-quickening words--Believe and Live.'"

2. The apostle next concentrates attention upon one leading _branch_ of
this great theme.

Having put the whole subject before us in the word salvation, he now
fixes our thought upon _the relation which Christ sustains to it_.
"Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was
in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of
Christ, and the glory that should follow." The testimony which is here
said to be borne to Christ, is by the Spirit, and the signification of
the Spirit in the testimony is that which the prophets sought. He who in
the text is called "the Spirit of Christ," in the following verse is
designated the Holy Ghost, so that there can be no doubt as to the person
referred to. He is variously spoken of as "the Spirit of God"--"the
Spirit of the Father"--"the Spirit of the Son"--"the Holy Spirit," and He
is the third person in the Holy Trinity. "In the entire and undivided
unity of the Godhead, there is a Trinity of personal subsistences;
consubstantial, co-equal, and co-eternal." It was this "Spirit of
Christ" who inspired the prophets; for these "holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

(i.) They sought the signification of the Spirit as to the _Saviour's
person_. "Searching _what_." This expression is said to mean either
what _time_; or what _people_; or what _person_. But looking at the
whole passage it seems most naturally to refer to Him who is the subject
of these predictions. They therefore diligently enquired as to who He
was, of whom they, under inspiration, had been speaking.

(ii.) They also studied the prophecies as _to the time of his coming_:
"What manner of time?" This phrase has a twofold application. It may
refer to that particular period of the world's history when the Saviour
should come to endure his sufferings and enter into his glory. So Daniel
reckoned up the number of the weeks, and sought to understand the time.

It may also have reference to "the character and condition of the age"
when He should become incarnate. "What _manner_ of time?"

We are now brought to the testimony itself which the Spirit beforehand
gave.

(iii.) _The Saviour's sufferings_, in their relation to our salvation.
"The sufferings of Christ."

We limit ourselves to two thoughts: these sufferings _were predicted_,
and those predictions _were fulfilled_. Nearly the whole of the Old
Testam