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chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed, Isai, liii, 5.

The different stages of the sufferings of the Messiah were predicted by the prophets, and the sufferings of Jesus exactly correspond with their predictions.-The conspiracy of the rulers against him. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us, Ps. ii. 2, 3.—The treachery of Judas. It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him: but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance, Ps. Iv. 12, 13.-The price for which he was sold. They weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver,' Zech, xi. 12.-What became of it. 'And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter; a goodly price that I was prized at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord,' Zech. xi. 13, The chief priests bought with the thirty pieces of silver the potter's field to bury strangers in, Matt. xxvii. 7.-The flight of the disciples. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered,' Zech. xiii. 7. When Jesus was apprehended' all the disciples forsook him and fled, Matt. xxvi. 56. -His patience under the most cruel treatment before Caiaphas and Pilate. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting,' Isai, 1. 6.—His silence in the presence of his judges. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth, Isai. liii. 7.The rage of his enemies. Pilate wished to chastise him, and to let him go. But the mob were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed,' Luke xxiii. 23. Well might the Messiah say, Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have

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beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion,' Ps. xxii. 12, 13. -The parting of his garments, and the casting of lots for his vesture. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture,' Ps. xxii. 18.-The death by which he should die. The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet,' Ps. xxii. 16. His excruciating pain, when the cross was raised from its horizontal position, and was fixed in the ground. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint,' P8. xxii. 14. His violent thirst. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws,' Ps. xxii. 15. The cruel aggravation of his sufferings by his enemies. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink,* ·Ps. lxix. 2).—The desertion of him by his friends. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none,' Ps. lxix. 20.-The insults of the spectators. All they that see me, laugh

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me to scorn. They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him, Ps. xxii. 7, 8., They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,' Matt. xxvii. 39. The chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him,' Matt. xxvii. 41. 43.-Amid all this, his making intercession for the transgressors,' Isai. liii. 12. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,' Luke xxiii, 34. His prayer to God occasioned by that apparent desertion, which constituted an essential, and perhaps the principal part of his sufferings. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Ps. xxii. 1.His dying wor. Into thine hand I commit my spirit,' Ps. xxxi. 5.-His crucifixion between two malefactors, and his burial in the grave of a rich man. He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death," Isai. liii. 9.

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Thus was the Messiah brought into the dust of death," VOE. M.

U

Princeton University Library

32101 066134840

Ps. xxii. 15. But, notwithstanding the sorrows of death compassed him, God heard his voice out of his temple, and his cry came before him. Then the earth shook and trembled. He bowed the heavens also, and came down. He sent from above; he took him; he drew him out of many waters. He brought him forth also into a large place he delivered him, because he delighted in him, Ps. xviii. He did not leave his soul in the invisible world; neither did he suffer his holy One to see corruption, Ps. xvi. 10.

Having continued with his disciples-forty days, he ascended on high; he led captivity captive; he received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them, Ps. lxviii. 18. 'God went up with a shout; the Lord with the sound of a trumpet,' Ps. xlvii. 5. The gates of heaven lifted up their heads, and the everlasting doors were lifted up, that the LORD of hosts might come in,' Ps. xxiv. He entered into the presence of God, where there is fulness of joy; and sat at his right hand, where there are pleasures for evermore, Ps. xvi. 11.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession,' Heb. iv. 14. I pray, my beloved daughter, that you and I, and your dear Mother, may not be of them who draw back unto perdition; for then only shall we be made partakers of the heavenly crown, if we persevere unto the end.

Your mother's letter will contain an account of every thing that has occurred since you left us.

We shall continue to remember you constantly at the throne of grace, and we entreat you to pray constantly

for us.

Do not fail to let us hear frequently from you..

I ever remain, my dearest Sophia,

Your affectionate father,

ABRAHAM LEVI.

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