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HE HATH SHEWED THEE, O MAN, WHAT IS GOOD; AND WHAT DOTH THE LORD REQUIRE OF THEE,

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SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 3. Jordan-(river of judgment ')-see Section viii., Mt. iii. 13. p. 58.

4. baptism of repentance for the, &c.- not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,' 1 Pe. iii. 21; Mi. vi. 8 -the goodness of God should lead to repentance, Rom. ii. 4; Tit. ii. 11-4 we love him, because he first loved us,' 1 Jno. iv. 19.

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Mt. iii. 2. repent ye-let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,' Is. 1v. 7 -turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?' Eze. xxxiii. 11-Jesus preached, Mk. i. 15, § 16-preached by the twelve, vi. 12, § 39-joy in heaven over such as repent, Lu. xv. 7, 10, § 6-repentance to be preached to all nations, xxiv. 47, §98; Ac. ii. 38; iii. 19; xvii. 30; xxvi. 20. NOTES. of the priests in it; and the road from Jerusalem to that city and to Peræa, especially near the time of the passover, was frequented by multitudes. The wildernesses of Canaan were not without towns, nor cities, so called, but they were districts. little cultivated and thinly inhabited. In the time of Joshua, there were six cities, in what was called the wilderness. In the wilderness, Beth-urabah, Middin, and Secacah, and Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages,' Jos. xv. 61, .2-See ADDENDA, p. 56, On the Ministry of John the Baptist.'

account of their sins. Baptism, or the application of water, was a rite well known to the Jews, and prac tised when they admitted proselytes to their religion from heathenism. It was believed, that the administration of this rite would form part of the office of the Messiah. John's parents were Zacharias and Elisabeth, and he was born about six months before our blessed Lord. Of his almost miraculous conception and birth, we have a circumstantial account in the gospel of St. Luke, ch. i.-See pp. 2-6, 15-.9. For his fidelity in reproving Herod, he was cast into prison, no doubt on the suggestion of Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother. He was at last beheaded at her instigation, and his head given as a present to Salome, her daughter, who by her dancing had greatly pleased Herod. See Sect. 40. His ministry was about six months' duration.

Mt. iii. 1. In those days. This phrase is here used with great propriety, as John did indeed appear under his public character, while Christ continued to dwell at Nazareth; which was the event that Matthew last mentioned.

Came · preaching. npboov, proclaiming as a herald. It signifies, to proclaim as a herald and common crier; to publicly teach, viva voce, i. e. to preach. And is applied to those, who in the streets, fields, and open air, lift up their voice, that they may be heard by many, while they proclaim what has been committed to them by regal or public authority: as the KERUKES among the Greeks, and PRECONES among the Romans. John made procla mation of the speedy coming of the Messiah.

[Lu. iii. 3. The baptism of repentance. Repentance, or change of mind-so to see all our unprofitableness towards God, the ingratitude of idolizing the world, and folly of seeking our portion among the things that perish, as that our minds and purposes are changed: ashamed of ourselves, and grieved for our sins, we place all our dependence for forgiveness upon God, through the merits of Christ, and seek to live altogether unto the praise of the glory of his grace, having a good hope, through grace, of the coming and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism denotes washing in general, Mk. vii. 8; but the washing of persons in token of dedication to God, is peculiarly so called. Possibly this rite commenced immediately after the flood. Jacob and his family washed themselves before they approached to God at Bethel, Ge. xxxv. 2. The Hebrews washed themselves before they entered into covenant with God at Sinai, Ex. xix. 14. Aaron and his sons washed their clothes before their consecration to the priesthood, Ex. xxix. 4.] Mt. iii. 2. Repent ye.-See Baptism of Repentance,' above. In the time of John, the nation had become extremely wicked and corrupt, perhaps more so than at any preceding period. Hence, both he and Christ began their ministry by calling to repentance. Kingdom of heaven. [An expression peculiar to St. Matthew; the other evangelists calling the same glorious object of our hope, the kingdom of God. This latter expression seems to refer to the strength or power of our Lord's coming kingdom, which shall break in pieces every opposing power, and itself stand for ever. Whereas the expression used by St. Matthew may refer more to the light and glory of the same blessed reign of righteousness and peace; which shall be over all the earth, under the whole heaven.] PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. to seek to be cleansed from our sins, and to obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost through faith.]

In the wilderness. iphos, Hebrew 7: means any uncultivated and generally mountainous country: sometimes, totally dry and barren; often, flourishing and fruitful in wood and herbage; better fitted for pasture than for tilling, like the steppes of Asia, the llanos of South America, the sheep walks of Spain, and the extensive commons lately existing in our own country.-Comp. Ps. lxv. 13; Je. ix. 10; Joel i. 20. It is probable that John first began to preach, or proclaim, the baptism of repentance in the towns as well as in the rural districts belonging to the ity of Hebron, and then toward Jordan near Jericho. This tract was sufficiently desert, yet had a great resort of people, and was near large cities; for Jericho had ten thousand men of the courses

Mk. i. 1. The message which God was pleased to send respecting his Son Jesus Christ is to be regarded as good news.

3 ver. Let us take warning from the case of the highly-favoured Jews, so as rightly to employ the far more abundant means we possess for preparing the way of the Lord.

Lu. iii. 1, 2. There were abundance of rulers and high priests in the days when John commenced his ministry; but it is not said that he received his commission from any of them; he had a higher authority, the Word of God came to him.'

[Mk. i. 1-3. Seeing God has been pleased to declare the free remission of sins through the Lamb of God who hath taken them away, it becomes us to repent-to have no longer hard thoughts of God, but

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that which is presented to our faith-The Lamb of Mt. iii. 2. We should repent, not only because of God; but because of that which is presented to our hope-The kingdom of heaven.

That

[The kingdom of heaven, although it was distant as to its fulness of outward development upon earth, has been at hand as to every individual saint. terminated; but let us hope that it may soon be conwhich had a beginning in John's preaching is not literally making of the crooked straight, and the summated, now that such means are provided for the rough ways plain, that a rapid intercommunion of vation of God.] all nations may take place, and all flesh see the sal

HEAR, AND YOUR SOUL SHALL LIVE.-Isaiah lv. 3.

BUT TO DO JUSTLY, AND TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD?-Micah vi. 8.

4. BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE, &c.:-1 Pe. iii. 21, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.'-Mi. vi. 8, He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God ?

the goodness of God should lead to repentance:-Rom. ii. 4, Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?'-Tit. ii. 11-4. 11, 'For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.'-1 Jno. iv. 19, We love him, because he first loved us.'

Mt. iii. 2. REPENT YE:-Is. lv. 7, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.'-Eze. xxxiii. 11, 'Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

Jesus preached:-Mk. i. 15, $ 16, p. 108. preached by the twelve:-Mk. vi. 12. § 39.

joy in heaven over such as repent:-Lu. xv. 7, 10, § 68. repentance to be preached among all nations:-Lu. xxiv. 47, § 98.-Ac. ii. 38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'-iii. 19, Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.'-xvii. 30, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.'-xxvi. 20, But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance."

NOTES.

Mt. iii. 1. IN THE WILDERNESS. compare Ps. lxv. 13, The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.'-Je. ix. 10, For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.'-Joel i. 20, The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.' Lu. iii. 3. THE BAPTISM OF REFENTANCE. Jacob and his family, &c.:-Ge. xxxv. 2, Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments.'

the Hebrews washed themselves, &c. :-Ex. xix. 14, And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.'

Aaron and his sons washed, &c. :-Ex. xxix. 4, And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water."

PSALM XCVIII. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things : his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the 3 heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the 4 earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud 5 noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of 6 a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make 7 a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they 8 that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: 9 let the hills be joyful together before the LORD;

for he cometh to judge the earth with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

PSALM LXXXIX. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known 2 thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness 3 shalt thou establish in the very heavens. 1 have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto 4 David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. 5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. 6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be 7 likened unto the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in re8 verence of all them that are about him. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to 9 thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou 10 stillest them. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies 11 with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness 12 thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon 13 shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm: 14 strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: 15 mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall 16 walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy 17 righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our 18 horn shall be exalted. For the LORD is our defence; 19 and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty: I have exalted one 20 chosen out of the people. I have found David my 21 servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: with whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also 22 shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and 24 plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall 25 his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the 26 sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry. unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock 27 of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, 28 higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will f 29 stand fast with him. keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my 31 judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not 32 my commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will 1 not utterly take 34 from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My cove

nant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone 35 out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness 36 that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure It 37 for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. 38 faithful witness in heaven. shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a Selah. But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with Thou hast made void the covenant 39 thine anointed. of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by cast40 ing it to the ground. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin. 41 All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach 42 to his neighbours. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to 43 rejoice. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, 44 and hast not made him to stand in the battle. Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down 45 to the ground. The days of his youth hast thou shortened : thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. 46 How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? 47 shall thy wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is wherefore hast thou made all men in 48 vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the 49 grave? Selah. Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy 50 truth? Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy serv ants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all 51 the mighty people; wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached 52 the footsteps of thine anointed. Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

3. BY THE PROPHET:-IS. xl. 3-5. 3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5, and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.'

see Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite. compare with Is. i. 25-.7. 25,And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: 26, and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27, Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.'

see also Is. Ivii. 14, And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.'

Lu. iii. 5. EVERY VALLEY, &c.

literally, as:-Is. xlix. 11, And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.' figuratively, as:-Is. ii. 11, The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.'--xlii. 16, And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.'-He. xii. 13, And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.'

6. ALL FLESH SHALL SEE, &c. :-Is. xl. 5-see ver. 3. all the ends of the earth:-Is. lii. 10, The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.'-Joel ii. 28, And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.'-Mal. i. 11, For 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 the LORD of hosts.'

Mt. iii. 4. RAIMENT OF CAMEL'S HAIR, &c.

so Elijah:-2 Ki. i. 8, And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tish bite.'

referred to by our Lord:-Mt. xi. 8, § 29.

see as to the two witnesses:-Rev. xi. 3, And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in

sackcloth,'

LOCUSTS.

allowed by the law:-Le. xi. 22, Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.'

wild honey:-1 Sa. xiv. 24-7. 24, And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. 25, And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. 26, And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. 27, But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.'

NOTES.

HIS MEAT WAS LOCUSTS.

one of the plagues of Egypt :-Ex. x. 12, And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left."

see Joel i. 4, That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.'-Is.

xxxii. 4, 5. 4, And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them. 5, The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.'

WILD HONEY.

a land flowing with milk and honey:-Ex. iii. 8, 17. 8, And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites." 17, And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.'-xiii. 5, And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this

month.'

found by Samson :-Ju. xiv. 8, 9. 8, And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9, And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.' wood honey:-see above, WILD HONEY.'

PROVERBS VIII. Doth not wisdom cry? and un2 derstanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the 3 paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the 4 city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, 5 I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an 6 understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be 7 right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and 8 wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is no9 thing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them 10 that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things 12 that may be desired are not to be compared to it. wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge 13 of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the 14 froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16, By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the 17 earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek 18 me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with 19 me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my re20 venue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righte21 ousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that 22 and I will fill their treasures. The LORD possessed I may cause those that love me to inherit substance;

I

me in the beginning of his way, before his works of 23 old. I was set up from everlasting, from the begin

24 ning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no 25 fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought 26 forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the 27 world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: eg when he established the clouds above: when he when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 29 strengthened the fountains of the deep: when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the 30 foundations of the earth: then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, 31 rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habit32 sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye able part of his earth; and my delights were with the

children for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 31 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily 35 at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour 36 of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

HAVING FOOD AND RAIMENT LET US BE THERE WITH CONTENT.-1 Tim. vi. 8.

MATT. ii. 3, 4.

3 For this is be-that was-spokenof by the prophet Esaias, saying, The-voice of-one-crying in the wilderness, Prepare-ye the way of-the-Lord, make his paths straight.'

4 And the-same John had

his raiment of camel's hair,
and a-leathern girdle
about his loins; and
his meat was locusts
and wild honey.

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As it-is-written in the-book of-the-words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The-voice of-one-crying in the wilderness, Prepare-ye the way of-the-Lord, make his paths straight.

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Every valley shall-be-filled, and 5 every mountain and hill shall-bebrought - low ταπεινωθήσεται ; and the crooked shall-be-made eσTai eis evdetav straight, and the rough ways shall be-made-smooth;

And all flesh shall-see the salva- 6

[Ver. 5, p. 52.] tion σwinpov of God.'
And John was

clothed-with camel's hair,

and with a-girdle of-a-skin
about his loins; and
he-did-eat locusts

and wild honey. [For i. 7, see p. 54.]

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

3. by the prophet, Is. xl. 3-5-promised to his father, Lu. i. 16, .7, § 1, p. 4-and spoken of by him, ver. 76, § 3, p. 18-the Baptist, Jno. i. 23-the mission not completed until the restoration; spoken by Jesus at the transfiguration, Mt. xvii. 11, § 51-comp. with Is. i. 25-.7-see also ch. lvii. 14.

Lu. iii. 5. every valley, &c.-literally, as Is. xlix. 11-figuratively, as Is. ii. 11; xlii. 16; He. xii. 13.

6. all flesh shall see, Is. xl. 5-all the ends of the earth,' lii. 10-I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,' Joel ii. 28-see also Mal. i. II. Mt. iii. 4. raiment of camel's hair, &c.-so Elijah, 2 Ki. i. 8-referred to by our Lord, Mt. xi. 8, § 29see as to the two witnesses, Rev. xi. 3.

locusts, &c.--allowed by the law, Le. xi. 22. wild honey, i Sa. xiv. 25, .7.

NOTES.

It is the object of hope presented to us; not merely in the prophets and the gospels, but also in the Acts, epistles, and the Apocalypse. The promised kingdom of God, in which the saints shall reign with Christ, is one of the grand motives to godliness. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,' 2 Pe. i. 4. We are saved,' or delivered from the influence of the present evil world, by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope,' Rom. viii. 21. It is still matter of promise, and is a motive to repentance, as in the days of John, and the ministry of our Lord and his apostles: all of whom preached the sante good news or glad tidings, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

3. Spoken of by the prophet. The ministry of John fulfilled the prophecy, Is. xl. 3-5. John was a voice,' which conveys the mind of the speaker, and theu vanishes: he declared the mind of God concerning his Son, and then was seen no more; for his ministry was of short continuance.

Of one crying. Or, of a crier;' one proclaiming. -See Note,' p. 50, Came preaching. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. The office of John the Baptist was to prepare the way for the Redeemer by removing difficulties, & counteracting prejudices. Lu. iii. 6. All flesh, &c. Persons of all nations should know and enjoy that great and glorious salvation which God was then bringing into the world by Jesus Christ.

Mt. iii. 4. His raiment of camel's hair. A sort of course or rough covering, which it appears was common to the prophets, 2 Ki. i. 8; and was made of the long and shaggy hair of camels. In the East there is a coarse kind of stuff manufactured, which was anciently worn by monks and anchorets. Such garments are still worn in the East by the poor, and such as affect austerity of life. Camel's hair is also made into fine and luxurious clothing for the rich.

Leathern girdles. The austerity consisted in the materials: for otherwise these girdles formed a regular part of the dress, and were of linen, silk, or even of silver, and sometimes gold. Such the Orientals

now wear. Its uses are to keep the lower garments fast to the loins, to strengthen the body, and to command respect. Chiefs have numerous folds of muslin round their loins, and they march along with great pomp, thus enlarged in their size.-See Sect. 63, Let your loins be girded about.'-Lu. xii. 25.

His meat was locusts. His food. These were the vilest of the people used to eat them; and the fact food of the common people among the Greeks; the that John made his food of them is significant of his Iowed to eat them, Le. xi. 22. They are at this day great poverty and humble life. The Jews were aleaten in many parts of Asia. When sprinkled with salt and fried, they are not unlike our fresh water craw fish in taste. The Arabs salt them, and eat them as a delicacy. The Hottentots look for their arrival among them with anticipations of a great feast. Locusts are flying insects, and are of various kinds. The green locusts are about two inches in length, and about the thickness of a man's finger. The common brown locust is about three inches long. The general form and appearance of the locust is not unlike the grasshopper. They were one of the plagues of Egypt, Ex. x. 12. In eastern countries they are very numerous. They appear in such quantities as to darken the sky, and devour in time every green thing. The whole earth is sometimes covered with them for many leagues, Joel i. 4; Is. xxxiii. 4, 5. They are sometimes dried and salted, or ground into a kind of cake, &c.-See page opposite. found in the rocks of the wilderness. Palestine was Wild honey. This was probably the honey that is often called a land flowing with milk and honey,' Ex. iii. 8, 17; xiii. 5. Bees were kept with great care; and great numbers of them abounded in the fissures of trees and the clefts of rocks.-See also Ju. xiv. 8. There is also a species of honey called wild honey, or wood-honey, (1 Sa. xiv. 26,) or honey-dew, produced by certain little insects, and deposited on the leaves of trees, which frequently flows from them in great quantities to the ground.-See 1 Sa. xiv. 24-.7. This is said to be produced still in Arabia. In Arabia, the honey of bees is drunk with water, and forms a common beverage among the Arabs.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

3 ver. Soon also may every obstruction be removed | from the minds of men, and all be made willing to spread abroad the message of salvation.

4 ver. Those who give themselves more immedi

short

ately to the service of God for the good of man should not seek great things for themselves; but, like John, be examples of the self-denial and benevolence they require in others.

GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.-1 Tim. vi. 6.

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FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, MEEKNESS.-1 Tim. vi. 11.

BE THAT OUTERETH HIS SINS SHALL NOT PROSPER: BUT

(G. 3.) The multitudes resort to the baptism of John: the Pharisees and Sadducees are reproved by him: the common people, the publicans, the soldiers, are each instructed by hum in their proper duty.-At Bethabara, East of Jericho.

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MARGINAL READINGS:- Answerable to amendment of life. + Meet for.
SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Mk. 1.5. conf. their sins-he that confesseth and formaketh shall have mercy, Pr. xxviii. 13-so Job, xxxiii. 7. N Pa. xxxii. D; 1Jno. i. 8, 9-spoken of Israel, Lo. xxvi. 40 2; ls. Ixiv. 5-9; Ho. v. 15-call thereto, Joel 11. 12 8-exemplified, Da. ix. 9-23-and in the returning prodigal, Lu. xv. 18-23, § 68.

Me. 11. 7. Pharisees-self-righteous, Lu. xviii. 10-.2, #73 formalista, vi. 6 11, $25; xi. 39-41, § 62-hypoorites, xil. 1, #63-covetous, xvi. 14, § 69-did their works to be seen of men, Mt. xxiii. 1-7, § 85.

Sadducees said there is no resurrection, Mt. xxii. 21, #5 neither angel nor spirit, Ac. xxiii. 8-they and the Pharisees were unbelievers in the signs given

7

8

of God, Mt. xvi. 1-4, § 47-the disciples of Jesus to beware of their doctrine, ver. 5-12, § 48.

Lu. iii. 7. generation of vipers, Mt. xii. 34, § 31; xxiii. 32, § 85-seed of the serpent predicted, Ge. iii. 15-children of the wicked one, Mt. xiii. 38, § 33-of the devil, 1 Jno. iii. 8, 10.

washing, as in baptism, wash you, make you clean, 8. fruits worthy of repentance-represented by &c., Is. i. 16-clearing of yourselves, 2 Co. vii. 10, .1 amend your ways, Je. vii. 3-works meet for repentance, Ac. xxvi. 20-exemplified in the first son, Mt. xxi. 28, .9, § 84.

NOTES.

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WHOSO CONFESSETH AND FORSAKETH THEM SHALL HAVE MERCY.-Prov. xxviii. 13.

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