Scripture fulfilled in your ears. Luke iv. 20, 21. I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.-Of this man's seed hath God, according to his promise, raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus. Acts xiii. 22, 23. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Pet. ii. 25. The shepherds said one to another, let us now go even to Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Luke ii. 15, 16 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him: and he sat upon him. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the me of the Lord. Mark xi. 7—9. : And Jesus saith unto them, all ye shall be offended, because of me this night for it is written I will smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered. And they all forsook him and fled. St. Mark xiv. 27. Fear not ye for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. for he is risen as he said. place where the Lord lay. 5, 6. He is not here, Come see the Matt. xxviii. He seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. Acts ii. 31. B THE BALM OF GILEAD, &c., &c. CHAPTER I. "Man fall's deceived, Man therefore shall find grace." "O unexampled love, Love, no where to be found, less than divine! Henceforth, and never shall my harp thy praise Milton, Par. Lost, Book 3. "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." In the beginning the Lord Almighty made the heaven and the earth; and created all things therein; The first idea given of our habitual globe is that of a rude and unintelligible chaos. For the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the great deep; but, by the operation of the Spirit of God which moved upon the face of the waters, this confused mass was gradually separated, harmonized, and wrought into this beautiful structure, with such exactness, and variety of appearance, which from the earliest ages to the present period, has filled the breast of every pious individual with sentiments of mingled gratitude, wonder, and admiration. After this stupendous work was accomplished, the Adorable Being, who in the Old Testament is designated by the sacred epithets God, Jehovah, and the great I am, but who, in later ages, has revealed himself more fully in the person of his co-equal and co-eternal son Jesus Christ, next commanded the light to shine out of darkness; and by his eternal fiat, produced a glorious day; for God said, Let there be light, and there was light; * and the light God called day; and the darkness called he night; the next effect of creative power was to divide the waters from the waters. The firmament or lower heaven was expanded to divide the upper from the lower waters, the floods unanimously rushed into their appointed bed and received the appellation of seas; and the dry land (now distinguished by the name of earth) was suddenly covered with a verdant mantle, enriched with innumerable trees and shrubs of every variety, and embroidered with flowers of every tint and fragrance. The canopy of heaven was, also, sprangled with myriads of stars; and the sun and moon, those greater luminaries, were so disposed as to enlighten the newly created world, to divide the revolving seasons, and to form a perpetual distinction between day and night. The waters were next replenished with Gen. i. 3. |