It might here be infifted on, with much force, that no man, who knew himself not to be the Meffias here prophefied of, would attempt this fcheme of a triumphal entry, which he might be morally certain would redound to his difgrace and infamy, and not to his praife and honour. But omitting this confideration, we will only infift, that if we could fuppofe a man who fhewed fenfe and wisdom on other occafions to fall into fuch a fnare of vanity, we may be fure that the event would have convinced him how very ill he judged in making the experiment.-An attempt to ride triumphant into the great and royal city of David, Jerufalem, on an unbacked foal of an afs, as the Son of David, as the King of Ifrael, could not fail to expofe him to the utmost contempt and ridicule, had he not poffeffed thofe miraculous powers which he really and efficaciously enjoyed; and had he not really been able to maintain the auguft character which he affumed. But our bleffed Redeemer well knew that he was the Son of God as well as the Son of Man; that he had committed unto him all power from on high; that he could fway the unruly wills and affections of finful man; and therefore he courageously and prudently affumed the character of the Son of David; of the King of Ifrael; of him who came in the name of the fupreme Lord, God the Father, to deliver Ifrael; not the carnal but the fpiritual Ifraelites; and accordingly he bent before him the minds of the naturally obftinate and incredu lous multitude, and was received, as he well deferved to be, with Hofannahs in the Higheft!! In a word, the very extraordinary fulfilment of this remarkable prophecy, in all its minute circumstances, as recorded by the prophet Zechariah, producing fuch fingular effects on the attending multitude as the means made ufe of were, in a natural way, by no means calculated to produce; fully proves, that Jefus was the real and true Meffiah who had fo long been expected by the Jewifh nation: and confequently that the religion which he delivered was true!!!

Several ftriking and very important reflections arise natu rally from the view we have here taken of this remarkable prophecy in the Old Testament, and the exact fulfilment of it which is recorded in the New Testament.

In the first place, it is apparent to a very flight degree of reflection, that the difpenfation of Chriftianity hath always been highly protected, and peculiarly favoured by the Providence of Almighty God, from the earliest period of time. At certain times and feasons, as feemed good to the wisdom of God,

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fundry Prophets were raised up to comfort and support the minds of the faithful with the certain expectation of the Meffiah, when the fulness of time fhould come for his appearance upon earth. That these predictions fhould be fo exactly fulfilled as the New Teftament informs us they were, affords the strongest proof of the overshadowing care and protection of a gracious God: for if they had not been brought about by the Almighty power of God, they could never by any ordinary or human means have been carried into execution.

The triumphal entry of the Meffiah into Jerufalem, as we have proved above, must by mere human means have turned out to the difgrace of thofe concerned in it, inftead of their honour. And the fame obfervation may likewise be extended to many other circumftances of our Lord's miniftry.

In the fecond place, these marks and tokens of the true Meffiah, which were recorded in these antient prophecies, were fo particular and extraordinary, that the Jewifh nation, if they chose to attend to them, might know for certain by them, when he did really come; and confequently might prepare themselves to receive him with that honour which was fo eminently his due. That fome few of the Jews fully understood the prophecies in general, and this one in particular, is evident from the triumph with which the multitude hailed his approach into Jerufalem: and that much greater numbers did not comprehend it, must be attributed to their miftaking this particular prophecy, or elfe to their overlooking it wilfully in the pride of their hearts, and expecting him to come furrounded with temporal honours and power. But this mistake of the Jewish nation concerning the nature of our Lord's kingdom, is no objection to the truth or reality of it; and is to be attributed folely to the pride and hardness of

their hearts.

In the third place, it is evident, that a religion which is thus attefted by prophecies and their exact fulfilment, by miracles and the overshadowing protection of a gracious Providence, is "worthy of all acceptation," and deferving of the fulleft and moft intire credit from all who will take the trouble of fearching into the nature of the evidence by which it is fupported.

Finally, let us endeavour to prove the fincerity of our Faith in this holy and pure religion, by the exactnefs of our obedience to the commands which it enjoins :-Let us be feech the Almighty Spirit of purity and truth to affift our

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endeavours after holiness, by the powerful influence which it fheds abroad in our hearts :-Let us ufe our utmost exertions with these holy aids, without which we can do nothing, to live holy, righteous, and pious lives, whilft we continue upon earth, that we may hereafter receive a crown of glory, and unfading felicity in the Heavens above, for ever and ever,

Amen.

FAMILY PRAYERS.

(Concluded from page 263.)

For the EVENING.-Being fanding.

Master. IN the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft.-An/wer. Amen.

M. Lord, as the night calls us to our beds, we must one day go to our graves.-A. O make us wife to confider our latter end.

Then fhall follow the Introit.

M. Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour: until the evening.-A. The days of man are but as grafs: for he flourisheth as a flower of the field.

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M. For as foon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone: and the place thereof fhall know it no more.-A. Man is like a thing of nought: his time paffeth away like a fhadow.

M. For a thoufand years, O Lord, in thy fight are but as yesterday seeing that is paft as a watch in the night.-A. As foon as thou fcattereft them, they are even as a sleep: and fade away fuddenly like the grass.

M. In the morning it is green, and groweth up: but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.-A. For when thou art angry, all our days are gone: we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.

M. The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be fo ftrong that they come to fourfcore years: yet is their ftrength then but labour and forrow, fo foon paffeth it away, and we are gone.-A. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

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M. Let my prayer be set forth in thy fight as the incense: and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening facrifice.-A. Keep me as the apple of an eye: hide me under the fhadow of thy wings.

M. O fpare me a little, that I may recover my ftrength: before I go hence, and be no more feen.-A. Confider, and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I fleep not in death.

M. For thou fhalt light my candle: the Lord my God fhall make my darknefs to be light.-A. I will lay me down. in peace, and take my reft: for it is thou, Lord, only that makeft me dwell in fafety.

M. I will behold thy prefence in righteoufnefs: and when I awake up after thy likeness, I fhall be fatisfied with it.-A. Into thy hands I commend my fpirit: for thou haft redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.

M. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghoft.-A. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever fhall be: world without end. Amen.

Firft LESSON.-Then all fay the Hymn.

O JESUS CHRIST, thou joyful light of the facred glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy, bleffed Father: we now being come to the fetting of the fun, and feeing the evening light, do laud and praife the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit of God. Thou art worthy to have hymns at all times fung unto thee with holy voices, O Son of God, who giveft life. Therefore the world glorifieth thee. Amen.

M. Let us fervently and intenfely pray to God through his Chrift.-A. Lord, have mercy: We befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

Here kneel down.

M. O thou, who infpireft thy Saints with fongs in the night, and givest wholefome fleep to thy beloved; whofe name we will think of in the night feafon, and will keep thy law: let thy protection and mercy be upon us, and preferve our lying down and our rifing up.-A. From this time forth and even for evermore.

M. O thou, who didft at midnight raife the prophet David, and Paul, and Silas, to fing praises to thee, because of thy righteous judgments: make us in our beds to think with gladness upon thee, whofe presence maketh our darknefs to be light-4. And fave us.

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M. O thou, who haft compared thy fecond coming to that of a bridegroom at midnight: let this cry, Behold the bridegroom cometh, be conftantly founding in our ears; and grant that we may always be in readiness with oil in our lamps, to go out and meet him :-A. And fave us.

M. O thou, who waft in the evening taken down from the crofs, and laid in the fepulchre; kill in us, we beseech thee, the body of fin, and bury in thy grave all our corrupt affections, hiding and covering up our evil with thy good works;-A. And fave us.

Second LESSON.-Then the Interceffion.

M. O LORD, who haft commanded us to make prayers and interceffions for all others as well as for ourselves, we commend to thy favour and divine providence the wants and neceffities of all mankind.-A. Lord, have mercy: We befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

M. Particularly, O Lord God, we implore thy mercy. for this finful nation, for the iniquity of the land is exceeding great.-A. Lord, have mercy: We befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

M. Lord, let it be thy good pleasure to inspire continually. the universal church with the fpirit of truth, unity, and concord; and to blefs all bifhops, priefts, and deacons, with apoftolical graces, exemplary lives, and found doctrine. -A. Lord, have mercy: We befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

M. O let it be thy good pleasure to fave and defend the King from all his enemies; make his reign happy, and grant that under his government we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and honefly.-A. Lord, have mercy: We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

M. Lord, let it be thy good pleasure to grant to all magiftrates integrity and zeal for religion; to the gentry and commonalty pious and juft, charitable, humble, and contented hearts; and to the whole nation healthful, fruitful, and peaceful times.-A. Lord, have mercy: We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

M. Lord, let it be thy good pleasure to grant to all Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Hereticks converfion, to all malefactors and wicked men timely repentance, and to all holy perfons increase of grace and perfeverance.-A. Lord, have mercy : We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

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Vol. XIII. Churchm. Mag.for November 1807.

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