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 praise them praising thee, and I will curse him cursing thee, and in thee shall all the families of the earth be praised.
And I will praise them praising thee, and I will curse him cursing thee, and in thee shall all the families of the earth be praised.
And he will say, By myself did I swear, says Jehovah, for because that thou didst this word, and didst not spare thy son, thine only.
And he will say, By myself did I swear, says Jehovah, for because that thou didst this word, and didst not spare thy son, thine only.
The rod shall not depart from Judah, and a leader from between his feet, till that Shiloh shall come: and to him the obedience of the nations.
The rod shall not depart from Judah, and a leader from between his feet, till that Shiloh shall come: and to him the obedience of the nations.
A prophet from the midst of thee, from thy brethren, like me Jehovah thy God shall raise up to thee; to him shall ye hear.
A prophet from the midst of thee, from thy brethren, like me Jehovah thy God shall raise up to thee; to him shall ye hear.
Behold the days coming, says Jehovah, and I cut out the house of Israel and the house of Judah a new covenant
Behold the days coming, says Jehovah, and I cut out the house of Israel and the house of Judah a new covenant Not according to the covenant which I cut out with their fathers in the day I laid hold upon their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt; which they brake my covenant, and I was Lord over them, says Jehovah.
Not according to the covenant which I cut out with their fathers in the day I laid hold upon their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt; which they brake my covenant, and I was Lord over them, says Jehovah. For this the covenant that I will cut out with the house of Israel: After those days, says Jehovah; I gave my law in the midst of them, and upon their heart will I write it; and I was to them for God, and they shall be to me for a people.
For this the covenant that I will cut out with the house of Israel: After those days, says Jehovah; I gave my law in the midst of them, and upon their heart will I write it; and I was to them for God, and they shall be to me for a people. And they shall teach no more a man his neighbor and a man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah: for they all shall know me to their small and even to their great, says Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and to their sin I will have no more remembrance
And they shall teach no more a man his neighbor and a man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah: for they all shall know me to their small and even to their great, says Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and to their sin I will have no more remembrance
Think not that I have come to abolish the law, or the prophets: for I have come not abolish, but to complete.
Think not that I have come to abolish the law, or the prophets: for I have come not abolish, but to complete.
And the law entered, that the fall might abound. And where sin abounded, grace superabounded:
And the law entered, that the fall might abound. And where sin abounded, grace superabounded:
Made manifest that ye are the epistle of Christ served by us, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables made of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.
Made manifest that ye are the epistle of Christ served by us, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables made of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. And we have such confidence through Christ to God:
And we have such confidence through Christ to God: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reckon anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency of God;
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reckon anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency of God; Who rendered as fitting servants of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, and the Spirit makes alive.
Who rendered as fitting servants of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, and the Spirit makes alive. And if the service of death, in letters imprinted in stones, was in glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently to the face of Moses for the glory of his face; being left unemployed
And if the service of death, in letters imprinted in stones, was in glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently to the face of Moses for the glory of his face; being left unemployed How shall not rather the service of the Spirit be in glory?
How shall not rather the service of the Spirit be in glory? For if the service of condemnation glory, much more the service of justice abounds in glory.
For if the service of condemnation glory, much more the service of justice abounds in glory. For also that having been glorified has not been glorified in this part, for sake of the glory excelling.
For also that having been glorified has not been glorified in this part, for sake of the glory excelling. For if that left unemployed by glory, much more that remaining in glory.
For if that left unemployed by glory, much more that remaining in glory. Therefore having such hope, we use much freedom of speech:
Therefore having such hope, we use much freedom of speech: And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the sons of Israel should not look intently to the end of that left unemployed:
And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the sons of Israel should not look intently to the end of that left unemployed: But their minds were hardened: for until this day the same veil upon the reading of the old covenant. remains not uncovered;for in Christ it is left unemployed.
But their minds were hardened: for until this day the same veil upon the reading of the old covenant. remains not uncovered;for in Christ it is left unemployed. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart
But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart And whenever it turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
And whenever it turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. And the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord, there freedom.
And the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord, there freedom. And we all, shown as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, with the face uncovered, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Spirit of the Lord.
And we all, shown as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, with the face uncovered, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Spirit of the Lord.
And the writing, foreseeing that of faith God justifies the nations, announced beforehand the good news to Abraham, That in thee shall all nations be praised.
And the writing, foreseeing that of faith God justifies the nations, announced beforehand the good news to Abraham, That in thee shall all nations be praised. So that they of faith are praised with faithful Abraham.
So that they of faith are praised with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it has been written, Cursed every one who remains not in all 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 has been written, Cursed every one who remains not in all written in the book of the law to do them. And that none is justified in the law before God, is manifest: for, The just shall live of faith.
And that none is justified in the law before God, is manifest: for, The just shall live of faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man having done them shall live in them.
And the law is not of faith: but, The man having done them shall live in them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been a curse for us: for it has been written, Cursed every one hanging upon a tree:
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been a curse for us: for it has been written, Cursed every one hanging upon a tree: That the praise of Abraham might be to the nations in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
That the praise of Abraham might be to the nations in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak according to man; Although a man's covenant, having been confirmed, none annuls, or orders an addition.
Brethren, I speak according to man; Although a man's covenant, having been confirmed, none annuls, or orders an addition. And to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He says not, And to seeds, as to many; but as to one: And to thy seed, who is Christ.
And to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He says not, And to seeds, as to many; but as to one: And to thy seed, who is Christ. And I say this, the covenant confirmed before by God in Christ, the law, having been after four hundred and thirty years, does not annul, to neglect the promise.
And I say this, the covenant confirmed before by God in Christ, the law, having been after four hundred and thirty years, does not annul, to neglect the promise. For if of the law the inheritance, no more of promise: and God has favored Abraham by promise.
For if of the law the inheritance, no more of promise: and God has favored Abraham by promise. What then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, (till the seed come to whom it was promised;) appointed by angels in the hand of a mediator.
What then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, (till the seed come to whom it was promised;) appointed by angels in the hand of a mediator. And a mediator is not of one, and God is one.
And a mediator is not of one, and God is one. The law then against the promises of God? It may not be: for if a law had been given able to make alive, truly justice would be by the law.
The law then against the promises of God? It may not be: for if a law had been given able to make alive, truly justice would be by the law. But the writing shut up all things under sin, that the promise from faith of Jesus Christ might be given to the believing.
But the writing shut up all things under sin, that the promise from faith of Jesus Christ might be given to the believing. And before faith came, we were guarded under the law, shut up to faith about to be revealed.
And before faith came, we were guarded under the law, shut up to faith about to be revealed. So that the law was our preceptor towards Christ, that we might be justified from faith.
So that the law was our preceptor towards Christ, that we might be justified from faith. And faith having come, we are no more under a preceptor.
For if truly he were upon earth, he would not be a priest, there being priests bringing in gifts according to the law;
For if truly he were upon earth, he would not be a priest, there being priests bringing in gifts according to the law; Who serve the pattern and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was given an intimation of the divine will, being about to complete the tent: for, See, says he, thou make all things according to the type shewed thee in the mount.
Who serve the pattern and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was given an intimation of the divine will, being about to complete the tent: for, See, says he, thou make all things according to the type shewed thee in the mount. And now he has attained a more distinguished office, in how much also he is mediator of a better covenant, which was legislated upon better promises.
And now he has attained a more distinguished office, in how much also he is mediator of a better covenant, which was legislated upon better promises. For if that first was faultless, then place was not to be sought for the second.
For if that first was faultless, then place was not to be sought for the second. For rebuking them, he says, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, and I will complete for the house of Israel and for the house of Judah a new covenant:
For rebuking them, he says, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, and I will complete for the house of Israel and for the house of Judah a new covenant: Not according to the covenant which I made to their fathers in the day of my taking their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they remained not in my covenant, and I heeded them not, says the Lord.
Not according to the covenant which I made to their fathers in the day of my taking their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they remained not in my covenant, and I heeded them not, says the Lord. For this the covenant which I will set to the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; giving my laws into their mind, and upon their hearts will I write them: and I will be to them for God, and they shall be to me for a people:
For this the covenant which I will set to the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; giving my laws into their mind, and upon their hearts will I write them: and I will be to them for God, and they shall be to me for a people: And they should not teach each his neighbor, and each his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from their little even to their great ones.
And they should not teach each his neighbor, and each his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from their little even to their great ones. For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and their sins and their injustices will I remember no more.
For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and their sins and their injustices will I remember no more. In saying new, he has made the first old. And that made old and becoming weak is near destruction.
In saying new, he has made the first old. And that made old and becoming weak is near destruction.
For the law having a shadow of good things about to be, not the same image of the things, with these sacrifices which they bring in yearly in continuance never can render perfect them coming thereto.
For the law having a shadow of good things about to be, not the same image of the things, with these sacrifices which they bring in yearly in continuance never can render perfect them coming thereto. For would they not have ceased to be brought in? because they serving have no more consciousness of sins, once purified.
For would they not have ceased to be brought in? because they serving have no more consciousness of sins, once purified. But in these, a reminding of sins yearly.
But in these, a reminding of sins yearly. For the blood of bulls and he-goats cannot take away sins.
For the blood of bulls and he-goats cannot take away sins. Wherefore coming into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering then wouldest not, but a body hast thou adjusted to me:
Wherefore coming into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering then wouldest not, but a body hast thou adjusted to me: And with whole burnt offering for sin wast thou not contented.
And with whole burnt offering for sin wast thou not contented. Then said I, Behold, I am here (in the head of the book it was written of me,) O God, to do thy will.
Then said I, Behold, I am here (in the head of the book it was written of me,) O God, to do thy will. Farther back, saying, That sacrifice and bringing in and whole burnt offerings and for sin thou wouldest not, neither wert contented with; which are brought in according to law;
Farther back, saying, That sacrifice and bringing in and whole burnt offerings and for sin thou wouldest not, neither wert contented with; which are brought in according to law; Then he said, Behold, I am here to do, O God, thy will. He takes away the first, that he might set up the second.
Then he said, Behold, I am here to do, O God, thy will. He takes away the first, that he might set up the second. In which will we are consecrated by the bringing in of the body of Jesus Christ once.
In which will we are consecrated by the bringing in of the body of Jesus Christ once.
And also the Holy Spirit testifies to us: for after having said before,
And also the Holy Spirit testifies to us: for after having said before, This the covenant which I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord, giving my laws upon their heart, and upon their minds will I write them;
This the covenant which I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord, giving my laws upon their heart, and upon their minds will I write them; And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. And where remission of these, no more bringing in for sin.
And where remission of these, no more bringing in 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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And saying, Wo to me! for I was cut off; because I a man of unclean lips, and in the midst of a people of unclean lips I dwell: for mine eyes saw the king, Jehovah of armies.
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 the whole of Galilee, teaching in their assemblies, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing disease, and every weakness in the people.
Think not that I have come to abolish the law, or the prophets: for I have come not abolish, but to complete.
Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill: and whoever should kill shall be subject to judgment:
Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill: and whoever should kill shall be subject to 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 swear a false oath, and thou shalt. return to the Lord thine oaths.
Ye have heard, that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
Therefore, be ye perfected, as your Father which is in the heavens is perfected.
Wherefore from their fruits shall ye know them. Not every one saying to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens; but he doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens.
And it was when Jesus finished these words, the crowds were struck with amazement at his teaching:
And Jesus went about all the cities and towns, teaching in their assemblies, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every weakness in the people.
The queen of the South shall be raised up in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; for she came from the end of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon here.
The Son of man shall send forth his messengers, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and those doing iniquity;
And I say to thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not overcome her.
And if he refuse hearing them, speak to the church: and if he refuse hearing the church, let him be to thee as of the nations and a publican.
They say to him, Why then did Moses charge to give a writing of divorce, and loose her?
Saying, Teacher, Moses said, If any one die, not having children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.
And the Pharisees having been gathered together, Jesus asked them,
And after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God,
For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.
The Light was true, which enlightens every man coming into the world.
Ye worship what ye know not: we worship what we know: for salvation is of the Jews.
Then said Jesus to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses has not given you bread from heaven; but my Father gives you true bread from heaven.
Again therefore Jesus spake to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he following me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Thou art not greater than our father Abraham, who died; and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself?
A new command give I to you, That ye love one another: as I loved you, that ye also love one another.
A new command give I to you, That ye love one another: as I loved you, that ye also love one another.
Jesus says, to him, So long time am I with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip? he having seen me has seen the Father; and how sayest thou, Show us the Father?,
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, if it remain not in the vine; so neither ye, if ye remain not in me.
In this was my Father honoured, that ye should bear much fruit: and ye shall be disciples to me.
This is my command, That ye love one another, as I loved you.
This is my command, That ye love one another, as I loved you.
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know certainly, that God made him Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.
And Peter said to them, Repent, and be each of you immersed in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
And ye killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead; of whom we are witnesses.
And the believing were the more added to the Lord, multitudes of men and also of women.)
And Philip said, If thou believest from the whole heart, it is lawful. And having answered, he said, I believe the Son of God to be Jesus Christ.
And believers of the circumcision were affected in mind, as many as came with Peter, that also upon the nations the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out.
And certain of them were Cyprian and Cyrenian men, who having come to Antioch, spake to the Greeks announcing good news, the Lord Jesus.
And having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it was for a whole year they were assembled together in the churches, and taught a sufficient crowd. And the disciples were Christians by divine intimation first in Antioch.
Be it known therefore to you, men, brethren, that for him remission of sins is announced to you.
And the unbelieving Jews excited and trained up the souls of the nations against the brethren.
And surely indeed he left not himself without witness, doing good, having given us rain from heaven, and fruitful times, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
And he arrived at Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, by name Timothy, son of a certain woman, a faithful Jewess; and of a Greek father:
And bringing them out, he said, Lords, what must I do that I might be saved And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
And Paul having stood in the midst of Mars' hill, said, Men, Athenians, I see that in all things ye have a superstitious fear of divinity.
To seek the Lord, if perchance indeed they have felt for him, and found, although not being far from each one of us: For in him we live, and move, and are; as certain of the composers among you have said, For we also are his race.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world, being understood by things made, are inspected, truly both his eternal power and divinity; so that they are inexcusable: Wherefore having known God, not as God did they honour or return thanks; but were rendered vain in their conversations, and their heart without understanding was darkened.
Which show the work of the law Written in their hearts, their consciousness testifying together, and between one another thoughts accusing or also excusing;)
And God recommends his own love to us, that we yet being sinful, Christ died for us.
For if, being enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, reconciled, we shall be saved in his life.
So we, the many, are one body in Christ, and the members for one another.
Owe ye nothing to none, except to love one another: for he loving another has completed the law.
Love works no evil to the neighbor: love therefore the completion of the law.
For God, having spoken light to shine out of darkness, who shone in our hearts, to the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For as God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their faults; and having set in us the word of reconciliation.
For as God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their faults; and having set in us the word of reconciliation.
So that the law was our preceptor towards Christ, that we might be justified from faith.
And when the completion of the time was come, God sent his Son, born of woman, born under the law, That he might redeem them under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
For all the law is completed in one word, in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
In whom we have redemption by his blood, the letting go of faults, according to the riches of his grace;
And placed all things under his, feet, and gave him head over all things to the church,
For Christ to dwell by faith in your hearts; in love being rendered firm, and the foundation laid,
And speaking the truth in love, let us grow up into him in all things, who is the head, Christ:
For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it be holy and blameless.
For let this be in mind among you, which also in Christ Jesus;
And when the kindness and philanthropy of our Saviour God was made evident,
Looking in the distance to Jesus the author and completer of the faith; who for the joy laid before him endured the cross, having despised the shame, and sat down on the right hand of the throne of God.
And he brought me away in the spirit upon a mountain great and high, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from 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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Then truly they having gladly received his word were immersed: and in that day were added about three thousand souls.
And many of them having heard the word, believed; and the number of men was about five thousand.
And the word of God increased: and the number of disciples was multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and a great crowd of priests listened to the faith.
And Saul was assenting to his murder. And in that day was a great expulsion upon the church in Jerusalem; and all were scattered up and down in the countries of Judea and Samaria, except the sent.
And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and murder against the disciples of the Lord, having come to the chief priest,
And quickly in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
And at that time Herod the king laid hands upon to injure certain of the church.
And they having heard, honoured the Lord, and said to him, Thou seest, brother, how many ten thousands of Jews there are having believed: and all are zealous of the law: