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Page049

THE PRACTICAL C, HRISrrIAN.


VOL. J.


, De ... oted to Truth · and Righteousness.


MENDON, MASS., NOVE MBE R I, 1840. No. 13.


THE PRACTXCAL CHBISTXAH


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DALI. OU, ( Editor and Publishing Agent;) DAVID


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.'


• EXPOSITION' 01' I'AITH.


_ SECTION 2.


Jesus Christ appeared in the flesh, exemplified


a perfect righteousness, preached the gos ·


pel, wrouglit miracles, died 011 th e cross ,


• arose from the dead. . ascended into heuveu,


arnl was exalted to universal dominion at


th e right hand of the Father.


" Thir is the stolle which was set at 1l0uglll of


you builders, which i, become the head of the


corner ." Acts, 4: 11.


1. J esus Christ apppeared in the flesh . The


" a postle John, in cautioniug' his br ethren to try


th e vari ous spirits abroad iu the world, wh eth ­er


th ey are of God j says :-" Every spirit that


. confesserh that J esus Chnist is come in th e


flesh, is of God: and . e vlJry .. s pir it that COIl­fesseth


not that Jesus Christ is come ill th e


flesh, is ! IOt of God." 1 J ohn, 4: 2,3. It will


therefore suffice to add uce II few other pert] ­.


... Ill teXIS, reia u ve to tn is point. " Wherefore


when he come th into the world, he saith­Sacrifice


and offering thou wouldst not, bill a


hody hast thou prepared me." Heb. · 10( 5. ­"


Forasmuch th en as the children are partakers


offlesh and blood , he also himself likewise


took part of the same; that through death · he


might destroy him that had the pow er ofdeuth,


that is d ie devil." Ib. 2: 14. " For verily he


took not on him the nalUre of angels, but he


took on him the seed of Abruham. \ Vhere­fore


it hehoveel him in all things to be mad e


lik e unto his br ethren, that he mi ght be a mer-


· c iful allli faithful High Priest in things pertain.


ing to Gocl, to make reconciliation for the sins


<{ the people. For in that he himself hath


Buffered being tempted, he is abl e'to suceour


them that are tempted." 10. 2: 16- 18. " For­asmuch


then ns Christ hath suffer ed for liS in


the flesh. aI'm ' y o u rse l v ~ s Wilh th e same min, l."


1 Pet, 4: 1.


2. J esu s Christ exemplified a perfect right­eOllsn


e&~. According to the Scriptures Christ


was exposed to all the temptations cOlllmon to


human nature, and that too in th eir most se­ductive


forms. He was under that luw ofGod


which requires perfect ohedience ill all thillgs.


Anel despite of temptatio~ s, though placed


amid all the evils of the Fall, he magnified the


law, render ell , it honorable, aild fulfill ed it to


the lasttittlll ; he wrought a perfect rightlJous­ness.


This is taught in such passages liS the


following : " Think not that 1 am come to de­stroy


th e law or the prophets; I am not come


to destr~ y but to fulfil." Malt. 5: 17. So ~ hen


John · the Baptist hesitated to baptize him, , he


ll8id-" Suffer it to be so now: for thus it be­cometh


us to fulfil all righteousness." Ib. 3:


15. " My meat is to do the will of him that


sent me, and to finish his work." John, 4: 34 ..


" Ido always those things that please him." lb.


S: 29. Peter in his discourse to the Jews on a


certain oc cas ion said-" BtIt ye denied th e Ho- '


Iy One and the Just, end ' e1esired a lIIurcierer


to'be grant~ d unto you, and killed the Prince


oflife; whom God hath rai sed from th e dead;


whereofwe are: witnesses." Act s. 3: 14, 15. ­"


For we hav e not an high priest which cannot


be touched . with the feeling of'our infirmities j


but was iii all points tempted as we are, yet


without sin." Heb. 4: 15. " For such an high


llriest became us, who'isholy', harmless, unde-filed,


and separate from sinners, and made self these words ' of the prophet lSaiah':"" The th e top to th e bottom ; a nd th e ear th did quake


higher than the heavens." lb. 7: 26. " Christ S pir it of the Lord God is upon me because he and th e rock s re nt." Malt . 27: ~ 8- jo-" 51­also


suffered for us, leaving us an example, , hath anointed me to preach the . go sp cl to the ~ lso John, 19th chapter. " Him, hein g deliv,


that we should follow his steps ; who did no 1' 0 01', he hath sent me to heal the broken - heart- ered by the determinate counsel and fore­sin,


neither was gu ile found in his mouth; ed, to preach deliverance to tbe captives, and knowledge of God , ye have tak en and by wi ck­who


wh en he was reviled, . reviled not again; recovering of sight to the blind, to set at Ii, uer- ed han ds have cr uci fied and slain." Acts, 2: 23.


wh en he suffered he threatened not j but com- ty them that ar e bruised. To ' preach th e ac- " And bein g found in fashi on as ii ma n he hum­mitred


his cause to him tharjudgeth righteous- cepteble year oftbe Lord." " And all bare bled himself, and became obedi en t unto death ,


Iy." 1 P et. 2: 21- 23. In the temptation of hinl witn ess and wondered at the gracious even the death of th e cross." Phil. 2: 8 . " T hat


Christ we have a glorious exhihition of his fi-, words that proceed ed OUI of his mouth."- by th e grace of God he sho uld ta~ e death for


delily to holiness. He ~ as exhausted hy long Luke 4: 18- 20. " And Jesus went about all every man." Heb. 2: 9 ~


continued t8sting, and allnost tortured with Gali lee, teaching in their ' synagogues, and 6. J esus Christ, hav ing di ed on the CI'OSS


hunger. .' The Tempter artfully assailed him preaching th e gospel ofthe kingdom, and heal- and been buried in a tomb or se pulchre , arose


in what seemed to be a most vulnerable point. illg all manner of sickness and disea se among from th e de ad on th e third day. This is'one


"( fthou be the Son of God, command that ti le people." Malt. 4: ~. " And J esus w ent of th e most important tr uths of th e Chr istian


th ese stones be'made br ead ." He kn ew him- about all th e citi es and villages " " pr each . faith, Mauh ew says- " And behold th er e was


self to b-; the Son ' of God' he kn ew that he . ii i:! th e gosp el of- the kingdom." lb. 9: 35.- a gr eat ear thq uake: fOI: behold th e angel of


" . , .


had th e power of turning th e sto nes ar ound ' l\ ~, rk 1: 14. " And the people sou ght him, th e Lord descended from heaven, lind came


him into food- ond now in th e extremity of 81.. 1carne unto him, and stayed him, that he and r olled hack the stone from the door, and


his hunger th e suggestion was awak en ed with- . should not depart from them. And , he said sa t up on it. His countenance was like ligbt ­in-"


Ifthou art th e Son of God, why not put \ i!: w them, I must' preach the kingdom of God ning, lind his ra iment whi ie as snow j and fOI'


forth thy power and miraculously relieve thy to - llher cities a lso ; for the refore am I se nt." fe~ r of him the keepers did shake and become


necessity." But the sen se of duty said " NOj Luke, 4: 42, 44. " And it came to phss when as dead men. And th e a ngel an swer ed and


th is is not the purpose: nor th e hour, for th e J .- 8US hud mad e an end of commanding his said unto th e woman, Fenr not ye ; for ( know.


exercise of thy miraculous power; patiently twelve di scipl es, he depart ed thence to teach that ye see k J esus, which was crucified, He


. endure thy hunger . c- rhou art preparing for and to preach in rbeir cities. Now when J ohn is not here; for he is risen, as he sa id. Come


thy work; break not thy fast. \ Vheref,) re he had heard in th e prison th e works of'Christ he see th e plll c ~ whe re th e Lor d lay: a nd go


obedi ently answered the T empter: " 1\ Ian shall Sf'" two of hi s disciples. And said unto him, qui ckl y and tell his. disci ples that he is risen


not live hy br ead alon e, butby every word th at Art thou he that should come, 01' do we look from thedead." Matt. 28: 2- 7. ' Vide the oth­pro


ceederh out of th e mouth of God." His for another P J esus an swered and sa id unto er Eva ngulists. " T o whom a lso [ vi z, the


commandment is life. He was next placed the m- e- Go and show John agai~ those things apostles] he showed himself alive afte r his pas­on


thepinnucle of th e T em ple, se vera l hund- wlf, ch ye do hear and see : the blind receive sion by many infallible proofs j being see n of '


red feet above th e pav em ent of tl; e adjacent their sight, and th e Inme walk, the lep er s lire them . forty days , and spea ki ng of th e thi ngs


court. And whil e th er e he was instigated to ' elesnsed, and th e deaf hear j th e dead a re pert aining to th e kin gdom . afGod." Acts, ] : 3.


announce himselfas th e Messiah to the multi- rai sed up and th e poor have the gospel preach- Paul says , " For I deliver ed unto yOIl first ofall


tud e, by throwing himselfdown from that gid- ed unto them." l\ 1att. ll: 2- 5. that which I also rec~ iv ecl, how th at Christ


dy heigh, t on th e arlutnant . helow, and in the 4. He wrough t miracles. This is proven died fOI' our sin s according to the Sc riptures ;


act miraculously pr eserving himselffrom harm. hy some . of the last quoted . pussages.; to which and that he was buried , and th at he rose aga in


The Jews wer e looking for some such Slidden 1 will add a few oth er s. the third clay, aecording to th e Sc r iptures jnn d


lind wonderful advent of th eir Prince, and no ' '' Now wh en he was at Jerusalem at th e that he was see n of Ce phus,' then of th e tw elv e.


dou bt th ous and s wOIII, 1 ha ve flocked nt on ce P8 ~ ver in th e ' fe: lst, mnny helioveel in hj ,,~ , ,,\ fler ul lI/. he WlIBSCCII . of ah eve · f., · c lmfHI.. eJ ,


to- ! iis stan'ddrd ; hiid he bu't yi~ ldedt~ the vain- nallle:- wh en th ey lIa~ th e illiracl ~ s which he br ethren at once j .. " Aft er th at he WIISsee n


~ l oriol1s suggesrlon. HI; t it was the devil, not did." John, 2: 23. Ni codemussaid-" No mnn ofJames, th en of ull th e apostles. . then of all '


God, thai' proposed ' thi s worldly method of can do th ese mira cles that thou do esr, except th e ap ostl es. Ariel last of III/ he wns see n of


opening his mission. The S pirit ofGod with- God he with him." Ib. 3: 2. " A gre at multi- me also. " 1 COl'. ] 5: 3- 8. " I : 1111 he th at liv­in


said, " no; thi s thou sha lt not do ;" and he tud e follow ed him, becnuse} hey saw his mir- eth, and WIISd ead j and, beh old , I am lllive fol'


oheyeci with QIll a ~ e l llc to n t emotion. Where7 aeles wh ich he did on them that were di seas- ever mo re." Rev. 1: ] 8.


li) re h ~ answere, 1 agllin th e plausible Scrip- ed." lb. 6: 2. " Then gathered the · chief 7. Jesus Christ asce nde d iuto heuven. This


ture. quoting T empter: " It is written, thou priests and th e PhHrisees in Council, and said, is dec lured in such passages as th e following:


shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Thoil What do we? for this mlln doeth lIluny mira- " Jesns sa ith unto her [ Mury l\ 1agellllen e] .. "


shult not presume on his Hiel in a foolish and cles. If we let him thlls alone all '. nen will be- go to Illy brethren and suy Ulltn them, I ns­vain


act. Next he wa~ ' e le vated in " i sion, so lieve 011 him." lb. 11: 47, 48. " Y~ mp. ll of Is · ce nd Uillo my ' F ath er and yon I' Fll the r j nnd


as to eontempillte all th e kiugcloms of the ra el, hear th ese words; J eslls of Nazar eth, a to my Go d allli yo ur God ." J Ohll, 2(); 17. ­w~


rld, and'th e gl! lry of them. And now his man approved of God arrlOngyou by mirucles, " Anel he leel them ont lis far us to ll eti1: 1 ny ;


ambition was address e(!. The flam e was fan- and wOllders lIud s igns; which God diel hy und he lifted up his hund s and hleSsed Ihem.


ned in his br east :- . Power, riches, spl endor, him in th e midst of you. as yO! yourselv es also An d it callie to Pll&', whil e he blesse rl them, h ~


pomp, ! nlljesty, renown, supre me dominioil- kllow"-& c. Acts, 2: 22. The New T esln - was purted fi'om th em lind curried Ill' into


all float ell befor e him in prospect, and seemed mellluhollnds with the record ofC brist's mir- heaven." Luke' f2 4: 50,51. " And when he'


ready to ravish his sOIlI. All th ese might be- aClllolls ' Yorks, and tho se , ofhis cOlllmissioned had spol'en these · th ings, while they hehelrl,


come his, and his sc eptre lIlig" t pr esently be ap ostles. lie WIIS tuken up and lI. cloud recei ved him out


swayed over all th e va~ sal empires of men, on 5. lIe di ed on th e c ross . This is a promin . of th eir sight. And whil e trley look ed st ead -


one condition ; that he should sac r ifice heav- elll fact of the Gos pe l record, \ vhi ch was, a lso fustly toward hea ven, as he went up, behold


enly principle- allegiance to th e. will of God j long befo re unn ounced in th e pr edi ction of th e tw o men stood fly Ihem in white a ppa rt; I j


and bow down to the god of this world- con - prophets. " And ~ Iey stripped him, an d put who ulso sa id- Ye me! 1 of Ga lilee, why s tand


sent to follow th e , counsels ofa worldly expe- , on' him a scar let roh e; and wh en th ey had ye gazing up into heaven. This same J esus


, liency. 0 , what a I( olden opjlorlUniiy to con · platted a crown of th orns, th ey put it up on his who is tak en up Ii'om you into heaven shall


vert the worlci, by converting himself illlo a head, and a reed in his right hand: anti th ey so come, ifr like mann er as ye have se :') h'im


worldly potentate, and becoming the slave of bowed th e kne e belore him and mocked him, go into heaven ." Acts, 1: iJ, 10, 11. " Now


carnal ambition. But how true . to principle, saying, Hail King of th e J. ews! Anrl th ey spit that he ascended , what is it hut th at he also


to duty, to right, to God! As the needle to the upon him, and took the reed and smote ilim descended first int o the lower parts of the


pole, and even mor~ ce rtain, sin ce that often on the head, ". " and led hi · m away to c rucify ea r th ? He that rlescend ed is th e same also


errs, he decided as th e Son o, f God ' should.- him . Anci when they were come unto plac e . that ascended up far abov e a ll hea ven s, t" atbe


TI! e Etern al Spirit thrilled his soul; the cor- called Golgotha, that is to say, a place ofa might fill ull things." Ephes. 4: 9, 10 .


rupting vision died in his , imagination ; he sknll, they ga ve him vin egnr to drink min gl ed And finally, .


saw through th e pnth of tears, and shame, and with gall; and when be had tasted th ereof he 8. He was exalted to universal , iominion at


death, a more glor ious kingdom. Wherefore would not drink. And th ey crucified him, anrl th e right hand of God. l inmed iately Ifefo~ e


he repelled th e vile Spirit, sa)- ing-'! G et thee . purt ed his , garments, casting Jots. " " " his ascen sion he declared , to his discipl es this


hence, Satun: for ' i t is written, Thou shalt And sitting down th ey wllt! lhedhitn th er e." " grea t truth, saying, " All" pow er is given unto


worship the Lord thy God, and him only sha lt " And th ey that pa, ssed by reviled him, wag- me in heaven and in earth." Mall . 28: · 1 8. ­thou


serve." Then, ind ecd, th e dev il depart- gin g th eir head s, and saying, ThOll that de- Afterwards it was rep eat edly declared hy the


ed from him, and behold angels clime and stroyest th e temple and bnildest it in th ~ ee ap ostles in su ch passages as th e following, viz:


ministereci unto him. How blessed the state day s, sav e t11 ~ selt. If thou be the S on ofGod , ." This J esu s hath God ra ised up, wh ereof we


of the so~ 1 wh en it has fairly ov erc ~ lIle li come down trolll the cross. I Likewise a l~ o are nil witnesses. Therefor e being by the


powerful temptation! Itcommunes with an- tbe chi ef pri ests mocking him with th e scribes right hand of God exalt ed, and hnvil/ g receiv ed


gels. Thus did J esu s Christ overcome . the and elde rs. sa id, he saved others, · himself he of th e Father th e promise of th e Holy Ghost,


world, and cast out the Prince of th e power of cannot save. Ifhe be the king of Israel, let he hath shed forth thi s, which ye 1I0W see and


the air, the spirit that wortketh in the children him now come down from the cro ss, and we hear. F or Da yid is . not uscended into the


ofdisobedience, and was enabled to exemplify will believe on him." " " " " And ! lbout heavens j hut he ~ a ith himself, Th, e LORDsaid


a perfect righteousness . . And thus did he be- the ninth hOllr J esus cried with a loud voice, unto my Lord, S it thou on my right hand, Ul/ ­corne


what it was prophesied he should be- My God, my God, why hast , thou forsak en till mak e thy foes thy footstool . Th eref~ re


" the Lord our R jghteousness." ' me ! A nd when he cri ed again \~ ith a loud let all the IJOu s~ of Israel kn ow IIssure dly, that


3. He preached t ~ e gosp el. In th e syn a · voic e, he yielded up the ghost. Alld he hold Gael hath made the sallie J eslIs, wholll ye hav e .


gogue at Nazareth he read anci applied to" him- the vail of the temple was ren t in twain from crucified, both Lord and Chi · ist." Acts; 2 ; 3: 2-...:,

Page 49 of Volume 1 of The Practical Christian 1840-1841

Ballou, Adin

1840