Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-08-23
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Iha TceUiiar Value Of Prophecy, as
nn evidence that the Bible Is the
Word OF God.

Eha peculiar Value Of Prophecy, as
an A1V:deucc that the Bible Is the
word OF God.
so;t0Dg as is the eVidsIoa to be derived from the
Prophecies ottbc Bible considered separately,
las showing Z fcyekDowlsdgo whioh could only
c}a; !:om God their chief value is in this, that
thy agc 81! parts Of oac system. Nlpevch,
b:by'on, T5re. Egypt, the Elomies. the Per.
slias. the Greeks, the Romans, tie Jews, 3d.,
btc'ma Tie subjects Ct prophecy, because, and
OILY 81 iar, as their history touched upon the
suFjsc: Of the Kingdom Of Christ. La the his
tory of His Kingdom on Garth, the Bible pre-.
scuts tro act three great epochs, His first
and secjnd coming; and under these Two grea,
epCchs all prophecy may be arranged.
la'. From the prophecies which speak CT the
hrst cp9ch nc may gather g complete outline
CT all the chief points Of His history az recorded
10 tho Gospels. They torctell His Divine and
hrSt woman, Gen. 3: Is; from Abraham, Gen.
-: 3; not Ishmac'; from Jacob. not Esau;
from Judah, tho fourth SOD, not Reuben, the
first born, Gen. 40: 10; from Jesse, Isa ii: !;
from David, the youngest of eight, |. Sam
l6: ] !; Jer. %: 5; they mention tho timo oil
His coming, Gen. 40: 10; Dan. 9: 81 and %
llag. .: 6 and 9; the place of His birth, Micah
5: =; aud the circumstances attending it, viz
| that Lilo should be born of a virgio, I.a. 7: a.
| that rlt Messenger should 20 before Him, Mai.
5: l. They specify. moreover, His offices, o.
Prophet. Priest and King, Ps. ITO; Zach. G
Is; lisa. 81: |; tie plaeo where His ministry
should commence, Isa. 9: !; Matt. 4: II, &c.;
the confirmation it should receive from mira
cles, lisa. s.: 5 and G; His sufferinps ant
death, Ps. 22: l6; Zach. 10: I; I:a. SO; H
| resurrection, Ps. Is; His asoention, Ps. 6S is
| AID His sending the Holy Spirit, Joel =: %
aud 90.
21d. The prophecies, oonoeroing the second
cpooh, describe tho various fortunes of Hi.
| Church, from His ascension till His second
coming, which will be the last embracing many
predictions yet to ba fulfilled, but the general
bearing Of which is 10 encourage the most ex-
allied hopes as 10 the glory awaiting that
| Church. They comprehend, therefore, the
time when The Jews shall be converted, Rom.
| IL &c; aud tho Kingdoms of this world" sinai
become the Kingdoms Of our God and Of His
Christ, Rev. IL: Is. Aud hero let mo call
your especial attention to the 2lst and 22od
chap!err5 OF Revelations, in which most mag
| milcant description OF the new heavens aud new
| earth Is given. Ii, then, We consider these
| three Thugs in relation TO prophecies OF the
Bible, st. The prodlglous eYtcht of prophecy,
ION The tall Of man TO the contamination OF
| ali things; 3::Gd. The dignity of the person who
Is the chief subject Of prophecy-the Seed oil
| The woman, and the Son Of man, yet above al
nrlrcraiiy and power ss the Word and Wis.,
dom Of God. tho Eternal Son Of tho Father,
he brightness OF His glory aud the express
Image OF His Person; 3rd. The declared pur.
pose for which this Divine Being came INTO the
world, viz: To dsliver world from ruin, to
abolah sic and death. to purify and immortal
2j human nature; ii then, | FAY, we consider
;ncse things, can We hesitate, with such evi.
donea. to receive the Bible as the Word of
God Who hath declared this from ancient
Kim Who hath told it from that time ? Have
not | The lord - lsa. 49, 81. Yet bad there
bean 10 prophecies 10 the Bible. would not its
wonderful preservation, is moral Influence 10
the world, the agreement of It's several parts
With each ether, tho split CT the writers, their
regard to truth, love. holiness, and the glory of
Goa-w uIa not these have COMO fGr toward
proving il to tho Word Of Gcd? What then
must be their NiteDl force? And this, and
morc than this, We actually possess. But this
crest susJ C: Is thus glarc ID at,more 10 a,cakes
"qHHy tGan to st itGuirp at rest, aod the
mere Il Is pursued 10 right spirit, not 10 a
c:viIling spirit! tie moro deeply will We be con
Vluosd that, 10 receiving the Bible as the Word
q Coz, We nave Eot been following cuuningIy
DEVISED .iu6leS, and that We may, as it gracious.
" bids Us CO. build on 1t our hopes far eternity.
joan 5: -; e: C3; 10 :ooS.
Is ;lcn tho Bible The Word Of God ? and
can nc think l0r moment who God is. and
what Is cur relation 10 Him as His creatures,
withCu. thGt we should listen with deepest at
tca!lco, and entire submission Of cur under
standing and heart TO what it teaches? Let
Us tuko warning from St. Paul's admonilion to
the Hebrews, rot 10 turn away from Him
that sreakelh from Heaven" Heb. II: Is.
Jet US initiate the example of tho ThesSalo.
mans. and receive The Bible, rot az tbo word
Q! map, bu. as it is in truth, the Word ofG 3D."
|. Thcss. >: t. Like David, lot US resolve.
II will hear what God tho Lord will speak"
r.. 50 S. Like Mary, let US ponder these
thlaes in our hearts," Luke 2 }: 10 and 81.
Like the Bsreans. let US search the scriptures
daily" Acts Il: IL ; and in spirit of obedience
lie! ua cay, with Samuel, Speak, Lord. for thv
servant heareth," lst Sam $40. And especial.
", as the Bibleis dictated by the Holy Spirit,
let 1t DC read with constant prayer for the teach
ing of that spirit This direction unattended 10.
renders every other, 10 all intents and practical
purposes, useless. This direction, patiently fol.
lowed, will open tho mind to all Saving truth
Luke H. 9-l3; Ps. I43: 10. Nor let the reader
ever forget that the evidence for the divine su.
thori!y OF the Scriptures will only DO fully
brought home to the minds of those who are
willing 10 live up 10 its practical precepts. IF
any usn will do" that is, if any man is willing
10 do, This will, he shall know of the doctrine
whether II DO of God" John I: II. Carefully
examine all the foregoing quotations, and SEQ II
thcso things BIO so. PHI,
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