it from the face of Moses, or the most splendid magnificence of Solomon's temple. Heb. which the law by ceremonies Cannot appease, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. v. 1. 302 Up to a better covenant, disciplin'd From shadowy types to truth, Heb. He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. viii. 6. 304 From imposition of strict laws to free 305 With pleasure let us compare the dispensation of Jesus with that of Moses, and observe the excellency of its superior grace and of its brighter truth: but let us remember as a necessary consequence of this, that if the despisers of Moses law died without mercy, they shall be thought worthy of a much sorer punishment, and a more aggravated condemnation, who tread under foot the Son of God. Heb. x. 28, 29. from servile fear To filial, Faith which worketh by love. Gal. v. 6. 310 But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, His name and office bearing, And the name of Joshua, or Jesus, signifies a Saviour. Joshua was in many things a type of Jesus. that his regal throne For ever shall endure; And thine house, and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee, thy throne shall be established for ever. 2 Sam. vii. 16. Of David that of the royal stock The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke i. 32. 342 To that proud city, whose high wall thou sawest Left in confusion: Babylon thence call'd. 346 349 This whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Jer. xxv. 11. and his covenant sworn To David 'stablish'd as the days of Heaven. Thus saith Jehovah; If you can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant. Jer. xxxiii. 20, 21. the house of God They first re-edify; Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one to his own city. Ezra ii. 1. And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place. They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, 360 and one hundred priests garments. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David, king of Israel. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of the house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted for joy. Ezra iii. 10, 11, 12. yet at his birth a star, Unseen before in Heaven, For, behold, there were certain sages, that is, wise and learned men (who, on account of their applying themselves to the study of natural philosophy, were called magi) that had observed a bright and unusual luminary in the heavens, which they were taught to understand as an intimation that a very illustrious person was then born in Judea, who was destined by God to that universal empire, the fame and expectation of which had spread so far in those parts; they therefore came from the east country where they dwelt, to Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish kingdom and there they began the enquiry which had occasioned them to undertake so long a journey, saying to those who they thought, might be most likely to inform them, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, nd are come to worship him. Matt. ii. 2. 664 His place of birth a solemn Angel tells 379 382 And there were some shepherds in that country who were then lying out in the field, and watching in their turns, over the flock by night; which it was necessary they should do, to guard against the wolves and other beasts of prey which were common there. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Luke ii. 8, 9, 10, 11. Virgin Mother, hail High in the love of Heaven; 66 Hail, thou that art highly favoured;" The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst Luke i. 28. women. so God with man unites! And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke, i. 32, 33. 394 Not by destroying Satan, but his work In thee, and in thy seed: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. John, iii. 8. 402 The law of God exact he shall fulfil Both by obedience and by love, He became obedient unto death. Phil. ii. 8. 408 Proclaiming life to all who shall believe In his redemption ; 420 421. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John, vi. 40. Death over him no power Shall long usurp ; No more let us return under the power of that spiritual death, from which Christ, at the price of his own life, hath delivered us; but let us live to God, solemnly presenting our bodies and our souls to him, to be honoured as the instruments of his service, and employing each our proper members, according to its proper office for his glory. We are alive from the dead, we are raised by a divine power: Let us, therefore, daily set ourselves as in the presence of the God of our renewed lives, and account that time lost in which we are not acting for him. ere the third dawning light Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise As it began to dawn the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. And the angel said unto the woman, Fear not ye, ye seek Jesus which was crucified. Come see the place where |