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Chrift, is certainly of great importance, and ought to be treated with the most exact attention to its genuine evidence, and the most impartial and unbiased disposition to submit to its weight and influence. When any predition relating to persons, or other events in very distant periods, which are evidently contingent, appears to be literally fulfilled, the objectors to the authority of the revelation in which the affurance is exhibited, must be filenced if they are not convinced; and, though they may ftill persist in their infults and mifrepresentations, must become the objects of pity or contempt with all competent judges of the Argument *. How far Dr.

The sentiments of the celebrated Mr. Anthony Collins upon this topic may, with propriety, be referred to upon this occasion : " If the proofs of Chriltianity from the Old Tettament are valid proofs, then is Cuisianity strongly and invincibly establithed on its true foundations. Because a prooi drawn from an inspiRED }}ok is perfectly conclufile ; and prophe ies delivered in an in!pired book, are, when fulfilled, such as may be juftiy deemed fure and demonitra. tive proofs. ---Prophecies fulfiled icem the mel proper of all arguments to evince the truth of a revelation, which is designed to be universally promulgated to men. For a man, fr example who has the Old Testament put into his hands, i hich contains pr phecies, and the New Testameri, which contains their completions, and is once fatisfied, as he may be with the greatest cafe, that the Old Tehment exifted before the New, may have a complete, internal, divise demonftration oi che truth of Christianity, without long and lab ricus inquiries." Discourse of le Grounds and healin, of the Chrijin Relie 8:0", Elit. 1721, p. 26, 27, 29, 30. VOL. XXVII.

Sharpe

Sharpe hath succeeded in the discution of this subject, we leave to the judgment of such as-are qualified to decide upon it; and shall now proceed to give a farther account of the work.

In the sixth Chapter he considers the distinctive charaéicrs of the two l efects in Malachi ili. 1. the Mellenger who was to prepare the way, and the Lord, even the Meitenger of the covenant. The million and character of John the Baptist, the foreirunner of the Lord of Life, are reprefented with particulrattention, because his history is a proper introduciion to that of Jesus ; his office was preparatory to that of our Lord's, and he bare record that Jesus was the Sun of God. The time of John's appearance, as diftinguished by the name of Elijah, the Tishbite, or the CONVERTER, or RESTORER; and of the Lord, the Medienger of the Covenant, in whom the Jews, in the days of Malachi, delighted, was to precede the final destruction of Jerusalem. Malachi prophesied under the second temple, after the return of the Jews from their captivity; hence it is evident, that his prediction of the coming of a great person cannot be interpreted of Zerubbabel, or any of the Leaders of Israel out of their captivity: and a variety of circumstances fix the time for the completion of the prophecy to the time when John the Baptist and our Lord appeared – The Delight of the Jews, the Messenger, the Covenant, and the great and dreadful Day of the Lord, are circumstances which ascertain the time to be prior to the fiege of Jerusalem, and the consequent subversion of the civil and religious constitution of the Jews. The birth of John was extraordinary, and distinguished, like that of Jesus, by miracles; which contributed to the great end of his mifiion, setting a lustre upon him, and exciting a suitable expectation concerning hin: which was the more necessary, because he was to prepare the way of the Lord, and to make him manifeft unto Israel. John hath the name of two Prophets given him,-MY MESSENGER : The original word is Malachi, the name of the Prophet, who describes him as the fore-runner, as one sent to prepare the

He is also called by the name of Elijah the Prophet ; and both appellations are expressive of the character and office of him who was to be sent. Elijah fignifies the power of God, which was as remarkably fhewn in the person, appearance, life, and character of John, as of that other prophet who lived in the days of Ahab. The first and second Elias were very much alike in austerity and sufferings, and calling men to repentance; both led abstemious and auftere lives, and dwelt in deserts. John, though he did

way of the Lord.

no miracle, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and instructed from above how to discern the Meffiah. He know from the old Prophets that the Meflenger of the Covenant, the Lord whom he had made manifest to Ifrael, was to do many extraordinary things; and as he was in prison, and could not be an eye-witness of the miracles of our Lord, to give his disciples the fullest conviction, he sent two of them to ask of Jesus himself, “ Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Our Lord, who well understood the design of this message, resers John to the miracles of which they had authentic evidence,which our Saviour justly calls a greater witness than that of John. John had been witness to the descent of the Spirit upon Jesus, but the RESIDENCE of that Spirit was to be proved by the miracles which Jesus continued to work, and of which lohn, when in prison, could not be an evidence. Though he had heard a voice from heaven, proclaiming Jesus to be the beloved Son of God; yet, to complete the character of the Meilich, it was necessary that he should accomplish all that had been said of him by the Prophets. And nothing could be more natural than for John, who found himself de CREASING, to enquire whether Jesus ENCREASED; whether the spirit REMAINED upon him, and enabled him to accomplish the glorious works foretold of Mefliah in the Old Scriptures? And if we carefully examine Luke iv. I, 14. Dr. Sharpe's observations upon this circumstance, the continued refidence of the Spirit, will receive fome additional illustrations. If we reflect upon the number of the people who followed John, and were baptized by him, and the regard they expressed for him toth before and after his death, and yet no fect produced in consequence of such belief and baptism, it will, as Dr. Sharpe apprehends, afford a very good argument in favour of the fuperior power, dignity, character, and office of Jesus. And John's excellent character, even amongst the Jews themselves, is such an argument in proof of his integrity, as will make it more reasonable to admit than reject the testimony he gave, that Jesus IS THE SON OF GOD.

Dr. Sharpe, in the seventh Chapter, enters into an accurate discussion of the predictions relating to the birth and character, life and deaih of the Messiah, as given by Isaiah, Chap. lii. 13-15. liii. which he justly styles a most celebrated oracle, exhibiting to us, as in a mirror, his humiliation, sufferings, interceson, death, and glorious exaltation. In the various circumstances of his life an example to his followers, and to all the world, of every virtue, every precept which he de

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