unclosed the eyes of the blind;
And the ears of the deaf shall be opened:
Then shall the lame bound like the hart,
And the tongue of the dumb shall sing.

And a highway shall be in the desert;
And it shall be called the way of holiness:
No unclean person shall pass through it;

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But He himself shall be with them walking in the

way.

And the Redeemed shall walk in it.

Yea, the Ransomed of Jehovah shall return;
They shall come to Sion with triumph;

Perpetual gladness shall crown their heads;
Joy and gladness shall they obtain,

And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye animating words unto Jerusalem,

and declare unto her,

That her warfare is fulfilled;

That the expiation of her iniquity is accepted:
That she shall receive at the hands of Jehovah
[Blessings] double to the punishment of all her sins.
A voice crieth:

In the wilderness prepare ye the way of JEHOVAH !
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be exalted,

Every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
The crooked shall become straight,

And the rough places a smooth plain :

And the glory of JEHOVAH shall be revealed;
And all flesh shall see, together,

The Salvation of our God;

For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.

A voice sayeth: Proclaim:

And I said, What shall I proclaim?

All flesh is grass,

And all its glory like the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ;

When the wind of JEHOVAH bloweth upon it.

Verily this people is grass.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ;

But the Word of our God shall stand for ever.
Get thee up upon a high mountain,

O daughter that bringest glad tidings unto Sion:

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