Reference: Christianity
Fausets
(See JESUS CHRIST.) The law and Mosaic system, though distinct from the gospel, yet clearly contemplates the new dispensation as that for which itself was the preparation. The original promise to Abraham, "in thee ... and thy seed ... shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Ge 12:3; 22:16), still awaited its fulfillment, and the law came in as the parenthesis between the promise of grace and its fulfillment in Christ the promised "seed." Ro 5:20; "the law entered (as a parenthesis, incidentally, Greek) that the offense might abound." Ga 3:8-25; "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but after that, faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
Jacob's prophecy contemplated the theocratic scepter passing from Judah, when Shiloh should come as the gatherer of the peoples to Himself (Ge 49:10). Many psalms (as Psalm 2; Psalm 72; Psalm 22; Psalm 67) and all the prophets (compare Isaiah 2; Isaiah 53) look forward to the Messiah as about to introduce a new and worldwide dispensation. Nay, even Moses himself (De 18:15, etc.) announces the coming of another Lawgiver like him, about to promulgate God's new law; for to be like Moses He must be a lawgiver, and to be so He must have a new law, a fuller development of God's will, than Moses' law, its germ. Psalm 110 declared that His priesthood should be one "forever, after the order of Melchizeded" (the king of righteousness and king of peace), to which the Levitical priesthood did homage in the person of Abraham their ancestor, paying tithes to Melchizedek (compare Hebrew 6-7).
The law was the type; the gospel was the antitype (Heb 10:1-10). Christ came not to destroy it (i.e. its essence) but to fulfill (complete) it (Mt 5:17). The letter gives place to the spirit which realizes the end of the letter (2Co 3:3-18). As also Jeremiah foretells (Jer 31:31-34; compare Heb 8:4-13; 10:15-18). If Christianity had not been of God, it could never have prevailed, without human might or learning, to supersede the system of the mightiest and most civilized nations (1 Corinthians 1-2). Its miracles, its fulfillment of all prophecy, and its complete adaptation to meet man's deep spiritual needs, pardon, peace, holiness, life, immortality for soul and body, are the only reasonable account to be given of its success.
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And I will bless those that bless thee and curse those that curse thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
And I will bless those that bless thee and curse those that curse thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
and said, By myself I have sworn, said the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son;
and said, By myself I have sworn, said the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son;
The sceptre shall not be taken from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh comes; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
The sceptre shall not be taken from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh comes; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken,
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken,
Behold, the days come, said the LORD, in which I will make a new covenant with the house of Jacob and with the house of Judah:
Behold, the days come, said the LORD, in which I will make a new covenant with the house of Jacob and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt because they invalidated my covenant although I was a husband unto them, said the LORD;
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt because they invalidated my covenant although I was a husband unto them, said the LORD; But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the LORD, I will give my law in their souls and write it in their hearts and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the LORD, I will give my law in their souls and write it in their hearts and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall no longer teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, said the LORD, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
And they shall no longer teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, said the LORD, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Think not that I am come to undo the law or the prophets; I am not come to undo, but to fulfil.
Think not that I am come to undo the law or the prophets; I am not come to undo, but to fulfil.
Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,
Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust we have through the Christ towards God:
And such trust we have through the Christ towards God: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God,
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, who also has made us able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
who also has made us able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death in the letter engraved in stones was glorious, so that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to fade away,
But if the ministry of death in the letter engraved in stones was glorious, so that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to fade away, How shall not the ministry of the Spirit be for greater glory?
How shall not the ministry of the Spirit be for greater glory? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, much more shall the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.
For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, much more shall the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For even that which was so glorious had no glory in this respect, in comparison with the glory that excels.
For even that which was so glorious had no glory in this respect, in comparison with the glory that excels. For if that which fades away was glorious, much more shall that which remains be glorious.
For if that which fades away was glorious, much more shall that which remains be glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we speak with great confidence,
Seeing then that we have such hope, we speak with great confidence, And not as Moses, who put a veil over his face, that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that glory which was to fade away:
And not as Moses, who put a veil over his face, that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that glory which was to fade away: (And thus their senses became hardened, for until this day remains the same veil not uncovered in the reading of the old testament, which veil is taken away in Christ.
(And thus their senses became hardened, for until this day remains the same veil not uncovered in the reading of the old testament, which veil is taken away in Christ. But even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
But even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when they convert to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.)
Nevertheless when they convert to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.) For the Lord is the Spirit, and where that Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
For the Lord is the Spirit, and where that Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Therefore we all, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord with uncovered face, are transformed from glory to glory into the same likeness, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Therefore we all, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord with uncovered face, are transformed from glory to glory into the same likeness, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles through faith, evangelized Abraham in advance, saying, In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed.
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles through faith, evangelized Abraham in advance, saying, In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed. So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident, for The just shall live by faith.
But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident, for The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith, but The man that does the commandments shall live by them.
And the law is not of faith, but The man that does the commandments shall live by them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, (for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree),
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, (for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree), That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, (I speak after the manner of men) Even when a covenant is of man, once it is confirmed, no one cancels it or adds to it.
Brethren, (I speak after the manner of men) Even when a covenant is of man, once it is confirmed, no one cancels it or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He did not say, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He did not say, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say that regarding the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot cancel it, that it should make the promise of no effect.
And this I say that regarding the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot cancel it, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. For what then serves the law? It was added because of rebellions until the seed should come to whom the promise was made, and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
For what then serves the law? It was added because of rebellions until the seed should come to whom the promise was made, and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? No, in no wise, for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Is the law then against the promises of God? No, in no wise, for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture has concluded all under sin that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to the believers.
But the scripture has concluded all under sin that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to the believers. But before faith came, we were under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
But before faith came, we were under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But when faith is come, we are no longer under the hand of the schoolmaster.
For if he were on earth, he should not even be a priest, being present still the other priests that offer gifts according to the law,
For if he were on earth, he should not even be a priest, being present still the other priests that offer gifts according to the law, (who serve as an example and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed unto thee in the mount);
(who serve as an example and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed unto thee in the mount); but now a more excellent ministry is his, in that he is the mediator of a better testament, which was established upon better promises.
but now a more excellent ministry is his, in that he is the mediator of a better testament, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place should have been sought for the second.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place should have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he said, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new testament with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
For finding fault with them, he said, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new testament with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the testament that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my testament, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
not according to the testament that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my testament, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the testament that I will ordain to the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my laws into their soul and write them upon their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
For this is the testament that I will ordain to the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my laws into their soul and write them upon their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: and no one shall teach his neighbour nor anyone his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
and no one shall teach his neighbour nor anyone his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will reconcile their iniquities and their sins, and their iniquities I will remember no more.
For I will reconcile their iniquities and their sins, and their iniquities I will remember no more. In that he says, New, he has made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.
In that he says, New, he has made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never make perfect those who come by the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never make perfect those who come by the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually. Otherwise, they would cease to offer them, because those that sacrifice, once purged, would have no more conscience of sin.
Otherwise, they would cease to offer them, because those that sacrifice, once purged, would have no more conscience of sin. But in these sacrifices each year the same remembrance of sins is made.
But in these sacrifices each year the same remembrance of sins is made. For the blood of bulls and of goats cannot take away sins.
For the blood of bulls and of goats cannot take away sins. Therefore when he came into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire, but a body hast thou prepared me;
Therefore when he came into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire, but a body hast thou prepared me; in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Behold, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God.
Then said I, Behold, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou dost not desire, neither hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law;
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou dost not desire, neither hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law; then he said, Behold, I come to do thy will, O God. He took away the first, that he may establish the second.
then he said, Behold, I come to do thy will, O God. He took away the first, that he may establish the second. In this will, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus, the Christ, once for all.
In this will, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus, the Christ, once for all.
Likewise the Holy Spirit gives us the same witness, who afterwards said,
Likewise the Holy Spirit gives us the same witness, who afterwards said, This is the testament that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will give my laws in their hearts, and in their souls will I write them;
This is the testament that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will give my laws in their hearts, and in their souls will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Hastings
When the name 'Christian' (see preceding art.) had come to be the specific designation of a follower of Jesus Christ, it was inevitable that the word 'Christianity' should sooner or later be used to denote the faith which Christians profess. The word does not occur in the NT, however, and first makes its appearance in the letters of Ignatius early in the 2nd century. But for 1800 years it has been the regular term for the religion which claims Jesus Christ as its founder, and recognizes in His Person and work the sum and substance of its beliefs.
Christianity presents itself to us under two aspects
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Then I said, Woe is me! for I am dead because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of the hosts.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness and every bodily weakness among the people.
Think not that I am come to undo the law or the prophets; I am not come to undo, but to fulfil.
Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit murder, and whosoever shall commit murder shall be guilty of the judgment;
Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit murder, and whosoever shall commit murder shall be guilty of the judgment;
Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit adultery;
Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit adultery;
Again, ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not perjure thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths;
Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;
Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in the heavens is perfect.
So that by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in the heavens.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these words, the multitude marvelled at his doctrine;
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness and every weakness among the people.
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and those who do iniquity
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, a small rock and upon the large rock I will build my congregation , and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against her.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the congregation ; but if he neglects to hear the congregation, let him be unto thee as a worldly man and a publican.
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a bill of divorce and to put her away?
saying, Master, Moses said, If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto his brother.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
That Word was the true Light, which lightens every man that comes into this world.
Ye worship what ye know not; we worship what we know, for saving health is of the Jews.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from the heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from the heaven.
Then Jesus spoke again unto them, saying, I AM the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.
Art thou greater than our father Abraham who died? and the prophets died; whom makest thou thyself?
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Jesus said unto him, Have I been such a long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip? He that has seen me has seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
In this is my Father clarified, in that ye bear much fruit; and in this manner ye shall be my disciples.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another as I have loved you.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another as I have loved you.
This I command you, that ye love one another.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized each one of you into the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
and killed the Author of life, whom God has raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
And those that believed in the Lord increased in number, multitudes both of men and women.)
And Philip said, If thou dost believe with all thine heart, thou may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, that also on the Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out.
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they came into Antioch, spoke unto the Greeks, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass that for a whole year they gathered themselves together with the congregation and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this one is preached unto you the remission of sins;
But the disobedient Jews stirred up the Gentiles and corrupted their desire against the brethren.
Nevertheless he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Then he came to Derbe and Lystra; and, behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman, who was faithful, but his father was a Gentile,
and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, , and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
that they should seek the Lord, if in any manner they might reach out to touch him and find him though he is not far from each one of us; for in him we live and move and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also of his lineage.
For the invisible things of him, his eternal power and divinity, are clearly understood by the creation of the world and by the things that are made so that there is no excuse; because having known God, they did not glorify him as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, accusing and also excusing their reasonings one with another)
But God increased the price of his charity toward us in that while we were yet sinners the Christ died for us.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled with God by the death of his Son, much more, now reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
likewise many of us are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Owe no one anything, but love one unto another; for he that loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.
Charity works no evil to a neighbour; therefore, charity is the fulfillment of the law.
For the God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to bring forth the light of the knowledge of the clarity of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
for certainly God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them and having placed in us the word of reconciliation.
for certainly God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them and having placed in us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
but when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace,
And has put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the congregation ,
that the Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in charity,
but following the truth in charity, let us grow up into him in all things, who is the head, the Christ:
For the husband is the head of the wife even as the Christ is head of the congregation , and it is he who gives saving health to the body.
that he might present her glorious for himself, a congregation , not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who having been offered joy, endured the cross , despising the shame and was seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of the heaven from and with God,
Watsons
CHRISTIANITY, the religion of Christians. By Christianity is here meant, not that religious system as it may be understood and set forth in any particular society calling itself Christian; but as it is contained in the sacred books acknowledged by all these societies, or churches, and which contained the only authorized rule of faith and practice.
2. The lofty profession which Christianity makes as a religion, and the promises it holds forth to mankind, entitle it to the most serious consideration of all. For it may in truth be said, that no other religion presents itself under aspects so sublime, or such as are calculated to awaken desires and hopes so enlarged and magnificent. It not only professes to be from God, but to have been taught to men by the Son of God incarnate in our nature, the Second Person in the adorable trinity of divine Persons, "the same in substance, equal in power and glory." It declares that this divine personage is the appointed Redeemer of mankind from sin, death, and misery; that he was announced as such to our first parents upon their lapse from the innocence and blessedness of their primeval state; that he was exhibited to the faith and hope of the patriarchs in express promises; and, by the institution of sacrifices, as a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, so that man might be reconciled to God through Him, and restored to his forfeited inheritance of eternal life. It represents all former dispensations of true religion, all revelations of God's will, and all promises of grace from God to man, as emanating from the anticipated sacrifice and sacerdotal intercession of its Author, and as all preparatory to the introduction of his perfect religion; and that as to the great political movements among the nations of antiquity, the rise and fall of empires were all either remotely or proximately connected with the designs of his advent among men. It professes to have completed the former revelations of God's will and purposes; to have accomplished ancient prophecies; fulfilled ancient types; and taken up the glory of the Mosaic religion into its own "glory that excelleth;" and to contain within itself a perfect system of faith, morals, and acceptable worship. It not only exhibits so effectual a sacrifice for sin, that remission of all offences against God flows from its merits to all who heartily confide in it; but it proclaims itself to be a remedy for all the moral disorders of our fallen nature; it casts out every vice, implants every virtue, and restores man to "the image of God in which he was created," even to "righteousness and true holiness."
3. Its promises both to individuals and to society are of the largest kind. It represents its Founder as now exercising the office of the High Priest of the human race before God, and as having sat down at his right hand, a mediatorial and reconciling government being committed to him, until he shall come to judge all nations, and distribute the rewards of eternity to his followers, and inflict its never-terminating punishments upon those who reject him. By virtue of this constitution of things, it promises pardon to the guilty, of every age and country, who seek it in penitence and prayer, comfort to the afflicted and troubled, victory over the fear of death, a happy intermediate state to the disembodied spirit, and finally the resurrection of the body from the dead, and honour and immortality to be conferred upon the whole man glorified in the immediate presence of God. It holds out the loftiest hopes also to the world at large. It promises to introduce harmony among families and nations, to terminate all wars and all oppressions, and ultimately to fill the world with truth, order, and purity. It represents the present and past state of society, as in contest with its own principles of justice, mercy, and truth; but teaches the final triumph of the latter over every thing contrary to itself. It exhibits the ambition, the policy, and the restlessness of statesmen and warriors, as but the overruled instruments by which it is working out its own purposes of wisdom and benevolence; and it not only defies the proudest array of human power, but professes to subordinate it by a secret and irresistible working to its own designs. Finally, it exhibits itself as enlarging its plans, and completing its designs, by moral suasion, the evidence of its truth, and the secret divine influence which accompanies it. Such are the professions and promises of Christianity, a religion which enters into no compromise with other systems; which represents itself as the only religion now in the world having God for its author; and in his name, and by the hope of his mercy, and the terrors of his frown, it commands the obedience of faith to all people to whom it is published upon the solemn sanction, "He that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned."
4. Corresponding with these professions, which throw every other religion that pretends to offer hope to man into utter insignificance, it is allowed that the evidence of its truth ought to be adequate to sustain the weight of so vast a fabric, and that men have a right to know that they are not deluded with a grand and impressive theory, but are receiving from this professed system of truth and salvation "the true sayings of God." Such evidence it has afforded in its splendid train of MIRACLES; in its numerous appeals to the fulfilment of ancient PROPHECIES; in its own powerful INTERNAL evidence; in the INFLUENCE which it has always exercised, and continues to exert, upon the happiness of mankind; and in various collateral circumstances. Under the heads of Miracles and Prophecy, those important branches of evidence will be discussed, and to them the reader is referred. It is only necessary here to say, that the miracles to which Christianity appeals as proofs of its divine authority, are not only those which were wrought by Christ and his Apostles, but also those which took place among the patriarchs, under the law of Moses, and by the ministry of the Prophets; for the religion of those ancient times was but Christianity in its antecedent revelations. All these miracles, therefore, must be taken collectively, and present attestations of the loftiest kind, as being manifestly the work of the "finger of God," wrought under circumstances which precluded mistake, and exhibiting an immense variety, from the staying of the very wheels of the planetary system,
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So that those who gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and also a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the congregation which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came unto the prince of the priests
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Now at that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to mistreat certain of the congregation .
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous of the law;