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can, was convicted of extortion, he should be obliged to render four times the value of what he had extorted. It was, without doubt, with reference to this law, that Zaccheus said, "if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him four-fold." (Luke xix. 8.)

See Lightfoot's Hor. Heb. and Tal. on Matt. v. 46. Beausobre and L'Enfant's Introd. p. 110; and Calmet on the word publi

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24.

Luke iii. 15. "And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, whether he were the Christ, or not—”

This is one of many expressions of the evangelist, which imply the general expectation which prevailed, that the Messiah was to appear at this time. In the 6th of our illustrations, we adduced some of the evidences of the prevalence of this expectation. It may not be improper here to notice some of the circumstances, which caused the Jews to reject Jesus as the Messiah; but we shall only notice them in passing, as we shall have frequent occasions for a more full examination.

The "reasoning which arose among the disciples, which of them should be the greatest;" and the request of the mother of James and John to our Lord, that "her sons might sit, one on his right hand, and the other on the left, in his kingdom;" are very plain intimations, that his disciples at that time thought only of a powerful, temporal kingdom. It was the disappointment of this

expectation to which the diseiples referred, when conversing with him after his resurrection; "we trusted that it had been he, who should have redeemed Israel." They had believed that Judea would have been redeemed from its bondage to the Romans. Nor had any of the Jews better sentiments of the kingdom of the Messiah.-So eager were the expectations of the "five thousand," whom Jesus had fed with "five barley loaves, and two small fishes," that he was obliged to retire, to escape from the "force, by which they would have taken him, and have made him a king;" (John vi. 15.) and it was the enthusiasm of the hope, that he was about to ascend the throne of Judea, which prompted the multitudes to "spread their garments in the way," when he was once entering Jerusalem, and to "strew the streets with branches of palm trees," going before and following him with the acclamations, "Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is the king of Israel, that cometh in the name of the Lord!" (John xii. 13.) Now had John suggested, that this fondest hope of the nation was to be realized in the triumphs of the Messiah, whom he announced, and had our Lord commenced his ministry with the assurance, that this was his design, and that he would accomplish it, it is certain beyond a doubt, that every Jew would have hailed him as a Saviour, and that the resources of his country would have been offered to his disposal. With their expectations of the Messiah, compare then the teaching, the con

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duct, and the purposes of Jesus, and you may account satisfactorily for every circumstance of his reception.

There was indeed a striking difference between the conduct of the Pharisees and Sadducees, towards our Lord, and of the people. These two great sects very soon perceived, how entirely devoid he was of the sentiments and temper, by which they were themselves actuated. From him, whose peculiar blessings were bestowed on "the poor in spirit," "the meek," "the merciful," "the peace makers," and "those who hungered and thirsted after righteousness;" who taught men to pray, to fast, and to give their alins in secret;" to hope for the recompense of obedience to his laws at the resurrection of the just," and who openly rejected the traditions of the elders, they could indulge no hope of worldly conquests, and of a universal temporal empire. But the people, less ambitious of personal distinction in the kingdom of the Messiah, and persuaded by the works of Jesus, that he must be the Christ, still cherished the delightful vision of the deliverance of their country, and followed him, in confidence of its accomplishment. They were astonished at his doctrines; they felt that he taught as one that had authority, and not as the scribes; they were convinced that, as never man spake like this man, so no one could do the miracles which he did, except God were with him; and while they retained these impressions, they would have forsaken all, to follow him. But as often as circumstances

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occurred to blast their sanguine, but erroneous expectations, with the two great predominant sects of their countrymen, they forsook him, and were prepared to become the instruments for his execution. Let any one notice, how exactly consistent is the account which we have of the conduct of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and of the people, with their sentiments and characters, and I think that he will acknowledge in it a very strong internal evidence of the credibility of the narratives of the evangelists.

When we reflect also, that the Sadducees denied the doctrines of providence, of a future life, and of the existence of spirits, it will not appear surprising that they rejected Jesus, who taught, that these were fundamental principles, which must be acknowledged by all the subjects of his kingdom. Such men, in consistency with their sentiments, could have looked only for a temporal prince, and for temporal honors and happiness, and when we consider that the Pharisees believed, and taught the people, that all who had Abraham for their father were therefore sure of future felicity, from which all others would be excluded, it is equally apparent, that they must have experienced a most important change-a change, which could have been produced only by that "repentance," which John at first preached, and which Jesus made his first precept-before they would be prepared for the reception of a Messiah, whose dominion was to be established in the heart; who taught that all, who received him, were equally

the sons of God; who admonished his followers to prepare for trials and sufferings in his service; and who promised no rewards, but in heaven. So corrupt had the nation become, both in opinions and in practice, that a stronger contrast can hardly be imagined, than of the instructions of Jesus, with the charaçters of the Jews; a contrast, which gives amazing force to the requirement, "REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." To one, who knows the moral and religious state of Judea at this time, the acknowledgment of Jesus by these great prevailing sects, and by all the people, would have been the most wonderful phenomenon which ever occurred in the moral world.

But though so many of his countrymen rejected Jesus, and the multitude, who had acknowledged and followed him, joined in the cry, that he'should be crucified, yet we have the testimony of the apostles, (Acts xxi. 17, 20.) that within a very short time after the resurrection, "many thousands," or, as it may with strict propriety be rendered, "many ten thousands of the Jews believed;" and the extensive country of Syria, it is well known, was in a great measure converted to christianity within ten or twelve years after the crucifixion.

It was the mistaken sentiments of the Jews concerning the Messiah, which caused our Lord to forbid those, whom he healed, to publish their cure; and which induced him so rarely to assert before the people,

that he was THE CHRIST. While they had so strong a persuasion that the Messiah would be a temporal deliver, it was impossible otherwise to restrain them from attempts to raise him to supreme power; which would have exposed both them and him to the resentment of the Roman government. Hence, in speaking of himself, he said only, that the Father had sent him; and, "if I do not the works of my Father, believe me not;" and to effect his purposes, he wrought miracles, appealed to the scriptures, preached righteousness, and endeavoured to correct the false sentiments and the evil affections of those who heard him. It was necessary that he should act precisely as he did, in consistency with the divine character, which he sustains throughout the gospels.

"I am come," said our Lord, "in my Father's name, and ye receive me not. If another shall come in his own name, him will ye receive." And it is well known how many impostors _about that time appeared in Judea, to whom multitudes resorted in the wilderness, to hear the promise of liberty, and to enlist themselves for its attainment. But with their followers, they were scattered, and miserably perished in their delusion; and of all who avowed themselves to be the expected Prince of Israel, Jesus alone has been acknowledged by the suffrages of ages. His kingdom is established-is extending

and will be eternal.

The general belief that the Messiah would appear at the time when our Lord began his

ministry, was derived from the prophecies; and the argument from prophecy lies merely in the evidence produced, that certain passages in the Old Testament, which have ever been acknowledged as predictions, have been fulfilled by certain correspondent events, related in the New. The argument in no degree depends on faith, but is adapted to produce it; the sole point in question being this, whether such things as were prophetically delivered, appear to have been fulfilled a point on which common sense, with common honesty, will secure a correct decision.

Consult Lardner, vol. 1. pp. 131-139. And see bishop Hurd's sermons on prophecy, sermon 5, P. 154. And Jones on the canon of the New Testament, v. 1. pp. 90, 91.

Any of our readers who would consult the authorities which are most easily to be obtained upon the question, "was Jesus the Messiah, who was predicted by the prophets?" are referred also to Leslie's "Case of the Jews considered, with respect to christianity;" to Grotius "On the truth of the christian religion;" to Sykes' "Essay on the truth of the christian religion;" to Leland's "Deistical writers;" article, Collins; to Stillingfleet's "Orig. Sac. B. 2. chap. 7; to Payley's Evidences, Boston ed. p. 209; to Priestley's Letters to the Jews; to Bishop Chandler's Defence of christianity; and his Vindication of the defence. To Prideaux and Shuckford's Con

nexions.

sionate man, a kind, indulgent officer; yet for want of that guard which every man should keep over his passions, this kind, humane, compassionate commits the dreadful crime of murder." The circumstances, which led to this shocking event, were thus stated under oath.

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AN AFFECTING ACCOUNT OF LIEUT. GAMAGE. RICHARD S. GAMAGE was born Sept. 29, 1785. In 1808 he was made a Lieutenant by Admiral Cochrane. In June 1812 he was appointed first Lieutenant of the Griffon. On the 23d of Nov. following, he was executed for the murder of sergeant Lake. On the day of execution Admiral Foley sent a most excellent circular address to every ship in his fleet, calling upon officers, and upon all under their command, to take warning by the awful event. In this address the character of the unfortunate man is thus given: "Lieut. Gamage is represented by every person who knew him, and by the unanimous voice of the Griffon ship's company, as a humane, compas

The deceased sergeant Lake had behaved in the most violent and mutinous manner, by threatening to beat the carpenter of the ship, his superior officer, who lodged a complaint with Lieut. Gamage, then commanding on board; the Lieut. sent for Lake, and ordered him to walk the quarter deck with a shouldered musket, as a slight summary punishment. This order the sergeant, in a pe

remptory and insulting manner, repeatedly refused to obey. Mr. Gamage, enraged, ran below for his sabre. When he came again on deck, the sergeant had so far complied, as to hold a musket in his hand. Mr. Gamage struck the musket with his sword, expressed his indignation, and ordered the sergeant to walk about. He shouldered arms, and appeared to comply; upon which the Lieut. returned his sword to its scabbard, and turned to walk away. But in the same instant Lake threw down the musket, and with a loud oath asserted his determination to persist in his disobedience. Lieut. Gamage became infuriated, made a short thrust, which, taking an upward direction, entered his body, and occasioned his almost instant death.

On the trial Lieut. Gamage made the following declaration. "Here, before God and my country, I most solemnly disclaim any intention to endanger the life of the deceased; and declare, I meant simply to intimidate him, and enforce obedience to my order. Acting on this principle, I several times struck the musket, which he held in his hand, and desired him to walk about. This seemingly had the desired effect. He shouldered arms, and my sword was returned to its scabbard. But in the very same instant, my soul still glowing with indignation at his outrageous behaviour, he with a ferocious air and aspect, accompanied by imprecations, again refused compliance, and dared me to the faial act. The imposing attitude of the man, the firm arrange

ment of his features, his high ingratitude and disdain, working upon my imagination, already infuriate with reiterated exasperation, shot like a flash of lightning across my brain. Reason forsook its seat, raging madness usurped the sway; and my sword, obeying its horrid mandate, was passed into his body. Cruel, cruel sword! which once plunged him into eternity, to appear unappointed before his God, and me into the deepest gloom of misery and remorse."

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On such ground the Lieutenant pleaded not guilty of the crime of deliberate murder. The court martial, however, sentenced him to death, but recommended him to the mercy of the government.

Great exertions were made to procure a mitigation of his punishment, but in vain. The affair was made a cabinet question, and the law lords were consulted. After three weeks of corroding sorrow and suspense, the unhappy Gamage was informed that his pardon was impossible. At first this intelligence overpowered him. All the disgrace and ignominy of his sentence then appeared present to his imagination. The clergyman, who attended him, states, that "The struggle was severe, but he rose from it triumphant. The Almighty touched his heart, and he became a convert to real christianity; his last day was spent in acts of piety, gratitude, and affection. I passed the night on board the Griffon; was with him late and early, yet I can give but a faint picture of his happy state. He was composed, re

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