ARGUMENT FOR THE DIVARICATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. THE writings of the "New Testament" contain the Christian Religion, and were “REVEALED" by Jesus Christ for the good of man. They may be divided and arranged under two distinct heads, thus: : Thus, by disincumbering the Principles of the Christian Religion from Historical Facts, their universal adoption is facilitated. 1. THE genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, from Abraham to Joseph. 17. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen, and from David to the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen, and thence to Christ are fourteen generations. 18. The birth of Jesus Christ was when his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph; before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. On this account, Joseph, who was a just man, intended to put her away privately: but, being warned in a dream, he did not do it. 25. But he knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son; and he called his name JESUS. CHAPTER II. 1. Jesus was born at Bethlehem, in Judea, in the days of King Herod; the wise men came to the king at Jerusalem, and asked for the King of the Jews, saying they had seen his star in the East. 7. Herod inquired at what time the star appeared, and sent them to search for the young child. 11. At Bethlehem they saw the young child and Mary his mother, and presented gifts and frankincense to him. But, being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they took the young child and his mother and went into Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. For the King sought to kill the young child. 21. Joseph then took the young child and his mother, and went into the land of Israel. But, when he heard that Archelaus, the successor of Herod, reigned in Judea, though he was warned in a dream to return, he turned aside into Galilee, and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; for he was afraid of Archelaus. CHAPTER III. 2. Repent-for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. In order to obtain pardon for our offences, we must lead a virtuous life; and thus prepare ourselves for eternity. 6. Confession of sin, indicated by baptism. This is an outward and visible sign of the initiation of the infant into the New Dispensation, and a complete acknowledgment that as the child advances his REASON Will expand, and prove to be the inward spiritual grace which will be able to quell all the undue affections of SENSE. Whatever regards SENSE is visible; while all the moral laws, and whatever émanates from REASON, are invisible to the natural eye, though confirmed by Conscience in their absolute truth beyond the most palpable fact. So is faith greater than knowledge. 1. At this time John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness. He was dressed in a camel's hair garment with a leathern girdle round his waist: his food was locusts and wild honey. 5. And many persons from Jerusalem and about the Jordan were baptised by him. 11. John said, I, indeed, baptise with water unto repentance; but he that comes after me baptises with the Holy Ghost and with fire. 13. Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan, and was baptised by John. 1. "To be tempted of the devil" is to feel conscious that the inclinations of SENSE are striving to overcome the moral law seated in our REASON. Abstinence must be considered as an admirable corrective of all the irregular desires of SENSE, and must naturally allow REASON to assert its rights. Thus is man victorious in the good fight, by evincing the supremacy of REASON Over SENSE, making the law of God the supreme law, the law of spirit superior to the law of matter, the law of Syllogism eminently above the law of Sensation -strong evidence that the invisible or spiritual part of man, his REASON, is all-important, while the visible or material part of man, his body, is only relative, and endures but for a finite time. 4. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God. 7. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 17. Repent-for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Material, or Earthly. SENSE, 1. Then Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil; and, when he had fasted forty days, he was hungry; and the tempter said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to be made bread. 5. Then the devil took him into the holy city, and set him upon a pinnacle of the temple; and said, If you are the son of God, cast yourself down.-I will give you all these kingdoms if you will worship me. 12. When Jesus heard that John was in prison, he went into Galilee; he left Nazareth and dwelt in Capernaum. 17. Now Jesus began to preach, and, walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw the two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen; and he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. They followed him. Not far from thence he saw in a ship mending their nets John and James, sons of Zebedee; he called also to them; and they immediately left their ship and their father. 23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom in the Synagogues, and healing all manner of diseases among the people. |