Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

open, at what time the Holy Ghoft defcended from the Sky in a vifible flame under the form of a Dove, and refted on the head of Jefus: at the fame inftant a Voice was heard pronounced by God himself faying, Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleas'd. Jefus was now thirty years old, and began to enter upon his Office, as we shall afterwards relate.

Having thus been baptiz'd by John, he ftraitway retir'd into a neighbouring Solitude in Arabia, near the Spring-head of the River Jordan, that by baffling the Temptations of the evil Spirit, his Conftancy might grow the firmer, and become the more illuftrious. In this Defert he remain'd forty days without eating, the fame number of days that Mofes continued fafting on Mount Sinai, when he receiv'd the Law from God. 'Tis not recorded what happen'd to Jefus during the time that he continued in the Defert, only that towards the conclufion of it he began to be hungry; the divine Power at length permitting Man to yield to the infirmity of hu

[blocks in formation]

MATTHEW.

CHA P. IV.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he faid, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and faid, It is written,Man thall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and fetteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And faith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, caft thy felf down :

for it is written, He fhall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, left at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jefus faid unto him, It is written again, Thou fhalt not/tempt the Lord thy God.

[blocks in formation]

9 And he brought him to Jerufalem, and fet him on a pinnacle of the temple,

and faid unto him, If thou be the Son of God, caft thy felf down from hence.

10 For it is written, He fhall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee.

II And in their hands they shall bear thee up, left at any time thou dath thy foot against a stone.

12 And Jefus answering, faid unto him, It is faid, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Јони.

man Nature. Hereupon the evil Spirit (who is always contrary to the determinations of God) approach'd him, telling him, that fince he was the Son of God, and by his Father's Authority fuperior to the Laws of Nature, he might affuage his Hunger with the very Stones, which at his firft command would be chang d into the fubftance of Bread. Jefus anfwer'd him that 'twas written by Mofes, Deut. 8. 3. Man fhall not live by Bread alone, but by every thing that proceeds from the month of God, that is, whatever God has appointed to be inftead of Bread; that therefore there was no neceflity for fuch a tranfmutation as he fuggefted.

The evil Spirit then led him to Jerufalem, and plac'd him on the battlements of the Temple, bidding him precipitate himself if he were the Son of God, fince it was him the Pfalmift meant, when he faid, Pfal. 91. 2. God shall give his Angels charge over thee. They fall bear thee up in their bands, left thou dah thy foot against a Stone. Jefus replied, 'Tis alto written by Mofes, Deut. 6. 16. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, as it thou doubtedit of his Power, and Goodness. The

[ocr errors][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

evil Spirit, who had thus been twice repuls'd, made a third attempt upon him, leading him to an exceeding high Mountain, from the top of which he gave him a profpect of vaft Tracts of Ground round about him,enclofing the Wealth of many Nations, which he promis'd to beftow upon him, provided he would do him Homage, and worthip him as God; affirming himfelf to be the Lord of 'em, and that he could difpofe of 'em at his pleafure. Then faid Jefus, Get thee from me thou enemy of God, for it is faid by Mofes, Deut. 10. 20. Then fhalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only halt thou ferve. The evil Spirit finding himself quite fruftrated by this answer, G 2 depart

[blocks in formation]

departed from him for a feafon; Jefus remaining upon the Mountain among the wild Beafts: but the Angels of God brought him Food, and were ready to execute whatever he commanded them.

CHAP. IX.

The Divine Wisdom by which all things were created, dwells in Jefus, tho rejected by the Jews. The Teftimony of John concerning Jefus.

SOME of the Profeffors of the Jewish and Chriftian Religion, having withal applied themselves to the ftudy of the Heathen Philofophy, have deliver'd many things concerning Life, Light, and the only begotten Son of God, and inculcated them to their Difciples, as things of the greatest moment, of which opinions, fome being true, fome falfe, and confequently not being all to be rejected or embraced, I will briefly mention fuch of 'em as agree with the Doctrine of Jefus Chrift, before I enter upon the Hiftory of his minifterial Office. 'Tis true, that before the Creation of the World, Reason did exift, for Reason was then in God, indeed was God himself, it not being poffible for God to be without it; Reafon, I fay did ex

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

JOHN.

СНА Р. І.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made, that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of [men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man fent from God, whose name was John.

7 The fame came for a witnefs, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that light, but was fent to bear witnefs of that light.

9 That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world,and. the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

ift in God before the Creation of the World, every portion of which was created with the greatest Reafon; nor can any thing be produc'd that has been made without it. In this Reafon alone, formerly refided the perfect Knowledg of the way that leads to everlasting Life, which it was impoffible for men to find out otherways than as enlighten'd by this knowledg, made in fome measure partakers of it, and under the guidance of it, as it had been a moft glorious Light preceding, and pointing out the way they were to follow. But this Light has fince been brought down to men, has fhin'd among 'em many Years, and continues to direct the Ignorant in the way to Life, tho moft neglect the use of it, and chufe to wander on ftill in the darkness of their Ignorance.

Upon this account John was fent to the Jews by God, to inform 'em who it was in whom this Light remain'd, and by a publick Teftimony to induce 'em all to believe and rely upon it; for it was not John in whom this Light refided, nor was it his Errand to make Men partakers of it, but only to procure Authority among the Jews for him who was invefted with it. So that in this Man only refides the Light which alone is worthy of this appellation in a moft tranfcendent Senfe, and which whoever follows, will be led by it to Life eternal. He who had this Light within him had been for a confiderable time converfant among Men, who tho they. were at first created by that divine Reafon that dwelt within him, yet were not

able

« EdellinenJatka »