Page images
PDF
EPUB

"A Prophet fhall the LORD your God "raife up unto you-every foul that "will not hear that Prophet, fhall be

[ocr errors]

deftroyed from among the people." In vain had all the prophets from Samuel, and thofe that followed after, foretold of the promised Meffiah. They heard not Mofes and the prophets-neither were they perfuaded, though one rofe from the dead.

XC.

CHRIST'S ENTRY

INTO

JERUSALEM.

NEVER did our Saviour take fo much state upon him, as now, when he was going towards his paffion. Other journies he undertook without pomp or dignity-this with numerous attendance, and loud acclamation. Yet even here, O Lord, thou didft blend thine accuftomed humility with thy triumphsThou, whofe chariots are twenty thoufand, even thousands of angels, (that the fcripture might be fulfilled) wouldst, even in this thy royal progrefs, demonftrate thy contempt of worldly magnificence" Rejoice greatly, O daughter "of Zion-fhout, O daughter of Jeru"falem

[ocr errors]

falem-behold, thy KING cometh to "thee-he is juft, and having falvation-lowly, and riding upon an ass, "and upon a colt the foal of an afs." O bleffed Lord, thou, who wert indeed the King of Ifrael, wouldft be proclaimed fo-but in the very moment of thy afferting thy, juft pretenfions, thou wouldst make it appear, that thy kingdom was not of this world—that the glories on which the affections of mankind are wont to dwell fo fondly, were held by thee in their due estimation. The multitude alone are thine attendants-their homely garments, their green boughs, are fpread in the way before thee-they exclaim with fhouts of joy, "Hofannah to the Son of David"bleffed is He that cometh in the name "of the LORD!"

WHERE are now the scribes and Pharifees? Where are the great rulers of the fynagogue, who had declared that

who

whofoever confeffed that JESUS was the CHRIST, fhould be punished with inftant excommunication. Behold here the bold and undaunted clients of the Meffiah, who bare witnefs to him, in the presence of all their brethren, at the gate of the royal city. In vain fhall the adverfaries of CHRIST attempt to fupprefs his glory. Sooner fhall they veil the face of the fun from fhining on the world, than withhold the beams of his divine truth, by their envious oppofition, from the eyes and hearts of his people. In spite of all Jewish malignity, his kingdom is confeffed, is applauded, is bleffed.

O THOU that art fairer than the children of men, in thy majefty ride profperously, because of truth, and meeknefs, and righteoufnefs. Full of grace are thy lips, because GOD hath bleffed thee for ever!

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

THUS proclaimed, thus accompanied, our Saviour enters into the city of Jerufalem-Jerufalem, noted of old as the refidence of kings, of priests, of prophets. Of kings, for there was the throne of David—of priests, for there was the Temple-of prophets, for there they delivered their oracles, and shed their blood. Thither would JESUS come in his three-fold character as King, as Priest, as Prophet. Acknowleged with hofannahs as a King-teaching the people, and foretelling the deftruction of their city, as a Prophet-and, as a Prieft, taking poffeffion of his temple, and vindicating it from the foul profanations of Jewish facrilege. Often had he repaired to Jerufalem without alarming his enemies, because without femany blance of state-now, when he gives fome little glimpse of his royalty," all the city is moved." When the eastern fages brought the firft notice of the

« PreviousContinue »