atonement he made by his death for the fins of mankind. Thus the jewifh facrifices in all their various kinds, fet forth in different views, the fhedding of his facred blood, and that expiation for fin, which it was intended to make. Thus again, the fcape-goat, which was fent into the wilderness, after the fins of the people had been confeffed over it, represented the fame great end. The paffover too, tho inftituted in remembrance of the angel's paffing over the houses of the Ifraelites, when he flew the first-born of the Egyptians, had reference to that great pafchal lamb, which was flain for the fins of mankind. The veil of the temple alfo, which feparated the Holy of Holies from the other parts of the temple, and which was rent at Chrift's death, fhewed its connection with that great event; intimating, that the partition-wall between the Jews and Gentiles, was now broken down..-Laftly, the high-prieft entering the Holy of Holies to make atonement for his own fins, and the fins of the people, refpected plainly that great atonement, which was afterwards made by Chrift.

The third, and laft kind of prophetic evidence contained in what Mofes, and the prophets did write, confifts in written prophecies. In the hiftory and ceremonies of the Jews, we fee the life

and office of the Meffiah represented as it were by vifible figns. But left these should not be fufficiently striking, the third and last prophetic evidence is delivered in language. This kind of evidence is indeed much fuller, and more compleat, than either of the other kinds, inafmuch as it comprehends with more circumftantial exactnefs, the life ---miniftry---death, and refurrection of Christ.

To go over, even in a flight way, the whole of thefe prophecies, would take up much time. I fhall therefore just mention a few of thofe, which are the most remarkable; and are for that reafon, generally taken notice of by the evangelifts themfelves. Obferve how very exact they are; and how like what you read in the New Teftament. Behold a virgin fhall conceive, and bear a fon. Thou Bethlehem, tho thou be little among the thou fands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth, who is to be ruler in Ifrael.---Unto us a child is born; unto us a fon is given; and the government fhall be upon his fhoulders; and his name fhall be called wonderful---counfellor---the mighty God---the everlasting father, the prince of peace. Yet he hath no form, nor comeliness. He was defpifed, and we efteemed him not.---He was oppressed, and he was afflicted. He was brought as a lamb to the flaugh

ter;

ter and as a sheep before the fhearers is dumb, fo opened he not his mouth. Falfe witnesses did rife up against him. They laid to his charge things that he knew not. They pierced his hands, and his feet.--They gave him gall to eat; and when he was thirsty, they gave him vinegar to drink. They parted his garments among them; and caft lots upon his vefture. Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our forrows: He was wounded for our tranfgreffions; he was bruifed for our iniquities. The chafifement of our peace was upon him; and with his ftripes we are healed. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Thou shalt make his foul an offering for fin. He was numbered with tranfgreffors; and he shall bear the fins of many; and make interceffion for tranfgreffors. Yet thou fhalt not leave his life in the grave; neither fhalt thou fuffer thine holy one to fee corruption. After two days he will revive him. On the third he will raife him up.

Thus I have fummed up the three kinds of prophetic evidence, contained in what Mofes, and the prophets did write-arifing from the history of the Jews-from their rites and ceremonies-and laftly from their prophetic writings. Let us then,

as

as I propofed fecondly, apply the case of these two difciples, Philip, and Nathaniel, to the chriftians of these times.

It is plain, that very little of this evidence could have any weight with them, at the time of their believing in Jefus. We may suppose indeed, that these holy perfons, like Simeon, waited. for the confolation of Ifrael-we may fuppofe they were well verfed in the fcriptures; and knew the Meffiah was about that time to appear: but ftill the greatest part of thefe types, and prophecies of the Meffiah, were at the time when Philip, and Nathaniel came to Jefus, yet unfulfilled--nor had Jefus, fo far as appears, performed one fingle miracle, in proof of his authority. But ftill he had given ground fufficient to thefe honeft, and wellintentioned men to believe him to be the Meffiah.

The great ground of their belief muft have refted firft on the authority of John the Baptift, whofe disciple at least one of them was. With John's miraculous birth they were well acquainted; and they knew, that he was marked by the prophets, as the forerunner of Chrift-the voice of one crying in

the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.

They might have learned alfo, the wonderful circumftances of the birth of Chrift-that he was born

of

of a virgin; and had at leaft fo far compleated that great prophecy of Ifaiah with regard to Emanuel. From John alfo they might have knowny (what Philip probably was an eye-witnefs of) that wonderful teftimony, which was given to Jefus at his baptifm, when a voice from heaven proclaimed, Thou art my beloved fon, in whom I am well pleafed.

-They had both of them alfo feen Jefus-that divine perfon, in whom fhone all the fullness of the godhead bodily-and had liftened to that gracious voice, which pake as never man fpake. The doubts alfo of Nathaniel had been difpelled by Jefus's telling him in a miraculous manner, fome of the most secret transactions of his life. All this evidence for their belief in Chrift they had; and on the foundation of this they firmly believed him to be the Meffiah, who should afterwards fulfil, but had not yet, fulfilled, all that Mofes, and the prophets did write.

Thus then we fee, on how flight a degree of evidence, in comparison of the evidence we have, thefe two well difpofed perfons believed in Chrift. All the evidence which they had, we have: and let us fee what evidence we have befides. We have not only all that evidence arifing from the prophetic hiftory-the types and prophecies of the Old

Tefta