First, His Miracles. The Blind receive their sight, the Lame walk, the Lepers are cleansed, and the Deaf hear, and the Dead are raised, and the Poor have the Gospel preached to them; This was foretold, Isa. 35. 5, 6. Then the Eyes of the Blind shall be open, and the Ears of the Deaf shall be unstopped: Then shall the Lame leap as an Hart, and the Tongue of the Dumb shall sing. And then for his setting afoot the Gospel, compare Isa. 61. 1. with Luke 4. 18. Isa. 61. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good Tidings unto the Meek: He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening the Prison to them that are bound. Luk. 4. 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the Captives, and recovering of sight to the ⟨p. 217⟩Blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable Year of the Lord. And, Luke 4. 21. This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your Ears. This is here expressed, The Poor have the Gospel preached to them: [Greek or Hebrew] The Poor are Evangelized; have not only the Promises of the Gospel offered to them, but the impression and power of it is left upon their Hearts: By the Poor, may be meant the humble-minded, or Persons of the meanest and lowest Condition: The humble-minded, or such as were affected with their Sin and Misery. The Proud resist, and stand out against the Gospel; but the broken-hearted, thankfully accepted glad Tidings of this Salvation. The Messiah was to preach to the Poor, Luke 4. 18. But in Isa. 61. 1. 'tis the Meek. The Gospel doth affect the poor needy Soul, so as to put a stamp of Grace upon it. They that are sensible of their Sin and Misery, are the proper Objects of this Dispensation: or else it may be meant of Persons of the meanest and lowest condition. The Christian Church was made up of such at first; James 2. 5. Hearken my beloved Brethren, Hath not God chosen the po•r of this World rich in Faith, and Heirs of ⟨p. 218⟩the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? And, 1 Cor. 1. 26. For ye see your Calling, Brethren, how that not many wise Men after the Flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.
First, His Miracles. The Blind receive their sight, the Lame walk, the Lepers are cleansed, and the Deaf hear, and the Dead are raised, and the Poor have the Gospel preached to them; This was foretold, Isa. 35. 5, 6. Then the Eyes of the Blind shall be open, and the Ears of the Deaf shall be unstopped: Then shall the Lame leap as an Hart, and the Tongue of the Dumb shall sing. And then for his setting afoot the Gospel, compare Isa. 61. 1. with Luke 4. 18. Isa. 61. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good Tydings unto the Meek: He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening the Prison to them that are bound. Luk. 4. 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the Captives, and rec•vering of sight to the ⟨p. 217⟩Blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable Year of the Lord. And, Luke 4. 21. This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your Ears. This is here expressed, The Poor have the Gospel preached to them: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 The Poor are Evangelized; have not only the Promises of the Gospel offered to them, but the impression and power of it is left upon their Hearts: By the Poor, may be meant the humble-minded, or Persons of the meanest and lowest Condition: The humble-minded, or such as were affected with their Sin and Misery. The Proud resist, and stand out against the Gospel; but the broken-hearted, thankfully accepted glad Tidings of this Salvation. The Messiah was to preach to the Poor, Luke 4. 18. But in Isa. 61. 1. 'tis the Meek. The Gospel doth affect the poor needy Soul, so as to put a stamp of Grace upon it. They that are sensible of their Sin and Misery, are the proper Objects of this Dispensation: or else it may be meant of Persons of the meanest and lowest condition. The Christian Church was made up of such at first;
