The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-29

7.
THE TINE OF HIS COMING THE NATURE OF HIS DOC
TRINE. AND THE ExTENT KING
DOM ALL FULLY PREDICTED.

M CClAALNNT OE AHhlSI-
THE TIEK OF HIS COMING, THE NATURE OF HIS Doc,
TRINE, AND THE EXTENT oy his KING
DOM ALL FULLY PREDICTED.
From an early period after the fall OF man. 8
to visit the world by a Divine Person. who would
sinners from their perilous cond tion, destroy
TO eternal felicity. Promises to this effect wer,
given to Gods chosen people. This grest Object
held place in all the predictions Of the prophets
and was sEadowed forth in all the types and cere
monies Of the Jewish Law. The character OF thi
ness to render him desirable with All truly plous
and 70 distinguish Him when come to the view o
every humble and earnest inquirer
1t four thousand years after the creation o
the world. and when the Roman Empire having
gained the asccndency over all the earth, uni
verssl peace had taken place. while Augustus
Caeser was Emperor Of Rome. and Herod by
Caeser's authority had been made-Ktng Of Judea
that the period arrived for the tulnllment OF these
gracious promises Of the birth of the Prince Of
Peace. It seems general impression or eNpecta
tiOn prevailed among the Jews that about this
time the great DeIiverer was to make his appear
ancc nor are there wanting evidences that such
an event was looked for even ia the gentle and
heather world In passing from the contempla-
tiOn Of jewish affairs TO the glorious objects pre-
sented to our notice in the New Testament. we
seem to emerge from drearv and urcom Portable
shades into the cheerful light Of day. and leave
without regret n road rendered tedious bv Jewish
ceremonies crowded with human traditions, and
encountered with heather altars to pursue the
oDen path marked out by the reforming hand OF
the Son OF God.
The name Of Jesus in Greek corresponds with
Joshue in Hebrew, both signifying a saviour
CHRIST is the same Greek as MESSIAH In He
brew, meaning the dnnOiHfed. The title dnrOfuted
was given to Saviour in allusiOn to the custom
Of Amounting Priests and Kings with oil. Jesus
was Rnnointed 70 the great office Of Redeemer by
the Holy Spirit. which was given him without
measure. As an Introduction 20 the coming Of our
Saviour angel Of the TsOro appeared to a priest
named Zacharias. while Offering incense in the
temple. informing him that he should have son
who was TO he called John. that this child should
be filled with the Holy Ghost from hts birth. and
neAFeh 20 prepare HIS way. In SIX months after
this the same agel. Gabriel. who appeared before
David That royal family being at that line reduced
to a low condition The maiden = name was Mary,
a poor young woman. promised In marriage TO a
poor young man, n carpenter. likewise Of the
house of David. The angel saIuted Mary and
made known to her that she should bear a son
whose name should be called JESUS. and that God
would give Him the throne Of David, and this
holy child be produced by the power Of the Divine
spirit. on account of which He should be called
she Son Of God. Shortly after this Mary visited
Elizabeth, the wife of Zacharias. who was near
relation. and both Of them In divine rapture re-
loced and praised tiod account the approa CHI
ing visitation Of mercy and grace toward His peo-
Zacharias being far advanced in years a was
also Elizabeth. his wife. hesitated through unbe-
Iief when the angel frst appeared to him but q
bic TO speak until the fulfillment of the predic.
tfonn In the meantime the ANGEL Of the orl an
peared TO Joseph and removed from HIS mind all
suspicion with respect TO the character Of Mary.
his espoused wife Shortly after this. in conse-
duence or a decree from the Roman Emperor for
the taxing Of all his subjects IN the several cities
Joserh and Mary repaired to Bethlehem. the city
inns Of Bethlehem were so crowded with strangers
who had arrived in advance Of them that there
were no accommodation for suoh humble quests rs
Joseph and Mary but those Of a stable in which
they were placed, in which the long promised IN
fant was born. and. after being wrapped In gWad-
ding clothes. He was laid In the manger. Thus IT
Is shown that the appearance uf our Redeemer was
not TO he marked bv earthly p0mn. On the very
contrary. God showed his utter contempt and dis
regard Of what Door depravei mortals hiq qhlv
esteem. The King Of GLORY was TO be ushe-ed
INFO the world IN the most obscure condition while
divine honor and heavenly attention were to SUP
ply the place OF va and empty worldly grandeur.
The carnal and high minded were to be disap-
pointed in their calculations. while the humble,
Dious souls were to rejoice in their salvation.
The coming OF our Saviour frequently fore
told throughout tho old Testament Scriptures
They represent tt as being announced hy God to
the first human pair. and forming from the
first to the last the theme or al prophets. The
time Of His appearance 1.-THE place OF HIS birth the
family ont Of which He was 10 arise His life and
character. HIS sufferings and His death. the na-
ture OF HIS doctrine and the extent Of His kingdom
were all fully predicted. The time Of CHRIsT's
appearance IN the world, as predicted in the Old
Testament. Is defined by . number Of concurring
circumstances that fix IL 70 the very date Of HIS
advent. His life, HIS virtues His BETRAYAL. HIS
scOurging. His sufferings. His drinking Of gall
the piercing OF His hands and feet. the parting or
HIS raimcnt and casting lots upon Hts vesture
His brutal burial. and His rising again without
corruption. were al minutely predicted and liter
ally fulhled
In the fourth century there then being doubt
HH9ut the birth Of our Saviour. the then reiUniuu
Pope, Julius I. made q search Of the Roman arch
Ives. and aseertained that Joseph and Mary went
70 the city of bethlehem 10 be enroll ed the 24th
day OF December, ard on the following day our Sa-
viour was born.