Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

PREFACE

TO THE ENGLISH EDITION OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME OF SACRED BIOGRAPHY.

10001

HAVING found it requisite to publish a new and uniform Edition of SACRED BIOGRAPHY in four volumes, together with an additional volume of Lectures, frequently called for, on the history of our blessed Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, I felt myself in justice obliged to print that volume separately, for the accommodation of those who may have purchased prior editions of the book in six volumes. Being of nearly the same size with these, it admits of being bound up in the same form, and may be marked Vol. VII. But though of the same size, the Reader will please to observe that this volume contains fully a third more matter than any of the preceding, the sixth excepted.

For the liberal patronage given to the work by the public I feel myself highly indebted, and beg leave hereby to express my cordial acknowledgements. To the people of my immediate charge I owe a tribute of peculiar thanks, for the encouragement and support given to my various labours during an union of more than thirty years. Many of them, I know, will be gratified in reading what they heard with so much patience, attention and candour, during the months of November, December and January last. If this volume shall survive me, I bequeath it to them as a small token of an affection and gratitude which no length of time or change of circumstances can diminish. From the very nature of the thing, this could not possibly pretend to be considered as a whole. But is not every incident of our SAVIOUR's life, a whole of itself, while it is in an intimate connection with others, and a part of the stupendous WHOLE, which far transcends the comprehension of men and of angels? Though, therefore, the entire volume be but a fragment, each particular discourse aims at presenting one distinct and individual object, gradually melting away into another, and it may, of course, be read either separately, or as a link in a chain. The additional volume, and its predecessors, I again recommend to the blessing of God Almighty, and with equal deference, as in the beginning, cheerfully submit my work to the judgement of the candid, the serious and the benevolent.

HOXTON, 12th March, 1802.

HENRY HUNTER.

[blocks in formation]

LUKE II. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.—And it came to pass in those days, that there

went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing

was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into

his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto

the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,)

to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they

were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her

first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there

was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the

field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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.-

And this shall be a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a

manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God,

and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

[blocks in formation]

LECTURE IX.

HISTORY OF JESUS CHRist.

58

LUKE III. 21, 22, 23.-Now, when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, like a dove, upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.

LECTURE X.

HISTORY OF JESUS CHRIST.

66

MATTHEW IV. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.-Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, get thee hence, satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him,

[blocks in formation]

LUKE IV. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.-And when the devil had ended all the temptation he departed from him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the Prophet Esaias: and, when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down." And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, this day, is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, is not this Joseph's son and he said unto them, ye will surely say unto me this proverb, physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, verily, I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill, whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way, and came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

LECTURE XII.

HISTORY OF JESUS CHRIST.

81

LUKE IV. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.-And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias: and when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath

« ÎnapoiContinuă »