On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
supposed to be : there certainly is no direct evidence of such an application . This , however , is clear from the abovecited passages , that it does not necessarily convey that idea . We proceed . Secondly , to inquire what is intended by the body of Moses , the subject of the contention between Michael
and the Devil . In the New Testament , Moses is frequently used to signify , not the person , but the law or dispensation of Moses . In John v . 45 , our Lord says to the Jews , " Do not think
that I will accuse you to the Father : there is one that accuseth , even Moses , " ( i . e- the law of Moses , called the " ministration of condemnation , " ) " in whom ye trust . " Again , Acts xv . 21 : " Moses of old time had in
every city them that preach him , being read" ( i . e . his writings being read ) ' * every Sabbath-day . " In 2 Cor . iii . Paul , speaking of the blindness of the Jews , says , " For until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away
in reading- the old covenant , or dispensation , which vail is done away in Christ j but even unto this day , when Moses / ' i . e . the old covenant , " is read , the vail is upon their heart . " We are not , therefore , under the
necessity of understanding the phrase , the body of Moses , literally ; it may be used here figuratively to signify the Mosaic code , or the body of the laws and institutions of Moses , or of the church formed under that dispensation of which he was the mediator . Macknight , on this passage in the
Epistle of Jude , says , " He , the apostle , may refer to the angel of the Lord , before whom Joshua the high priest is said , Zech . iii . 1 , to have stood , Satan being at his right hand to resist him , namely , in his design of restoring the Jewish Church and State , called
by Jude the body of Moses , just as the Christian Church is called by Paul the body of Christ- " We have before endeavoured to prove that Jude not only refers to this passage in Zechariah , but that he has in fact made a direct quotation from it ; his making use of the word diubolos , which the
Septuagint here makes use of , and from which Jude seems to have taken it , may be urged as an additional argument in proof of that point : especially as that version was in general use in the days of Jesus Christ and
Untitled Article
his apostles , and from which they appear to have made their quotations . Let us then inquire into the meaning of this part of the prophecy of Zechariah referred to by Jude , " and see whether it will not lead to some
clear idea of the nature of the dispute between Michael and the Devil about the body of Moses , which he mentions . The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were raised up and sent at the time of the return of Israel from the Babylonish captivity , to encourage the hearts and to strengthen the hands of Zerubbabel and Joshua in the work
of building Jerusalem and the Temple , and in re-establishing the church and worship of God . Zechariah is directed to cry , saying , " Thus saith the Lord of hosts , I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy ; therefore saith the Lord , I will return to Jerusalem with
mercies , my house shall be built in it , saith the Lord of hosts . Cry yet , saying , Thus saith the Lord of hosts , my cities through prosperity shall yet
be spread abroad , and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion , and shall yet choose Jerusalem . " Chap . i . 14 , 16 , 17- And again , " The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house ;
his hands shall also finish it . " Ch . iv . 9 . In building the Temple and restoring the worship of God , they acted under the authority of the Kings of Persia . * ' In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia , ( that the word of the Lord by
the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled , ) the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia , that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom , and put it also in writing " , saying , Thus saith Cyrus king- of Persia , The Lord God of heaven hath
given me all the kingdoms of the earth ; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem , which is in Judah . Who is there among you of all his people ? His God be with him , and let him go up to Jerusalem , which is in Judah , and build the house of the Lord God of Israel . **
Ezra i . 1—3 . Notwithstanding this proclamation of Cyru 3 , the adversaries of Judah made great opposition to the building of the Temple , and endeavoured to frustrate the design . " They weakened the hands of tke people of Judah , and troubled them
Untitled Article
Attempt to illustrate Jude , ver . 9 . Letter III . 739
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1822, page 739, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2519/page/19/
-