years prefixed for their long captivity, as a punishment for rejecting Him, that they shall repent and become members of His community, dwell again in peace in their own land, and experience no more trouble. Ezekiel names Him the Righteous Prince, Who should spring up among his countrymen; Who should rule righteously, and take special care of His subjects, and Who should restore peace and happiness to Israel; displaying in the most sublime, beautiful, and impressive language the particular blessings they should receive from His happy government; then gives the terrible destruction of Gog, and his immense army, who would come in the last days to invade His dominions. Zechariah names Him the BRANCH that should bless all nations; tells that His presence should grace the temple of Jerusalem, that His countrymen would cruelly put Him to death, but God would elect Him an eternal high Priest in heaven and that all the world should finally see and experience His almighty power and glory. Micah says that He, who is eternal, shall be born a mortal in Bethlehem, Malachi declares He shall send His messenger before Himself, to lead the way, and make proclamation that it is God who shall suddenly, and shortly appear among men. The historical records of all the evangelists, who were eye-witnesses to our Lord Jesus Christ's ministry, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension, positively confirm the testimony of these ancient inspired writers in every particular. Then, we may safely conclude that no history is so well authenticated as that of the Messiah; and may rest convinced that those who disbelieve are hardened by wickedness, and prejudiced through fear of punishment; wishing that gospel to be false which condemns their evil actions, though they cannot bring proof to contradict it, nor in one solitary circumstance prove it false. Homer and Virgil sang of the exploits of their deities and heroes; and though their songs are fiction, yet they have gained the praise of future generations; may not then the christian with more propriety humbly sing the praises of his Creator and Redeemer, by recording the great and stupendous acts of Creation and Redemption, as given in the sacred writings, in English metre, and attempt to illustrate sacred truths by the efforts of poetic genius? This is attempted in the following work; and the Author has strictly, to the best of his judgment, been directed by the true sense and meaning of the sacred text, in' the composition of it. Yet he may have erred, therefore the reader is requested to compare his paraphrase with the original, before he places implicit reliance upon all that is written. In illustrating so important a subject truth must be told without favor or partiality for any party; this the Author believes he has done, and the reader may peruse his work with that impression upon his mind. EDWARD STRANGWAYES. LEASES, NEAR BEDALE, YORKSHIRE, OCTOBER 10TH, 1830. CONTENTS. THE CAREFUL PERUSAL OF THE FOLLOWING PAGES WILL GREATLY MOSES describes the Creation, and informs the world that the stupen- dous work was performed, by the Omnipotent power of God, in six ...... The garden of Eden described The first Marriage solemnized 635 ...... The first commandment given by God to man to prove his obedience. ...... The rebellion against God, of Satan and the apostate angels, and their Malice and revenge prompt them to attempt the destruction of the human race, by tempting our first Parents to disobey the com- ...... The devil's hypocrisy; to which man listens, by it is deceived, and God brought a flood of waters to destroy the world for wickedness, ...... ...... ...... The terrible devastation caused by this flood, of which convincing ...... Nothing but wickedness caused God thus to destroy mankind At God's command the waters recede and nature revives God confuses the language of men and they disperse over the earth ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... Faith in the law cannot save man,-as all violate it, therefore must by it be found guilty before God: but God through the eternal and unspotted sacrifice of His Son will pardon all penitent believers in Redemption is therefore the christian's hope, who nevertheless must The destruction of Sodom and Gomorra, the plagues of Egypt, and ...... The giving of the moral law for a rule of life ...... The Almighty declares to Moses that if the children of Israel will be obedient that they shall prosper, if not that their state and polity shall be totally destroyed by the Romans. Moses repeats the same, but adds that they shall finally believe in the Messiah, become His penitent servants, and then be restored to their native land David introduces his magnificent prophecies respecting the Messiah ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... He then produces the Messiah offering Himself to His Father to be- come the sacrifice for sin to redeem mankind from its penalty, and the Father signifying His pleasure at His Son's merciful proposal: then exultingly declares that the momentous act which grants peace and salvation to man, is sealed and ratified in the courts of He gives praise for it; but declares that the children of Israel will He then foretels his Redeemer's resurrection from the grave, and His ascension into heaven, and again introduces God the Father decla- |