ISA. Ch. xl. V. 3.-The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of JEHOVAH, make straight in the desert a high way for our GOD.

There is no possibility of doubting whether St. Matthew believed our SAVIOUR to be the JEHOVAH, whose path St. John was pre-ordained to prepare; and this circumstance being, in this instance, so well authenticated, let us gladly bear it always in mind, when reading the prophecies of the Old, and the histories of the New Testament.

V. 11.-I, John, baptize you with water to repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor.

MALACHI, Ch.iii. V.1.-AndJEHOVAH whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in. 2. But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap. 3. He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto Jehovah an offering in righteousness.

St. John's application of Malachi's metaphors to JESUS CHRIST, proves that he and the prophet refer to the same Divine Being, viz., JEHOVAH, who was come to his temple; and thus we have ascertained that St. Matthew and St. John thought that CHRIST was the JEHOVAH.

V. 16. And when JESUS was baptized, he went up straightway out of the water, and lo! the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. 17. And lo! a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

ISA. Ch. 11. V. 2.-The Spirit of JEHOVAH shall rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of JEHOVAH.

ISA. Ch. ix. V. 6.-The government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

St. Matthew says the Spirit of GOD, and Isaiah says the Spirit of JEHOVAH, shall rest upon the MESSIAH, who is called also the Mighty God.

That we cannot fully comprehend this mysterious union of the Godhead does, indeed, prove our powers of understanding to be limited, but it can in no wise invalidate the plain assertions of the inspired Penman.

CHAP. IV.

JESUS, leaving Nazareth, dwelt at Capernaum, on the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim, that the prophecy of Esaias might be fulfilled, saying, V. 15. The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 16. The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

ISA. Ch. ix. V. 1.-The dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulon and the land of Napthali, and afterwards did more grievously afflict her, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

This prophecy concerning the journeyings of our SAVIOUR was pronounced seven hundred and forty years before his appearance on earth. Our church has appointed this portion of Isaiah for the Lesson of Christmas Day.

CHAP. VIII.

The centurion saith to JESUS, S. LORD, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 10. And Jesus saith, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel. 11. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

MAL. Ch. i. V. 11.-JEHOVAH of hosts saith, From the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith JEHOVAH of hosts.

This prophecy is visibly fulfilling at this day, and has been gradually in progress ever since it was first pronounced. How opposed to the prejudices of the Jews, was this promise of the universal spread of the true religion!

V. 16. Then they brought unto JESUS those possessed of devils and he healed the sick. 17. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses.

ISA. Ch. liii. V. 4.-Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of ELOHIM, and afflicted. 6. JEHOVAH hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

St. Paul clearly explains the above quotation, for he says, in 2 Cor. chap. vi. v. 9, "GOD was in CHRIST, reconciling the world to himself." When we cavil at the abstruseness of the doctrine of the Trinity, we forget that language affords no phraseology whereby we can even attempt to explain the mystery. Let us then call in the aid of humble-mindedness, and, like St. Thomas, when he was subdued and overcome by ocular testimony, exclaim in holy rapture, My LORD and my GOD! For if, in these latter days, we have not any miracle performed for our conviction, we have the irresistible testimony of the Law and the Prophets, and let us then attend to them.

V. 26.-When there was a storm at sea, JEsUs rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Ps. 107. V. 29.-JEHOVAH maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Who but God could calm a raging sea?

CHAP. IX.

V. 13.-JESUS saith, But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

MICAH, Ch. vi. V. 7.-Will JEHOVAH be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression-the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth JEHOVAH require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

If the two quotations above are read, without any pre-conceived notions having been formed, would it not be evident that both Micah and Matthew refer to the same Divine Person?

CHAP. X.

JESUS saith to his disciples, 16. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. 19. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

EXOD. Ch. iv.-JEHOVAH saith to Moses, 12. Go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

CHRIST, in the Gospel, says to his disciples the same thing that JEHOVAH did to Moses upon nearly a similar occasion. Is not this uniformity occasioned by the identity of the Divine Person who addresses the different individuals?

CHAP. XI.

V. 5. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.

up,

ISA. Ch. xxix. V. 13.-ADONI saith, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour

me, but have removed their heart far from me: 14. Therefore, behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people. 18. And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 19. The meek also shall increase their joy in JEHOVAH, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

In these two quotations it appears to me that JESUS CHRIST and ADONI are one and the same Divine Being, and that St. Matthew has done all he could to confirm the fact.

V. 10. This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee.

MAL. Ch. iii. V. 1.—JEHOVAH, GOD of Israel, saith, Behold I will send my Messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.

Here is a personal distinction between Him who sends his messenger and CHRIST, before whom the messenger is sent. But nevertheless the Evangelist and the Prophet are both equally correct and true; for though CHRIST be a different person, yet he is one and the same GOD with the Father. And hence it is that, with the Evangelist, the persons are not confounded, with the Prophet the GODHEAD is not divided.—Rev. W. Jones of Nayland.

V. 13.-JESUS, speaking of St. John saith, All the prophets and the law prophesied until John, 14. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias which was for to come.

MAL. Ch. iv. V. 5.—Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of JEHOVAH.

Here we have the authority of CHRIST himself for saying who St. John metaphorically is; and the consequence that naturally follows is, that the great and terrible day of JEHOVAH was at hand.