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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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eoeptiveness, as it may be called, which was <strong>the</strong><br />

moral condition alike <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> outward help, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> inward blessing which he received. One thing,<br />

however, it is <strong>of</strong> importance to notice. We must not<br />

suppose, that when, to <strong>the</strong> request that <strong>Jesus</strong> would<br />

come down to Capernaum to perform <strong>the</strong> cure, <strong>the</strong><br />

Master replied, that unless <strong>the</strong>y saw^ signs <strong>and</strong><br />

wonders <strong>the</strong>y would not believe. He meant <strong>the</strong>reby<br />

to convey that His Jewish hearers, in opposition to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Scunaritans, required * signs <strong>and</strong> wonders* in<br />

order to believe. For <strong>the</strong> application <strong>of</strong> * <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong>ficer' was itself an expression <strong>of</strong> faith, although<br />

imperfect. Besides, <strong>the</strong> cure, which was <strong>the</strong> object<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> application, could not have been performed<br />

without a miracle. What <strong>the</strong> Saviour reproved, was<br />

not <strong>the</strong> request for a miracle, which was necessary,<br />

but <strong>the</strong> urgent plea that He should come down to<br />

Capernaum for that purpose, which <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r<br />

afterwards so earnestly repeated.* That request<br />

argued ignorance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> real character <strong>of</strong> •rer.^e<br />

<strong>the</strong> Christ, as if He were ei<strong>the</strong>r merely a Rabbi<br />

endowed mth special power, or else a miraclemonger.<br />

What He intended to teach this man was,

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