Partakers of their Joy in the KINGDOM of their FATHER and our FATHER, of their GOD and our GOD! And, having their hope through their faith, may we cherish in our hearts and exemplify in our Lives their charity; that our Calling and Election to Heavenly Rest, in the Mansions of Eternity, may be made sure through the Merits and Mediation of JESUS, The CHRIST, both GOD and Man, Who, being from Everlasting ONE with The FATHER and The HOLY GHOST, truly Said of Himself, though Born in The World, and of the Seed of Abraham and of David, "Before Abraham was, I am."

Interesting as is the History of David, and fruitful as it is, both in example and precept, of exhortation to walk in That Way Which hath the truest consolations of the Life that is, as well as the sure Promise of That, Which is to Come, there is yet another debt of gratitude, which it behoves us to pay to the memory of this estimable Man; the acknowledgment of the gratification and benefit derived to Christians of all Nations, as well as to Jews, from his literary compositions, which, as Emanating from the cherished Dictates of The HOLY SPIRIT, and Preserved to such distant ages, by DIVINE Love and Mercy, form so interesting a part of That Holy Book, Which is a Light to our feet and a Lantern to our paths,-Which Feedeth All, that hunger and thirst after Righteousness, with the Bread and Water of Eternal Life,-Which Imparteth Solace under affliction, and Bindeth up the wounds of the Broken-hearted,Which Inviteth to the joys of contentment, and the satisfaction of resignation, Making our very duties the second causes of our most substantial delights; and not only Rendering our paths here those of pleasantness and peace, but giving us the unspeakable and inestimable consolation of that Hope, Which is full of a Glorious Immortality. On the character and merit of those Psalms, the commentary of the estimable Dr. Horne, once Bishop of Norwich, may most profitably be consulted. A version of them and Family Prayers from them, by the same pen which wrote the foregoing History, is some proof of the love and admiration entertained for them, and of a veneration for their Authors; for though all are ascribed to David, in consideration of the great share he had in them, many are allowed to have been written by the pens, of Others. Having thus cursorily remarked on the History of Abraham and David, we now enter upon That of HIM, Whom David acknowledged to be his LORD, JESUS CHRIST, The SON of GOD, and SAVIOUR of Man.

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THOUGHTS ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW.

CHAP. i, v. 1.-The Book of the Generation of JESUS CHRIST, The SON of David, The SON of Abraham.

The Scriptural Authorities Prophetical of the occurrence here historically but briefly Recorded, that JESUS, The SON of GOD, when Taking upon Himself our Nature, therein to Become the Propitiation for our sins, and the Reconciliation between our CREATOR and Ourselves, was the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, have been classed and commented upon in detached thoughts on this Passage heading the character and history of both Abraham and David; and wherein the Lives and conduct of Both have, in the outline at least, been taken into consideration, with a view to justify the very prominent Station Allotted to their names as connected with the Gracious and Inestimable Mission of The SON of THE MOST HIGH to Earth.

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his Brethren; and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; and Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; and Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the King; and David the King begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; and Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; and Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; and Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; and Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; and Josias begat Jechonias and his Brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: and after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; and Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Joseph, the Husband of Mary, of whom was Born JESUS, Who is called CHRIST. So all the Generations from Abraham to David are fourteen Generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen Generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto CHRIST are fourteen Generations.-2 to 17.

The Genealogy of our SAVIOUR in an inverted order is thus set forth by the Evangelist St. Luke, And JESUS (as was supposed) was the Son of Joseph, which was the Son of Heli, which was the Son of Matthat, which was the Son of Levi, which was the Son of Melchi, which was the Son of Janna, which was the Son of Joseph, which was the Son of Mattathias, which was the Son of Amos, which was the Son of Naum, which was the Son of Esli, which was the Son of Nagge, which was the Son of Maath, which was the Son of Mattathias, which was the Son of Semei, which was the Son of Joseph, which was the Son of Juda, which was the Son of Joanna, which was the Son of Rhesa, which was the Son of Zorobabel, which was the Son of Salathiel, which was the Son of Neri, which was the Son of Melchi, which was the Son of Addi, which was the Son of Cosam, which was the Son of Elmodam, which was the Son of Er, which was the Son of Jose, which was the Son of Eliezer, which was the Son of Jorim, which was the Son of Matthat, which was the Son of Levi, which was the Son of Simeon, which was the Son of Juda, which was the Son of Joseph, which was the Son of Jonan, which was the Son of Eliakim, which was the Son of Melea, which was the Son of Menan, which was the Son of

Mattatha, which was the Son of Nathan, which was the Son of David, which was the Son of Jesse, which was the Son of Obed, which was the Son of Booz, which was the Son of Salmon, which was the Son of Naasson, which was the Son of Aminadab, which was the Son of Aram, which was the Son of Esrom, which was the Son of Phares, which was the Son of Juda, which was the Son of Jacob, which was the Son of Isaac, which was the Son of Abraham, which was the Son of Thara [in Gen. xi, 24, Terah], which was the Son of Nachor [in Gen. xi, 22, Nahor], which was the Son of Saruch [in Gen. xi, 20, Serug], which was the Son of Ragau [in Gen. xi, 18, Reu], which was the Son of Phalec [in Gen. xi, 16, Peleg], which was the Son of Heber [in Gen. xi, 14, Eber], which was the Son of Sala [in Gen. xi, 12, Salah, and there stated as the Son of Arphaxad], which was the Son of Cainan [not mentioned in Genesis xi, 12], which was the Son of Arphaxad, which was the Son of Sem [in Gen. v, 32, Shem which was the Son of Noe [in Gen. v, 29, Noah], which was the Son of Lamech, which was the Son of Mathusala [in Gen. v, 21, Methuselah], which was the Son of Enoch, which was the Son of Jared, which was the Son of Maleleel [in Gen. v, 12, Mahalaleel], which was the Son of Cainan, which was the Son of Enos, which was the Son of Seth, which was the Son of Adam, which was the Son of GOD.— Luke iii, 23 to 38.

St. Matthew has omitted the line of descent from Adam to Abraham. St. Luke's description of it accords with only one exception (which may be accounted for by the Grandson succeeding the Grandfather from the intermediate death of the Father) with the history given of it by Moses in the Book of Genesis. In the continuation of the descent from Abraham to David (the principal Characters in the History, and from Whom especially the Promised Blessing of The MESSIAH was expressly to Proceed), Both the Evangelists are in exact conformity with each Other. From David downwards there is an obvious difference between these two Writers, the One deducing the descent through Solomon, as one Son of David, the Other through Nathan, another of David's Offspring: though Both Evangelists agree that JESUS was born of the Virgin Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, Both of whom were admissively of the Tribe of Judah. It is not improbable that the one descent was that of Mary, the other of Joseph. Neither St. Mark, nor St. John, enter so minutely into our SAVIOUR'S Lineage. St. Mark's object seems prominently to insist on The DIVINITY of His Nature, as The SON of GOD. In detailing the infidelity of the Jews, he records them to have thus spoken of Him, when expressing their surprise at His Pre-eminent wisdom and Power, "Is not This the Carpenter, the Son of Mary, the Brother of James, and Joses and of Judah and Simon? and are not His Sisters here with us!"-vi, 3. The same Apostle, in his narrative of blind Bartimeus's restoration to sight, tells us that the Latter, when addressing our SAVIOUR in the hearing of a Multitude around, said, “JESUS, Thou Son of David, Have Mercy on me!"-x, 47; and again, in the account of the triumphant Entry of The Meek and Lowly JESUS into Jerusalem, the Evangelist relates, that the People shouted, "Blessed be the Kingdom of our Father David, That Cometh in The Name of THE LORD! Hosannah in The HIGHEST!”– xi, 10; and in relating a Speech of our SAVIOUR Himself, When he was Teaching in the Temple, he reports Him to have thus Questioned His Hearers, How say the Scribes," That CHRIST is the Son of David?" for David himself said by The HOLY GHOST, “THE LORD Said to my LORD, Sit Thou on My Right Hand, till I Make Thine Enemies Thy Footstool!" David therefore himself calleth Him LORD; and whence is He then his Son ?-xii, 35 to 37. Not thereby denying His Descent from David in the flesh as Man, which even His most bitter Enemies acknowledged, but intimating that His Higher and

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Spiritual NATURE was from GOD, and was VERY GOD. St. John too only cursorily and incidentally alludes to the temporal Birth of CHRIST JESUS, as Man. In stating the first accession of the Apostles to the belief in JESUS, as The CHRIST, he relates that Philip finding Nathanael, said unto him, "We have found Him, of Whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, JESUS of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph."-John i, 45. The same Apostle speaks of the Mother of JESUS, and of the part she took, in his narrative of the First Miracle Effected by our SAVIOUR on the marriage in Cana of Galilee.—ii, 1; and in a similar narrative to St. Mark, when recounting the murmurings of the Jews at CHRIST'S Assertion of His being The SON of GOD, he also represents them to have put the questions, Is not This Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose Father and Mother we know? how is it then that he saith, "I came down from Heaven ?” -vi, 42; and in detailing the distressing Events of our Blessed SAVIOUR'S Crucifixion, the Apostle thus describes JESUS Himself as Acknowledging His Mother: Now there stood by the Cross of JESUS His Mother, and His Mother's Sister, Mary the Wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When JESUS therefore Saw His Mother, and the Disciple standing by, whom He Loved, He Saith unto His Mother, "Woman, behold thy Son!" Then Saith He to the Disciple, Behold thy Mother!" And from that hour that Disciple took her unto his own home.-John xix. 25 to 27.

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Now the Birth of JESUS CHRIST was on this wise: When as His Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together She was found with Child of The HOLY GHOST, Then Joseph, her Husband, being a just Man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the Angel of The LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou Son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy Wife! for That, Which is Conceived in her, is of The HOLY GHOST: and She shall bring forth a SON, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS; for He shall Save His People from their sins Now All This was Done that it might be Fulfilled Which was Spoken of The LORD by the Prophet, saying, "Behold, a Virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a SON, and they shall call His Name EMMANUEL; Which, being interpreted, is, GOD with us." Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the Angel of The LORD had bidden him, and took unto him his Wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth her First Born SON; and he called His Name JESUS. -18 to 25.

In the relation of our SAVIOUR'S Birth and the circumstances attending it, St. Luke is even more minute; and he prefaces his account with that of the Miraculous conception and birth of John the Baptist, the Forerunner of JESUS; and who, by DIVINE Appointment, was specially Chosen to prepare The SAVIOUR'S Way before Him; and thus, in the most express terms, does the Evangelist insist upon that his History as true and essential to be believed. Forasmuch (he writes) as Many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of Those Things, Which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered Them unto us, which from the beginning were Eye-Witnesses, and Ministers of the Word; it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of All Things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of Those Things, Wherein thou hast been instructed. There was, in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the Course of Abia; and his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were Both righteous before GOD, walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of The LORD blameless: and they had no Child, because that Elisabeth was barren; and they Both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the Priest's office before GOD in the order of his Course, according to the custom of the Priest's office, his lot was

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to burn incense, when he went into the Temple of The LORD. And the whole multitude of the People were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an Angel of The LORD standing on the right side of the Altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him: but the Angel said unto him, "Fear not, Zacharias! for thy prayer is Heard, and thy Wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a Son, and thou shalt call his name John: and thou shalt have joy and gladness: and Many shall rejoice at his birth; for he shall be Great in the Sight of The LORD; and shall drink neither wine, nor strong drink; and he shall be Filled with The HOLY GHOST, even from his Mother's womb and Many of the Children of Israel shall he turn to The LORD, their GOD. And he shall go before Him in the Spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the Disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just; to make ready a People prepared for The LORD." And Zacharias said unto the Angel," Whereby shall I know This? for I am an old Man, and my Wife well stricken in years." And the Angel answering, said unto him, “I am Gabriel, that stand in the Presence of GOD, and am Sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee These Glad Tidings: and, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that These Things shall be Performed; because thou believest not my Words, which shall be Fulfilled in their Season." And the People waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the Temple; and when he came out, he could not speak unto them; and they perceived that he had seen a Vision in the Temple; for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his administration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his Wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, “ Thus hath The LORD Dealt with me in the days wherein He Looked on me to Take away my reproach among Men." And in the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was Sent from GOD unto a City of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a Man, whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the Virgin's name was Mary; and the Angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail, thou, that art Highly Favoured; The LORD is with thee; Blessed art thou among Women!" And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of Salutation This should be? And the Angel said unto her, Fear not Mary! for Thou hast found Favour with GOD: and, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a SON, and shalt call His Name JESUS: He shall be Great, and shall be Called The SON of THE HIGHEST; and The LORD GOD shall Give unto Him the Throne of His Father David; and He shall Reign over the House of Jacob for Ever: and of His KINGDOM there shall be no end." Then said Mary unto the Angel, “How shall This be, seeing I know not a Man?" And the Angel answered, and said unto her, "The HOLY GHOST shall Come upon thee, and The Power of The HIGHEST shall Overshadow thee: therefore also That Holy Thing, Which shall be Born of Thee, shall be Called The SON of GOD.' And, behold, thy Cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a Son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren: for with GOD Nothing shall be Impossible.” And Mary said, "Behold the Hand-Maid of The LORD: Be it unto me according to thy Word!" And the Angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the Hill Country with haste, into a City of Juda, and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth; and it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the Babe leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was Filled with The HOLY GHOST, and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed art thou among Women, and Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb! And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my LORD should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the Babe

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