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L  I  B  R  A^  R  Y 

OF    THE 

Theological    Seminary 

PRINCETON.     N.    J. 


Booh- 


BR  115  .P8  .A48  1815   v.l 
Allwood,  Philip. 
Twelve  lectures  on  the 
prophecies  relating  to  the 


y 


/-///-y/iy^y^^ 


■"*■■ 


* 


■  4:4^€- 


TWELVE 

LECTURES, 

ON 

THE  FKOPMECIES 

RELATING    TO 

THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH, 

AND  ESPECIALLY  TO  THE 

APOSTACY  OF  PAPAL  ROME, 

PREACHED  IN  THE  CHAPEL  OF  LINCOLN'S  INN^ 

From  the  Year  1811  to  1815; 

BEING  THE  NINTH  PORTION  OF  THOSE  FOUNDED 
BT  THE 

R[GHT  REVEREND  WILLIAM  VVARBURTON, 

LORD  BISHOP  OF  GLOUCESTER. 

BY  PHILIP  ALLWOOD,  B.D. 

FELLOW    OF  MAGDALEN   COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE. 

IN  TWO  VOLUMES, 
VOL.  I. 


HotVTa    J'oX</*a|£T6'    TO    Ka>^OV   X«TE%£T£. 

I.  Thess.  C.5,  V.20,  21. 


LONDON : 

PRINTED  BY   R.  WILKS,  89,  CHANCERY-LANE  } 

AND  SOLD  BY  F.  C.  AND  J.  RIVINGTON,  ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH- YARD, 
AND  J.  IIATCHARD,  PICCADILLY. 

1815. 


THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE 

David  William,  Earl  of  Mansfield, 

AND 

THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLF 

Richard  Ryder, 

TRUSTEES  FOR  THIS  LECTURE, 

THE  FOLLOWING  HUMBLE  ATTEMPT 

TO  AFFORD  A  FURTHER  ELUCIDATION  TO  THE 

PROPHETIC  WRITINGS  OF  SCRIPTURE, 

AND  TO  EVINCE  MORE  CLEARLY  THE  CERTAINTY 

AND  THE  INFINITE  IMPORTANCE 

OF  REVEALED  RELIGION, 

IS  INSCRIBED, 
AS  A  TESTIMONY  OF  HIGH  RESPECT  AND  ESTEEM, 

BY  THE  AUTHOR, 

PHILIP  ALLWOOD. 

IVandsworihj  Mai/  1,  1815, 


EXTRACT 


FROM 


THE  DEED  OF  TRUST, 


FOR 


Founding  this  Lecture. 


An  IndeHture,  bearing  date  July  21,   1769,  sets  forth, 
« That  The   Right   Reverend    William,  Lord    Bishop  of 
"  Gloucester,  has  transferred  ihe  Sura  of  ^500,  Bank  four 
"  per  Cent,  annuities  consolidated,  to  the  Right  Honour- 
<«  able  William   Loud    Mansfield,    Lord    Chief   Justice 
"  of  his  Majesty's   Court  of  King's  Pench,  The  Right  Ho-' 
«  nourable  Sir  John  Eardley  Wilmot,  Lord  Chief  Justice 
««  of  his  Majesty's  Court  of  Common  Pleps,  and  the  Honour- 
<«  able  Charles  Yorke,  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  in  the  County  of 
'«  Middlesex,   upon  Trust,   for  the   purpose  of  founding  a 
<'  Lecture,  in  the  form  of  a  Sermon,  To  prove  the  Truth 
««  of  Revealed  Religion  in  general,  and  of  the  Christian 
*<  in  particular,  from   the   completion  of  the  Prophecies 
"  in  the  Old  and  Nezo  Testament,  which  relate  to   the 
«'  Christian  Church,   and  especially  to  the  Aposiacy  of 
"  Papal  Rome  :  That,  in  case  of  any  vacancy  in  this  Trust 
"  by  the  decease  of  any  one  or  more  of  th«  above-meutjoncd 

a  4 


till  DEED  OF  TRUST. 

*'  Trustees,  the  place  or  places  shall  be  Jilled  up,  from 
**  tme  to  time,  and  as  occasion  may  require,  by  the  sur^ 
"  viving  Trustees,  or  Trustee,  or  by  the  Executors  of 
^<  the  Survivor  of  them ;  That  the  Trustees  shall  appoint 
"  the  Preacher  of  Lincoln^s  Inn  for  the  time  being,  or 
"  some  other  able  Divine  of  the  Church  of  England,  to 
i^  preach  this  Lecture :  That  the  Lecture  shall  be  preached 
'^  every  year  in  the  Chapel  of  Lincoln^s  Inn  (if  the  Soctm 
*f  ety  give  leave*),  and  on  the  following  days,  viz,  the 
^^f,rst  Sunday  after  Michaelmas  Term,  the  Sunday  next 
«  before  and  the  Sunday  next  after  Hilary  Term  z  That 
"  the  Lecturer  shall  not  preach  the  said  Lecture  longer  than 
"/or  the  term  of  four  years,  and  shall  not  again  be 
^'  nominated  to  preach  the  same  :  And,  Tvhen  the  term  of 
'^  four  years  is  expired,  that  the  said  Lecturer  shall  prifit 
**  and  publish,  or  cause  to  be  printed  and  published, 
**  all  the  Sermons  or  Lectures^  that  shall  have  been  sa 
^(  j)reached  by  him,^' 

*  The  Author  of  the  following  Course  was  faTOurcd  with  this  Per- 
mtssion« 


PREFACE. 


An  Event,  that,  in  the  first  instance,  filled 
the  mind  of  every  good  Man  in  the  Coun- 
try with  horrour,  and  the  remembrance  of 
which  still  excites  his  sincere  and  deep  re- 
gret, has  deprived  me  of  a  Gratification  1 
had  once,  perhaps  too  eagerly,  anticipated 
— that  of  being  permitted  to  inscribe  the 
Result  of  my  Labours  to  One  * ;  who  had 
rendered  himself  truly  illustrious,  by  his 
Piety,  his  Patriotism,  and  his  Talents ;  and 
to  whom,  in  conjunction  with  the  other 
distinguished  Persons,  who  are  at  present 
the  Trustees  for  this  Lecture,  I  have  been 
indebted  for  the  Honour  of  my  Nomina- 
tion to  deliver  the  following  Course.  The 
only  manner,  in  which  it  has  been  at  all 

*  The  late  Right  Honourable  Spencer  Perceval,  who  was 
assassinated  in  the  Lobby  of  the  House  of  Commons,  on  the 
nth  of  May,  1812. 


X  PREFACE. 

in  my  power  to  discharge  this  part  of  my 
Obligation,  is,  by  cherishing  the  memory 
of  his  Virtues ;  and  by  the  endeavour  I 
have  honestly  exerted  to  prove,  that  I  have 
not  been  unworthy  of  the  Confidence  he 
•had  reposed  in  me. 

The  mention  of  this  deplorable  occur- 
rence, affords  me  an  opportunity  of  saying 
a  few  words,  upon  the  Subjects  of  the  fol- 
lowing Pages.  * 

So  much  has  been  satisfactorily  urged 
by  many  of  those  eminent  men  who  have 
written  in  elucidation  of  the  Prophecies, 
concerning  true  and  false  Ideas  of  Pro- 
phecy, and  the  general  Argument  that  is 
to  be  deduced  from  it,  concerning  its  His- 
tory, the  Authority  of  the  various  x^rophe- 
tical  Books  of  Scripture,  and  the  Canons 
of  Interpretation  that  are  requisite  for  the 
complete  Analysis  of  them,  that  little  pro- 
bably remains  to  be  added  upon  these 
Points.  In  the  following  Lectures,  there- 
fore, I  have  avoided,  as  far  as  possible, 
treading  over  again  the  same  ground;  and, 
abstaining  altogetlier  from  abstract  reason- 


PREFACE.  xi 

ing*,   have  attempted   to  demonstrate  the 
Divine  Authenticity  of  these  sacred  Writ- 
ings merely  from  the  Events,  with  which 
many  of  their  most  striking  Predictions 
can  be  fully  proved  to  correspond.     This 
appeared  to  be  the  most  simple,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  the  most  powerful  mode  of, 
arguing,  that  could   be  adopted :  for  if  a 
Fact,  which  has  excited  the  astonishment 
of  Mankind,  or  has  been  marked  by  any 
distinguishing  aud  unprecedented  peculi- 
arity, which  has  given  rise  to  the  most  im- 
jiortant  results,  and  has  been  altogether 
unforeseen  (except  perhaps  from  the  hints 
derived  from  Revelation   itself)  by  those 
who  lived  at  the  time— if  such  a  fact  shall> 
upon  examination,  be  found  to  have  been 
either  expressly  foretold,  or  very  intelligi- 
bly described  in  figurative  language,  many 
ages  before  it  occurred  ;  then,  without  all 
doubt,  the  previous  Revelation  of  it  can 
only  have  proceeded  from  the  Communi- 
cation of  A  Being,  who  is  infinite  in  Know- 
ledge, to  foresee,  and  in  Power,  to  bring  to 
pass,  such  a  circumstance  as  this.      But 


2iii  PREFACE. 

if  this  mode  of  reasoning  be  allowed  any 
weight,  when  apj)lied  to  a  single  Event, 
liow  much  additional  strength  must  it  de- 
rive from  its  application  to  a  great  number 
of  such  instances  of  fulfilment ;  and  more 
esj>ecially  when  they  are  discovered  to 
form  parts  of  a  grand  Scheme  of  Dispen- 
sation, the  comprehension  of  the  whole  of 
which  does  far  surpass  Manx's  understand- 
ing !  How  irrefragable  does  it  become, 
when  employed  upon  a  train  of  unexam- 
pled Events,  which  have  succeeded  each 
other,  for  many  centuries,  in  a  regular  and 
unbroken  series,  and  according  to  an  ar- 
rangement that  had  been  previously  and 
most  explicitly  described ! 

Such  is  the  Principle,  which  has  formed 
the  basis  of  the  following  Disquisitions: 
and,  in  order  to  afford  it  the  more  com- 
plete illustration,  the  Subjects  to  which  it 
is  applied  are  resolved  into  two  grand  divi- 
sions— the  Prophecies  which  relate  to  the 
periods  that  were  prior  to  the  Disper- 
sion of  the  Jewish  Nation,  and  to  those 
which  have  been  subsequent  to  it.     The 


PREFACE,  xiii 

former  of  these  is  comprehended  within 
the  first,  and  the  latter  within  the  second 
Volume  of  the  present  Work. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  any  fur- 
ther particulars,  respecting  the  distribu- 
tion of  these  Materials ;  because  the  plan 
on  which  I  have  proceeded,  and  the  Con- 
nexion which  subsists  between  its  various 
parts,  will  be  sufficiently  manifest  from  the 
succeeding  Table  of  Contents. 

The  motive,  which  has  chiefly  operated 
in  inducing  me  to  adopt  a  Plan  so  exten- 
sive as  this,  is,  that  it  has  afforded  me  an 
opportunity   of  placing  many   important 
Particulars   in   a  new  light,    by  offering 
them  to  the  view  of  the  Reader  in  that 
jiatural  order  in  which  they  should  stand. 
It  has  also  enabled  me  to  establish  the 
genuine  import  of  a  variety  of  remark- 
able, and  highly  interesting  Predictions, 
both    in   the   Old   and  New  Testament  ; 
either    by  an    emendation    of  their  ver- 
sion;    or  by   pointing   out    the   intimate 
relation   they   bear  to   others  which   are 
more  explicit ;   or  by  both  these  means, 


xvi  PREFACE. 

the  Mediation  of  the  future  Redeemer, 
suggest  also  the  necessity  of  greater  Purity 
for  the  time  to  come,  in  order  to  render 
that  sacrifice  effectual  ?  Is  not  the  Fire 
which  purifies  and  refines  the  Gold,  the 
means,  likewise,  of  destroying  the  Dross  ; 
and  of  separating  the  baser  Metal  by 
which  it  was  allayed  ? 

The  only  way  of  affording  a  tolerably 
just  idea  of  that  wonderful  Book,  which 
occupies  nearly  the  whole  of  the  second 
Volume,  appeared  to  be— by  paraphras- 
ing, as  closely  as  possible,  and  as  far  as  my 
limits  would  permit,  the  various  parts  of 
which  it  consists,  in  the  order  in  which 
they  succeed  each  other.  This  mode  of 
proceeding,  may  perhaps  have  caused  some 
of  these  Discourses  to  deviate,  in  a  degree, 
from  the  usual  style  of  Sermons;  yet,  I 
trust,  it  will  be  found  to  have  made  suffi- 
cient compensation,  by  the  distinctness  of 
the  arrangement  it  has  pointed  out ;  by  the 
continuity  of  those  surprising  anticipations 
of  futurity  it  has  exhibited ;  and  by  the 
opportunities  it  has  allowed  me^  for  offer-^ 


PREFj\CE.  xvil 

ing  my  arguments  and  observations,  upon 
those  important  subjects,  the  clear  elucida- 
tion of  which  constituted  the  principal  mo- 
tive, in  the  mind  of  the  venerable  Prelate, 
for  the  founding  of  this  Lecture. 

It  has  been  entirely  out  of  my  power,  as 
greatly  exceeding  the  limits  prescribed  to 
this  Work,  to  notice  all  the  particular  in- 
stances, in  which  I  have  been  obliged  to 
differ  in  my  Conclusions  from  learned  and 
able  men,  who  have  preceded  me  in  this 
line  of  Research  ;  but  the  Reader,  who 
is  conversant  with  these  subjects,  will  be 
easily  able  to  discover  them  for  himself; 
and  I  trust  it  wall  appear,  that,  in  every 
case,  in  which  1  have  been  compelled  to 
express  such  dissent,  it  has  been  done  with 
that  degree  of  respect,  which  is  due  to  the 
Character  and  Talents  of  the  Person,whose 
opinions  I  have  endeavoured  to  refute. 

For  the  numerous  Notes,  which  occur 
throughout  the  following  Pages,  1  make 
no  Apology.  They  were  inserted,  as  re- 
quisite for  the  further  illustration  of  the 
Subjects  I  had  undertaken  to  discuss;  and 

b 


xviit  PREFACE. 

if  they  are  not  found  in  general  to  answer 
this  purpose,  no  Apology  can  be  justly 
admitted  in  their  favour. 

The  Connexion,  in  particular,  betwee^^ 
those  that  occur  in  the  Appendix  and  the 
parts  to  which  they  are  referred,  will  be 
rendered  obvious  by  the  Table  of  Con- 
tents, in  which  they  are  introduced  in  the 
same  places  that  they  would  have  occu- 
jned,  had  the  substance  of  these  Lectures 
been  thrown  into  the  form  of  a  regular 
Treatise.  And  some  of  these  will  be  found 
to  contain  distinct,  but  short  Dissertations 
upon  the  Subjects  to  which  they  relate; 
in  which  number  are^otes  A,  B,  C,  T,  V, 
W,  X*,  Y,  A  A. 

I  have  only  to  add,  that,  desirous  of  af- 
fording every  possible  degree  of  Convic- 
tion, with  respect  to  the  Truth  and  Cer- 

*  Gf  Mr,  Faber's  ingenious  and  .learned  Dissertation  or 
Daniers  Prophecy  of  the  Seventy  Weeks  I  was  ignorant,  at 
the  time  this  Note  (X)  was  written  ;  but,  since  my  perusal  of 
it,  I  have  not  seen  suilicient  reason  to  alter  any  thing  I  had 
written. 


PREFACE.  xix 

tainty  of  Revelation,  I  have  adduced,  a» 
frequently  as  circumstances  would  admit, 
the  evidence  of  her  greatest  Adversaries  iii 
her  behalf.  Nor  can  it  be  deemed  an  un- 
fair mode  of  Warfare,  to  turn  the  Arms  of 
Infidelity  against  herself,  whenever  we  can 
get  i^ossession  of  them.  For  this  reason  I 
Kave  made  repeated  refereaces  to  the  Jew- 
ish Expositors  themselves  ;  and  have  thus 
sjiewn,  how  truly,  in  an  equal  number  of 
instances,  they  have  referred  Prophecies 
of  the  Old  Testament,  which  relate  to  the 
Messiah,  to  that  same  divine  Saviour;  and 
have,  by  these  means,  afforded  a  certain 
degree  of  Confirmation  to  the  New  Tes^ 
tament ;  and,  in  the  same  degree,  con- 
demned the  Unbelief  of  the  Jewish  Nation 

9 

ever  since  their  final  Rejection  of  Jesus 
Christ.  To  tlie  ability,  the  profound  re-^ 
search,  and  the  Impartiality,  of  Mr.  Gib- 
bon, where  the  cause  of  Christianitij  was 
7iot  apparently  concerned,  I  am  under  still 
more  considerable  obligations,  for  a  greater 
number  of  much  more  striking  proofs  of  the 
Tvuth  of  Revelation ;  and  these  citatiuu.s 

b  % 


XX  '  PREFACE. 

will  also  be  found,  from  the  superior  ele- 
gance and  dignity  of  his  style,  to  form 
some  of  the  principal  Embellishments  of 
the  present  Work. 


A  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


TO 


rOlLUME  I. 


LECTURE  I. 


In  thee  shall  all  the  Families  of  the  Earth  he 
blessed.     Gen.  ch.  12,  v.  3. 


Introduction— The  general  design  of  the  present 
Course,  1,  founded  on  the  peculiar  nature  and.  importance 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  2.  The  absurdity  of  Philosophical 
Sceptiscism  when  applied  to  them,  A,  331.  The  wisdom  and 
utility  of  Establishments  directed  to  the  gradual  elucidatioa  pf 
the  Prophetic  Writings,  in  particular,  3, 

General  character  of  the  Prophecy  in  the  Text,  5. 
Antecedent  Revelations  relative  to  the  same  subject. 
First,  in  the  divine  Promise  made  to  the  primitive  Parents 
of  Mankind,  immediately  after  the  Fall,  6 ;  which  was  suf- 
ficiently intelligible   to  them,  6,  and  B,  337;  became  the 
ground  for  the  institution  of  sanguinary  Sacrifices,  6,  and  C, 
342  ;  and  had  the  memorial  of  it  transmitted  in  the  Gentile 
Worldj  D,  345.     A  further  Argument  deduced  from  it,   E, 
346. 


xxii  TABLE  OF 

Secondly,  in  the  Prophecy  of  Noah,  8  ;  a  brief  explana- 
tion of  that  part  of  it,  which  relates  to  the  present  subject,  9, 
and  F,  348. 

Repetitions  of  the  Promise  advanced  in  the  tei.i,  to  Abra- 
ham, 10  ;  to  Isaac,  11  ;  (an  argument  founded  on  this  latter 
circumstance,  11)  ;  to  Jacob  13. 

A  more  particular  statement  of  its  Import,  13  ;  it  has 
hitherto  been  only  partial  I j/  fulfilled,  16  i  yet  there  is  suffi- 
cient reason  to  believe,  that  the  whole  will  be  accomplished  ia 
its  season,  17. 

The  progress  of  its  accomplishment  traced. 

In  the  peculiar  blessedness  of  the  Patriarchs  to  whom  it 
was  vouchsafed,  18  ;  and  especially  in  the  additional  clear- 
ness of  the  Revelation  made  to  Jacob,  21,  and  G,  349;  also, 
in  the  peculiar  blessings  conferred  upon  his  Posterity,  while 
they  were  in  Egypt.  2^;  during  their  sojourning  in  the  Wil* 
derness,  23  ;  and  more  particularly  after  the  giving  of  their 
Law,  and  the  ordination  of  their  Religion,  24,  and  H,  352  ; 
and  ever  after,  in  the  chosen  Tribe  of  Judah,  till  the  coming 
of  Christ,  26,  and  1,  354,  This  People  likewise  served  to 
diffuse  some  knowledge  of  the  true  God  among  the  Gentile 
Nations,  with  whom  they  were  in  any  degree  concerned, 
28. 

But  its  accomplishment  became  more  evident  and  extensive 
after  the  Birth  of  Christ,  30.  A  knowledge  of  the  blessings 
resulting  from  his  Advent  was  confined,  indeed,  for  some  time 
to  Judaea,  31  j  but  after  the  day  of  Pentecost,  it  became 
pretty  generally  extended,  32.  The  reception  which  the 
heavenly  Truths  of  the  Gospel  met  with,  in  the  early  ages  of 
the  Church,  35,  and  K,  356 ;  but  this  was  by  no  means  fatal 
to  their  progress,  37 ;  the  Opposition  they  encountered,  and 
the  Victory  they  obtained,  expressly  foretold,  38.  Examples 
of  their  efficacy,  in  promoting  the  happiness  of  Mankind,  40. 
One  great  Causey  why  these  excellent  Effects  were  not  more 
sensibly  and  universally  felt,  for  many  ages,  in  Europe,  44. 
The  happy  consequences  that  have  resulted  from  the  partiai 


CONTENTS.  xxili 

removal  of  this  Cause ^  45.  The  assurance,  that  all  the 
Nations  of  the  Earth  will  become  blessed,  in  proportion  as 
the  action  of  this  and  other  adverse  Causes  is  diminished, 
46. 

Application  of  the  Subject  to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of 
thi«  Country,  47,  and  L,  358. 


LECTURE  IL 

The  Law  was  given  by  Moses  ;    hut  Grace   and 
Truth  came  by  Jesus  Christ.    John,  ch.  1,  v.  17. 

The  Ceremonial  Law  of  the  Hebrews  is  the  next  grand 
Scene  of  Development,  in  reference  to  the  Christian  Dis- 
pensation, 53 ;  and  that  it  was  preparatory  to  it  is  asserted, 
from  the  Consistency  and  Unity  of  Design,  observable  in 
both,  54. 

This  Unity  of  Design,  and  this  Subserviency  of  the  Mosaic 
to  the  Christian  Economy,  are  evidently  implied  in  the  words 
of  the  Text,  54  i  and  inferred  from  the  correspondence  of  the 
Meani  employed  to  the  E/irf  proposed,  55  i  and  from  the 
comparative  Obscurity  of  the  Ceremonial  Law,  55.  The  edu- 
cation and  habits  of  the  Israelites  rendered  such  a  Law  as  this 
peculiarly  applicable  to  them,  M,  359.  The  Advent  of  the 
Messiah,  and  his  ''  fulfilling  all  Righteousness,"  were  to  dis- 
pel every  degree  of  uncertainty,  56,  and  N,  362. 

Proofs  of  this  Adaptation  of  the  Means  to  the  End,  and 
of  this  comparative  Obscurity  of  the  Law, 

First,  from  the  Writings  of  Moses  and  the  Prophets, 
57—66  J 

Secondly,  from  the  Analogy  that  subsists  between  the 
Types  of  the  Jewish  Church,  and  their  Christian  Antitypes, 
66—90. 


±xU  TABLE  OF 

Tliirdly^  from  the  State  of  the  Jewish  Nation,  ever  since 
their  Rejection  of  Jesus  Christ,  90 — 101. 

I,  The  Testimony  of  Moses  concerning  a  future  Prophet, 
like  himself,  57 ;  an  inference  from  it,  59;  St.  Paul's  judg- 
ment upon  the  subject,  59-  The  inadequacy  of  the  Law  to 
the  ultimate  Design  of  Divine  Dispensation  rendered  evident, 
from  its  exclusive  nature^  60 ;  and  from  the  insufficiency  of 
the  Sacrifices  it  enjoined,  to  the  purposes  of  ultimate  Expi, 
ation,  6\,  Hence,  a  new  Covenant  is  clearly  predicted  by 
several  of  the  Prophets,  by  Isaiah,  63  j  by  Jeremiah,  6i; 
and  by  Malachi,  63.  And,  for  these  Reasons,  the  Mosaic 
Law  was  at  length  superseded,  65. 

IL  Our  Lord's  account  of  its  typical  Nature  and  Etiicacy, 
66.  Moses  was  himself,  in  very  many  respects,  a  Type  of  Him, 
68,  O,  363,  P,  ^Q5^  and  Q,  366.  The  great  expiatory  Sacri- 
fice, the  Paschal  Lamb,  was  most  eminently  typical  of  the 
Atonement  made  for  the  Sins  of  the  World,  72.  Examples 
to  illustrate  this,  73—80,  and  R,  369.  The  Tabernacle,  or 
Temple,  was  a  symbol  of  Christ,  81.  The  High-priesthood 
was  emblematical  of  His  supreme  Dignity  and  Office,  82.  The 
Baptism  of  the  Priests  was  typical  of  His,  83;  and  the 
Anointing  of  the  High  Priest  was  equally  so,  of  His  Unction 
by  the  Holy  Ghost,  84.  The  Burnt  Offerings  under  the 
Law,  had  a  plain  reference  to  the  Sacrifice  of  his  Death,  87  j 
the  Feast  of  Tabernacles  to  his  "  dwelling  among  Men,"  88, 
and  S,  271  ;  and  the  Feast  of  Pentecost  to  the  gathering  in  of 
the  First-fruits  of  the  Christian  Church,  89.  In  short,  the 
typical  Resemblance  of  the  Mosaic  to  the  Christian  Dispensa- 
tion  is  general,  89,  and  T,  375. 

III.  The  total  Insufficiency  of  the  Law  to  advance  the 
happiness  of  the  Jewish  race,  ever  since  their  rejection  of 
Christ,  90. ;  argued  from  the  peculiarities  of  their  Punish- 
ments  ^from  their  miraculous  Preservation  in  Misery,   91  ; 

from  the  very  Duration  of  their  Calamities,  94 ;  from  the 
judicial  Infatuation,  under  which  they  are  permitted  to  exis, 
95  ;  from  their  existing  also;  as  a  numero;i3  people  in  a  State 


CONTENTS.  xxT 

of  Dispersion,  g6;  and  without  any  civil  Polity  peculiar  to 
themselves,  97;  from  the  Impossibility  there  is,  of  their  even 
performing  their  religious  Duties,  according  to  the  Law  they 
profess,  97 ;  and  from  the  Hatred  and  Contempt,  in  which  they 
are  generally  held,  99, 
Conclusion,  100. 


LECTURE  in. 

I?i  those  days  came  John  the  Baptist,  preaching 
in  the  PVilderness  of  Judcea  ; 

And  saying  :  "  Repent  ye  ;  for  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven  is  at  hand,**        Matt.  ch.  3,  v.  1,  2. 


€C 


The  next  Prophecies  to  be  considered  are  those,  which  re- 
late to  John  the  Baptist,  as  the  harbinger  of  the  Messiah, 
103. 

Division  of  the  Subject : — 

First,  of  these  Prophecies,  as  relating  to  the  Person  and 
Character  of  John,  104 — 131. 

Secondly/,  as  deicribing  the  Circumstances  of  ths  World, 
at  the  time  of  his  appearance,  131 — 148. 

I.  The  most  early  of  these  Predictions  cited  and  explained, 
104 — 111.  Application  of  them  to  the  Baptist,  ai  represent- 
ing the  Scene  of  his  Ministry,  112,  the  Style  of  his  Life, 
113,  his  eminent  Qualifications  for  his  sacred  Office,  114, 
the  Effects  of  his  Ministry,  116,  and  the  peculiar  Object  of 
it,  117. 

A  suspension  of  all  further  Revelation  concerning  him,  till 
the  time  of  Malachi,  119  i  a  Prophecy  cited  from  the  Writ- 
ings of  that  Prophet,  120  ;  its  direct  Reference  to  John,  and 
to  the  sacred  Person  whom  he  was  appointed  to  precede,  121. 
A  particular  Conclusion  drawn  from  these  premises,  122. 

VOL,    I.  c 


xxvi  TABLE  OF 

A  second  Prophecy  cited  from  Malaclii,  124 ;  its  evident 
Relation,  under  the  name  of  Elias,  to  the  Person  and 
Ministry  of  John,  125—131. 

II.  Further  illustration  of  these  Prophecies,  from  their  vari- 
ous Reference  to  the  Circumstances  of  the  World,  at  the  time 
in  question,  131.  Po//^/ca/ Obstacles  to  the  Manifestation  of 
Christ  removed  according  to  the  Prediction  of  Isaiah,  132. 
^The  peculiar  Circumstances  of  the  Generation^  that  should 
be  distinguished  by  the  Ministry  of  John,  corresponded  mi- 
nutely with  that  of  Malachi,  134. 

The  very  Year  of  John's  preaching,  and  the  Subject  of 
it,  became  the  fulfilment  of  a  very  remarkable  Prophecy  of 
Daniel,  1?9,  and  were  foreshev^'n  in  the  Institution  and  Num- 
ber of  the  Jubilees,  W,  386. 

Conclusion,  148. 


LECTURE  IV. 

Ayul  beginning  at  Moses  and  all  the  Prophets, 
He  expounded  unto  iliem,  in  all  the  Scriptures^  the 
th ings  con cern ing  himself.     Luke,  ch .  2 1,  v.  27. 

The  mode  adopted  by  Christ,  for  establishing  the  faith  of 
his  disciples^  151.  The  ssme  sacred  Mean  of  Instruction  has 
descended  through  them,  and  their  successors,  to  the  present 
time,  152.  The  difference  between  the  advantages  enjoyed 
by  the  Apostles,  and  those  of  Christian  Ministers  in  subse> 
quent  ages,  and  especially  in  the  present,  155. 

The  next  Series  of  Evidences,  in  confirmation  of  the  Truth 
of  Christianity,  are  those  Prophecies,  which  relate  to  our. 
IjOtc]  personaliy^  155;  such  as. 

First,  those  that  relate  to  his  miraculous  Incarnation, 
157—162; 


CONTENTS.  xxvi' 

Secondly/,  to  the  Time  of  his  Advent,  162 — 212; 

Thirdhj,  to  the  Place  of  his  Birth,  214—216; 

Fourthly,  to  the  Line  of  his  Descent,  216 — 220; 

Fifthlij^  to  the  Style  of  his  life,  his  Disposition  aud  Man- 
ners, 220—259 ; 

Sixthly^  to  the  Circumstances  of  his  Passion,  Death, 
Resurrection,  and  Ascension  ;  and  the  Benefits  that  should 
result  from  them  (o  his  Churchy  259—270. 

I.  The  Event  of  the  Incarnation  plainly  asserted  by  St. 
Matthew,  St.  Luke,  and  St.  John,  I5y  \  as  unequivocally 
predicted  by  Isaiah,  158,  159;  promised  by  God  himself,  im- 
mediately after  the  Fall,  159,  and  312;  and  emblematically 
foreshewn  by, David,  160. 

II.  The  Time  of  the  Advent  of  the  Messiah  very  clearly  col- 
lected from  Daniel,  l62,  and  X,  392.  A  remarkable  approxi- 
mation to  it,  in  his  more  early  prediction  of  ''  the  Kingdom 
to  be  set  up  by  the  God  of  Heaven,"  l63  :  the  Comparison  of 
this  with  a  prophecy  of  Haggai,  165  ;  the  genuine  import  of 
this  latter  prophecy  fully  investigated,  165  Note  +,  and  Y, 
407.  There  results  from  this  com^dLxhon  a  certain  period^ 
within  which  the  promised  Messiah  must  have  made  his  ap*. 
pearance,  170.  The  comparison  of  the  sarne  prophecy  of 
Daniel  with  one  of  Jacob  cited  in  167,  171.  Conclusion 
of  the  Argument,  that  the  verij  Generation,  for  the  Birth  of 
Christ  was  expressly  foreshewn,  172.  The  geheral  Expecta. 
tion,  both  among  Jews  and  Gentiles,  of  the  rising  of  some 
illustrious  Potentate  about  that  time,  169,  173.  The  Testi- 
monies of  Tacitus  and  Suetonius,  as  to  the  Certainty  of  his 
Advent,  175;  and  also  that  of  Josephus,  176. 

The  before. mentioned  prophecies  of  Jacob  and  Haggai 
compared  together,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  very 
Year  of  his  Advent,  178—186. 

The  Prophecy  of  Balaam,  concerning  ''  the  Star  that 
"  should  rise  out  of  Jacob,"  considered,  in  relation  to  the 
same  point,  186,  &c.  its  primary  Application  to  David,  ; 
the  typical  Resemblance  subsisting  between  David  andChristj 

c2 


xxviii  TABLE  OF 

Z,  414;  its  reference  to  the  Messiah  proved  at  large,  188; 
compared  with  the  ETent,  196,  202  ;  Corroborative  Circum- 
stances deduced,  from  the  history  of  Zoroaster,  and  from  the 
Religion  of  the  Persian  Magi,  197. 

Recapitulation  of  the  preceding  Arguments,  207,  with  a 
direct  application  of  them  to  the  Jewish  Race,  210. 


LECTURE  V. 

The  same  Subject  continued, 

III.  The  Place  of  the  Messiah's  Birth  expressly  foretold 
by  Micah,  and  thence  pointed  out  to  Herod  by  the  Chief 
Priests  and  Scribes,  214,  and  368. 

IV.  The  Line  of  his  Descent  exhibited  with  equal  clear- 
ness, 217 ;  especially  by  Jeremiah,  ibid,  i  and  by  Isaiah,  218  ; 
so  as  to  be  unreservedly  acknowledged  by  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees  themselves,  219. 

V.  The  Style  of  his  Life,  his  Disposition,  and  MannerF, 
as  illustrated  by  his  various  Offices  and  Relations,  all  the 
Subjects  of  Prediction,  220. 

His  Offices  were  those  of  King,  Priest,  and  Prophet, 
concerning  each  of  which,  with  its  attendant  Relations,  the 
Prophets  discourse  largely  : — 

First,  as  a  King,  he  is  celebrated  in  the  Psalms,  222 ; 
and  by  Isaiah,  224  i  Jeremiah,  225 ;  Micah,  226  ^  and  Daniel, 
230.     Corresponding  acknowledgments,  230. 

That  his  Kingdom  was  not  to  be  *'  of  this  World,"  was 
clearly  shewn  by  Isaiah,  231,  and  Zechariah,  232.  The 
Agreement  of  these  Prophecies  with  the  Facts,  232,  233. 

Secondly^  His  Humiliation,  that  he  might  fulfil  the  Office 
of  a  Priest,  233  ;  foreshewn  by  Daniel,  234  j  and  by  Isaiah, 
235^  236.      Illustrative   Facts,  237.     His  Disposition  and 


CONTENTS.  xxlx 

Manners,  in  exact  correspondence ;  and  particularly  de. 
scribed  by  various  Prophets,  240.  The  Divinity  of  his 
Natnre  evident  through  all,  245. 

Thirdly^  as  A  Prophet,  foretold  by  Moses,  250  i  con- 
fessed as  such  by  the  Jews  themselves,  251  j  pointed  out,  as 
an  Instructor^  anointed  by  God,  by  Isaiah,  252  ;  and  the 
very  style  of  his  Teaching  typically  foreshewn  by  David,  253. 
His  Miracles^  and  the  purposes  to  which  he  applied  them, 
particularly  described  by  Isaiah,  254.  His  Prophecies^  with 
their  completions,  256. 

VI.  His  being  betrayed,  &c.  foretold  by  Jeremiah,  259  i 
and  the  Desertion  of  his  Disciples,  by  Zechariah,  260.     The 
Efficacy  of  his  Death,  typified  by  Moses,  260.     Events,  that 
attended  his  Crucifixion,   literally  foretold  by  David,  261. 
The  Character  of  his  Associates  in  Suifering,  predicted  by 
Isaiah,  262 ;    as  also  the  cruel  Indignities  he  should  undergo 
after  his  apprehension,  263 ;  and  his  Entombment,  263.    The 
very  Scene  of  his  Sufferings  foreshewn  to  Abraham,  264. 
His   Resurrection,  and  the   resulting  Benefits,  foretold  by 
-  Isaiah,  265 ;    and  by  David,  266.     The  period  before  his 
Revival  typified  by  the  sign  of  the  Prophet  Jonas,  267.     His 
Ascension,  foretold  by  David,  267  ;  and  the  Blessings  arising 
from  his  Mediation,  by  David,   268  j  and  Isaiah,  269 ;  and 
4gain  by  David,  270,  and  others,  ibid. 

Conclusion,  271,  &c.j  containing  an  Application  of  the 
Subject,  to  the  Jews^  272 ;  to  the  Members  of  the  Church 
©f  Rome,  273  ;  to  Arians  and  Sociniaus,  274 ;  to  sincere 
Believers  in  Revelation,  277, 


XXX  TABLE  OF 

LECTURE  VI. 

BeJiold,  your  House  in  left  unto  you  desolate. 
For  I  say  unto  you^  ye  shall  tiot  see  me  henceforth, 
till  ye  shall  say — Blessed  is  he  that  comet h  in  the 
Name  of  the  Lord.     Matt.  ch.  23,  v.  38^  39. 

Summary  of  the  preceding  Lectures,  279  ;  the  Argument 
resulting  thence,  in  proof  of  the  divine  Inspiration  of  the 
Jewish  Prophets,  280,  and  of  the  Truth  of  the  Doctrines 
connected  with  the  Facts  they  have  foretold,  281.  But  the 
evidence  of  Revelation  becomes  continually  clearer,  the  fur- 
ther it  is  traced,  282  ;  the  application  of  it  to  the  case  of  the 
Jewish  Nation,  283,  &c. 

The  case  of  this  people  stated,  2S3,  and  especially  in  the 
East,  284,  Note  *.  Moses  predicted  generally  the  Circum- 
stances alluded  to,  285  i  but  our  Saviour  foretold  them  much 
more  particularly,  ibid. 

His  pathetic  Remonstrance  with  the  Jewish  Nation,  286  ; 
and  Lamentation  over  Jerusalem,  287  ;  the  Causes  of  them, 
287.  His  repeated  Prophetic  Warnings,  289  ;  by  the  Exam- 
ple of  the  Galileans  slain  by  Pilate,  and  those  eighteen  slain 
by  the  fall  of  the  Tower  of  Siloam,  290j  in  the  assurance, 
that  while  many  of  the  Gentiles  should  be  admitted  to  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven,  that  Nation  should  be  cast  forth  from 
it,  291  ;  in  his  Parable  of  the  barren  fig-tree,  293  ;  in  that 
of  the  Prince  condemning  to  Death  his  rebellious  Subjects, 
293;  in  that  of  the  Husbandmen  who  slew  the  ow/?/  Son 
of  the  Lord  of  the  Vineyard,  294.  His  more  unreserved 
and  precise  predictions  of  the  Ruin  of  the  Jewish  State^ 
294. 

The  awful  imiK)rt  of  that  Prophecy,  in  particular  which 
is  advanced  in  the  text^  9,95  ;  considered  in  two  points  of 
view : — 


CONTENTS.  xxxi 

First,  as  it  respected  the  Temple,  296—309. 

Secondly/,  as  it  related  to  the  Country  of  Judaea, 309— 319. 

I.  The  interpretation  of  it,  in  the  former  sense,  296  ;  a 
memorable  circumstance  preliminary  to  it's  accomplishment, 
noted,  and  explained,  301,  &c. ;  that  accomplishment  exhi- 
bited, 302.  &c.  Its  Peculiarities  traced,  in  the  Occasion 
which  brought  the  Nation  together,  303  j  in  this  being  the 
only  time  tlie  City  was  ever  taken  at  one  of  the  sacred  Fes- 
tivals, 303  ;  in  the  Jewish  being  the  only  Nation  in  the 
World,  in  which  such  a  Catastrophe  could  possibly  hap- 
pen, 304  J  in  the  vast  Numbers  of  Jews,  who  were  crucified 
without  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  during  the  siege,  305.  The 
vain  attempt  of  Julian  to  rebuild  the  Temple,  307. 

II.  The  more  extended  application  of  the  Prophecy,  338, 
its  completion  in  this  sense,  309.  Nothing  to  be  deduced 
from  the  present  state  of  Judasa,  to  invalidate  the  testimony 
of  Scripture  concerning  its  former  populousness  and  fertility, 
310  Note*. 

That  this  Country  will  be  again  restored  to  the  Jewish 
race,^  argued  from  the  Prophecy  now  under  consideration, 
297,  313  ;  from  the  very  Words  of  the  Promise  made  to 
the  Hebrew  Patriarchs  themselves,  315,  and  renewed  to 
David,  316  ;  and  from  a  most  memorable  Prophecy  of  Isaiah, 

318  ;  also  from  the  peculiar  Circumstances  of  their  Country, 

319  J  and  of  themselves,  320.     The  case  of  this  People  stated 
more  at  large,  AA,  417. 

Conclusion— The  Cause  of  all  the  Evils  which  the  Jewish 
Nation  has  suffered  since  the  commencement  of  the  present 
Era,  323;  Effects  from  the  same  Cause  in  other  cases,  324. 
The  singular  Condition  of  the  Jewish  Race  inculcates  a  Lesson 
of  humanity  and  charity  towards  them,  325  :  the  Example  of 
the  Saviour  of  Mankind  in  this  respect,  326  j  and  the  Spirit 
breathed  forth  towards  them  in  the  Liturgy  of  our  Church 
327.  .  ' 


A  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


TO 


rOlLUME  II. 


LECTURE  VII. 


Blessed  is  he  that  readeth,  and  they  thai  hear 
the  iVords  of  this  Prophecy ^  and  keep  those  things 
that  are  written  therein :  for  the  time  is  at  hand. 

Rev.  ch,  1,  V.  3, 


oUMMARY  of  the  preceding  Lectures,  1  ;  what  remains 
for  completing  the  plan  of  the  present  Course,  2. 

Resolution  of  the  Prophecies  into  three  Classes,  3  ;  those 
of  a  general  Nature,  3  ;  those  of  a  chronological  Form,  4  • 
and  those  which  may  be  considered  as  insulated,  4,  6,  8,  9. 
The  manner  in  which  the  Dates  for  the  completion  of  these 
last  may  be  usually  ascertained,  5.  A  compendious  view  of 
all  those  chronological  Prophecies,  the  periods  of  whose  ful- 
filments will  be  synchronical,  6,  Note  *• 

Preliminary   Arguments  for  the   Divine    Authenticity   of 
^'  the  Reyelation"  of  St.  John,  from  the  history  of  the  seven 

d 


xxxiT  TABLE  OF 

Churches  in  Asia,  9 — 25 ;  and  especially  from  that  of  the 
Church  of  Ephesus,  11  — 18  j  (a  mistake  in  lespect  of  this 
point  corrected,  19  T  and  from  that  of  the  Church  of  Lao- 
dicea,  21 .  A  general  Inference  from  the  preceding  Exam- 
ples, 25. 

The  reason,  why  the  whole  Book  of  "  the  Revelation"  is 
called  ^^  a  Prophecij^''  26.     The  time  when  it  was  written, 
deduced,  p;utly   from  the  speedy  completion  of  some  of  its 
more  earl^  predictions,  27  j  and   partly  from  the  total  want 
of  internal  Evidence,  that  the  date  of  it  was  previous  to  the 
Destruction  of  Jerusalem,  28 — 47.    An  Argument  cited  from 
Bishop  Newton,  in  relation  to  this  subject,  30,  and  examined, 
31,  &c.     The  various  Import  of  "  the  coming  of  Christ,'* 
upon  which  the  Prelate  founds  the  Stress  of  his  reasoning, 
ascertained,  31 — 36  ;  and  the  proper  signification  of  the  word 
*'  quicklyy*''  as  sometimes  added  to  the  above  Expression,  36. 
"What  is  intended  by   "  his  coming  with  Clouds,"  which 
forms  also   part  of  this  Argument,  38,   and  CC,  457  3   *nd 
by  the    assertion,    that    ''  cveri^   eye    shall  see  him,  and 
**  they  also  who  pierced  him,^*  Sfc.  45.     The  date  of  the 
Apocalypse  further  determined,  by  the  Series  of  Events  com- 
mencing with  the  reign  of  Nerva,  47,  63,  6fC,  throughout  the 
volume. 

The  Analogy  and  Unity  oj  Design,  discernible  in  those 
parts  of  <he  Writings  of  Daniel  and  St.  John,  which  relate 
to  the  same  Periods,  47,  &c.  The  reason  why  we  might  ex- 
pect these,  48.  Examples  to  illustrate  them,  48—60.  The 
relation  between  the  different  styles  of  these  Prophets  de- 
fined,  60 


CONTENTS.  XXXV 

LECTURE  VIIL 

Blessed  U  he  that  readeth,  and  they  that  hear 
the  luords  of  this  Prophecy,  and  keep  those  things 
that  are  written  therein  :  for  the  time  is  at  hand. 

Rev.  ch.  1,  V.  3. 

The  fulfilment  of  the  Series  of  Prophecies  contained  in  the 
Apocalypse,  was  to  commence  very  soon  after  it  was  written, 
65,  The  magnificent  Scenery,  descriptive  of  some  of  the 
principal  Characters  who  are  the  subjects  of  it,  that  serves 
for  its  introduction,  66 — 94. 

I.  A  symbolical  Representation  of  God  the  Father,  as 
seated  on  the  Throne  of  Universal  Dominion,  69  ;  of  the 
two  Dispensations  he  has  been  pleased  to  vouchsafe,  for  the 
formation  and  establishment  of  his  Church,  70  j  and  of  the 
Means  of  temporal  Punishment,  which  he  reserves  for  its 
Enemies,  72. 

II.  A  corresponding  Description  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
as  the  Illuminator  and  Purifier  of  the  Church,  74  ;  and  of  the 
Divine  Counsel  and  Foreknozoledge,  beholding,  and  bring- 
ing to  pass  with  perfect  order,  the  Events  of  all  succeeding 
time,  75  ;  and  of  the  Graces,  Virtues,  and  Endowments  of 
which  the  Holy  Spirit  is  the  Author,  77,  The  manner  in 
which  these  Etfects  of  Inspiration  have  been  adapted  to  point 
out  four  successive  Periods  of  time,  80.  The  sacred  and 
happy  Employment  of  the  Holy  Church  Universal  throughout 
all  ages,  84. 

III.  The  Book  of*'  The  Revelation'  brought  forward  to 
notice,  86  ;  and  the  solicitude  of  the  Church  to  become  ac- 
quainted with  its  contents,  87.  "  The  Lamb  that  had  been 
'*  slain,""^  or  God  the  Son  in  his  Mediatorial  Capacity^ 
could  alone  prevail  "  to  opea  it,  and  to  loose  the  Seven  Seals 
«'  thereof/'  89.     His  taking  the  Book  of  Providence,  for  the 

d2 


xxxvi  TABLE  OF 

purpose  of  gradually  disclosing  its  Secrets,  furnishes  an  addi- 
tional Cause  for  gratitude  and  thanksgiving,  90.  And  these 
benefits  to  the  Sons  of  Men  excite  also  the  delight  and  adora- 
tion of  those  Ministering  Spirits,  who  are  the  Inhabitants  of 
Heaven,  91.  Bat,  in  the  course  of  the  Divine  Administra- 
tion thus  to  be  revealed,  every  Creature  is  made,  in  some  way 
or  other,  to  contribute  its  portion  of  Glory  to  the  Great  Crea- 
tor, 92. 

The  Opening  of  thejirst  Seal,  95. 

Explanation  of  the  emblematical  Representation  it  exhi- 
bits, 95,  The  corresponding  Events  took  place  in  the  Reign 
of  Trajan,  96 ;  and  pointed  out  the  whole  Extent  of  the 
Scene  of  Action  which  this  Prophecy  should  include,  99,  and 
102  Note, 

The  Opening  of  the  Second  Seal,  100. 

The  Imagery  it  involves,  101  ;  the  import  veiled  beneath 
it,  103.  The  Facts,  by  which  it  was  verified,  occurred  in  the 
Reign  of  Adrian,  104;  and  became  the  means  of  diminishing 
the  Extent  of  the  Roman  Empire  by  about  one  third  part, 
102  Note,  and  104. 

The  Opening  of  the  third  Seal,  110. 

Analysis  of  the  Symbols  it  contains,  110 ;  the  truth  of  tlie 
Representation  established  by  the  history  of  the  Reigns  of 
Antoninus  Pius,  and  Marcus  Aurelius,  111. 

The  Opening  of  the  fourth  Seal,  118. 

The  meaning  of  the  Emblems  it  included,  118  :  they  re- 
lated to  the  Period,  commencing  with  the  Reign  of  Comnio- 
dus,  and  terminating  with  the  Accession  of  Dioclesian,  120, 
and  FF,  465. 

General  Inferences  from  the  preceding  parts  of  this  Lec- 
ture, 126. 


CONTENTS.  xxvvii 

LECTURE  IX. 

Blessed  is  he  that  readetli,  and  theij  that  hear 
the  Words  of  this  Prophecy^  and  keep  those  things 
that  are  written  therein :  for  the  time  is  at  hand. 

Rev.  ch.  J,  V.  3. 

The  peculiar  Character  of  the  Apocalypse,  129  j  and  the 
means  by  which  alone  it  can  be  successfully  explained,  139. 
The  advantages  exemplified,  that  might  have  resulted  from 
this  mode  of  analysis  had  it  been  properly  pursued,  131,  in 
connexion  with  Note  *,  27. 

In  what  manner  the  Church  of  Christ  was  interested,  in 
the  scenes  prefigured  under  the  four  first  Seals,  134. 
The  Opening  of  thejifth  Seal,  135. 
The  intimate  Connexion  traced  between  this  and  the  pre^ 
ceding  Seals,  136.     Explanation  of  the  Symbols  it  presented 
to  the   view  of  the  Prophet,  136.     The  Application  of  them 
to  the  period,  commencing  with  the  Accession  of  Diocle- 
sian,  and  concluding  with  the  March  of  Constantine  to  Rome, 
138,  &c. 

The  Opening  of  the  sixth  Seal,  144. 
Examination  of  the  emblematical  Imagery  it  contains,  and 
its  reference  to  the  corresponding  Events,  144—170  ;  in  the 
defeat  and  death  of  Maxentius,  and  the  consequent  accession 
of  Constantine  to  the  Imperial  throne,  144  j  in  the  total  al. 
leration  he  efl'ected  in  the  Religion  of  the  Empire,  146  j  in 
the  means  he  provided,  for  the  firm  establishment  of  Christia- 
yiity,  and  the  maintenance  of  social  Order,  throughout  his 
Dominions,  151  ;  in  the  vast  numbers  of  Converts  who  then 
crowded  into  the  Church,  161  ;  and  in  the  universal  joy, 
vhich  this  great  Revolution  excited,  165.  Further  elucida- 
tion of  the  Subject,  167. 
The  Opening  of  the  seventh  Si;al,  170. 


xxxviii  TABLE  OF 

The  Season  denoted  under  (his  was  introduced  by  a  brief, 
but  awful  pause,  in  the  affairs  of  the  Roman  World,  173  ;  in 
what  manner  this  pause  was  concluded,  173  ;  and  how  it  was 
employed  in  preparing  the  minds  of  devout  Christians,  for 
the  beginning  of  that  new  Series  of  Divine  Dispensations,  that 
were  to  be  respectively  prefigured  upon  the  sounding  of  the 
seven  Trumpets,  175  ;  and  the  use  to  which  it  was  also  ap- 
plied by  the  visible  Cliurch  of  God,  175.  The  Scenes  which 
succeeded  this  symbolical  Silence,  177  ;  the  principal  of 
which  was,  the  resolution  of  the  Empire  into  two  parts,  the 
Eastern  and  Western^  each  of  which  might  be  generally 
said  to  occupy  one  third  part  of  the  Extent  of  the  Empire 
at  the  Death  of  Trajan,  178. 

The  Sounding  of  the  first  Trumpet,  180. 

Explanation  of  the  Imagery  that  attended  this  Proclama- 
tion of  evil,  181  ;  the  Facts  in  which  it  was  verified,  182  ; 
and  which  occurred  between  the  epoch  of  the  partition  of 
the  Empire  at  Mediana,  and  the  Death  of  Theodosius  the 
Great,  185. 

The  Sounding  of  the  Second  Trumpet,  187. 

The  Emblematical  Representations,  with  which  it  was  con- 
nected, explained,  189.  The  Events,  which  fully  accorded 
with  these,  exhibited,  191  ;  the  most  remarkable  of  which 
was,  the  abandonment  of  Imperial  Rome  to  the  ravages  of 
the  Barbarians  under  Alaric,  Genseric,  and  Ricimer,  192. 
The  period  thus  distinguished  commenced  with  the  accession 
of  Honorius,  and  continued  to  the  dethronement  of  Augus- 
tulus,  191 — 198,  To  this  are  also  to  be  referred  the  founda- 
tion of  seven  out  of  the  ten  Kingdoms,  into  which  the  West- 
ern Empire  was  resolved,  195. 

The  Sounding  of  the  third  Trumpet,  199. 

The  signification  of  the  allegorical  Scenery  with  which  it 
was  attended,  199  ;  and  the  Events  which  corresponded  with 
it,  200.  The  respective  Dynasties  of  the  Heruli  and  the 
Ostro-Goths  in  Italy,  constituted  two  more  of  the  ten 
Kingdoms  above-mentioned,  207,     The  effect  of  this  Mix- 


CONTENTS,  xxxix 

ture  of  People  in  that  Country  distinctly  noted  in  the  Pro- 
phecy, 203. 

The  Sounding  of  the  fourth  Trumpet,  204, 
Interprntiition  of  the  Symbols  connected  with  it,  204,  and 
the  remarkable  Circumstances  by  which  they  were  verified, 
205.     The  Kingdom  oi  the  Lombards  in  Italy  was  the  last 
(»f  the  ten  Kingdoms,  207. 

General  Conclusioti  from  the  foregoing  premises,  208, 


ADDITIONS  TO 

LECTURE  IX. 

For  the  purpose  of  continuing  the  History^  con- 
tained under  the  next  Apocalyptical  Representa^ 
tions  ;  and  of  completing  the  Connexion  between 
the  Ninth  and  Tenth  Lectures* 

I. 

Of  the  Series  of  Events  connected  with  the  Sounding 
of  the  fifth  Trumpet. 

Introductory  Scenery,  211;  and  its  import  established, 
212,  &c.  The  portion  of  History  that  corresponded  with 
it,  214. 

The  Sounding  of  the  fifth  Trumpet,  217, 

Explanation  of  the  emblematical  Imagery  that  followed, 
21 7 — 220  ;  the  Facts  that  answered  to  this  Description,  221. 
Further  analysis  of  symbolical  language,  224;  and  exempli, 
fication  by  Events,  224.  The  history  of  the  Saracenic  Lo- 
custs, 221—251.  The  first  of  them,  225.  Their  Power, 
and  its  limits,  226.  Who  alone  were  permitted  to  be  injured 
by  them,  228.     The  period,  during  which  their  power  of  tor- 


H  TABLE  OF 

meriting  should  be  continued  to  them,  230,  and  GG,  471; 
the  extent  of  Surface  over  -which  this  Power  was  exerted 
232  Note  +  j  and  the  geographical  appearance  that  Surface 
possesses,  as  seen  upon  the  Globe,  234  Note  *.  The  tor- 
ment they  occasioned  was  such,  that  men  grew  weary  of  the 
Life  they  were  living,  235  j  but  could  not  die,  235.  The 
reason  of  this,  237. 

A  general  description  of  these  Locusts — of  their  equipment, 
239  ;  the  decorations  of  their  heads,  241  ;  their  faces,  243  ; 
their  hair,  244  j  their  teeth,  245 ;  their  defensive  armour, 
245  ;  the  noise  of  their  Swarms,  246 ;  their  tails,  248  ;  their 
leaders,  249  3  how  long  the  Effects^of  their  particular  ravages 
were  to  be  perceptible,  250. 

II. 

Of  one  principal  Part  in  the  Series  of  Events  connected 
with  the  Sounding  of  the  sixth  Trumpet, 

The  sounding  of  the  sixth  Trumpet,  253. 

The  attending  Scenery  illustrated,  253 — 260 ;  and  its 
truth  exemplified,  in  the  State  of  the  Eastern  and  Western. 
Churches  in  the  tenth  Century,  256;  in  the  eleventh,  257  5 
and  in  the  twelfth^  258. 

The  Loosing  of  the  four  Angels,  who  had  hitherto  been 
bound  at  the  great  River  Euphrates,  260 ;  who  they  were, 
261.  The  peculiar  nature  of  their  Commission,  262  ;  the 
period  during  which  they  were  to  be  prepared  for  the  final 
accomplishment  of  it,  263.  Historical  Illustrations  for  the 
further  verification  of  this  prophecy,  265 — 269. 

A  more  particular  account  of  the  People  thus  designated  — 
of  their  amazing  numerousness,  269  ;  of  their  defensive  ar- 
mour, 270;  of  their  strength,  courage,  and  fierceness,  271  ; 
of  the  means  they  employed  for  the  destruction  of  their  ene- 
mies, 272 ;  in  what  their  power  consisted,  274  i  the  injury 
they  inflicted  by  what  they  trailed  after  them,  274. 


CONTENTS.  14 

LECTURE  X. 

Blessed  is  he  that  readeth,  and  they  that  hear 
the  ^Vords  of  this  Prophecij,  and  keep  those  things 
that  are  written  therein :  for  the  time  is  at  hand. 

Rev.  ch,  1,  V.  3. 

Restriction  of  the  remaining  part  of  these  Lectures  to  one 
principal  Point,  278.  The  Connexion  between  the  Period 
now  to  be  considered  and  that  which  preceded  it,  279.  The 
clew  which  the  inspired  Writer  has  furnished  for  our  further 
proceeding,  280—296. 

Who  "  the  rest  of  the  men'*  were,  who,  not  having  been 
killed  by  the  foregoing  plagues,  yet  <*  repented  not/'  281, 
"  of  the  Works  of  their  hands,''  282,  "  nor  of  their 
"  Murders,"  284,  "  nor  of  their  Sorceries,"  287,  "  nor 
"  of  their  Fornication;'  289,  "  nor  of  tjeir  Thefts,'' 
292. 

The  Apocalyptical  Narration  of  the  Events  contained  un- 
der the  sixth  Tuumpet  continued  :  — 

Emblematical  Scenery  explained,  296  ;  the  Person  to  whom 
it  exclusively  related,  297:  his  illustrious  Commission,  300* 
and  eminent  qualities,  301;  the  manner  in  which  he  discharged 
his  sacred  Office,  302;  and  the  consequences  that  resulted, 
302.  Why  many  circumstances  that  happened  about  that 
time,  were  not  to  be  written  as  parts  of  '*  the  Revelation," 
305.  The  little  delay  that  should  thereafter  occur,  before 
^'  the  Mystery  of  God"  should  visibly  begin  to  be  com= 
pleted,  807.  The  acquiescence  of  his  Church  in  this  new 
scene  of  Dispensation,  309,  notwitlistanding  the  calamitous 
Events  by  which  it  would  be  attended,  311.  The  consoling 
assurance  by  which  its  fortitude  and  perseverance  were  sup- 
ported,  314. 

The  Circumstances  which  gave  rise  to  this  new  Epochj  were 
VOL.  I.  e 


IxU  TABLE  OF 

the  use,  the  translation,  and  extensive  diffusion  of  the  Holf 
Scriptures,  315  ;  which  are  the  only  Measure  and  Standard  of 
Truth,  318.  The  time,  during  which,  those  who  are  not  the 
subjects  of  this  Reformation,  shall  be  deprived  of  the  free 
use  of  it,  319.  Yet  during  eyon  the  darkest  part  of  this 
period  God  would  never  leave  himself  without  Witness,  322  ; 
who  the  Witnesses  for  Goi>  have  been,  323  ;  for  what  reason. 
they  are  said  to  ''  prophecy  in  sack-cloth^**  325  j  various 
Powers  with  which  they  are  invested,  over  Fire^  328,  over 
the  Rain  of  Heaven,  329,  over  the  Waters^  upon  the  Earth, 
329,  and  '^  to  smite  the  Earthy**  itself  with  plagues,  330, 
The  War  in  which  they  were  engaged,  towards  the  close  of 
the  period  of  their  Prophecy,  230  ;  the  unhappy  issue  of  it, 
332  J  their  Death,  333  j  they  were  not  allowed  to  be  buried, 
333;  their  Revival,  and  its  immediate  consequences,  337j  their 
subsequent  Exaltation,  339  ;  the  glorious  effects  this  exalta- 
tion produced  upon  their  Friends,  341,  upon  their  Enemies, 
342,  those  Enemies,  however,  still  incorrigible^  344, 

The  Sounding  of  the  Seventh  Trumpet,  344. 

The  exultation  of  the  Church  on  this  visible  re-commence- 
ment of  the  Messiah's  Kingdom,  344  j  the  transcendent  be- 
nefits that  were  produced  by  it,  346  ;  and  the  temporal  evils 
that  attended  it,  348.  The  preservation  of  the  Reformed 
Religion  under  all,  349. 


LECTURE  XL 

Blessed  is  he  that  readethy  and  they  that  hear 
the  Words  of  this  Prophecy ,  and  keep  those  things 
that  are  writteen  therein  :  for  the  time  is  at  hand. 

Rev.cli.  1,  v.  S. 

A  more  detailed  account  of  the  Enemies  of  genuine  Christi- 
anity, 352— 411 3 


CONTENTS.  liiH 

First,  of  the  secular  Roman  Empire,  in  its  pagan  State, 
353—363  ;  and 

Secondly y  of  the  same  Empire  after  it  had  embraced  Chris « 
lianity,  364—392. 

Thirdly^  of  the  Spiritual  Dominion  of  the  Bishops  of 
Rome>393,  &c. 

I.  The  Origin  and  peculiar  Characteristics  of  the  Roman 
Empire,  353 ;  the  various  forms  of  Government  under  which 
it  has  existed,  354  j  the  ten  Kingdoms  into  which  it  became 
resolved  i  eight  of  which  diminished^  in  proportion  to  their 
own  extent,  the  Territory  of  the  Pozcer  that  was  seated  in 
Rome,  354;  the  blasphemous  Titles  it  assumed,  355  ;  its 
various  composition,  355  j  the  malignant  Spirit  by  which  it 
was  actuated,  356. 

II.  The  Conversion  of  the  Empire  to  Christianity,  360  j 
its  lapse  again  into  Idolatry,  261  ;  instances  of  its  idolatrous 
devotion,  362,  very  similar  to  those  of  pagan  Rome,  363. 
The  smallness  of  the  change  that  had  taken  place  in  conse- 
quence of  this  Conversion,  364;  the  Cause  of  this  illus- 
trated, 365,  &c.  The  gradual  Working  of  ''  the  Mystei^y 
^^  of  Iniquity,''  in  the  fourth  Century,  369,  in  the  fifths 
370,  in  the  sixth,  372,  and  in  the  seventh,  3^74.  The  open 
manifestation  of  The  Man  of  Sin,  375.  To  this  Period  of 
the  History  we  are  now  conducted,  376. 

State  of  the  Roman  Dominions,  or  of  the  then  only  remain* 
ing  'parts  of  the  Western  Empire,  after  the  Bishops  of  Rome 
had  attained  the  power  and  title  of  Universal  Bishops^  376, 
The  manner  in  which  they  soon  became  the  temporal  as  well 
as  the  spiritual  Heads  of  the  Roman  People,  377.  The  pe- 
riod of  their  continuance  under  Papal  Influence  particularly 
pointed  ont,  376,  381.  The  blasphemies  they  uttered  in 
consequeiice  of  it,  381 ;  their  hostility  against  pure  Religion, 
and  those  who  professed  it,  382.  The  exact  correspondence 
of  this  Account  with  the  prophecy  of  Daniel,  concerning  the 
same  Empire,  383. 

eg 


liir  TABLE  OF 

The  surprising  degree  of  Power  which  the  Bishops  of  Rome 
acquired,  from  the  combination  of  the  spiritual  and  temporal 
Dominions  that  became  united  in  their  own  persons,  384  ; 
the  Empire  of  the  West  itself  was  the  Creature  of  this 
Power,  407,  Note  *  j  but  it  must,  notwithstanding,  at  the 
appointed  time,  be  utterly  orerthrown,  385. 

General  recapitulation  of  the  preceding  history,  387. 

III.  The  spiritual  Empire  of  the  Bishops  of  Rome  more 
particularly  described,  393 ;  as  involving  both  the  regular 
and  secular  Orders  of  the  Romish  Church,  394;  as  exciting, 
and  carrying  on,  a  murderous  Persecution^  against  all  who 
dare  oppose  its  Decrees,  &c,  395  ;  as  enforcing  the  same 
kind  of  Spiritual  Despotism  which  had  before  distinguished 
pa|^a/iRome,396  3  as  founded  and  supported,  in  great  measure, 
by  the  help  of  Charlatanry,  397,  and  aided  by  the  Terrors  of 
the  holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition,  398  ;  as  adopting,  and 
establishing  the  same  System  of  Idolatry  and  Superstition, 
which  had  prevailed  in  the  pagan  times  of  the  Empire,  401  j 
and  as  consigning  all  those  to  utter  destruction  who  would 
not  conform  to  these  corrupt  and  profane  Usages,  402 ; 
also  as  dooming  all  those  to  Excommunication,  who  should, 
in  any  degree,  assert  their  own  Liberty,  in  opposition  to  the 
Tyranny  of  Popish  Usurpation,  404. 

The  true  mark  of  Wisdom  in  Individuals,  during  this  pe- 
riod of  Blasphemy  and  judicial  Infatuation,  would  consist  in 
comparing  the  peculiar  phenomena  of  the  times  as  they 
pccurred,  with  the  prophecies  which  relate  to  them,  406,  &Co 


CONTENTS.  Ixr 


LECTURE  XII. 

Blessed  is  he  that  readeth,  and  they  that  hear 
the  Words  of  this  Prophecy^  and  keep  those  things 
that  arc  written  therein  :  for  the  time  is  at  hand. 

Rev.  ch.  1,  V.  3. 

A  general  Description  of  those,  against  whom  the  Euraity 
of  the  last  Power,  described  in  the  preceding  Lecture,  hai 
been  principally  excited  in  these  latter  davs,  414. 

A  more  particular  Description  of  them,  421  ;  and  first^ 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  421 ;  secondly^  of  the  Church  of 
Geneva,  and  those  who,  in  various  Countries,  embrace  the 
same  Doctrines,  427  ;  thirdly ^  of  the  Church  of  England, 
429. 

The  decisive  measures  adopted  by  the  last  Church,  for  con- 
trolling the  pernicious  Influence  of  the  Church  of  Rome, 
429 — 442.  The  contrariety  of  her  Doctrines  to  those  of  thi« 
Apostate  Church,  434,  exhibited,  in  her  open  acknowledg- 
ment, that  ''  Holy  Scripture  containeth  all  things  necessary 
"  to  Salvation,'*  435,  that  "  Works  of  Supererogation^^'' 
cannot  be  taught  without  arrogancy  and  impiety,  436,  and 
"  that  the  Church  of  Rome  hath  erred,  not  only  in  her 
"  Living  and  Manner  of  Ceremonies^  but  also  in  Matters 
''  of  Faith^^*  436;'  Various  instances  of  Error  cited,  in  the 
Doctrines  of  "  Purgatory^  Pardons,  Worshipping^  and 
"  Adoration  as  well  of  Images  as  of  Relics,  and  also 
'^  Invocation  of  Saints,'^  437 ;  in  the  performance  of  her 
sacred  Services  in  an  unknown  Tongue,  437;  in  the  fiumber 
and  nature  of  her  Sacraments,  437  ;  and  in  her  Doctrine  of 
Transubstantiation,  438. 

To  prevent  a  return  of  the  fatal  prevalence  of  these  and 
other  Abominations,  it  has  been  expressly  denounced,  that 
^'  THE  Bishop  of  Home  hath  no  juuisdiction  in  this 


Uvi  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

"  Realm  of  England,"  4395  and  great  care  has  been  taken 
in  framing  the  Laws  of  the  Land,  to  erect  suitable  barriers, 
against  the  encroachments  of  this  subtle,  perfidious,  and  into- 
lerant Power,  434,  440,  &c.  The  greater  necessity  exists 
for  this,  because  the  experience  of  Ages  has  proved,  that 
Popery  is  utterly  incapable  of  Reform,  441  ;  the  vain  at- 
tempts of  the  Council  of  Trent  in  this  respect,  443.  The 
Bull  of  Pius  V.  against  Queen  Elizabeth  and  the  English 
Nation,  argues  the  same  thing,  444.  The  claims  preferred  in 
this  famous  Bull  having  never  been  abandoned,  must  still, 
•whenever  Occasion  admits  of  their  being  again  brought  for- 
ward, have  their  weight  with  all  consistent  Catholics, 
447  1  and  the  Revival  of  the  Older  of  the  Jesuits  affords 
reason  to  believe,  that  they  may  be  again  brought  for- 
ward,  448.  Self-aggrandisement,  as  much  now,  as  ever,  the 
prevailing  passion  of  the  Roman  See,  448  ;  and  all  who  have 
any  sincere  attachment  for  the  Reformed  Religion,  as  by  Law 
established  among  us,  should  stand  upon  their  guard,  448, 
449. 

Conclusion,  450. 


ERRATA, 


VOLUME  i; 


S6^  Note,  1.  4jfor  Decias  read  Deciiis. 

45,  1,  4',  for  torture  read  tortures. 

88,  I.  14,  for  superintendance  read  superintendence. 
161,  Note,  1.  17j/or  transcendant  rea^i  transcendent. 
166,  Note,  1.  15,  for  Q^  2  read  QD:}. 

27,  for  'virsp  read  'virsp, 
170,  1.  1,  insert  a  Comma,  after  therefore. 
173,  Note  *,  I.  2,  for  antiqus  read  antiquis. 

175,  Note  *,  1.  4,  for  expulsit  read  expulit. 

176,  Note,  I.  15,/or  Procurtorem  rearfProcuratorem. 

last  but  one,  for  prudenda,  reac? pudenda, 
204,  Note  *,  1.  16*  for  signamtem  re«rf  signantem. 
206,  1.  11,  for  prophane  read  profane. 
287,  I.  7,  after  Expostulation  insert  only, 
249,  Note  $,  1.  6,  for  direliction  read  dereliction. 
307,  Note  I,  1.  1, /or  mar  read  Omar. 
339,  1.  B,for  opposition  reat/ apposition. 
365,  1,  l5,/or  fled  read  fed. 


VOLUME   IL 

9,  Note  *,  I.  7,  for  to  h  Seven  read  to  the  Seven. 
52,  I.  12, /or  had  read  has. 
145,  Note  f,  1.  2,/orexpnmandas  read  exptmemVdi^. 
232,  1.  2,  after  Christians  insert  at. 
256,  1.  1,/or  Nicephoras  read  Nicephorus. 
347,  1.  24,  for  The  nalso  read  Then  also. 
404,  Note  *,  for  ayra^  read  ifxvrus. 
423,  1.  7,  for  was  read  were. 
470,  Note *,  1.  3, /or  in  23.  read'm  235   " 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR, 

LITERARY  ANTIQUITIES  OF  GREECE; 

As  developed  in  au  attempt  to  ascertain  Priiicipleg  for  a  New 
Analysis  of  the  Greek  Tongue,  and  to  exhibit  those  Prin- 
ciples as  applied  to  the  Elucidation  of  many  Passages  in  the 
Ancient  History  of  that  Country.  To  which  are  added, 
Observations  concerning  the  Origin  of  several  of  the  Literal 
Characters  in  use  among  the  Greeks. 


ALSO, 

REMARKS  ON  some  Observations  edited  in 
*'  The  British  Critic  ;" 

Relative  to  a  Work  lately  published,  under  the  Title  of 
'^  Literary  Antiquities  of  Greece-** 

Tending  to  obviate  some  objections  proposed  by  the  Critic; 
and  to  introduce  a  number  of  additional  circumstances, 
calculated  to  illustrate  still  further  the  History  of  Ancient 
Egypt ;  as  well  as  that  of  the  first  Postidiluvian  Ages. 

It  will  be  amply  sufficient,  ia  respect  to  the  abote  Work,  to  refe 
the  Reader  to  the  candid  and  liberal  Acknowledgements  of  the  British 
Critic,  edited  in  his  Review  for  th«  Month  of  June,  l803. 


Sold  by  Rivingtoiis,  St.  Paul's  Church  Yard,  and  Hatchardj 
Piccadilly,  London 


LECTURES 

ON   THE 

PROPHECIES 

RELATING  TO 

THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH, 

4-0. 


LECTURE  I. 

Delivered  December  1,  1811. 


Genesis,  cli.  12,  V.  3. 

In  thee  shall  all  families  of  the  earth  be 

blessed. 

In    the    prosecution  of   the   interesting 
and  important  Undertaking,  in  which  1 
am  engaged,  it  will  be  my  object  to  ex- 
hibit  as   general    and    comprehensive   a* 
view  of  the  Prophecies  relating   to  the 
Christian   Church,   as   the  n^- 
afforded  for   such  a   subject, 
VOL.  I.  ^ 


2  LECTURE  I. 

admit.  And,  as  History  is  the  only  inter- 
preter and  test  of  Prophecy,  I  trust,  that 
a  faithful  comparison  of  many  of  these 
Predictions,  with  the  Events  in  which 
they  have  been  accomplished,  will  be- 
come the  means  of  advancing  some 
additional  ar2:uments  for  the  truth  of 
Revelation,  and  of  increasing  our  venera- 
tion and  zeal  for  our  holy  Religion. 

But  I  am  persuaded,  that,  in  attempt- 
ing this,  I  must  appear  to  great  disad- 
vantage.      So    much    has    been    already 
performed,  and  so  much  admirably  to  the 
purpose,  by  many  of  those  who  have  pre- 
ceded me  in  this  line  of  research,  that  it 
may  for  a  moment  be  presumed,  that  the 
subject   is    nearly    exhausted.      There  is 
still,    notwithstanding,   much  encourage- 
ment to    proceed.     The  sacred  Writings 
must  ever  present  a  source  of  the  most 
sublime  and  rational  gratification  to  those 
who  most  diligently  apply  themselves  to  . 
the  study  of  them.     The  interesting  and 
important   subjects   they  contain  are,  in 
many  instances,  only  then  to  be  clearly 
comprehended,  when  they  are  elucidated 
by  the  aid  of  much  profound  and  exten- 


LECTURE  I.  3 

sive  learning  *.  And  we  may  justly 
inquire,  in  the  language  of  an  Apostle, 
"  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?"  The 
evidence,  in  particular,  which  is  deduced 
from  Prophecy,  is  an  increasing  light, 
constantly  beaming  forth  with  the  greater 
radiance,  in  proportion  to  the  attention 
that  is  paid  to  the  events  of  past  ages,  in 
proportion  as  **  the  perfect  day,""  the  day 
of  complete  fulfilment,  advances.  Pre- 
viously to  its  arrival,  we  are  assured, 
^'  Many  shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  know- 
'*  ledge  shall  be  increased -f-/"  And  what 
a  single  individual,  or  a  few  persons  only, 
noay  not  be  able  to  achieve  in  this  respect, 
may  be  most  abundantly  and  successfully 
performed  by  a  number,  more  especially 
when  acting  in  succession,  and  profiting 
continually  by  the  labours  of  their  prede- 
cessors. 

On  this  ground,  then,  we  cannot  too 
much  commend  the  benevolence,  the 
liberality,  and  wisdom  of  such  establish- 
ments as  the  present.  The  venerable 
Founder  of  these  Lectures  well  knew  of 

*  See  Appendix,   Note  A. 
t  Dan,  ch.  12.  v.  4. 
B  2 


4  LECTURE  L 

what  vast  importance  a  firm  belief  in  the 
Truths  of  Revealed  Religion  was  to  human 
happiness;  and  how  essentially  a  thorough 
proof  of  the  divine  authenticity  of  the 
Prophecies  of  Scripture  was  subservient 
to  her  credit  in  the  world.  He  therefore 
adopted  the  most  likely  means  that  could 
have  been  devised ;  of  causing  the  scat- 
tered rays  of  prophetic  truth  to  converge 
towards,  and  to  illustrate  these  moment- 
ous  realities ;  of  putting  mankind  in 
poss^ession  of  any  accessions  of  sacred 
knowledge,  that  might  occasionally  arise 
from  the  further  development  of  facts; 
and  of  enabling  a  number  of  those,  who 
might  be  studious  in  this  branch  of  hal- 
lowed learning,  to  contribute  their  por- 
tions in  succession,  far  more  extensively 
and  effectually  than  perhaps  they  might 
ever  otherwise  have  had  opportunities  of 
doing,  to  the  general  fund  of  good* 

Anxious  to  avail  myself  of  the  oppor- 
tunity that  is  now  afforded  me,  and  to 
introduce,  in  a  suitable  manner,  the  sub- 
jects of  the  following  Lectures,  I  have 
selected  the  w^ords  of  the  text  for  our 
present  consideration. 


LECTURE  L  $ 

They  contain  one  of  the  most  gracious, 
as  well  as  most  important  and  compre- 
hensive Promises,  that  had  ever  3^et  been 
vouchsafed  by  the  Almighty  to  any  of  the 
sons  of  men.  It  was  also  the  most  explicit  ; 
and  pointed  out  the  very  line  of  descent^ 
from  which  that  illustrious  Seed  should 
arise,  through  whom  this  universal  bles* 
sedness  should  ultimately  be  derived. 

Hitherto  the  divine  goodness  had  only- 
consoled  and  illuminated  the  world,  by  a 
few  detached  and  solitary  revelations, 
relative  to  this  great  subject :  yet  these, 
though  comparatively  obscure,  and  grant- 
ed only  at  distant  intervals  of  time,  were 
w^ell  calculated  to  prepare  the  mind  of 
Abraham  for  this  more  direct  and  precise 
communication. 

Among  them  we  cannot  but  notice,  in 
the  first  place,  that  assurance  of  future 
Restoration,  which  was  given  to  the  pri- 
mitive parents  of  mankind,  immediately 
after  their  fall.  When  to  the  curse,  which 
the  Deity  pronounced  upon  their  seducer, 
he  mercifully  condescended  to  add,  "  I 
*'  will  put  enmity  between  thee  and  the 
"  woman ;  and  between  thy  seed  and  her 

B  3 


6  LECTURE  I. 

"  seed  :  he  shall  bruise  thy  head^  and  thou 
^^  shalt  bruise  his  AeeZ**'— what  was  thisj 
but  the  first  dawn  of  Christianity,  the 
first  promise  of  human  Redemption  -f? 
Thus  it  was  evidently  understood  by  our 
first  parents  themselves  :]: ;  and,  to  render 
its  import  still  more  clear  and  encourag- 
ing, the  institution  of  Sacrifices,  emble- 
matical of  that  great  Sacrifice  which 
should  afterwards  be  offered  for  the  sins 
of  the  world,  very  early  succeeded  §•  Thus 
it  has  moreover  been  understood  by  all 
Christian  commentators.  And  in  this 
sense  it  has  been  enforced  by  the  Apostle 

*  Genesis,  ch.  3,  v.  15. 

f  Bishop  Newton,  touching  upon  this  passage,  very 
justly  observes,  that,  "  if  you  understand  this  in  the 
*'  sense  which  is  commonly  put  upon  it  by  Christian 
*'  interpreters,  you  have  a  remarkable  prophecy  and 
*'  remarkably  fulfilled ;"  but  that  "  taken  in  any  other 
*'  sense,  it  is  not  worthy  of  Moses,  nor,  indeed,  of  any 
"  sensible  writer  J' — Dissert.  I.  on  the  Prophecies. 

J  See  Appendix,  Note  B;  as  also  Bishop  Horsley's 
Sixteenth  Sermon,  pages  298 — 304,  edit.  2,  where  his 
Lordship  has  elucidated  this  point  at  large,  with  great 
learning  and  ability. 

§  There  are  some  valuable  remarks  on  this  subject 
in  Dr.  Van  Mildert's  Lectures,  vol.  i.  p.  36 — 39,  and 
471 — 473,  edit.  2,     See  also  Appendix,  Note  C. 


LECTURE  I.  7 

l^aul,  when  he  assured  his  converts  at 
Rome,  that  "  the  God  of  Peace  should 
^^  bruise  Sataii  under  their  feet*/'  And 
the  author  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews, 
speaking  of  the  august  Personage  who 
should  obtain  this  conquest,  says,  *'  For- 
asmuch then  as  the  children,''  the  adopted 
children  of  God,  "  are  partakers  of  flesh 
*'  and  blood,  he  also  himself  likewise  took 
"  part  of  the  same:  that,  through  deaths 
**  he  might  destroy  him  that  had  the  power 
^*  of  death,  that  is,  the  Devil;  and  deliver 
'*  those  who,  through  fear  of  death,  were 
"  all  their  life-time  subject  to  bondage. 
^^  For,  verily,  he  took  not  on  him  the 
*'  nature  of  Angels,  but  Ae  took  on  him  the 
**  Seed  of  Abraham^, 

Can  there  be  clearer  expositions  of  the 
general  purport  of  this  invaluable  pro- 
mise, than  these  which  have  now  been 
adduced  ?  Or,  could  the  goodness  of 
God  have  been  more  strikingly  exempli* 

*  Rom.   ch.  16,  V.  20.     I  must  also  refer   to   the 
Appendix,  Note  D. 
t  Hebr.  ch.  *2,  v.  U — 16.    Appendix,  Note  E, 

B  4 


8  LECTURE  h 

fied,  than  in  thus  communicating,  so  early, 
to  fallen  man,  the  certain  knowledge  of 
his  future  happiness  and  salvation, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  a  promised 
Seed? 

Such  was  the  state  of  Revelation  before 
the  Flood.  After  that  tremendous  ca- 
tastrophe it  gradually  became  more  ex- 
plicit. The  next  prophetic  intimation, 
in  reference  to  this  subject,  restricted  the 
descent  of  that  Seed  to  the  line  of  Shem. 
In  that  memorable  prediction,  which 
Noah  was  enabled  to  utter  under  the 
influence  of  divine  Inspiration,  and  in 
w'hich  he  foretold  so  wonderfully  the  fates 
of   his     posterity*,    after   the    curse    he 

*  This  prophecy  is  discussed  by  Bishop  Newton, 
with  great  judgment  and  learning,  in  his  first  Disserta- 
tion. The  late  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  in  his  seventeenth 
Sermon,  page  31 6,  &c.  has  given,  as  several  others  have 
done  before  him,  rather  a  different  interpretation  to 
that  part  of  the  prophecy  which  I  have  here  cited.  He 
has  adopted  the  translation  that  occurs  in  our  Bibles— 
"God  shall  enlarge  Japhet ;  and  lie  (Japhet)  shall 
"  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem."  But,  as  Dr.  Newton 
observes,  "  They,  who  prefer  the  former  construction, 
'*  seem  to  have  the  authority  of  the  original  text  on 


LECTURE  I.  9 

denounced  upon  Hani  and  his  descend- 
ants, he  proceeds  to  state  the  principal 
circumstances  that  would  distinguish  the 
lines  of  Shein  and  Japhet ; — "  God/'  says 
he, ''  shall  enlarge  Japhet ;  and  shall  dwell 
"  in  the  tents  of  Shem  */'  In  these  words, 
a  numerous  progeny,  and  extensive  settle- 
ments, are  promised  to  Japhet;  but  the 
peculiar  honour,  of  the  more  immediate 
presence  and  protection  of  God,  is  con- 
ferred upon  Shem.  And  if  we  recollect, 
thai  *'  Abraham  and  his  seed-f*''  were  the 
posterity  of  this  patriarch,  we  can  feel  no 

^'  their  side ;  for  there  is  no  other  noun  to  govern  the 
"  verbs  in  the  period  but  God  ;  there  is  no  pronoun  in 
"  the  Hebrew  answering  to  the  He  which  is  inserted  in 
*'  our  translation ;  and  the  whole  sentence  will  run 
'*  thus:  ^  God  will  enlarge  Japhet,  and  will  dwell  in 
''  the  tents  of  Shem/  ''  This  difference,  however,  sig- 
nifies little  with  respect  to  the  general  purport  of  the 
whole  Revelation ;  for  whichever  way  the  words  are 
rendered,  the  whole  prophecy,  considered  In  all  its 
bearings,  will  easily  be  referred  for  its  fulfilment  to  the 
same  events ;  as  these  very  eminent  divines  have  clearly 
shewn. 

*  Genes,  ch.  9,  v.  27. 

f  Galatians,  ch.  3,  v.  l6,  compared  with  Genesis, 
ch.  12,  V.  3,  with  ch.  22,  v.  18.  and  ch.  26,  v.  4. 


10  LECTURE  I. 

difficulty  in  tracing  the  exact  fulfilment 
of  them.  For,  were  not  the  Hebrews  "  the 
*' peculiar  people  of  God*?''  Did  he 
not,  in  a  very  remarkable  manner,  become 
their  supreme  Ruler,  their  Lawgiver,  and 
Judge  ?  Did  not  the  divine  presence  rest 
upon  their  ark,  and  dwell  visibly  in  their 
tabernacle  and  temple  ?  Did  he  not  then, 
in  the  strictest  and  most  emphatical  sense, 
verify  this  prediction,  when  "  The  Word,'' 
or  Son  of  God,  the  very  '*  Seed  to  whom 
**  the  promise  w^as  madef,"  "  became 
''  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  them  %  ?" 

In  this  State  was  diyine  Revelation, 
with  respect  to  the  Redemption  and 
Restoration  of  mankind,  at  the  time  of 
the  call  of  Abraham;  and  when  this  glo- 
rious, and  still  more  unreserved  promise 
was  made  to  him,  that  in  him  '^  should  all 
^*  the  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed  §." 

This  was,  indeed,  of  so  great  import, 
that  it  was   afterwards    repeated  to  the 

*  Deuteron.  ch.  14,  v.  2.  and  ch.  26,  v.  18. 
f  Galat.  ch.  3,  v.  19. 

J  John,  ch.  1,  V.  14.     Also  Appendix,  Note  F. 
%  1921  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ. 


LECTURE  I.  U 

pious  patriarch,  on  two  very  extraordinary 
occasions— just  before  the  destruction  of 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah*,  and  immediately 
after  he  had  fully  testified  his  readiness 
to  offer  up  his  son  Isaac,  in  obedience  to 
the  divine  command *f-. 

It  was  also  subsequently  confirmed 
more  particularly  to  Isaac  at  Gerar  J ; 
agreeably  to  the  promise  that  God  had 
before  made  to  Abraham,  that  he  would 
*'  establish  his  covenant  with  Isaac  §. 

And  this  circumstance  is  the  more 
important  to  be  remarked  in  this  place, 
because  it  furnishes  an  argument,  in  be- 
half of  the  truth  of  Christianity,  that  is 
not  to  be  confuted,  Abraham  had  two 
sons,  Isaac  and  Ishmael ;  Jesus  Christ  was 
a  descendant  from  the  former  of  these  1), 


^  Genesis,  ch.  18,  v.  18.         f  Gen.  ch.  Q.%  v.  18. 

J  Gen.  ch.  26,  v.  4.  §  Gen.  ch.  17,  v.  19,  21. 

II  See  the  genealogy  of  Christ,  on  his  reputed  father's 
side,  in  Matth.  ch.  1,  v.  1 — 17;  and  on  his  mother's 
side,  in  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  2S — 38,  as  also  Dr.  Macknight's 
very  ingenious  and  valuable  remarks  upon  these  gene- 
alogies, in  his  '^  Harmony  of  the  Gof»pels,"  vol.  ii. 
p.  19. 


12  LECTURE  I. 

and  Mahomet  from  the  latter*:  but  with 
Isaac  was  the  divine  Covenant  confirmed; 
and  "  in  his  Seed  were  all  the  families  of 
"  the  earth  to  be  blessed/*  Hence  there- 
fore it  appears,  that  the  pretensions  of 
Mahomet  are  a  mere  imposture.  The 
Saviour  of  the  world,  he  who  was  to  restore 
mankind  to  the  right  worship  and  service, 
as  well  as  to  the  favour  of  God,  was  not 
to  be  of  the  posterity  of  Ishmael,  but  of 
Isaac.  And  thus,  as  Bishop  Newton  has 
very  properly  remarked,  w'e  have  **  an 
"  argument  for  the  truth  of  the  Christian 
'*  religion  in  preference  to  the  Mahome- 
"  tan,  drawn  from  an  old  prophecy  and 
*'  promise,  made  near  two  thousand  years 
*'  before  Christ,  and  much  more  before 
'*  Mohammed  was  born  -f*/" 

But  Isaac  also  had  two  sons  ;  to  either 


*  Mahomet  was  born  at  Mecca,  May  o,  57 1 .  He  was 
of  the  tribe  of  the  Koreish,  and  a  descendant,  in  the  most 
direct  Une,  from  Ishmael.  Consult  the  genealogical 
Tables,  and  the  preliminary  Discourse,  annexed  to  Mr. 
Sale's  Translation  of  the  Koran ;  also  Dr.  Prideaux's 
Life  of  Mahomet. 

f  See  his  third  Dissertation  on  the  Prophecies. 


LECTURE  T.  13 

of  whom  this  encouraging  promise  might 
possibly  have  been  referred,  for  its  ulti- 
mate completion.  In  order  therefore  to 
render  its  application  still  more  clear  and 
determinate,  it  was  afterwards  repeated 
to  Jacob ;  and  the  descent  of  the  future 
Redeemer  was  restricted  to  his  race** 

With  respect,  now,  to  the  more  imme- 
diate purport  of  this  divine  prediction  ; 
which  had  been  so  often  repeated,  and 
with  such  additional  degrees  of  distinct- 
ness,— it  was  no  less  than  that,  in  the 
appointed  Seed,  the  most  illustrious  of  the 
posterity  of  Abraham  in  the  line  of  Isaac, 
'*  all  the  families,''  or  ''nations,  of  the 
"  earth  should  be  blessed;''  that  is,  should 
be  restored  to  the  favour  of  God;  and 
become  partakers  of  all  those  noble  ad- 
vantages, those  peculiar  and  inestimable 
blessings,  which  would  result  from  it. 

It  points  to  a  time  of  universal  peace 
and  happiness ;  w^hen   there   should   be   a 

*  Genes,  ch.  28,  v.  10 — 17.  There  are  some  judi- 
cious remarks  on  this  succession  of  Revelations,  in 
Mr.  Nares's  second  Warburtonian  Lecture,  pages 
46—55. 


14  LECTURE  I. 

general  diffusion  of  sacred  knowledge,  and 
a  general  regard  to  the  divine  command- 
ments ;  when,  in  consistency  with  other 
inspired  predictions,  "  they  shall  teach  no 
"  more,  every  man  his  neighbour,  and 
"  every  man  his  brother,  saying,  Know  ye 
**  Jehovah,  for  they  shall  all  know  Him<^ 
"  from  the  least  to  the  greatest*;"  when, 
therefore,  "  tlie  earth  shall  be  filled  with 
^*  the  l<nowledge  of  Jehovah,  as  the 
'«  waters j€//  the  depths  of  the  sea  •■[•;"  and 

*  Jeiem.  fcli.  31,  v.  34.  These  words  form  part  of  a 
most  sublime  and  beautiful  prophecy,  relative  to  the 
final  restoration  and  conversion  of  the  Jewish  race; 
when,  in  the  most  extended  sense,  that  "  Salvation,  which 
"God  hath  prepared  before  the  face  of  all  people," 
will  become  "  a  light  to  ligiiten  the  Gentiles,  and  the 
"  glory  of  his  people  Israel."  See  the  whole  passage 
V.  31 — 40;  also  Hebr.  ch.  8,  v.  7 — 13  ;  and  the  pro- 
phecy of  Simeon,  in  Luke  ch,  2,  v.  25 — 32. 

f  Isaiah,  ch.  11,  v.  9-  This  w^hole  Chapter,  indeed, 
is  highly  interesting.  In  the  former  part  it  prefigures, 
in  the  most  beautiful  imagery,  some  of  the  peculiar 
characteristics  of  Christ,  and  the  happy  influence  of 
Christian  knowledge,  in  meliorating  the  affections  and 
manners  of  men.  The  latter  part,  v.  11 — 16,  foretels 
some  of  the  most  important  changes  and  events  that 
would  attend  the  recovery,  the  second  time,  of  the  pecu- 
liar people  of  God,  out  of  captivity. 


LECTURE  I.  15 

when  the  inhabitants  of  the  world,  dis- 
armed of  the  causes  of  contention,  '*  shall 
'*  beat  their  swords  into  ploughshares,  and 
"  their  spears  into  pruning-hooks, — nation 
'^  not  lifting  up  sword  against  nation,  or 
**  learning  war  any  more'*." 

But  this  transcendent  promise  confines 
not  the  blessedness  it  holds  forth,  to  a 
period  of  merely  temporal  prosperity  and 
happiness:  it  extends  it,  also,  through  the 
ages  of  eternity.  For  the  rewards  of  piety 
and  virtue  are  future  as  well  as  present. 
*'  Godliness  is  profitable  for  all  things ; 
"  having  promise  of  the  life  that  now 
*^  25,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come  ^\'' 
"  On  those  who,  by  a  patient  continuance 
"  in  well-doing,  seek  for  glor}^,  honour, 
"  and  immortality,"  will  God  confer 
"  eternal  life  J  "  and  therefore,  to  adopt 
the  sublime  and  highly  figurative  language 
of  St.  John,  "  Blessed  are  all  they  that  do 
"  his  commandments,  that  they  may  have 
"  a  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  2,  v.  2 — 4,  and  Micali,  cb.  4,  v.  1 — 4> 
t  1  Tim.ch.  4,  V.  8. 
I  Romans,  ch.  2,  v.  7. 


16  LECTURE  I. 

"  in  through  the  gates  into  the  city  *'''— 
into  that  seat  of  bliss  and  glory,  from 
which  "  every  thing  that  offends  *f  will 
be  for  ever  excluded. 

Such  is  the  blessedness  comprehended 
in  this;glorious  prophecy,  in  its  ultimate 
state  of  accomplishment :  but,  unquestion- 
ably, every  improvement  in  the  state  of 
mankind;  every  approach,  generally 
speaking,  among  the  sons  of  men,  towards 
the  being  what  they  ought  to  be,  must 
argue  either  an  incipient,  or  a  progressive 
fulfilment  of  it. 

A  prophecy,  therefore,  of  this  extent 
and  importance,  has  necessarily  hitherto 
been  only  partially  fulfilled.  It  compre- 
hends the  future  as  well  as  the  present 
state  of  being;  the  ages  that  are  yet  to 
come^  as  well  as  every  past  age  since  it 
was  uttered.  But  that  we  must  refer  the 
complete  accomplishment  of  it  to  a  future 
time  (even  as  far  only  as  the  present  con- 
stitution of  things  is  concerned)  is  evident 


*  Rev.  ch.22,  V.14. 

t  Matthew,  ch.  iS;  v.  41. 


LECTURE  I.  If 

Irorti  every  thing  we  see,  and  every  thing 
we  feel.  It  exhibits  a  condition  of  human 
nature,  in  which  it  has  never  hitherto 
existed.  Where  is,  or  where  ever  has  been, 
that  universal  harmony  and  peace,  arising 
from  the  genuine  love  and  fear  of  God, 
and  a  mutual  benevolence  among  men, 
which  it  gives  us  the  most  evident  reason 
to  expect  ?  •Surely  these  do  not  appear 
at  the  present  moment ;  and  it  is  equally 
certain,  that  they  have  never  made  their 
appearance  during  any  past  period.  The 
history  of  the  present  age  is  little  else  than 
a  detail  of  enormities,  and  tlieir  conse- 
quences, such  as  tlie  world  has  never 
before  witnessed:  the  annals  of  past  ages 
hold  forth  the  most  deplorable  proofs,  of 
the  general  weakness  and  wickedness  of 
mankind. 

Yet,  though  the  time  of  its  full  accom- 
plishment be  future,  there  has  been 
already  so  much  of  it  literally  fulfdled,  as 
to  confirm  our  faith  in  the  truth  of  the 
whole;  and  to  prove,  I  trust,  to  our  entire 
satisfaction,  that  the  iruth  of  the  Al- 
mighty, no  less  than  ''  his  ynn'cif,  cndureth 
*'  for  ever." 

VOL.   T-  c 


.»  LECTURE  L 

We  cannot  avoid  perceiving,  m  the  first 
place,  the  peculiar  blessedness,  which 
forthwith  began  to  attend  tliose  distin- 
fished  persons,  to  wliom  this  promise 
was  more  immediately  made.  Jt  those 
may  be  styled  liappy,  "  who  have  the 
"  Lord  for  their  God,'*  such  he  was  to 
them  in  a  very  remarkable  degree*;  and 

*  Genesis,  ch.  17,  v.  ?  ;  cb  e(i,  v.  3.  24;  ch.  2S, 
r.  13 — lo,  &c. 

And  there  is  an  inexpressible  degree  of  sublimity  and 
Beauty,  and  a  gradation  well  worthy  of  remark,  in  these, 
i*nd  other  similar  declarations  of  God's  pecuhar  regard 
for  them.  Thus,  the  Almighty  himself  assured  Abra- 
ham, that  he  would  be  a  God  to  him,  and  to  his  seed  after 
him.  And  when  iie  afterwards  appeared  to  Isaac  at 
Beersheba,  he  said,  ''  /  am  the  God  of  Abraham  tki/ 
'*  father :  fear  not,  for  I  am  zenith  thee,  and  will  bless 
"  theeJ'  And  hence  Jacob,  in  that  fervent  and  most 
pathetic  prater,  which,  he  offered  up  under  an  appre- 
hension of  the  hostile  intentions  of  iiis  brother  Esau, 
commenced  his  invocations  with  these  venerable,  yet 
very  encouraging  titles — "  O  God  of  my  father  Abra- 
''  ham,  and  GoD  of  my  father  Isaac,''  ch.  iJ2,  v.  9. 
Lastly,  ^vhen,  from  amidst  the  bush  that  was  burning 
but  not  consumed,  God  gave  Moses  a  vharge  respecting 
ihe  emancipation  of  bis  people  irom  the  tyranny  of 
Egyptian  bondage,  this  was  the  awful  sanction  under 
M'hich  he  pronounced  it— ^^  Thus   shalt   thou   say  unto 


LECTURE  I.  19 

such  he  was  acknowledged  to  be,  even  by 
idolatrous  princes  themselves*.  They 
were  favoured  with  the  most  wonderful 
manifestations  of  his  goodness,  and  with 
the  most  unequivocal  marks  of  his  favour 
and  acceptance.  The  promises,  indeed, 
that  were  given  to  them,  were  ''  exceed- 
ingly great  and  precious  ;"  but  they  all 
had  their  foundation  in  that  which  Ave  are 
now  considering ;  and  they  were  realized 
in  every  possible  way,  consistently  with 
the  simplicity  of  the  times  in  which  they 
lived,  and  with  those  parts  in  the  grand 
scheme  of  Divine  Providence  that  were 
yet  to  be  developed.  These  patriarchs 
were  therefore  enriched  with  great  tem- 
poral prosperity  f;  they  experienced  the 
strongest  supports  under  difficulties  and 


^^  the  children  of  Israel,  The  Lord  God  ofyourfatherSj 
*'  the  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God 
^^  of  Jacob,  hath  sent  me  unto  you.  This  is  my  name  for 
"  erer;  and  this  is  my  memorial  throughout  all  genera^ 
*'  tions."     Exod.  ch.  3,  v.  15, 

*  Genesis,  ch.  21,  v.  2e  ,  ch.  26,  v.  28  ;  ch.  35,  v.  5. 

t  Genesis,  ch.  13;  v.  2;  ch.  26,  v.  12—14;  ch.  30, 
V.  43j   ch.  32,  V.  10, 

c  2 


to  LECTURE  I. 

dangers  *  ;  they  enjoyed  the  most  sub- 
stantial satisfaction,  in  the  pursuits  of 
piety  and  virtue;  and  they  inspired  the 
sentiments,  sometimes  of  veneration  -f, 
and  sometimes  of  apprehension:]:,  into 
those  around  them.  Nor  can  we  omit 
mentioning  the  clear  views  they  were 
permitted  to  have,  of  the  veri/  means,  by 
which  they  were  to  be  rendered  instru- 
mental  to  the  future  happiness  of  all  na- 
tions. The  Saviour  of  the  world,  alluding 
to  this  circumstance,  tells  the  unbelieving 
Jews,  that  their  "  father  Abraham  ear- 
"  nestly  desired  to  see  his  day;  and  he  saw 
"  it,  and  was  glad  §/'  Confiding  entirely 
in  the  divine  prediction  of  universal  bles- 
sedness through  him,  he  was  greatly  soli- 
citous  to  know  the  manner  in  which  it 
was    to  be   effected.     And   the    intended 


*  Genesis,  ch.  14,  v.  14 — 16;  ch.  15,  v.  1  ;  ch,  24, 
V.  1  ;    ch.  25,  V.  11  ;    ch.  22,  53,  37,  8cc. 

+  Genesis,  ch.  23,  and  ch.  50,  v.  1  —  14. 

J  Genesis,  ch.  21,  v.  22-32;  ch.  26,  v.  26—31; 
ch.  35 J  V.  5. 

§  John,  ch.  8,  v.  56.  \ya>.\taa-oiTo  ha  i^r, — "  zvas  tram- 
"  ported  xmth  a  vehement  cksire^  that  he  might  see/'  8cc. 


LECTURE  I.  21 

isacrifice  of  the  only  son  he  had  by  promise, 
in  obedience  to  the  divine  command, 
afforded  him  that  information  upon  the 
subject,  which  was  never  afterwards  lost 
sight  of.  By  faith  he  saw,  as  it  w^ere,  the 
day  of  Christ;  and  the  mode  which  Gou 
had  purposed  to  adopt,  in  the  fuhiess  of 
lime,  ia  order  to  "  reconcile  the  world 
"  unto  himself*/'  Isaac,  who  was,  in 
this  instance,  a  type  of  the  future  Saviour, 
was  animated  by  the  same  belief,  the 
same  pleasing  anticipations  of  "  good 
*'  things  to  come."  And  Jacob  was  en- 
abled, still  further,  to  foresee,  tliat  '*  the 
"  Sceptre  should  not  depart  from  Judah, 
**  nor  the  Lawgiver  from  between  his. 
"  feet,  until  Shiloh  came-f-." 

From  these  illustrious  and  highly  privi- 
leged characters  we  now  descend  to  their 
posterity. 

Never  certainly  were  the  watchful  care, 
and  merciful  providence  of  God,  more 
conspicuously  displayed,  than  in  the  pre- 

*  2  Corinth,  ch.  5,  v.  19. 

t  Genesis,  ch.  49,  v.  10.     See  also  Note  G,  in  the 
Appendix. 

c3 


22  LECTURE  L 

serving,  and  wonderful  multiplication  of 
his  chosen  people,  from  the  birth  of  Jacobs 
to  their  establishment  in  the  land  of  -promise. 
''  Isaac  begat  Jacob  ;  and   Jacob    begat 
**  the  twelve    patriarchs*."      Here    were 
the  small  beginnings,  from   which  a  pro- 
geny, innumerable  as  the  stars  of  heavenj 
were   to  arise  !      When    Jacob    and    his 
family  descended   into  Egypt,  including 
Joseph  and   his  two  sons,  they  consisted 
only    of  ''  threescore  and  ten  persons  -f.^ 
But,  about  two  hundred  and  fifteen  years 
afterwards,  when   they   came   up   out  of 
Egypt  under  Moses,  they  were  increased 
to  "  about  six  hundred  thousand  on  foot, 
"  that  were  men^  besides  children  :|:/' 

And  what  a  series  of  wonders  were 
wrought  by  Omnipotence,  in  effecting 
their  entire  emancipation  from  that 
"  house  of  bondage  !"  What  plagues 
were  inflicted  upon  that  devoted  land  § ! 

*  Acts,  cIk  7,  V.  8,  and  parallel  passages. 
'\  Genesis,  cb.  46,  v.  27.     The  wives  of  Jacob's  sons 
are  excepted  from  this  enumeration. 
+  Exod.  ch.  12,  V.  37. 
%  Exod.  chapters  7,  8,  9,  10,  12.   Well  might  Moses 


LECTURE  1.  23 

What  destruction  overtook  their  enemies 
in  the  Red  Sea  *  ! 

How  peculiarly  also  were  they  under 
the  guidance  and  protection  of  God, 
during  their  sojourning  in  the  wilderness! 
They  were  fed,  during  the  whole  forty 
years,  by  bread  sent,  as  it  were,  "  from 
**  heaven  f.'^     They   were   kept   alive,  at 


expostulate,  as  he  does,  with  the  children  of  Israel ;  and 
found,  upon  the  recollection  of  these  prodigies,  the 
strongest  ars;uments  for  their  faith  and  obedience  1 
'*  Ask  now,"  says  he,  **  of  the  days  that  are  past,  which 
*'  were  before  thee,  since  the  day  that  God  created  man 
^'  upon  the  earth;  and  ask  from  the  one  side  of  heaven 
"  unto  the  other,  whether  there  hath  been  ani/  such 
"  thino-  as  this  great  thing  is,  or  hath  been  heard  like 
«  it  ?"— _"  Hath  God  assayed  to  go  and  take  him  a 
'*  nation,  from  the  midst  of  another  nation,  by  tempta- 
"  tions,  by  signs,  and  by  wonders,  and  by  war,  and  by 
"  a  mighty  hand,  and  by  a  stretched-out  arm,  and  by 
"  great  terrors,  according  to  all  that  the  Lord  your 
'*  God  did  for  you  in  Egypt  before  your  eyesr"  Deu- 
teron.  ch.  4,  v.  32,  34. 

*  The  force  overwhelmed  by  that  catastrophe  is  de- 
scribed by  Moses,  in  Exod.  ch.  14,  v.  6,  1 ,  {).  Josephus 
states  it  to  have  consisted  of  600  armed  chariots,  50,000 
horse,  and  200,000  foot.     Antiq.  lib.  ii.  c.  15.  §  3. 

f  Exod.  ch.  16,  V.  35,  and  Joshua,  ch.  5,  v.  11,  12. 

c  4 


24  LECTURE  I. 

two  of  their  stages,  by  water  struck  mira- 
culously from  rocks*;  and,  at  a  third,  the 
titter  waters  of  Marah  were  changed  into 
sweet f.  There  were  sent  them,  and  ju- 
dicially in  one  instance,  preternatural 
flights  of  quails,  to  satisfy  their  inordinate 
lusting;  after  animal  food  %.  Their  clothes 
*'  waxed  not  old  upon  them,  nor  their 
'*  shoes  upon  their  feet§."  They  were 
conducted  in  a  stupendous  manner,  in  all 
their  journeyings,  by  the  appearance  of  a 
cloud  by  day,  and  of  a  pillar  of  fire  by 
night  ||. 

But  the  divine  blessing  upon  these 
twelve  families,  or  tribes,  was  still  more 
remarkably  evidenced,  in  the  Form  of  their 
Government^   both  during  this  astonishing 

*  Exod.  cb.  17,  V.  1—7,  and  Numb.  cb.  20,  v.  1—13. 

f  Exod.  cb.  15,  V.  23—25. 

i  Exod.  cb.  16,  V.  11  —  13;  Numb.  cb.  11,  v.  31—34. 
There  is  a  variety  of  opinions  concerning  tbe  species  of 
animal  food  tbat  is  bere  intended,-  for  tbe  discussion 
of  wbicb,  consult  Dr.  Patrick's  Commentary  on  tbese 
passages,  and  Mr.  Harmer's  Observations,  vol.  iv.  page 
367,  edit.  4. 

^  Deutcron.  cb.  29,  v.  5. 

11  Exod,  cb.  40,  V.  38, 


LECTURE  I.  25 

peiiiod,  and  for  some  ages  afterwards. 
Never  was  there  a  people  so  highly 
honoured,  and  so  singularly  favoured,  as 
they  were  '^.  The  Deity  himself  conde- 
scended to  stand  towards  them  in  a  three- 
fold relation — 

I.  As  their  Creator,  he  required  from 
them  all  the  duties  prescribed  by  the 
moral  law — a  law,  which  he  had  himself 
delivered,  for  the  regulation  of  their  moral 
conduct. 

II.  As  their  God,  he  instructed  them  in 
the  duties  they  owed  to  him,  and  insti- 
tuted the  peculiar  rites  and  ceremonies  of 
their  religious  worship. 

HI.  As  their  King^  or  the  Sovereign  of 
their  body  politic,  he  gave  them  those 
judicial  and  political  laws,  by  which  they 
-were  to  be  governed  ;  he  ordered  also  a 
iabernacle,  and  afterwards  a  temple,  to  be 
erected,  in  which,  as  in  a  palace,  he  might 
have  his  residence,  and  manifest  his  glory 
and  special  presence  among  them  f. 

*  See  Note  11.  in  the  Appendix, 
f  Consult  Dr.  Jennings's  Jewish  Antiquities,   vol.  i« 
p.  20—31. 


26  LECTURE  I. 

Such  were  the  distinguishing  bless^igs 
thev  thus  far  received  !  And  so  remark- 
able  was  the  increasing  accomplishment 
of  the  prophecy  before  us  ! 

But  it  is  also  indispensable  to  observe, 
that  the  very  Law^  by  which  the  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  their  religion  were  estab- 
lished, was  only  a  system  of  Types^  which 
prefigured,  and  had  a  particular  reference 
to  those  "  good  things"  that  were  to 
come  *  ;  to  that  sacred  mean  of  happiness 
and  salvation,  through  which  more  imme- 
diately *'  all  the  families  of  the  earth" 
were  eventually  to  *'  be  blessed." 

Upon  their  obtaining  possession  of  the 
promised  land,  and  ever  afterwards  till 
the  coming  of  Christ,  the  most  illustrious 
of  these  tribes  f,  that  from  which  the 
future  Saviour  was  to  proceed,  was  still, 
in  a  very  emphatical  sense,  '*  the  pre- 
"  served''  of  the  Lord,  the  peculiar  charge 
and  people  of  the  Almighty.  Though 
they  were  often  severely  punished  for 
their   ingratitude,   and   rebellion    against 

*  Hebrews,  ch.  8,  and  ch.  10,  v.  1 — f!5. 
f  Note  I.  in  the  Appendix, 


LECTURE  I.  27 

God,  yet,  upon  their  sincere  repentance, 
they  were  as  often  restored  to  his  favour. 
They  were  visited  occasionally,  and  in  a 
very  distinguishing  manner,  by  Prophets  ; 
who  were  divinely  inspired,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  exposing  their  wickedness,  fore- 
warnino;  them  of  the  dan2;ers  that  threat- 
ened  them,  and  confirming  their  fiiith  in 
God,   by  the  prospects  they  unfolded  of 
future  events  to  be   brought   to    pass   in 
their  season.    These  Prophets  also,  no  less 
than  the  Types  and  Ceremonies  of  their 
own  Religion,  foreshew^ed  the  Advent  of 
the  Messiah,  and  the  inestimable,  and  ul- 
timately universally  extended  blessings  of 
his  Government.     And,  till  this  series  of 
prophecy  finally  closed,  their  predictions 
upon  these  subjects   became  continually 
more  clear  and  decisive,  in  proportion  as 
'^  the  fulness  of  time"  drew  near  ^. 

*  Malachi,  the  last  of  their  prophets  before  John  the 
Baptist,  flourished  about  397  years  before  Christ.  *'  In 
*'  this  long  pause,  or  suspension  of  the  direct  commu- 
•'  nicaiion  of  God  with  his  people,  there  is  something 
^'  peculiarly  solemn.  It  is  like  the  Apocalyptic  silence 
'^  in  heaven)  that  precedes  the  sounding  of  the  seven 
''  Trumpets.  It  was  a  preparation  for  the  grand  event 
"  of  The  Messiah's  Birth.     Had  Prophecies  and  Mira- 


28  LECTURE  I. 

Thus  bad  the  posterity  of  Jacob,  in  thU 
higlil^^-favoured  branch,  been  not  only 
blessed  above  all  other  people  in  the  pos- 
session of  religious  truth;  but  they  were 
rendered  the  depositaries  of  "  the  lively 
"  Oracles  of  God;"  and  amply  served  to 
prepare  the  world  for  the  reception  of  that 
heavenly  light,  which  Was  at  length  "  to 
'lighten  the  Gentiles,''  and  "  to  bring 
''  Life  and  Immortality  to  view  through 
"  the  Gospel/' 

And  we  cannot  but  observe,  that  in  this 
last  respect,  the  very  intercourse  they  had 
with  other  nations,  although  it  was  com- 

*'  cles  been  frequent,  during  all  that  period,  in  the  Jew- 
"  ish  Church,  the  great  distinction  of  dignity  attending 
"  the  Saviour  of  the  World,  would  have  been  lowered; 
*'  he  might  have  been  mistaken  for  some  ordinary  Mes- 
*'  senger  of  Heaven.  But  when,  after  so  long  an  inter- 
**  mission,  these  mighty  works  were  again  manifested 
"  in  him,  with  a  vast  increase  of  splendour,  he  then 
"  stood  forth  at  once,  distinguished  as  the  mighty  ONE, 
"  whose  advent  had  been  so  long  the  topic  of  predic- 
"  tion  ;  and,  after  that,  the  object  of  an  anxious  expect- 
"  ation.  "  This,''  said  they,  whose  prejudices  were  for 
"  the  time,  overcome  by  the  force  of  Miracles,  ''  is  of  a 
"  truth  that  Prophet  that  should  come  into  the  world/* 
Mr.  Nares's  View  of  the  Prophecies,  in  his  Warburto- 
nian  Lectures,  page  236. 


LECTURE  I.  29 

paratively  small  ;  the  wonderful  deliver- 
ances they  sometimes  obtained  in  times 
of  extreme  peril ;  the  calamitous  events 
that  often  befel  them  ;  and  even  their  cap- 
tivity in  l^nbylon  ; — were  calculated  to 
answer  a  sublime,  and  greatly  important 
purpose.  I^y  such  Arguments  were  the 
Heathens  around  them  instructed,  that  it 
is  "  the  Most  High,  that  ruleth  in  the 
Kingdoms  of  Men  */*  By  these  means, 
some  emanations  of  Divine  Truth  would 
naturally  beam  forth  among  them,  the  ef- 
fect of  which  would  never  afterwards  be 
forgotten-}*.  And  hence  arose  that  ex- 
pectation so  generally  entertained,  of  the 
rising  of  some  illustrious  potentate,  who 
should  be  invested  with  universal  domi- 
nion, and  b}^  his  wise  and  gentle  decrees 
should  greatly  improve  the  state  of  man- 


*  Nothing  can  exceed  the  elevation,  and  awful  gran- 
deur of  some  of  those  descriptions  of  Deity  which  were 
occasionally  extorted  from  Pagan  Princes  themselves. 
For  examples  of  this  kind  consult  Dan.  ch.  2,  v,  47,  ch. 
3,  V.24— 30.  ch.  4,  v.  34— -37.  ch.  6,  v.  24— 27. 

f  For  a  remarkable  instancy  of  this,  we  may  refer  to 
the  sacred  Traditions  of  the  Persians,  as  cited  by  Dr. 
Hyde  from  Sharistani  and  Abulpharagius^  in  his  work 
De  Rel.  Vet,  Persarum,  cap.  31. 


50  LECTURE  I. 

kind,  about  the  very  time  that  the  Saviour 
of  the  World  made  his  appearance. 

We  have  now  brought  ilown  the  literal 
though  partial,  fulfilment  of  this  Prophecy 
to  the  birth  of  Christ ;  and  have  seen,  how 
the  general  train  of  events  had  been  or- 
dained^ by  infinite  Wisdom,  so  as  to  intro- 
duce, in  the  most  suitable  manner,  that 
transcendant  and  most  salutary  instance 
of  the  Divine  Goodness. 

But,  from  the  moment  this  *'  day-spring 
"  from  on  high  had  visited  us  *,"  the  ap- 
plication of  this  glorious  prediction  be- 
came more  evident  and  extensive.  The 
Saviour's  Nativity  was  celebrated  by  a 
celestial  Choir,  chanting  forth  the  effu- 
sions of  their  joy  in  that  triumphant  song 
of  praise — "  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest; 
"  and  on  earth  Peace  and  Good-will  to- 
'«  wards  men  *f-/'  Some  Persian  Sages  J, 
guided  by  the  movement  of  a  miraculous 
star  which  was  then  lighted  up  in  the  hea-  ^ 
vens,  were  enabled  to  discover  Him,  who 

♦  Luke,  ch.  1,  v.  78.         t  Luke,  cb,  2,  v.  13,   J  4. 

J  Matth.  ch.  2,  v.  1 — 12.  l^ou,  MArOl  dvo  dyaTo>^\> 
TraoeyivovrOf  &c.  The  name,  a.ui  ihe  diicciion  in  which 
they  travelled,  sufficiently  indicate  their  Country  and 
Religion. 


LECTURE  i.  oJ 

was  ''  the  Desire  of  all  Nations-/'     He 
came,  indeed,  that  he  might  "  give  Light 
"  to  them  that  sat  in  Darkness,  and  in  the 
"  Shadow  of  Death ;  and  to  guide  their 
''  feet  into  the  way   of  peace f/'     "  He 
"  appeared  to  take  away  Sin  by  the  sacri- 
'' fice  of  himself  j;"    and,   by  his  merits 
and  mediation,   to  reconcile  the  Sons  of 
Men  to  their  oifended  Maker  §.    By  a  life 
of   perfect   innocence,  and    of   the   most 
exemplary    active   goodness,    he   has   in- 
structed  us  how  to  live  ;  by  his  doctrines, 
he  has  raised  us  to  juster  notions  of  the 
Supreme  Being,  and  of  our  relative  Du- 
ties towards  Him,  and  towards  each  other, 
than   we  coald  otherwise  by  any  nieans 
have  attained  ;    by  his   precepts,   he  has 
elevated  the  standard  of  piety  and  virtue 
to  an  eminence,  which  had 'never  before 
been  conceived. 

But,  during  the  time  that  this  Divine 
Person  was  upon  earth,  the  blessings  to  be 
derived  from  his  advent  were  comparative- 
ly partial  and  confined.  And  so  it  was 
evidently  intended,  that  the  case  should 
be. — ''  I  am   not  sent,"   said  he  himself^ 

*  Haggai,  ch.  2,  v.  7-     *h  LukC;  ch.  1,  v.  79. 
%  Hebr.  ch.  9;  v,  26,      ^  I  John,  ch.  2,  v.  1,  S. 


32  LECTUUE  I. 

"  but  unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  "  house 
"  of  Israel-/'  Having  been  selected  by 
the  providence  of  God,  for  the  purpose 
of  transmittino;  this  inestimable -benefit  to 
the  human  race,  it  was  but  just  that  the 
advantages  resulting  from  it  should  first 
be  offered  to  them  ;  and  St.  Peter,  in  his 
second  public  discourse,  alluding  to  this 
circumstance,  assured  his  hearers,  that, 
"  unto  them,  firsts  God,  having  raised  up 
"  his  Son  Jesus,  sent  him  to  bless  them, 
''  by  turning  every  one  of  them  from  his 
"  iniquity  -j*. 

No  sooner,  however,  had  he  completed 
the  great  work  of  our  Redemption,  and 
ascended  to  those  n:iansionsof  glory  and 
happiness,  where  he  is  gone  "  to  prepare 
*'  a  place'*  for  us  J  ;  than  a  way  was  open- 
ed, by   which   the  world   at  large  might 


*  Mattb.  cb.  15,  V.  24,  and  in  other  similar  passages. 

t  i\cts,  ch.  3,  V.  26.  And  we  find  Paul  and  Barna- 
bas a  few  years  after  tbis  adopting  tbe  same  argument, 
and  sayi!)g  to  tbe  Jews  at  Antiocb — "  It  was  necessary , 
"  tbat  tbe  word  of  God  sbould  ^Vs^  bave  been  spoken 
'*  to  you:  but  seeing  ye  put  it  from  you,  and  judge 
*'  yourselves  unwortby  of  everlasting  life,  lo,  we  turn 
''  lo  tbe  Gentiles."     Acts,  cb,  1.3,  v,  46. 

t  Jobn,  cb.  14,  v.  2. 


LECTURE  L  33 

**  be  blessed  through  him/'  All  restric- 
tions  were  then  taken  off*.  His  last 
charge  to  his  Apostles  was — *^  Go,  and 
*'  teach  all  nations ;  baptizing  them  in  the 
"  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
"  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  teaching  them 
"  to  observe  all  things,  whatsoever  I  have 
**  commanded  you  f ."  And  but  a  little 
time  elapsed,  before  they  were  enabled 
to  acquit  themselves  of  their  commission 
with  the  most  miraculous  success.  On 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  they  were  visibly 
"endued  with  power  from  on  High  J/' 
They  had  the  ability  granted  them,  by 
means  of  the  supernatural  gift  of  tongues, 
to  spread  abroad  those  *'  good  tidings  of 
great  joy ,^'  which  were  at  last  to  extend 
to  all  people/^  They  were  empowered 
to  establish,  by  the  conjoint  influence  of 
miracles,  and  the  noble  example  of  a  vir- 

*  His  first  charge  to  his  Disciples  was — "  Go  not 
**  into  the  way  of  the  Gentiles,  and  into  any  City  of 
"  the  Samaritans  enter  ye  not :  but  go  rather  to  the  lost 
*'  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel :  and,  as  ye  go,  preach 
"  saying,  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  at  hand,  8cc." 
Matth.  ch.  10,  V.  5 — 7. 

t  Matth.  ch.  28,  v.  19,  20. 

%  Acts,  ch.  2,  V.  1—43.  Agreeably  to  their  Lord's 
promise  io  Luke,  ch.  24,  v.  49. 


S4  LECTURE  I. 

tuous,  zealous,  and  holy  life,  the  credit  of 
those  sacred  truths,  which  Christ  had  him- 
self descended  from  heaven  to  reveal. 

The  doctrines  and  precepts  of  Christia- 
nity being  thus  enforced  by  its  primitive 
teachers,  it  acquired  a  degree  ot  establish- 
ment in  little  more  than  half  a  century, 
which,  according  to  the  common  course  of 
things,  it  could  not  otherwise,  in  all  pro- 
bability, have  obtained  in  the  lapse  of 
many  ages.  The  Apostles  themselves  tra- 
velled into  various  parts  of  the  world, 
preaching  the  Gospel  of  "  the  Kingdom 
"  of  God  :'  and,  notwithstanding  the  con- 
trariety of  their  heavenly  message  to  the 
idolatrous  usages,  and  inveterate  preju- 
dices, that  then  universally  prevailed  ; 
notwithstanding  the  relentless  cruelty  of 
those  persecutions,  by  which  it  was  fre- 
quently assailed  ;  they  inculcated  it  with 
such  fidelity  and  earnestness,  and  sup- 
ported it  with  such  a  luminous  body  of 
evidence,  that  they  made  numerous  con- 
verts in  every  country,  in  which  it  was 
promulged  *. 

•*  The  happy  effects  of  their  labours  may  be  seen,  at 
one  view,  in  the  following  list  of  the  Churches  founded 


LECTURE  I.  35 

Thus  it  was,  in  the  time  of  the  Apostles, 
and  under  their  ministration  :  and  their 
successors  were  not  remiss,  during  the  early 
ages  of  the  Church,  in  following  their 
example.  The  Christians  of  those  ages, 
afford  many  illustrious  instances  of  piety 
and  virtue,  of  faith  and  fortitude  under 
suffering.  In  them,  indeed,  might  the 
words  of  their  divine  Master  be  justly  said 
to  be  verified  ;  for  so  severe  were  the  per- 
secutions to  which  they  were  exposed,  at 
intervals,  till  the  year  312  *,  that  it  seem- 
ed as  if  "  whosoever  killed  them  thought 

by  them,  or  those  ordained  immediately  by  them — the 
Churches  of  Jerusalem,  Judaea  and  Gahlee,  Samaria, 
Caesarea,  Antioch,  Cyprus,  Pisidia,  Galatia,  Phihppi, 
Thessalonica,  Berea,  Corinth,  Rome,  Colosse,  Ephesus, 
Smyrna,  Pergamos,  Thyatira,  Sardis,  Philadelphia,  and 
Laodicea.  See  Milner's  History  of  the  Church,  vol,  i. 
p.  1-96. 

*  Tov\aids  the  end  of  this  year,  Constantine  the 
Great  issued  an  edict,  conjointly  with  Licinius,  putting 
a  stop  to  the  great  persecution,  that  had  been  raised  by 
Dioclesian,  and  had  raged  with  incredible  fury  in  most 
provinces  of  the  empire,  for  the  space  of  nearly  ten 
years.     Anc.  Univ.  Hist.  vol.  xv.  p.  563,  edit.  1748. 

The  most  general  and  sanguinary  of  these  persecu- 
tions may  be  enumerated  as  follows — The  first,  under 
Nero,  began  in  64;  the  second,  under    Domitian,  in 

V  2 


56  LECTURE  I. 

"  that  he  was  doing  God  service  */'  Yet 
they  ''  endured,  as  seeing  Him  who  is  in- 
**  visible -f/"  The  time  would  fail  me  to 
tell  of  some,  "  who  were  tortured,  not 
"  accepting  deliverance,  that  they  might 
"  obtain  a  better  Resurrection ;  of  others, 
"  who  had  trial  of  cruel  mockinss  and 
*'  scourgings,  yea,  moreover,  of  bonds  and 
"  imprisonment.  They  were  stoned,  they 
**  were  sawn  asunder,  were  tempted,  were 
"  slain  with  the  sword  :  they  wandered 
"  about  in  sheep-skins,  and  goat-skins  ;  in 
"  deserts  and  in  mountains,  in  dens  and 
"  caves  of  the  earth  ;  being  destitute,  af- 
*'  iiicted,  tormented  ;  of  whom  the  world 
"  was  not  worthy  J/' 

Such  was  the  reception  which  the  sa- 
cred truths  of  the  Gospel  met  with,  at 
their  first  publication,   and  for  some  ages 

9.3;  ibe  iliiidj  under  Adrian,  about  118;  the  fourth, 
under  Marcus  Aurelius,  hi  162;  the  fifth,  under  Septi- 
mius  Severus,  in  202  ;  the  sixth,  under  Maximus,  in 
2S5  ]  the  seventh,  under  Decias,  in  24Q;  the  eighth, 
under  GalUis,  in  251 ;  the  ninth,  under  Valerian,  in  258; 
the  tenth,  under  Dioclesian,  in  303. 

*  John,  eh.  16,  v.  2.  f  Hebr.  ch.  11,  v.  27. 

X  Heb.  ch.  11,  V.  35 — 38.  See  also  Note  K,  in  the 
Appendix 


LECTURE  I.  37 

afterwards  \     But   "  the  Gates  of    Hell" 
were  not  to  "  prevail  against  it/'     And 
to  such  an  astonishing  degree  of  perfec- 
tion did  the  early  converts,  in  many  in- 
stances, carry  their  piety,  their  zeal,  their 
faith  and   patience  ;  that  it  seemed,  as  if 
all  secular  concerns  were  entirely  absorb- 
ed in  the  contemplation  of  those  that  were 
high   and  heavenly  ;   as   if,  indeed,  they 
were   scarcely   any  longer    beset  by   the 
weaknesses,  and  frailties  of  human  nature. 
Even  the  extremity  of  their  torments,  and 
the  magnanimity  with  which  they  sustain- 
ed them,  gained  over  numerous  proselytes 
to  the  faith ;  and  "  the  blood  of  the  Mar- 
**  tyrs  became,"'  in  one  sense,  *'  the  seed  of 
**  the  Church." 

But  it  may  now  be  naturally  inquired — 
What  advantages  have  resulted  from  the 
diffusion  of  this  long-oppugned  system; 
and  how  far  it  has  contributed  to  the 
blessedness  of  all  nations,  wherever  it  has 
been  received  ? 

Looking  at  it  only  thus  far\  we  might 
be  induced  to  suppose,  that  it  had  been 
productive  of  much  niore  misery  than  hap* 
piiiess^  to  those  who  embraced  it;  for  it  was 

D  3 


38  LECTURE  1. 

the  object  of  general  odium  and  persecu- 
tion, both  with  Jews  and  Gentiles  ^.  And 
it  was,  without  doubt,  the  experimental 
knowledge  of  this  fact,  which  compelled 
the  Apostle  Paul  to  confess,  that  "  if  in 
"  this  life  only  they  had  hope  in  Christ, 
"  they  were  of  all  men  most  miserable  *|-/^ 
But  it  had  been  expressly  predicted  by  its 
divine  author  himself,  that  this  should  be 
the  case.  Anticipating  the  hostility  that 
it  should  long  meet  with,  from  '*  the  un- 
"  ruly  wills  and  affections  of  sinful  men,'^ 
he  was  heard  to  say — *'  Think  not  that  I 
"  am  come  to  send  peace  on  earth  :  I  am 
n6t  come  to  send  pe«ce,  but  a  sword '^.l" 
And  the  correspondence  of  this  predic- 
tion, in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  with  the 

*  So  it  was  repeatedly  foretold  the  case  should  be, 
Matth.  ch.  10,  v.  22;  ch.  24,  v.  9,  aud  the  parallel  pas- 
sages. 

t  1  Cor.  ch.  15,  V.  19. 

J  Matth.  ch.lO,  v.  34.  The  word  fAocxaipa,  which  is 
here  rendered  Szvord,  is  evidently  used  metaphorically, 
to  denote  violent  animosity ,  and  deadly  discord,  such  as 
could  not  but  give  rise  to  the  most  fatal  consequences. 
Accordingly,  in  the  parallel  passage  in  St.  Luke,  the 
same  sentiment  is  otherwise  expressed  by  ^laix^pia-fiov, 
"  Division,''  ch.  12,  v,  51. 


LECTURE  I.  39 

course  of  events,  quite  clown  to  the  pre- 
sent time,  must  ever  be  considered,  as  one 
of  the  strongest  arguments  in  favour  of 
the  truth  of  Christianity  itself*.  But  no 
less  so,  it  must  be  granted,  are  those 
beautiful  and  prophetic  representations, 
wherein  its  progress  in  the  world  is  para- 
bolically  compared  to  the  influence  of 
Leaven^,  and  to  the  growth  of  a  Grain  of 
Miistard'Seed  J. 

The  sacred  Leaven  has,  already,  indeed, 


*  Never  was  there  a  system  of  religion,  so  opposed 
at  its  first  promulgation,  and  so  persecuted  during  a 
long  series  of  successive  ages !  Never  was  there  one 
which  flourished,  and  diffused  itself,  so  much,  under 
every  species  of  violence  and  indignity!  Surely  we 
may  adopt  the  argument  of  Gamaliel,  and  say — if  this 
counsel,  or  this  work,  had  been  of  men,  it  must  have 
come  to  nought^  but,  being  of  God,  it  could  not  be 
overthrown.  Acts,  ch,  5,  v.  38,  39.  But  with  how 
much  greater  force  does  this  conclusion,  in  favour  of  its 
divine  authenticity  appear,  when  it  is  recollected,  that 
these  opposite  states,  of  extreme  depression  and  ample 
glorification,  of  rigorous  persecution  and  continually 
extending  influence,  so  unexampled  in  the  annals  of 
any  other  system,  w«re  so  exactly  foretold  by  its  great 
Author  himself ! 

f  Matth.  ch.  13,  v.  33.     Luke,  ch.  IS,  v.  20,  21. 

%  Matth.  ch.  13,  v.  31,  32.     Luke,  ch.  13.  v.  18,  19< 

D   4 


40  LECTURE  1. 

proceeded  far  towards  leavening  the  w  hole 
mass.  The  hallowed  Grain  has  taken  such 
deep  root,  and  shot  forth  such  extensive 
branches,  that  many  "  fowls  of  the  air,'' 
many  nations  of  the  earth,  have  long 
*'  lodged  under  the  shadow  of  it/'  And 
it  is  only  necessary  to  call  to  mind  the 
happy  effects  which  have  resulted,  and 
must  naturally  result,  from  the  mild  and 
generous  spirit  of  the  Christian  religion; 
and  to  contrast  them  with  those  outrages 
against  humanity,  those  horrible  super- 
stitions and  obscenities,  which  have  ever 
attended  the  impure,  the  ferocious  and 
gloomy  genius  of  Paganism  ;  in  order  to 
be  fully  convinced,  how  exquisitely  it  is 
adapted  to  the  necessities  of  our  nature  ; 
and  to  the  production  of  a  state  of  blessed^' 
ness,  wherever  it  is  cordially  received*. 


*  Many  writers  of  eminence  have  occasionally  illus- 
trated this  interesting  and  important  subject;  but  none, 
perhaps,  more  full}^  and  satisfactorily,  than  a  late  vene- 
rable, and  most  exemplary  prelate,  Dr.  Porteus.  I  wish 
it  were  in  my  power  to  do  justice  to  the  ability,  and 
benevolence,  with  which  he  has  written,  any  otherwise 
than  by  a  reference  to  the  work  itself.  It  is  entitled, 
"  The  Beneficial  Effects  of  Christianity  on  the  Tempo- 


LECTURE  I.  41 

When  Constantine  the  Great  became 
firml}^  establis-hed  in  the  government  of 
the  empire,  then,  in  one  sense,  began  *'  the 
*'  Kino;doms  of  this  world  to  become  the 
"  Kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his 
"  Christ ^/^  And  ever  since  that  auspi- 
cious period— notwithstanding  the  barba- 
rism introduced  by  those  savage  hordes, 
that  over-ran  and  ruined  the  empire  of  the 
West ;  notwithstanding  that  still  more  de- 
plorable darkness,  which  was  wilfully,  and 
for  ages,  superinduced  over   the  greater 

*'  ral  Concerns  of  Mankind,  proved  from  History,  and 
*^  from  Facts."  Since  the  time  that  this  pleasing  Essay 
made  its  appearance,  "  The  Slave  Trade,"  which  had 
been  so  long  permitted  to  disgrace  the  Ciinstian  name, 
and  the  then  continued  existence  of  which  the  Bishop 
very  pathetically  deplores,  has  happily  been  abolished 
by  an  act  of  the  Legislature.  And  thus,  our  wonder  is 
only  now  excited  by  the  circumstance,  that  "a  Nation, 
"  professing  the  mild  and  merciful  religion  of  the  Gos- 
"pe/,"  should  have  so  long  "  authorized  and  encoiaaged 
"  that  inhuman  traffic.*' 

^  Rev.  ch.  11,  V.  15.  This  majestic  description, 
however,  of  the  progress  of  true  Religion  relates  to  a 
more  advanced  state  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ,  than 
the  reign  of  Constantine,  strictly  speaking,  ever  pre- 
sented ;  for  this  reason,  I  have  used  the  words  *'  began 
"  to  become,"  instead  of  "  are  become." 


42  LECTURE  I. 

part  of  Europe,  by  the  Church  of  Rome; 
and   the  extensive  prevalence  of  the  Im- 
posture of  Mahomet  over  many  countries 
of  the  East ;  the  profession  of  Christianity 
has  been  held,   and  her  benefits  in  some 
degree  felt,  by  many  nations  of  the  world. 
When,  for  instance,  they  understood,  that 
the  Saviour  of  Mankind  had  offered  him- 
self a  Sacrifice  '*  once  for  all," — then  the 
savage  rites  of  Pagan  worship  ceased  ;  and 
the   Altars   were    no    longer    besprinkled 
with  the  blood  of  human  victims.    When, 
under  her  pacific  influences,  "  the  hearts 
*'  of  the  fathers  had  been  turned  to  the 
"  children,  and  the  hearts  of  the  children 
"  to  their  fathers,''  then  no  more  was  heard 
of  the  systematic   murder  of  weakly  and 
deformed  infants  ;  or  of  the  exposure  of 
those  to  inevitable   destruction,  who  had 
lost  the  power  of  supporting  themselves, 
through  the  attacks  of  disease,  or  the  infir- 
mities of  extreme  old  age.    From  the  love 
of  God,  as  exemplified  towards  them  in 
the  great  work  of  Redemption,  these  con- 
verted people  soon  acquired  the  salutary 
lessons  of  humanity  and  benevolence  to- 
wards each  other.     *'  Knowing  that  they 


LECTURE  L  43 

"  had  a  master  in  heaven/'  to  whom  they 
were  to  be  accountable  for  the  proper  use 
of  their  own  talents;  they  were  induced, 
in  general,  to  renounce  the  cruelties,  and 
to  mitigate  the  hardships,  of  domestic  ser^ 
vitude.  And  the  beautiful  symbol,  under 
which  the  tender  regard  of  Christ  for  his 
Churcli  was  portrayed  to  them  in  the 
Scriptures,  strongly  inculcated  upon  them 
duties,  to  which  hitherto  they  were  almost 
entirely  strangers — the  duties  of  conjugal 
affection,  and  a  sacred  attachment  to  the 
interests  and  happiness  of  the  female  sex. 

Such  were  some  of  the  blessings  dif- 
fused, by  the  benign  spirit  of  Christianity, 
over  many  of  those  nations,  which  had 
heretofore  dwelt  only  in  "  darkness  and 
cruel  habitations!"  And  however  unen- 
lightened by  the  rays  of  secular  learning 
some  of  the  ages  of  which  we  are  speak- 
ing may  really  have  been  ;  and  how^ever 
unrefined  the  general  state  of  manners 
during  these  periods  ;  yet  still  these  bene- 
fits have  been  felt,  and  have  greatly  con- 
tributed to  the  melioration  of  the  state  of 
the  world. 

But,   unhappily,   the    deepest   wounds 


44  LECTURE  I. 

Religion  was  to  receive  have  been  inflict- 
ed by  those,  who  professed  the  warmest 
devotion  to  her ;  and  her  greatest  '*  foes" 
have  been  those,  as  it  were,  "  of  her  own 
"  household/'  Thus  it  was  foretold  that 
the  case  should  be*:  and  in  this  point  of 
view,  the  corruptions  of  the  Church  of 
Rome,  and  the  assumptions  of  her  ambi- 
tious  Prelates,  fall  irresistibly  under  our 
notice.  These  could  not  bear  the  li^ht. 
They  never  had  the  concurrence  of  right 
reason;  they  never  had  the  support  of 
God's  holy  word  ;  they  were  in  direct  op- 
position to  the  purity  and  simplicity  of 
the  Gospel.  For  these  reasons,  it  became 
necessary,  for  that  idolatrous  and  intole- 
rant Church,  to  confine,  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, the  sources  of  sacred  knowledge  ;  to 
prohibit  the  free  use  of  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures ;  and  to  encourage,  and  attempt  to 
perpetuate,  that  ignorance,  which  chiefly 
characterized  the  dark  ages.  Hence,  the 
Crusades  against  Infidels  were  soon  suc- 
ceeded  by   Crusades   against  Christians ; 

*  Acts,  cb.  20,  V.  30 ;  1  Tim.  ch.  4,  v.  1—4 ;  2  Tlies- 
sal.  ch.  2,  V.  3 — 12. 


LECTURE  1.  4S 

and,  after  an  interval  of  about  nine  hun- 
dred years,  the  sanguinary  persecutions  of 
Pagan  Rome  were  revived  in  all  their  hor- 
rors, in  the  torture  of  the  Inquisition,  and 
the  flames  of  its  Autos  da  FL 

At  length,  through  the  infinite  mercy  of 
God,  notwithstanding  all  this,  the  revival 
of  Learning,  and  the  invention  of  Print- 
ing, facilitated  the  acquisition  and  the  dif- 
fusion of  knowledge.  They  tore  aside 
the  veil  from  that  *'  Mystery  of  Iniquity'' 
which  had  been  so  long  working ;  and  pre- 
pared the  way  for  a  happy  and  glorious 
Reformation.  And  it  must  surely  affect 
us  with  the  sincerest  pleasure  to  remem- 
ber, that  this  country  very  early  distin- 
guished itself,  by  its  zeal  and  ability  in 
the  sacred  cause ;  and  has  ever  since  pre- 
sented a  grand  and  impregnable  bulwark 
for  its  defence.  This  has  been,  indeed,  a 
soil  peculiarly  favoured  by  heaven  ;  admi- 
rably adapted  to  the  growth  both  of  civil 
and  religious  Liberty,  and  to  the  produc- 
tion of  every  thing  that  is  great  and  good. 
Of  the  reformed  Religion,  as  established 
by  law,  it  may  be  truly  said,  that,  with 
a  very    few  exceptions   only,  our  Kings 


46  LECTURE  1. 

have  been  her  "  nursing  fathers/*  and  our 
Queens  her  *'  nursing  mothers/'  And, 
under  the  mild  and  genial  influence  of 
her  pure  and  pacific  principles,  we  have 
gradually  risen,  as  a  people,  to  our  pre- 
sent state  of  Liberty  and  Independence ; 
of  Civilization,  and  Dignity  of  Character  ; 
of  Power,  Prosperity,  and  Elevation  in  the 
great  scale  of  Nations. 

Although  there  is  still  much  depravity  to 
deplore,  yet,  through  the  divine  goodness, 
such  have  been  the  singular  advantages, 
and  the  augmentation  of  happiness,  that 
we  have  derived,  from  the  obedience  we 
have  already  rendered  to  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  !  The  same  causes  acting  similarly, 
as  far  as  circumstances  will  admit,  will 
always  produce  correspondent  effects:  and 
hence,  there  is  every  reason  to  expect, 
that  the  more  generally  the  principles  of 
Christian  knowledge  are  propagated,  so 
much  the  more  extensively  will  the  same 
transcendent  benefits  be  experienced;  the 
more  the  cruel  reign  of  Pasianism,  and  the 
scarcely  less  savage  influence  of  Bigotry 
and  Superstition  are  circumscribed,  the 
more  evidently  it  will  appear,  from  "  the 


LECTURE  I.  47 

*'  increase  of  the  government  and  peace" 
of  the  Messiah,  that  in  IIwi  alone  "  shall 
"  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed/' 

We  cannot  therefore  view  with  indiffe- 
rence the  powerful,  and  truly  benevolent 
efforts,  that  are  put  forth  in  this  country,, 
at  the  present  time,  with  the  view  of  dif- 
fusing, as  far  as  possible,  the  blessings, 
which  have  so  greatly  contributed  to  our 
own  welfare  ;  by  disseminating  widel}^  the 
seeds  of  religious  knowledge  ;  by  attempt- 
ing the  civilization  of  barbarous  nations, 
and  preparing  them  to  receive  "  the  words 
*'  of  eternal  life/' 

But  with  how  much  greater  delight  must 
we  regard  the  patriotic,  and  truly  Christian 
zeal,  which  is  now  exerting  itself,  under 
the  highest  auspices,  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  some  of  the  most  exalted  person- 
ages in  the  realm;  to  extend  to  the  chil- 
dren of  the  poor,  universally,  throughout 
Eno;land  and  Wales,  the  inestimable  ad- 
vantage  of  a  useful  and  truly  religious 
education,  according  to  the  excellent  prin- 
ciples of  our  national  Church.  This  is, 
indeed,  a  case,  which  comes  home  directly 
to  our  own  bosoms,  and  affects  immedi- 


4S  LECTURE  I. 

ately  our  own  happiness  and  security.  At 
a  time,  when  the  rapid  increase  of  Dissen- 
ters of  various  denominations,  and  the  di« 
ligence  with  which  they  apply  themselves 
to  the  gaining  of  Proselytes,  and  to  the 
education  of  the  children  of  the  poor,  seem 
to  threaten  the  subversion  of  that  Consti- 
tution in  Church  and  State,  under  which 
we  have  enjoyed  so  long  the  privilege  of 
living — the  speedy  execution  of  this  pru- 
dent and  salutary  plan  holds  forth  the 
pleasing  prospect  of  the  most  extensive 
good.  It  will  tend  to  promote  more  gene- 
rally the  cause  of  virtue  and  true  religion. 
It  will  be  the  means  of  preventing  the 
dangers,  that  naturally  arise  from  faction 
and  schism.  It  will  become  instrumental 
in  binding  the  community  more  closely 
together,  by  the  ties  of  public  spirit,  and 
of  strong  and  mutual  benevolence  ^. 

But  the  general  adoption  of  this  scheme 
of  education  will  almost  necessarily  be- 
come the  means  of  greatly  augmenting 
the  number  of  members  in  the  estab- 
lished   Church.     And   it  is,    I   believe,  a 

*  See  Appendix,  Note  L, 


LECTURE  I.  49 

subject  of  general  notoriety,  that  the 
Churches  and  Chapels  of  Ease,  through* 
out  the  more  populous  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, are  very  far  indeed  fronj  being  ade- 
quate to  the  number  of  its  present  mem- 
bers. In  addition  to  this  circumstance, 
we  cannot  but  observe,  that,  from  a  variety 
of  causes,  the  population  of  the  country 
is  rapidly  increasing.  May  we  not  then 
be  permitted  to  indulge  the  hope,  that^  ere 
long,  a  sufficient  provision  will  be  made 
by  the  wisdom,  the  piety,  and  liberality  of 
the  Legislature,  to  meet  every  emergency 
of  this  kind.*  AVhere,  in  fact,  will  be  the 
use  of  educating  children  in  the  principles 

*  When  Constantine  was  abolishing  the  rites  of  Pa- 
ganism, and  establishing  Christianity  throughout  the 
Empire,  among  other  laws  adapted  to  these  important 
ends,  he  enacted  one  in  particular — "  ordering  the 
"  Churches,  which  had  been  pulled  down  during  the 
**  persecution,  to  be  re-built  at  his  own  expense ;  en- 
"  joining  his  Receivers  in  the  different  provinces  to 
"  furnish  the  necessary  sums  for  that  purpose ;  and 
"  those  whom  he  appointed  to  oversee  such  buildings, 
"  to  take  care  that  they  were  capable  of  containing  all 
"the  inhabitants;  for  we  hope,  added  the  pious 
**  Emperor f  that  they  will  all  embrace  the  faith  of  the 
"  true  GOD,     He  wrote,  upon  the  same  Subject,  to  all 

VOL.  I.  E 


50  LECTURE  I. 

of  the  Church  of  England,  if  they  have 
few  or  no  opportunities,  either  during  the 
period  of  their  education,  or  through  the 
subsequent  part  of  their  lives,  of  attending 
divine  worship,  in  the  manner  prescribed 
in  the  excellent  liturgy  of  that  Church  ? 
So  obvious  does  the  necessity  for  some 
measure  of  this  description  appear  !  May 
we  not  with  propriety,  on  this  occasion, 


"  the  Metropolitan  Bishops/'  &c.  Anc.  Uiiivers.  Hist. 
Vol.  15,  p.  585.  Edit.  1748— from  Eusebius,  Vit.  Con- 
stant, lib.  2,  ch.  44,  45. 

But  if  this  illustrious  Prince,  only  making  a  trial  of 
Christianity,  as  a  Religion  for  his  extensive  dominions, 
were  thus  solicitous  in  effecting  arrangements  for  its 
general  reception  and  cultivation  ;  should  the  Senate  of 
this  land,  and  those  who  bear  rule  in  Church  and  State, 
be  less  earnest  in  their  endeavours  to  secure  the  perma- 
nency of  that  Ecclesiastical  System,  which  has  been  so 
long  *'  established  by  Law,"  whose  purity  and  excellence 
have  been  so  thoroughly  approved,  and  under  whose 
sacred  influence  the  Country  has  gradual/^  risen  to  its 
present  rank  in  elevation  and  renown  ?  Yet,  what  pro- 
bability is  there,  that  this  permanency  can  be  rendered 
secure,  amidst  all  the  eflTorts  that  are  employed  to  de- 
stroy it,  unless  the  means  of  engaging  in  Social  Wor- 
ship, according  to  the  Constitutions  of  the  National 
Church,  be  allowed  to  keep  pace,  in  some  degree,  with 
the  increase  of  population  ? 


LECTURE  I.  51 

adopt  the  language  of  our  divine  Master*, 
and  say — "  The  Harvest  truly  is  plente- 
*'  ous,  but  the  labourers  are  few  :  pray  ye 
^'  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  Harvest,  that 
"  he  will  send  forth"  more  *'  labourers  into 
"  his  Harvest  V 

*  Matth.  ch.  9,  V.  37,  ^8  ;  and  Luke,  ch.  10,  v.  2. 


E  2 


LECTURE  II. 

Delivered  January  19?  1812. 


John,  ch.  1,  v.  17. 

The  Law  zvas  given  by  Moses ;  hut  Grace 
and  Truth  came  by  Jesus  Christ. 

IT  has  been  my  endeavour,  thus  far,  to 
illustrate  the  fulfilment  of  some  of  those 
more  early,  and  more  remarkable  Prophe- 
cies, which  predicted,  in  a  general  manner, 
the  Advent  of  the  Messiah,  and  the  bless- 
ings that  should  result  from  that  Dispensa- 
tion which  he  was  to  introduce.  We  have 
pursued  this  main  course  of  the  current 
of  Revelation  as  far  as  the  time  of  Jacob: 
and,  in  tracing  downward  the  particular 
points  towards  which  it  was  directed,  it 
has,  I  trust,  in  some  measure  appeared  : 
that  the  Mosaic  Economy  constituted  a 
most  prominent  and  important  part,  in 
the  series  of  succeeding  events  ;  and  that 

e3 


64  LECTURE  II. 

by  this  the  Hebrew  race  were  rendered 
subservient,  in  a  very  distinguishing  de- 
gree, to  the  great  purposes  of  Jehovah. 

It  will  throw  much  additional  light  upon 
this  interesting  subject,  if  we  now  proceed 
to  demonstrate,  from  the  evidences  which 
most  naturally  present  themselves ;  that 
both  the  Mosaic  and  the  Christian  Dis- 
pensations were  framed  with  such  a  Con- 
sistency  and  Unity  of  Design^  as  to  make  it 
appear,  that  the  one  was  intended  by  di- 
vine wisdom  to  have  been  merely  prepa- 
ratory to  the  other. 

Under  this  relation  they  are,  in  effect, 
exhibited  to  us  in  the  words  of  the  text. 
'*  The  Law' — that  scheme  of  divine  go- 
vernment, under  which  the  more  favoured 
of  the  Seed  of  Abraham  were  placed— 
"  was  given  by  Moses  :"  ^^  but  Grace  and 
"  Truth" — the  most  complete  discovery  of 
the  tender  love  of  God  towards  man- 
kind; and  that  happy  state  of  things, 
which  was  at  length  to  verify  every  Predic* 
tion,  and  every  Type,  that  had  given  ground 
for  the  anticipation  of  it — "  came  by  Jesus 
''  Christ/'  Here  is,  indeed,  a  beautiful 
Antithesis,  by  which  the  Law  is,  as  it  were, 


LECTURE  II.  55 

contrasted  with  the  Gospel ;  but  its  obvious 
tendency  is  to  display  to  the  greatest  ad- 
vantage the  Glory  and  Perfection  of  the 
o?iey  without  in  the  least  invalidating  the 
Dignity  and  Purport  of  the  other:  it  ap- 
plies solely  to  the  different  degrees^  in  which 
they  have  been  respectively  rendered  in- 
strumental, to  the  accomplishment  of  the 
same  transcendent  scheme  of  divine  good- 
ness. 

But  it  will  further  argue  this  Unity  of 
Design^  if  it  can  be  satisfactorily  proved, 
that  \\\(d  Means,  which  have  been  adopted, 
have  invariably,  as  far  as  we  are  able  to 
judge,  corresponded  with  the  End  propos- 
ed; with  the  revealed  and  gracious  Will  of 
the  Almighty,  in  favour  of  the  Sons  of  Men. 

Here,  however,  it  may  be  proper  to  call 
to  mind,  that  every  effect  of  moment,  in 
the  moral  as  well  as  in  the  natural  world,  is 
produced  by  the  operation  of  causes,  that 
act  in  a  gradual  and  progressive  manner. 
Upon  the  very  first  view,  therefore,  of  the 
subject,  we  have  every  reason  to  expect, 
that  the  heavenly  light,  which  was  dif- 
fused throughout  the  various  parts  of  the 
Ceremonial  Law  of  the   Hebrews,  would 

E  4 


56  LECTURE  II. 

be  comparatively  glimmering  and  weak^ 
Such,  in  fact,  it  was.  Proceeding  from 
**  the  Father  of  Lights*/'  it  was  perfect  in 
its  nature  ;  but  not  in  its  degree.  Yet  the 
measure  of  it  was  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  infinite  Wisdom ;  and  wa&  there- 
fore, as  we  may  well  presume,  propor- 
tioned, with  the  nicest  precision,  to  the  cir- 
cumstances under  which  it  was  granted  f*. 
It  was,  likewise,  continually  receiving  fur- 
ther accessions,  from  the  Prophetic  Reve- 
lations, by  which  it  was  successively  at- 
tended in  the  lapse  of  ages.  And  as  it 
preceded  the  rising  of  "  the  Sun  of  Righ" 
"  teousness  %"  so  it  was  manifestly  de- 
signed to  have  the  same  reference  to  the 
great  day  of  Christianity,  as  twilight  has 
to  the  various  splendour  of  the  natural 
day. 

Nothing,  now,  will  be  more  easy  than 
to  prove  this  comparative  obscurity  of  the 
Mosaic  Dispensation;  and  the  exquisiic 
adaptation  of  the  peculiarities  it  possessed 
to  the  grand  purpose  for  which  they  were 

*  James,  ch.  1,  v.  17.       +  Appendix,  Note  M. 

I  Malacbi,  ch.  4,  v.  2.    See  also  Appendix,  Note  Nr 


LECTURE  II.  57 

ordained.  And  it  is  proposed,  on  the 
present  occasion,  to  adduce  some  argu- 
ments in  favour  of  these  points, 

From  the  Writings  of  Moses  and  the 
Prophets  ; 

From  the  wonderful  analogy  subsisting 
between  the  Types  of  the  Jewish  Church, 
and  the  Anti'types  to  which  they  respec- 
tively correspond  in  the  Christian  ; 

And  from  the  deplorable  state  in  which 
tlie  Jewish  Nation  has  been  held,  ever 
since  tlieir  rejection  of  Jesus  Christ  as 
their  promised  Messiah. 

1.  With  respect  to  the  Prophetic  Decla- 
rations— 

We  are  assured,  on  the  authority  of 
Moses  himself,  that  the  great  object  to  be 
answered  by  the  institution  of  the  Law- 
was,  that,  while  it  preserved  some  know- 
ledge of  the  true  God  in  the  world  ;  and 
propounded  Ordinances  to  regulate  the 
moral  and  religious  conduct  of  his  chosen 
people;  it  might  also  point  out  the  neces- 
sity of  some  more  complete,  and  more  ge- 
nerally beneficial  Dispensation  ;  and  cre- 
ate, at  the  appointed  season,  an  earnest 
expectation   of  it.     Thus,  though  he  in- 


58  LECTURE  U. 

structed  the  Israelites,  that  the  wonders 
they  had  witnessed,  in  the  transmission  of 
their  law,  were  wrought  for  the  express 
purpose  of  promoting  their  obedience,  by 
convincing  them,  that  "  The  Lord  He  is 
^'  God,  and  that  there  is  none  else  beside 
*'  him  *  ;''  he  as  plainly  intimated,  that 
*'  the  Statutes  and  Judgments"  he  deli- 
vered were,  at  some  future  time,  to  give 
place  to  the  Doctrines  and  Precepts  of 
miother  Prophet ;  whom  "  God  w^ould  raise 
''  up  unto  them  of  their  brethren -f- ;^' 
and  Vvho  sliould  bear,  in  his  sacred  Cha- 
racter and  Functions,  a  most  striking  re- 
semblance to  himself:]:. 

*  Deuteion.  ch.  4,  v.  32 — 40;  and  in  several  other 
similar  passages. 

t  This  simple  circumstance,  that  the  great  Prophet, 
here  foretold  by  Moses,  should  be  raised  up  unto  the 
Children  of  Israel  '^  of  their  brethren,'*  must  for  ever 
oppose  an  insuperable  barrier  to  the  claims  of  Mahomet, 
to  the  honour  he  has  assumed  of  being  "  The  Prophet 
"of  God;'*  for  he  was  a  lineal  descendant  from  Ish- 
mael;  and  not  of  the  chosen  Seed,  to  whom  this  pro- 
mise was  made. 

J  Deuteron.  ch.  18,  v.  1.5 — 19-  In  these  verses,  the 
mild  and  gentle  manner,  in  which  "  Life  and  Immorta- 
lity should  be  brought  to  light  by  the  Gospel,*'  is  most 


>?. 


LECTOTcE  II.  .39 

But  where  would  have  been  the  utilitij 
of  a  Prediction  of  this  kind,  or,  indeed, 
of  its  accomplishment,  if  the  State  of 
Revelation,  under  which  they  then  lived, 
had  been  sufficient^  in  every  respect,  for 
their  own,  and  the  universal  happiness 
of  mankind. 

So  manifestly  defective,  in  this  point  of 
view,  did  the  Mosaic  Institution  appear 
to  St.  Paul,  that  he  enforces  it  as  an  Axiom 
upon  his  Converts  in  Galatia,  who  had 
been  but  too  successfully  beguiled  by 
Judaical  Teachers ;  that,  with  respect  to 
himself,  and  other  Christians  who  had 
been  educated  in  that  religion,  "  the  Law 
"  was"  merely  as  "  a  Schoolmaster  to 
"  brino;  them  to  Christ*. 

sublimely  contrasted  with  the  grand  and  awful  circum- 
stances, that  attended  the  delivery  of  the  Law  to  Moses, 
upon  Mount  Sinai. 

The  Author  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  has  renew- 
ed the  same  subject;  and  enlarged,  with  great  force 
and  effect,  on  the  happy  superiority  of  privilege,  which 
they  had  attained,  when  compared  with  that  which  their 
forefathers  had  enjoyed  in  the  Wilderness,  Heb.  ch.  12, 
V.  18-— 24. 

*  Galat,  ch.  3,  v.  24.    The  Passage  is  literally  'o  Noicwj 


60  LECTURE  11. 

Besides,  there  was  one  singularity  in 
this  law,  which  caused  it  to  be  still  fur- 
ther incompetent  to  the  ultimate  purpose 
of  Divine  Administration — It  was  exclusive 
in  its  nature.  It  was  expressly  restricted 
to  the  government  of  those,  who,  as  "  the 
"  peculiar  people  of  God"  in  ancient 
times,  were  to  exist  as  types  *  of  that 
"  holy  nation  and  peculiar  people  -f*",  who 
were  afterwards  to  become  ''  zealous  of 
*'  good  works,"  under  a  better  and  more 
enduring  Covenant.  This  restriction  is 
most  clearly  asserted  by  Moses,  when,  re- 
minding tliem  of  the  noble  privileges  they 
enjoyed,  he  enquires — "  What  Nation  is 
"  there  so  great,  that  hath  Statutes  and 
"  Judgments  so  righteous,  as  all  this  Law 
'^  which  I  set  before  you  this  day  :|:  ?" — and 
when,  further,  in  consequence  of  the  im- 
mediate command  of  God,  he  allows  not 
any  one  to  partake  of  the  Eucharistical 
Sacrifice  of  the  Paschal  Lamb,  who  had 
not   been   previously    admitted   into    the 

*  See  Note  T,  in  the  Appendix. 
+  Titus,  ch.  2,  V.  14  ;   and   1    Pet.  ch.  2,  v.  9,  com- 
pared with  Deut.  ch.  14,  v.  2,  and  ch.  26,  v.  18» 
t  Deut.  ch,  4,  V.  8, 


LECTURE  IL  61 

Israelitish  Church  by  the  right  of  Circum- 
cision *.  We  may  accordingly  perceive, 
from  the  whole  history  of  the  Jews  ante- 
cedently to  the  birth  of  Christ,  how  won- 
derfully they  were  preserved  as  a  people, 
distinct  and  separate  from  all  others; 
retaining  throughout  their  own  appropri- 
ate Laws,  Customs,  and  Religious  Wor- 
ship. 

But,  in  this  state  of  limitation,  the  world 
at  large  could  have  derived  no  benefit 
whatever  from  the  Religion  of  the  He- 
brews ;  excepting  only  that  indistinct  pro- 
spect of  a  future  "  Prince  and  Saviour,** 
which  the  few  hints,  they  occasionally  de- 
rived from  it,  had  opened  before  them. 

Not  only,  however,  was  it  insufficient  in 
this  respect ;  it  was,  in  itself,  ver}^  far  from 
answering  to  the  gracious  designs  of  God, 
ill  an  ultimate  sense,  even  in  relation  to  the 
Seed  of  Abraham  themselves  ;  it  was  very 
remote  indeed  from  the  completion  of 
those  divine  promises,  which  we  have  al- 
ready noted,  as  having  preceded  it,  and 
foretold  the  final  blessedness  of  them  in 

*  Exod.  ch.  12,  V.  43—45,  and  47-— 49, 


62  LECTURE  II. 

common  with  all  other  Nations.  Hence, 
the  more  pious  and  enlightened  among 
them  were  well  persuaded,  that,  while 
"  without  the  shedding  of  blood  there 
"  could  be  no  remission  *,  in  a  ceremonial 
point  of  view,  yet  that  '^  it  was  not  possi- 
*'  ble,  that  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats 
"  could  take  away  sins-f-/'  They  referred 
the  efficacy  of  these  sacrifices  to  some- 
thing ulterior;  to  some  Mediation,  of 
which  they  had  as  then  but  an  imperfect 
idea,  and  to  which  they  considered  these 
sacred  Rites  as  having  some  particular 
allusion  §.  And,  for  this  reason,  a  New 
Covenant  is    very   clearly  anticipated  by 

*  Heb.  ch.  9,  V.  22.  +  Heb.  ch.  10,  v.  4. 

§  In  correspondence  with  this  are  those  numerous 
passages  of  Holy  Writ,  which  point  out  the  conditional 
and  imperfect  nature  of  these  Sacrifices  ;  the  necessity 
for  their  indefinite  repetition,  and  their  comparative 
insignificance,  when  unattended  by  integrity  and  holi- 
ness of  Hfe.  In  like  manner,  it  is  well  argued,  that 
"  the  Law  can  never  with  those  sacrifices,  which  they 
**  offered  year  by  year  continually,  make  the  comers 
"  thereunto  perfect.  For  then  would  they  not  have 
"  ceased  to  be  offered  ?  because  that  the  worshippers 
«*  once  purged  should  have  had  no  more  conscience  of 
<*  Sins.  But  in  these  sacrifices  there  is  a  remembrance 
**  again  made  of  Sins  every  year.     And  every  Priest 


LECTURE   II.  6i5 

several  of  the  Jewish  Prophets.  Thus 
Isaiah,  predicting  some  of  the  illustrious 
characteristics  that  should  distinguish  the 
person  of  the  Messiah,  proclaims  in  the 
Name  of  God, 

<*  I  Jehovah  have  called  thee  for  a  righteous 
purpose; 

*'  And  I  will  give  thee  for  a  Covenant  to  the  peo- 
ple, for  a  Light  to  the  Nations*." 

And  Malachi,  adverting  to  the  same  auspi- 
cious circumstance,  consoles  the  believing 
Jews  of  his  time  with  the  assurance,  that 
"  The  Lord  whom  they  sought,  should 
"  suddenly  come  to  his  Temple,  even  the 
*'  Messenger  of  the  Covenant  in  whom  they 
"  delighted -f/'     But  Jeremiah  is  very  ex- 

"  standeth  daily  ministering,  and  offering  oftentimes 
"  the  same  sacrifices,  wliich  can  never  take  away  sins/' 
Heb.cb.  10,  V.  1— S,  11. 

*  Isaiah,  ch.4'2,  v.  fi.  Bp.  Lovvtli's  Translation,  to 
which  this  note  is  annexed,  (J  Covenant  to  the  peopky) 
"  Fur  my.  two  MSS.  read  D^li?  the  Covenant  of  the 
"  Age  to  come,  or  the  everlasting  Covenant:  which  seems 
"  to  give  a  clearer  and  better  sense.'* 

t  Malachi,  ch.  3,  v.  1. 


64  LECTURE  II. 

plicit,  in  pointing  out  the  Nature  of  the 
Covenant  thus  foretold — 

"  Behold^  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
*'  That  I  will  make  with  the  house  of  Israel, 
*'  And  with  the  house  of  Judah,  a  Neiv  Covenant; 
*^  Not  according  to  the  Covenant  which  I  made 

with  their  Fathers, 
"  In  the  day  that  I  took  them  by  the  hand, 
*'  To  bring  them  out  of  the  Land  of  Egypt; 
"  Which  Covenant  of  mine  they  violated, 
''  Although  I  were  a  husband  unto  them. 
*'  But  this  is  the  Coxenant  which  I  will  make  with 

the  House  of  Israel ; 
'^  After  those  days,  saith  Jehovah,  I  will  put  my 

law  into  their  inward  parts, 
*'  And  upon  their  hearts  will  I  write  it; 
"  And  I  will  be  unto  them  a  God, 
^'  And  they  shall  be  unto  me  a  people." 
"  For  I  will  pardon  their  iniquity, 
"  And  their  Sin  will  I  remember  no  more  V* 

From   all  which,  and  a  number  of  other 

*  Jerem.  ch.  31,  v.  31 — 34.     Dr.  Blayney's  Transla- 
tion.    Consult  the  Note   which  the  learned  writer  has 


LECTURE  II.  U 

collateral  circumstances,  the  Author  of  the 
Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  has  very  conclu- 
sively argued;  that  Christ  is  '*  the  Media- 
"  tor  of  a  better  Covenant^ ^  than  Aaron 
was ;  that  "  if  that  Jirst  Covenant  had 
*'  been  faultless,  there  would  have  been 
"  no  place  sought  for  the  second ;"  and 
that  the  new  having  then  been  ratified  and 
adopted,  that  which  had  "  decayed  and- 
"  Toaxen  old  was  ready  to  vanish  away  *'* — 
which  it  did  very  shortly  afterwards ;  by 
the  Destruction  of  the  Temple,  where 
God  had  condescended  in  former  times 
*'  to  place  his  name ;"  and  by  the  utter 

annexed  to  the  32d  verse,  in  order  to  explain  the  cause 
of  the  difference  between  the  latter  clause  of  that  verse, 
and  the  corresponding  passage  in  Heb.  ch;  8,  and  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  9th  verse,  *'  Not  according  to  the  Covenant 
"  that  I  made  with  their  fathers  in  the  day  when  I  took 
*'  them  by  the  hand  to  lead  them  out  of  the  land  of 
*'  Egypt ;  for  they  continued  not  in  my  Covenant,  and 
ic  J  regarded  them  nof' — agreeably  to  the  Translation  of 
the  LXX.     ^ocya  hixt'KT^aa  auruv. 

*  The  whole  Train  of  the  sacred  Writer's  reasoning 
on  this  subject,  will  be  found  in  Heb.  ch.  6,  v.  20,  chap- 
ters 7,  8,  9,  and  10th,  to  verse  the  29th.  On  these 
important  passages,  the  luminous  expositions  of  Dr* 
Whitby  may  be  read  with  great  advaiitag«. 

VOL,  I.  P 


66  LECTURE  II. 

annihilation   of   the   Jewish    polity,    and 
ecclesiastical  establishment. 

The  Dispensation  of  Moses  having  been 
thus  superseded,  it  cannot  but  be  interest- 
ing to  us  to  look  back;  and  to  trace  the 
MeanSy  hy  which  it  has  been,  and  may  still 
be  rendered  conducive  to  that  sublime, 
and  most  important  purpose,  for  which  it 
was  professedly  granted. 

These  are  stated  for  our  Instruction, 
with  the  greatest  distinctness,  by  our  Savi- 
our Christ  himself.  On  one  occasion,  up- 
braiding his  persecutors  with  their  Infide- 
lity, he  said—-"  Had  ye  believed  Moses, 
"ye  would  have  believed  me;  for  he 
"  wrote  of  me  */'  On  another,  he  asserted, 
that  "  all  the  Prophets,  and  the  Laid),  prO" 
^'  phecied  until  John-jV  And,  in  his  very 
first  public  discourse,  he  vouchsafed  to 
announce  to  his  Disciples,  that  "  he  came 
"  not  to  destroy  the  Lavi\  and  the  Prophets^ 
"  but  to  fulfil  them  j." 


*  John,ch.  5,  v.  46. 

f  Matth.  ch.  11,  V.  3i,  and  Luke,  ch.  16,  v.  16. 

J  Matth.  ch.  5,  v,  18. 


LECTURE  IL  67 

Hence  it  appears,  that  the  Lazo  and 
the  Prophets  were  both  intended  to  be 
in  reality  of  the  same  nature  ;  to  have 
a  prospective  view  to  what  was  to  come; 
and  to  bear  such  a  degree  of  analogy 
to  the  circumstances  or  the  events  fore- 
told, that,  when  they  should  come  to 
pass,  no  doubt  should  remain,  after  a 
faithful  comparison,  that  the  predictions^ 
or  sacred  emblems,  which  had  foreshewn 
them,  had  actually  received  their  accom- 
plishment. 

As  far  then  as  the  Law  is  concerned,  we 
are  at  liberty  still  further  to  draw  this  con- 
clusion— that  the  Kites  and  Ceremonies, 
which  constituted  its  essential  parts;  as 
also  the  peculiarities  of  the  extraorclinarif 
Ferson  who  delivered  it;  were  designed  to 
prefigure  the  Saviour  of  the  World,  that 
great  Lawgiver  who  was  afterwards  to 
make  his  appearance  ;  and  the  essential 
characteristics  of  that  holij  Institution^  of 
which  he  was  to  be  the  Founder. 

II.  The  Question  therefore  is,  whether 
the  events,  that  have  taken   place,  have 

F  2 


68  LECTURE  IL 

verified  these  antecedent  representations 
of  them  ? 

If,  in  the  first  place,  we  refer  to  that 
most  remarkable  prediction  of  Moses, 
which  has  been  already  mentioned,  and  is 
so  strongly  insisted  on  by  St.  Peter*  and 
St.  Stephen  -f^  we  shall  observe,  how  par- 
ticularly he  proposes  himself  bs  a  type 
of  that  great  Prophet,  whose  advent  he 
foretold.  And  what  two  persons  did  ever 
so  greatly  resemble  each  other,  as  Moses 
and  Christ  ?  What  two  others  have  been 
equally  with  them  Kings ^  Priests^  and  l^ro- 
pheis  ;  equally  distinguished  by  the  meek- 
ness  of  their  dispositions,  the  wonderful 
works  that  they  wrought,  the  direct  com- 
munication X  they  held  with  the  Supreme 
Being  ?  Is  there  not  something  more  than 
mere  accident  in  the  circumstance,  that 
each  of  these  should  \i?iYe  fasted  ^' forty 
'*  days  and  forty  nights^  f     And  who  be- 

*  Acts,  ch.  3.  V.  2'2,  23.  f  Acts,  ch.  7.  v.  37. 

X  See  Appendix,  Note  O. 

5  Compare  Exod.  ch.  £4,  v.  18,  and  ch.  34,  v.  28,  as 
also  Deut.  ch.  9,  v.  9,  and  ch.  10,  v.  10  ;  with  Matth. 
ch.  4,  V.  2,  and  Luke,  ch.  4,  v.  2. 


LECTURE  II.  69 

side  them  has  ever  had  his  countenance  iU 
luminaied  with  the  rays  of  Divine  glory*  ; 
or  did  ever  feed  multitudes  by  breads  as  it 
v/ere^from  heaven  -f  ? 

But  the  time  would  fail  me,  were  I  to 
attempt  the  recital  of  all  the  numerous 
and  incontrovertible  analogies,which  these 
two  remarkable  personages  bore  to  each 
other.  Nor  is  this  at  all  necessary  ;  since 
BishopNewton,  in  his  admirable  Disser- 
tation upon  this  very  Prophecy,  by  the 
valuable  materials  he  has  adopted  from 
Eusebius  among  the  ancients,  and  Dr. 
Jortin  among  the  moderns,  has  amply  sup- 
plied every  material  deficiency  J. 

*  Exod.  ch.  34,  V.  29 — 35,  and  ii.  Cor.  ch.  3,  v. 
7—13,  compared  with  Matth.  ch.  17,  v.  2,  Mark,  ch.  9, 
V.  2,  3,  and  Luke,  ch.  9,  v.  ^9 — 3  4. 

f  Appendix,  Note  P. 

J  From  ihe  authorities  he  has  produced,  this  excel- 
lent writer  has  brought  forward  into  one  view  no  less 
\k\'dXiforty-jvce  instances  of  analogy,  and,  generally  speak- 
ing, of  very  striking  analogy  ;  which  arise  from  the 
respective  histories  of  the  Lawgiver  of  the  Hebrews, 
and  the  Lawgiver  of  the  Christians.  And  he  concludes 
his  parallel  with  the  following  appeal,  in  the  words  of 
Dr.  Jortin. — *^  Is  this  similitude  and  correspondence  in 

f3 


70  LECTURE  11. 

There  is,  however,  one  further  instance 
of  resemblance,  which  I  shall  take  the 
liberty  of  inserting,  because  it  places  their 
characters  in  a  most  engaging  and  ami- 
able point  of  view  ;  and  because  it  has 
been  omitted  in  t^  enumerations  above 
mentioned.  It  is  ii'm — that,  in  a  very  em- 
phatical  sense,  they  were  both  of  them 
Shepherds.  Moses,  during  his  residence 
in  Midian,  led  a  life  of  great  simplicity, 
and  followed  literally  the  pastoral  occupa- 
tion. And  when,  in  obedience  to  the 
divine  command,  he  had  undertaken  to 
conduct  and  govern  the  people  of  Israel, 
he  is  still  considered  in  the  capacity  of  a 
Shepherd.  Thus  he  is  celebrated  by  Isaiah 
when,  recounting  the  past  mercies  of  God, 
he  says — ■ 

''  in  so  many  things  between  Moses  and  Christ  the 
*'  effect  of  mere  chance  ?  Let  us  search  all  the  records 
"  of  universal  history,  and  see  if  we  can  find  a  man,  who 
''  was  so  like  to  Moses  as  Christ  was,  and  so  like  to  Christ 
*^  as  Mo3es  was.  If  we  cannot  find  such  a  one,  then 
"  zve  have  found  him,  of  whom  Moses  in  the  Law  and  the 
*f  Prophets  did  rvrite,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  Son  of 
"  God."     Dissertation  VL 


LECTURE  II.  71 

**  Then  he  remembered  the  days  of  old,  Moses 

and  his  people ; 
"  How  he  brought  them  up  out  of  the  Sea,  with 

the  Shepherd  of  his  Flock  ; 
*'  How  he  put  his  Holy  Spirit  within  him*/' &c. 

But  our  blessed  Saviour  also  assumed 
the  character  of  a  Shepherd;  and,  by  way 
of  eminence,  of"  the  good  Shepherd-^-"  and 
he  is  most  sublimely  and  beautifully  pre- 
described,  by  the  same  evangelical  Pro- 
phet, as  acting  in  this  capacity,  when  he 
proclaims  concerning  him — 

*'  Behold,  the  Lord  Jehovah  shall    come  with 

a  strong  hand, 
*'  And  his  arm  shall  prevail  for  him  : 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  QS,  v.  11.  There  is  certahily  a  degree 
of  incorrectness  in  the  ordinary  English  version  ot  this 
passage.  In  his  critical  note  upon  the  original.  Bishop 
Lowth  says — "  For  n*>N»  how  interrogative,  twice  the 
*'  Syriac  version  reads  T»J<,  hozo  without  interrogation  ; 
"  as  that  particle  is  used  in  the  Syriac  Language,  and 
"  sometimes  in  the  Hebrew.  See  Ruth,  ch.  3,  v.  18: 
«  Eccles.  ch.  2,  V.  l6." 

John,  ch.  10,  V.  11 — 14,  &c. 

f4 


f2  LECTURE  II. 

'*  Behold,  his  reward  is  with  him,  and  the  re- 
compense of  his  work  before  him ; 
"  He  shall  feed  his  flock  like  a  Shepherd -^ 
*^  He  shall  gather  up  the  lambs  in  his  arm, 
*'  And  carry  them  in  his  bosom  ;  he  shall  gently 
lead  those  that  have  young  *J* 

From  the  Founders,  we  now  descend  to 
the  religious  Institutions  they  respectively 
introduced  ;  and  here  we  shall  find  resem- 
blances equally  wonderful,  and  equally 
indicative  of  the  same  ultimate  design. 

And  the  first  of  these,  whether  we  regard 
the  order  of  time,  or  magnitude  of  import, 
is  the  ordinance  of  the  Passover.  This  has 
been  so  often,  and  so  ably  compared  with 
its  great  Anti-type,  "  the  Sacrifice  of  the 
"  Death  of  Christ,''  that  there  is  little 
apparently  to  be  farther  advanced  upon 
the   subject  -f-,     1   feel,   notwithstanding, 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  40,  v.  10.     See  also  Appendix,  Note  Q. 

f  St.  Paul  in  his  first  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  ch. 
5,  V.  7,  expressly  styles  Christ  "  Our  Passover,  who 
was  sacrificed  for  us/'  Bishop  Patrick  has  adduced  seve- 
ral very  striking  instances  of  typical  Resemblance  in  his 
valuable  paraphrase  on  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Exodus; 


LECTURE  II.  73 

that  I  should  very  imperfectly  perform 
my  duty  on  this  occasion,  if  I  neglected 
pointing  out,  for  your  recollection,  some 
of  those  peculiar  and  striking  analogies, 
which  appear  to  be  of  the  greatest  signifi- 
cancy  and  importance.  Such  are  the  fol- 
lowing— 

1.  The  Victim  appointed  for  this  holy 
solemnity,  was  to  be  a  Lamb^  ;  and  the 
Saviour  of  the  World  was  peculiarly  dis- 
tinguished by  the  titles  of"  The  Lambf;' 
"  the  Lamb  of  God  :j:. 

2.  The  Meekness  and  Innocence  of  the 
Lamb  are  the  most  proper  emblems  for 
representing  beforehand  the  meek^  the 
humble^  and  inoffensive  deportment  of  Christ. 
He,  it  is  said,  "  did   no  sin,  neither  was 

and  so  also  has  Dr.  Whitby  in  numerous  passages  of 
his  Commentaries  on  the  Gospels  and  Epistles,  where 
the  Sacrifice  of  the  Passover,  and  that  of  the  death  of 
Christ,  are  the  topics  of  elucidation.  Upon  the  same 
interesting  subject  we  may  consult  with  advantage  a 
learned  and  elaborate  Dissertation  in  "  The  Economy  of 
the  two  Covenants,"  by  Herman  Witsius,  vol.  2,  book  4, 
ch.  9,  edit,  1808,  as  well  as  another  in  Dr.  Jennings's 
"  Jewish  Antiquities,"  vol.  2,  book  3,  ch.  4,  edit.  1808. 

*  Exod.ch.  12,  V,  3—50. 

t  Rev.  ch.  5,  V.  8,  9,  12 :    and  ch.  7,  v.  10. 

X  John,  ch.  1 .  V.  29. 


74  LECTURE  II. 

**  guile  found  in  his  mouth ;  when  he  was 
"  reviled,  he  reviled  not  again ;  when 
"  he  suffered,  he  threatened  not*/'  And 
therefore  his  sufferings  are  most  pathe- 
tically and  truly  described  by  Isaiah, 
when  he  predicts,  that  he  should  be 
'^  brought  as  a  Lamb  to  the  slaughter  -f-. 

3.  The  Sacrifice  appointed  for  the  Pass- 
over was  to  be  "  zmthout  blemish  X^^*  and 
Jesus  Christ,  on  account  of  the  perfect 
purity  and  holiness  of  his  life,  is  expressly 
compared  by  St.  Peter  to  '^  a  Lamb  zoith-' 
out  spot  §  ;'*  and  is  said,  by  the  author  of 
the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  to  have  offered 
himself  without  spot  to  God  ||. 

4.  The  Paschal  Lamb  was  to  be  a  "  Male 
''of  the  first  year  ^  ;'*  just  arriving,  as 
it  were,  at  maturity  :  and  our  blessed  Sa- 
viour became  a  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the 
world  in  the  thirty-fourth  year  of  his  age, 
when  he  had  just  attained  the  prime  and 

full  vigour  of  life. 

5.  The  Lamb  that  was  selected  for  the 

*   1  Pet.  ch.  2,  V.  21—23.     t  Isaiah,  ch.  53,  v.  7. 
X  Exod.  ch.  12,  V.  5.  §  1  Pet.  ch.  1,  v.  19- 

II    Heb.  ch.  9,  V.  14.  ^  Exod.  ch.  12,  v.  5. 


LECTURE  II.  75 

sacrifice,  was  to  be  taken  from  the  rest  of 
the  flock  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  first  ^ 
month ;  but  was  not  to  be  slaughtered  till 
the  fourteenth  day  of  the  same  month  at 
even  *.  Here  is  therefore  an  interval  of 
upwards  of  four  daysy  during  which  the 
victim  was  to  be  "  kept  up  :''  and  if  we 
consider  these  dai/s  as  prophetical -j-  in  their 
import,  as  the  other  parts  of  this  type  evi- 
dently are,  they  will  then  correspond  with 
sufiicient  accuracy  with  the  number  of 
years  previous  to  his  death,  during  which 
the  Redeemer  of  mankind^  having  relinquish- 
ed the  comforts  of  domestic  life^  devoted  him- 
self to  the  arduous  duties  of  the  ministry  he 
had  mercifidly  undertaken  \. 

6.  The  Paschal  Lamb  was  to  be  oifered 
by  means  of  Fire  §  ;  but  not  in  the  manner 

*  Exod.  ch.  12,  v.S— 6. 

f  Dai/s,  in  prophetical  language,  are  often  used  to  de- 
note years.  Determinate  examples  of  this  kind  occur  in 
Numb.  ch.  14,  v.  34,  and  Ezek.  ch.  4,  v.  4 — 6.  The 
memoiable  prophec}'  of  Daniel,  concerning  the  Seventy 
weeks,  (inch. 9, v.  24 — 27,)cis  v.ellas  several  other  inter- 
esting i'iophecies,  which  will  be  the  [-ubjects  of  future 
consideration,  can  only  be  explained  upon  this  prin- 
ciple. 

X  See  Note  R,  Appendix.     §  Exod.  ch.  12,  v.  8,  9. 


76  LECTURE  II. 

of  a  burnt-offering,  wherein  the  victim 
was  wholly  consumed  *  ;  it  was  merely  to 
be  roasted,  so  as  to  admit  of  its  being  af- 
terwards applied  as  food  to  the  Israelites, 
then  taking  their  departure  from  Egypt. 
So,  as  Fire,  in  all  cases  of  expiation,  is 
considered  as  a  lively  type  of  the  r^rath  of 
Gody  we  may  perceive,  that ''  Christ  our 
Passover'  was  indeed  to  be  slai?!  for  us, 
and  to  endure  in  our  stead  the  severity  of 
divine  wrath  ;  but  that  he  was  not  to  suffer 
so  essentially  under  it,  as  that  he  might 
not  become  the  spiritual  food  of  all  true 
believers,  to  the  end  of  time  -fv 

7.  Another  circumstance  also,  wonder- 
fully remarkable  in  the  sacrifice  of  the 
Paschal  Lamb,  was — that  the  Israelites 
were  forbidden  to  *'  break  a  bone  there- 
of p"  And  the  Evangelist  St.  John  has 
very  particularly  announced,  that  this  part 
of  the  Type  was  literally  verified  in  the 

*  For  the  Divine  appointment,  in  respect  to  the  burnt- 
offering,  see  Levit.  ch.G,  v.  8—13. 

t  John,  ch.  6,  v.  31—59. 

J  Exod.  ch.  12,  V.  46.  The  same  divine  injunction 
was  repeated  in  the  Wilderness  of  Sinai c  Numb.  ch.  9, 
V.  12.  And  this  is  a  circumstance,  which  still  more 
strongly  argues  its  great  typical  importance. 


LECTURE  II.  77 

awful  Event  of  our  Lord's  crucifixion.     In 
compliance  with  a  custom  that  had  gene- 
rally prevailed  among  the  Jews,  and  was 
founded  upon    an   express  ordination  of 
God  *,  tiiey  "  besought  Pilate,    that  the 
*'  lei>:s''  of  those  who  had  been  crucified 
*'  might  be  broken,''  in  cvder  to  accelerate 
their   death,  ''  and   that    they   unght    be 
"taken  away.     Then  came  the  Soldiers, 
*'and  brake  the  legs  of  the  first  malefac- 
«'tor,  and  of  the  other  that  was  crucified 
"  with  hira  ;  but  when  they  came  to  Jesus, 
"  and  saw  that  he  was  dead  already,  they 
*' brake  not  his   legs/'     "Now  this    was 
"  done  that  the  Scripture  should  be  fulfill- 
<<  ed — a  bone  of  him  shall  not  he  broken  *i-." 

8  The  sacrificing  of  this  Lamb  was  not 
an  office  peculiar  to  the  Pnests  ;  but  it  was 
particularly  enjomed,  that  "  all  the  con- 
"  ^re^ation  of  Israel  should  kill  it  X'^  So 
did  the  whole  Jewish  nation^  as  it  were, 
become  partakers  ia  the  shedding  of  *'  the 
innocent  blood''  of  Christ ;  for,  at  the  cele- 
bration of  their  Passovers,  the  generality 
of  the  Nation  w^as  assembled  at  Jerusa- 

*  Deut.ch.  21,  V.  22,  23.      f-ohn,  ch.lQ,  v.  31,  33,  36. 
±Exod.ch.  l'i,\.G— ^1. 


n  LECTURE  II. 

lem  *•  So  also,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  do  the 
devout  members  of  his  Church  in  the  Sa- 
crament which  is  commemorative  of  his 
death,  derive  continually  to  themselves 
"  the  strengthening  and  refreshing  of  their 
"  Souls  by  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ, 
"  as  their  bodies  are''  nourished  "  by  the 
"  bread  and  wine/' 

9.  The  eating  of  the  first  Passover  was 
immediately  followed  by  the  emancipation 
of  the  peculiar  people  of  Goo  from  the 
tyranny  of  Egyptian  bondage  -f- ;  and  the 
oblation  of  the  true  anti-typical  Lamb, 
as  it  became  the  means  of  introducing  a 
more  free  and  happy  dispensation,  was 
forthwith  succeeded  by  the  liberation  of 
the  Church  of  God  from  those  restrictions 
of  the  Ceremonial  Law,  under  which  it 
had  hitherto  existed  J. 

*  See,  particularly,  the  account  \vhich  Josephus  gives 
of  the  crowded  state  of  Jerusalem,  at  the  time  when  the 
Jews  came  up  to  the  last  passover,  that  was  ever  cele- 
brated in  that  city. — Wars  of  the  Jews,  book  6,  ch.  9j 
sec.  3  and  4. 

+  Exod.  ch.  12,  v.  6—21,  50,  51. 

J  Heb.  ch.  9,  v.  1 — 14.  St.  Peter,  in  conducting  the 
argument  for  the  freedom  of  the  Christian  Dispensa- 
tion, against  those  who  held  it  indispensable,  that  th« 


LECTURE  II.  79 

10.  But  the  sacrifice  was  not  complete, 
the  safety  of  the  iM'aelites  was  not  secured, 
without  tlie  effusion  of  the  blood  of  the  vic- 
tim, and  a  particular  application  of  that 
blood  accord intr  to  the  command  of  God  *. 
In  hke  manner,  "we  were  not  redeemed 
**  with  corruptible  things,  as  silver  and 
"gold  ;     but    with    the   precious    blood   of 

"  Christ/'     And,    in   Commemoration    of 
this  unspeakable    benefit,  are  those  who 

shall  be  saved  „  out  of  every  kindred,  and 


new  Gentile  Converts  should  receive  CircumcisJon,  and 
keep  the  Laze  of  Moses,  uses  this  very  sirons:  expostu- 
luiion — "  Now  therefore,  why  tempt  ye  God,  to  put  a 
**  yoke  upon  the  Neck  of  the  Disciples ,  which  neilhei-  our 
*'J'atherSy  nor  we,  zvere  able  to  carryT^    Acts,  ch.  1  ,,  v.  10. 
*  Exod.  ch.  12,  V.  7>   22—24.     Such  was  the  type  ! 
Of  Moses  it  is  accordingly  said,    that  "  through  Ja^ih 
"  he  ivcptthe  Passover,  and  the  sprinkiuig  of  blood ;  lest  he 
"  that  destro^'ed  the  first-born  should  touch"  the  people 
of  Israel.     Heb.  ch.  11,  v.  28.     And  from  tJie  luanuer 
in  which   the   typical   blood  was  applied,  the  blvud  :>i 
Christ  is  also  called   ^^  the  blond  of  sprink'iugJ'     iL  b. 
ch.  12,  V.  24.    For  this  reason  St.  Peter  addressed  those 
pious  converts,  lo  whom  he  wrote  his  first  epistle,  under 
the  iitie  of  **  iJect,  according  to  the  foreknow if^dge  of 
"  God  the  Father,  through  sancufication  of  the  i^^j^irit, 
''  unto  obedience,  and  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus 
"  Christ"    1  Pet,  cti.  1,  v.  2. 


80  LECTURE  II. 

tongue,  and  people,  and  nation,  repre- 
sented by  St.  John  as  confessing,  with 
unanimous  and  joyful  gratitude,  in  the 
presence  of  the  Lamb,  that  he  ''  was  slain^ 
"  and  had  redeemed  them  to  God  by  his 
"  blood  ^r 

But  my  limits  will  not  allow  me  to  pur- 
sue this  particular  subject  any  further  : 
Let  it  be  sufficient  therefore  to  observe, 
that,  whether  we  consider  the  peculiar 
characteristics  of  the  Paschal  Lamb,  and 
those  which  so  strongly  pointed  out  the 
Saviour  of  the  world  ;  the  mode  of  imrno- 
lation  prescribed  in  the  one  case,  and  the 
nature  of  his  sufferings  and  death  in  the 
other  ;  the  corresponding  and  salutary 
effects  which  should  result  from  these 
means  of  propitiation  in  both  instances  ; 
or  the  Rules,  by  an  observance  of  which 
these  inestimable  benefits  might  be  seve- 
rally attained — Under  whatever  classes 
we  arrange  the  various  points  that  occur, 
we  shall  perceive   throughout    the    most 

*  Rev.ch.5,  V.  8,9.  See  also  ch.  7,  v.  9,  10,  13,  14, 
where  they  are  most  sublimely  represented,  as  ascrib- 
ing the  whole  Glory  of  their  Salvation  to  God  and  the 
Lamb. 


LECTURE  IT.  81 

wonderful  traces  of  similitude  ;  tlic  most 
convincing  proofs,  that  the  sacred  rite  of 
such  unutterable  benefit  to  the  wretched 
Israelites  in  Egypt,  was  only  a  type  of 
that  Salvation,  which  God  "  had  prepared 
"  before  the  face  of  all  People.'' 

When  the  Israelites  became  the  visible 
church  of  God  in  the  wilderness,  then 
every  thing,  relative  to  the  exterior  of 
their  worship,  assumed  a  typical  aspect ; 
and  was  either  made  according  to  "  the 
"Patterns  shewed  to  IMoses  in  the  mount,*" 
or  orchiined  by  the  immediate  command 
of  God.  The  Tabernacle,  or  Temple  it- 
self, with  all  its  furniture,  became  a  type 
of  the  person  and  attributes  of  Christ  ; 
and  is  particularly  referred  to  as  such,  in 
one  of  his  own  discourses -^j-.  To  pass  by 
many  other  more  minute  points  of  resem- 
blance, we  cannot  omit  mentioning  this, 
that  whereas  *'  the  glory  of  Jeuovah"' 
ot^en  "appeared  in  a  cloud,'*  "and  filled 

*  Exod.  ch.  25,  v.  8,  9,  40.     Numb.  ch.  8,  v.  4,  and 
Ilcb.  ch.  8,  V.  5. 

t  John  ch.Q,  v.  18--2'2. 
^■OL.  I.  G 


S^  LECTURE  II. 

"  the  Tabernacle  of  the  Congregation^," 
so  did  the  Effulgence  of  Divine  Excellence 
frequently  beam  forth,  in  the  miracles  that 
he  wrought,  and  "  the  gracious  words  that 
*'  proceeded  out  of  his  mouth/'  from  the 
person  of  Jesus  Christ;  and  once,  indeed, 
in  a  visible  manner,  at  the  time  of  his 
Transfiguration  *j-. 

One  of  the  first  things,  in  the  establish- 
ment of  their  national  religion,  was  the 
ordination  of  a  Priesthood  competent  to 
the  discharge  of  its  duties.  As  therefore 
the  office  of  the  High-Priest  was,  by 
the  Law,  confined  to  perpetual  descents 
in  one  single  family  as  long  as  the  Lan^ 
continued',  so  was  Christ  "  verily  fore- 
ordained" to  the  office  of  an  everlasting 
Priesthoody  "  before  the  foundation  of  the 

*  The  wonderful  history,  connected  with  this  cloud, 
and  the  glory  that  attended  it,  as  far  as  they  respected 
the  sojourning  of  the  Israelites  in  the  Wilderness,  is  de-  • 
tailed  with  great  perspicuity,  in  Exod.  ch.  40,  v.  34 — 38. 
The  same  impressive  symbols  of  the  divine  presence 
were  also  permitted  to  dignify  the  Tempie  built  by 
Solomon.  1  Kings,  ch.  8,  v.  10.  2  Chron.  ch.  5,  v. 
13,  14.    Ezek.  ch.  10,  v.  3,  4. 

t  Matth.  ch.  17,  Y.  1,  2;  and  the  parallel  passages  ia 
Mark,  and  Luke. 


LECTURE  II.  83 

**  world/'  though  "  manifested  only  in 
"these  last  days  for  us."  The  covenant 
made  with  Aaron,  for  a  Priesthood  that 
should  be  ^^  everlasting^''  through  that  dispen" 
safioji"^^  is  symbolical  of  that  entered  into 
with  Christ,  that  he  should  be  "  a  Priest  for 
'*  ever,  after  the  order,''  or  according  to  the 
similitude,  "  of  Melchisedech  jV' 

In  order  that  he  might  "  fulfil  all"  the 
ceremonial "  Righteousness"  prescribed  by 
the  Law,  he  insisted  upon  receiving  Bap- 
tism from  the  hands  of  John  ^  ;  who  had 
been  *'  sent  from  God  §"  for  the  express 
purpose  of  pointing  him  out,  as  the  pre- 
dicted Messiah,  to  the  people.  The  Bap- 
tism of  the  Israelitish  Priests,  at  the  time 
of  their  consecration,  was  a  rite  that  was 
very  peculiarly  of  divine  appointment. 
The  charge  which  God  gave  to  Moses,  in 
relation  to  this  subject,  is  contained  in 
the  following   terms,—-**  Aaron,   and    his 

*  Exod.  cli.  40,  V.  15.  The  same  covenant  was  af- 
terwards renewed  to  Phinehaa  the  grandson  of  Aaron, 
:Nuinb.  ch.  25,  v.  13. 

t  Psalm  1 10,  V.  4,  Hob.  ch.  6,  v.  20,  and  ch,  7;  Y.  i7* 

X  Matth.  ch.  3,  v.  13—17. 

§  John,  ch.  1,  V.  6,  7,  15,  16,  19—28. 

G  2 


84  LECTURE  II. 

"Sons,  thou  shalt  bring  unto  the  door  of 
*'  the  Tabernacle  of  the  congregation  ;  and 
"shalt  wash  them  with  Avater  ^."  And 
this  was  to  be  done,  before  they  were  ar- 
rayed in  their  sacred  vestments  ;  previous- 
ly even  to  the  anointing  of  them  M-ith  the 
consecrated  oil.  Of  this  nature  then  was 
the  Baptism,  with  which  Jesus  Christ  was 
baptized.  The  one  was  evidently  typical 
of  the  other.  He  also  received  it,  before 
he  was  visibly  and  publicly  "  anointed  with 
"  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  Power."  And 
he  was  then  likewise  about  to  enter  imme- 
diately upon  the  discharge  of  his  sacred 
functions,  which  were  those  of  a  Priest, 
no  less  than  of  a  King  and  a  Prophet . 

But  the  last  and  most  solemn  act  of  Inau- 
o-uration,  under  the  Law  was,  the  Anointing 
of  the  High  Priest  f  ;  by  which  he  pub- 
lickly  received  his  holy  Commission,  and 
became  endued  with  all  the  Power  and 
Authority,  that  the  proper  discharge  of  it 
required.  And  in  that  grand  and  won- 
derful Event,  ''  the  Anointing  of  the  Most 

*  Exod.  ch.  29,  V.  4.     Levit.  ch.  8,  v.  6. 
f  A  particular  description  of  this  Solemnity  is  given 
in  the  eighth  chapter  of  Leviticus. 


LECTURE  II.  85 

IIolj^"  so  sublimely  foretold  by  Daniel*, 
all  the  three  Persons,  who  exist  in  the 
Unity  of  the  Divine  Substance,  were  di- 
rectly and  evidently  concerned  j- — God 
the  Father,  to  afford  the  highest  and  most 
awful  Sanction  possible  to  th(^  Mission  of 
his  Son  j — God  the  Son,  "  in  the  likeness 

^  Dan.  cb,  9,  v.  24. 

-f  The  Ciiciinistances,  attending  this  Divine  Unction, 
are  recorded  by  St.  jNlattbew,  in  ch.  3,  v.  13 — 17,  by  St. 
Mark,  inch.  1,  v.  9 — 11,  St.  Luke,  in  ch.  3,  v.  21,  22, 
and  St.  John,  in  ch.  1,  v.  29 — 34.  Tiie  ingenious  and 
critical  remarks  of  Dr.  Macknight  upon  these  passages 
are  well  worthy  of  perusal.  Harmony  of  the  Gospels^ 
Vol.  II.  Sect.  15.  Seealso  Dr.  Whitby^s  commentaries 
on  til  em. 

J  And  there  is  perhaps  in  the  very  terms,  in  which, 
this  subhme  Attestation  is  expressed,  as  cogent  an  Ar- 
gument for  the  Divinity  of  our  Saviour,  as  any  that  can 
be  adduced.     For  otherwise,  what  can  be  the  import  of 
those  emphatic  words,  ''  T/iis  is  mi/ beloved  So?!,  in  whom 
"  I  am  Zvell  pleased?^  In  addition,  liowever,  to  the  direct 
evidence  contained  in  the  former  clause,  there  is  some- 
thing peculiarly  striking  in  the  latter,  which  is  insepa- 
rably  connected  with  it.     In  the  original    it  is   Iv   *« 
Iv^oyiwcx, ;  and  the  verb,  being  in  the  first  aorist   tense, 
gives  an  indefinite  import  to  the  time  to  which  it  relates. 
It  equally  conveys,  according  to  circumstances,  the  idea 
of prese?it, past,  ?Lnd  future;  and  cannot  therefore,  nt  the 
present  instance,    where  God    himself  is   the  Speaker, 
and  the  Son  of  God   is  the   Person  spoken  of^  be 

G  3 


86,  LECTURE  II. 

"  of  Men/'  that  he  might  introduce  a  purer 
and  more  complete  Dispensation,  than 
anj^  that  had  preceded  it — and  God  the 
Holy  Ghost,  that  he  might  pour  out 
"without  measure"  his  sanctifying  Influ- 
ences upon  the  human  nature  of  Christ; 
and  fully  prepare  him  for  that  sacred 
Ministry,  that  great  and  infinitely  impor- 
tant task,  which  he  was  then  about  to 
undertake. 

If  from  the  Priests  we  now  descend  to 
some   of   the  rites  of  their  Religion,  we 

properly  limited  to  atii/  one  of  these  distinctions  of  time. 

But  the  conclusion  of  this  argument  cannot  be  better 

exhibited  than  in  the  words  of  the  learned  writer,  from 

which  I   obtained  the  first  hint  upon  the  subject — ^' est 

filius  meus  dilectus,  in  quo  'cucToxrjtra,  acquiesco,  vel  acquievi, 

perinde  est  acsi  dixisset  Deus :  i7i  quo  Ego  ab  (vternitate 

*^  usque  acquiescere  soleo,  acquiesco,  et  in  ccternitaiem  ac^ 

^' quiescam.     In    Deo    enim   praeterita,   praesentia,    vel 

''  futura  ne  punctum  quidem  temporis  efficiunt.     Com- 

*^  modissimum  itaquehoc  tempus  est,  quum  vel  de  aeter- 

"no  Numine  Sermo  est,  vel  divinitus  oracula  eduntur, 

"  in  quibus  nee  apud  Latinos    certi  temporis  habetur 

*'  ratio ;  id  quod  testantur  tot  prophetarura  dicta,  qui 

*'  de  futuris  tanquam  prajsentibus  et  praeteritis  loquuntur : 

**  quae  Consuetuuo  etiam  apud  Auctores  profanos  ser- 

*'  vatur,"  &c.  Hoogeveni  Animadversiones  in  Vigeri  de 

GiaccsB  Dictionis  Idiotismis  librum,  page  205. 


LECTURE  I r.  87 

shall  still  perceive  the  same  strength  of 
typical  allusion. 

The    Burnt-ofi^erings  *,    prescribed    for 
certain  cases,  while  they  testified  a  sorrow 
for  Sin,  and  an  apprehension  of  the  Justice 
and    Severity   of  the    divine  Wrath,    re- 
ferred, nevertheless,  to  that  future  Sacrifxe, 
through  which  alone  they  could  ever  meet 
with    acceptance—''  the    otlering  of    the 
"  Body  of  Jesus  Christ  once  for  all  f-''    a  '^e 
total  Consumption  of  the  Victim  presented 
an  affecting  emblem  ofthatPert/i^io;z>  which 
would  be  the  merited  punishment  of  Sin, 
independently  of  His  Mediation.     And  as, 
according  to  the  symbolical  import  of  this 
sacred  Ordinance,  the  offences  of  the  per- 
son who  offered,  were  conditionally  trans- 
ferred to  his  sacrifice  ;  so  hath  "  Jehovah 
"  laid  upon  Him  the  Iniquity  of  us  all  % ." 
And,  for  this  reason,  **  Repentance  and  Re- 
*' mission  of  Sins  may  now  be  preached, 
"  in  his  name,  among  all  Nations  §.'' 


*  Levit.  ch.  6,  V.  1—12. 
f  Heb.  ch.  9,  v.  26,  and  ch.  10,  v.  10. 
%  Isaiah,  ch.  53,  v.  6.    §  Luke,  ch.  24,  v.  47. 

G  4 


83  LECTURE  II. 

The  Feast  of  lahernaclcs*  (during  the 
continuance  of  which  the  Israelites  dwelt 
in  lx:)oths  or  Tents ;  and  Avhich,  on  account 
of  the  oatherino'  in  of  the  harvest  at  tlie 
end  of  their  civil  year,  was  generally  oIV- 
served  with  the  greatest  gaiety  and  festi- 
vity) seems  to  have  been  clesigned^parili/  to 
liave  a  retrospective  view  to  that  Prophecy 
of  Noah,  tliat  "  God  should  dwell  in  the 
*' Tents  of  Shem  i ;'  and  thence  to  com- 
memorate the  fulfilment  of  it,  in  the  bless- 
ings enjoyed  b}^  his  peculiar  people,  under 
his  own  immediate  presence  and  superin- 
tendance,  during  their  sojourning  in  the 
Wilderness  ;  but,  in  some  measure  also, 
to  point  forwards  to  that  happy  period, 
when  the  Son  of  God,  the  Redeemer  of 
the  world,  should  be  "  made  flesh,  and 
*'  dwell  among  them  t^''  This  v/ill  perhaps 
appear  more  clearly  to  be  its  emblematical 
allusion  when  it  is  considered,  that  the 

*  For  a  description  of  this  holy  solemnity,  consult 
Levit.  ch.  ^3,  v. 34 — 37.  Lewis's"  Origines  Hebracae/* 
Vol.  U.  page  594,  &c.  Edit.  ]7'24.  Jennnings's  Jewish 
Antiquities,  Vol.  2,  page  227. 

f  Genes,  ch.  9,  \.  27,  before  explained  page  8,  &c. 

J  John,  ch.  ]|  V.  14. 


LECTURE  II.  69 

Pjirtli  of  Christ,  notwithstanding  the  date 
assigned  for  it  in  our  Calendar,  appears  at 
length,  from  very  eonvincing  Arguments, 
to  have  taken  place  about  the  time  of  this 
Festival  *. 

1lie  Feast  also  of  Pentecost,  or  "  the 
"  day  of  the  first  fruits  -j-,"  was  evidently 
designed  to  prefigure  that  grand  occasion 
of  Joy  and  Festivity,  which  we  now  annu- 
ally commemorate  at  the  same  season  of 
the  year;  when  the  Apostles  were  visibly 
*'  endued  with  power  from  on  high;"  and 
v/lien,  at  the  Preaching  of  Peter,  "  tliere 
^^  were  added  unto  them''  ihe  first  fruits  of 
tlie  Christian  Church — "  about  three  thoii- 
^'  sand  Souls  j." 

But,  to  omit  all  further  Examples  of 
this  kind,  it  may  be  sufficient  to  observe; 
that  tlie  wltole  Lazv  was,  in  reality,  only  a 
System  of  Types,  which  sliadowed  forth 
tliose  "  good  things,''  by  which  the  future 
Dispensation  of  Mercy,  under  the  Gospel, 
was  to  be  so  greatly  distinguished  §.  It 
may  be  even  added,   that  there  are  few 

*  See  i\ppeiulix,  Note  S. 

t  Exod.  ch.  2.j,  V.  16,  ch.  34,  v.  22.     %  Acts  cli.  2' 

§  tieb.  cii.  8;  V.  5  ;  and  cli.  10,  v.  1. 


90  LECTURE  II. 

Circumstances  in  the  history  of  the  Seed 
of  Jacob,  from  the  period  of  their  emanci- 
pation from  the  bondage  of  Egypt,  to  the 
moment  of  their  arrival  in  the  land  of  Pro- 
mise, which  are  not  held  forth  in  the  sa- 
cred Writings,  as  figurative  of  some 
corresponding  particulars  in  the  Church  of 
Christ  *. 

III.  That  "  Grace  and  truth/'  therefore, 
"  came  by  Jesus  Christ,"  appears  from 
every  conclusion  we  can  fairly  deduce,  on 
a  candid  and  comparative  view  of  the 
Mosaic  and  Christian  Dispensations.  But 
the  same  momentous  truth  will  become 
still  further  evident,  from  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances of  the  Jewish  race,  ever  since 
their  fatal  rejection  of  Him  as  their  Sa- 
viour, to  the  present  time. 

Where  is  now  the  all-sufficiency  of  the 
LaWy  of  which  they  boast;  and  to  which, 
in  the  face  of  every  evidence,  they  have 
obstinately  adhered  ?  Has  that  been  suf- 
ficient to  conduct  them  to  Piety,  to  Virtue, 
and  to  Happiness,  which  is  their  natural 
result?     May  we   not,  on   the   contrary, 

*  Appendix,  Note  T. 


LECTURE  11.  91 

read  their  Crifrte,  in  the  extraordinary  na- 
ture of  the  Fiinishmails  thev  liavc  endured  ? 
Their  own  liistorian  Josephus,  wlio  only 
lived  to  behold  the  commencement  of  the 
Calamities  that  have  beftillen  them,  even 
lie  could  not  avoid  perceiving  the  hand  of 
God  in  them  *  !  liow  irresistibly  tlien 
must  we  be  induced  to  confess  his  retribu- 
tive Justice,  in  the  various  misery  they 
have  sustained,  through  upwards  of  seven- 
teen hundred  years ! 

The  FecuUarilies  of  their  sufferings  arc, 

indeed,    too  evident  to  escape  the  most 
moderate  observation. 

J.  What  can  be  a  greater  Miracle,  or 
more  excite  the  astonishment  of  the  reflect- 
ing mind,    than    the    very    Preservation 

=*  Josephus  Antiq.  book  20,  cb.  8,  sect.  6  ;  and  War 
of  the  Jews,  book  6,  ch.  2,  sect  1,  Edit.  Whiston. 

Titus  himself  was  forcibly  struck  with  the  same  Con- 
viction, upon  a  view  of  the  grandeur,  and  impregnable 
strength,  of  those  works  in  Jerusalem,  which  the  Jews 
themselves  had  voluntarily  abandoned.  ''  We  have 
*' cerlainly  had  God,"  said  he,  "for  our  Assistant  in 
"  this  VVar ;  and  it  was  no  other  than  God,  who  ejected 
*'  the  Jews  out  of  these  fortifications :  for  what  could 
'*  the  hands  of  men,  or  any  machines,  do  towards  over- 
<^  throwing  these  Tow^ers?" — War  of  the  Jews,  book  6, 
ch,  9;  sect.  1, 


m  LECTLRCir. 

of  lliis  forlorn  and  persecuted  People 
throuiili  so  many  a^es?  LabourinL>;  under 
contiiuial  dejectioi],  t'ney  liave  not  been 
destioyed;  and  dispersed  abroad  among 
all  Nations,  tliey  have  nevertheless  re- 
mained separate  and  distinct  from  all  ! 
This  lias  certainly  no  parallel  in  the  annals 
of  the  Vr'orld  ;  and  contravenes  the  general 
course  of  hutimn  expefience.  It  has  ren- 
dered the  Jev>'s  quite  as  mucli  a  Avonder 
to  themselves,   as  they  are  to  us*."  ^^c 

^  Expostulating  on  the  severity  of  the  treatment  ihey 
had  been  acciistonied  to  receive,  one  of  tlicm  has  thus 
sribhniely  and  patiieticaily  expressed  the  emotions  of 
his  ow;i  iriind — ''  Bv  what  crimes  have  we  deserved  this 
*' furious  intolerance?  \\  hat  is  cnir  g-uilt  ?  Is  it  in  that 
**  generous  Constancy  we  l^ave  manifested  in  defending 
*W//e  Lazes  of' our  fathers^  But  this  (Constancy  outiht  to 
*'  have  entitled  us  to  the  achiiiration  of  ail  Nations;  and 
"it  has  only  sharpened  against  us  the  Daggersof  Perse- 
"cution.  Bravuig  a/l  kinds  cf  formenls,  the  pangs  of 
"  Death,  the  still  more  terrible  pangs  cjlife,  WE  ALONE 
"  Itave  ivithslood  the  impetuous  torrent  of  time,  siceeping 
"  iudiicrtmifiaie/y  in  its  course,  Nations^  Religions,  and 
*'  Countries!  \\  hat  is  become  of  those  celebrated  Em- 
"  piresj  w'nose  very  name  still  excites  our  admiration, 
"  by  the  ideas  of  splendid  greatness  attached  to  them, 
*^  and  whose  power  embraced  tlic  whole  Surface  of  the 
*'  laiovvn  Globe  ?  Ttiey  are  o:]iy  remembered  as  the 
"  moauaieats  of  the  vanity  of  iiuman  greatness — Rome 


LECTURE  11.  93 

"shall  here  sec  a  Church"  says  a  learned 
A\  riter  of  their  h.istory,  "  v»hich  luis  been 
''hated  and  persecuted  for  seventeen  ccn^ 
"  turies,  subsist! iiii;,  and  still  numerous. 
'*  Kings  have  often  employed  the  severity 
*' of  Edicts,  and  the  hand  of  the  executi- 
''  oner,  to  destroy  it.  1  lie  seditious  i\Iulti- 
*'  tude  have  been  guilty  of  massacres  and 
"  executions,  infinitely  moie  tragical  than 
"the  Princes.  Both  Kings  and  People 
*^  Heathens,  Christians,  and  j\Iahometans, 
**  who  are  opposite  in  so  ruany  things,  have 
*'  united  in  the  desio;n  of  destrovins:  this 
"Nation;   and    have    not    been    able    to 

"  and  Greece  are  no  more;  their  descendants,  mixed 
'*  with  other  Nations,  have  lost  the  traces  of*  their  ori- 
*'  gin  ;  zcJiilc  a  population  of  a  fczo  millions  of  men,  so  of 
"  ten  subjected,  stands  ilie  test  of  thirty  revolvi)tg  Cenlu- 
"  vies,  and  the  farij  ordeal  of  (near)  eighteen  Centmies  of 
^'  Persecution  !  WE  still  preseive  the  Lazvs  zohich  zchre 
'*  given  to  us,  in  the  frst  dai/s  of  the  World,  in  the  ivj\ni- 
*'  cy  of  nature  !  WE  ALONE  have  been  spared  iij  the 
"  indiscriminating  hand  of  time,  like  a  Column  left 
''  standing,  amidst  the  ivreck  oj  JVoilds,  and  the  ruins  (,f 
"  Nature  r 

Sec  the  Transactions  of  tlie  Jewish  Sanhedrim  af, 
Paris,  translated  by  F.  L).  Kirwan,  Esq,  p.  (|4 — 70  ; 
.where  the  above  passage,  and  the  interesting  connex- 
ion in  which  it  is  [)]aced,  may  be  seen  at  large. 


§4  LECTURE  11. 

"  effect  it.  The  Bush  of  Moses,  surrounded 
"with  riames,  has  been  always  burning 
"without  being  consumed.  The  Jews 
**  ha\e  been  occasionally  driven  from  all 
"  parts  of  the  world  ;  and  that  has  only 
*'  served  to  disperse  them  the  more  com- 
''  pletcly  over  all  regions  of  the  globe. 
*'  They  have  run,  from  Age  to  Age,  through 
"  Misery  and  Persecution,  and  Torrents  of 
**  their  own  Blood.  And  yet  tliey  still  live, 
**  notwithstanding  all  the  disgrace  and  the 
"  hatred  that  have  every  where  attended 
"  them  ;  and  while  nothing  remains  of 
^*  the  greatest  Monarchies  oi  kwiiqwiiy  but 
"the  Name-.'." 

2.  The  periods  of  oppression,  they  had 
formerly  sustained,  were  comparatively 
short:  even  their  Captivity  in  Babylon 
was  only  of  seventy  years  continuance ; 
and,  with  respect  even  to  that,  God  was 
graciously  pleased,  through  his  prophet 
Jeremiah,  to  particularize  the  time,  when 
he  would  break  the  rod  of  their  oppressors, 
and  restore  them  to  their  own  land.     But 

*  Basnage's  History  of  ihe  Jews,  book  6,  eh  1,  sect 
1,  Mr.  Taylor's  Transla  ion.  I  have  to  acknowledge 
my  obligations  to  this  writer,  for  turnisliing  me  with 
the  hints  for  several  of  tue  following  Observations. 


LECTURE  II.  9^ 

they  have  now  been  ''  plucked  off''  from 
that  land  for  many  ages  :  and  know  of  no 
period,  as  expressly  fixed,  for  the  termina- 
tion of  the  Calamities  they  have  so  long 
endured.  They  have,  indeed,  been  con- 
stantly expecting  their  Messiah,  whom 
they  still  anticipate  as  a  temporal  Prince 
and  Deliverer*  ;  but  this  expectation  has 
only  subjected  them  hitherto  to  repeated 
imposition,  and  continual  disappoint- 
ment. 

S.  Under  their  former  Captiviries  and 
Disasters,  they  were  either  consoled  by 
Prophets  divinely  appointed  for  this  pur- 
pose, or  emancipated  by  Heroes  who  res- 
cued their  Country  from  Oppression. 
Thus  Ezekiel  prophecied,  in  Babylon,  of 
their  future  Restoration;  and  Daniel  fore- 
told the  appointed  seasons  for  the  Advent 

*  For  a  particular  account  of  tlie  opinions,  wbicli  the 
Jews  hold  concerning  the  Messiah,  and  the  time  of  his 
future  advent,  see  Johannis  Buxtorfi  (Patiis)  "  Syna- 
*^  goga  Judaica,"  Cap.  50.  This  chapter  commences, 
with  these  very  striking  words—'"  Messiam  Judteis. 
.^*  promissum  esse  omnes  consentiunt,  ideo  in  quoti- 
"  dianis  precibus  a  Deo  petunt,  at  cito  et  in  dichus  suis 
"  veniat :"  sed  quis  ille,  et  quando  venturus  sit,  dubiuni 
"  valde  est,  et  controver^um." 


96  LECTURE  IT. 

and  Death  of  the  Messiah,  aiul  the  Causes 
for  which  he  should  make  his  appearance. 
Thus  also,  at  a  more  recent  period,  the 
Maccabees  vindicated  the  glory  and  inde- 
pendence of  their  iNation,  in  their  war 
with  the  Kino;  of  Syria.  But  iioza,  the 
race  of  the  Fropheis  has  been  for  ages  ex- 
tinct ;  and,  they  have  been  left  to  follow 
their  own  devices,  under  the  obscurity  of 
a  judicial  infatuation.  And  instead  of 
Deliverers^  we  have  seen  nothing  but  false 
CJirists,  plunging  the  Nation  still  more 
deeply  into  calamity,  and  addmg  fresh 
Aveight  to  its  yoke,  by  attempting  to  re- 
move it. 

4.  When  God  punished  the  Jew^s  on 
former  occasions,  by  giving  them  over 
into  the  hands  of  their  Enemies,  he  never 
failed  to  preserve  them  in  one  body  ;  either 
by  causing  them  to  submit  to  the  galling 
yoke  of  tyrannj'  in  their  own  land  ;  or  to  go 
forth  into  captivity  in  the  same  foreign 
Country,  as  was  the  case,  when  they  were 
carried  away  to  Babylon.  But  after  the 
destruction  of  Jerusalem  by  Titus,  the 
Nation,  weakened  by  unprecedented 
Slaughter,  became   dispersed  into  all  tlie 


LECTURE  II.  97 

Provinces  of  the  Roman  Empire:  and, 
when  it  afterwards  attempted  to  rally  un- 
der the  Standard  of  Bar  Chochab,  in  the 
reign  of  Adrian,  the  scenes  of  Massacre 
and  Dispersion  were  only  repeated. 

5.  When  Augustus  converted  Judaea  to 
the  form  of  a  Roman  Province,  he  left  its 
inhabitants,  in  a  great  measure,  the  exer- 
cise of  their  own  Laws;  they  were  princi- 
pally restricted  as  to  the  power  of  life  and 
death.  They  had  also  still  their  High 
Priest,  and  the  enjoyment  of  their  religious 
worship.  But,  ever  since  the  ruin  of  their 
City  and  Temple,  they  have  possessed  none 
of  these  advantages :  nor  have  they  at 
present  even  the  shadow  of  any  supreme 
Authority  remaining  either  civil  or  ec. 
clesiastical.  Yet  "  the  Nation  still  sub- 
"  sists  ;  and  is  numbered  by  Millions  !" 

6.  The  chastisements  of  God  have  not 
in  reality,  been  confined  to  the  teinporal 
state  of  this  people :  they  have  been  in- 
flicted, with  equal  weight,  in  a  spiritual 
point  of  view.  The  very  spot,  where  the 
Almighty  had  condescended,  in  times  an- 
tecedent to  the  coming  of  Christ,  to  place 
his  name,  has  for  many  ages  lost  all  claim 

VOL.  I.  H 


ti 


9«  LECTURE  U. 

to  that  superlative  distinction.  "  The  Cere- 
"  monies,  essential  to  their  worship,  can 
"  no  longer  be  observed.  All  that  pom- 
•*  pous  train  of  Rites,  which  raised  the  re- 
*'  nown  of  the  Jewish  Religion,  and  struck 
"  the  Heathens  with  such  veneration,  as 
to  cause  them  to  send  presents  and  vic- 
tims to  Jerusalem,  is  absolutely  lost^ 
**They  have  now  neither  Temples,  nor  Al- 
"tars,  nor  Sacrifices/'  Can  we  require 
stronger  proofs  than  this  of  the  entire  Ab- 
rogation of  ^Ae  Covenant^  under  which  they 
nad  anciently  lived;  or  of  the  superseding 
of  those  religious  ordinances^  that  had  been 
divinely  connected  with  it  ?  If,  after  the 
Sacrifice  which  Christ  offered  upon  the 
cross  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  these  holy 
rites  had  still  remained  indispensably  ne- 
cessary to  the  Salvation  and  Happiness  of 
this  race,  why  were  they  thus  abolished  ? 
Why  have  the  people,  who  maintain  their 
paramount  obligation,  been  deprived,  for 
so  many  ages,  of  the  very  means  of  per- 
forming them  ?  Why  have  they  been  more 
or  less  persecuted  and  oppressed,  by  all 
Nations,  for  upwards  of  seventeen  hun- 


LECTURE  IL  99 

dred  years,  merely  for  their  adherence  to 
them  ? 

7«  How  affecting  are  the  Complaints 
which  they  pour  forth,  in  deploring  the 
peculiar  Wretchedness  of  their  own  State  ! 
And  yet,  how  truly  do  these  very  Com- 
plaints explain  to  us  the  Cause  of  all  their 
Woe! 

"  It  seems,"  says  one  of  their  own  body, 
**  as  if  the  Jewish  Nation  were  allowed  to 
"  survive  the  destruction  of  their  Country, 
**  only  to  see  the  most  odious  and  calumni" 
"  ous  Imputations  laid  to  their  charge ;  to 
"  standi  as  the  constant  object  of  the  grossest 

and  most  shocking  Injustice ;  as  a  mark  for 

the  insulting  finger  of  Scorn ;  as  a  sport 
"  to  the  most  inveterate  Hatred,    It  seems^ 

as  if  their  doom  was  incessantly  to  suit  all 
*  the  dark  and  bloody  Purposes^  which  can 

be  suggested  by  human  Malignity,  sup- 
**  ported  by  Ignorance  and  Fanaticism" 

These  are  the  words  of  a  Jew,  in  his 
"  Appeal,''  on  the  behalf  of  his  own  peo- 
ple, "  to  the  Justice  of  Kings  and  Na- 
**  tions  *  ;"  and  they  serve  to  prove,   how 

*  Transactions  of  the  Jewish  Sanhedrim  at  Paris, 
in  1306,  page  65. 

u2 


u 


(( 


100  LECTURE  II. 

wonderfully  Divine  Justice  has  overtaken 
this  infatuated  race  of  men,  and  retaliated 
upon  them  m  kind  the  very  injuries  they 
once  inflicted  upon  the  Lord  of  Life 
and  Glory.  What  ^^  odious  and  calumni^ 
'^ous  Iinpiitations'  did  they  not  lay  to  His 
charge!  How  did  He  "  standi''  at  the  last, 
"  an  object  of  the  grossest  and  most  shocking 
"  Injustice  ?'*  Was  He  not  with  them 
through  life,  and,  strange  to  relate,  at  the 
very  time  when  He  remained  suspended 
on  the  Cross — a  period,  during  which  the 
heavens  themselves  were  overspread  with 
darkness — "a  Mark  for  the  insulting  finger 
*^  of  Scoi'ny  a  Sport  to  the  most  inveterate 
*'  Hatred  ?''  Was  it  not  His  lot  to  fall  a  Sa- 
crifice to  "  the  dark  and  bloody  Pur-' 
'^  poses "  suggested  by  "  their  Malignity^ 
*^  supported  by''  their  "  Ignorance  and  Fana- 
"  ticism  ?'' 

Such  was  the  Conduct  they  exhibited 
towards  that  divine  Prophet,  who,  as  Mo- 
ses foretold,  should  come  into  the  world  ; 
and  such,  also,  the  awful  manner,  even 
according  to  their  own  Account,  in  which 
God  has  required  his  rejection  at  their 
hands  !    lie  came  that  he  might  '*  be  the 


LECTURE  II.  101 

"  end  of  the  Law  for  righteousness,  to 
"  every  one  that  believeth  f  but  to  these 
wretched  people,  who  had  "  rejected  the 
"  counsel  of  God  against  themselves,''  he 
became  "  a  stone  of  stumbling,  and  a 
"  rock  of  offence  */'  as  it  is  this  day,  and 
as  it  was  foretold  in  express  terms  that 
the  case  should  be-j-. 

*  Rom.  ch.  9,  V.  33  ;   I.  Cor.  ch.  1,  v.  <! ;  I.  Pet.  ch. 
2,  V.  8. 

f  Isaiab,  ch.  8,  v.  13,  14. 


H   3 


^1^^ 


_^^   ^*.f*f 


LECTURE  III. 

Delivered  February  l6,  1812< 


Matth.  ch.  3,  v.  1,  2 

In  those  days  came  John  the  Baptist^ 
preaching  in    the  Wilderness  of  Judcea ; 

And  saying  :  "  Repent  ye  \for  the  King-^ 
"  dom  of  Heaven  is  at  hand.^ 

Having  taken  a  general  view  of  those 
prophecies,  concerning  the  Saviour  of  the 
World,  and  the  blessings  of  his  Dispensa^ 
tion,  which  diffused  a  portion  of  heavenly 
light,  as  well  as  of  holy  hope  and  confi- 
dence,  through  the  patriarchal  ages  ;  and 
having  observed,  with  what  additional  de- 
grees of  distinctness  it  pleased  the  divine 
Being  to  prefigure  those  "  good  things 
"  that  were  to  come,"  in  the  rites  and  ce- 
remonies of  the  Hebrew  Church  ;  we  now 
proceed  to  a  contemplation  of  some  of 
those  subsequent  predictions,  in  relation 

k4 


104  LECTURE  111. 

to  the  same  grand  and  animating  sub- 
jects ;  which  tended  continually  more  and 
more  to  dispel  every  doubt;  and  excited, 
when  "  the  fulness  of  time*'  drew  near,  an 
earnest  expectation  of  that  Elias  who  was 
to  come,  and  of  that  super-eminent 
Personage  whom  he  was  to  precede. 

The  Order  of  Events  seems  therefore 
most  naturally  to  require,  that  we  should 
attempt,  on  the  prese^it  occasion,  to  con- 
firm the  truth  of  our  holy  Religion,  by  a 
reference  to  the  fulfilment  of  those  Pro- 
phecies which  relate  to  John  the  Bap- 
tist, as  the  fore-runner  of  our  Lord  ;  and  to 
the  Circumstances  of  the  World,  at  the 
time  when  he  made  his  appearance. 

These  sacred  declarations  are  various  ; 
and  far  more  explicit,  than  perhaps  we 
may  at  first  sight,  be  induced  to  expect. 

The  most  ancient,  that  offers  itself  di- 
rectly to  our  notice,  is  that  which  was 
uttered  by  Isaiah,  upwards  of  seven  hun- 
dred years  before  the  birth  of  the  extra- 
ordinary  person  it  foretold*.     The  Evan- 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  40,  v.  3 — 5.  Supposing  the  Prophecies 
in  this  book  to  have  been  placed  according  to  the  or- 


LECTURE  III.  105 

gelists,  Matthew,   Mark,   and  Luke,  ex- 
pressly assert  the  immediate  application 

der  of  time  iii  which  they  were  uttered,  the  date  of  this 
Prediction  will  be  soon  after  Merodach-Baladan,  King 
of  Babylon,  had  sent  to  congratulate  Hezekiah,  on  his 
recovery  from  illness.     This  Circumstance  is  recorded 
in  the  S9th  chapter;   and  took  place  about  712  years 
before  Christ.     In  that  chapter,  says  Dr.  Lowth,  (in  his 
admirable  annotations  on  the  40th  Chapter)  "  the  Pro- 
"  phet  had  delivered  a  very  explicit  declaration  of  the 
"impending  dissolution  of  the  Kingdom,  and  of  the 
"  Captivity  of  the  royal  house  of  David,  and  of  the  peo- 
"  pie,  under  the  Kings  of  Babylon.     As  the  subject  of 
**  his  future  prophecies  was  to  be  chiefly  of  the  conso- 
*^  latory  kind,  he  opens  them  with  giving  a  promise  of 
^*  tlie  Restoration  of  the  Kingdom,  and  the  return  of 
the  People  from  that  Captivity,  by  the  merciful  Inter- 
position of  God  in  their  favour.     But  the  views  of 
the  Prophet  are  not  confined  to  this  Event.     As  the 
^  Restoration  of  the  Royal  family,  and  of  the  Tribe  of 
^' Judah,  was  necessary  in  the  design  and  order  of  Pro- 
"  vidence,  for  the  fulfilling  of  God's  Promises,   of  es- 
"  tablishing  a  more  glorious  and  an  everlasting  King- 
"dom,  under  the  Messiah  to  be  born  of  the  Tribe  of 
"  Judah,  and  of  the  family  of  David ;  the  Prophet  con- 
"  nects   these   tvvo   events  together,  and   hardly  ever 
'^  treats  of  the  former,  without  throwing  in  some  inti- 
"  mations  of  the  latter ;  and  sometimes  is  so  fully  pos- 
"  sessed  with   the  Glories  of  the  future  more  remote 
"  Kingdom,  that  he  seems  to  leave  the  more  immediate 
"  Subject    of    his   Commission    almost    out    of  the 
**  question." 


106  LECTURE  III. 

of  it  to  the  Baptist ;  and  St.  John  describes 
him  as  applying  it,  without  any  reserve, 
to  himself.  It  is  contained  in  these  highly 
figurative  and  pleasing  terms — 


CC 


The  Voice  of  one  crying  in  the  Wilderness: 
Prepare  ye  the  way  of  Jehovah  1 
*'  Make  straight  in  the   Desert  a  highway  for 
our  God  *  ! 

*  Bishop   Lowth   has    rendered   this    passage   very 
beautifully  thus— 

*'  A  voice  crieth :  In  the  Wilderness  prepare  ye  the  way  of 

Jehovah ! 
''  Make  straight  in  the  Desert  a  highway  for  our  God  !'* 

I  have,  notwithstanding,  given  the  preference  to  our 
ordinary  translation,  for  two  reasons — 

First,  because  it  appears  more  accurately  to  corre- 
spond with  the  principal  Circumstances  in  the  life  of 
John  ;  who  lived,  and  performed  the  work  of  his  Minis- 
try, "  in  the  Wilderness  of  JudcBuy  Matth.  ch.  3,  v.  3  ; 
Mark,  ch.  1,  v.  4,  5  ;  Luke,  ch.  1,  v.  80,  and  ch.  3,  v. 
2,  3  ;  John,  ch.  1,  v.  28. 

Secondly,  because  this  version  best  suits  the  sense 
of  the  passage,  as  given  us  by  all  the  Evangelists  ;  thus 
we  find  ^ft>v>i  /Soavror  ^iv  tw  l^>?^<y'  'E-^ot/ixatTaTE,  &c.  in 
Matth.  ch.  3,  V.  3  ;  Mark,  ch.  1,  v.  3  ;  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  4  ; 
which  is  also  verbatim  the  same  as  the  version  of  the 
LXX.  St.  John's  evidence  is  to  the  same  effect— 'E^»j 
Cluawnr)  Eyw  f  wvn  ^cwvtoj  iv  rn  «^)i^ft)*  'Eu^vvxrt,  Scc  ch, 
I,  v.  23. 


if 


cc 


LECTURE  m.  107 

*'  Every  valley  shall  be  exalted^  and  every  moun- 
tain and  hill  be  made  low  ; 
And  the  crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and 

the  rough  places  plain  : 
And  the  glory  of  Jehovah  shall  be  revealed  ; 
"  And  all  flesh  shall  see  it  together  ; 
''  For  the  Mouth  of  Jehovah  hath  spoken  it,'* 

These  noble  and  characteristic  strains 
represent  before  us.  in  the  clearest  man- 
ner, the  principal  event  that  should  distin- 
guish the  life  of  that  illustrious  man,  who 
was  atterwards  to  become  "  the  Prophet 
"  of  the  Highest ;"  and  to  "  go  before  the 
"  face  of  the  Lord,  to  prepare  his  way  *." 
Even  the  very  style  of  his  Life  is  not  un- 
described.  In  the  most  simple  and  im- 
pressive imagery,  they  also  foreshew  the 
success  of  his  Mission ;  and  the  con- 
current operation  of  causes  to  the  same 
end,  both  in  the  political  and  moral 
World — that  all  obstacles,  which  might 
tend  to  obstruct  this  glorious  manifestation 
of  the  divine  goodness,  should  be  re- 
moved ;  and  all  the  difficulties,  that  might 
present  themselves,  be  overcome  ;  so  that 

*  Luke,  ch.  1,  v.  76. 


lOS  LECTURE  III. 

at  length,  at "  the  appointed  time  *,"  "  the 
"  Glory  of  Jehovah  should  be  revealed*' 
— revealed  ;  by  the  Advent  of  Him,  "in 
**whom  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the 
'^  Godhead  bodily  -f-;''  by  the  promulgation 
of  the  Gospel  of  Peace  throughout  the 
world  ;  and  by  the  performing  of  Miracles 
for  its  establishment,  such  as  the  Sons  of 
Men  had  never  before  beheld. 

And  the  happy  consequence  of  this 
Revelation  of  the  divine  Glory  is  said  to 
be,  that  '*  all  flesh  shall  see  it  together  J" 

*  Habakkuk,  ch.  2,  v.  3.  "  Known  unto  God  are  all 
^*  his  Works  from  the  beginning  of  the  World."  What 
therefore  the  Prophet  here  apphes  to  his  vision,  con- 
cerning the  destruction  of  the  Babylonish  Monarchy, 
is  applicable  to  every  Revelation  that  God  is  pleased  to 
make  of  future  Events;  and  more  especially  so  to  that 
which  we  are  now  about  to  consider,  being  incompa- 
rably the  grandest,  the  most  salutary,  and  wonderful  of 
all. 

•f*  Coloss.  ch.  2,  V.  9« 

X  The  original  Passage  is  niT*  nnir3  Sd  IKni, 
e«  Jfid  all  flesh  shall  see  ''  (namely,  rWV^  IIDD,  "  tht 
*'  Glory  of  Jehovah'';  ''together:'  The  LXX.  render 
it  xai  'o^ireci  laava  cra^l  to  adirr^^iov  t»  0£»,  omitting  the 
word  corresponding  with  *r\TV.  And  Bishop  Lowth 
ha3  adhered,  in  his  translation,  partly  to  the  Septua- 
gint,  and  partly  to  the  original;  thus— 


LECTURE  III,  109 

— not  only  the  inhabitants  of  Judaea,  who 
were  first  and  more  immediately  indulged 
with  the  sight ;  but  also  ail  those  Nations 
among  whom  the  Apostles,  and  their  Suc- 
cessors, shall  have  preached  the  Gospel* 
to  the  end  of  time. 

The  latter  clause  of  this  Prediction  is, 
in  truth,  of  the  most  comprehensive  im- 
port, "  All  flesh''  cannot  as  yet  be  said 
"  to  have  seen  it  together,'*  There  has  ne- 
ver hitherto  existed  any  such  period  of 
universal  illumination  and  happiness,  as 

*'  And  all  ilesk  shall  see  together  the  Salvation  of  our 
God,'' 

And  this  is  certainly  a  mode  of  rendering  it,  which 
adds  greatly  to  the  effect  and  beauty  of  the  whole  pro- 
phecy ;  because  it  points  out,  in  the  clearest  manner,  the 
happi/  pur-pose f  for  which  the  Glory  of  the  Lord  was  to 
be  so  universally  revealed. 

St.  Luke  gives  the  same  passage  verbatim  from,  the 
LXX. — He  quotes  it  in  ch.3,  v.  G,  in  crder  to  prove 
the  commencement  of  its  accomplishment  in  the  Events 
he  is  there  describing. 

St.  John  had  evidently  the  partial  completion  of  the 
same  Prophecy  in  view,  whep  he  says,  concerning  THE 
WORD,  or  SON  of  GOD— «  We  beheld  HIS  Glory, 
*^  the  Glory  as  of  the  only-begotten  of  the 
*^  Father,"  who  was  *' full  of  Grace  and  Truth.'' 
John,  ch.  1,  V.  14. 


(i 


no  LECTURE  IIL 

that    which   is     here    held    forth.     And 
though  there  may  be  something,  in  the 
aspect  of  the  times,  and  in  the  very  age, 
in  which   we  live,  that  may  lead  us    to 
cherish  a  hope,  that  such  a  period  may  not 
now  be  very  remote;  yet  one  thing  is  cer- 
tain— that,  with  respect  to  this  part  of  the 
Prophecy,  it  will  only  then  receive  its  com- 
plete accomplishment,  when  "  the  fulness 
"  of  the  Gentiles  shall  be  brought  in  *  ;" 
when  *'the  mountain  of  the  house  of  Je» 
HovAH   shall  be   established    upon  the 
'*  top  of  the  mountains,  and  be  exalted 
''above  the  hills,  and  all   nations  shall 
"  flow  unto  it  -fJ' 

Looking  forward  to  the  joyful  times  of 
the  Messiah,  the  inspired  writer  becomes 
enraptured  with  the  scene  that  was  pre- 
sented to  his  view ;  and  the  more  he  con- 
templates it,  the  more  fervid  and  elevated 
are  his  descriptions.  He  seems  to  ac- 
count as  nothing  the  lapse  of  intervening 
ages ;  and  to  regard  events,  that  were  still 
in  the  womb  of  a  distant  futurity,  as  if 
they  were  already  present.     After,  there, 

*  Luke,  ch.  21,  v.  !24  ;  Rom.  ch.  1 1,  v.  25,  26. 
f  Isaiah,  ch.  2,  v.  2  ;    Micah,  ch.  4,  v.  1. 


LECTURE  lir  311 

fore,  a  short,  but  most  affecting  digres. 
si<jn  *,  which  is  devoted  to  the  frailty  and 
transitory  nature  of  Man,  and  to  the  truth 
aiid  unchangeabteness  of  God,  lie  thus 
resumes  the  grateful  theme-— ^ 

'^0  thou  \]y  that  tell  est  glad  tidings  to  Zion,  get 
Aio  th^e  op  into  the  high  Mountain  : 
**  O  thbii'^,    that  tellest  glad  tidings  to  Jerusa- 
lem,  lift  up  thy  voice  with  strength  : 

"'  Lift  it  (jp  ;  be  not  afraid  : 

-  •  ?f    ■■<-■ 

7  Say  unto  the  Cities  of  Judah^  Behold  your 
,     .GoDf!" 

*This  Digression  is  contained  in  v., 6,  7>  8,  of  the 
chapter  that  conveys  this  Prophecy. 

fit  is  observable,  that  the  Hebrew  participle,  repre- 
senting the  person  here  alluded  to,  ig"  ift  the.  feininine 
Gender ;  and  that  the  structure  of  tl>e  whole  passage  is 
arranged  accordingly  :  but  this  is  only  a  beautiful  ac- 
commodation of  the  figurative  language  of  Prophecy  to 
a  prevarlirPg  Custom  ainong'' the' people,  for  whose  use 
it  was  primarily*  voudisafed.  j^ toon g  the  Jews,  the 
office  of  announcing  and  cejebrating  good  tidings  be- 
longed peculiarly  to  Women,  ^ "  On  occasion  of  any 
"  great  public  success,  a  signal  victory,  or  any  other 
** joyful  Event,  it  was  usual  for  the  Women  to  gather 
"together,  and  with  Music,  Dances,  and  Songs,  to 
"  publish  and  celebrate  the  happy  News."     See  Bishop 


112  LECTURE  III. 

I.  In  attempting  a  particular  illustra- 
tion  of  the  fullilment  of  these  predictions 
it  is  necessary  first  to  notice  the  charac- 
ter, under  which  this  great  herald  is  repre- 
sented. 

He  is  described  as  oile,  "  proclaiming 
"  in  the  wilderness'' — and  bringing  good 
tidings  to  Zion  and  to  Jerusalem,  that  is, 
to  all  orders  and  degrees  of  men  among 
the  Jews.  And,  and  in  consistency  with 
this,  St.  Luke  plainly  informs  us,  that  "  he 
"  came  into  all  the  Country  about  Jordan, 
*'  preaching  the  Baptism  of  Repentance 
"  for  the  Remission  of  sins  ^."  But  the 
Country  about  Jordan  was  also  called 
".  the  Wilderness  of  Judsea  -f."  And  it  was 
thus  denominated,  not  because  it  was  en- 
tirely destitute  of  inhabitants  ;  (for,  in  the 
time  of  Joshua,  it  contained  six  Cities 
with  their  Villages,  of  which  Bethabara 
was  one  J)  but  because  it  was  more  thinly 
inhabited  than  the  other  parts  of  Judaea; 

Lovvth  on  the  place;  where  three  particular  examples 
are  given  from  sacred  History,  to  illustrate  thii 
position. 

*  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  3.    See  also  Appendix,  Note  V. 

t  Matth,  ch.  3,  v.  1.  •  J  Joshua,  ch.  15,  v.  61,  62. 


LECTURE  IIL  113 

and  because  it  possessed  a  very  wild 
and  romantic  appearance,  abounding  in 
rocks  and  mountains  *. 

This  superlative  prophet,  then,  was  not 
to  remain,  or  have  his  habitation,  in  Je- 
rusalem, or  in  any  of  "  the  Cities  of  Ju- 
dah ;"  but,  being  charged  with  a  Mes- 
sage of  the  greatest  importance  to  them 
all,  he  was  to  betake  himself,  as  it  were, 
"  to  the  high  Mountain  ;''  to  a  situation 
where  he  must  command  attention,  where 
he  must  be  seen  and  heard.  And  we  ac- 
cordingly find,  that  the  holy  Baptist  was 
remarkable  for  the  singularity  and  auste- 
rity of  his  Life  -f-.  He  did  not  mix  much 
in  social  intercourse  with  men.  There 
was,  indeed,  nothing  specious  in  his  ap- 
pearance, or  alluring  in  his  manner; 
nothing,  except  the  supernatural  circum- 
stances attending  his  nativity,  that  could 
give  any  ground  antecedently  to  believe, 
that  he  had  been  born  for  any  great  and 
long-predicted  purpose.     "  He  was  in  the 

*  See  Wells's  Hist.  Geography,  vol.  2,  p*  150c 
Edit,  1801 ;  and  Maun^reirs  jfourney  from  Aleppo  to 
Jerusalem,  p,  124,  Edit,  1810, 

t  Matth.  ch.  3,  v.  4. 
VOL.  I,  I 


114  LECTURE  III. 

**  Deserts,  until  the  Day  of  his  shewing 

"  unto  Israel*."     And,  when  the  work  of 

his  Ministry   commenced,    then    "  came 

"  John  the  Baptist,  preaching  in  the  Wil- 

"  derness  of  Judaea,  and  saying — Repent 

"  ye,  for  the  Kingdom  of  the  Heavens  is 

"at  hand/' 

It  was  to  be  one  great  business  of  his 

Life  to  excite  those  who  assembled  around 
him,  "  to  prepare  the  way  of  Jehovah, 
**  and  to  make  straight  in  the  Desert  a 
"  highway  for  their  Godf/'  And,  for  this 
transcendent  undertaking,  he  was  emi- 
nently endued  with  the  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Among  the  other  virtues  he 
derived  from  this  divine  source,  his  forti- 
tude and  zeal  were  not  a  little  remarkable. 
For  this  reason,  he  is  said  in  the  lano-ua^e 
of  prophecy  to  "  lift  up  his  voice  with 
"  strength;"  "  to  lift  it  up,  and  not  to  be 
"  afraid  J/'  And  how  many  facts  are  re- 
corded, in  illustration  of  this  !  With  what 
a  dignified  simplicity  and  earnestness  did 

*  Luke,  ch.  l,v.  80. 

+  Isaiah,  ch.  40,  v.  S,  compared  with  the  passages  iu 
the  Gospels,  before  cited  in  ^Spte  *,  page  106> 
J  Isaiah,  ch.  40,  v.  Q. 


LECTURE  III.  ii5 

he  labour  to  o;ive  the  multitudes  that  at- 
tended  him  a  just  idea  of  his  own  charac- 
ter and  mission  !  How  exquisitely  does  he 
apply  this  very  prediction  to  himself,  as 
the  harbinger  of  Christ !  "  As  the  people 
*'  were  in  expectation,  and  all  men  mused 
"in  their  hearts,  whether  he  were  the 
*^  Christ,  or  not;  John  answered,  saying 
"  unto  them  all:  I  indeed  baptize  you  with 
**  water ;  but  one  mightier  than  I  cometh, 
*'  the  latchet  of  whose  shoes  I  am  not 
*'  worthy  to  unloose  :  He  shall  baptize 
"  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  with 
*'  fire  *."  The  same  zeal  and  intrepidity 
were  equally  conspicuous,  in  the  urging 
of  that  preparation,  by  sincere  repentance, 
which  the  very  nature  of  the  Kingdom^ 
whose  approach  he  came  to  announce,  so 
indispensably  required.  With  what  bold- 
ness and  severity  did  he  reprove  *'  many 
"of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees,  that 
"  came  to  his  baptism  -f  !*'  With  what 
firmness  and  authority  did  he  point  out 
their  chief  enormities,  to  the  Soldiery,  the 

*Luke,  cb.  3,  v.  15,  l6. 

t  Matth.  ch,  3,  V.  7-^12.     Luke,  cb.  3,  Y.  7—9- 

i2 


116  LECTURE  III. 

Publicans,  and  People,  that  attended  his 
Ministry  *  !  And  is  it  not  notorious,  that 
his  manly  and  determined  remonstrance, 
against  the  profligacy  of  Herod,  was  the 
immediate  cause  of  his  imprisonment  and 

death  f  ? 

By  the  exercise  of  these  Talents,  aided 
by  a  Life   of  the  most  exemplary   piety 
and  virtue,  he  did  indeed,   like  a  skilful 
pioneer  X',  prepare  the  way  for  Him,  who 
was  soon  to  "  come  with  a  strong  1iand^\ 
and  whose  Arm  should  obtain  Dominion  for 
him.    In  order  to  eftect  this,  ''  every  mlley' 
was  to  be  "  exalted;  and  every  mountain  and 
"  hill  to  be  made  low" — Whatever  was  de- 
grading   and  superstitious  in  the  notions, 
which  those,  who  should  believe  his  mis- 
sion, might  entertain,  concerning  the  na- 
ture of  God,  and  the  important  purposes 
he  was  then  about  to  bring  to  pass,  was  to 
be  elevated  to  a  more  correct  and  spiritual 
standard;  and  the  Pride  and  Self-conceit 

*Luke,  ch.  3,  V.  10—14. 

+  Matth.  ch.  14,  v.  1—12.  Mark,  cb.  6,  v.  16—29. 
Luke,  cb.  3,  V.  19,  20. 

j  See  Bishop  Lowth's  beautiful  and  instructive  Note 
on  Isaiah,  cb.  40,  V.  3. 


LECTURE  III.  117 

which  tended  to  render  them  confident 
in  their  own  righteousness,  and  averse 
from  that  pure  and  gentle  system  which 
was  then  to  be  revealed,  were  to  be  hum-- 
hied  by  a  just  exposure  :  "  tXiecrooked  were 
"  to  be  made  straight ;  and  the  rough 
"  places  pZam" — The  Obliquities  in  their 
moral  conduct  were  to  be  pointed  out  and 
corrected  ;  and  the  Asperities  and  Rugged, 
ness  of  their  tempers  to  be  humanized  and 
refined. 

But  he  was  also  to  "  say  to  the  Cities  of 
*'Judah:  Behold  your  God/'  Such 
were  the  awful  grandeur  of  the  Commis- 
sion, wit^  which  he  was  to  be  intrusted  ; 
and  the  glad  tidings  he  had  to  proclaim! 
The  divine  Person  w^hom  he  should  be  se- 
lected, in  preference  to  all  others,  to  have 
the  exalted  honour  of  pointing  out  to  the 
people,  was  no  other  than  "  the  Lord  whom 
"  they  were  seeking  *  ;"  "  the  desire  of  all 
"  Nations,''  foretold  by  Haggai  -f*.  And, 
in  conformity  with  this,  it  appears,  that 
the  extraordinary  nature  of  his  character, 
and    the  novelty  and   importance  of  his 

*  Malachi,  ch.  3,  v.  1.   f  Haggai,  ch.  2,  v.  7—9. 

1  3 


lis  LECTURE  HI. 

previous  doctrine,  soon  attracted  the  ge- 
neral  attention.     "Then   went  out  unto 
"  him  Jerusalem,    and  all  Judaea,   and  all 
*^the    region    round    about   Jordan,   and 
"  were  baptized  of  him  in  Jordan,  confess- 
•  "  ing  their  Sins  ^\^     These  were  the  steps 
that  were  made  use  of  by  divine  Wisdom, 
as  preliminary  to  the  last,  the  most  sub- 
lime, and  important  part  of  his  mission e 
And  it  is  sufficiently  evident,  that,  in  per- 
forming this^  he  adopted  the  very  same 
style  of  expression,  which  had  been  before 
employed  by  the  Prophet :  he  said  to  the 
assembled  Multitudes—"  Behold  the  Lamb 
**of  God,  that  taketh   away  the  Sins  of 
**  the  World  f  \'  and  "  I  saw,   and    bear 
"record,  that  this  is  the  Son  of  God  j." 

So  obviously  has  every  part  of  this  Pro- 
phecy, as  far  as  we  have  hitherto  con- 
sidered it,  been  most  particularly  fulfilled  ! 
But,  before  we  proceed  to  consider  the 
second  part  of  this  subject,  it  will  be 
proper  to  take  a  view  of  some  other  pre- 
dictions, relating  equally  to  the  character 

=*  Matth.  ch.  3,  V.  5.  f  John,  cb,  1.  v.  29. 

}  John,  ch.  1;  V.  34. 


LECTURE  IIL  119 

jDf  the  same  Personage,  the  exact  accom- 
plishment of  which  cannot  but  add  a  fur- 
ther illustration  to  what  has  been  ahieady 
advanced. 

After  the  very  luminous,  the  lofty,  and 
animated  representations,  which  Isaiah  has 
exhibited  of  the  precursor  of  Christ,  there 
seems  to  have  been  a  suspension  of  all 
further  revelation  concerning  him,  till  the 
time  of  Malachi ;  through  the  spaco  of 
a  little  more  than  three  hundred  years* 
Nor  can  we  hesitate  to  believe,  that  the 
portion  of  light,  which  had  been  thus  far 
thrown  upon  the  subject,  was  altogether 
adequate  to  the  exigencies  of  the  inter- 
vening ages.  But  ilieriy  when  the  Gift  of 
Prophecy  was  about  to  be  withdrawn  from 
the  Jewish  race  ;  and  when  those,  to  whom 
the  Messiah  was  to  be  sent,  were  to  de- 
pend, for  their  knowledge  of  his  attributes, 
and  the  nature  of  his  kingdom,  upon  the 
writings  which  had  descended  to  them 
from  Moses  and  the  Prophets;  the  clearest 
declarations  appear  to  have  become  re- 
quisite ;  and  every  additional  promise  ac 
quired  an  inestimable  degree  of  impor* 

tance. 

I  4 


120  LECTURE  III. 

And,  agreeably  to  this,  we  shall  per- 
ceive, that  such  has  been  the  precision  of 
this  Inst  and  highly-favoured  prophet,  in 
what  he  had  to  transmit  on  these  momen* 
tons  points,  that  any  mistake  of  the  genu- 
ine sii^fuification  seems  almost  out  of  the 
question.  And  if  that  be  established,  we 
shall  thence  derive  some  of  the  strongest 
Arguments  that  can  be  produced,  in  be- 
half of  the  Predictions  themselves,  and  of 
the  Religion  that  is  partly  founded  upon 
them. 

The  first  of  these  explicit  communica- 
tions, therefore,  to  which  I  would  refer,  is 
contained  in  the  following  words — 

"  Behold  I  will  send  my  Messenger  ; 

'^  And  he  shall  prepare  the  way  before  me  : 

**  And  The  Lord,  whom  ye  seek, 

"  Shall  suddenly  come  to  his  temple, 

"  Even  the  Messenger  of  the  Covenant,  in  whom 

ye  delight: 
**  Behold,    he   shall   come,    saith   Jehovah    of 

Hosts  V^ 

In  this  passage,  affording  scope  for  such 
*  Malachi,  ch.  3,  v.  1. 


LECTURE  III.  121 

lively  anticipations,  and  conveying  senti- 
ments of  such  unutterable  sublimity,  there 
are  manifestly  two  Messengers  foretold 
— He  that  was  to  prepare  the  way  ;    and 
the  Person  before  whom  it  was  to  be  pre- 
pared.    The  latter  of  these  was  no  other 
than  *'  the  Lord,"    whom  the  pious  Jews 
in  the  timeof  Malachi  were  seeking;  even 
"the  Lord  of  Hosts:'*  for  the  words  of 
this  prophecy  are  confessedly  the  words  of 
God  ;   who  speaks    by  the  mouth  of  his 
Prophet,  at  the  beginning  in  the  firsts  and 
at  the  close  in  the  third  person.     The  for* 
mer  of  them  was  as  evidently  John  the 
Baptist  ;  for  we  find  this  very  prophecy 
applied  to  him,  under  the  immediate  in- 
fluence of  Inspiration,   by  his  Father  Za- 
charias~"Thou  Child,'' said  he  ''shalt  be 
''called  the  Prophet  of  the  Highest;   for 
**  thou  shaltgo  beibre  the  face  of  the  Lord, 
*'  to  prepare  liis  way  */'  But  this  is  not  the 
only  argument  that  offers  itself  in   proof 
of  the  same  position.     Our  blessed   Savi- 
our himself,  in  ortier  to  give  the  people  a 
suitable  idea  of  the  dignity  of  the  person, 
and   the  importance  of  the  ministry   of 

*  Luke,  ch.  1,  v.  76. 


122  LECTURE  III. 

John,  proposes  to  them  this  plain  ques- 
tion— "  What  went  ye  out  into  the  Wil- 
"  derness  to  see  ?  A  Prophet  ?"  And,  by 
•way  of  answer,  subjoins  :  *'  Yea,  1  say 
•*  unto  you,  and  more  than  a  Prophet :  for 
"  this  is  he  of  whom  it  is  written — Behold, 
"I  send  MY  Messenger  before  thy 
**  FACE,  who  shall  prepare  thy  way  be- 
•*fore  THEE  *.** 

And  here,  I  cannot  abstain  from  remark- 
ing ;  what,  without  doubt,  has  often  oc- 
curred ;  and  what,  indeed,  must  naturally 
occur,  from-even  a  superficial  view  of  the 
subject ; — ^That  this  descriptive  character 
of  John  affords  one  of  the  most  unanswer- 
able evidences  that  can  be  adduced,  in 
testimony  of  the  divine  as  well  as  human 

*Matth.  ch.  11,  V.  7—10.     Luke,  ch.  7,  v.  24—27. 

Jt  is  remarkable,  that  both  these  holy  Evangelists 
use  precisely  the  same  words — 'I5by,  'EFH  * a'!Sori>.\6i  tw 
'A^veXov  Mot,  tt^o  'S!^qcu<7[ov  sot,  hi  KarKCHBuaffu  rnv 
t^uv  SOT  'sfxTsr^offQiV  SOT.  For  a  most  important  pur- 
pose, without  doubt,  the  different  pronouns  in  this  sen- 
tence are  marked  by  these  writers  m  the  most  emphatical 
manner  possible.  The  original  passage  in  Malachi  has 
no  such  strongly-marked  distinction;  nor  does  it  at  all 
exist  in  the  translation  of  the  LXX.  '1S»  l|a7^e^f^Xw  Tdi 


LECTURE  111.  leii 

Nature,  of  the  wonderful  Person  who  de* 
livered  it.  As  the  Divine  Being  himself^ 
who  inspired  the  Prophet,  he  might  pro- 
chiim — '^  Behold,  I  send  my  Messenger 
*'  before  my  face  ;  and  he  shall  prepare 
*''  the  way  before  me."  While,  appearing 
as  Man  in  the  person  of  Jesus  Christ,  he 
might  also  truly  represent  the  relation,  m 
which  the  Baptist  was  placed  in  respect  to 
himself;  by  altering,  where  he  did,  the 
words  of  the  original  prophecy,  to  answer 
the  appearances  and  circumstances  that 
then  existed  :  he  might  say  with  the  most 
perfect  consistency — ''  Behold,  I  send  my 
"  Messenger  before  tijy  face,  who  shall 
*'  prepare  thy  way  before  thee."  Suppos- 
ing the  person  who  speaks,  to  be  the  same 
in  both  cases;  but  acting  in  two  different 
natures  at  the  times  when  the  words  were 
spoken,  every  thing  is  consistent,  and  wor- 
thy of  God.  Upon  any  other  supposition, 
they  involve  the  most  palpable  misrepre- 
sentation, and  want  of  truth. 

The  Deity  therefore,  who  was  to  send 
the  Messenger  to  prepare  the  way,  was 
the  very  same  person  with  him 
before  whom  the  way  was  to  be  prepared. 


124  LECTURE  III. 

And  whether  we  advert  to  the  original 
text,  and  to  the  septuagint  translation, 
on  the  one  hand ;  or  to  those  passages,  in 
which  our  Lord  is  described  by  St.  Mat- 
thew, and  St.  Luke,  as  particularly  re- 
ferring to  it,  on  the  other ;  the  same  in- 
stances of  Dissimilitude  appear  ;  and  are 
therefore  conclusive,  in  favour  of  the 
Doctrine  they  are  obviously  intended  to 
support. 

The  next  prediction,  which  solicits  our 
attention,  is  the  very  last  that  is  contained 
in  the  Canon  of  the  Old  Testament ; 
and  is  expressed  in  these  very  peculiar 
terms — 

*'  Behold,   1  will  send  unto  }ou 

"  Elijah  the  Prophet, 

"  Before  the  coming  of  the  great  and  dreadful 

Day  of  Jehovah  ; 
"  And  he  shall   turn  the  hearts  of  the   fathers 

towards  the  children, 
"  And  the  hearts   of  the  children  towards  their 

fathers  : 
*'  Lest  I  come,  and  smite  the  Lund  utterly  *." 

*  Malachi,  ch.  4,  v.  3,  6. 


LECTLRE  III.  V25 

This  was  also,  to  a  very  minute  degree, 
fulfilled,  in  the  person  and  ministry  ot' 
John  the  Baptist. 

From  a  striking  analogy  of  character 
and  circumstances,  he  is  here  compared 
to  Elijah  ;  and  perhaps,  in  some  respects, 
few  men  have  more  nearly  resembled  each 
other. 

1.  The  one  had  to  maintain  alone  the 
honour  of  the  true  God,  during  a  period 
of  profligacy  and  impiety,  and  in  opposi- 
tion to  all  the  influence  that  could  arise, 
from  the  hand  of  opulence,  and  the  arm 
of  power.  For  the  other  it  was  also  resenr. 
ed,  to  preach  to  his  countrymen  a  further 
revelation  from  God;  and  to  support  and 
establish  his  doctrine,  in  defiance  of 
every  inveterate  prejudice,  and  in  the 
midst  of  *'  a  wicked  and  adulterous  Gene- 
*'  ration.''  And  hence,  he  is  said  to  come 
"  in  the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias  *-'^ 

2.  From    the    place    of    his    Xativitj, 
the    one    is    generally   styled   Elijah    the 

*  Luke,  ch.  1,  v.  17,  where  an  allusioa  is  expresilv 
made  to  the  very  Prophecv  of  Malachi,  which  'nas 
just  been  cited. 


12S  LECTURE  111. 

Tishbite*;  but  the  o//zer  could  lay  claim 
to  no  such  appellation.  While,  therefore 
John,  not  having  been  a  native  of  Thisbe, 
could  truly  deny  that  he  was  the  Elias, 
whom  the  Jews  were  expecting -f-;  yet  it 
is  well  known,  that  the  region  that  was 
rendered  remarkable  by  having  been  the 
place  of  usual  residence  to  the  prophet  of 
Israel,  was  also  common  to  them  both : 
they  were  both  "  of  the  inhabitants  of 
^'GileadJ.'* 

3.  The  magnanimity,  with  which  they 
reproved  the  enormities  of  the  times  in 
which  they  lived,  exposed  them  to  conti- 
nual danger.  And  the  dignified  severity 
with  which  they  censured  the  depraved  ex* 
amples  of  their  respective  Sovereigns,  was 


*  1  Kings,  ch.  17,  v.  1,  and  in  other  places. 

f  John,  ch.  1,  V.  21. 

J  The  mountainous  ridge,  called  Gilead,  gave  its 
name  to  the  Country  lying  to  the  east  of  the  Sea  of 
Tiberias,  and  of  the  River  Jordan,  for  a  long  way  to  the 
south  of  that  sea;  in  short,  if  not  to  the  whole,  yet  to 
the  greatest  part  of  the  Country  beyond  Jordan.  See 
Wells's  Historical  Geography,  Vol.  1,  page  329,  Edit, 
1801. 


LECTURE  IIL  127 

the  cause  of  death  to  the  one  *,  and  of  a 
vindictive  menace  of  it  to  the  other  •^•. 

4.  Elijah    was    greatly    distinguished 
from  all  other  men  of  his  time,  by  the  sin- 
gularity of  his  dress.     He  was  even  known 
by  the  very  description  of  it.    AVhen  Aha- 
ziah,  the  King  of  Israel,  had  learned  from 
the  Messengers,  whom  he  had  sent  to  con* 
suit  Baalzebub,  the  God  of  Ekron,  con* 
cerning  his  recovery   from  sickness,  that 
they  had  met  with  a  person  by  the  way, 
who  had  ordered  them  to  return,  and  to  say 
that  he  should  surely  die  ;  then,  the  sacred 
historian  informs  us,  he  inquired — "What 
"  manner  of  man  was  he,  which  came  up 
"  to  meet  you,  and  told  you  these  words  ? 
"  And  they  answered  him  :  he  w^as  a  man 
•'  clothed  with  hair  ^i,  and  girt  with  a  gir- 
"  die  of  leather  about  his  loins.     And  he 

*  Matth.  ch.  14,  V.  3 — 12,  and  the  parallel  passages 
in  Mark  and  Luke. 

1 1  Kings,  ch.  18,  and  ch.  19,  v.  1 — 3. 

J  The  idea  conveyed  by  "^^t^  ^^3  U^^X  cannot  per- 
haps be  more  correctly  expressed  than  by  "  a  Man 
** having  a  hairy  Garment''  And  it  may  be  well  illus- 
trated by  a  practice  among  the  false  prophets,  alluded 
to  by  Zechariah,  in  ch.  IS,  v.  4;  who,  in  imitation  of 
tome  eminent  prophets  of  former  times,  and  particularly. 


328  LECTURE  III. 

"  said— It  is  Elijah  the  Tishbite*  r  Even 
so,  says  the  Evangelist,  "  the  same  John 
"had  his  raiment  of  Camel's  hair,  and  a 
"  leathern  girdle  about  his  loins." 

5.  It  was  one  great  object  in  the  Minis- 
try of  Elijah,  to  promote  reciprocally  filial 
piety,  and  paternal  afl^ection.  And,  in 
order  to  this,  he  endeavoured  to  abolish 
those  idolatrous  and  savage  usages,  which 
had  been  borrowed  from  the  Canaanites, 
and  had  then  very  generally  superseded 
the  true  worship  of  God  among  the  peo- 
ple of  Israel  *f-.   One  part  of  these  consisted 

in  all  probability,  of  Elijab  himself,  used  to  go  clad  in 
rough  and  hairy  raiment,  that  they  might  the  more 
easily  deceive,  by  the  appearance  of  great  abstraction, 
and  of  rigid  mortification.  The  words  of  the  inspired 
writer  are  these — 
"  And  it  shall  come  io  pass  in  that  day,  that  the  Prophets 

shall  be  ashamed, 
'*  Every  one  of  his  vision,  when  he  hath  prophesied  ; 
*'  Neither  shall  they  veear  ("IJ^^^  HlIN)  «  Garment   of 

hair^  that  they  may  deceive." 

The  analogy  subsisting  between  this  sort  of  clothing, 
and  that  which  the  Evangelist  describes  as  distinguish- 
ing the  person  of  St,  John,  is  too  obvious  to  require 
further  explanation — i/^e  to  lv5y/*«  auiis  ^airo  r^ix^v 
Ka(jLVi'K}i»     Matth.  ch.  3,  v.  4. 

*  II  Kings,  ch.  I,  V.  2 — 8. 

t  I  Kings,  ch.  18,  19—46. 


LECTURE  III.  !29 

in  the  causing  their  Children  "  to  pass 
"  through  the  fire  :''  and  it  is  consequently 
the  subject  of  bitter  complaint  against 
them,  that  they  "shed  innocent  blood, 
"  even  the  blood  of  their  Sons  and  of  their 
**  Daughters,  whom  they  offered  to  the 
*'  Idols  of  Canaan  ;  and  their  land  was 
"  defiled  with  blood  */'  Surely  no  mu- 
tual love,  or  tenderness,  could  possibly 
consist  with  such  inhumanities  as  these  ! 
By  putting  a  stop,  then,  in  some  measure, 
to  these -f-,  the  Prophet  might  well  be  said 
"  to  have  turned  the  hearts  of  the  fathers 
"  to  the  children,  and  the  hearts  of  the 
**  children  to  their  fathers.**  And,  if  we 
advert  to  the  state  of  Judaea,  at  the  time  of 
John's  preaching,  we  shall  perceive  how 
truly  the  same  description  was  verified  in 
him.  That  country  was  then  distracted  by 
the  number  and  animosity  of  its  religious 
sects  and  parties  J.     Thess  created  vari- 

*  Psalm  106,  V.  38.  f  I  Kings,  ch.  18,  v.  17—46. 
J  These  were  the  Phar;sees,theSadducees,the  Essenes, 
and  the  Herodians  ;  the  Uvo  first  of  whom  are  peculiarly 
stigmatized  as  "  a  Generation  of  Vipers  J'  Mattii.  .ch.  3, 
V.  7.  Josephus  takes  no  notice  of  the  Herodians  by  name ; 
but  seems  to  substitute  for  them  a  Sect,  which,  he  savs, 
originated  with  Judas,  in  the  tetra rebate  of  Herod,  and 
VOL.  I.  K 


150  LECTURE  in, 

ances  between  the  nearest  relations ;  and 
frequently  rendered  those,  who  should 
have  been  the  most  cordial  friends,  the 
bitterest  enemies.  It  was  therefore  a 
principal  part  of  his  sacred  office  to  put, 
as  far  as  possible,  a  period  to  these  dis* 
putes ;  by  pointing  out  equally  to  all  the 
necessity  of  repentance,  and  reformation 
of  manners,  if  they  had  any  wish  to 
'*  escape  the  wrath  to  come,''  or  to  become 
the  happy  Subjects  of  that  Kingdom 
which  was  then  about  to  commence. 

6.  As  Elijah  enjoined  the  washing  in 
Jordan,  for  the  removal  of  the  Leprosy  of 
Naaman  the  Syrian  ;  in  consequence  of 
which  miraculousPurification,  that  illus- 
trious Captain  became  a  Convert  to  the 
Worship  of  the  true  God*  :  so  did  John 
also  enforce  Ablution  in  the  same  river  ; 
as  a  lively  symbol  of  the  Purity  that  would 
be  expected,  in  those  who  should  perform 
that  sacred  Rite;  as  "the  Baptism  of 
*'  Repentance  for  the  Remission  of  Sins/' 

were  thence  called  Galileans.  For  a  particular  account  of 
these,  sects  consult  Josephus  Antiq.  book  18,  ch.  1  ;  and 
Dr.  Macknight's  Jewish  Antiquities,  Disc.  I.  prefixed 
to  his  "  Harmony  of  the  Gospels." 
*  II  Kings,  ch.  5. 


LECTURE  III.  131 

7.  In  the  last  place,  we  must  observe, 
that  both  these  extraordinary  Men  were 
Prophets  of  the  first  distinction.  Elijah, 
at  one  time,  could  truly  say  of  himself 
— "I,  even  I,  only  remain  a  Prophet  of 
the  Ix)rd  *  ;'  and  of  John  the  Baptist 
it  was  predicated,  that  he  should  be  "  the 
"Prophet  of  the  Highest;'*  and  he  was  also 
the  only  Prophet  of  his  time,  antecedently 
to  the  ministration  of  Christ^ 

II,  Having  discussed  the  chief  of  those 
Prophecies,  which  relate  to  the  character 
and  mission  of  John,  we  now  proceed  to 
consider  those,  which  describe  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  world,  at  the  time  of 
his  appearance. 

And  these,  whether  we  view  them  as 
principally  affecting  mankind  at  large,  or 
the  Jewish  race  in  particular,  will  be 
found  to  have  been  accomplished  with  the 
same  degree  of  minuteness,  as  those  that 
have  been  already  the  subjects  of  our 
analysis. 

1.  If,  in  the  first  place,  we  advert  to  the 
great  events,  which  had  then  recently 
taken  place,   we  shall  observe  how  won- 

*I  KingSjch.  18,  V.  22. 
K  2 


132  LECTURE  in. 

derfullj  the  superintending  Providence  of 
God  had  prepared  the  way  for  those 
more  salutary  ones  that  were  to  follow. 
Then,  in  a  political  sense,  (as  well  as  in 
ihatf  in  which  we  have  already  applied 
these  impressive  and  beautiful  words  to 
the  Baptist)  "  every  valley  was  exalted, 
"  and  every  mountain  and  hill  was  made 
*^  low  ;  the  crooked  were  made  straight, 
"  and  the  rough  places  plain.''  At  that 
time  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  then 
known  world  had  become  united,  in  one 
vast  Empire,  and  under  one  supreme 
Ruler.  The  more  obscure  nations,  that 
were  subject  to  this  dominion,  were 
gradually  acquiring  civilization  and  im- 
portance, from  the  connexion  in  which 
they  were  placed ;  and  those  which  had 
been  possessed  of  such  a  degree  of  power 
and  influence,  as  to  have  been  the  objects 
of  apprehension,  were  humbled  to  the 
requisite  degree  of  subordination :  the 
crooked  policy  of  individual  states  was 
rectified  and  controlled  by  the  laws  and 
interests  of  the  whole  ;  and  the  refractory 
and  rebellious  had  been  reduced  to  sub* 
jection.  Such  was  the  state  of  things  at 
the  time  now  under  contemplation. 


LECTURE  III.  iSS 

And,  "  it  must  be  acknowledored/'  says 
a  learned   ecclesiastical  historian,  "  that 
"  this  supreme  dominion  of  one  people, 
"  or  rather,   of  one  man,   over  so  many 
"kino-doms,    was    attended    with   many 
"  considerable  advantages  to  mankind  m 
"  general,  and  to  the  propagation  and  ad- 
"  vancement  of  Christianity  in  particular, 
"  For,  by  the  means  of  this  almost  univer- 
" sal  Empire,   many  nations,   differentia 
"  their  language,  and   in  their  manners, 
"  were  united  more  intimately  together  in 
"social    Intercourse.      Hence    a   passage 
"  was  opened   to  the  remotest  countries 
"  by  the  communications,  which  the  Ro- 
"  mans   formed    between   the  conquered 
''  provinces.     Hence     also    the    nations, 
"  whose  manners  were  savage  and  barba- 
"  rous,    were  civilized   by    the  laws  and 
"commerce   of    the    Romans.     And    by 
«  this,  in  short,  the  benign  influence  of 
"letters     and     philosophy     was    spread 
"  abroad    in  countries,   which    had   lain 
"  before    under    the   darkest    Ignorance. 
"  All  this  contributed,  without  doubt,  in 
"  a  singular  manner,  to  facilitate  the  pro- 
"  gress  of  the  Gospel,  and  to  crown  the 

k3 


134  LECTURE  IlL 

*'  labours  of  its  first  ministers  and  heralds 
^'  with  success  *." 

2.  It  must  be  observed  in  the  next 
place,  that  the  ministry  of  the  Person, 
whom  Elijah  was  so  remarkably  to  typify, 
was  to  be  completed  "  before  the  coming 
"of  the  great  and  dreadful  day  of  Jeho- 
"vAH^/"  And  what  that  day  was,  we 
learn  from  the  lips  of  our  blessed  Savi- 
our himself.  Foretelling  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem,  and  the  calamities  that 
should  precede  it,  he  says — "  When  ye 
"  therefore  shall  see  the  abomination 
"  of  desolation,  spoken  of  by  Daniel  the 
"  Prophet,  stand  in  the  holy  place  \*  that 
is,  as  St.  Luke  renders  it,  **  when  ye  shall 
"  see  Jerusalem  encompassed  with  Ar- 
"  mies  %  ;"  ''  then  let  them,  which  be  in 
*' Judaea,  flee  into  the  Mountains.  Let 
"  him  that  is  on  the  house  top,  not  come 
*•  down  to  take  any  thing  out  of  his  house: 
"  Neither  let  him  that  is  in  the  field,  re- 
"  turn  back  to  take  his  Clothes."  "  For 
"  then  shall  be  great  tribulation,   such  as 

*  Mosheim's  Ecclesiastical  History,  vol.  J,  book!, 
parti,    chap.  1.     Dr.  Maclaine's  Translation. 

t  Malachi,  ch.  4,  v.  5.     %  Luke,  ch.  21,  v.  20—24. 


LECTURE  III.  136 

*'  was  not  from  the  beginning  of  the  world 
*'  to  this  time ;  no,  nor  ever  shall  be  */' 
"  Por  these  be  the  days  of  vengeance, 
"that all  things  which  are  written  may  be 
"  fulfilled." 

Such  was  to  be  the  period,  that  is  here 
denominated  "  the  great  and  dreadful  day 
"  of  the  Lord  !  "  And  how  truly  it  an- 
swered the  description  thus  given  of  it, 
we  learn  from  the  Jewish  historian  Jose- 
phus  himself;  for  he  tells  us,  that  "  the 
"  entire  nation  of  the  Jews  was  then  shut 
*'  up  by  fate  as  in  a  prison  :  and  that  the 
"  Roman  Army  laid  siege  to  the  City, 
"  when  it  was  thus  crowded  with  inhabit- 
"ants;''  that,  in  consequence,  "the  mul- 
"titude  of  those,  that  perished  therein, 
"  exceeded  all  the  destructions,  that  either 
^*  God  or  man  ever  brought  upon  the 
"  world  f /' 

That  John  lived  in  the  time  of  that  very 
"  generation"  which  was  "  not  to  pass  away 
"before  all  these  things  had  been  fulfilled, 
is  too  obvious  to  require  demonstration, 
riie circumstance  is  particularly  noted  by 

♦  Matth.  ch.  24,  v.  15—21. 

t  Josephus,  War  of  the  Jews,  book  6,  ch.  9,  sec.  4. 

K    4 


'1^ 


136  LECTURE  ill. 

the  very  historian  abovementioned  :  and 
he  represents  many  of  the  Jews  of  that 
time  as  being  possessed  with  an  opinion, 
that  the  destruction  of  Herod's  Army,  in 
his  war  with  the  Arabians,  was  sent  as  a 
judgment  upon  him,  for  the  recent  murder 
of  that  holy  man  *. 

Hence,  therefore,  the  accomplishment 
of  this  part  of  the  prophecy  of  Malachi 
is  clearly  ascertained.  And  no  less  so  is 
the  conclusion  of  it :  where  it  is  awfully 
announced,  in  the  words  of  God — '''He 
"  shall  turn  the  hearts  of  the  fathers  to  the 
"  children,  and  the  hearts  of  the  children 
"  to  their  fathers;  lest  I  come  and  smite  the 
"  Land  utterly  ;''or,with  utter  destruction  ! 
The  reference  is  manifestly  to  the  Land 
of  Judaea  ;  and  an  escape,  in  any  instance, 
from  this  ruin,  is  declared  to  be  only  con- 
ditional. The  extermination,  now  foretold^ 
is  exactly  similar  to  that  which  was 
threatened  by  Ezekiel,  in  the  name  of  the 
Almighty,  on  a  former  occasion — 

=^  The  testimony  of  this  writer,  concerning  John^  is 
very  decisive.  See  Josephus  Antiq.  book  18,  ch.  5, 
sec.  2. 


LECTURE  III.  137 

"  Or,  if  I  bring  a  sword  upon  that  land  j 

"  And  saj.  Sword,  go  through  the  land; 

"  So  that  I  cut  off  man  and  beast  from  it ; 

^'Though  Noah,  Daniel,  and  Job  were  in  it, 

''  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah, 

"They  shall  deliver  neither  sons  nor  daughters; 

*'  For  they  only  shall  be  delivered  themselves  V 

So,  it  will  be  recollected,  did  John  the 
Baptist  hold  forth  the  Messiah  to  the  peo- 
ple, as  One,  "  whose  fan  was  in  his  hand ; 
"  who  would  thoroughly  purge  his  floor, 
"  and  gather  his  wheat  into  the  garner ; 
"  but  would  burn  up  the  chaff  with  un- 
**  quenchable  fire  -f"  He  therefore  ear- 
nestly exhorted  those,  who  had  submitted 
to  his  Baptism,  and  who  had  consequently 
professed  themselves  true  Penitents,  to 
"  bring  forth  fruits  worthy  of  repentance %' 
assuring  them  that  this  Avas  the  only  means 
of  "  fleeing  from  the  Wrath"  that  was  ere 
long  to  be  revealed  :  for  that  then  **  the 
"  axe  was  laid  to  the  root  of  the  trees  ; 
**  and  therefore,  every  tree,  that  should  not 

*  Ezekiel,  ch.  14,  v.  17,  18,  20. 

t  Matth.  ch.  3,  v.  8—10.    Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  8,  y. 


158  LECTURE  111. 

"  bring  forth  good  fruit,  would  be  hewn 
"  down,  and  cast  into  the  fire."  In  the 
happy  effect  of  his  zealous  admonitions, 
we  shall  be  able  to  trace  the  exact  com- 
pletion of  the  prophecy  in  question.  For 
^*  many  of  the  children  of  Israel  did  he 
*'  turn  to  the  Lord  their  God  ;'*  and, 
through  their  means,  Christianity  obtained 
still  more  numerous  converts  in  Judasa, 
notwithstanding  the  virulent  persecution 
of  those,  who  "  had  rejected  the  counsel 
"  of  God  against  themselves."  We  may 
now  mark  the  result !  For  the  sake  of 
these, "  the  land  was  not  smitten  with  utter 
"  destruction."  The  Roman  Army  under 
Cestius  Gallus,  coming  before  Jerusalem 
some  time  previous  to  its  final  siege  by 
Titus  *,  reminded  those  Christians,  who 
were  then  enclosed  within  its  walls,  of  their 
Lord's  prophecy  concerning  the  fate  that 
awaited  it,  and  of  the  warning  he  had  given 
them    to   "flee    unto    the   mountains -f*. '* 

*  A  particular  account  of  this  most  remarkable  cir- 
cumstance is  given  by  Josephus,  in  his  "  War  of  the 
"  Jews,"  book  2,  ch.  IQ.  See  also  Mr.  Whiston's  valu- 
able note  to  sec.  7,  of  this  chapter. 

t  Matth.  ch.  -24,  v.  16;  Luke,  ch,  21,  v.  21. 


LECTURE  III.  \30 

This  they  therefore  considered  as  the  sa- 
cred signal ;  and  they  lost  no  time  in 
obeying  it.  Upon  the  disgraceful,  yet 
most  providential  retreat  of  the  Roman 
General,  they  immediately  forsook  the 
City;  and  retiring  to  Pella,  amidst  the 
mountains  of  Perea,  they  escaped  the 
general  desolation  *. 

3.  We    have  just    been  observing   the 
completion  of  a   prophecy,   which  points 
out  to  us  the  very  generation  that  should 
be  distinguished  by  the  public  appearance 
of  John,  and  some  of  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances that  should  attend  it.     But  there 
is  one,  in  addition  ;    which  leaves  us  not, 
as  it  were,  at  the  threshold  of  the  Gospel ; 
but  discovers  to  us,  with  the  greatest  pre- 
cision, and    from    internal   evidence,    the 
very  period  of  its  first  foundation.     This 
will   also    withdraw   from    our   view    the 
melancholy  scene,  on  which  we  have  so 
long  dwelt;  and  exhibit  to  us  the  brighter 
part  of  our  subject. 

To  recur  again,  then,   to  the  words  of 

*  Upon  this  interesting  subject,  see  Bishop  Newton*s 
nineetenth  Dissertation  on  the  Prophecies ;  and  the 
Authors  there  cited. 


I«0  LECTURE  III. 

the  Text — "  In  those  daysy'  says  the 
Evangelist,  **  came  John  the  Baptist, 
"  preaching  in  the  Wilderness  of  Judaea/^ 
But  here,  an  inquiry  may  very  naturally 
be  made — what  the  time  really  was,  which 
is  described  in  these  words  ?  To  answe^* 
this  question,  we  must  refer  to  the  latter 
part  of  the  preceding  Chapter.  There  we 
learn,  that  Joseph,  after  his  return  from 
Egypt  with  Mary  and  "  the  young  child*' 
Jesus,  instead  of  going  to  reside  at  Beth^ 
lehem,  the  place  of  their  former  habitation, 
but  which  had  been  so  deeply  polluted  of 
late  by  the  murders  of  Herod,  "  turned 
"  aside  into  the  parts  of  Galilee ;  and  came 
"  and  dwelt  in  a  city  called  Nazareth/^ 
The  "  days"  in  question  were  therefore 
some  part  of  the  interval,  during  which 
the  holy  family  continued  there. 

Thus  far,  however,  there  is  nothing  to  be 
deduced,  as  to  the  pr^ecise  time  of  John's 
commencing  his  public  functions.  All 
that  can  be  inferred  is  this  ;  that  the  event 
took  place,  while  Jesus  resided  yet  at 
Nazareth.  But  he  remained  there  many 
years;  only  going  up  to  Jerusalem  every 


LECTURE  III.  141 

year  at    the    feast  of   the    Passover^. 

But  what  St.  Matthew  has  left  thus  un- 
defined, St.  Luke  has  been  very  careful  to 
place  in  the  clearest  light — "  In  the  fif- 
"  teenth  year/'  says  he,  "  of  the  reign  of 
"  Tiberius  Caesar,  Pontius  Pilate  being 
"governor  of  Judaea,  and  Herod  being 
"Tetrarch  of  Galilee,  and  his  brother 
"  Philip  Tetrarch  of  Ituraea,  and  of  the 
"region  of  Trachonitis,  and  Lysanias  the 
"  Tetrarch  of  Abilene,  Annas  and  Caia- 
"  phas  being  the  High  Priests — the  word 
"  of  God  came  unto  John,  the  son  of  Za- 
**  charias,  in  the  Wilderness  -f-  /' 

Here,  the  very  year  J  is  pointed  out  by 
so  many  collateral  circumstances,  as  to 

*  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  41 — 52.  It  was  from  Nazareth 
that  he  weat  to  receive  Baptism  from  the  hands  of  John ; 
Matth.  ch.  3,  v.  13. 

f  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  1,  2. 

J  In  the  12th  year  of  the  vulgar  era,  Augustus  in- 
vested Tiberius  with  the  imperial  dignity,  making  him 
his  colleague  in  the  Empire  j  and  from  this  period  St. 
Luke  dates  the  commencement  of  his  reign.  'Hie 
fifteenth  year  therefore  of  that  reign  will  be  the  26th  of 
the  same  Era. 

-Agaiq,  in  the  early  part  of  the  $ame  year,  Valerius 
Gratus  was  recalled  byTiberius  from  his  Procuratorship 
of  Judaea;  and  Pontius  Pilate  was  sent  to  succeed  him. 


142  LECTURE  III. 

render  any  miscomprehension  almost  im- 
possible. And  it  is  thus  minutely  de- 
scribed, in  order  to  answer  a  most  impor- 
tant purpose. 

It  was,  according  to  the  computation 
of  the  learned  Usher*,  the  thirtieth  and 
last  Jubilee^  since  its  first  celebration  in  the 
land  of  Canaan,  when  Jesus  Christ,  in  the 
thirtieth  year  of  his  age-f-,  was  now  to  be 
announced  to  the  Jewish  Nation,  as  the 
long-promised  Messiah.  It  was  now  that 
he  was  to  begin  to  "  preach  the  acceptable 
"  Year  of  the  Lord  J" — a  more  glorious  and 

The  year  26  is  therefore  the  very  year,  in  which  St. 
John  commenced  the  work  of  his  ministry,  and  became 
the  means  of  introducing  a  new  and  more  happy  order 
of  things.  See  Ancient  Universal  History,  vol.  14, 
page  34,  and  vol.  10,  page  520,  &c. 

*Usser.  Annal.  A.M.  4030.  See  also  NoteW,  in 
the  Appendix ;  where  an  attempt  is  made  to  place  this 
wonderful  coincidence  in  the  clearest  light,  by  a  correct 
chronological  statement. 

*|-It  is  a  striking  circumstance,  in  further  proof  of  the 
/ypfcaZ  nature  of  the  Levilical  Priesthood,  that  the  Priests 
were  not  allowed  to  enter  upon  the  discharge  of  their 
sacred  functions,  before  they  had  attained  their  thirtieth 
year.  See  Numb.  ch.  4,  and  Lecture  II,  pages  82—86. 

J  Luke,  ch.  4,  v.  16—21. 

In  the  words  included  in  the  above  reference,  there 


LECTURE  III.  143 

happy  period,  than  any  Jubilee  that  had 
ever  preceded  it;  a  better  state  of  things, 
than  even  the  peculiar  people  of  God  them- 
selves had  ever  hitherto  experienced  ; — a 
dispensation  in  the  Divine  Government 
that  was  never  afterwards  to  be  super- 
seded. 

Do  not  these  circumstances,  then,  bring 
almost  irresistibly  to  our  recollection  those 
sublime  and  powerful  words,  by  which 
the  prophet  Daniel  is  enabled  to  interpret 
the  concluding  part  of  Nebuchadnezzar's 

is  not  only  a  plain  acknowledgment  of  the  fulfilment  of 
that  remarkable  prophecy  of  Isaiah  which  is  there  cited  ; 
but  a  special  allusion  also  to  the  typical  import  of   the 
Jubilee  itself,  the  peculiar  object  of  which  was  to  ^^ pro- 
•*  claim  liberty  throughout  all  the  land,  unto  all  the  inhabit- 
"  ants  thereof,  *'  Thus  therefore  our  blessed  Saviour  ex- 
plained its  emblematical  and  spiritual  signification,"  The 
**  spirit  of  the  Lord   is   upon   me,   because   he  hath 
"  anointed  me  to  preach  glad  tidings  (the  Gospel  J  to  the 
"  poor  ;  *^  he  hath  sent  me  to  heal  the  broken-hearted^  to 
*'  preach  deliverance  to  the  Captives,  and   recovering  of 
**  sight  to  the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised, 
"  to  preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord.''     See  Levit. 
ch.  25,  V,  10 — 17,  and  some  excellent  remarks,  in  fur- 
ther illustration  of  several  of  the  preceding  particulars, 
in  Mr.  Parkhurst's  Greek   Lexicon,   under  the   word 
^ooLvu ;  and   in  Dr.  Whitby's  Commentaries  on  Luke, 
ch.  4,  V.  18,  19. 


H4  LECTURE  III. 

dream — **  In  the  days  of  these  kings  shall 
"  the  GOD  of  Heaven  set  up  a  Kingdom, 
"  which  shall  never  he  destroyed :  and  the 
"  Kingdom  shall  not  be  left  to  other  peo- 
"ple;  but  it  shall  break  in  pieces,  and 
"  consume  all  these  kingdoms  ;  and  it 
"  shall  stand  for  ever*/' 

It  is  well  known,  that  the  Kings  or 
Kingdoms  here  described,  are  the  four 
great  Empires,  professing  paganism,  that 
were  to  exist  successively,  from  the  time 
of  the  uttering  of  this  Prophecy,  to  the 
period  of  the  establishment  of  this  more 
durable  Dominion  "  by  the  God  of  Hea- 
ven/' It  is  perhaps  unnecessary  for  me 
to  say,  that,  the  first  of  these  was  the  Ba- 
bylonian, which  was  then  in  existence  ; 
the  next  the  Medo-Persian,  that  was  es- 
tablished upon  the  ruins  of  the  forme  ; 
the  third  the  Macedonian,  originating  in 
the  total  defeat  and  death  of  Darius 
Codomannus  ;  and  the  last  the  Roman, 
which  gained  the   ascendancy   over   the 

*  DaQ.  ch.  2,  V.  31 — 45.  The  reader  may  consult  the 
admirable  discourse  of  Bishop  Newtoa  on  this  miracu- 
lous Dream,  in  his  thirteenth  dissertation  on  the  Pro- 
phecies. 


LECTURE  IIL  i46 

last  branch  of  the  Grecian,  at  the  battle 
of  Actium.  It  will  also  be  immediately 
remembered,  in  what  manner  these  four 
Empires  were  symbolized  in  the  King's 
dream. 

In  the  Prophecy  above  cited,  it  is  parti- 
cularly expressed,  that  this  spiritual  Do- 
minion should  be  first  set  up  by  the  God 
of  Heaven  '*  in  the  days  of  these  Kings  f 
that  is,  while  the  succession  of  these  four 
monarchies  should  still  be  carrying  on  ; 
and  after  the  establishment,  and  during 
the  continuance,  of  the  last  of  them.  And 
we  may  accordingly  perceive,  that  the 
very  timcy  when  the  first  grand  exercise 
of  universal  Sovereignty  was  actually 
taking  place  throughout  the  Roman  Em- 
pire, was  marked  as  the  peculiar  period 
for  ushering  in  this  felicitous  Event.  "  It 
"  came  to  pass,"  says  the  Evangelist, 
"  that  there  went  out  a  decree  from  Caesar 
"  Augustus,  that  all  the  world  should  be 
"  taxed.  *''  This  was  an  incident,  with  the 
effect  of  which,  in  illustrating  some  of 
their  own  prophecies,  the  Jews  themselves 
were  well  acquainted.     It  was  regarded 

♦Luke,  ch.  £,  v.  1» 
VOL.  I.  L 


146  LECTURE  III. 

by  them  as  a  signal  for  the  near  approach, 
if  not  for  the  very  advent,  of  their  Messiah. 
And  this  is  a  circumstance,  that  merits 
our  most  serious  attention^  About  the 
time,  as  we  may  suppose,  of  the  publican 
Hon  of  this  Decree  in  the  land  of  Judah, 
John  the  Baptist  was  born  ;  during  the 
rery  interval,  while  it  was  being  enforced 
in  that  country,  the  promised  Messiah 
made  his  appearance  *.  Before  that  pe- 
riod, moreover,  there  had  been  no  pre- 
tenders to  this  exalted  Dignity  and  Title : 
but  no  sooner  was  the  imperial  Edict,  for 
taking  a  census  of  the  subjects  of  the  em- 
pire, fairly  circulated  throughout  Judaea, 
than  false  Christs  and  false  Prophets 
began  to  arise.  And  their  numbers  greatly 
increased,  as  the  dreadful  catastrophe  of 
the  Jewish  nation  drew  near.  Josephus 
himself  has  mentioned  several  of  these  "f*, 

*  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  4 — 7« 

f  See  examples  of  this  in  Antiq.  book  17,  ch.  10, 
book  18,  ch.  1,  and  elsewhere.  The  first  which  he 
mentions,  namely,  that  of  Judas,  the  son  of  Ezeki«s 
corresponds  with  that  given  by  Gamaliel  in  Theudas 
Acts,  ch.  5,  V.  36.  The  next  was  that  of  one  Simon,  who 
had  been  a  slave  of  Herod,  but  who,  nevertheless,  as- 
sumed the  style  of  Royalty.  The  third  instance  was  ex- 
hibited in  Judas  of  Gamala,  the  same  person  whom 


LECTURE  ItL  147 

\vho  aspired  to  the  diadem^  and  assumed 
the  style  and  title  of  Kings  i  doing  great 
mischief;  and  seducing  many  to  acts  of 
rebellion,  and  to  their  own  eventual  de- 
struction. 

Here  therefore  is  another  date  ascer- 
tained, in  accomplishment  of  the  express 
words  of  prophecy,  to  a  most  wonderful 
degree  of  precision. 

For  assuredly,  when,  in  the  thirtieth  year 
after  this  *,  "  John  the  Baptist  came 
"  preaching  in  the  wilderness  of  Judaea, 
"  and  saying — Repent  ye,  for  the  King- 
^^  dom  of  Heaven  is  at  hand'/'  when 
Jesus  Christ  himself,  the  Saviour  of  men, 
the  anointed  "  Lord  of  all/'  *'  the  blessed 
"and  only  Potentate,''  the  "King  of 
"  Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords,''  came  hold- 
ing forth  the  same  transcendent  motive 
for  Repentance,  and  saying  precisely  the 
same  words — "  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is 
"  at  hand  -f* ;"  and  when^  further,  he  gave 
it   almost   exclusively    in   charge    to   his 

Gamaliel  notices  under  the  name  of  Judas  of  Galilee,  in 
Acts,  ch.  5,  V.  37. 

*  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  ^zS. 

t  Matth.  ch,  4,  v.  17.    Mark,  ch.  1,  v.  14,  15c 

L  2 


148  LECTURE  111. 

Apostles,  when  he  first  sent  tliem  forth,  tu 
preach  the  same  Doctrine  * — we  cannot 
avoid  perceiving  the  beginning  of  the  ac- 
tual accompUshment  of  this  most  grand 
and  striking  prediction.  During  the  ages 
that  have  succeeded,  we  have  been  able 
to  trace,  in  some  measure,  the  effects  that 
have  been  produced  by  "  the  Stone  cut 
"  out  without  hands."  It  has  long  since 
smitten  the  "  Image^  "'representing  the  suc- 
cession of  the  four  great  Pagan  Empires, 
"  upon  its  feetj'  that  is,  upon  the  last  of 
thenif  the  Roman  ;  and  it  has,  in  a  wonder- 
ful degree,  established  itself  upon  their 
ruins. 

Thus  far,  however,  we  have  only  seen 
as  it  were,  the  Dominion  ^^  of  the  Stone  'f ;'' 
and  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  in  its  oppressed 
and  imperfect  state ;  but  we  have  certainly 
seen  that  Dominion  most  surprisingly  ex- 
tended, in  opposition  to  every  counteract- 
ing principle.  We  have  observed  it  gra- 
dually   swelling,    through    a    series    of 

=*  Matth.  eh.  10,  v.  7.    Luke,  ch.  10,  v.  9, 

fSee  the  venerable  Mr.  Mede's  illustrations  of  tliis 

symbolical  expression,  in  pages  135,  and  909^  of  his 

works,  Edit.  1664. 


LECTURE  III.  149 

eighteen  centuries  into  almost  "  a  Moun- 
"tain;"  and  we  have  every  reasonable 
ground  on  which  to  rest  our  belief,  that, 
at  last,  agreeably  to  the  words  of  the  pre- 
diction, this  increasing  Mass  of  Good,  this 
spiritual "  Kingdom  set  up  by  the  God  of 
"  Heaven/'  "  will  fill  the  whole  Earth/' 

If  this   be   desirable,  let  us  earnestly 
beseech  "  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,''  that  as, 
"  at  his  first  coming,  he  did  send  his  Mes- 
"  senger  to  prepare  the  way  before  him ;" 
so  he  would  now  "  grant  to  the  Ministers 
"  and  Stewards  of  his  Mysteries,  that  they 
"  may  likewise  so  prepare  and  make  ready 
"  his  way,  by  turning  the  hearts  of  the 
"  disobedient  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just, 
<*  that  at  his  second  coming,  to  judge  the 
**  world,  we  may  be  found  an  acceptable 
"  people  in    his    sight,    who   liveth   and 
"  reigneth  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy 
''Spirit,  ever   one    God,    world   without 
*'  end  *.     Amen. 

*  Collect  for  the  third  Sunday  in  Advept. 


L  3 


LECTURE  IV. 

Delivered  Nov.  29 f  1812. 

Luke,  ch.  24,  v.  27. 

A7id  beginning  at  Moses  and  all  the  ProphetSf 
He  expounded  unto  them^  in  all  the  Scrip- 
tares,  the  things  concerning  himself. 


iSucH  was  the  plan  adopted  by  our  Savi- 
our Christ,  for  establishing  the  faith  of  his 
disciples,  and  for  solving  all  their  doubts. 
The  first  application  of  it  was  made  to 
the  two  disciples  at  Emmaus*;  and  the 
second  to  all  the  disciples  at  Jerusalem -f-; 
and  it  appears,  in  both  instances,  to  have 

*  Luke,  ch.  24,  v.  13—31,  compaied  with  Mark,  ch 
l6,  V.  12,  13. 

t  Luke,  ch.  24,  v.  36,  &c.  compared  with  John,  ch. 
20,  V.  19,  8cc.  The  correspondence  of  the  above  men- 
tioned passages  in  St.  Luke  with  those,  with  which  they 
are  respectively  compared  in  these  two  notes,  is  well 
illustrated  by  Dr.  Macknight,  in  his  "Harmony  of  the 
Gospels.''  Vol.  2,  page  647—653,  Edit.  2. 

l4 


152  LECTURE  IV. 

been  accompanied  with  a  miraculous  dis-* 
play  of  his  Omnipotence.    But,  independ- 
ently of  these    last  mentioned     circum- 
stances, it  was  a  mode  of  instruction  of 
singular  utility.     When  he  condescended 
to  be  the  Teacher;  when  he  exhibited  a 
comparison  of  what  had  been  "  written,  in 
*'  the  law  of  Moses,  and  in  the  Prophets, 
"and  in  the  Psalms,  concerning  himself,'* 
with  that  completion,  which  every   por- 
tion had  thus  far  received,  in  the  various 
and   wonderful    events    with   which  they 
themselves  were  well  acquainted;  the  evi- 
dence became  irresistible,    "  Then  opened 
"  he  their  understanding  that  they  might 
"  understand  the  Scriptures/'   And  having 
been    fully    convinced,    that  *'  so   it  was 
*'  written,    and   so   it   behoved   Christ  to 
•'  suffer,  and  to  rise  from  the  dead  the  third 
*'  day,  and  that  repentance  and  remission 
**  of  sins  should  be  preached  in  his  name, 
*'  among  all  nations  ;"    they  became  most 
faithful  and    zealous  witnesses    of  these 
things ;  and  sealed,  for  the  greater  part, 
their   testimony   to  the  Truth  with   their 
blood. 
The  same  sacred  mean  of  instruction 


LECTURE  IV,  15S 

has  descended  among  their  successors  in 
the  Christian  Ministry  to  the  present  time  ; 
and  is  ever  at  hand,  to  be  applied  with 
the  happiest  effect,   to  the  correction  of 
error,  to  the  confusion  of  infidelity,  and  to 
the  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  our  holy 
Religion.     It  is   true,   we  cannot   enjoy 
Christ's  personal    presence   now,    in    the 
same  manner  as  these  disciples  did  ;    or 
be   eyewitnesses   of    miracles    similar  to 
those,  by  which  they  were  surprised  and 
convinced  ;  but,  in  reality,   we  have   no 
need  of  these.     Every  material  circum- 
stance that  was  known  to  them,  has  been 
recorded  by  the  Evangelists  with  a  minute- 
ness and  consistency,  that  have  bid  defi- 
ance  to    the   objections   of   the   Sceptic 
through  every  succeeding  age  ;   and    we 
have  the  inestimable  advantage  of  being 
able  to  compare  the  unparalleled  events, 
that  immediately  attended  the  redemption 
of  mankind,   with  those  "  Prophecies   in 
"old    time*,"    which    expressly  foretold 
them.     We  may  acquire,  indeed,   the  ad^ 
ditional    evidence    and  satisfaction,  that 

*II  Pet.  ch.  1,  V.  21. 


154  LECTURE  IV. 

arise  from  the  fulfilment  of  many  of  the 
ancient  predictions,  that  were  then  unful- 
filled ;  as  well  as  from  the  gradual  accom- 
plishment of  those,  that  were  uttered  by 
our  blessed  Saviour  and  some  of  his  Apos- 
tles themselves.  And  we  are  at  liberty  to 
derive  the  firmest  support,  and  the  most 
exalted  encouragement,  from  the  assu- 
rance, that,  while  his  disciples  are  engaged 
in  the  defence  and  propagation  of  the 
Gospel,  "  Lo !  he  is  with  them  always, 
"  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world  *." 

In  following  that  consecrated  track 
which  has  thus  been  marked  out,  we  have 
already  seen,  what  was  the  state  of  Reve- 
lation, in  respect  to  the  great  subject  of 
human  Redemption,  during  the  early  ages 
of  the  world,  and  till  the  time  of  Jacob  ; 
how  wonderfully,  in  numerous  instances, 
the  Mosaic  Dispensation  was  emblematical 
of,  and  preparatory  to  the  Christian ;  and 
how  accurately  the  very  circumstances 
were  predescribed,  which  were  designed 
by  divine  wisdom  to  introduce  the  pro^ 
mised  Messiah,  to  the  infinitely  important 

*Matth.ch.28,  v,20. 


LECTURE  IV.  135 

work  he  had  undertaken,  by  the  niission  of 
John  the  Baptist. 

When  he  himself  appeared,  there  then 
occurred  the  most  surprising  series  of  facts 
that  had  ever  been  b^hekl,  to  confirm,  or 
to    invalidate    the    plain    declaiation^    of 
prophecy  respecting  him  ;  and  it  became 
only  necessary  to  "  search  the  Scriptures/* 
in  order  to  perceive,    how  far,   and  how 
truly,  they  had  "testified  of  him*/'     It 
remains  for  us  therefore,  as  an  indispen- 
sable part  of  our  present  duty  in  this  place, 
to  apply  the  same  unequivocal  means  of 
information   to  the  same  essential  point. 
And   if,  upon   a   careful   invest ig^t ion  of 
some  of  these  evidences,   it  shaij  appear, 
thatthe  Time^Place^  and  other  Peculiarities^ 
attending  his  Nativity ;  the  very  Style  of 
his  Life,   his    Disposition,   and    Manners ; 
"  the  mighty  Works"  that  he  wrought,  the 
general  Spirit  of  the  Precepts  he  delivered, 
and  of  tne  Doctrines  he  revealed  ;  the  Suf- 
ferings he   endured,    and  the  Causes   for 
which  he  underwent  them ;  the  very  Time 
of  his  Death,  the  various  Incidents  that 

*  John,  ch,  5,  y.  39. 


156  LECTURE  IV. 

should  attend  it,  and  even  the  circumstances 
of  his  Entombment ;  his  Resurrection  from 
the  dead,  and  his  visible  Ascension  into  Hea- 
^en — if  it  shall  appear,  that  all  these  par- 
ticulars have  happened  in  perfect  agree- 
ment with  the  prophetic  testimonies  of 
Scripture,  uttered  indeed  at  different  pe- 
riods, but  all  of  them  centuries  before  the 
events  themselves  took  place;  then  we 
have  every  reasonable  ground  for  belief, 
that  "  we  have  not  followed  cunningly  de- 
^*  vised  Fables* ;"  but  have  indeed  "  found 
''  him,  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law,  and  the 
''  Prophets  did  write,  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
"  the  Son  of  God  f .'' 

In  pursuing  this  line  of  inquiry,  (which 
has  already  so  often  and  so  happily  en- 
gaged the  talents  of  pious  and  learned 
men)  it  will  be  my  endeavour,  on  the  pre- 
sent occasion,  for  the  sake  of  varying  in 
some  degree  the  mode  of  disquisition,  and 
of  rendering  the  argument  from  prophecy 
still  more  striking,  to  select  chiefly  such 
passages  for  elucidation  ;  as  have  either 
been  applied  expressly  by  the  Jews  them- 

*2  Pet.ch.  1,  V.  16.      t  John,  ch.  1,  v.  41—45,  34. 


LECTURE  IV.  Id'l 

selves,  to  the  Messiah  whom  they  have 
been  expecting  ;  or  have  been  so  translated 
by  the  seventy  Interpreters,  as  to  prove, 
that  they  are  altogether  inapplicable  to 
anv  other. 

I.  The  first  particular,  which  demands 
our  attention  in  the  history  of  Christ,  is  The 
Incarnation  ;  or,  his  assumption  of  the  hu- 
man nature  into  union  with  the  divine* 
This  has  been  asserted  with  the  greatest 
perspicuity  by  St,  Matthew  *,  and  St. 
John  "f  ;  and  illustrated  with  a  number  of 
additional  circumstances  by  St.  Luke  %  \ 
notwithstanding  which,  there  is  no  article 
of  the  Christian  faith,  that,  through  the 
perversion  of  reason,  has  been  more  ques- 
tioned. But,  in  reality,  there  is  none  more 
firmly  established.  The  doctrine  is  indeed 
sublime  and  mysterious ;  it  is  proposed  to 
us  for  our  belief,  and  not  for  our  compre- 
hension ;  but  the  event,  on  which  it  is 
founded,  is  no  other  than  the  literal  ac- 
complishment of  prophecies,  that  are 
equally  sublime  and  extraordinary.   Shall 

*  Matth.  ch.  1,  V.  18—25.     f  John,  ch.  1,  v,  1—14, 
%  Luke,  ch,  1,  y.  26,  &c«  and  ch.  C,  v.  1—20. 


158  LECTURE  IV. 

then,  the  miraculous  conception  admit  of 
doubt,  when  it  was  unequivocally  foretold 
in  such  peculiar  terms  as  these— 

"Behold,  the  Firgin  shall  conceive,  and  bear  a 

Son ; 
^'  And  she  shall  call  his  name  Immanuel  *!** 

*  St.  Matthew  is  very  firm  and  explicit,  in  referring 
to  the  wonderful  Events  he  had  just  been  recording,  for 
the  precise  fulfilment  of  this  very  Prophecy— "  Now  all 
"this  was  done,  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
**  spoken  from  the  Lord,  b^'  the  Prophet,  saying — Behold 
"  the  Virgin  shall  conceive, &c."  And  in  this  testimony, 
it  is  well  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  word  ritj^if 
which,  for  the  sake  of  cavil,  has  sometimes  been  repre- 
sented as  importing  a  young  zeoman  generally,  whether 
married  or  single,  is  rendered  by  Tla^6evo$  ;  which  res- 
tricts the  sense  to  a  state  of  Virginity,  Compare  Isaiah, 
ch.  7,  V.  14,  with  Matth.  ch.  1,  v.  22,  23.  In  the  same 
manner  also  has  the  word  been  translated  by  the  LXX. 
— \^u  h  riaffiEvoj  £v  7«5Tf<  X»>|/6T«r — and  thus  have  these  m- 
terpreters  established  the  exact  signification  of  the  pre- 
diction itself,  with  as  much  certainty,  as  the  Evange- 
lists already  cited  have  afforded  their  attestation  to  the 
fact  by  which  it  was  fulfilled. 

"  St.  Matthew,"  says  Bishop  Lowth,  "  in  applying 
"  this  prophecy  to  the  birth  of  Christ,  does  it  not  merely 
"  in  the  way  of  accommodating  the  words  of  the  pro- 
**  phecy  to  a  suitable  case  not  i:i  the  Prophet's  view; 
"  but  takes  it  in  its  strictest,  clearest,  and  most  impor- 
*'tant  sense,  and  applies  it  according  to  the  original 


LECTURE  IV.  15<j 

And  does  not  the  following  passage  plainly 
imph'  an  union  of  the  human  and  divine 
natures,  in  the  glorious  personage  who  was 
to  be. the  subject  of  this  Birth — 

"  Unto  us  a  child  is  born  ;  unto  us  a  son  is  given  ; 

*^  And  the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder : 

"  And  his  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Coun- 
sellor, 

*'  The  mighty  God,  the  everlasting  Father,  the 
Prince  of  Peace  *  !" 

That  he  was  to  be,  in  a  very  particular  man- 
ner, the  seed  of  the  Womaiiy  formed  a  part  of 
the  first  promise,  that  had  ever  been  vouch- 

"  design  and  principal  intention  of  the  Prophet/' 
Translat.  of  Isaiah,  on  the  place. 

To  this  prophecy  of  Isaiah,  Micah  also  makes  a  very 
particular  reference,  when  he  says— 

"  Therefore  will  he  deliver  them  up,  until  the  time 
when  she  that  hringeth  forth  y  hath  brought  forth" 

See  Archbishop  Newcome,  on  Micah.  ch.  5,  v.  3. 

Dr.  Postleth waiters  Sermon,  preached  before  the  Uni- 
versity of  Cambridge,  Dec.  <24,  1780,  upon  this  very 
iubject,  is  an  excellent  specimen  of  sacred  criticism,  and 
well  worthy  of  particular  perusal. 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  9,  v.  6.  The  Jews  themselves  refer  this 
illustrious  prophecy  to  the  Messiah;  and  accordingly 
their  Paraphrast  renders  CDlStC^  Ifc^i  "  The  Prince  of 
"  Peace;'  by  ^d^^l  i^H'^tt^O;  "  The  Messiah  of 
*'  P$aceJ' 


160  LECTUtlfi  iV. 

safed  by  the  Almighty  to  man  *.  And 
that  he  was  also  the  Son  of  GOD  is  evident 
from  that  inspired  declaration^  which  the 
Psalmist  made  in  his  name— 

*'  I  will  declare  the  Decree  :    Jehovah  hath  said 

unto  me, 
*'  Thou  art  my  son^  this  day  have  I  begotten  thee. 
"  Ask  of  me  ;  and  I  v^'ill  give  the  nations  for  thy 

Inheritance, 
''  And  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy 

Possession  *)*.'* 

*  The  Chaldee  Parapbiast  has  also  referred,  though 
with  ideas  upon  the  subject  rather  confused,  the  fulfil- 
ment of  this  promise  to  the  days  of  the  long-expected 
King  Messiah  (KH'^tyD  ND^D  '^OV!})-  And  this  reference 
seems  to  have  beea  fully  warranted,  by  the  very  sense 
of  the  Jewish  Church  upon  the  subject.  The  Author 
of  the  Book  of  Wisdom,  who  must  have  been  well 
acquainted  with  the  Doctrines  of  that  Church,  has  as- 
serted in  plain  teims,  that  "through  envy  of  the  Devil, 
"  came  Death  into  the  world."  Wisd.  ch.  2,  v.  24. 
As  therefore  the  fall  of  man  was  attributed  to  the  agency 
of  this  apostate  spirit,  they  would  naturally  attribute 
his  recovery  to  a  power  still  superi*^  r,  to  that  of  the 
promised  Saviour.  See  Targum  on  Genesis,  ch.  3, 
V.  15. 

t  Psalm  2,  v.  7,  8 — 

This  is  another  portion  of  the  pro;  hetic  writings, 
which  the  Jews  apply  to  their  Messiah,  in  the  most 
express  manner.    The  whole  Psalm,  indeed,  predicts 


LECTURE  IV.  X6i 

Surely  these  magnificent  and  peculiar 
descriptions  taken  collectively  are  utterly 
inapplicable  to  any  mere  man^  that  has 
ever  existed  :  they  can  only  relate  to  him, 
"  in  whom,''  we  are  assured,  "  there  dwel- 


the   prerogatives   and   achievements  of  one  and   the 
same  august  Personage ;    and  when  it  is  said,   in  the 
second  verse  "  The  Rulers  take  counsel  together  against 
'*  Jehovah,   and  against  his  Anointed.*' — they  render 
this  latter  clause  by  rT^rT^t^^O  Sp  •»'iSiD7l  "  and  for  con- 
"  tending  against  His  Messiah'*  Targ.  on  Psalm  2,  v.  2. 
Although   there   are  several  things    in   this    psalm, 
that  may  be  considered  as  having  a  particular  relation 
to  David  ;  yet  there  is  certain  y  much  that  can  only  be 
ascribed,  strictly  speaking,  to  that  exalted  Being,   of 
whom  David  himself  was  in  many  respects  a  Type,  The 
language  of  the  whole  is  highly  typical,  as  Bishop  Pa- 
trick has  ably  shewn,  in  his  excellent  remarks  upon  it* 
The  Israelitish  Monarch,  however  great,  and  successful 
in  war,  never  attained  to  that  extent  of  dominion  which 
is   here   described.     He  could   never   assert,   literally, 
the  transcendant  claim,  of  being  *'  the  only-hegotten  son 
"of  God."     "Unto  which,"  indeed,  "of  the  Angels 
"  said  God  at  any  time — "  Thou  art  my  Son,  this  day 
"have  I  begotten  thee?'*     Heb.  ch.  1,  v.  5.    So  far 
from  this  title  or  relationship  being  attributable  to  any 
merely  human,  or  even  angelic  Nature — "  Unto  the  Son 
**  he  saith ;  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever  ;  a 
"Sceptre  of  Righteousness  is  the  Sceptre  of  thy  King- 
"  dom,"  &c.   Heb.  ch.  1,  v.  8,  9,-  Psalm  45,  v.  6,  7. 
VOL.   I.  M 


162  LECTURE  IV. 

"  leth  all  the  fulness  of  the  GoD-head 
bodily*." 

11.  And  the  Time  of  his  Advent  will  be 
found  to  have  been  marked  with  equal 
precision. 

With  respect,  first  of  all,  to  that  noble 
prophecy  of  Daniel  concerning  "  the 
"  seventy  weeks  ;"  in  which,  without  doubt, 
the  very  year  of  human  Redemption  has 
been  pointed  out  with  the  utmost  pre- 
cision ;  but  in  the  explication  of  which 
such  a  variety  of  opinions  has  prevailed  -j-; 
it  will  be  sufficient  to  observe — that,  from 
whatever  date  the  commencement  of  this 
period  has  been  reckoned,  the  expiration 
of  it  has  now  elapsed  for  many  ages.  The 
last  of  the  events  foretold  is  the  destruction 
of  theCitif  and  the  Sanctuary ;  and  that  was 
accomplished  near  seventeen  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago. 

But  we  have  the  means  of  determining 
the  time  of  our  Saviour's  Advent  very 
clearly,  by  means  of  other  passages  in  the 
prophetic  writings. 

There  is  a  remarkable  approximation  to 

♦  Coloss.  cb .  9, J  V.  9. 

t  Dan,  ch.  9;  v.  24— 27»  See  also  Appendix,  Note  X, 


LECTURE  IV.  i6:i 

it,  in  the  first  of  Daniers  prophecies,  con- 
cerning  the  four  great  and  successive  Em- 
pires of  the  world*.  They  are  here  com- 
pared to  an  Image  composed  of  different 
materials;  and  these  materials  are  designed 
to  correspond  respectively  with  the  pecu- 
liar characteristics  of  these  Empires,  in 
the  order  in  which  they  should  succeed 
each  other;  and  the  order  of  their  succes- 
sion in  time  is  represented  by  that,  in 
which  the  materials  are  placed,  in  de- 
scending from  the  head  to  the  feet.  The 
feet  will  therefore  denote  the  last  of  them, 
that  is,  the  Roman,  But  it  is  also  foretold, 
that  "  a  Stone,  cut  out  zmthoiit  hands,  should 
"  smite  the  Image  upon  its  feety  and  break 
"  them  to  pieces',"  and,  after  the  destruc-^ 
*'  tion  of  the  Image,  "  should  heconiQ  a 
*'  great  Mountain^  and  Jill  the  zivhole  Earth." 
In  explaining  the  import  of  this  part  of  the 
symbolical  representation,  the  inspired 
writer  declares,  that,  "  in  the  days  of  these 
*'  Kings"  or,  during  the  period  of  their 
succession,  'Uhe  GOD  of  Heaven  shall  set 
*^  up  a  Kingdom^  which  shall  never  be  dc^ 

*  Dan.  ch,  2,  v.  19 — 45.  This  was  uttered  in  the 
second  year  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  reign  ;  and  60S  years 
before  the  Christian  era. 

M  ? 


164  LECTURE  IV, 

"  slroyed  ;''  but  "  shall  break  in  pieces,  and 
"  consume  all  those  Kingdoms^  and  shall 
"  stand  for  ever.''  Upon  this  ground  it 
has  been  generally  concluded  by  Jews 
and  Christians*,  that  the  foundation  of 
the  last  of  these  Empires  by  the  Romans, 
was  to  take  place,  some  time  before  the 
coming  of  the  Messiah,  and  the  com- 
mencement of  his  sacred  Dominion. 

But  there  are  two  predictions  of  Holy 
Writ,  the  one  relating  to  the  spiritual^  and 
the  other  to  the  temporal  state  of  the  Jew- 
ish  nation,  after  his  Advent^  which,  if  they 
be  separately  compared  with  the  preced- 
ing, will  point  out,  with  sufficient  clear- 
ness, the  very  generation  that  was  to  be 
distinguished  by  it. 

Haggai,  to  afford  every  possible  encou- 

*  Bishop  Newton  most  justly  observes — "  As  we  may 
"  presume  to  say,  that  this  is  the  only  true  and  genuine 
"  interpretation  of  this  passage,  so  likewise  is  it  the 
"  most  consonant  to  the  sense  oi all  ancient  Writers,  both 
"  Jezis  and  Christians  ;  and  its  antiquity  will  be  a  further 
*'  recommendation,  and  confirmation  of  its  truth."  The 
able  analysis,  which  the  learned  Prelate  has  given  of 
this  very  prophecy,  fully  merits  the  attention  of  all,  who 
are  desirous  of  obtaining  ample  information  upon  this 
curious  and  interesting  subject.  It  is  contained  iu  his 
thirteenth  dissertation. 


LECTURE  IV.  165 

ragement  to  his  pious  countrymen  in  the 
pebuilding  of  their  temple,  was  commis- 
sioned to  pronounce  in  the  name  of  God — • 

'*  And  the  desire  of  all  Kations  shall  come  *.*' 

"  Great  shall  he  the  Glory  of  this  House ; 

"  The  latter  (Glory  of  it)  shall  be  more  than  the 

former** 
*'  And  in  this  place  will  I  give  Peace, 

"  Saith  Jehovah  of  Hosts  t« 

*  Haggai,  ch.  2,  v.  ?•  &c.  See  also  Appendix,  Note  ¥• 

i- 1  have  here  ventured  to  propose,  what  appears  to 

me  to  be  an  emendation  in  the  version  of  this  truly 

evangelical  Prophecy.     Much  confusion  and  difficulty 

have  arisen,  in  consequence  of  commentators  not  having 

attended  sufficiently  to  the  natural  import  of  the  terms 

in  which  it  is  conveyed.     The  greater  part,  adopting 

the  version  of  the  Vulgate,  and  the  ordinary  translation 

of  our  Bibles,  have  imagined,  that  the  glory  of  the  tem» 

pie  th^.n  building  by  Zorobabd,  was  to  exceed  that  of  the 

Temple  erected  by  Solomon,  on  account  of  its  being  glori' 

fed  by  the  personal  presence  of  him,  who  was  '*  the  Desin 

'^ of  all  Nations.'     But  this  interpretation  can  scarcely 

be  said  to  agree  with  the  fact ;  for  Herod  the  Great,  in 

order  to  immortalize  his  name  by  rearing  the  most  noble 

Edifice  in  the  world,  took  down  the  temple  that  had 

been  built  by  ZorobabeUo  its  very  foundations.    He  even 

cleared  away  the  foundations,  in  order  to  lay  those  intended 

for  his  own  structure.     And  thus,  there  does  not  a|)pear 

in  the  time  of  our  Lord,  and  according  to  the  testimony 

of  Josephus,  (Antiq.  lib.  15,  c.  11,  sect.  3^  to  have  been 

m3 


166  LECTURE  IV. 

But  many  ages  before  this  divine  com- 
munication  was  made,  the  Patriarch  Jacob 

a  single  vestige  of  the  former  temple  remaining.  That 
theref  i  f^  >>  hich  vvaS  erected  b}^  Herod  was,  in  truth  the 
third  temple  which  the  Jews  had  seen  at  Jerusalem,  and 
not  the  second '^  and  it  was  as  different  an  edifice  from 
that  of  which  the  prophet  is  here  supposed  to  speak,  as 
this  latter  was  from  the  temple  of  Solomon. 

But,  in  reality,  there  is  none  of  this  inconsistency,  or 
even  difficulty,  implied  in  the  sacred  text.  The  word 
^I'^^is  evidently  applied,  in  a  general  mm^ner  y  to  the  place 
at  Jeiusa/em,  zohich  GOD  had  *'  chosen,  to  set  his  name 
"  there  \^  and  not  to  any  particular  building  or  modifica- 
lion  of  it.  In  proof  of  this  point,  let  us  refer  to  a  pas- 
sai^e  introductory  to  that  now  cited,  and  in  a  former 
ve'se  of  the  same  chapter.     The  Prophet  inquires — 

Ha-gai  ch.  2,  v.  3,  pS^WIH  )1^2D2 
'  IVho  among  you  is  left,  who  saw  this  house  in  its  former 
"  Glory  i  "  I'he  glory  and  splendour  of  Solomon's  temple 
are  here  entitled  "  the  former  glory  of  this  house,''  of  the 
temple  that  zoas  then  building.  When  therefore  he  after- 
wards proceeds  to  sav — 

\\z^'^.p^  \o  p-inN^n  nM  n^nn  n^DD  rvrv  ^n:i 

Can  we  hesitate  to  admit,  that  the  sense  is  plainly  this 
"—^^  Great  shod  be  the  glory  oj  this  House;  the  latter 
'*  (gi-ji'v^  ^hail  be  more  than  the  former^  And  precisely 
in  Ci-n-isienry  with  this,  is  the  version  of  the  LXX. 
/x£yjc?.«  '£r«J  ^  ^-^a  T8  'otKH  TST»,  'H  'E2XATH  'i/'srff  THN 
nPnTI-IN.  Tlie  Prophet  does  not  style  the  temple 
that  was  then  in  band  the  second,  or  the  latter  temple; 
he  applies  the  terms  of  prior' ty  and  posteriority 
merely  to  the  different  degrees  of  Glory  that  should  dis- 


LECTURE  IV.  167 

had,  in  his  latest  moments,  been  favoured 
with  a  Re\  elation^  that  "  the  Sceptre  should 
^^  not  depart  ffom  Judah,  nor  the  Lawgiver 
^^from  between  his  feet^  until  Shiloh  came  */^ 
From  the  former  of  these  animating  as- 
surances it  appears,  that  the  exalted  Per- 

tinguish  that  consecrated  spot,  at  different  periods  of' 
time ;  asserting,  that  that  which  should  come  the  last 
should  be  the  most  excellent  of  th.e  two.  Hence  therefore, 
all  distinction  between  those  holy  places,  by  which  Je- 
rusalem was  rendered  pre-eminent  for  so  many  ages, 
above  other  cities  of  the  world,  is  superseded;  and  the 
difficulties,  that  are  attached  to  the  interpretation  arising 
from  such  a  distinction,  are  effectually  removed. 

That  the  word  n**!}  is  fully  applicable  to  a  s/>onen- 
dered  sacred  by  the  divine  Majesty,  without  even  sup- 
posing any  building  where  the  rites  of  religion  might  be 
publicly  performed,  appears  very  clearly  from  a  parti- 
cular passage  in  the  life  of  Jacob.  When  the  patriarch 
''awaked  out  of  his  sleep,"  during  which  he  had  been 
indulged  with  such  a  heavenly  and  beatific  vision,  "  he 
"said,  Surely  Jehovah  is  in  this  place  ;  and  I  knew  it 
''  not." 

"And  he  was  afraid,  and  said.  How  dreadful  is  this 
"  Place  !  This  is  no  other  than  the  House  of  God,  and 
"this  is  the  Gate  of  Heaven." 

"  And  Jacob  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and  took 
"  the  stone  which  he  had  put  for  his  pillow,  and  set  it 
"  up  for  a  pillar,  and  poured  oil  upon  the  top  of  it. 

"And  he  called  the  name  of  that  place  (vJ<  TS*^^) 
^*Bith-aljthe  House  oj  GOD,    Genes,  ch.58,  v.  16—19. 
'^  Genesis,  ch.  4»9,  v.  10. 

M  4 


168  LECTURE  IV. 

sonage,  whose  coming  is  here  foretold, 
should  make  his  entrance  into  the  world, 
before  the  final  abolition  of  the  Hierarchy 
of  the  Jews,  and  the  destruction  of  their 
temple.  That  he  should  dignify  their 
Holy  House  with  his  personal  Presence, and 
make  them  ample  amends  for  the  loss  of 
that  visible  Symbol  of  the  divine  Presence 
which  had  been  its  chief  Glory  before  the 
date  of  their  Captivity,  those  among  themf 
who  knew  any  thing  of  this  prophecy, 
were  thoroughly  persuaded*;    and  there- 

*  What  would  tend  greatly  to  strengthen  this  persua- 
sion, is  that  ever  memorable  prediction,  ultered  by  Ma- 
lachi ;  and  which,  with  its  attendant  descriptions,  clones 
the  Canon  of  the  Old  Testament — 

*'  The  Lord,  whom  ye  seek, 

**  Shall  suddenly  come  to  his  Temple, 

*'  Even  the  Messenger  of  the  Covenant,  in  whom  ye  delight, 

*'  Behold,  he  shall  come,  saith  Jehovah  of  Hosts.'* 

Upon  this  passage  some  observations  have  been  aheady 
offered  in  pages  120 — 124,  Lecture  IIL  Thrse  prophe- 
cies of  Haggai  and  Malachi  are  indeed  remarkably  to  the 
same  effect,  foretelling  the  advent  of  one,  and  the  same 
person  ;  who  should  be  the  object  of  desire  with  all 
NatiofiSf  but  with  the  Jewish  Nation  in  particular ;  who, 
from  a  fciithful  inquiry  into  their  own  sacred  Oracles 
might  have  been  better  qualified,  than  any  other  peo- 
ple, to  have  formed  suitable  ideas  respecting  the  nature 
and  importance  of  his  mission. 


LECTURE  IV.  169 

fore  we  read,  in  the  writings  of  the  Evan- 
gelists, that  there  were  many,  about  the 
time  of  his  birth,  who  were  "  waiting  for 
*'  the  consolation  of  Israel  *,"  or  "  for  Re- 
*'clemption  in  Jerusalem -f;"    that   there 
were  many   also,   who  "  thought,"    when 
they  beheld   the  wonders  of  his  ministry 
"  that  the  Kingdom  of  God  should  imme- 
''  diately  appear  J. "     Nay,  so  strong,  and 
so  general  had  this  expectation   become, 
that  "  all  men  mused   in   their  hearts  of 
^'Joh7i,    whether   he   were    the   Christ  or 
*Miot^/'     I   have  only  adverted  to  these 
circumstances,  in  order  to  shew  what  was 
the  sense  of  the  Jewish  Church  upon  this 
subject ;  for  that,  in  the  present  argument 
must  have  considerable  weight.     This  ex- 
pectation prevailed  for  many  years  before 
the   destruction   of  their  state;    and  that 
memorable   catastrophe    happened,  as  is 
well   known,    nearly    a  century  after   the 
commencement  of  the  Roman,  as  an  uni- 
versal Empire  ||. 

*  Luke,  ch,  2,  v.  25,  and  Mark,  ch.  15  v.  43. 

t  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  38.         f  Luke,  ch.  19,  v.  H. 

§  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  15. 

1|  Augustus  assumed  the  Reins  of  Empire,  A.M.  3974; 


170  LECTURE  IV. 

The  mere  comparison,  therefore  of  this 
prediction  of  Haggai  with  that  of  Daniel, 
wiH  clearly  evince,  that,  in  the  lapse  of 
many  ages,  there  has  been  a  certain  Jiaed 
and  deiei^minate period^of  ninety-nine  years; 
before^  or  afterzihich^  the  great  event,  fore- 
told equally  by  both,  cannot  possibly  have 
taken  place  consistently  with  the  credibi. 
lity  of  either.  But  this  interval  must  evi- 
dently be  diminished  by  the  whole  of  that 
space,  during  which  the  latter  Glory  of 
the  Temple  was  to  be  rendered  more  illus- 
trious than  the  former;  that  is,  by  the 
whole  time  that  the  glorious  Person,  whose 
appearance  is  here  anticipated,  should 
continue  to  honour  it  with  his  Presence  *, 


Jerusalem  was  destroyed  by  the  Army  of  Titus,  A.M. 

4073. 

*This,  in  fact,  was  almost  the  whole  time,  on  parti- 
cular occasions,  during  which  our  Saviour  was  upon 
earth. 

1st. The  gracious  promise  her€  made  to  the  Jewish 
race  began  to  receive  its  literal  accomplishment  when 
<*  the  parents  brought  in  the  Child  JesitSy  to  do  for  him 
"  after  the  custom  of  the  Law."  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  2 1 — 39- 
He  was  then  six  wrecks  old. 

2dly,  It  was  further  very  particularly  fulfilled,  when, 
at  the  age  of  only  twelve  years,  he  appeared  in  the  tem- 
ple, "sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  Doctors,"  and  exciting 


LECTURE  IV.  171 

And  we  cannot  but  deduce  from  that 
other  noble  pre<liction,  which  has  just 
been  cited,  and  waich  exhibits  so  lumin- 

the  admiration  of  ah  who  heard  and  saw  him.  Luke, 
ch.  2,  V.  4'1 — :)2, 

Sdl}^  But  *'  his  parents  went  up  to  Jerusalem  every 
year  at  the  feast  ot'  the  Passover;"  and  in  tliese  jour- 
neys Jesus,  without  doubt,  accompanied  them  ;  for  that 
was  an  insututinn  of  the  most  mdispensable  obHgation, 
So  that  every  subsequent  year  of  his  life,  there  is  reason 
to  believe,  the  prophecy  in  question  was  literally 
verified. 

4thly.  But  when  the  work  of  his  Ministry  commenced, 
his  visits  to  the  temple  became  more  frequent.  He 
often  taught  there;  and  piopounded  those  divine  doc- 
trines and  precepts,  by  which  "  Life  and  Immortality 
"were  brought  to  light.''  And,  on  these  as  well  as 
every  other  occasion,  "  his  word  was  with  power.'* 
His  very  enemies  were  obliged  by  the  force  of  truth,  to 
confess,  that  ^'  he  spake  as  never  man  spakeJ'  fjohn,  ch. 
7,  v.  32,  4'j— -47^  Such  at  one  time  was  the  effulgence 
of  the  divine  excellence,  which  beamed  forth  from  the 
person  of  Jesus,  "  while  he  taught  in  the  Temple,"  that 
the  very  officers  sent  to  arrest  him  were  converted  into 
his  friends!  At  another  time  he  made  his  public,  and 
triumphant  entry  into  Jerusalem;  and  exercised  his 
divine  commission,  in  clearing  the  temple  of  those  abo- 
minations, by  which,  during  that  age,  it  had  become 
deeply  polluted.  And  in  doing  this,  he  did  not  hesitate 
to  adopt  the  very  words  of  God,  by  the  mouth  of  his 
Prophet  Isaiah — "  It  is  written — My  House  shall  be 
"  called  the  house  of  Prayer."  All  these  are  instances 
of  the  fulfilment  of  this  ever  memorable  prediction  of 


172  LECTURE  IV. 

ouslj^the  peculiar  privilege  of  the  posterity 
ofjudah;  iheit  Shiloh,  whom  this  people 
themselves  have  always  interpreted  to  be 
the  Messiah  ^,  was  "  to  come  into  the 
"  world,"  before  the  extinction  of  the  royal 
Government  in  Judsea.  But  Archelaus, 
the  son  of  Herod  the  Great,  was  banished, 
and  his  kingdom  reduced  to  the  form  of  a 
Roman  province,  about  thirty  five  years  -j- 
after  the  Empire  had  been  firmly  settled 
in  the  hands  of  Augustus.  By  applying 
therefore  the  comparison  we  have  pro- 
posed to  the  present  instance,  the  period, 
fixed  by  these  prophecies  for  the  coming 
of  Christ,  will  be  limited  to  the  space  of 
thirty-five  years  ;  that  is,  to  about  the 
length  of  one  Generation. 

Here  then  are  two  different  prophetic 
periods,  most  distinctly  proposed  for  the 
Advent  of  Our  Lord  :  and  the  shorter  of 
these  commences  with, and  is  consequently 

Haggai.  See  Matth.  cb.  21,  v.  12—17  ;  Mark,  ch.  1  J, 
V.  8—19;  Luke,  ch.  19,  v.  29— 48  ;  John,  ch.£,  v. 
12— (25,  &c, 

*  The  Targunas  of  Onkelos,  of  Jonathan,  and  Je- 
rusalem, all  render  Shi/oh  by  the  Messiah ;  these  two 
last  add  the  title  of  King,  }^n*»trO  ND'70. 

fThe  Empire  was  founded  A.M.  3974;  Archelaus 
was  banished,  A.M.  4009. 


LECTURE  IV.  173 

included  within  the  greater :  whence  it 
sufficiently  appears,  that,  after  the  termi- 
nation of  either  of  them,  there  could  not, 
in  the  nature  of  things,  be  any  rational 
grounds  for  a  further  expectation  of  him, 
for  those  specific  purposes,  on  account  of 
which  he  is  represented  in  these  very  pre- 
dictions, as  about  to  make  his  appear- 
ance. 

It  is  unnecessary,  in  confirmation  of  the 
justness  of  these  limits,  to  insist  upon  that 
general  expectation,  which,  (according  to 
Tacitus*  and  Suetonius *f*,  and  in  consis- 
tency with  the  verses  of  the  Sibylla  Cumaea 
so  beautifully  adopted  by  Virgil :{:,  and  so 

*  Tacitus,  Hist.  lib.  5,  c.  13 — 

*'  Pluribus  persuasio  inerat,  antiqus  sacerdotum  Uteris 
"  contineri,  eo  ipso  tempore  fore/'  "  ut  valesceret 
"  OrienSf  profectique  Judcta  rerum  potirenturr  Quae 
*'  ambages  Vespasianiim  ac  Titum  prseclixerant," 

+  Percrebuerat  Oriente  toto  vetiis  et  constans  Opi- 
nio;  esse  in  fatis,  ut,  eo  tempore,  Judaea  profecti  re- 
rum  potirentur.  Mistaking  in  some  degree  the  time, 
and  the  sense  of  this  tradition,  Suetonius  apphes  it,  as 
Tacitus  also  did,  to  Vespasian,  who  came  to  the  empire 
from  conducting  the  war  in  Judaia  :  and  adds — Id  de 
f  mperatore  Romano  quantum  postea  eventu  praedictum 
patuit.     In  Vita  Vespas,  c.  4. 

{  Eclog.  IV.  V.  4,  &c. 

Ultima  Cumaei  venit  jam  Carminis  Mi^& ; 
Magnus  ab  iotegro  sxclorum  nascitur  Ordo,  &c. 


174  LECTURE  IV. 

evidently  derived  by  tradition  from  a 
sacred  source)  was  entertained  durintrthat 
age,  by  the  Heathen  World  itself,  of  the 
rising  of  some  supereminent  Character; 
who  should  attain  to  universal  supremacy, 
sliould  found  a  new  order  of  things,  and 
greatly  improve  the  state  of  mankind.  It 
would  be  superfluous  to  enlarge  further 
upon  that  anxious  desire  so  notoriously 
felt,  during  the  same  period,  for  the  ma- 
nifestation of  the  promised  Messiah,  by 
the  Jewish  race  themselves  ;  or  upon  those 
delusive  hopes,  which,  after  they  had 
"  despised  and  rejected''  Christ,  rendered 
them,  (as  Josephus  himself  most  clearly 
indicates,)  even  to  the  very  time  of  the 
destruction  of  their  temple,  the  dupes  of 
every  lawless  impostor,  who  made  any 
pretensions  to  that  exalted  Dignity  *,     It 

*Josephu3,  speaking  of  the  infatuatioa  of  bis  coun- 
trymen, in  their  fatal  war  with  the  Romans,  says — "  But 
'*  that  which  excited  them  principally  to  this  war  was 

*'  an  ambiguous  oracle,  found  likewise  in  the  sacred  wri. 
*'  tings,  that,  about  that  time,  a  certain  person  from  their 
"  country  should  become  the  Ruler  of  the  habitable  world.** 
Thus  it  appears,  that  this  very  expectation  urged  tiieni 
on  to  their  own  destruction.     Josephus,  judging  from 


LECTURE  IV,  175 

is  amply  sufficient  for  my  purpose,  that 
the  celebrated  historians  abovemcntioned, 
the  former  of  whom  flourished  under  the 
reigns  of  Vespasian,  Titus,  and  Domitian, 
and  the  latter  under  those  of  Nerva,  Tra. 
jan  and  Adrian,  have  borne  their  Testimony 
in  the  most  unequivocal  manner,  to  the 
certainty  of  his  Advent^  and  to  the  establish- 
ment of  his  Religion'^,    'Vo  these,  however, 

the  mere  appearance  of  things,  falls  into  the  same  mis- 
application of  the  Oracle,  or  rether  Prophecy,  as 
Suetonius  and  'I'acitus  afterwards  did  ;  referring  for 
its  full  completion,  to  the  elevation  of  Vespasian  to  the 
imperial  throne.  Joseph  De  Bell,  Judssor.  lib.  6,  c»  5. 
sec.  4. 

*  Confounding  the  Christians  with  the  factious 
Jews  in  Rome,  Suetonius  says,  that  Claudius  expelled 
them  the  City. — "Judaios  impnlsore  Chresto  assidue 
'*  tumultuantes,  Roma  expulsit."  In  vit.  Claud,  c.  25, 
Here,  as  in  other  instances  of  the  same  kind,  the  sacred 
name  of  Christ  is  corruptly  called  Chrestus  ;  upon 
which  Lactantius  makes  the  following  remark : — "sed 
"  exponenda  hujus  nominis  ratio  est  propter  ignoran- 
"  tiam  eorum,  qui  cum  immutata  litera  Chrestum 
"  Solent  dicere."  4,  47.  Suetonius  was  probably  igno- 
rant of  the  true  name,  as,  in  fact,  he  was  of  the  religion 
of  Christ,  All  that  he  appears  to  have  known  with  any 
certainty  was,  that  he  was  a  native  of  Judaia ;  and 
therefore  under  a  feigned  name  he  imputes  to  him  the 
disorders  occasioned  by  the  turbulent  spirit  of  the  Jews^ 
then,  as  strongly  as  ever,  fixpecting  their  Messiah^ 


17(3  LECTUHEIV. 

may  be  added  the  testimony  of  Josephus 
himself;  which,  though  it  may  have  been 
regarded  as  an  interpolation  by  some,  has 
never  been  fairly  proved  to  be  such  by 
any.  So  far  from  it,  considering  him  as 
the  historian  of  the  Jews  down  to  their  very 
dispersion;  it  seems  utterly  impossible, 
that  circumstances  so  surprising  in  them- 
selves, and  of  such  universal  notoriety  in 
Judaea,  as  the  various  incidents  in  the  life, 

Speaking  of  the  treatment  the  Christians  received 
under  Nero,  and  falling  again  through  ignorance  into  a 
misrepresentation  of  their  character,  he  says— '"  Afflicti 
'^  suppliciis  Christianif  genus  hominum  superstitionis 
"  nov£e  ac  maleficae,'*  InVit.Nero,  c.  l6. 

Tacitus,  in  his  account  of  the  sufferings  of  the  Chris- 
tians under  Nero,  adopts,  as  Suetonius  has  also  done, 
the  vulgar  prejudices  of  his  time  against  them.  Annal. 
lib.  15,  c.  44.  He  is  very  particular  however  in  trans- 
mitting their  name,  and  some  of  the  most  striking  cir- 
cumstances attending  the  founder  of  their  religion. 

''  Abolendo  rumori  Nero  subdidit  reos,  et  quaesitissi- 
"  mis  pcEnis  adfecit,  quos,  per  flagitia  invisos,  vulgus 
**  Christianos  appellabat.  Auctor  nominis  ejus  Christus^ 
*'  Tiberio  imperante,  per  Procurtorem  Pontium  Pilatum 
*'  supplicio  adfectus  erat,  Reppressaque  in  priesens  exitU 
f*  abilis  supersiitio  rursus  erumpehat^  non  modb  per  Ju. 
^^  dcnam^  originem  ejus  mali,  sed  per  urbem  etiam^  quo 
'*  cuncta  undique  atrocia,  aut  prudenda,  coniluunt,  cele- 
"  branturque." 


LECTURE  IV.  177 

deathj  and  resurrection,  of  our  blessed  Sa-* 
viour,  should  have  entirely  escaped  his 
knowledge;  and  if  he  had  kno\^n  theui^  it 
is  equally  difficult  to  conceive,  more  espe- 
cially when  we  take  into  the  account  his 
fidelity  in  recording  the  events  near  his  own 
tin)e,  how  he  could  have  passed  them  over 
in  silence*.  It  may  fairly  be  presumed 
therefore,  that,  in  the  passage  in  q'iesti->n, 
he  has  transmitted  such  a  description  of 
the  character  of  Christ,  and  of  the  princi- 
pal events  which  distinguished  his  appear- 
ance, as  was  consistent  with  a  candid^  yet 
cautious  use  of  the  materials,  with  which 
the -well  authenticated  accounts  then  in 
circulation  had  supplied  liim.  The  fear 
of  falling  into  utter  disrepute  with  his 
countrymen,  most  probubly  prevented  his 
saying   more  upon  the  subject;  and   the 

*  The  testimony  of  Josephus  concerning  Christ  is  too 
well  known  to  require  citation  in  this  place  ;  it  occurs, 
however,  in  Antiq.  lib.  18,  c.  3,  sec.  3.  AJr.Whiston 
has  written  a  learned  dissertation,  that  is  prefixed  to  his 
translation  of  the  works  of  this  Author ;  to  prove  the 
authenticity  of  this  curious  passage,  from  the  evidence 
pf  writers  of  established  credit,  who,  during  the  early 
ages  of  the  church,  and  to  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  cen* 
tury,  have  eiihe*'  expvesk&ly  quoted  it,  pr  ciude  referenQCd 
to  it. 

vol.  I.  N 


m  LECTURE  IV. 

desire  of  ingratiating  himself  still  further 
with  Vespasian,  induced  him  to  transfer 
the  application  of  some  prophecies,  rela- 
tive to  the  Messiah,  to  the  raising  of  that 
General  to  the  Imperial  Throne  *. 

Having  thus  ascertained  the  particular 
generation^  that  had  been  designated  by 
the  language  of  prophecy  for  the  Advent 
of  the  Messiah,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to 
proceed  one  step  further ;  and  to  point  out, 
from  the  same  source,  the  veri/  year  of  his 
Nativity. 

A  slight  degree  of  attention,  indeed, 
will  soon  convince  us,  that  there  is  much 
more  to  be  deduced  from  the  two  last 
predictions  I  have  cited,  than  merely,  that 
he  should  make  his  appearance,  antece-^ 
dently  to  the  total  destruction  of  the  Jew- 
ish government  by  the  Romans,  and  while 
the  Temple  of    God   was  yet   in  exist- 

*One  proof  of  this  has  already  been  adduced,  from 
the  evidence  of  this  historian,  in  a  former  Note,  page 
174,  note  *,  In  another  part  of  his  writings,  Josephus 
lays  claim  to  the  credit  of  a  particular  revelation  made 
to  himself,  in  relation  to  this  subject.  See  the  remark- 
able speech  he  delivered,  in  the  presence  of  Vespasian 
and  Titus,  when  he  was  first  brought  before  them,  after 
the  takip'g  of  Jotapata*  Pe.HeU.Judgeor.  lib.  3,  c. 8^, 
«ec.  9. 


LECTURE  IV.  179 

ence.  They  served  to  distinguish,  when 
it  arrived,  the  very  year  of  hiseomiiig,  by 
such  infaUible  marks,  that  the  Jews  them- 
selves did  not  mistake  them. 

The  word  (n7"»i:?)  Shiloh  properly  signi- 
fies "  He  that  gives  peaee  *;"  and  the  refe- 
rence,  equally  made  in  these  two  divine 
prophecies  to  the  same  leading  character- 
istic Peace,  plainly  proves,  that  they  can 
relate  only  to  one  and  the  same  person; 
who,  on  the  same  account,  is  still  further 
entitled  "  The  Desire  of  all  Nations,''  and 
"  The  Prince  of  Peace''  His  advent  was 
indeed,  to  be  preceded  by  great  revolu- 
tions in  human  affairs  ;  and  by  wars,  and 
universal  commotions,  that  should  render 
the  tranquillity  and  concord  here  promis- 
ed, in  a  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual  sense, 
most  earnestly  desired.  But  these  were 
to  cease  previously  to  the  commencement 
of  his  pacific  reign;  and  their  gradual 
subsidino;  was  to  be  the  token,  that  that 
reicrn  was  then  about  to  commence.  So 
the  Jews  themselves  were  clearly  of 
opinion  f.     And  to  this  effect  spake  the 

*  See  Note  G,  ia  the  Appendix, 
+  Accordingly,  they  paraphrase  that  passage  in  Isa- 
iah, ch.  4.  Y.  2—"  In  that  day'  (the  day  of  Chri&t  seeu 

N  2 


180  LECTURE  IV. 

Almighty  by  the  mouth  of  the  same  pro- 
phet— 

*"'  Yet  once  again,  within  a  little  time, 
"  I  will  shake  the  Heavens  and  the  Earthy 
*'  And  the  Sea  and  the  dry  Land : 
*'  I  ivill  even  shake  all  the  Nations  y 

afar  off)  shall  the  branch  of  Jehovah  become  glorious 
«  and  honourable,^'  by  "  At  that  time  shall  the  Messiah  of 
''^Jehovah  be  for  Joy  and  Glory.'''  Targum— JCn'^^D 
"Ip'^bl  nnnb  mrr^l  &c.  This  manifestation  of  the 
Messiah,  it  is  to  be  observed,  is  described  as  taking  place 
after  a  period  of  great  distress  ;  and  corresponds,  in  this 
respect,  with  this  prediction  of  Haggai,  and  with  man}^ 
others.  See  Bishop  Lowth,  and  Mr  Lowth  more  parti- 
cularly, upon  the  place. 

So,  in  that  exquisitely  beautiful  passage,  (Isaiah,  ch. 
11,  V.  6,)  where,  under  the  gracious  dominion  of  Christy 
the  most  discordant  natures  are  represented  as  strictly 
harmonizing  with  each  other;  when 
*<  The  wolf  shall  take  up  his  abode  with  the  lamb ; 
^'  And  the  leopard  shalUie  down  with  the  kid : 
"  And  the  calf,  and  the  young  lion,  and  the  fatling  shall  come 

together  ; 
«  And  a  little  child  shall  lead  them"— 
The  Chaldee  Paraphrast  introduces  this  charming  des- 
cription by  the  remark,  '?Nni:^n  KH^U^On  %niD")0 
N'^lNi  WthV  ^^0^  &c.  ''  In  the  days  of  the  Messiah  of 
^^  Israel  f  shall  peace  be  multiplied  in  the  earth;  ^'  and  the 
«<  wotf  shall  dwell  with  the  lamb,"  &c.  These  examples 
plainly  shew,  what  the  sense  of  the  Jewish  church  was, 
in  respect  to  this  peculiai:  characteristic  of  the  Messiah's 
Heiga- 


LECTURE  IV.  181 

^'  ^7id  the  Desire  of  all  the  nations  shall  come ; 

'^  Aiid  I  will  Jill  this  House  with  Glory ^ 

"  Saith  Jehovah  God  of  Hosts.'* 

*'  Great  shall  be  the  Glory  of  this  House*,  " 

*'  The  latter  (glory)  more  than  the  former.'* 

'^  And  in  this  Place  will  I  give  Peace, 

«  Saith  Jehovah  God  of  Hosts*." 

Althouo-h  the  Dominion  of  Christ  was 
to  be  of  a  spiritual  nature;  and  the  bles- 
sings to  be  derived  from  it  in  every 
respect  correspondent ;  yet  we  cannot 
avoid  perceiving,  how  adequately  every 
part  of  this  grand  and  awful  description 
has  been  realized,  even  in  a  temporal 
point  of  view.  At  the  time  when  it  was 
uttered  f ,  the  Med o- Persian  Empire,  ex- 
tending itself  over  the  greatest  part  of  the 
eastern  world,  was  in  the  zenith  of  its 
prosperity  ;  -and  affording  every  requisite 
protection  to  the  peculiar  people  of  God. 
It  was  a  period  of  restoration  to  them  ;  and 
of  joyful  deliverance  from  the  sufferings 
they  had  endured.  But,  as  they  were  here 
admonished,  this  happy  posture  of  their 
affairs  was  not  to  be  of  any  long  continu- 

*  Haggai,  ch.  2,  v.  6,  7—9. 
t  About  520  years  before  Christp 

n3 


182  LECTURE  IV. 

ance.    Within    Avhat    was   compnrativ^ely 
"fl  little  zchilc' — within  one  hundred  and 
ninety  years  afterwards,  this  mighty  Em- 
pire; shaken  to  its  base,   was  totally  over- 
thrown *.     The  Macedonian^   estai)lished 
upon  its  ruins,  was  scarcely  erected,  when, 
by  the  death  of  its  illustrious  founder,  and 
in  consistency  with  a  memorable  prophecy 
of  Daniel  -f-,  it  became  divided  "  towards 
"  the    four    winds    of   Heaven,"   and    di- 
vided against  itself  J.     These  momentous 
events,  followed  by  the  continual  contests 
between  some  of  these  kingdoms,  and  be- 
tween the  Egyptian,  or  last  branch  of  the 
Macedonian,  and  the  Romans,  who  had 
been   all   this   while   rising   by  rapid   ad- 
vances to  their  plenitude  of  power,  com- 
plete the  dreadful  scene,  that  overspreads 
the  general  face  of   history  during  three 
hundred  and  three  years  ;  tha*t  is,  from  the 
invasion  of  the  Persian  Empire  by  Alex- 
ander the  Great,  to  the  battle  of  Actium  §. 

=*  A.  M.  3674.  +  Dan.  ch.  7,  v.  3,  &c. 

J  This  division  of  the  Empire,  nominally  at  least,  oc- 
cupied several  years;  from  the  year  of  the  world  368  b 
when  Alexander  the  Great  died,  to  3689,  when  his  line 
was  set  aside  by  the  deposition  of  his  son,  Alexander 

§  From  the  year  of  the  World  3670,  to  the  year  3973. 


LECTURE  IV,  183 

This  dismal  interval  will  furnish,  to  the 
eye  of  an  attentive  observer,  little   else 
than  a  continued  series  of  commotions; 
some  of  which  were  most  severely  felt  by 
the  Jewish  race  themselves.     But  though 
there  was  a  gradual  subsiding  of  these  tu- 
multuous agitations,  yet  there  was  no  en- 
tire  intermission  from  war, till  about  twenty 
seven  years  after  that  time.     It  is  gene- 
rally agreed,  that  then  all  the  provinces 
of  the    Roman    Empire,  comprehending 
the  greater  part  of  the  then  known  world, 
were   enjoying   the    blessing  of  peace*. 
The  first  use  that  Augustus  made  of  this 
universal  peace,  and  the  first  grand  display 
he  exhibited  of  his  universal  sovereignty 
were  equally  seen,  in  the  issuing  of  a  de^ 
cree,  "  that  all  the  world  should  be  tax- 

*"The  Roman  Empire/'  says  Mosheim,  "at  the 
"  birth  of  Christ,  was  less  agitated  by  wars  and  tumults, 
"  than  it  had  been  for  many  years  before.  For,  though 
"  I  cannot  assent  to  the  opinion  of  those,  who,  foilowmg 
"  the  account  of  Orosius,  maintain,  that  the  temple  of 
^' Janus  was  then  shut,  and  that  wars  and  discords  had 
"  absolutely  ceased  throughout  the  world  ;  yet  it  is  cer- 
"  tain,  that  the  period,  in  which  our  Saviour  descended 
''upon  earth,  may  be  justly  styled  the  pacific  age,  ij  we 
"  compare  it  zcilh  the  preceding  timesr  Ecclesiast.  His- 
tory, vol.  1,  p.  15,  Edit.  2,  of  Dr.  Maclaine's  Translation 

N  4 


184  LECTURE  IV. 

"  ed  ^  ;'*  and,  according  to  the  testimony 
of  St.  Luke -f*,  at  the  very  time  that  this 
taxing  was  being  carried  into  effect  in 
Judiea,  Jesus  Christ,  the  promised  Mes- 
siah, made  his  first  appearance  in  our 
nature. 

llius  truly  then  was  it  foretold  to  the 
people  of  God,  that  "  ojice  agairiy' after  ail 
the  vicissitudes  they  had  undergone,  and 
before  the  manifestation  of  the  Messiah, 
"  the  Lord  of  Hosts  would  shake  the  heavens 
"  a7id  the  earth" — the  higher  powers  that 
then  governed  the  world,  and  the  nations 
that  were  subject  to  them  ;  ^^  the  sea  and 
"  the  dry  land/'  the  maritime  regions  that 
w^ere  under  their  sway,  as  well  as  those 
comprehended  within  the  interior  of  the 
Continents  ;  even  "  all  nations^  '*  that  were 
in  any  degree  connected  with  them.  There 
was  to  be  no  peace — nothing  to  justify, 
even  in  a  secular  sense,  the  descriptive 
character  that  had  been  given  of"  Shiloh/' 
"the  Prince  of  Peace,''  and  of  the  bless- 
ings that  should  attend  his  coming— so 
long    as    these    concussions    lasted ;   and 

*  This  took  place  in  the  year  of  the  world,  4000 ;  four 
years  before  the  vulgar  Era. 
t  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  1 — J  9* 


LECTURE  IV.  185 

therefore  the  termination  of  these  was  very 
propeM'ly  to  he  regarded  as  one  prelimi- 
nary to  his  Advent :  it  was  to  be  one  of 
the  pecuhar  *'  signs  of  that  time*/'  So 
much  may  be  easily  inferred  from  the 
prophecies  before  us  :  and  such  was  the 
previous  opinion,  and  expectation  of  the 
Jews  themselves.  And^  agreeably  to  this, 
we  may  perceive,  that  no  impostors,  as- 
suming to  themselves  the  style  and  title 
of  the  Messiah,  made  any  attempts  to  ob- 
trude themselves  upon  the  notice  of  their 
countrymen  before  that  period.  They 
knew  too  well  the  impossibility  of  carry- 
ing on  the  deception  :  they  were  fully  per- 
suaded, that  they  should  have  the  direct 
evidence  of  prophecy,  the  sense  of  their 
own  nation,  the  whole  course  of  tradition 
against  them. 

Most  unhappily  for  themselves,  the 
secular^  or  literal  sense  was  that  oiily^  in 
which  the  Jewish  race  in  general  were 
disposed  to  receive  these  divine  and  deep- 
ly interesting  communications.  Connect- 
ing them  with  a  number  of  other  glorious 
predictions,  which  displayed  the  happi- 
ness, the  grandeur,  and  universality  of  the 

*  Matth.  ch.  16,  v.  3. 


1«6  LECTURE  IV. 

Messiah's  kingdom,  the}'  confined  their 
prospects  to  the  temporal  aggrandizement 
of  their  own  nation  under  his  dominion. 
With  a  very  few  exceptions,  they  had  no 
idea,  that  his  "  kingdom  was  not  to  be  of  this 
^'  world  "^-y"  or  that  the  general  respite  from 
war,  which  mari<ed  the  time  of  his  ap- 
pearance, was  only  a  symbol,  as  it  were,  of 
that  harmony  and  universal  benevolence, 
which  should  be  the  chief  characteristics 
of  his  rule  ;  and  which,  continually  dif- 
fusing themselves  during  the  period  of  his 
reign,  shall  then  only  universally  prevail, 
when  he  shall  at  length  have  "  put  all 
"  enemies  under  his  feet/' 

As  we  proceed,  we  shall  find  circum* 
stances  of  still  greater  peculiarity  to 
demand  our  attention.  Not  only  the  time 
of  his  coming,  and  the  sign  of  it  which  we 
have  just  noticed,  but  one  of  the  most 
distinguishing  phenomena  that  should 
attend  it,  proves,  bi/  the  Events  to  have 
been  clearlv  foreshewn.  To  this  effect  is 
the  following  prophecy  of  Balaam — 

"  I  shall  see  him,  but  not  now  ; 

*"  I  shall  behold  him,  but  not  near  : 

*  John,  ch.   18,  v.  36. 


LECTURE  IV.  187 

<"  There  shall  eorne  a  Star  out  of  Jacob, 

*'  And  a  Sceptre  shall  rise  out  of  Israel, 

*^  And    shall    divide  asunder  the  boundaries  of 

Moab, 
"  And  bubdue  all  the  children  of  Seth. 
"  And  Edom  shall  be  an  inheritance, 
'«  Seir  also  shall  be  an  inheritance  for  his  enemies; 
"  And  Israel  shaU  dp  valiantly. 
"  Out  of  Jacob  shall  He  come  forth  ; 
*<  And   shall   destroy  him  that  remaineth  from 

the  city*." 

*Numb.  ch.  24-  v.  17,-19. 

There  appears  to  be  an  inconsistency  in  our  ordi- 
nary Bible  translation  of  this  passage — "  and  destroy 
''  all  the  children  ot  Seth."  It  would  lead  us  to  imagine, 
that  the  same  uord  is  employed  in  the  original  in  this 
place,  as  is  afterwards  u>ea,  when  it  is  said,  '*  ami  4iall 
^^  destroy  him  that  remaineth  from  the  city."  In  fact, 
in  the  Hebrew,  these  are  two  different  verbs,  conveying 
two  very  distinct  senses,  and  which  must  evidently 
denote  a  variety  in  the  fates  of  the  people  to  whom 
they  are  respectively  applied.— The  passages  are 

r\^  •'jD  Sd  '^'P\>'\ 

''  and  shall   conjound,  or  reduce  to  subjection,  all  the 
^'  Sons  of  Seth  ;"  and 

"  shall  destroy  him  tnat  remaineth,  from  the  City." 

The  word  Hp'^p  as  applied  to  walls  and  cities, 
signifies"  to  demousk;'  and '' lay  wosle  f'  whence  the 
Chaldaic  term  pnp'\p  implies  the  bottom  or  lozce6t  part 


188  LECTURE  IV. 

If  we  connect  this  sublime  and  highly 
figurative  language  with  the  solemn  decla- 
ration that  introduced  it*,  it  vvill  plainly 
appear  to  have  an  immediate  relation  to 
the  fate  of  the  Moabites,  and  of  the  pos- 
terity of  Esau,  at  some  future  period. 
Thus  it  has  been  understood  by  some  of 
our  best  commentators  -j-  ;  and,  in  this 
sense,  it  received  its  literal  verification,  in 
the  person  and  achievements  of  David,  a 
little  more  than  four  hundred  years 
afterwards:!:. 

But  as  David  was  employed  occasion- 
ally by  the  Holy  Spirit  as  a  type  of 
Christ  §,  so  has  this  prophecy  a  wonderful 


of  any  thing  :  so  that  this  verb,  when  appUed  to  the 
Sons  of  Seth,  will  denote  such  an  overthrow  of  them, 
as  shall  reduce  tlwm  entirely  to  subjection.  The  idea  of 
their  destruction,  in  the  absolute  sense  of  the  word,  is 
by  no  means  included. — See  Buxtorf's  Lexicon  on  the 
word. 

*  At  verse  14  of  the  same  chapter; 

f  See  Bishop  Patrick's  notes  on  the  place :  Bishop 
Newton's  fifth  Dissertation  on  the  Prophecies ;  and 
Dr.  Delany's  Life  of  David,  vol.  2.  p.  18.  &c. 

J  This  Prophecy  wa^  uttered  about  the  year  of  the 
world  2552  ;  the  Moabites  and  the  Edomites  were  sub- 
dued by  David  about  2964. 

§  See  Appendix,  Note  Z. 


LECTURE  IV.  xsy- 

and  most  decisive  reference  to  that  illus- 
trious Person.  He  was,  in  a  very  em- 
phatical  sense,  "  the  Star  that  nms  to  come 
*'  out  of  Jacob ;  *'  even  '^  the  bright  and 
^^  morning  Star*""  Intimately  related  to 
the  Israeli ti.sh  King,  he  was  both  ''  the 
"  Tioot  and  Offspring  of  David^  "  that 
successor  of  his  line,  that  should  pre-emi- 
nently have  the  Dominion  :|,  and  shall 
"  subdue  all  things  unto  himself  \J^  Of 
him  might  the  Prophet  more  forcibly  say, 
"  I  shall  see  him  but  not  now  ;  I  shall  behold 
*'  him^but  not  near:"  for  this  prediction  was 
uttered  upwards  of  fourteen  hundred 
years  before  the  manifestation  of  the 
glorious  personage  it  foretold. 

And  to  this  application  of  the  pro- 
phecy there  are  not  wanting  suffrages, 
both  among   the  Jewish  j]  and   Christian 

*  Rev.  ch.  22.  V.  l6. 

*f-It  is  remarkable  that  the  great  Code  of  Revelation 
should  close  with  these  august  representations  of  the 
nature  and  character  of  Christ  ;  as  if  to  infix  them  the 
more  deeply  upon  the  minds  of  the  generations  to  come. 

X  Dan.  ch.  2.  v.  44.  and  ch.  7.  v.  13,  14,  27. 

§  Philip,  ch.  S.  V.  21.     1.  Cor.  ch.  15.  v.  25. 

II  Thus  that  passage  : — "  There  shall  come  a  Star  out 
"  of  Jacob  ;  and  a  Sceptre  shall  rise  out  of  IsraeF— is 


190  LECTURE  IV. 

Interpreters  *.  The  former  refer  it  most 
pointedly  to  the  Messiah,  whom  they  were 

referred  expressly  to  the  Messiah  in  the  Targums  both 
of  Jonathan  and  Onkelos,  "  A  powerful  Snvereipi,*^ 
says  the  former  of  these,  **  s^r///  ret^n  Jrom  the  house  of 
"Jacob;  {^rV\m2  '»3in'>l)  uud  the  Messiah  shall  he 
"  anointed,*'  Sic.  That  of  Oiikelos  renders  it  —  **  a  King 
*' shall  rise  out  of  Jacob,  {^rV^O  N^IH^IJ  «^^^  ^^^^ 
"  Messiah  shall  6p  anointed  from  L^iael^'  bcc.  Maimonides 
refers  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  whole  prophecy, 
partly  to   David,  and  partly   to   the   Messiah. 

The  general  agreement  of  the  Jews  of  his  time,  in 
opinion  upon  this  subject,  was  clearly  the  reason  why 
the  Jewish  Impostor,  Caziba,  who,  in  the  reign  of 
Adrian,  proposed  himself  to  his  own  nation  as  the 
Messiah,  and  brought  upon  them  a  second  time  the 
signal  vengeance  of  the  Romans,  chose  to  assume  the 
name  of  Barchochah  ;  founding  his  pretensions  upon 
the  presumption,  that  he  was  the  very  Star  or  Potentate 
foretold  by  Balaam. 

It  is  observable,  at  the  same  time,  that  he  did  not 
assume  the  name  of  Chochab,  "  the  Star"  but  of  Bar- 
chochah, *^  the  son  of  a  Star,"  tlie  motive  for  which 
seems  to  be  this  :  from  havmg  been  a  leader  of  Ban- 
ditti in  Judaea,  he  at  length  became  so  powerful,  that 
he  was  chosen  King  of  the  Jews ;  and  then,  to  enhance 
his  own  reputation  by  a  claim  to  royal  descent  (a  claim 
which  their  own  writers  seem  willing  to  allow^  pre- 
tended that  he  only  succeeded  his  father  in  that  elevated 
situation  ;  but  that  he  was  himself  the  Star  predicted. 
See  Mod.  Univ.  Hist.  vol.  13.  p.  131. 

*  Bishop  Mewton  has  exhibited,  in  the  clearest  man^ 


LECTURE  IV.  191 

expecting  ;  and  to  the  extent  of  the 
Dominion  that  he  will  establish.  The 
latter  trace  its  happy  fulfilment  in  events 
that  are  already  past  ;  in  the  rapidly  in- 
creasing diffusion  of  sacred  knowledge; 
and  in  those  blessed  consequences  that 
have  resulted,  and  which  must  necessarily 
still  further  result. 

The  King  and  Princes  of  Moab,  at  the 
time  when  this  prophecy  was  uttered, 
were  earnestly  engaged  in  endeavouring 
to  procure  from  the  mouth  of  Balaam, 
curses  against  Israel  ;  and  the  means  that 
had  been  applied  to  this  purpose  were 
mystic  sacrifices,  divination,  and  enchant- 
ments;— in  other  words,  the  superstitions 
and  rites  of  a  false  religion.  Hence,  as 
their  arms  were  thus  far  of  a  spiritual 
nature,  so  they  must  be  considered  as 
representing  the  spiritual  enemies,  who 
were  smitten  by  the  Sceptre,  or  power  of 
the  Messiah.  The  hostility  of  the  Edo* 
mites,  also,  having    been    displayed,   in 

ner,  the  more  general  opinion  that  has  been  entertained 
in  the  church  relative  to  this  subject,  in  the  Disserta- 
tion already  referred  to.  . 


J  92  LECTURE  IV. 

direct  opposition  to  a  people,  conducted 
miraculously  by  Divine  Providence,  and 
acting  immediately  under  the  divineCom- 
mand,  became  a  very  lively  emblem  of 
religious  persecution— such*  as  cannot  but 
at  length  be  dispossessed  of  its  ability  for 
mischief,  by  the  same  Almighty  Ruler.  In 
consistency  with  these  explanations,  he  is 
said  "  to  have  spoiled  principalities,  and 
"powers*;'*  and,  having  "  acquired  a 
"  name  that  is  above  every  name  •f-,^'  to  be 
at  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted^"  from 
"thenceforth  expecting  till  his  enemies 
"  be  made  his  footstool  J." 

But  of  the  Person,  who  should  thus  sub- 
due Moab  and  Edom,  it  is  also  said,  that 
"  he  shall  reduce  to  subjection  all  the  Chil" 
"  dreii  of  Seth  §  j''  and  this  part  of  the  re-^ 

*  Coloss.  ch.  2.  V.  15.  The  spiritual  Enemies  of 
mankind  are  here  denoted  by  St.  Paul  under  these  titles^i 
agreeably  to  thai  which  the  same  Apostle  has  ex- 
plained more  at  large  when  he  says— ^^'  We  wrestle  not 
"  against  flesh  and  blood  ;  but  against  principalities, 
*'  against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of 
"  this  world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high 
''places."— Ephes.  ch.  6.  v.  12. 

t  Philip,  ch.  2.  V.  9.     Ephes.  ch.  1.  v.  20,  21. 

i  Heb.  ch.  10,  v.  13.  §  M  umb.  ch»  24,  v.  19. 


LECTURE  IV.  193 

presentation  will  be  found   to  be  equally 
applicable  to  him.     As  Seth  was  the  only 
son  of  Adam,  whose  posterity  did,  in  any 
degree,   survive  the    deluge,  so  "  all  the 
"  Children  ofSetli*  must  imply  all  mankind. 
And  are  not  all   men  by  nature  prone  to 
evil ;  and,  so  far  at  least,  in  a  state  of  en- 
mity with  God  ?   Even    a    heathen   poet 
could  discover  that  "  no  one  is  born  with- 
out vices*  ;''  divine  Revelation,  and  gene- 
ral experience,  confirm  the  fact.  The  Sub" 
jugation  therefore,  to  which  this  prophecy 
alludes,  may  evidently  be  understood   in 
two  different  sen'^es",  and   become  indica- 
tive of  two  opposite  fates.     In  the  former 
sense,  it  will  be  found  to  contribute  essen- 
tially to  our  happiness  ;   but  in  the  latter 
it   will  be  '*  Shame  and  everlasting  Con- 
tempt -X^'     The  counteracting  of  the  great 
propensity  we  feel  to  evil,  in  preference  to 
crood,  is  a  kind  of  warfare  against  the  de- 
pravity of  our  own  nature  ;  it  is  a  conflict 

* Vitiis  nemo  sine  nascitur  :   optimus  ille  est, 

Qui  minimis  urgetur.    Hor.  Sat.  3,  v.  68. 
To  tiie  same  effect  is  that  sentiment  of  Propertius — 

Unicuique  dedit  vitium  natqra  crealo, 
*Dan.  ch.  IC,  v.  2. 

VOL.  I.  O 


194  LECTURE  IV. 

against  ourselves.  All  malignant  passions 
are  to  be  struggled  with,  and  overcome; 
unjust  prejudices  are  to  be  combated 
and  overthrown  ;  the  heart  that  is  hard 
must  be  softened  and  rendered  contrite ; 
the  rebellious  will  must  be  subdued  :  and 
the  principles  of  piety  and  virtue  be 
strenuously  introduced  ;  before  we  can  be 
said  to  take  the  easy  yoke  of  Christ  upon 
us,  or  to  become  the  dutiful  subjects  of 
his  dominion.  The  conquest  that  is  thus 
obtained,  and  obtained  likewise  under  the 
great  "  Captain  of  our  Salvation/'  must 
as  in  every  other  instance,  M'here  victory 
is  complete,  be  attended  with  the  utter 
discomfiture  of  the  vanquished  party.  And 
this  is  the  Subjection  of  the  Sons  of  Seth^ 
in  the  former  and  best  sense  of  the  word ; 
from  whence  it  is  sufficiently  manifest, 
that  another^  and  most  Jatal  Event  will  ine- 
vitably overtake  those,  who  have  not  been 
thus  reduced  to  obedience.  *^  He  that 
"  remaineth  in  the  City^'  that  is,  he,  whose 
*'  unruly  will  and  aifections"  have  never 
been  compelled  into  the  active^  and  open 
warfare  above  described,  and  submitted  to 
the   humiliation  of   Defeat^  *'  will  be  de- 


LECTURE  IV,  195 

stroyed  *  :  for  these  are  the  causes  of  man's 
-enmity  with  God  ;  these  are  the  fruitful 
sources  of  his  misery  and  ruin. 

Such  appears  to  be  the  genuine  inter- 
pretation of  this  noble  prophecy,  as  ap- 
plied to  the  Messiah.  The  parallel  will 
be  found  upon  examination  to  hold  good 
in  all  its  parts;  and  to  be  perfectly  consist- 
ent with  the  general  tenour  of  revelation 
in  regard  to  the  same  subject.  From  the 
whole  we  can  collect;  that  a  state  of  the 
most  extensive  harmony  and  happiness 
will  ultimately  succeed  to  the  wars  and 
persecutions,  the  confusions  and  disasters, 
that  every  age  since  the  coming  of  Christ, 
as  well  as  before  it,  has  hitherto  experien- 
ced. There  will  be  "  given  to  him  dominion^ 
"  and  glory ^  and  a  kingdom^  that  all  people^ 
**  nations  and  languages  may  serve  him^-;*  he 


*  Those  mine  Enemies,  who  would  not  that  I  should 
"  reign  over  them,  bring  hither,  and  slay  before  me." 
Luke,  ch.  19,  v.  27,  This  is  a  sentence,  which  has  been 
most  remarkably  executed,  in  respect  to  the  Jewish 
race  ;  and  especially  upon  that  generation  of  them, 
which  rejected  and  crucified  "  the  Prince  of  life,  whom 
'*  God  raised  from  the  dead." 

+   Dan.  ch.  7.  v.  14. 

o2 


196  LECTQRE  IV. 

shall  have  "  the  Heathen  for  his  Inherit 
"  tance^:  and  all  the  families  of  the  earth 
"  shall  be  blessed  in  him  -f." 

Having  shewn  the  applicability  of  this 
prophecy  to  Christ  :|:,  it  is  now  incumbent 
upon  us  to  observe,  that  it  has  in  one  par- 
ticular received  its  accomplishment  in  a 
more  direct,  and  less  metaphorical  man- 
ner; and  it  is  partly  for  the  purpose  of 
shewing  this,  that  it  has  now  been  intro- 
duced to  your  notice. 

"  The  Star,''  then,  "  that  should  rise  out 
"  of  Jacob,'*  did  not  come  unattended  by 
an  outward  and  visible  sign.  A  Star,  never 
seen  before  or  since,  did  actually  make 
its  appearance  at  the  time  of  the  Saviour's 
Birth  ;  and  was  acknowledged  by  some 
eastern  Sages  to  be  the  very  star  of  him, 
who  was  then  '*  boim  King  of  the  Jews/' 

It  has  been  elsewhere  asserted  ||,  that 

*  Psalm  2,  V.  8. 

+  Genesis,  ch.  02,  v.  18. 

J  It  has  been  explained  on  a  former  occasion,  in 
what  events,  and  to  what  extent,  generally  speaking, 
it  has  been  already  verified,  according  to  the  view  in 
which  it  has  been  considered.  See  Lecture  I,  pages 
30—47. 

jl  Lect,  I,  page  30, 


LECTURE  IV.  197 

these  "  wise  men"  were  from  Persia  ;  and 
professors  of  the  Magian  religion,  as  im- 
proved and  determined  by  Zoroaster: 
and  there  are  several  very  remarkable  cir- 
cumstances, which  tend  to  confirm  this 
belief. 

Their  very  name,  Mayoi,  in  some  degree 
implies  this.  But  there  was,  unquestion- 
ably, for  many  ages,  a  famous  seat  of  the 
Magi  in  Arabia  Felix,  as  well  as  in  Persia ; 
and  a  sovereign  Princess  of  that  country 
is  described  by  our  Lord  as  "  coming 
from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth," 
(from  those  extreme  parts  of  Arabia,where 
it  is  bounded  by  the  Arabian  Gulph  and 
the  Ery  threan  Sea)  "  to  hear  the  Wisdom 
"  of  Solomon  *.'*  To  mark  therefore  the 
country  from  which  they  came  with  the 
greater  positiveness,  they  are  said  to  have 
come  '^  from  the  East  unto  Jerusalem  \" 

*  See  Matth.  ch.  12,  v.  42 ;  Luke,  cli.  1 1,  v.  41 ;  and 
1  Kings,  ch.  10,  V.  1 — 13 ;  where  the  history  is  related 
at  large. 

f  Matth.  ch.  2,  v.  1.  \hv,  Mayoi  Wo  'avarpAwy 
wapgyEvoyro  'ei^  'IspOiroXviix*  But  if  they  came  from  any 
part  of  Arabia  Felix,  from  Sabaea  fox  instance,  as  several 
learned  men  have    supposed,  they    would  then  have 

o3 


198  LECTURE  IV, 

Now,  it  is  well  known,  that,  for  many 
years,  there  existed  an  intimate  degree  of 
connexion  between  the  Persians  and  the 
Jews  ;  and  that  the  former  of  these  people 
were  rendered  eminently  instrumental, 
through  the  divine  goodness,  to  the  restor- 
ation and  the  happiness  of  the  latter. 

It  is  equally  certain,  that  almost  all  the 
fundamental  articles  in  their  religious 
system,  though  differing  in  some  respects, 
do  in  general  agree  with  the  doctrines  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures^,  with  which  there- 
fore it  plainly  appears,  Zoroaster  himself 

travelled  rather  from  the  South  than  the  East,  in  mak- 
ing their  way  to  Jerusalem  :  and  this  would  have  been 
♦he  case,  whatever  latitude,  within  the  limits  of  geo- 
graphical propriety,  be  allowed  to  the  expression  Wo 
'avaTo^wy.  We  are  spared,  however,  any  further  disqui- 
sition upon  this  subject,  in  consequence  of  the  Queen 
of  Sabaa,  or  Sheba,  having  been  expressly  styled, 
«  the  Queen  oj  the  South." 

*  Epitomes  of  their  theological  Code  have  been 
drawn  up  by  various  writers  of  eminence;  by  Dr. 
Hyde,  in  his  work  De  Relig.  Vet.  Persar.  cap.  3,  4,  9, 
10,  11,  22,  &c.;  by  Dr.  Prideaux,  in  his  "  Connexion 
"  of  the  History  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,"  vol. 
3,  p,  250,  &c.  ed.  14;  M.  Rollin,  in  his  Ancient  His- 
tory, vol.  2,  p.  254,  ed.  5  ;  and  by  the  Authors  of  An* 
eient  Umversal  History,  vol.  5,  p.  143—167? 


LECTURE  IV.  199 

must  have  been  well  acquainted.  Nor 
can  this  be  thought  strange,  since  he  flou- 
rished in  the  reign  of  Darius,  the  son  of 
Hystaspes ;  and  it  was  therefore  easy  for 
him  to  have  liad  an  intercourse  and  per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  the  pecuhar  peo- 
ple of  God  ;  and  to  have  conferred  with 
Daniel  in  particular,  who  had  been  in 
great  power  and  credit  at  the  Persian 
Court  *. 

*  Hyde  de  Relig.  Vet.  Pers.  c  24,  de  Zerdiishti  seu 
Zoroastris  Vita.  Rollin,  Anc.  His.  vol.  2,  p.  254,  and 
Prideaux,  vol.  1,  p.  248.  From  the  striking  conformity 
between  his  Doctrines,  and  those  to  be  found  in  the 
Old  Testament,  this  last-mentioned  writer  calls  him  an 
Impostor;  and  supposes  that  he  had  professed  the 
Jewish  religion,  before  he  undertook  the  reformation  of 
the  Persian, 

I  may  also  refer  to  the  "  Life  of  Zoroastres,  Zo- 
"  roaster,  or  Zerdusht;  extracted  as  well  from  Greek, 
"  and  Latin,  as  Oriental  Historians,*'  by  the  Writers  of 
the  Ancient  Universal  History,  in  vol.  5,  p.  383 — 410, 
of  that  learned  work  ;  from  which  it  will  plainly  appear 
what  little  ground  there  is  for  the  following  remark 
of  Mr.  Gibbon — "  Hyde  and  Prideaux,  working  up 
"  the  Persian  Legends  and  their  own  conjectures  into 
*'  a  very  agreeable  story,  represent  Zoroaster  as  a  con- 
'^  temporary  of  Darius  Hystaspes.  But  it  is  sufficient 
"  to  observe,  that  the  Greek  writersy  who  lived  almost 
**  in  the  Age  of  Darius,  agree  in  placing  the  aara  of 

O   4 


200  LECTURE  IV. 

We  are  also  well  assured,  thai,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  hints  derived  from  these 
sacred  Oracles,  an  early  and  constant  per- 
suasion had  pervaded  the  whole  Eastern 
world,  that,  at  some  future  time,  an  illus- 
trious Potentate  should  arise,  who,  though 
deriving  his  extraction  from  Jud8ea,should 
at  length,  for  the  benefit  of  mankind,  at- 
tain to  universal  dominion  *.  But  in 
what  instance  could  these  hints  be  ren- 
dered so  clear  and  determinate,  as,  with 
the  opportunities  which  he  enjoyed,  to 
the  inquisitive  mind  of  Zoroaster? 

These  things  being  premised,  we  are 
now  perhaps  at  liberty  to  observe,  that 
there  is  a  most  curious  portion  of  history 
produced  byAbul-pharagius,  and  borrow- 
ed, without  doubt,  from  the  sacred  Tradi- 
tions f  of  the  Persians,which  may  serve  still 

"  Zoroaster  many  hundred,  or  even  thousand,  years  be- 
"  fore  their  own  time."  Dedine  and  Fail,  vol.  J,  p. 
319,  Note  2. 

*  See  the  passages  adduced  in  proof  of  this  expecta- 
tion in  pages  173,  &c. 

f  1  have  called  the  jnaterials  from  which  Abul-pha- 
ragius  composed  this  part  of  his  history,  the  sacred 
Traditions  of  the  Persians;  because  it  is  extremely 
doi^btful  whether  any  of  the  genuine  writings  of  Zo- 


LECTURE  IV.  201 

further  to  illustrate  the  present  topic  ;  and 
to  shew  what  use  Zoroaster  made  of  the 
writings,  both  of  Moses  and  Isaiah.     It  is 
a  circumstance  of  a  most  extraordinary 
nature,  that  he  seems  to  have  combined 
together,  in  one  single  passage,  the  pro- 
phecies of  Isaiah  already  cited,  respecting 
the  7niraculous  Incarnation  of  our  Lord, 
and  this  of  Balaam  concerning  "  the  Star 
that  should  proceed  out  of  Jacob  '^\'  and,  by 
the  combination,  to  have  thrown  so  much 
additional  light  upon  the  subject, to  which 
they  ail  equally  relate,  as  to  have  rendered 
the  sacred  siguahwhich  afterwards  appear- 
ed m  tbeheavens,iltc>gether  intelligible  to 
those,  who  were  the  most  deeply   versed 
in  his  doctrines,  asid  in  astronomical  sci- 
ence.    Zeradusht,  according  to  the  vene- 

roaster  survived  the  conquest  of  their  country  hy  the 
Saracens ;  and  if  they  were  by  any  means  preserved, 
whether  they  would  not,  by  long  conceal cnem,  have 
become  akogether  unintelhgibiu-.  See  the  profound 
and  valuable  remarks  of  Sir  William  Joues  upon  this 
Subject,  in  his  sixth  anniversary  Discourse,  delivered 
before  the  Asiatic  Society,  Feb.  Vj,  1789  ;  and  printed 
in  the  second  volume  of  the  Asiatic  iiesearches, 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  7,  v.  14,  and  ch.  9,  \ .  6,  7  ;  and  Numb. 
ch.24,v.  17— 19. 


^m  LECTURE  IV. 

rable  Oriental,  taught  the  Persians  *,  con. 
cerning  the  manifestation  of  Christ ;  and 
commanded  them  to  convey  gifts  to  him, 
in  token  of  their  reverence  and  submis- 
sion. He  told  them,  that,  in  the  latter 
times,  a  pure  virgin  should  conceive  ;  and 
that,  as  soon  as  the  child  should  be  born, 
a  Star  would  appear,  that  would  be  visible 
by  day  as  well  as  by  night.  "  But  j^ou, 
"  0,  my  children,"  said  the  Magian  chief, 
^*  will  have  notice  of  his  birth  before  all 
"  other  nations  ;  as  soon  therefore  as  vou 
"  shall  behold  the  Star,  follow  it,  and  it 
"will  conduct  you  to  the  place  where  he 
*'  is  born  ;  adore  him,  and  offer  him  your 
"gifts.  He  indeed  is  The  WoRD*f  that 
^^  formed  the  Heavens/'  Such  was  the  in- 
timation they  are  said  to  have  received 
from  their  own  Prophet  I  When  there- 
fore  they  beheld  this  bright  and  preter- 

*  Abul-pharaj.  in  Hist.  Dynast,  p.  83.  This  passage 
has  been  cited  by  Dr.  Hyde;  De  Relig.  Vet.  Persar.  c. 
31,  p.  384 ;  and  referred  to  by  others. 

f  The  Word,  analogous  to  the  AOrOS,  or  second 
Hypostasis  in  the  Trinity  of  the  Pktonists,  and  which 
Plato  himself  (borrowing  very  probably  the  Doctrine 
from  the  Trinity  of  the  Magi)  styles  6  yyygjocwv  y.ai*a,mo$ 
Tta.vtMv^  *'  the  Prince  and  Author  of  all  things.^* 


LECTURE  IV,  20J 

natural  Star,  they  immediately  undertook 
their  long  and  expensive  journey  ;  they 
approachedjwithout  the  least  distrust,  the 
Capital  of  Judaea  ;  and  inquired,  with  the 
confident  expectation  of  a  satisfactory 
answer — ''  Where  is  he  that  is  born  Kiiig  of 
"  the  Jews :  for  we  have  seen  his  Star  in  the 
"  Easty  and  are  come  to  worship  him  ?" 

It    may  here   be  proper  to    add,    that 
among  the  more  celebrated  heathen  na- 
tions of  antiquity,  the  heavens  have  been 
generally  considered,  as  exerting  a  pecu- 
liar control  over  the  affairs  of  the  world  ; 
and  that  the  appearance  of  a   new  Star 
was  thought  by  some  to  portend  the  birth^ 
or  the  risings  of  some  highly  distinguished 
person  *.     By  the  Persian  Magi  in  particu- 
lar,   the    Stars,  and  the  spaces  of  time 
which  were  measured  by  their  apparent 
motions,   were   considered   as    under  the 
presiding  influence    of  Angels  t.     Every 
movement   in  the  heavens,  whether  ordi- 
nary   or  extraordinary,  was  regarded   by 
them  as  under  the  regulation  of  a  sup^  ' 
mind,   and   ordained  to  ansvver  s 

*  Origen  contra  Celsum,  lib.  1. 

t  Hyde  de  Relig.  Vet.  Pers.  c.  19,  20, 


^04  LECTURE  IV. 

portant  end  ;  nor  did  they  believe  it  un- 
becoming the  Wisdom  and  Goodness  of 
the  Deity,  that,  on  occasions  of  great  mo- 
ment, he  should  sometimes  have  recourse 
to  supernatural  means  of  illumination^  for 
the  special  direction  of  those,  whom  he 
might  deign  to  regard  with  peculiar  fa- 
vour and  condescension*. 

These  observations  may  perhaps  enable 
us  to  perceive  the  reason,  why,  in  this  an- 
ticipation of  the  Messiah,  Zoroaster,  com- 
bining his  birth  with  other  miraculous  cir- 
cumstances foretold  respecting  it,  and  Avith 

*  We  find  a  persuasion  very  similar  to  this  expressed 
in  most  beautiful  language,  by  the  Prince  of  the  Roman 
Poets ;  and  it  was  therefore,  we  may  reasonably  con- 
clude, a  favourite  and  prevailing  opinion  of  his  time, 
as  well  as  of  times  long  antecedent. 

At  pater  Anchises  oculos  ad  sidera  laetus 
Extulit,  et  coelo  palmas  cum  voce  tetendit : 

"  Jupiter  omnipotens,  precibus  si  flecteris  uUis, 
**  Aspice  nos,  hoc  tantum :  et,  si  pietate  merenmr. 
Da  deinde  auxilium,  pater,  atq  ;  hsec  omnia  firma/' 

Vix  ea  fatus  erat  senior,  subitoque  fragore 
Intonuit  Isevum,  et  de  ccelo  lapsa  per  umbras 
Stella  facem  ducens  multa  cum  luce  cucurrit 
Iliam,  summa  super  labentem  culmina  tecti, 
Cernimus  Idaea  clarum  se  condere  Sylva, 
Signamtemque  vias ;  &c* 

Virgil.  iEn.  II.  687,  &c. 


LECTURE  IV.  205 

i\\e  roonderful  character  he  should  sustain, 
may  have  been  induced  to  interpret  the 
symbol  of  *'  the  StaVy"  that  should  rise  out 
of  Jacob,  in  partly  a  literal^  instead  of  al- 
together a  figurative  sense  :  and  why  God, 
out  of  his  infinite  mercy,  **  winking  at  the 
**  times  of  this  ignorance/'  and  accommo- 
dating the  mode  of  his  revelation  to  the 
exigencies  of  those  for  whom  it  was  in- 
tended, was  pleased,  "  hy  the  leading  of  a 
"  Star,  to  manifest  his  only-begotten  Son  to 
*'  those  Gentiles,''  who  had    preserved  the 
primitive  religion  in  greater  purity  than 
all  others,  and  who  were  better  prepared 
than  any  other  to  receive  the  sacred  sum- 
mons*. 

*  "  This  is  certain"  say  the  learned  writers  of  Ancient 
Universal  History,  "  that  the  Persians  have  preserved 
^'  the  worship  of  one  God,  and  other  essential  articles  of 
'<  true  religion,  through  a  long  course  of  years,  without 
*'  suffering  themselves  to  he  drawn  over  by  fraud,  or 
*'  submitting  by  force,  to  any  new  faith,  though  they 
^^  have  so  often  changed  their  masters.  This  is  a  thing 
"  very  singular,  and  in  some  sort  commendable,  if  we 
*'  consider  how  much  they  have  been  depressed  since 
"  the  death  of  Yezdegherd,  the  last  king  of  their  own 
"  religion  ;  and  the  opprobrious  treatment  they  have 
"  met  with  from  the  Mahometans,  who  are  wont  to  call 
*'  them  and  Christians, mih  like  contempt,  Infidels;  though 


206  LECTURE  IV. 

I  have  treated  the  more  largely  upon  this 
second  part  of  my  subject,  on  account  of 
its  essential  importance  ;  for  it  includes 
within  it  the  foundation  of  all  our  faith  as 
Christians  during  the  present  state,  and  of 
all  our  hopes  in  respect  to  futurity.  Be- 
sides, if  it  has  been  satisfactorily  proved, 
by  a  fair  comparison  of  some  of  the  most 
remarkable  prophecies  of  Holy  Writ,  with 
the  clear  and  unbiassed  testimony  of  even 
prophane  history,  that  the  Advent  of  Christ 
has  really  taken  place  ;  then  every  legiti- 
mate conclusion,  we  may  hereafter  wish 
to  draw  from  that  circumstance,  will  follow 
in  a  natural  and  easy  course. 

From  a  comparison  then,  of  three  un- 
connected predictions  of  Jacob,  Daniel, 
and  Haggai,  with  each  other,  and  with  the 

*'  the  principles  of  the  formevy  as  well  as  the  lattery  are 
"  far  more  reasonable,  than  the  ill-connected  legends  of 
"  the  Arabian  Impostor ;  and  though  the  modern  Persians 
'*  (taking  that  name  in  a  religious,  not  a  civil  sense)  are 
"  unanimously  acknowledged  to  be  as  honest,  as  chari- 
'*  table,  and  inoffensive  a  people,  as  any  upon  earth; 
*'  So  thaty  in  God^s  due  iime^  we  have  just  reason  to  be" 
'^  lieve^  they  will  at  last  acknowledge  the  truth  of  the 
''  Gospel  dispensation  J  and  be  included  within  the  pale  of 
^^  the  Christian  Church  J^   Vol.5,  p.  146. 


LECTURE  IV,  207 

records  of  universal  l^istory,  there  have  re. 
suited  two  well  defined  limits  in  the  lapse 
of  time,  beyond  which  the  exalted  person- 
age they  foretold,  could  never  have  come 
into  the  world,  consistently  with  their  cre- 
dibility and  truth*. 

It  has  also  appeared  from  the  testimonies 
of  pagan  writers,  of  the  most  unquestion- 
able  authority,  but  who  were  extremely 
hostile  to  the  Christian  cause  :  that,  in  con. 
sequence  of  ancient  prophecies  (some 
knowledge  of  which  had  transpired 
through  the  heathen  world)  a  very  general 
expectation  was  raised  in  the  minds  of 
men,  during  the  limits  in  question,  of  the 
appearance  of  some  illustrious  person  in 
Judcea,  who  should  eventually  obtain  the 
Empire  of  the  World.  And,  on  the  plain 
assertions  of  the  same  writers,  we  may 
venture  to  aver,  that  the  nativity  of  Jesus 
Christ  did  happen  within  these  periods  f. 

It  has  been  deduced  from  the  evidence 
of  Josephus  himself,  that  the  same  expec- 
tation prevailed  also  in  Judaea  during  the 
same  interval  ;  and  originated,  as  he 
expressly   says,   in  an    ambiguous  oracle 

*  Page  162—173.  +  Page  173—175. 


G08  LECTURE  IV. 

found  in  the  sacred  .writings  of  the  Jews. 
And,  in  his  testimony  concerning  Christ, 
to  which  I  have  before  adverted,  the  Jew- 
ish Historian  has  unconsciously  affixed  his 
seal  to  the  truth  of  the  oracle  that  was 
the  subject  of  his  allusion  *. 

From  the  peculiar  phraseology  of  two 
of  these  prophecies  it  has  been  inferred, 
that  the  great  and  ultimate  object  of  the 
Messiah's  appearing  was,  that  he  might 
^^ give  peace  .-'"that  is, make  peace  between 
God  and  man,  and  between  the  sons  of 
men  themselv^es.  As  such  an  object  was 
the  most  salutary  that  could  be  proposed, 
so  the  message,  that  conveyed  the  intelli- 
gence of  his  auspicious  Advent,  might  very 
properly  be  termed  "  good  tidmgs  of  great 
"  Joy/*  But  that  these,  consistently  with 
the  infinite  benevolence  of  God,  might 
receive  the  greatest  diffusion  in  the  shortest 
time,  it  was  requisite  that  the  nations  of 
the  world  should  be  upon  terms  of  tolera- 
ble amity  with  each  other.  And  we  have 
accordingly  seen,  that  the  nativity  of  the 
Saviour  was  ushered  in  by  an  universal 
peace.    And  we  know,  moreover,  that  the 

*  Page  174—178. 


LECTURE  IV.  209 

age,  during  which  he  and  his  apostles  dis- 
charcred  their  sacred  ministry,  was,  com- 
paratively speakmo-, ''  a  pacific  age^." 

Lastly,  it  has  been  perceived,  that  se- 
veral prophecies,  one  by  Balaam,  and  the 
others  by  isaiah,  having  been  conveyed 
into  Persia  by  the  great  Reformer  of  the 
Magian  Religion,  and  by  him  amalga- 
mated together,  and  transmitted  through 
his  disciples  to  after  times,  were  so  clearly 
understood, that, when  theevents  predicted 
did  actually  take  place,  some  of  these 
distant  sages  found  no  difficulty  in  ascer- 
taining the  certainty  of  their  accomplish- 
ment -f*. 

And  all  this  has  been  done,  by  a 
reference  to  those  very  prophecies  (one 
only  excepted)  w^hich  the  Jewish  interpre- 
ters themselves,  in  their  targums,  have, 
without  any  reserve,  described  as  relating 
to  the  Messiah. 

No  independent  use  has  been  made,  in 
this  inquiry,  of  the  writings  of  the  Evan- 
gelists ;  because  it  has  been  my  anxi«.  ,;s 
wish  to   determine,   how  far  it  miffht  be 

*  Page  178—185,  f  Page  187--205. 

VOL.  I.  P 


210  LECTURE  IV, 

proved,  by  the  help  of  the  few  prophecies 
1  have  selected  for  this  purpose,  and  the 
concurrent  voice  of  profane  history,  that 
the  Saviour  of  the  world  has  long  since 
made  his  appearance.  If  these  sacred 
records  be  admitted  in  evidence,  (and 
every  sincere  Christian  must  admit  them) 
they  will  furnish  a  vast  and  most  momen- 
tous mass  of  materials,  in  proof  of  the 
same  point. 

Could  the  seed  of  Abraham  be  only  pre- 
vailed upon  to  adopt  the  same  method  of 
research  that  we  have  now  done,  and  to 
compare  their  own  prophecies  relative  to 
this  subject,  with  that  evidence  of  their 
fulfilment,  which  pagan  history  will  in 
many  instances  afford — how  soon  would 
they  be  convinced,  that "  the  Lord  whom 
"  they  are  seeking"'  has  already  come. 

He  was  to  have  come,  "  before  the 
^'Sceptre  departed  from  JudaK' — ^that 
sceptre  can  be  clearly  proved  to  have  been 
departed  more  than  eighteen  hundred 
years. 

To  the  Temple,  in  which  they  so  much 
gloried,  "  the  Desire  of  all  nations^^  even 
"  the  Messenger  of  the  Covenant^^  was  to 


LECTURE  IV.  211 

come — that  temple  has  been  levelled  with 
the  ground  upwards  of  seventeen  cen- 
turies ! 

In  that  House  the  Lord  of  Hosts  was 
"  to  give  peace  f  to  those  who  were  willing 
to  receive  it ;  but  this  race,  who  rejected 
the  Counsel  of  God  against  themselves, 
by  not  receiving  it,  have  been  now*  in  a 
state  of  dispersion,  and  the  objects  of  re- 
proach and  persecution,  among  all  nations, 
more  than  seventeen  ao-es ! 

These  are  facts  which  speak  for  them- 
selves; and  it  must  even  tend  to  confirm 
our  faith  in  our  holy  religion,  when  we 
perceive,  in  the  woful  infatuation  of  this 
people,  a  present^  as  well  as  a  past  example 
of  more  than  seventeen  centuries,  of  the 
accomplishment  of  that  memorable  pre, 
diction  of  Isaiah,  which  our  blessed  Savi- 
our himself  referred  to  them — 

**  Go  tbou,  and  sav  to  this  people  : 

"  Hear  ye  indeed,  but  understand  not ; 

"  And  see  ye  indeed,  but  perceive  not; 

*'  Make  the  heart  of  this  people  gross  ; 

*'  Make  their  ears  heavy,  and  close  their  eyes : 

p  2 


21£  LECTURE  IV. 

"  Lest  they  see  with  their  eyes,  and  hear  with 
their  ears^ 

'^  And  understand  with  their  hearts,  and  be  con- 
verted ;  and  I  should  heal  them  *.*' 

*  Isaiah,  ch*  6,  v.  9,  10.  Compare  this  with  Mattb. 
ch.  13,  T.  14,  15;  and  with  the  corresponding  passages 
in  the  other  ETtingelists. 


LECTURE  V- 

Delivered  Jan,  17,  1813* 

Luke,  ch.  24,  v.  ^7^ 

And  beginning  at  Moses,  and  all  the  PrO'^ 
phets,  He  expounded  unto  them,  in  all  the 
Scj'iptiiresj  the  things  concerning  himself. 


1  O  demonstrate  the  Certainty,  and  to 
exhibit  the  Time  of  our  Saviour's  Advent, 
merely  from  the  Agreement  which  has 
been  found  to  subsist  between  the  records 
of  profane  History,  and  some  of  those 
Prophecies  that  expressly  foretold  it,  was 
the  principal  Subject  of  the  last  Lecture 
I  delivered  in  this  place.  But,  as  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  object  of  his 
appearance,  I  took  occasion  to  insist  also 
upon  the  supreme  Dignity  of  his  Nature  ; 
upon  the  state  of  theWorld  at  that  memor- 

p  3 


214  LECTURE  V. 

able  epoch  ;  and  upon  one  of  those  pecu- 
liar Phenomena, which,  more  perhaps  than 
any  other,  was  designed  by  divine  Wis- 
dom to  indicate,  that  there  had  then 
sprung  up  *'  a  Light  to  lighten  the  Gen- 
''  tiles/' as  well  as  to  be  "  the  Glory  of  his 
"  people  Israel/'  We  now  proceed  to  an 
elucidation  of  some  of  those  other  Pro- 
phecies respecting  him,  which  will  most 
conveniently  correspond  with  the  arrange- 
ment, that  has  been  already  proposed. 

And  these  we  shall  perceive  to  be  equal- 
ly clear  and  decisive,  in  regard  to  the 
events,  and  the  circumstances  to  which 
they  relate. 

III.  Not  only  the  Time  then,  but  the 
Place  of  his  Birth  is  most  distinctly  mark- 
ed. When  Herod  had  been  informed  of 
the  journey,  and  the  intended  adoration 
of  the  Magi,  he  is  said  by  the  Evangelist 
to  have  been  *'  troubled,  and  all  Jerusa- 
"  lem  with  him.*^  "  And  when  he  had  ga- 
"  thered  ^11  the  Chief  Priests,  and  Scribes 
"  of  the  People,  together,  he  demanded  of 
'*  them,  where  Christ  should  be  born  ;  and 
*^  they  said  unto  him,  in    Bethlehem  of 


LECTURE  V.  215 

*«  Judaea*,  for  thus  hath  it  been  written  by 
«*  the  Prophet — And  thou    Bethlehem,  in 
'*  the  land  of  Judah,  art  by  no  means  the 
"  least  among  the  Princes  of  Judah  ;  for 
"  out  of  thee  shall  come  a  Governor,  who 
"shall  feed    my  people  Israel-}-.''     The 
Prophet  here  alluded  to  was  Micah,  who 
was    cotemporary  with  Isaiah,  and   flou- 
rished  upwards  of  seven  hundred    years 
before  the  accomplishment   of  this  pre- 
diction.     Notwithstanding,    however,  its 
antiquity,  the  import  of  it  was  clear  ;  and 
afforded  strong  ground  for  an  expectation 
of    its  fulfilment  in  the  Jewish  Church. 
And  thus  "  the  Chief  Priests  and  Scribes'* 
— persons  of  the  very  same  denominations 
with  those,  who  were  afterwards  the  most 
virulent  opposers  and  persecutors  of  Christ, 
were  obliged  to  represent,  by  a  reference 
to  this  very  Prediction,  that   his   Birth, 
whenever  it  might  happen,  should  happen 
at  this  very  place.     They  were  ignorant  at 

*  Compare  Matth.  ch.  2,  v.  1,  with  Luke,  ch.  2,  v. 

4—16. 

f  Matth.  ch.  2,  v.  S--Q,  This  prophecy,  with  its 
sublime  and  impressive  conclusion,  which  is  here  omit- 
ted, is  cited  at  large  in  the  Appendix,  Note  Qo 

p  4 


216  LECTURE  V. 

that  time  that  he  was  already  born  ;  and 
therefore  they  spoke  without  prejudice; 
without  any  of  those  unjust  preposses- 
sions, which,  when  he  commenced  his 
public  ministry,  originated  in  the  extreme 
poverty  of  his  life,  and  the  unassuming 
deportment  of  his  manners*. 

IV.  This  was  not,  however,  the  only  in- 
stance in  which  the  Jewish  Rulers  of  that 


*  It  is  not  improbable,  but  that  the  latter  clause  of 
this  very  prophecy,  considered  in  relation  to  many 
others  v.  hich  presignified  the  glory  and  majesty  of  this 
great  Ruler,  but  independently  of  all  those  which  equal- 
ly describe  the  circumstances  of  his  humiliation,  might 
have  contributed  much  to  the  Unbelief  of  the  Jews, 
and  to  their  consequent  Rejection  of  Him.  The  pas- 
sage in  question  is  this — 
"  Whose  Goings-forth  are  from  of  Old^  from  the  days  of 

Eternity.-^ 
But  this  can  only  be  applicable  to  a  divine  and  self- 
existing  Being  ;  to  One,  who  has  gone  forth,  as  it  were, 
and  manifested  his  existence  by  his  operations,  from 
all  eternity.  This  therefore  must  be  adduced,  by  the 
tacit  acknowledgment  of  the  Jews  themselves,  as  an 
additional  argument,  in  favour  of  the  Divinity  of  the 
Person  whom  they  were  expecting :  it  is  greatly  ana- 
logous to  that  very  remarkable  one,  by  which  the  same 
illustrious  Person  did  afterwards  confound  them — 
"  Before  Abraham  was,  I  am"  Micah,  ch.  d,  v.  2 ; 
SiXid  John,  ch.  8,  v.  58. 


LECTURE  V.  217 

age  were  obliged,  by  the  force  of  truth,  to 
allege  the  evidence  of  prophecy  in    con- 
demnation  of  themselves.     Various,  and 
most  distinct,  were  those  portions  of  their 
own    Scriptures,  which  pointed    out  The 
very  Line  of  Descent^  from  which  the  fu- 
ture Saviour  should  proceed.     It  was  first 
restricted  "  to  the  Seed   of  Abraham  *  j'' 
then  to  that  of  Isaac  -f  ;  then  to  that  of 
Jacob  X ;   afterwards  to  the    posterity    of 
Judah  ^ ;  and,  at  length,  to  preclude  the 
possibility  of  mistake,   it   became  limited 
to  the  progeny  of  David,     To  this  effect 
spake  God  by  the  Mouth  of  his  Prophet 
Jeremiah — 

'*  Behold,  the  days  are  coming,  saitb  Jehovah, 
"  That  I  will   raise    up  unto   David  a  righteous 

Branch, 
'^  And  a  King  shall  reign  and  prosper, 
"  And  shall  execute  Judgement  and  Justice  in 

the  Earth. 
*^  In  his  days  Judah  shall  be  saved, 

*  Genes,  ch.  12,  v.  3  ;  ch.  22,  v.  18. 

*|*  Genes,  ch.  28,  v.  4. 

J  Genes,  ch.28,  v.  14.  The  succession  of  these  di- 
vine Revelations  has  been  already  noticed,  in  the  first 
Lecture,  p.  10 — 13. 

§  Genes,  ch.  49,  v.  10. 


*18  LECTURE  V. 

"  And  Israel  shall  dwell  in  security ; 
•»  And  this  is  the  Name  by  which  Jehovah  shall 
call  him,  our  Righteousness*." 

To  the  same   purpose  had  Isaiah  antece- 
dently predicted,  when  he  said — 

'^  And    there  shall  spring  forth  a  Rod  from  the 

Stem  of  J  esse y 
'^  And  a  Branch  shall  grow  out  of  his  Roots, 
^*  And  the  Spirit  of  Jehovah  shall  rest  upon 

him ; 
<'  The  Spirit  of  Wisdom  and  Understanding  f,'* 

&c» 

*  Jerem.  ch.  Q.S,  v,  5.  See  also  to  the  same  impoit 
in  Jerem.ch.  33,  v.  14 — 16. 

f  Consult  the  whole  passage  in  Isaiah,  ch.  1 1,  v.  1 — 9> 
which  foretels  the  salutary  and  glorious  consequences 
of  the  Messiah's  Reign.  It  is  remarkable,  that,  in  the 
very  next  verse,  the  same  Person  who  has  been  here 
styled  "  a  Branch  out  of  the  Roots  of  Jesse"  is  actually 
entitled  ('>ti^'»  \i^*W)  "  o,  Root  of  Jesse"  But  how  can 
these  apparently  contradictory  circumstances  be  recon- 
ciled with  each  other,  except  by  supposing,  what  in- 
deed we  know  from  other  premises  to  be  the  truth — 
that  this  promised  Sovereign  of  the  human  race  was  to 
be  God  as  well  as  Man.  Considered  in  the  former 
Capacity,  "  before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth, 
*'  or  ever  the  earth  and  the  world  were  made,''  he  was 
in  existence  ;  and  he  became,  in  time,  the  Creator,  and 
common  Father,  of  the  race  of  Men.    As  assuming  the 


LECTURE  V.  219 

Several  other  highly  memorable  pas- 
sages offer  themselves  to  our  notice,  in  the 
prophetic  V^ritings,  which  equally  relate 
to  the  same  important  point ;  and  "  the 
"  Branch  */'  and  emphatically,  ''  the 
"  Branch  of  Jehovah -f,"  became  titles 
of  the  same  glorious  Personage,  from  this 
very  circumstance.  When  therefore  Our 
Lord  proposed  this  question  to  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees — •'  What  think  ye  of  Christ ; 
whose   Son  is    he  J  ?"  what  answer  could 

human  Nature,  he  was,  with  equal  certainty,  a  descend- 
ant from  Jesse,  or  "  A  Branch  out  of  his  Roots J^  As 
"  God  and  Man  in  the  person  of  one  Christ,*'  he 
might  truly  say  of  himself,  as  he  does  at  the  close  of 
ills  Revelations  to  St.  John — (Eyw  lifxi  h  PIZH  nai  to 
TENOS  T«  Aa^i^j  "  /  am  the  Root  and  the  Offspring  of 
"  David/*    Apocal.  ch.  22,  v.  16. 

*  Jerem.ch.  33,  v.  15.  Zechar.  ch.  3,  v.  8  ;  and  ch. 
6,  V.  12.  I  heg  leave  to  refer  the  reader  to  the  excel- 
lent Commentary  of  Dr.  Blaney,  on  these  passages  of 
Zechariah,  wherein  he  proves  very  clearly,  that  not 
Zerubbabel,  nor  *'  any  other  Person  of  less  consequence 
**  than  the  great  Messiah  himself,'*  can  possibly  have 
been  intended  in  the  grand  and  peculiar  description  of 
the  prophet. 

f  Isaiah,  ch.  4,  v.  2. 

:;  Matth.  ch.  22,  v,  42.     See  also  Mark,  ch.  12,  v.  35. 
Luke  ch,  20,  v.  41  ;  and  John,  ch.  7,  v.  42. 


^^2.0  LECTURE  V. 

they  return,  consistently  with  the  evi- 
dence of  their  own  Scriptures,  than  that 
he  should  be  "  the  Son  of  David  ?"  But  it 
appears,  from  thegenealogy  on  his  mother's 
side,  as  transmitted  by  St.  Luke  *,  as  well 
as  from  that  on  the  side  of  his  reputed 
father,  as  produced  by  St.  Matthew -f, 
that,  whether  by  repute,  or  in  reality,  he 
was  a  lineal  descendant  from  that  Prince. 

V.  The  next  Subjects,  proposed  for  our 
consideration,  are  the  Style  of  his  Life,  his 
Disposition  and  Manners.  But  these  per- 
haps will  be  best  elucidated,  by  a  consi- 
deration of  the  various  Offices  he  under- 
took to  perform,  and  of  the  Mode  in  which 
he  did  perform  them. 

To  the  same  head  must  also  be  referred 
the  Miracles  that  he  wrought,  and  the  pe- 
culiar Character  of  the  Doctrines  and  Tre- 
cepts  he  delivered. 

As  nothing  can  transcend  the  sublimity 

*  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  23  -  38.  Dr.  Macknight  has  offered 
some  very  useful  observations  upon  this  line  of  descent, 
and  removed  the  difficulties  which  might  have  before 
attached  to  the  subject.  Harm,  of  the  Gospels,  sec.  6, 
vol.  11. 

i  Matth.ch.  l,v.l— 17. 


LECTURE  V.  221 

and  magnificence  of  many  of  those  de- 
scriptions, which  the  holy  Scriptures  af- 
ford, of  the  Augustness  of  his  Nature, 
and  the  Glory  and  Universality  of  his 
Dominion  ;  so,  on  the  contrary,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  conceive  a  lower  degree  of  Humi- 
liation, or  a  more  acute  degree  of  Suffer- 
ing, than  that,  to  which  various  other  por- 
lions  in  the  same  prophetic  writings 
equally  describe  him   as  descending. 

That,  indeed,  one  of  the  Persons  in  the 
great  and  glorious  Being,  who  ''  created 
*'  the  Heavens  and  the  Earth*,"  should 
condescend  to  take  upon  himself  the  na- 
ture of  Man,  argues,  in  the  very  first  in- 
stance, a  depth  of  Self-abasement,  which 
far  surpasses  all  our  powers  of  estimation. 
However  elevated  the  rank  he  might  as- 
sume, still  he  w^ould  assume  it  in  a  nature 
infinitely  inferior  to  that,  which  he  had 
hitherto  possessed  from  all  eternity.  And 
it  may  serve  to  convince  us,  how  entirely 
all  the  varieties  of  temporal   dignity  and 

distinction    vanLh    in    respect    of     the 


*  Compare  Genesis,  ch.  1,  v.  1,  with  John,  ch.  1.  v. 
1—14. 


U2,  LECTURE  V. 

Deity,  when  we  perceive,  that  the  Saviour 
of  the  world  "  took  upon  him  the  form  of 
"  a  Servant*/'  instead  of  the  style  of  a 
Prince;  and  rendered  the  discharge  of  the 
most  exalted  Offices  altogether  compati- 
ble with  the  humblest  Station  of  Life,  and 
with  Poverty  the  most  depressing. 

The  Offices  he  undertook  to  execute 
were  those  of  King,  Priest^  and  Prophet ; 
involving  Duties  of  the  most  indispensa- 
ble importance,  of  the  most  peculiar 
sanctity  and  sublimity  :  and  to  these  he 
had  been  pledged,  as  it  were,  for  ages, 
by  the  express  declarations  of  the  pro- 
phetic spirit. 

1.  The  Writings  of  the  Prophets  abound 
with  the  grandest  descriptions  of  him, 
under  the  character  of  a  sovereign  Ruler 
of  his  people.  In  how  many  passages  of 
the  Psalms,  for  instance^,  are  the  praises 
of  his  regal  Majesty,  chanted  forth  in  the 
most  noble  strains.  He  is  there  cele- 
brated as  a  "  King  f  "  who  should  have 

*  Philip,  ch.  2,  V.  7. 

+  The  late  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  in  his  excellent  Com- 
mentary upon  the  forty-fifth  Psalm,  very  judiciously 
refers  the  whole,  as  the  Jewish  Commentators  them- 


LECTURE  V.  223 

"  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and  the 
"  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  pos- 
"  session  *;''  who  is  adorned  with  "  beauty 
"  beyond  the  Sons  of  Men  f ;"  who  **  lov- 
*'  eth  righteousness  and  hateth  iniquity^," 
*^  whose  throne  is  for  ever  and  ever/'  and 
"  the  sceptre  of  whose  Kingdom  is  a 
*'  straight  sceptre  §  ;"  as  that  "  King  of 
"  Glory/'  for  whose  triumphal  entrance 
*'  the  everlasting  gates''  were  to  be  un- 
folded  II :    that  ''  Lord  of  all,"  to  whom 

selves  have  done,  to  this  Supreme  Ruler.  "  It  is  a  re- 
"  mark,  and  a  very  just  remark,  of  the  Jewish  Exposi- 
<(  tors — and  it  carries  the  more  weight  because  it  comes 
^'  from  Jews,  who,  by  their  prejudices  against  the 
"  Christian  name,  might  have  thought  themselves  in- 
"  terested  to  keep  out  of  sight  a  principle  so  favourable 
"  to  the  Christian  scheme  of  interpretation— but  it  is 
"  their  remark,  and  their  principle,  that  the  appellation 
"  of  The  King,  in  the  book  of  Psalms,  is  an  appropri- 
"  ate  title  of  The  Messiah  ;  insomuch  that  whenever  it 
*'  occurs,  except  the  context  directs  it  to  some  special 
"  meaning,  you  are  to  think  of  no  earthly  King,  but  of 
<*  The  King  Messiah,  By  the  admission,  therefore,  of 
"  these  Jewish  Commentators,  The  Messiah  is  the  im- 
"  mediate  subject  of  this  Psalm.'*  Dr.  Horsley*s  Ser- 
mons, vol.  I.  serm.  6. 

*  Psalm  Q,  V.  8.  f  Psalm  45,  v.  2. 

J  Psalm  45,  v.  7.  §  Psalm  45,  v.  6. 

iJ  Psalm  24,  V.  7— 10. 


224  LECTURE  V. 

Jehovah  said — "  Sit  thou  at  my  right 
*'  hand,  until  I  make  thine  enemies  th}^ 
"  footstool*/'  And,  as  Ave  descend  along 
the  current  of  Revelation,  our  views  will 
be  continually  brightened;  we  shall  see 
the  prophets  Isaiah  and  Jeremiah,  in 
particular,  enlarging,  in  the  most  rap- 
turous and  elevated  terms,  upon  the  glory 
of  his  empire,  and  the  blessings  of  his 
sway — 

•*  Of  die  increase  of  his  government  and  peace 
there  shall  be  no  end; 

*^  Upon  the  throne  of  Davids  and  upon  his 
Kingdom  ; 

^'  To  fix  it,  and  to  establish  it 

*'  With  judgment  and  with  justice,  from  hence- 
forth even  for  ever  f." 


t€ 


-With  righteousness  shall   he  judge   the 


poor,  ^ 

"  And  with  equity  shall  he  work  conviction  in 
the  meek  of  the  Earth  : 

*  Psalm  110,v.  1. 

f  Isaiah,  ch.  9,  v.  7.  The  former  part  of  the  Pro- 
phecy, of  which  this  is  a  part,  has  been  before  cited, 
in  page  159,  Lecture  IV, 


LECTURE  V.  225 

*'  And  he  shall  smite  the  Earth  with  the  rod  of 

his  mouthy 
^'  And  with  the  breath  of  his  lips  shall  he  slay 

the  wicked  one, 
"  And  righteousness  shall  be  the  girdle  of*  his 

loins, 
"  And  faithfulness  the  girdle  of  his  reins  *." 

"  Behold,  the  days  are  coming,  saith  Jehovah, 

"  That  I  will  perform  that  good  word, 

'^  Which  I  have  spoken  concerning  the  house  of* 

Israel, 
"  And  concerning  the  house  of  Judah- 
"  In  those  days,  even  at  that  time^ 
'*  I  will  cause  to  grow  up  wnto  David,TAe  Branch 

of  Righteousness. 
*^  And  he  shall  execute  Judgment  and  Justice  in 

the  Earth. 
^'  In  those  days  Judah  shall  be  saved, 
*'  And  Jerusalem  shall  dwell  in  security: 
'*  And  this  is  He,  whom  Jehovah  shall  call  our 

RiCHTEOUSNESst  •" 

*  Isaiah,  ch,  1 1,  v.  4,  5,  The  context  preceding  this 
part  of  the  prophecy  has  been  ah eady  cited  in  page 2 18, 
and  the  sequel  to  it  in  page  180,  note  f . 

t  Jeremiah,  ch.  SS,  v.  14 — 16. 

vol..  I.  Q 


226  LECTURE  V. 

Nor  is  the  prophet  Micah  silent  upon 
the  same  sublime  and  magnificent  sub- 
ject— 

'^  And  thou,  O  tower  of  the  Flock, 

"  Strong  hold  of  the  Daughter  of  Sion,  thy  time 
shall  come*: 

"  And  the  farmer  Dominion  shaAl  return, 

^'  Even  the  Kingdom  to  the  daughter  of  Jerusa- 
lem f.'' 

The  Dominion,  or  the  Kingdom,  here 
spoken  of,  is  identical  with  that  described 
by  the  prophet  Daniel,  as  to  be  **  set  up*' 
at  the  appointed  season,  "  by  the  God 
**  of  Heaven;"'  the  same  also  with  that 
announced  by  John  the  Baptist,  by  Christ 
himself,  and  his  Apostles,  when  they  de- 
clared that**  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  was 
**  at  hand  J/'  It  is  here  denominated  the 
Jirst  or  former  Dominion,  because  it  was 
to  be  established,  in  a  very  peculiar  sense, 
"  upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  upon  his 


*  "  —thy  time.)    I  read  with  Syr.  ^Hj^  for  *1'»TJ?' 
Archbishop  Newcorae's  Note  on  the  passage. 
f  Micah,  ch.  4,  v.  8. 
X  See  pages  1421—148,  Lect,  III. 


y> 


LECTURE  V.  ^^7 

"  Kingdom  */^  which,  in  a  temporal  point 
of  view,  the  Babylonish  Captivity  be- 
came the  instrument  in  supersediag. 
This  melancholy  event  is  plainly  pre- 
dicted, together  with  the  restoration  of 
the  house  of  Judah,  in  a  passage  that  al- 
most immediately  follows — 

^'  Be  in  pangs,   and  bring  forth,  O  Daughter  of 

Sion,  as  a  woman  in  travail  : 
**  For  now  shall  thou  go  forth  from  the  City, 

and  shalt  dwell  in  the  field  : 
^'  And  thou   shalt  go  evea  to  Babylon  j  there 

shalt  thou  be  rescued  : 
^'  There  shall  Jrhovah   redeem  thee  from  the 

hand  of  thine  enemies  -j*.*' 

This  prophecy  therefore  sufficiently  in- 
timates, that  the  Line  of  David  would  be 
preserved  ;  and  that  the  Dominion  would 
be  restored,  as  it  were,  in  that  Line.  It 
also  marks  out  the  very  place,  that  would 
be  principally  distinguished  by  the  com- 
mencement of  this    happy  Reformation. 

*  According  to  that  beautiful  prophecy  in  Isaiah,  ch. 
9,  V.  6,  7,  already  cited. 

f  Micah,  ch.4,  v.  10.  Archbishop  Newcomers  trans- 
lation. 

Q  2 


ess  LECTURE  V. 

It  was  **  the  tower  of  Edar/'  or,  in  other 
"words,  "  the  strong  hold  of  the  Daughter 
"  of  Sion/'  'Jliis  strong  hold  of  Sion  was 
first  taken  by  David  from  the  Jebusites  ; 
and  completed  the  glory  and  strength  of 
his  Kino-dom  *.  It  was  thence  called 
"  the  City  of  David/'  To  this  spot  was 
the  Ark  of  God  removed  from  the  house 
of  Obed-edom-j-;  and  upon  a  part  of  the 
same  eminence  was  the  Temple  after- 
wards  erected  ::|:.     And  here  it  also  was, 

*ir.  Sam.  ch.  5,  V.  7. 

f  11.  Sam.  ch.  6.  v.  12. 

J  I.  Kings,  ch.  8,  v.  1 — 6.  The  relative  situations  of 
the  City  of  David,^  and  of  the  spot  whereon  the  Temple 
was  built,  are  repeatedly  denoted  in  this  passage  by 
the  words  *'  bring  up,^^  the  Ark,  &c.  The  place  selected 
foy  the  rearing  of  this  magnificent  structure,  wa« 
Mount  Moriah ;  II.  Chron.  ch.  3,  v.  1.  "A  fitter 
*'  place  for  an  august  building  could  not  be  found  in 
^'  the  whole  world  than  this  area.  It  lies  upon  the  top 
"  of  this  Mount  over  against  Mount  Olivet,  the  valley 
"  of  Jehosaphat  lying  between  both  mountains  :  It  is, 
i'  as  far  as  I  could  compute  by  walking  round  it  with- 
''  out,  five  hundred  and  seventy  of  my  paces  in  length, 
^  and  three  hundred  and  seventy  in  breadth ;  and  one 
"  may  still  discover  marks  of  the  great  labour  that  it 
^*  cost,  to  cut  away  the  hard  rock,  and  to  level  such  a 
"  spacious  area  upon  so  strong  a  mountain."  Such  is 
Mr.  Maundrell's  account,  extracted  from  his  Journey 
from  Aleppo  to  Jei^usalem,  page  106>  edit,  7. 


LECTURE  V.  229 

that  the  Saviour  of  the  World,  that  illus- 
trious descendant  of  the  Israelitish  King, 
who  is  at  lengtli  to  sway  the  sceptre  of 
universal  dominion,  Jirst  gave  such  full 
proof  oi  the  supreme  Authority  with  which 
he  was  invested  *".  But  it  is  remarkable, 
that  the  Jews  themselves  have  expressed 
a  belief,  that  "  the  Tower  of  Edar,'*  was 
the  verj  place,  "  where  the  Messiah  would 
"  eventually  he  revealed  -j%" 

*  Matth.  ch.  21,  V.  12,  IS.  Mark,  ch.  1 1,  v,  15—17. 
Luke,  ch,  19,  v.  45—47.     John,  ch.  2,  v.  13—17. 

f  Thus,  when  it  is  said  of  Jacob,  that,  in  journeying 
from  the  neidibourhood  of  Bethlehem,  after  the  death 
of  Rachel,"he  spread  his  tent  beyond  the  tower  of  Edar," 
the  C'haldee  Paraphrast  adds,  ^  'Trs'}}  {DnOl  NinN 

^''iDV  v^ion  im^vo  ND^o  "^SiinNn-"  that  this  is 

*'  the  place  from  which  the  King  Messiah  shall  be 
<'  manifested  in  the  end  of  days."  Targum  of  Jonathan, 
Genes,  ch.  35,  v.  21. 

There  has  been,  indeed,  some  variety  of  opinion 
among  the  learned,  with  respect  to  the  situation  of  the 
tower  of  Edar.  Some  have  supposed  that  it  w^as  a 
watch-tower,  standing  in  the  vicinity  of  Bethlehem, 
under  the  cover  of  which  the  shepherds  used  to  watch 
their  flocks  during  the  night :  others,  that  it  defended 
the  Sheep-gate  in  Jerusalem  ;  through  which  Christ 
made  his  public  entrance  into  that  city;  and  through 
which  also  the  sheep,  intended  for  the  sacrifices  in  the 
temple,  used  to  pass,  after  having  been  washed  in  the 
pool  of  Bethesda.     But  to  either  of  these  suppositions 

Q    3 


S30  LECTURE  V. 

But  it  would  be  an  endless  task  to  recite 
to  you  all  the  grand  and  fervid  descrip- 
tions relative  to  this  sribject,  which  are 
thickly  interspersed  through  the  wntirjgs 
of  the  Prophets.  Nor  is  this  at  all  rrqui- 
site.  It  is  amply  sufficient  for  our  present 
purpose  ;  that  these  piophecies  have  bten 
parfially  fulfiUed,  and  are  ^X\\\  progresaively 
advancing  towards  complete  fulfilment; 
that  the  time  of  the  Advent  of  Christ  has 
been  found  to  correspond  with  tiiat  pre- 
dicted by  Daniel  for  Xht^Jirst  setting  u^j  of 
this  spiritual  Dominion  "  by  the  God  of 
"  Heaven*;'"  that,  upon  his  Nativity,  he 
was   hailed  "  King  of  the  Jews'  by  the 

the  opinion  of  the  Jewish  Interpreter  above  cited  will 
be  strictly  applicable :  tor  to  ••'  Shepherds  abiding  in 
*'  the  field,  and  keeping  watch  over  their  flock  by 
"  niiiht,"  was  the  Birth  of  the  Messiah  first  revealed: 
and  iiJ  his  triumphant  entry  into  Jeru^alena  was  he  first 
publicly  announced  as  '^  the  King  of  Israel  that  came 
**  in  the  name  of  the  L(  rd."  See  Luke,  ch.2,  v.  8—18; 
and  John,  ch.  12,  v.  13. 

The  prophet  Micah  appears,  however,  to  have  de- 
cided this  question  in  a  satisfactory  manner,  when  he 
styles  this  '•  Tozver  of  the  Flock^'"  the  ''  strong  hold  of 
"  the  DaiAghter  (f  Sion.*' 

*  Dan.  ch.  2,  v.  44.     See  also  pages  141 — 148,  Lec- 
ture 111.  and  162—173,  Lecture  IV. 


LECTURE  V.  9.31 

wise  men  from  the  East*;  that,  almost 
immediately  after  his  solemn  Inauguration 
at  his  baptism,  he  was  acknowledged  to 
be  "  the  King  of  Israel*  by  the  disciple 
Nathaiiiel ;  that  the  very  first  style  of  his 
own  preaching  announced^that  "^Ae  King* 
"  dom  of  heaven  zivas  at  hand-f ;  that,  in  his 
description  of  the  general  judgment,  he 
particularly  represents  himself  as  possess- 
ing the  dignity,  and  discharging  the  most 
important  functions  of  Regal  Authority!^; 
and  that  he  plainly  asserted  his  own  title 
in  the  presence  of  Pilate,  when  he  told 
him,  that  "  his  Kingdom  z^as  not  of  this 
*'  world  \J* 

I'hat  his  "  Kingdom  was  not  to  be  of 
"  this  world"  is  abundantly  manifest  from 
many  previous  descriptions.  To  this  pur- 
pose is  that  of  Isaiah — 

"  Lift  up  on  high  a  Standard  to  the  Nations  ! 
"  Behold,    Jehovah    hath   thus  proclaimed   (o 
the  End  of  the  Earth: 

*  Matth.  ch.  2,  V.  1—12. 
f  Matth. ch. 4,  V.  17;  Mark,  ch.  1,  v.  14,  15. 
:f  Matth.  ch.  25,  v.  31 — 46,  but  especially  v.  34,  and 
40,  where  he  expressly  styles  himself  **  The  King,** 
%  John,  ch.  18,  V.36. 

q4 


232  LECTURE  V. 

*^  Say  ye  to  the  Daughter  of  Sion,  Lo !  th^ 
Saviour  cometh ! 

^'  Lo  !  his  Reward  is  with  him^  and  the  Recom- 
pense of  his  Work  before  him. 

"  And  Thet/  shall  be  called,  the  holy  People,  the 
redeemed  pfJEHOVAH: 

*^  And  Thou  shalt  be  called ^  T/ie  much  desired^ 
The  CiUj  unforsahen* .^^ 

The  Prophet  Zechariah  descends  to  still 
further  particulars— 


*^  Rejoice  greatly,  O  Daughter  of  Zion; 
*'  Shoutj  O  Daughter  of  Jerusalem  : 
"  Behold,  thy  King  cometh  unto  thee : 
''  He  is  righteous,  and  having  Salvation; 
"  Humhley  and  riding  upon  an  Ass, 
"  And  upon  a  Colt,  the  fpal  of  an  Assf.*' 

This  was  literally  accomplished,  when 
the  Saviour  made  his  public  entry,  as  "  the 
''  Son  of  David''  into  "  the  City  of  the 
"  great  King  |/' 

*  Isaiah,  ph.  62,  v.  10 — 12.  Bishop  Lowth's  transla- 
tion, i*  Zechariah,  ch.  9?  v.  9* 

%  Matth.  ch.  21,  V.  1—16.  Mark,  ch.  11,  v.  1—11. 
Luke,  ch.  IQ,  v.  29-^'K).     John,  ch.  12,  v.  12—16. 


tECTURE  V.  ^33 

How  different,  indeed,  were  the  Man- 
ner of  his  Appearance,  and  the  general 
Course  of  his  Life,  from  the  pomp  and 
parade  of  temporal  power,  from  every 
thing  that  the  world  is  apt  to  consider  as 
noble  or  majestic,  from  the  unhappy  pre- 
sumptions of  his  own  peculiar  people ! 
*'  He  came  not,''  says  Clemens  Romanus, 
**  in  the  pomp  of  pride  and  ariogance, 
*^  although  he  had  it  in  his  power;  but  in 
"  humility,  as  the  Holy  Spirit  spake  con- 
"  cerning  him'''/'  Had  he  not  tlms  come, 
he  certainly  had  not  verified  those  predic- 
tions,which  foreshew  his  Humiliation  and 
Sufferings ;  and  describe  him  as  fulfilling 
the  duties  of  a  Priestj  and  a  Trophety  no 
less  than  those  of  a  King. 

2.  Considering  him  as  sustaining  the 
character  of  a  Priest^  the  very  nature  of 
the  Sacrifice,  which  the  Holy  Scr  ptures 
declare  he  should  offer,  is  altogetiier  iur 
consistent  with  a  State  of  earti  'y  o;ran- 
deur;  with  any  other,  in  truth,  but  that 
of  sorrow  and  depression.  The  Prophe- 
cies of  Daniel  and  Isaiah  will  place  this 

Epist.  1.  ch,  1^. 


254  LECTURE  V. 

matter  in  the  clearest  light.  The  former 
of  these  foretels,  that,  after  a  certain  pe- 
riod, The  "  Messiah"— that  same  wonder- 
ful Personage,  whom  he  had  before  distin- 
guished by  the  pre-eminent  title  of  "  The 
"  Prince*;'^  as  if  on  purpose  to  shew,  in 
this  case,  the  perfect  compatibility  of  the 
highest  possible  dignity  with  the  deepest 
self-abasement — ''  after  three-score  and 
"  two  weeks  shall  the  Messiah  be  cut  off, 
"  but  not  for  himself/^  And  the  infinitely 
important  designs  to  be  answered  by  his 
death  are  said  to  be — "  to  finish  the  trans- 
"  gression,  and  to  make  an  end  of  sins, 
"  and  to  make  reconciliation  for  iniquity, 
"  and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteous- 
"  ness-f-/'  The  last-mentioned  of  these 
prophets  most  pathetically  describes  the 
pains  he  should  endure,  in  the  offering 
of  this  great  Sacrifice  "  once  for  all,"  and 
in  the  preparatory  measures  that  should 
introduce  it — 


*  Dan.  ch.  9,  v.  25.  "  The  Prince  of  Peace:'  Isa. 
ch.  9,  V.  6.  *'  Ye  killed  the  Prince  of  Life"  iVcts,  ch. 
3,  V.  15.     See  also  Acts,  ch.  5,  v.  3 1 ;  and  Rev.  ch.  1 ,  v. 

t  Dan.  ch.  Q,  v.  24. 


LECTURE  V.  9,35 

*^  Surely  lie  hath  borne  our  infirmities ; 

**  And  hath  carried  our  sorrows : 

*'  Yet  we  did  esteem  him  stricken^ 

'^  Smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted. 

''  Rut  he  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions ; 

'^  He  was  smitten  for  our  iniquities: 

"  The  chastisement,    for  our  peace,  was  upon 

him; 
"  And  by  his  bruises  we  are  healed. 
'^  All  we,  like  sheep,  have  gone  astray; 
''  We  ^ave  turned  every  one  to  his  own  w^ay ; 
*^  And  Jehovah  hatb  laid  upon  him  the  iniquity 

of  us  all  V 

Such  was  to  be  the  general  complexion 
of  his  Life,  in  order  to  be  in  conformity 
with  the  great  and  glorious  Work  he  had 
undertaken  to  accomplish !  It  was  to 
present  chiefly  a  scene  of  Affliction,  of 
extreme  Poverty,  of  unexampled  Conde- 
scension, of  "  Obedience  even  to  death  f."" 
There  was  to  be  nothing  specious,  or  al- 
luring, in  the  eye  of  mere  superficial  ob- 
servation ;  nothing  to  recommend  him  to 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  53,  v.  4—6.     f  Phillip,  ch.  «,  v.  5—1 1 . 


236  LECTURE  V. 

the  regard  and  veneration  of  those,  who 
anticipated  only  secular  aggrandizement 
from  the  Messiah,  whom  they  were  ex- 
pecting. To  this  disesteem  of  his  Person, 
and  this  disbelief  of  his  Mission,  the  same 
prophet  makes  the  following  very  parti- 
cular allusion — 

'^  Who  hath  believed  our  report  ? 

'^  And  to  whom  hath  the  arm  of  Jehovah  been 

revealed  ? 
''  For  He  shall  grow  up  in  their   sight  like  a 

tender  plant; 
"  And  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground : 
''He  bath   no   form,   nor   comeliness,  that  we 

should  regard  him; 
"  Nor  is  his  appearance  such,  that  we  should 

desire  him. 
*^  Despised,  and  disowned  among  men ; 
^'  A  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief; 
*'  And,  as  it  were,  hiding  his  face  from  us; 
*'  He  was  despised,  and  we  esteemed  him  not*." 

How  truly  all  this  has  been  foreshewn, 

*  Isaiah,  ch,  53,  v.  1 — 3. 


LECTURE  V.  237 

the  history  of  his  Life,  as  transmitted  by 
the  Evangelists,  will  aftbrd  the  most  evi- 
dent demonstration.      The   offence   they 
took  at  his  Person  is  strongly  expressed 
in  those   taunting  terms,  in  which   they 
repeatedly  threw  reflections  on  the  ob- 
scurity of  his  Birth.     When,  in  his  own 
Country,  '^  he  taught  in  their  Synagogue, 
"  insomuch   that  they  were  astonished/' 
they  said — "  whence  hath  this  man  this 
"  wisdom,  and  these  mighty  works?     Is 
"  not  this   the  Carpenter's  Son  ?     Is  not 
"  his  Mother  called  Mary ;  and  his  Bre- 
"  thren  James,  and  Joses,  and  Simon,  and 
"  Judas  ?     And,  his  Sisters,  are  they  not 
"  all  with  us  ?     Whence  then   hath   thii 
"man  all  these  things*?"     His  poverty 
is  finely  described  in  that  pathetic  cau- 
tion, by  which  he  himself  endeavoured  to 
repress  the  eagerness  of  inconsiderate  zeal. 
**  Foxes/'  he  said,  "  have  holes,  and  the 
*'  birds   of  the   air  have   nests ;    but  the 
"  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his 
*^  head-f*.''   His  disregard  of  worldly  great- 

*  Matth,  ch.  13,  V.  54,  55.  Mark,  ch.  6,  v.  1—3. 
Luke,  ch.  4,  v.  l6 — SO.  John,  ch.  6,  v.  42  ;  and  else- 
where, 

t  Matth.  ch.  8,  v.  20.    Luke,  ch.  9,  v.  58. 


238  LECTURE  V. 

ness,  and   his  denial  of  every  thing  that 
might  contribute  to  "  the  Pride  of  Life*/' 
are  decidedly  portrayed   in  that  funda- 
mental Maxim — "  He  that  taketb  not  his 
*'  Cross,  and   foUovveth   after  me,  is   not 
"  worthy  of  me  -f/'   The  reluctance*  there- 
fore of  even  his  own  peculiar  people  to 
receive  his  Doctrines,  and  to  submit  to 
his    Discipline,    is   well    exposed    by   St. 
John,  in  those  sublinie  words — "  He  was 
"  in  the  world,  and  the  world  was  made 
"  by  him,  and  the  world  knew  him  not. 
"  He  came  to  his  own,  and  his  own  re- 
"  ceived   him  not  J/'     But  all   this   con- 
tempt of  his  Person,  and  disbelief  of  his 
Mission,  were  to  terminate  in  that  grand- 
est and  most  stupendous  of  all  events,  the 
Sacrifice  of  himself.      He   was   to   **  pour 
"  out  his  Soul  unto  Death,  and  to  make 
"  intercession  for  the  transgressors  § ;"  and 
therefore,  when  the  scene  of  his  most  in- 
tense sufferings  drew  near,  in  the  sorrow- 
ful anticipation  of  what  was  to  happen, 

*   1  John,  ch,  2,  v.  l6, 

+  Matth.  ch.  10,  V.  38  ;  ch.  16,  v.  24.     Mark,  ch.  8, 
V.  34 ;  ch.  10,  V.  2 1 .     Luke,  ch.  9,  v.  23 ;  ch,  14,  v.  27. 
J  John,  ch.  1,  V.  10,  11. 
§  Isaiah,  ch.  53,  v.  12, 


LECTURE  V.  239 

he  said  "  Father,  save  me  from  this  hour; 
"  but  for  this  cause  came  I  unto  this 
"  hour*/'  Actuated  by  the  same  Spirit 
of  foreknowledge,  we  find  him,  at  his  last 
Supper,  declaring  more  plainly  the  Cause 
of  his  Death ;  and  estabhshing  a  solemn 
Rite  in  commemoration  of  it:  "  he  took 
"  bread,  and  gave  thanks,  and  brake  it, 
"  and  gave  unto  them,  saying — This  is  my 
"  Body,  which  is  given  for  you  :  this  do 
"  in  remembrance  of  me.  Likewise  also 
"  the  cup  after  supper,  saying, — this  Cup 
"  is  the  New  Testament  in  my  blood, 
"  which  is  shed  for  you-f/'  So  humble, 
indeed,  was  his  State,  and  so  apparently- 
severe  his  Lot,  that  it  becomes  a  just 
ground  of  Consolation  with  all  sincere 
Christians,  that  "  we  have  not  a  High 
<^  Priest,  who  cannot  be  touched  with  the 
"  feeling  of  our  Infirmities ;  but  was 
"  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we  are,  yet 
"  without  Sin  J/' 

So  much  for  his  Sacerdotal  Office^  and 

*  John,  ch.  12,  v.  27. 

f  Luke,  ch.  22,  v.  19,  20.  Matth.cii.  26,  V.  26—28. 
Mark,  ch.  14,  v.  22—24. 
t  aeb.ch.4,  V.  15. 


«40  LECTURE  V. 

the  Humiliation  he  underwent  in  order  to 
discharge  it.  And  his  Disposition  and 
Manners  were  in  exact  correspondence. 
The  temper  of  his  mind  was  pre-eminent- 
ly distinguished  by  a  zeal  for  the  service 
of  God,  and  the  eternal  happiness  of 
Man.  The  inspired  Psalmist  prophecied 
of  Him  in  this  point  of  view,  when  he 
said — 

^'  Sacrifice  and  oblation  hast  tliou  not  desired ; 
*^  But  mine  ears  hast  thou  opened*. 
"  Burnt-offering  and  sin-ofl'ering  didst  thou  not 
require ; 

*  Compare  this  passage  with  the  following,  and  its 
import,  and  application,  will  become  very  strikingly 
evident — 

^'  The  Lord  Jehovah  hath  opened  mine  ear ; 

''  And  I  was  not  rebellious, 

^*  Neither  did  I  turn  away  backward." 

This  is  spoken  in  the  name  of  that  very  same  Person, 
in  whose  behalf  it  was  just  before  said — 

^*  Is  my  hand  at  all  shortened,  that  I  cannot  redeem? 

^'  Or  hare  I  no  power  to  deliver? 

^'  Behold,  at  my  rebuke  I  dry  up  the  Sea ; 

"  I  make  the  rivers  a  Wilderness ! 

' '  I  clothe  the  Heavens  with  blackness ; 

'^  And  I  make  Sackcloth  their  covering  !'» 

Isaiah  ch,  50,  v.  2 — 5; 


LECTURE  V.  241 

*'  Then,  said  I,  behold,  I  come ; 

"  In  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is  written  of  me, 

"  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God  j 

^'  And  thy  law  is  within  my  mind  *." 

It  was  the  purport  of  one  of  the  pre- 
ceding Lectures  to  shew,  how  precisely, 
in  numerous  instances,  the  various  parts 
of  the  Ceremonial  Law  of  the  Hebrews 
have  typified  the  Obedience  and  Media- 
tion of  Christ,  which  were  to  supersede 
them ;  and,  in  proof  of  the  same  point, 
the  Author  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews 
has  applied  this  very  passage  to  hiai,  in 
his  incarnate  State — "  When  he  cometh 
"  into  the  world,  he  saith,  sacrifice  and 
"  offering  thou  wouldest  not,  but  a  body 
"  hast  thou  prepared  me :  in  burnt  ofF.n'- 
"  ings  and  sacrifices  for  sin  thou  hast  had 
"  no  pleasure :  then  said  I,  Lo,  I  come 
"  (in  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is  written 
«*  of  me)  to  do  thy  will,  O  God"— *^  he 
"  taketh  away  the  first  that  he  may  estab- 
"  lish  the  second  -fj'     In  conformity  with 

*  Psalm  40,  v.  6—8. 

t  Heb.  ch.  10,  V.  5—9.     Tlie  LXX.  liave  rendered 
the  original  passage,  ?7  H'^ll  D^iTN— **  Ears  hast 
VOL.  I.  R 


2425  LECTURE  V. 

this  he  himself  assured  the  Jews,  that  he 
"  came  down  from  heaven,  not  to  do  his 
"  own  will,  but  the  will  of  him  that  sent 
"  him  */'  It  was  for  this  purpose,  that 
"  he  went  about  doing  good ;''  and  sub- 
mitted to  every  inconvenience  of  life, 
professing,  that  ''  his  Meat  was  to  do  the 
<^  will  of  him  that  sent  him,  and  to  finish 
*«  his  work-f*/'  By  this  spirit  also  was  he 
actuated,  when,  praying  in  the  bitterness 
of  his  Soul,  that  that  cup,  the  cup  of 
divine  Wrath  incurred  by  the  Sins  of  a 
guilty  world,  "  might  pass  away  from 
"  him,''  he  could  not  forbear  adding, 
«'  nevertheless  not  my  will,  but  thine  be 

«  done  %." 

And  connected  with  this  devotedness 
to  God,  there  shone  forth,  in  their  bright- 
est Lustre,  the  whole  assemblage  of  hu- 
man  Virtues.  On  this  account  he  is  cele- 
brated by  Isaiah,  as  *'  the  Servant,''  of 

«'  thou  opened  for  me"  by  Sw/^a  xrtT»if  tjo-a)  ^o<— "  a  body 
"  hast  thou  framed,  or  prepared,  for  me;''  and  the 
Apostle  in  the  passage  above  cited  has  followed  their 
example.    See  Dr.Whitby  upon  the  place. 

*  John,  ch.  6,  v.  38.  f  John,  ch.  4,  v.  S4» 

I  Luke,  ch.  22,  V.  42. 


LECTURE  V.  243 

Jehovah;  his  Elect,  in  whom  his  "Soul 
**  delighteth  *;"  and,  for  the  same  reason, 
and  in  fulfilment  of  this  very  prophecy, 
he  was  twice  proclaimed  by  the  voice  of 
God  fro  511  heaven  to  be  "  His  beloved 
*'  Son,  in  whom  he  was  well  pleased  -f.'* 

It  will  be  sufficient  to  notice  two  or 
three  of  the  principal  of  these — 

Nothing  then  ccmld  equal  the  Meekness 
and  Humility  that  continually  marked  his 
deportnieut.  In  this  respect,  indeed,  he 
proposed  himself  as  an  Example  lor  uni- 
versal Imitation.  *'  Take  my  Yoke  upon 
"  you,''  he  said,  "  and  learn  of  me ;  for  I 
"  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart ;  and  ye 
*'  shall  find  rest  unto  your  Souls ;  for  my 
"  Yoke  is  easy,  and  my  Burthen  is  light  J/' 
Even  so  Isaiah  foretold,  that  in  him  there 
should  be  the  perfect  absence  of  every 
thing,  that  might  be  termed  arrogant,  or 
unkind — 

"  He  shall  not  cry  aloud^  nor  raise  a  clamour, 
"  Nor  cause  his  voice  to  be  heard  in  the  streets  : 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  42,  v.  1. 

f  Matih.  ch.  3,  V.  17,  and  ch,  17,  v.  5,  and  in  the 
parallel  passages  in  the  other  Evangelists. 
t  Mattn.ch,  11,  V.  29,  30. 


1U  LECTURE  V. 

"  The  bruised  reed  shall  be  not  break, 
"  And    the   dimlj    burning   flax    shall   he  not 
quench*." 

With  such  patience  did  he  "  endure 
'^  the  contradiction  of  sinners  against 
"  himself -f- :"  with  such  tenderness  did  he 
commiserate  the  sorrows  of  affliction,  and 
regard  the  penitence  of  the  contrite 
heart! 

But  his  Magnanimity  and  Fortitude 
were  equally  conspicuous.  Nothing 
could  change  his  purpose;  or  diminish 
his  zeal  for  the  completion  of  it.  He 
came  into  this  world,  inspired  with  the 
grandest  Design  that  ever  was  formed ; 
and  his  Resolution  v/as  worthy  of  its  Ob- 
ject. In  how  many  memorable  circum- 
stances is  all  this  exemplified !  In  his 
assumption  of  human  nature,  in  the  first 
instance ;  in  the  low  station  of  life  to 
which  he  was  born ;  in  the  indifference 
with  which  he  treated  the  inconveniencies 
to  which  he  was  exposed ;  and,  above  all, 
in  the  undauntedness  with  which  he  bore 
up  under  the  anticipation  of  the  sufferings, 

*Jsaiah,  ch.  42,  v.  2,  3.  f  Heb.  ch.  12,  v.  3. 


LECTURE  V.  245 

that  awaited  him  at  his  death!  The  very 
night  before  that  awful  Event,  He  said  to 
all  his  disciples — "  the  Son  of  man  goeth, 
"  as  it  is  written  of  him*  "  and  to  Peter 
more  particularly — "  thinkest  thou,  that 
"  I  cannot  even  now  pray  to  my  Father, 
'^  and  he  shall  presently  give  me  more 
"  than  twelve  liCgions  of  Angels  ;  but  how 
"  then  shall  the  Scriptures  be  fulfilled, 
"  that  thus  it  must  be*f*/'  Consistent 
with  all  this  is  that  prediction  of  the  same 
evangelical  Prophet — 

"  He  shall  bring  forth  judgment  unto  truth. 

"  He  shall  not  become  languid,  nor  be  dis- 
couraged, 

**  Until  he  shall  have  established  judgment  in 
the  earth  %:' 

And  we  are  referred,  for  these  sublime 
Effects,  to  the  power  of  the  Divinity ;  that 
wrought  within  him  ;  and  constituted  a 
part  of  his  own  two-fold  Nature,  after  he 
had   assumed  the  Nature  of  Man.     The 

*  Matth.  ch.  26,  v.  24.     Mark  cb.  14,  v.  21.     Luke 
eb.  22,  V.  22. 

t  MaUh.  cb.  26,  v.  53,  54.     %  Isaiab  cb.42,  v.  S,  4. 

r3 


(246  LECTURE  V, 

power  to  redeem  and  to  save  was  repeat- 
edly urged  by  God,  as  avr  invincible 
Argument  against  the  Idolatry  of  his 
ancient  l^eople — 

*^  1  even  T,  am  Jehovah  ; 

'•^  And  besides  me  theic  is  no  Saviour*.'' 

'^  Thus  saitb  jFHovAn,  the  K;  ig  of  Israel, 
"  And  his  Redeemer ^  J hUOYAu  (Goi>)  of  Hosts  : 
'^  I  am  thejirst,  and  I  am  the  last : 
*'  And  beside  me  there  is  no  God  t«'* 

But  the  promised  Messiah  was  also  to 
come  in  the  capacity  of  a  Saviour  and 
Redeewer.  Hence,  it  is  predicted,  that 
he  should  be  **  mighty  to  save%\'  to  Zion 
it  was  proclaimed,  that,  upon  his  appear- 
ing, her  Snlvaiicn  should  have  arrived ; 
and  to  the  Gentile  vations  of  the  world, 
that,  through  him,  they  should  eventually 
be  called--*' th^  holy  people,  the  redeemed 
*'  of  jEHovAii|;'  Thus  are  powers  and  at- 
tributes ascribed  to  Christ,  which  cannot 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  4<3,  v.  1 1. 

f  Isaiah,  ch,44,  V.6. 

J  Isaiah,  ch.  63,  v.  1. 

§  In  the  passage  aheady  cited,  in  page  231. 


LECTURE  V.  247 

be  applied  with  truth  to  any  7nere  man. 
It  was  for  this  cause  that  he  was  called 
Jesus,  or  "  the  Saviour^' — a  name  assigned 
to  him  by  express  Revelation  "  before  he 
^^  was  conceived  in  the  womb  */'  It  was 
from  the  same  circumstance,  that  he  was 
distinguished  by  the  peculiar  title  of 
Emmanuel^  or  *'  God  with  ws^f."  It  was 
in  open  confession  of  this  mysterious 
Union  of  Natures,  that  the  same  wonder- 
ful Personage  said  to  the  Jews,  "  I  and  my 
"  Father  are  one  J/' 

It  cannot  therefore  excite  our  surprise, 
that  it  is  so  often  asserted  in  the  prophe- 
tic writings,  that  the  Spirit  of  GOD  should 
rest  upon  him  ;  or  that,  judging  from  the 
eifects  represented  as  to  be  produced, 
these  holv  influences  should  be  consider- 
ed  as  operating  in  an  unlimited  degree. 
Among  other  passages,  which  describe 
the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking  in 
which  he  was  to  engage,  God  saith  by  the 
mouth  of  his  prophet— 

*  Luke.  ch.  1,  v.  30,  31.  Tlie  same  name  was  also 
given  to  him,  by  divine  command,  at  another  time,  but 
previous  to  his  birth.     See  Matth.  ch.  1,  v.  20,  21. 

+  Matth.  ch.  1,  V.  22,  23.      %  John,  ch,  10,  v.  SO. 

R  4 


24S  LECTURE  V. 

«^  It  is  a  light  thing,  that  thou  shouldest  he  my 

servant, 
'*  To  raise  up  the  tribes  of  Jacob, 
"  And  to  restore  the  preserved  of  Israel : 
"  I  will  also  give  thee  for  a  light  to  the  Gentiles, 
«  That  thou  roayest  be  my  Salvation  unto  the  end 

of  the  earth*." 

Such  was  to  be  the  extent  of  the  scene 
in  which  he  was  to  act !     And  the  period, 
during  which  these  grand  and  momentous 
designs  will  be  arriving  at  their  full  com- 
pletion, was  to  commence  with"  the  fid" 
"  nessf/'  and  is  to  terminate  ^Yith'Hhe  end 
*«  of  time  J/'     ''As  a  Rod,''  therefore, '"  out 
"  of  the  Stem  of  Jesse/'  concerning  whom 
such  *'  great  and  marvellous"  things  had 
been  foretold,   it   became  requisite,  that 
"  the    Spirit  of    Jehovah    should    rest 
*'  upon  him,    the   Spirit  of  Wisdom  and 
"  Understanding,  the   Spirit  of  Counsel 
"  and  of  Might,  the  Spirit  of  Knowledge, 
"  and  of  the  Fear  of  Jehovah  §." 

And  what  was  thus  reasonable  in  itself, 
and  what  was   thus   expressly  predicted, 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  49,  v.  6.  +  Galat.  ch.  4,  v.  4. 

J   Dan.  ch.  12,  v.  IS.  §  Isaiah,  ch.  11,  v.  2» 


LECTURE  V.  249 

did  actually  come  to  pass.  Immediately 
before  his  Incarnation,  he  was  announced 
by  the  title  of  a  Holy  Substaiice,  *'  the 
"  Son  of  God*;"  and  previous  to  his  birth 
it  was  declared,  that  what  was  conceived 
in  the  womb  of  his  Mother  was  "of  the 
*'  Holy  Ghost  t''  His  whole  life,  from 
his  birth  to  the  time  of  his  ascension,  was 
so  entirely  free  from  error,  from  frailty, 
and  from  sin  J,  that  it  plainly  ar2:ued  the 
constant  presence  of  this  divine  Spirit; 
and  afforded  an  instance  of  perfection, 
which  the  greatest  and  best  of  men  have 
never  yet  attained.  Under  this  sacred 
influence,  he  became  of  such  "  quick 
"  understanding  in  the  fear  of  Jehovah,^' 
that,  when  he  was  only  twelve  years  of 
age,  he  was  found  in  the  temple,  sitting 

*  Luke,  ch.  1,  v.  35.  f  Matth.  cb.  1.  v.  20. 

J  He  could  boldly  challenge  the  most  inveterate  of 
his  enemies — those  under  whose  inspection  he  passed 
the  whole  of  his  public  life,  crowded  with  action,  and 
affording  the  most  constant  and  favourable  opporcuni- 
ties  for  the  detection  of  his  faults,  had  any  actually 
occurred — V)  prove  him  guilty  of  any  real  direliction  of 
duty; — *' Which  of  you,"  he  said,  "  convinceth  me  of 
"  sin;  and,  if  I  say  the  truth,  why  do  ye  not  believe 
**  me  ?"    John,  ch.  2,  v.  46. 


260  LECTURE  V. 

in  the  midst  of  a  grave  and  learned  audi- 
ence, and  exciting  the  astonishment  of  all 
who  saw  and  heard  him  *.  But,  at  the 
time  of  his  Baptism,  this  glorious  prophe- 
cy, as  well  as  other  collateral  ones,  receiv- 
ed their  accomplishment  in  a  more  direct 
and  immediate  manner :  for  then  "  the 
'*  heaven  was  opened,  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
"  descended  in  a  bodily  shape  like  a 
"  dove,''  "  and  lighted  upon  him."  ''And 
"  lo,  a  voice  from  heaven  saying,  this  is 
«  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well 
*^  pleased  f/' 

S.  Thus  was  he  "anointed  with  the 
"  Holy  Ghost  and  with  Power  J,''  for  the 
infinitely  important  Mission  he  had  then 
undertaken.  One  consequence  of  this 
holy  unction,  in  respect  to  his  humanity, 
was  an  inspired  and  intimate  knowledge 
cf  Futurity.  And  in  thus  assuming  the 
Frophetic  Office,  m  addition  to  the  others 
already  enumerated,  he  verified  that  ever 

*  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  43—50. 

+  See  the  Accounts  of  his  Baptism,  in  Matth,  ch.  3, 
V.  13— 17.  Mark,  ch.  l,v.  9— -H.  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  21, 
22.  John,  ch.  1,  v.  29— 34.  See  also  Note  J,  page  85, 
Lecture  II. 

J  Acts,  ch.  to,  V.  38. 


LECTURE  V.  251 

memorable    prccMction   of  Moses — *'  Je- 
*'  Hov.-^H   suid   U'lto    me"' — *'  I    will   raise 
"  ttiem  up  a  prop  et   from  f^^aong   their 
^*  brethren,  like  unto  thee;  anr]  I  \vill  put 
"  my   words  in   Lis   mouth,   and   he  shall 
*'  speak    unto    them    all  that  1  command 
**  him  *."     Of  this  propliel,  the  Jows^  in 
the  time  of  our  Lord,  h-id  long  beea  in 
expectation.     Malachi  wa-j  the  last  they 
had  antecedently  acknox^ledged  ;   and  he 
had  flouiished  nearly  four  hundred  years 
before.     When  therefore,  after  this  hmg 
pause  in  the  course  of  divine  communica- 
tion, they  beheld  Christ,  in  the  discharge 
of     his     sacred     functions,      performing 
"  among    them    the   works    which   none 
"  other  man  did  f ;"  when  they  witnessed 
the  purity,    the   holiness,  and  the  incom- 
parable usefulness  of  his  life  ;  when  they 
considered   the  superlative  excellence  of 
the  precepts  he   delivered,  and  the  subli- 
mitv,  tiie  mysterious   nature,  aud  y*  1,  at 
the  same  ti^ne,  the  perfect  reasouabieiiess 
of   the    doctrines    he    pri;fiiido;ed ;    many 
were   compelled    by   the    convictions    of 

*  Deut.  cb.  18,  V.  15,  18,  IQ. 
+  John,  ch.  16,  v.  24. 


262  LECTURE  V, 

their  own  minds  to  confess,  that  he  was, 
"  of  a  truth,  that  prophet  that  should  come 
*'  into  the  world  */' 

An  essential  pavi  of  his  duty,  as  in- 
vested with  this  important  charge,  was  to 
be  "  the  Light  of  the  world  f  to  teach  the 
will  of  God  far  more  perfectly,  than  the 
sons  of  men  could  by  any  other  means 
have  become  acquainted  with  it ;  as  per* 
fectly,  indeed,  as  humanity  can,  in  the 
present  state  of  things,  admit.  And  the 
grandeur  and  benevolence  of  this  part  of 
his  Commission  are  admirably  explained 
by  Isaiah.  Speaking  in  the  name  of  that 
illustrious  Teacher  who  should  accom- 
plish this,  he  says — 

'*  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  upon  me, 

*^  Because  Jehovah  hath  anointed  me, 

*^  To  preach  glad  tidings  to  the  meek : 

*^  He  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted, 

*^  To  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives, 

*'  And  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  are 

bound  : 
"  To  proclaim  the  acceptable  jear  of  JEHOVAHf.'* 

^  John,  ch.  6,  v.  14  ;  and  eh.  7.  v.  40. 
f  1  saiah,  ch.  6 1 ,  v,  1,2,  &c. 


LECTURE  V.  253 

But  it  will  be  immediately  recollected, 
that,  "  ill  his  own  city  Nazareth/'  in  the 
Synagogue  on  the  Sabbath  day,  our  bles- 
sed Saviour  made  a  direct  application  of 
this  very  prophecy  to  himself.  He  said 
to  those  around  him,  *'  This  day  is  this 
**  Scripture  fulfilled  in  your  ears/'  "  And 
"  all  bare  him  witness  ;  and  wondered  at 
'*  the  gracious  words  which  proceeded  out 
**  of  his  mouth  */' 

And  even  the  Style  of  his  teaching — 
the  peculiar  manner  in  which  he  more 
generally  disclosed  those  hidden  things  of 
God,  which  he  came  down  from  heaven, 
for  the  very  purpose  of  revealing,  is  also 
distinctlv  pomted  out  in  the  typical  lan- 
guage of  prophecy.  *'  Air  these  things 
•'  spake  Jesus  unto  the  multitude  in  para- 
**  bles;  and  without  a  parable  spake  he  not 
"  unto  them :  that  it  might  be  fulfilled 
"  whichwas  spoken  by  the  prophet.saying, 
I  will  open  my  mouth  in  parables  ;  I  will 
utter  things  which  have  been  kept  secret 
"  from  the  foundation  of  the  world  -f/' 

*  Luke,  ch.  4,  v.  l6— 2^2. 

t  Matth.  ch.  IS,  v.  34,  35,  compared  with  Psahn  78, 
y.  1,  2.  "  Our  Saviour/'  says  Dr. Whitby,  ''  spake  in 
"  parables,  that  what  David,   filled  with  a  prophetic 


254  LECTURE  V. 

It  became  necessary  ior  him,  proposing 
himself  as  '*  a  Mediator  between  God  and 
'*  Man/'  and  as  the  introducer  of  "  a  new 
**  Covenant,"  to  work  Miracles^  as  Moses 
did,  to  prove  the  certainty  of  his  divine 
Mission  ;  such  miracles  as  could  not  have 
been  wrought  hy  the  permitted  power  of 
any  evil  Spirit ;  but  such  as  were  calcu- 
lated to  produce  the  most  lasting  and  be- 
neficial effects,  upon  the  minds  of  those 
who  beheld,  and  those  who  were  the  sub- 
jects of  them.  Of  this  nature  were  the 
miracles  of  Christ.  They  were  exquisite- 
ly adapted  to  illustrate  the  affectionate 
tenderness  of  his  own  heart,  and  the  salu- 
tary tendency  of  the  system  he  came  to 
establish.  The  gracious  design,  that  was 
visible  throughout  these  "  mighty  works/' 
is  most  affectingly  represented  in  that 
beautiful  distich  of  the  prophet — 


"  Spirit,  applied  to  himself,  might  be  fulfilled  also  m 
"  the  Son  o  David,  of  whom  he  vvas  a  Type.  For  he, 
"  beiiii^  our  great  Lawgiver,  might  more  truly  say— 

"  Hear  my  law,  O  my  people; 

"  Incline  your  ears  to  the  words  of  my  Mouth." 

See  his  Comment  on  Matth.  cb.  15,  v.  35. 


LECTURE  V.  9,55 

^*  Surely  he  hath  borne  our  iufirmities, 
"  And  carried  our  sorrows '* 

a  passage  which  the  Evangelist  St.  Mat- 
thew applies  expressly  to  this  very  to- 
pic *•  And  thus,  moreover,  were  they 
previously  described  more  particularly  in 
the  language  of  inspiration — 

^'  Say  ye  to  them  that  are  of  a  fearful  heart,  be 

strong, 
*^  Fear  not :  Behold  your  God  ! 
^^  Vengeance    will    come ;    the    recompense  of 

God  : 
*'  He  himself  will  come,  and  save  you. 
'*  Then  shall  the  eyes  of  the  blind  be  opened; 
'^  And  the  ears  of  the  deaf  shall  be  unstopped: 
*^  Then  shall  the  lame  man  leap  as  a  hart ; 
'*  And  the  tongue  of  the  dumb  shall  singf.*' 

In  confirmation  of  this,  we  find  our 
Saviour  himself  referring  the  disciples  of 
John  to  the  evidence  of  their  own  senses  : 
"  Go,  and  shew  John  again  those  things 

*Matth.  ch.  8,  V.  16;  17,  compared  with  Isaiah,  ch. 
53,  V.  4 
+  Isaiah;  ch.  35,  v.  4—6.  See  also  ch.  29,  v.  17 — 19. 


256  LECTURE  V. 

*^  which  ye  have  seen  and  heard  :  how 
*'  that  the  blind  see,  the  lame  walk,  the 
"  lepers  are  cleansed,  the  deaf  hear,  the 
**  dead  are  raised,  to  the  poor  the  gospel 
"  is  preached  *."  Compelled  by  the  force 
of  the  same  evidence,  we  shall  find  the 
people  around  him  expressing  the  great- 
ness of  their  astonishment  on  a  variety  of 
occasions.  At  one  time  they  said,  "  he 
*'  hath  done  all  things  well :  he  maketh 
"  both  the  deaf  to  hear,  and  the  dumb  to 
"  speak  f  ;  "  at  another,  "  what  manner 
"  of  man  is  this,  that  even  the  winds  and 
"  the  sea  obey  him  %"  Nay,  even  Herod 
himself  may  be  adduced  as  a  witness  in 
this  case :  for,  surprised  and  affrighted  at 
the  fame  of  the  miracles  of  Jesus,  he  said, 
•'  this  is  John  the  Baptist ;  he  is  risen  from 
"  the  dead ;  and  therefore  mighty  works 
"  do  shew  forth  themselves  in  him  §/' 

As  a  prophet,  he  was   also   to  foretel 
future  Events.    This  was  understood  to  be 

*  Matth.  ch.  1 1,  V.  4,  5.     Luke,  ch.  7,  v.  22. 

t  Mark,  ch.  7,  v.  37- 

X  Matth.  ch.  8,  V.  27.     Mark,  ch.  4,  v.  41.     Luke, 

qh.  8,  V.  ^25, 

§  Matth.  ch.  14,  v.  2.    Mark,  ch.  6,  v.  14.     See  also 

Luke,  ch.  9,  v.  7—9. 


LECTURE  V.  257 

one  principal  part  of  his  Office  ;  and  one 
proof,  among  others^  that  he  was  ''  come 
^'  from  God/'  And  we  accordingly  find 
him,  on  various  occasions,  uttering  pre- 
dictions of  the  most  extraordinary  nature  ; 
such,  nevertheless,  as  were  precise  ;  and 
could  not,  therefore,  when  fulfilled,  have 
their  accomplishment  misunderstood.  Of 
this  description  were  the  anticipations  he 
repeatedly  afforded  of  his  being  betray- 
ed into  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  of 
the  kind  of  death  he  was  to  suffer,  of 
the  time  he  was  to  remain  in  the  grave, 
of  his  resurrection  ^,    and  subsequent  ex- 

*  1.  John,  ch.  3,  v.  14 — 16.  This  was  the  first  time 
he  foretold  the  manner  of  his  Death. 

2.  Matth.  ch.  16,  v.  21.  Mark,  ch,  8,  v.  31,  32. 
Luke,  ch.  9,  v.  22.  This  was  the  second  time  he  fore- 
told his  Death,  to  which  he  now  added  the  circumstances 
of  his  Rejection,  and  his  Resurrection  on  the  third  day. 

3.  Matth.  ch.  17,  v.  9;  and  Mark,  ch.  9,  v.  9,  con- 
tain another  prediction  to  the  same  effect. 

4.  In  Matth.  ch.  17,  v.  22,  23;  Mark,  ch.  9,  v.  31 ; 
and  Luke,  ch.  9,  v,  44,  there  is  another  anticipation  of 
the  same  events. 

5.  In  Luke,  ch.  17,  v.  25,  tliere  is  another  plain  in- 
dication of  his  Sufferings  and  Rejection. 

6.  Matth.  ch.  20,  v.  17—19 ;  Miirk,  ch.  10,  v.  32— 

vol.,  I.  S 


258  LECTURE  V\ 

altation  * ;  all  which  were  observed  by 
numerous  witnesses  to  have  been  most 
literally  verified.  To  the  same  class  must 
be  referred  his  prophecy  concerning  Pe- 
ter's denial  of  him  -f*,  and  of  the  death  by 
which  that  Apostle  should  glorify  God  J  ; 
as  also  his  representation  of  the  general 
treatment,  which  his  faithful  followers 
should  experience,  both  from  Jews  and 
Pagans,  during  the  first  age  of  the  churchy. 
But  the  Jewish  race,  those  to  whom  he 

34;  Luke,  ch.  18,  v.  31— 33,  contain  a  further  and 
most  explicit  declaration  of  the  same  things. 

7.  Matth.  ch.  26,  v.  1,  21,  29—32.  Mark,  ch.  14, 
V.  8,  18,  28 ;  Luke,  ch.  22,  v.  15,  21  ;  John,  ch.  13,  v. 
21,  afford  additional  instances  of  the  same  kind. 

8.  In  Matth.  ch.  12,  v.  39,  40;  and  ch.  l6,  v.  4,  our 
Lord  merely  foretels  his  Death,  and  the  time  of  his  Re- 
surrection, from  the  sign  of  the  prophet  Jonah. 

*  John,  ch.  14,  v.  1—3  ;  ch.  7,  v.  33  ;  and  ch.  3,  v. 
13,  involve  a  plain  declaration  of  his  return  to  the  glory 
<'  which  he  had  with  the  Father  before  the  world 
"  began."  To  the  same  effect,  are  Jofan,  ch.  6,  v.  62, 
and  ch.  20,  v.  17. 

t  Matth.  ch.  26,  V.  33—35.  Mark,  ch.  14,  v.  27— 
31.  Luke,  ch.  22,  v.  31—34.  John,  ch.  13,  v.  36-- 
38.. 

JJohn,  ch.  21,  V.  15—19. 

§  Matth.  ch.  10,  v.  17—22.  Mark,  ch,  15,  v.  9— IS. 
Luke,  ch.  21,  v.  12—17. 


LECTURE  V.  259 

was  more  immediately  sent,  occupied,  as 
we  ma}^  suppose,  no  small  share  of  his 
attention  ;  and  how  truly  he  has  foreshewn 
the  fate  of  Jerusalem,  and  ihe  state  of 
Judaea  even  to  the  present  time,  is  pro- 
posed for  a  subject  of  future  consideration. 

VI.  In  the  meantime  it  may  be  neces- 
sary to  observe,  that  the  things  which  hap- 
pened to  him,  when  he  was  about  to  close 
his  sacred  ministry,  were  not  the  subjects 
of  his  own  predictions  only;  but  were  va- 
riously typified, and  particularly  described, 
in  a2:es  Ions;  antecedent. 

1.  His  being  betrayed,  and  sold  for 
thirty  pieces  of  silver,  and  even  the  very  use 
to  which  this  reward  of  treachery  was  af- 
terwards applied,  are  thus  minutely  fore- 
told by  Jeremiah. — "  They  weighed  for 
"  my  price  thirty  pieces  of  silver.  And 
**  Jehovah  said  unto  me,  Cast  it  unto  the 
**  potter  :  goodly  the  price  at  which  I  have 
"  been  valued  by  them  !  And  I  took  the 
^-  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  and  cast  them  unto 
"  the  potter,  in  the  house  of  Jehovah*." 

*'  Compare  Zechariab,  ch.  11,  v.  12,  13,  with  Matth. 

,  oh.  27,  V.  3 — 10.      Consult  also  the,  learned  Notes  of 

Archbishop  Newcoroe  on  Zech,  ch.  9.  v.  1,  the  object 

$  2 


200  LECTURE  V. 

2.  Upon  his  apprehension,  it  is  said, 
"  all  the  Disciples  forsook  him  and  fled;" 
and  this  affecting  circumstance  is  very 
sublimely  indicated  by  the  Prophet  in 
these  peculiar  terms — 

**  Awake,  O  sword,  against  my  Shepherd, 
"  And  against  the  Man  that  is  next  unto  me*^ 
*'  Saith  Jehovah  God  of  Hosts. 
"  I  will  smite  the  Shepherd,  and  the  Sheep  shall 

be  scattered ; 
**  And  I  will  turn  mine  hand  against  the  little 

ones  t-" 

3.  "  As  Moses  lifted  up  the  Serpent  in 
*^  the  Wilderness,'"  for  the  restoration  of 
the  wounded  Israelites  ;  '^  so  was  also  the 
''  Son  of  Man  to  be  lifted  up,  that  whoso- 

of  which  is  to  shew,  that  this  prophecy,  with  several 
others,  although  inserted  in  the  book  of  Zechariah,  are 
nevertheless  to  be  justly  attributed  to  Jeremiah, 

*  How  peculiarly  this  epithet  is  applicable  to  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  preference  to  all  other  men,  is 
evident  from  his  own  assertions — ^^  My  Father  is 
"  greater  than  I."  John,  ch.  14,  v.  28.  "  I  and  my  Fa- 
"  ther  are  one."  John,  ch.  10,  v.  30. 

f  Zechar.  c\u  13,  v.  7,  compared  with  Matth.  ph,  26, 
V.  56,  and  Mark-  ch,  14,  v,  27,  50. 


LECTURE  V.  261 

"  ever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
"  but  have  everlasting  life  *." 

4.  In  the  twenty-second  and  sixty-ninth 
Psalms,  wherein  David  stands  forward  so 
particularly  as  a  type  of  Christ,  and  in 
which  the  eye  of  the  Prophet  is  carried 
forward  so  frequently,  and  so  evidently, 
to  the  times  of  the  Messiah,  several  of  the 
rtiost  peculiar  incidents  attending  his 
death  are  most  pathetically  depicted. 

"  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken 

mefV* 
"  All  they,  that  see  me,  laugh  me  to  scorn  ; 
^'  They  shoot  out  the  Up,  and  shake  the  head, 

saving— 
*^  He  trusted  ou  Jehovah,  that  he  would  deliver 

him : 
*'  Let  him  deliver  him,  if  he  delight  in  him  J !" 
^'  For  dogs  have  compassed  me  ; 
**  The  assembly  of  the  wicked  have  enclosed  me  : 
"  They  pierced  my  hands  and  my  feet : 
"  I  may  number  all  my  bones  : 

*  John,  eh.  3,  v.  14,  15, 
+  Psalm  22,  v.  1. 
%  Psalm  22,  v.  7,  8. 


262  LECTURE  V. 

"  They  stare  and  look  upon  me*!" 
"  They  part  m j  garments  among  them, 
^'  And  cast  lots  upon  my  vesture  ■[• ! 
*'  They  gave  me  also  gall  for  my  meat; 
**  And  in  my  thirst,  they  gave  me  vinegar  to 
drink +  !" 

It  requires  but  the  slightest  recurrence 
to  the  liistory,  which  the  Evangelists  hav© 
given  us  of  the  Crucifixion,  to  perceive 
with  what  surprising  accuracy  the  princi- 
pal circumstances  they  have  detailed  are 
here  exhibited  to  our  view! 

5.  That  he  should  not  endure  this  pu- 
nishment alone^  and  the  character  of  his 
associates  in  suffering,  are  points  distinctly 
specified  by  Isaiah,  when  he  declares  that 
"  he  was  numbered  with  the  transgrts- 
"  sor6  %" 

6.  Even  the  indignities  and  cruel  treats 

'^  Psalm  22,  v.  16,  17.  The  latter  part  of  this  de- 
scription is  peculiarly  applicable  to  the  punishment  by 
Cruciiixion,  in  which  all  the  limbs  were  violently  ex- 
tended to  their  utmost  length,  whenever  the  body  was 
nailed  to  the  cross. 

f  Psalm  22,  V.  18. 

J  Psalm  69,  V.  21. 

§  Isaiaih,  ch.  53,  v.  it. 


LECTURE  V.  203 

ment  he  should  receive  from  the  brutal  fe- 
rocity of  his  persecutors,  previous  to  his 
crucifixion,  are  not  undescribed.  Speaking 
in  the  name  of  Christ,  the  same  prophet 
says — 

"  The  Lord  Jehovah  hath  opened  mine  ear  j 
**  And  I  was  not  rebelHous, 
,"  Neither  did!  turn  away  backward* 
**  I  gave  mj  back  to  the  smiters, 
*^  And  my  cheeks  to  them  that  plucked  off  the 

hair : 
"  Ihid^ot  my  face  from  shame  and  spitting*." 

7.  But  though  he  submitted  to  all  these 
barbarous  indignities,  and  at  length  to  the 
ignominious  death  of  the  Cross,  yet  he 
was  to  be  treated  with  becoming  respect 
in  the  article  of  his  Entombment.  To  this 
the  same  inspired  Writer  refers,  when  he 
says — 

"  And  his  grave  was  appointed  with  the  wicked  ; 
^'  But  with  the  rich  man  was  hU  tombV* 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  50,  w,  5,6.     See  also  Note  *,  page  240. 
i  Isaiah,  ch.  53,  v.  9. 

S  4 


264  LECTURE  V. 

8.  The  very  Scene  of  our  Saviour's  suffer^ 
ings  appears  to  have  been  foreshewn,  even 
from  the  days  of  Abraham.  That  Patri- 
arch was  commanded  to  offer  up  his  Son 
Isaac,  who  was  in  this  respect  a  most  sig- 
nal type  of  Christ,  upon  one  of  the  moun- 
tains in  the  land  of  Moriah  of  which  God 
would  tell  him  *.  Now  the  country  about 
Jerusalem  was  called  the  Land  of  Moriah, 
and  the  hill  upon  which  the  temple  was 
built  was  particularly  named  Mount  Mo- 
riah; but  Calvary  was  a  small  eminence 
situated  upon  this  very  Mount  j  and,^Aow§A 
theji  shut  out  by  the  walls  from  the  City,  the 
Crucifixion  might  have  been  beheld  from 
thence  f. 

*  Genesis,  ch.  22,  v.  2. 

f  See  Mr.  Maiindreirs  Journey  from  Aleppo  to  Jeru- 
salem, page  QS,  edit.  7.  "  Since  it  was  made  the  Altar, 
*'  on  which  was  offered  up  the  precious,  and  all-suffi- 
"  cient  sacrifice,  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  it  has 
"  recovered  itself  from  its  former  infamy ;  and  has  been 
*'  always  reverenced  and  resorted  to,  with  such  devo- 
"  tion  by  all  Christians,  that  it  has  attracted  the  City 
*'  round  about  it,  and  stands  now  in  the  midst  of  Jeru- 
"  salem  j  a  great  part  of  the  hill  of  Zion  being  shut  out 
"  of  the  walls,  to  make  room  for  the  admission  of  Cal- 
vary. 


LECTURE  V.  265 

9.  To  the  final  abolition  of  Death,  in 
consequence  ot  the  Resurrection  of  Christ ; 
and  to  Uie  securing  to  the  bons  of  Men  the 
blessings  of  Immortality,  through  his  al- 
mighty power,  and  through  the  promul- 
gation  of**  the  everlasting  Gospel  ;*'  Isaiah 
has  made  the  following  surprisingly  grand 
and  beautiful  allusions — 

**  And  Jehoyah  God  of  Hosts  shall  make 

"  For  all  people,  upon  this  Mountain, 

''  A  feast  of  fat  things,  a  feast  of  wines  on  the 

lees, 
'^  Of  fat  things  full  of  marrow,  of  wines  on  the 
lees  well  refined. 
"  And  on  this  mountain,  shall  he  destroy 
"  The  covering,  that  covered   the   face  of  all 

people  j 
"  And  the  vail,  that  is  spread  over  all  nations. 

*'  He  shall  swallow  up  Death  in  Victory  ; 
"  And  the  Lord  Jehovah  shall  wipe  away  tears 

from  oflf  all  faces ; 
*^  And  the  reproach  of  his  people  shall  he  take 

away  from  ofi^  all  the  Earth  : 
"  For  Jehovah  hath  spoken  it*." 

*   [saiah,  ch.  25,  v.  6 — 8.     We  caimot  but  observe 


^m  LECTURE  V. 

*'  David  also  being  a  prophet,  and 
**  knowing  that  God  had  sworn  with  an 
"  Oath  to  him,  that  of  the  fruit  of  his 
1  oins,  according  to  the  flesh,  he  would 
*^  raise  up  Christ  to  sit  on  his  throne ; 
*^  he,  seeing  this  before,  hath  spoken 
^^  of  the  Resurrection  of  Christ;  that  his 
"  Soul  should  not  be  left  in  Hell,"  that 
is,  in  the  Place  of  Souls  in  a  separate 
State,  "  nor  that  his  flesh  should  see  Cor- 
'^  ruption^." 

But  if  his  Soul  were  not  to  be  left  there, 
it  must  certainly  be  implied,  that  it  had 
actually  descended  thither;  and  therefore 
it  has  been  well  established,  as  one  of  the 
Articles  of  our  Religion,  that,  in  this  sense, 
Christ  descended  into  Hell. 

But  the  period  of  its  remaining  there 
was  also  sutficiently  defined,  both  by  a  cor- 
responding type,  and  by  an  express  pre- 

that  the  Person  who  should  perform  all  this  is  styled 
niN^"^  r\)r(^}  which  is  an  incommunicable  name  of 
God. 

*  Consult  the  whole  passage,  Acts,  ch.  2,  v. 24 — 32^ 
and  also  Psalm  l6,  v.  8 — 11,  where  David  expresses  his 
firm  belief  in  a  Resurrection  to  eternal  life,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  future  Resurrection  of  "  The  Holy  One/' 
who  was  not  to  be  suffered  "  to  see  Corruption ." 


LECTURE  V,  267 

diction  "  For,"  said  our  blessed  Saviour 
himself,  *'  as  Jonas  was  three  days  and 
"  three  nights  in  the  hdly  of  the  great 
**  fish  ;  so  shall  the  Son  of  Man  be  three 
''  days  and  three  nights  in  the  heart  of  the 
"  Earth  */■ 

10.  His  Exaltation^  after  having  com- 
pleted the  great  work  of  our  Redemption, 
is  most  sublimely  described  b}'^  the  in- 
spired Psalmist  in  these  energetic  terms — 

*'  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates; 
*^  And  be  ye  lift  up,  ye  everlasting  doors ; 
'^  And  the  King  of  Glory  shall  come  in. 
"  Who  is  this  King  of  Glory  ? 
''  Jehovah,  God  of  Hosts,  He  is  the  King  of 
Glory  t.'' 

*  Jonah,  ch.  1,  v.  15—17,  and  Matthew,  ch.  12,  v.  40, 
See  also  the  critical  and  very  able  remarks  of  Dr.  Mac- 
knight  upon  this  passage,  in  his  "  Harmony  of  the  Gos- 
«  pels,''  vol.  2,  p.  227,  edit.  2. 

+  Psalm  24,  v.  7 — 10.  The  argument,  prefixed  by 
Bishop  Patrick  to  this  Psalm,  well  describes  the  view 
of  the  Prophet  as  carried  forward,  from  the  Event  which 
was  most  probably  the  occasion  of  its  being  written 
Cthe  removal  of  the  Ark,  the  peculiar  sanctuary  of  God, 
from  the  House  of  Obed-Edom  to  Mount  Zion)  to  the 
Elevation  of  the  Messiah  to  his  throne  of  Glory  in  the 


268  LECTURE  V. 

11.  There  are  even  some  intimations 
afforded  in  Prophecy  of  the  happy  and  ex- 
tensive consequences,  that  were  to  result 
from  this  triumphal  entrance  ;  and  the  mi- 
raculous  Gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  on  the 
day  of  Pentecost,  and  the  ordinary  Gifts  of 
the  same  divine  Spirit  from  that  day  to  the 
end  of  time,  are  clearly  pointed  out.  With 
an  evident  foreknowledge  of  this,  the  holy 
Psalmist  sang — 

'*  Thou  hast  ascended  up  on  high  i 
*'  Thou  hast  led  captivity  captive ; 
^'  Thou  hast  received  gifts  for  men, 
"  Yea,  even  for  the  rebelHous : 
"  That  the    Lord     God    might    dwell    among 
them  *." 

Nearly  to  the  same  effect  is  that  noble, 
and  most  affecting   passage  in  Isaiah,  in 

heavens  :  "  His  ascension  into  heaven  is  represented  by 
"  the  carrying  of  the  Ark  up  into  Mount  Zion;  which 
"  was  a  type  of  Heaven,  as  the  Ark  was  of  the  Lord 
''  Christ." 

*  Psalm  68,  V.  18.  And  this  divine  Prophecy  the 
Apostle  Paul  has  applied  expressly  to  the  Saviour  of 
the  world,  in  his  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  chap.  4, 
V.  7—16. 


LECTURE  V.  269 

which  a  reference  is  so  strikingly  made 
both  to  his  Humihation,  and  his  subse- 
quent Exaltation — 

"  Behold,  my  servant  shall  prosper  ; 

"  He  shall  be  elevated,  and  raised  aloft^  and  be 

very  highly  exalted,  ^ 

'^  Because  many  were  astonished  at  him  ; 
"  (So  much  was  his  visage  disfigured,  more  than 

that  of  any  man  ; 
"  And  his  form  more  than  that  of  the  Sons  of 

Men!) 
So  shall  he  sprinkle  many  nations  *  : 
Before  him  Kings  shall  shut  their  mouths: 
"  For  that  which  had  not  been  told  them  they 

shall  see ; 
"  And  that  which  they  had  not  heard  they  shall 

consider!.*' 

But  perhaps  the  most  striking  predic- 
tion,not  only  of  his  subsequent  Exaltation, 
and  the  universal  Dominion  he  should 
ultimately  obtain,  but  of  the  Divinity  of 
his  Person,  is  that,  by  which  our  Saviour 

*  '*  Sprinkle^' — with  the  Effusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
+  Isaiah^  cb.o2,  v.  13—15, 


<6 


270  LECTURE  V. 

himself  so  entirely  confounded  the  gaia- 
saying  Jews  of  his  own  time — 

"  Jehovah  said  unto  My  Lord*,  sit  thou  on  my 

right  hand, 
**  Until  I  make  thine  enemies  thy  footstooL 
"  The  Rod  of  thy  power  shall  Jehovah  send  out 

of  Zion  : 
^*  Rule  thou  in  the  midst  of  thine  enemies  f."  &c. 

To  the  same  class  belong  all  those  nu- 
merous and  illustrious  prophecies,  which 
foretel  the  gradual  influx  of  Gentile  na- 
tions into  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  the 
ultimate  conversion  and  restoration  of  the 
Seed  of  Jacob  themselves ;  when,  in  the 
most  peculiar  sense  of  those  beautiful  and 
impressive  words,  "  the  Spirit  will  be 
*'  poured  upon  them  from  on  high  ;  and 
"  the  wilderness  will  become  a  fruitful 
"  field,  and  the  fruitful  field  will  be 
*'  counted  for  a  forest  J." 

*  Whom  could  David  style  HIS  LORD,  but  HIM, 
who  is  also  piophetically  styled  KING  OF  KINGS,  and 
LORD  OF  LORDS?  Rev.  ch.  IQ,  v.  11—16. 

+  Compare  Psalm  1 10,  v.  1,  &c.  with  Matth.  ch.  22, 
V.  41-— 46;  and  with  the  corresponding  passages  in  St. 
Mark  and  St.  Luke. 

J  Isaiah,  ch.  32,  v.  15 — 17* 


LECTURE  V.  *i7l 

Having  now  completed,  though  in  a 
very  imperfect  manner,  the  view  I  had 
proposed  to  present,  from  Prophecy,  of 
the  principal  Circumstances  in  the  per- 
sonal History  of  Christ ;  and  having 
shewn,  how  exactly,  in  confirmation  of 
the  Truth  of  our  holy  Religion,  and  in  a 
great  variety  of  instances,  the  antecedent 
Representations  have  corresponded  with 
the  Events ;  I  must  request  permission  to 
conclude  with  two  or  three  short  Observa- 
tions. 

It  has  been  one  Object  of  this  discourse 
to  prove  the  Spiritual  Nature  of  the  Mes- 
siah's Kingdom ;  and  the  entire  Consist* 
ency  of  the  glorious  predictions  which 
foretel  the  universal  Extent,  the  Happi- 
ness, and  Grandeur  of  his  Dominion,  with 
that  State  of  Humiliation  and  Suffering,, 
which  was  introductory  to  it,  and  so 
particularly  distinguished  the  life  he  led 
amongst  men.  It  has  been  also  made,  I 
trust,  in  some  measure  to  appear,  that  the 
prophecies,  which  pointedly  relate  to 
either  of  these  opposite  States,  can  only 
have  received,  as  far  as  they  have  yet 
been  fulfilled,  their  plenary  accomplish- 


272  LECTURE  V. 

ment  in  Him.  Upon  this  Rock,  then,  the 
Jewish  race  have  split.  Upon  these  di- 
vine Communications  they  placed  such 
constructions  only,  as  favoured  their  own 
preconceived  Notions;  and  their  Views 
were  those  only  of  the  temporal  Aggran- 
dizement of  their  own  Nation.  They  could 
not  therefore  believe,  that  a  Person,  of 
whom  such  great  and  extraordinary 
achievements  had  been  foretold,  whose 
extraction  was  to  be  so  splendid,  and 
whose  sovereignty  so  universal,  could  be 
born  of  such  obscure  parents,  and  con- 
fined to  so  humble  a  walk  in  life.  When 
they  saw  Him,  "  the  blessed  and  only 
**  Potentate,''  come  preaching  the  Doc- 
trine of  Repentance,  and  saying — "  the 
*^  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  at  hand ;"  when 
they  heard  him  propound  the  weighty 
truths  of  his  holy  Institution,  with  the 
Authority  of"  a  Teacher  come  from  God,'* 
and  profess  in  the  plainest  terms,  that 
he  '*  was  come  to  fulfil  the  Law  and  the 
"  Prophets  f  and  when  they  contrasted 
his  humble  Condition,  so  contrary  to  the 
Pomp  and  Grandeur  which  they  had 
falsely  attributed  to  their  Messiah,  with 


LECTURE  V,  273 

the  awful  Sublimity  and  Importance  of 
his  Professions — "  they  were  offended  in 
"  him  "  they  refused  to  receive  him  as 
the  promised  Saviour  and  Redeemer ;  and 
fulfilled  the  writings  of  their  own  Pro- 
phets, in  '^  despising  and  rejecting  him'' 
through  life,  and,  at  length,  in  persecut- 
ing him  to  Death,  and  to  their  own  De- 
struction. 

But  the  experience  of  Ages  most  sadly 
declares,  that  there  is  another  mode  of, 
partially  at  leasts  setting  at  nought  the  Son 
of  God,  and  of  depreciating  "  the  only 
"  hope  set  before  us  in  the  Gospel  \*  and 
that  this  can  even  exist  in  Christian  Coun- 
tries !  What  else  can  we  call  the  invoca- 
tion of  a  host  of  Saints  and  Mediators  in 
the  Romish  Church;  and  the  Acts  of 
Adoration,  that  are  constantly  paid,  at 
their  Shrines,  and  before  their  Images  ? 
As  if  the  Mediation  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  is  expressl}''  declared  in  Scrip- 
ture to  be  "  the  one  Mediator  between  GOD 
"  and  Man"  were  insufficient,  these  vota- 
ries of  superstition  apply  themselves,  as 
they  conceive,  to  the  Souls  of  such  of  the 

VOL.  I.  T 


e74  LECTURE  V. 

dead,  to  whose  past  lives  they  have  attri- 
buted an  extraordinary  degree  of  sanctity 
and  mortification  :  and  they  employ  these 
as  their  Intercessors  with  God,  for  the 
pardon  of  their  Sins,  and  for  the  most 
important  and  essfjntial  blessings  of  Life. 
But  is  not  this  to  undervalue  the  merits 
and  mediation  of  Christ  ?  Is  it  not  to 
neglect  *'  to  honour  the  Son,  even  as  they'' 
should  *'  honour  the  Father  *  ?*'  Is  it  not 
to  give  the  worship  of  "  God  to  others  ?'' 
Is  it  not  Idolatry  of  the  most  palpable  and 
criminal  Description  ? 

To  what,  moreover,  except  to  a  super- 
ficial or  prejudiced  perusal  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  to  a  neglect  of  properly 
"  comparing  spiritual  things  with  spiri- 
"  tual^/'  are  we  to  attribute  the  exten- 
sive diffusion  of  those  principles,  which 
induce  so  many,  in  the  present  day,  to 
discredit  the  supreme  Dignity  of  the  Na- 
ture of  Christ,  and  to  set  at  nought  the 
EflScacy  of  that  Atonement  which  he  made 
for  the  Sins  of  the  world.     To  the  rise  and 

*  John,  ch.  5,  v.  23.  f  1  Cor.  ch.  2,  v.  13. 


LECTURE  V.  275 

progress  of  such   doctrines  as  these,  St. 
Peter  makes  an  express  axlusioi)  when  he 
says — "  But  there  were  false  prophets  also 
**  among  the  people,  even  as  there  shall 
"  be  false  teachers  among  you ;  who  shall 
"  privily  bring  in  damnahle  heredes^  even 
"  denying    the   Lord    that    bought    them  J* 
"  And  many  shall  follow  their  pernicious 
"  ways,  by  reason  of  whom  the  way  of 
"  truth  shall  be  evil  spoken  of*/'     If,  in- 
deed   there   be   one   system    of  opinions 
more  destructive  to  the  great  cause  of  Re- 
ligion  and   Morality   than   another,  it  is 
this.     It  contradicts  the  whole  tenour  of 
Revelation,  with  respect  to  these  most  im- 
portant points  ;   and  indirectly  represents 
The  Holy  Spirit  himself  as  the  fabricator 
of    inconsistencies    and    untruths.       But 
''  let  God  be  true,  if  every  man  be  other- 
«  wise f."    Yet  "  who  is  THE  LIARX," 
says  St.  John,-— who  is  pre-eminently  false 
above  all  others — "  but  he  that  denieth  that 
^^  Jesus  is  the  Christ?     He  is  Antichrist ; 
^'  that  denieth   the  Father  and    the  Son. 


*  II.  Pet.  ch.  2,  V.  1,2. 

t  Rom.  ch.  3,  V.  4.  J  'O  TCTXTHS. 

T  2 


276  LECTURE  V. 

*'  Whosoever  denieth  the  Sony  the  same  hath 
''  not  the  Father  V 

*  I.  John,  ch.  2,  v.  22,  23.  See  also  oar  Saviour'^ 
own  assertion  upon  this  subject^  in  John»  ch.  14^  v. 

7>9— U. 

If  the  Reader  desire  Specimens  of  the  profoundness 
and  accuracy  of  that  Research,  and  of  the  fairness  and 
conclusiveness  of  those  Arguments,  by  which  the  Doc- 
trine of  the  Mere  Humanity  of  our  Blessed  Saviour 
is  supported,  I  take  the  liberty  of  recommending  to  his 
perusal — "  Tracts,  in  Controversy  with  Dr.  T'riest^ 
*'  LEY,  upon  the  Historical  Question  of  The  Belief 

"  of  THE  FIRST  AgES   in    OuK    LoRD*S   DiVINITY;" 

originally  published  in  the  years  1783,  1784,  and  1786, 
by  the  late  Dr.  Horsley,  then  Archdeacon:  of  St.  Al- 
ban's.  The  Third  Edition,  published  (by  his  Son)  in 
1812,  is  the  most  complete,  because  it  contains  "  A 
"  large  addition  of  Notes,  and  supplementary  Disqui- 
"  sitions,"  the  subsequent  impravements  of  the  learned 
Author. 

Specimens  to  the  same  effect,  though  perhaps  not 
quite  so  extraordinary,  may  also  be  met  with  in  great 
numbers,  in  a  little  popular  werk,  most  ably  written, 
by  the  late  Reverend  William  Jones,  M.A.  F.R.S.  &c. 
and  entitled  "  The  Catholic  Doctrine  of  a  Tri- 
*'  niTYy  proved  by  above  One  Hundred  short  and 
"  clear  Arguments,  with  a  few  Reflections, 
*'  occasionally  interspersed;  upon  some  of  the  Arian 
"  Writers,  particularly  Dr.  S.  Clarke:  To  which 
^' is  added,  A  Letter  to  the  Common  People,  in 
"  answer  to  some  Popular  Arguments  against  The 
"Trinity.'*    Edit.  7,  1802. 


LECTURE  V.  277 

But  to  those,  who  believe  what  the  Scrip- 
tures, wiili  one  consent,  have  revealed  con- 
cerning the  Nature  and  Offices  of  Christ; 
and  who  are  therefore  endeavouring  ear- 
nestly "  to  follow  the  blessed  Steps  of  his 
"  most  holy  Life'' — to  such  "  he  is  pre- 
"  cious.**     "  The  same  stone,  which  other 
"  builders  have  rejected,  is  become  to  them 
*•  the  head  stone  of  the  corner.'*     This  is 
the  only  basis,  on  which  we   can  found 
any  real  happiness    in   this   life;   or  on 
which  we  can  erect  any  certain  assurance 
of    never-ceasing    happiness     hereafter : 
"  for  there  is  none  other  name  under  hea» 
"  ven,  given  among  men,  whereby  we  can 
"  be  saved*/'     "  Building  up  yourselves," 
therefore,    "on    your    most  holy   faith, 
"  praying  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  keep  your- 
"  selves  in  the  Love  of  God,  looking  for 
"  the   Mercy  of  our  Lord   Jesus  Christ 
"  unto  eternal  life -}-.'' 

And  "  unto  him  that  is  able  to  keep  us 
"  from  falling,  and  to  present  us  faultless 
"  before  the  presence  of  his  Glory  with 
"  exceeding  Joy,-^to  the  only  wise  God, 

♦  Acts,  cb.  4,  V.  U,  12.  -f  Jude,  v,  20,  21. 

t3 


^78  LECTURE  V. 

*Vour  Saviour,  be  Glory  and  Majesty, 
*'  Dominion  and  Power,  both  now  and 
**  ever.     Amen*/' 

*  Jude,  V.  24,  25. 


LECTURE  VI. 
Delivered  February  14,  1813. 

Matth.  ch.  23,  v.  38,  39. 

Beholdj  your  house  is  left  unto  you  desolate 
For  I  say  unto  youy  ye  shall  not  see  me 
henceforth  till  ye  shall  say — Blessed  is  he 
that  corneth  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord* 


We  have  been  thus  far  endeavouring  to 
illustrate,  in  a  great  number  and  variety 
of  Examples,  the  nature  and  strength  of 
that  Evidence,  whieh  the  prophetic  Reve- 
lations of  the  Old  Testament  exhibit,  in 
favour  of  the  grand  Scheme  of  Christia- 
nity :  and  we  have  perceived,  in  as  many 
instances  as  we  have  examined  with  refer* 
ence  to  this  subject,  that  they  individu- 
ally foreshew,  either  enihlematically^  (as 
was  the  case  with  the  ceremonial  Jaw  of 

T  4 


230  LECTURE  VI. 

the  Hebrews,  and  with  the  allegorical  de- 
scriptions sometimes  eniployed  by  their 
Prophets)  or  in  express  terms,  and  such  as 
are  perfectly  intelligihle  when  the  general 
tenour  of  Scripture  is  consulted,  some 
one  or  other  of  those  astonishing  peculia- 
rities, or  occurrences,  which  distinguished 
the  Mission  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

But  if  those  operations  of  almighty 
Power  and  infinite  Goodness^  which  we 
have  already  had  occasion  to  notice,  may 
be  truly  styled  "great  and  marvellous;'* 
no  les^  may  the  Prescience^  which  could 
so  adequately  predescribe  them,  be  said 
to  surpass  man's  understanding.  It  has 
been  seen,  indeed,  that  some  of  these 
sacred  Communications  were  vouchsafed 
immediately^  and  personally^  as  it  were,  by 
GOT)  himself;  and  have  abundantly  prov- 
ed their  divine  Originality  by  correspond- 
ing Facts.  But  it  has  been  also  remarked, 
how  surprisingly,  in  numerous  instances, 
certain  Holy  Men^  professing  to  derive 
their  Message  from  God,  have  predicted 
events  and  circumstances;  that  were 
manifestly  above  the  powers,  and  con- 
trary to  the  general  order  of  Nature ;  and 


LECTURE  VL  281 

which  could  not  therefore  have  been  at 
all  within  the  limits  of  any  of  those  pro- 
babilities, that  constitute  the  grounds  of 
human  Conjecture.  But,  independently 
of  this  consideration,  the  very  times  when 
these  Prophecies  were  uttered,  which  were 
all  of  them  some  Ages,  and  several  of  them 
maiiy  Ages.,  before  the  period  of  their 
Accomplishment,  place  all  human  Fore- 
sight entirely  out  of  the  question.  The 
conclusion  therefore  is  obvious,  that  these 
men  must  have  been  "  moved  by  the  Holy 
GHOST^U  for  it  is  the  peculiar  attribute 
of  God  alone  to  be  able  "  to  declare  the 
"  end  from  the  beginning,  and  from  an- 
"  cient  times  the  things  that  are  not  yet 
"  done  f ." 

But  if  the  Certainty  of  their  Inspiration 
be  thus  demonstrated  by  Facts;  the  Truth 
also  of  the  Doctrines  they  have  disclosed, 
as  inseparably  connected  with,  and  neces- 
sarily arising  out  of  those  Facts— those 
holy  Mysteries,  which^  when  the  fulness 
of  time  was  come,  were  amplified,  and 
more  clearly  propounded  by  Christ  and 

*  H.  Pet.  ch.  1,  V.  21.      t  Isaiah,  cli.  46,  v.  9,  10. 


tB2  LECTURE  VL 

his  Apostles — will  be  rendered  equally 
indisputable.  And  thus — the  great  and 
universal  importance  of  the  things  fore- 
told, their  sublime  and  stupendous  na- 
ture, and  the  exquisite  precision  with 
which  they  have  been  thus  far  exempli- 
fied by  actual  accomplishment,  will  ever 
be  admitted,  in  the  view  of  clear  and  dis- 
passionate reason,  as  irrefragable  Argu- 
ments, for  the  Truth  of  the  gracious 
System  they  were  designed  to  establish ; 
and  for  the  Validity  of  that  "  new  Cove- 
*^  nant/'  of  which  Jesus  Christ  himself  is 
**  become  the  Mediator*/' 

And  as  we  descend,  which  we  now  pro- 
ceed to  do,  through  the  lapse  of  those 
Ages  that  have  succeeded  his  abode  upon 
earth,  we  shall,  I  trust,  receive  continu- 
ally still  further  Conviction,  that  '^  the 
"  Testimony  of  Jesus  is  the  Spirit  of  Pro- 
*'  phecy  -jV  The  Evidence  of  Revela- 
tion is,  indeed,  as  an  increasing  Light, 
Periods,  which  have  swept  away  the  past 
generations  of  Men,  and  have  often  de- 
stroyed even  the  Monuments  of  temporal 

*  Heb.  ch.  12,  V.  24.  +  Rev.  ch.  19,  v.  10. 


LECTURE  VI.  283 

Greatness,  have  only  conferred  additional 
DiJ?uAictness  and  Import  upon  her  inspired 
Pages.     And,  if  we  may  draw  an  infer- 
ence from  the  profound  Researches,  and 
noble  Discoveries,  of  pious  and  learned 
men,  during  the  two  last  Centuries;  and 
from   the    Zeal    for   the    propagation    of 
Christian  Knowledge,  which  so  particu- 
larly distinguishes  the  present  time — there 
is   every  reason   to  believe,   that,  as   the 
momentous  and  long  predicted  purposes  of 
JiiHOV-iH  are  rapidly  advancing  tov/ards 
their  completion,  so  the  vail  will  ere  long 
be   withdrawn,    which    has    hitherto    so 
much  concealed   her  beauty  and  excel- 
lence from  the  Nations  of  the  world,  but, 
in  a  more  especial  manner,  from  the  Poste- 
rity of  Jiidah. 

This  people,  so  wonderfully  preserved, 
and  so  highly  favoured  by  God,  till  they 
had  rejected  and  crucified  the  illustrious 
Prophet  foretold  by  Moses,  have,  ever 
since  that  ungrateful  and  rebellious  con- 
duct, presented  the  most  terrible  Exam- 
ple, that  the  world  has  ever  seen,  of 
judicial  Infatuation  and  lasting  Misery. 
His    blood   has   been    required   at   their 


284  LECTURE  VI. 

hands;  it  has  brought  them  to  ruin,  and 
to  universal  disgrace  * ;  its  Guilt  has  de- 

*  "  Another  Circumstance,"  says  an  accurate  ob- 
server, ''  illustrating  the  truth  of  the  Christian  Reli- 
"  gion  in  the  East,  is  the  State  of  the  Jews,  The 
"  Jews  are  scattered  over  the  whole  face  of  the  East, 
*<  and  the  fulfilment  of  the  prophecies  concerning  them 
"  is  far  more  evident  in  those  regions,  than  it  is  here 
"  among  Christian  Nations. 

"  The  last  great  punishment  of  the  Jewish  people 
"  was  inflicted  for  their  last  great  Crime — their  shed- 
"  ding  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God!  And  this  in- 
*'  stance  of  divine  indignation  has  been  exhibited  to  all 
*'  Nations;  and  all  Nations  seem  to  have  been  em- 
"  ployed,  by  the  ordinance  of  God,  in  inflicting  the 
"  punishment. 

"  By  express  prophecy,  the  Jews  were  sentenced  to 
"  become  "  the  scorn  and  reproach  of  all  people ;^^  and 
"  a  proverb  and  bye-word  among  all  nations,^'  Now, 
"  that  their  stubborn  unbelief  should  be  a  reproach  to 
*'  them  amongst  Christian  nations  here  in  the  West, 
*'  is  not  so  strange ;  that  they  should  be  a  proverb  and 
^  bye-word  among  those  who  had  heard  the  prophecy 
"  concerning  them,  is  not  so  remarkable.  But  to  have 
"  seen  them  (as  I  have  seen  them)  insulted  and  perse- 
"  cuted  by  the  ignorant  nations  in  the  East ;  in  the 
"  very  words  of  prophecy,  "  trodden  down  by  the 
'*  heathen  ;*'  trodden  down  by  a  people  who  never 
"  heard  the  name  of  Christ;  who  never  heart}  that 
**  the  Jews  had  rejected  Christ;  and  who,  ii>  fact, 
"  punished  the  Jews,  without  knowing  their  Crime — this, 
"  I  say,  hath  appeared  to  me  an  awful  completion  of 


LECTURE  VI.  285 

scended  through  every  succeeding  genera- 
tion ;  and,  to  this  very  day,  agreeably  to 
their  own  Imprecation,  it  rests  "  upon 
«  their  Children*/' 

These  are  circumstances  of  general 
Notoriety  ;  and  it  is  likewise  well  known 
by  those,  who  are  at  all  versed  in  the 
Books  of  MoseSy  and  in  the  general  history 
of  this  Nation,  that  the  peculiarities  of 
their  plagues  have  been  depicted,  to  a 
most  remarkable  degree  of  minuteness, 
by  the  pen  of  that  writer -f.  But  the 
great  Author  of  ou?^  own  Religion  has 
added  largely  to  these  previous  Represen- 
tations ;  and  it  is  for  the  purpose  of  eluci- 
dating some  of  his  predictions,  and  of 
adducing  a  still  further  and  very  cogent 
Argument  in  the  behalf  of  this  Religion, 
that  I  have  been  induced  to  select  some 


**  the  divine  sentence."  Dr.  Buchanan^s  Sermon,  en- 
titled **  The  Star  in  the  East,"  page  11. 

*  Matth.  ch.  27,  v.  25. 

f  See  more  particularly  those  predictions  of  Moses 
which  are  contained  in  the  28th  chapter  of  Deutero- 
nomy, verses  15—68;  and  the  able  commentary  upon 
them,  in  Bishop  Newton's  seventh  Dissertation  on  the 
Prophecies* 


<286  LECTURE  VI. 

further  particulars  in  tlieir  unparalleled 
history  *,  for  our  present  consideration. 

The  words  of  the  text  are  introduced 
by  a  heavy  and  most  pathetic  Remon- 
strance, which  was  poured  forth  from  the 
lips  of  Christ ;  and  portrays  the  cruel  and 
persecuting  Spirit  of  the  Jewish  race,  their 
Ingratitude,  Unbelief,  and  Hardness  of 
Heart,  in  the  most  impressive  manner. 
Taking  his  Jinal  leave  of  their  Temple,  he 
exclaimed — "  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem, 
"  thou  that  killest  the  Prophets,  and 
^'  stonest  them  that  are  sent  unto  thee ; 
"  how  often  would  I  have  gathered  thy 
'^  Children  together,  even  as  a  hen  gather- 
"  eth  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  and 
"  ye  would  not  V  Who  can  suitably  con- 
template these  words,  without  imbibing  a 
portion  of  the  Spirit  of  him  that  spake 
them  ;  without  admiring  his  tender  affec- 
tion, and  earnest  zeal,  for  the  Jewish  na- 

*  The  utter  insufficiency  of  the  Mosaic  Law  to  pro- 
mote the  Welfare  of  the  Jewish  Nation,  ever  since 
their  rejection  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  the  extraordinary 
nature  of  some  of  the  punishments  they  have  endured 
in  consequence  of  it ;  have  been  already  treated  of  in 
the  second-Lecture,  pages  90 — 101. 


LECTLTRE   VI.  287 

lion;  or  without  reprobating  the  enmity, 
which  could  set  so  much  goodness,  so  many 
endeavours  to  promote  their  happiness,  at 
defiance  ?  Such,  indeed,  was  his  love  for 
"  the  lost  Sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel/' 
that  their  Impenitence  drew  from  him,  not 
Expostulation^  but  also  Tears — "  When  he 
**  was  come  near,''  says  St.  Luke,  "  he  be- 
*'  held  the  City,  and  wept  over  it ;  saying, 
"  if  thou  hadst  known,  even  thou,  at  least 
**  in  this  thy  day,  the  things  that  make  for 
"  thy  peace  !  But  iiozv  they  are  hid  from 
"  thine  eyes  */' 

Would  we  know  more  particularly, 
what  Principles,  and  what  Practices,  drew 
forth  these  sorrowful  Expressions,  and  the 
denunciations  of  Vengeance  with  which 
they  were  attended ;  it  is  only  necessary 
to  advert  to  the  unjust  and  cruel  treat- 
ment that  the  Saviour  of  Mankind  re- 
ceived from  them ;  to  the  corruptions, 
which  had  crept  into  their  Religion,  and 
had  then  very  nearly  effaced  its  native  dig- 
nity and  significance ;  to  the  degenerate 
state  of  their  morals ;  and  to  the  very  woes, 

*  Luke,  ch.  19,  v.  41,  42- 


288  LECTURE  VI. 

which  he  so  repeatedly  pronounced 
against  their  spiritual  Guides,  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees. 

Upon  all  these  points  the  Gospels  will 
furnish  us  with  the  most  ample,  and  me- 
lancholy informatioa.  They  will  serve  to 
prove  incontestably ;  how  blinded  they 
were,  in  respect  to  their  own  most  im- 
portant interests ;  how  far  they  had  pro- 
ceeded in  profligacy  and  profaneness ; 
how  averse  they  were  from  the  pure  and 
pacific  doctrines  of  Christ.  But,  after 
their  rejection  of  him,  things  would  natu- 
rally grow  worse.  This  was  their  greatest, 
and  most  fatal  Enormity.  And  the  hard- 
ness of  heart,  which  prompted  them  to 
this,  hurried  them  on,  with  destructive  ce- 
lerity, to  "  the  filling  up  of  the  measure  of 
"  their  Iniquities  */' 

Josephus,  who  was  himself  one  of  the 
Priesthood,  in  various  parts  of  his  history 
of  their  war  with  the  Romans,  has  given 
us   a   most  deplorable   character   of  his 

*  They  were  not  very  remote  from  this  limit,  at  the 
time  when  Our  Lord  denounced  against  them  the  Judg- 
ment in  the  text ;  "  Fill  ye  up/*  said  he,  "  the  Measure 
"  of  your  Fathers."  Matth.  ch,23.  v.  32. 


LECTURE  VI.  *289 

countrymen  when  they  had  attained  to  this 
extreme.  *^  The  Leaders  of  the  people, 
"  and  the  chief  Priests,"  according  to  his 
account,  "  were  profligate  wretches,  who 
**  had  purchased  their  places  by  bribes,  or 
"  by  acts  of  iniquity;  and  who  maintained 
*'  their  ill-acquired  Authority  by  the  most 
**  flagitious  and  abominable  crimes.  The 
"  subordinate  and  inferior  members  of  the 
"  State  were  infected  with  the  corruption 
**  of  the  liead  ;  the  Priests,  and  those  who 
**  possessed  any  Shadow  of  Authority, 
"  w^ere  become  dissolute  and  abandoned 
"  to  the  highest  degree;  while  the  Multi- 
*'  tude,  urged  on  by  these  corrupt  Ex- 
"  amples,  ran  headlong  into  every  sort  of 
*'  wickedness;  and,  by  their  endless  sedi- 
"  tions,  robberies,  and  extortions,  armed 
*'  against  themselves,  both  the  Justice  of 
**  God,  and  the  Vengeance  of  Men  *. 

Grieved,  therefore,    at  their  obduracy 
and  impiety, and  foreseeing  the  lamentable 

*  This  is  the  sum  of  the  evidence  upon  this  subject, 
as  derived  from  various  passages  in  Josephus;  anci  ex- 
hibited in  the  strong  and  impressive  language  ofMos- 
heim.  Eccles.  Hist.  vol.  1.  page  32.  edit.  2,  Dr.  Aiuc-* 
laine's  Translation. 

VOL.  I,  i; 


^90  LECTURE  VI. 

consequences  to  which  they  tended,  their 
divine  Instructor  earnestly  and  repeatedly 
forewarned  them  of  their  Danger,  and 
enforced  the  necessity  of  sincere  Repent- 
ance. The  Writings  of  the  Evangelists 
abound  with  instances  of  this  ;  and  all  of 
these  are  of  a  prophetic  nature;  and 
exhibit  beforehand  some  description  of  the 
fate,  to  which  they  submitted  *. 

At  one  time  he  assured  them,  that, 
*^  except  they  repented,  they  would  all 
*^  perish,"  in  the  same  manner  as  "  those  Ga- 
"  lileans,  whose  blood  Pilate  had  mingled 
"  with  their  sacrifices,''  and  as  "  those 
'*  eighteen  upon  whom  the  tower  in  Siloam 
^*  fell,  and  slew  them  -fJ' 

*  For  an  able  elucidation  of  many  of  those  prophe- 
cies, which  our  Saviour  uttered  concerning  the  De- 
struction of  Jerusalem,  and  of  which  no  particular 
notice  can  be  taken  in  the  present  discourse,  I  beg 
leave  to  refer  the  reader  to  the  18th,  19th,  20th,  and 
21st  Dissertations  of  Bishop  Newton  on  the  Prophe- 
cies. 

f  See  Luke,  ch.  13,  v.  3,  5.  The  words  in  the  ori- 
ginal are  very  remarkable :  thus,  in 

v.  S.  sccvfinfJi'^TavoYiTs,  -cravTcs 'flSATTXlS  ce.TroXeto'&s*  and 

which  are  rendered  in  both  verses — "  except  ye  repent^ 
"  ye  shall  allhiKKWisE perish.^'  But  the  adverbs  ua-auru; 


LECTURE  VI.  $91 

At  another  time,  alluding  to  the  call  of 
the  Gentiles,  he  pronounced,  that  '*  many 

and  'ofA,oiug  have  a  strong  and  most  marked  signification. 
They  both  denote  similarity  of  manner ;  and  therefore, 
in  this  instance,  imply  analogy  of  ruin*  It  may  be 
worth  our  while  then  to  observe,  how  awfully  these  de- 
nunciations of  divine  Vengeance  were  verified  in  the 
case  of  the  Jewish  nation, 

I.  That  Generation  was  not  to  pass  away  before  all 
these  things  were  fulfilled.  (Matth.  ch.  24,  v.  34.) 
Now,  the  principal  occasion,  which  brought  the  natioa 
annually  together,  was  of  a  religious  nature ;  on  this, 
they  assembled  from  all  parts  at  Jerusalem,  bringing 
with  them  the  Sacrifices  and  Oblations  prescribed  by 
the  Law.  But,  at  the  celebration  of  their  last  Passover, 
the  impenitent  Jews,  when  thus  assembled,  were  shut 
up,  within  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  by  the  army  of  Titus  ; 
and  destroyed  with  an  unprecedented  destruction.  The 
City,  which  was  the  place  of  general  resort,  for  the 
eating  of  the  Paschal  Lambs,  presented  nothing  but  a 
long-continued  scene  of  slaughter  and  desolation  :  and 
the  Temple  itself  became  irrecoverably  polluted,  by  the 
torrents  of  human  blood  shed  within  its  precincts.  So 
exactly  did  the  fate  of  this  devoted  people  correspond 
with  its  type  I  So  truly  was  their  blood,  like  that  of 
these  Galileans,  on  a  similar  occasion,  "mingled  witb 
**  their  Sacrifices!" 

II.  It  was  foretold,  that  there  should  not  be  left  in 
Jerusalem  "  one  stone  upon  another,  that  should  not 
"  be  thrown  down."  (Matth.  ch.  24,  v.  2.  Luke,  ch,  19, 
T.  44.)  And  this,  we  are  credibly  informed,  was  lite- 
rally accompU»hftd,  in  the  Desolations  of  that  City. 

U  2 


292  LECTURE  Vr. 

*'  should  come  from  ihe  East  and  We^st, 
**  and  should  sit  down  with  Abraham, 
''  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  in  the  Kingdom  of 
"  Heaven/'  becoming  partakers  of  those 
blessings,  which  these  holy  patriarchs 
enjoyed  only  in  anticipation  ;  '*  but  that 
"  the  children  of  the  Kino;dom/*  those  who 
had  been  hitherto  the  peculiar  subjects  of 
the  Theocracy,  and  to  whom  "  the  Gospel 
"  of  the  Kingdom  of  God'*  was  first 
preached,  should  be  cast  out  into  outer 
**  darkness,  where  there  should  be  weeping 
"  and  onashins:  of  teeth" — -into  a  state  of 
the  most  abject  ignorance  and  wretched- 
ness, without  any  pitj^  or  alleviation -. 

But,  during  the  progress  of  this  Demolition,  the  Jewish 
Nation  also  was  rapidly  approaching  towards  utter 
ruin:  and,  before  the  final  development  of  the  Cata- 
strophe, upwards  of  a  million  of  persons  had  perished 
within  the  walls,  which,  being  deserted  by  God,  there 
had  been  a  vain  endeavour  to  defend.  Here  therefore 
is  a  strikii^g  degree  of  parallelism  between  the  two 
cases,  that  are  now  brouglit  into  question ;  and  thus 
fell  the  nation,  after  the  manner  of  those  at  the  tower 
of  Siloam,  beneath  the  ruins  of  their  own  City  ! 

*  Matth.ch.  8,  V.  11,  12.  The  exact  fulfilment  of 
this  memorable  prediction  is  sufficiently  evident;  from 
the  influx  of  Gentile  Nations  into  the  Church;  and 
from  the-  history  of  the  Jewish  race,,  during  the  last 
seyenteen  hundred  and  eighty  years. 


LECTURE  VI.  293 

In  his  Parable  of  the  barren  Fig-tree,  he 
has  represented  Himself,  under  the  Cha- 
racter of  the  Dresser  of  the  Vineyard,  as 
interceding  in  their  behalf  for  a  longer 
time  of  trial — "  Lord,''  said  he,  *'  let  it 
**  alone  this  year  also,  till  I  shall  dig  about 
"  it,  and  dung  it:  and,  if  it  bear  fruit, 
*'  well :  but  if  not,  then  after  that  thou 
*'  shalt  cut  it  down  */' 

In  his  Parable  of  the  "  Nobleman,  who 
*^  went  into  a  far  country  to  receive  for 
*'  himself  a  Kingdom,  and  to  return  "  but 
who,  before  he  ^vent,  intrusted  a  certain 
number  of  talents  to  his  Servants  for  the 
purpose  of  improvement,  the  incorrigible 
dissaftection  of  the  Jews  to  Himself  is  thus 
plainly  descri  bed—"  but  his  Citizens  hated 
''  him,  and  sent  a  message  after  him, 
"  saying,  We  will  not  have  this  man  to 
"  reign  oyer  us/'  But  the  miserable  Ca- 
tastrophe, which  was  the  consequence  of 
this  revolt,  is  no  less  clearly  unfolded — 
"  Those  mine  enemies,  who  would  not  that 

*  Luke,  ch.  13,  V,  6 — i).  This  period  of  further 
trial  commenced  with  their  formal  rejection  of  Christ, 
*nd  concluded  with  the  beginning  of  their  fatal  war  wit}i 
the  Romans. 

u  3 


294  LECTURE  VI. 

*'  I  should  reign  over  them,  bring  hither, 
**  and  slay  them  before  me  V* 

His  Parable  of  the  rebellious  Husband- 
men, who  murdered  the  only  Son  of  the 
Lord  of  the  Vineyard,  merely  because  he 
had  been  sent  to  receive  the  payment  of 
the  fruits  that  were  clue,  is  concluded  with 
this  most  pointed  and  awful  application— 
"What  shall  therefore  the  Lord  of  the 
"  Vineyard  do  unto  them  ?  He  will  come, 
**  and  destroy  those  husbandmen,  and 
**  shall  give  the  vineyard  to  others -f/' 

Such  were  some  of  the  intimations 
which  this  people  occasionally  received, 
in  order  to  alarm,  and  move  them  to  re- 
pentance; but,  at  other  times,  the  predic- 
tions of  their  ruin  were  more  unreserved 
and  precise.  Thus — With  the  tears  he 
shed,  and  the  lamentation  he  uttered,  over 
Jerusalem,  he  combined  this  plain  decla- 
ration— "  For  the  days  shall  come  upon 

*  Luke,ch.  19,  v.  12—27. 

t  Luke,  cU.  20,  v.  9— 16,  and  Mark,  ch.  12,  v.  1— Q. 
See  also  Matth,  ch.  21,  v.  33—41,  with  Dr.  Mac- 
knight's  ingenious  remarks  on  the  concluding  passage 
of  tUis  portion  of  history,  in  his  ^^  Harmony  of  the 
"  Gospels/' sect.  115,  vol.  2. 


4C 


LECTURE  VI.  295 

**  thee,  that  thine  enemies  shall  cast  a 
trench  about  thee,  and  compass  thee 
round,  and  keep  thee  in  on  every  side ; 
"  and  shall  lay  thee  even  with  the  ground, 
"  and  thy  children  within  thee  ;  and  they 
**  shall  not  leave  in  thee  one  stone  upon 
**  another  :  because  thou  knewest  not  the 
*'  time  of  thy  visitation  \"  Thus  also, 
when  his  disciples  came  to  him,  for  the 
purpose  of  directing  his  attention  to  the 
grandeur  and  beauty  of  the  Temple, 
*'  Jesus  said  unto  them  ;  See  ye  not  all 
*'  these  things  ?  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
"  There  shall  not  be  left  here  one  stone 
"  upon  another,  that  shall  not  be  thrown 
"  down  -f." 

But  nothing  can  exceed  the  sublimity, 
and  fearful  import,  of  those  words,  with 
which  he  closed  his  /as^  remonstrance  with 
them,  and  devoted  them,  as  it  were,  to  the 
destruction  they  were  incurring — '*  Be- 
^'  hold,"  said  he,  '*  your  House  is  left  unto 
**  you  desolate :  for  I  say  unto  you,  ye  shall 

*  Luke,  ch.  19,  v.  43,  44. 

f  Matth.  ch.  24,  v.  1, 2.  Mark,  cb.  IS,  v.  1, 2.  Luke, 
ch.21,  V.  5,  6. 

u  4 


£95  LECTURE  VI. 

«'  not  see  me  henceforth  till  ye  shall  say^ 
*'  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of 
"  the  Lord/* 

Ihis  was,  in  truth,  a  sentence  of  a  most 
comprehensive  nature;  and  involved  the 
substance  of  all  the  former  threaten! ngs, 
that  he  had  ever  uttered  against  them. 

If  by  the  expression  "  your  House*^  be 
intended  the  Temple,  which  he  was  then 
leaving  for  the  last  time^  and  by  which  Je- 
rusalem had  been  so  much  distinguished 
above  all  other  Cities,  this  memorable 
passage*  will  obviously  admit  of  the  fol- 
lowing interpretation — As  you  will  not 
consent  to  worship  God  in  the  manner 
which  he  requires -j-;  as  you  have  refused 
to  receive  me  who  am  come  in  his  name.]:, 
and  to  rubmit  to  that  divine  Institution 
foretold  by  your  own  prophets,  which  I 
have  been   sent  into  this  world   to  esta- 

*  *IJdy,  i.pitOLi  viuiv  0  ^OiMS  ufJ^oov  l/3ij|U.of.  v.  38. 
.    t  John,  ch.  4,  v.  23,  24. 

J  John,  ch.  o,  V.  43.  "  I  am  come  in  my  Father*s 
'*  name,  and  ye  receive  me  not :  if'  another  shall  come 
*'  in  his  ozcn  name,  him  ye  will  receive"  How  wonder- 
fully were  these  last  words  verified,  in  the  stupid  cre- 
dulity, with  which  they  listened  to  the  pretensions  of 
those  '*  false  Christs  and  false  Prophets,"  who  after- 
wa  rds  seduced  the  nation  to  their  ruin.' 


LECTURE  VI.  S97 

blish  *  ;  —  therefore  "  your  House,"  this 
Temple  in  which  jou  so  much  pride  your- 
selves, and  in  which  you  will  persist  in 
offering  up  unacceptable  Sacrifices  and 
Services  to  God,  inasmuch  as  I  am  *'  The 
"  Lamb  of  Gov  that  iaketh  away  the  Sins  of 
''  the  ?fVWt/'— This  Temple,  your  Glory, 
and  Sanctuary  of  strength  J,  "  shall  be  left 
'*  unto  you  desolate. "*' 

But  yet  tlie  sacred  Spot  shall  not  be  so 
utterly  alienated,  though  for  ages  in  a  state 
of  desolation,  as  not,  at  some  future  time, 
to  be  capable  of  a  restoration  to  your 
race  :  but  that  must  be  a  season  of  sincere 
and  deep  repentance,  and  of  entire  amend- 
ment of  life ;  "  for  1  say  unto  you,  ye  shall 
"  not  see  me  henceforth,"'  after  my  pas- 
sion, "  till  ye  shall  say,  Blessed  be  he  that 
"  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord/'  This 
was  the  exulting  cry  of  the  believing  mul- 
titude, and  their  open  acknowledgment  of 
him  as  the  true  Messiah,  when  Jesus  had 

*  John,  ch.  5,  v.  39,  40. 

f  John,  ch.  1,  V.29,  and  ch.5,  v.  S3. 

}  For  a  description  at  large  of  the  magnificence, 
beauty,  and  strength  of  the  Temple,  consult  Josephus 
Anliq.  lib.  15,  c.  11. 


t98  LECTURE  VI. 

lately  made  his  public  entry  into  the 
Temple*;  and  he  here  evidently  foretels, 
that  the  Jewish  nation  should  be  actuated 
by  the  same  sentiments  and  feelings,  be- 
fore they  should  again  witness  his  personal 
presence  on  the  sajne  consecrated  Ground. 
And  it  was  manifestly  in  allusion  to  this 
circumstance,  to  the  comparatively  greater 
readiness  of  Gentile  nations  to  receive  the 
Gospel,  and  to  the  priority  of  the  time 
when  they  should  receive  it,  that  he  re- 
peatedly and  most  solemnly  asserted,  that 
"  those  who  had  been  the  first  should  be  last, 
**  a7id  the  last  first -f" 

Here  then  is  a  scene  of  divine  Dispen- 
sation opened  before  us ;  which  is  to  be 
carrying  on  through  a  period  that  is  here 
undefined ;  but  which  every  age  since  this 
prophecy  was  delivered  has  contributed 
continually  still  further  to  illustrate  !  And 
it  cannot  but  be  interesting  to  us,  as  far  as 
our  limits  will  allow,  to  notice  the  several 
portions  of  which  it  consists. 

*  Matth.  ch.  21,  V.  9— 11.  Mark,  ch.  11,  v.  9,  10. 
Luke,  ch.  19,  v.  37,  38. 

t  Matih.  ch.  19,  V.3O5  ch,  20,  y.  16.  Luke,  ch.  13, 
Y.  30. 


LECTURE  VI.  299 

It  bad  been  predicted  by  Haggai,  in  a 
passage   to  nliich  we  have  already   paid 
some    attention,    that   "  the    latter  Glory 
"  of  the  House''  of  God  at  Jerusalem  "  should 
"  be  greater  than  its  former  Glory  */'    The 
former  Glory  of  it,  exclusive  of  its  amazing 
magnificence,  was   the  visible  and   lumi- 
nous Symbol  of  the  divine  Presence,  which 
rested  supernaturally  over  the  covering  of 
the  Ark.     But  at  the  time  of  the  Baby- 
lonish captivity,  this  Mercy-seat  was  con- 
ve3'ed    to    Babylon;    and    it    was    never 
afterwards  restored  :  so  that  after  the  re- 
turn of  the  Jews  irom  this  captivity,  the 
Glorj^  of  Jehovah,  which  had  before  ap- 
peared between  the  Cherubim,  became  no 
longer  visible  in  their  'J'emple.     Notwith. 
standing  this  circumstance,  however, ''  th& 
**  latter  Glory  of  it*'  was  greatly  to  exceed 
"  the  jormer ;'  although   it  is  well  known^ 
that  the  I  difice  erected  by  Zerubbabel,and 
even  that  b}'-  which  Herod  attempted  to 
immortalize  his  name,  were  really  inferior, 
in  respect  to  Grandeur,  to  that  which  had 

*  Haggai,  ch.  2,  v.  7,  as  cited  in  page  165,  and  fur- 
ther illustrated  in  the  Appendix,  Note  Y. 


30()  LECTURE  VI. 

been  built  by  Solomon*.  But  now — - 
upon  Christ's  final  departure  from  the 
Temple — it  is  declared  to  the  Jews,  that 
*'  their  House  is  left  unto  them  desolate  \' 
whence  it  must  be  concluded,  that  the 
Glory ^  which  had  thus  been  foretold,  had 
already  made  its  appeararice,  and  was  then 
actually  departing.  Thus,  from  the  com- 
parison of  these  two  Prophecies,  there 
results  a  further  argument,  for  the  divine 
authenticity  of  our  holy  Religion  ;  and  for 
the  transcendent  nature  of  that  Glory, 
which  was,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  to  illu- 
minate that  sacred  Place. 

It  has  been  observed,  that  our  Lord,  in 
the  parable  of  "  The  barren  Fig-tree,"'  has 
described  himself  as  imploring  for  it  one 

*  For  a  desoriptioii  of   this  stupendous   fabric  see 

1.  Kings,   chapters   6  and  7,  and  11.  Chron.  chapters 

2,  3,  and  4;  as  also  Josephus  Antiq.  lib.  8,  c.  3,  The 
preparation  of  the  mountain  for  the  foundation  of  the 
Temple,  and  for  the  erection  of  its  magnificent  cloisters, 
was  peculiarly  the  achievement  of  Solomon  :  "  he  told 
**  out  fourscore  thousand  men  to  hew  in  the  mountain." 
And  the  vastness  of  the  undertaking  was  proportioned 
to  their  number;  for  it  formed  by  far  the  most  sur- 
prising part  of  the  whole  work,  as  we  leari)  from  llie 
testimony  of  Josephus, 


LECTURE  VI.  301 

further  year  of  trial.    Now,  the  war, which 
terminated     in    tlie    Destruction    of    the 
Jewish  Temple,  had  its    commencement 
about  thirty-six  years  after  his  crucifixion. 
This  period,  therefore,  corresponded  with 
the  year  of  Grace  denoted  in  the  Parable  ; 
and  during  this,  the  Gospel  was  preached 
to  that  People  ;  and  every  means  made  use 
of  for  their  Conversion.     When  all  were 
found    ineffectual,    "  the    days    of    Ven- 
"  geance''    succeeded ;    and    these   were 
ushered  in  by  a  Sign,  of  general  notoriety, 
and  never  to  be  forgotten.     It  is  recorded, 
aqiong    the    extraordinary   circumstances 
described  by  Josephus,  as  preceding  the 
commotions  that  produced  this  fatal  war, 
that—"  When  the    people  came  in  great 
*'  multitudes   to   the  feast  of  unleavened 
"  bread,  at  the  ninth  hour  of  the  night, 
'"  there  shone  forth,  for  half  an   hour,  so 
"  great  a  light    round   the  Altar  and   the 
"  Holy    Place,    that   it  appeared    to  be 
"  as  light  as  day.     This,''  says  the  histo- 
rian, '*  was  considered  as   a  good   omen 
*'  by   the    people ;    but    v/as    interpreted 
**  by  the  sacred  scribes   to    portend    the 
*'  calamitous     events     that    immediately 


302  LECTURE  VI. 

"  followed*/'  We,  however,  are  under  little 
uncertainty  upon  this  point.  For  as  the 
glorious  Effulgence,  expressive  of  the  di- 
vine Presence,  was  never  seen  in  the  Ta- 
bernacle and  first  Temple,  except  over  the 
Mercy  Seat,  "  betz^een  the  Cherubim  ;'  so 
some  such  Appearance  on  this  occasion, 
for  the  first  time  after  the  Captivity,  and 
when  the  Temple  was  destitute  of  those 
distinguishing  parts  of  its  original  Furniture^ 
was  an  evident  token,  that  then  zms  the 
time  of  Judgment  not  of  Mercy, 

And  we  cannot  but  observe,  how  sig- 
nally the  Judgments  of  the  Almighty  not 
long  after  overwhelmed  that  wretched 
race.  Those  rebellious  and  ungrateful 
children,  whom  the  Saviour  of  the  world 
would  have  often  "  gathered  together,  even 
"  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her 
"  wings,"  securing  to  them  the  inestimable 
blessings  of  happiness  both  temporal  and 
eternal,  were,  about  four  years  afterwardsf , 
''  gathered  together''  for  Vengeance  and 
Destruction. 

The   Jewish   Historian,   whom    I   have 

*  Josephus,  Jewish  War,  book  6,  c.  5,  sec  3. 
t  A.  D.  70. 


LECTURE  VI.  SOS 

before  cited,  declares,  that"  the  Number 
"  of  those  who  perished  during  the  whole 
"  siege  of  Jerusalem  was  one  million  one 
"  hundred  thousand  persons ;  the  greater 
**  part  of  whom  were  Jews,  but  not  be- 
"  longing  to  the  city  itself;  for  they  came 
"  up  from  all  parts  of  the  country  to  the 
"  feast  of  unleavened  bread  */'  Is  it  not 
surprizing  then,  that  those,  who  had  refused 
to  acknowledge  "  the  very  paschal  Lamb^' 
Jesus  Christy  should  be  thus  "  gathei^ed  to^ 
"  gether'  to  perish  at  the  celebration  of  a 
passoverj  whose  typical  Efficacy  had  then  been 
long  superseded  !  Yet  so  exact  has  been  the 
divine  Retribution  !  So  truly,  as  it  had 
been  predicted,  ''  was  their  Blood  mingled 
"  with  their  Sacrifices  V 

And  it  is  a  peculiarity  in  this  Event, 
which  merits  our  most  serious  attention ; 
that  no  foreign  Nation  ever  came  thus  to 
destroy  the  Jews  at  any  of  their  solemn 
Festivals,  from  the  days  of  Moses  to  this 
very  time.  Surely  this  circumstance  clearly 
shews  the  hand  of  God  throughout  the 

*  History  of  the  Jewish  War,  book  6,  ch.  9,  sec.  3- 
See  also  the  notes  upon  this  chapter,  in  Mr.  Whiston*s 
edition  of  Josephus. 


304  LECTURE  VI. 

whole  ;  and  that  their  enemies  were  now 
sent,  to  revenge  their  Apostacy  from  him, 
and  to  punish  the  desperate  Wickedness 
into  which  they  had  descended. 

And,  as  there  was  only  one  place  within 
the  precincts  of  their  country,  where  God 
had  been  pleased  to  place  his  Name,  and 
where  such  holy  solemnities  could  be  ob- 
served according  to  the  Law,  it  seems 
utterly  impossible,  that,  in  any  other  na- 
tion whatever,  such  vast  numbers  should 
be  collected  together  on  a  religious  ac- 
count, and  perish  in  the  siege  of  any  one 
city^  as  now  perished  in  Jerusalem.  His- 
tory has  indeed  afforded  us  no  parallel  to 
this.  *'  The  whole  nation,"'  says  Josephus, 
"  was  now  shut  up  by  fate,  as  in  a  prison  ; 
*^  and  the  Roman  arm}'  encompassed  the 
"  city,  when  it  was  thus  crowded  with 
*'  inhabitants  *."  And  thence,  according 
to  our  Saviour's  own  prediction,  there 
arose  "  great  Tribulation,  such  as  was  not 
"  since  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  that 
"  time,  no,  nor  ever  shall  be  -f- '^ 

Another    circumstance    in    this    cata- 

*  Jewish  War,  book  6,  cb,  9,  sec.  4. 
f  MaUh.  ch.  24,  v.  21. 


LECTURE  VI.  305 

strophe,  which  is  far  loo  important  to  he 
omitted,  because  it  tuniislies  a  most  s^i^/ial 
instance  of  divine  Ketribution,  is  the  very 
kind  of  Deaths  to  which  many  of  these  un- 
happy people  were  put  by  the  Ronans, 
As  the  nation  had  once  crucified  the  Sa- 
viour, who  could  alone  have  preserved 
them  from  evil,  so  were  they  now  to  be 
crucifiedy  without  mercy,  and  in  such  num- 
bers that  necessity  alone  prescribed  the 
limit.  "  The  soldiers/'  says  the  historian 
above  cited,  "  out  of  rage,  and  the  enmity 
"  they  bore  to  the  Jews^nailed  those  they 
''  caught,  one  after  one  way,  and  another 
"  after  another,  to  the  Crosses,  by  way  of 
^^  jest  I  till  their  multitude  became  so 
*'  great,  that  Koottz  was  wanting  for  the 
^' Crosses^  a?id  Crosses  were  wanting  for  the 
''  Bodies  */' 

As  therefore  their  Crime  was  of  an 
unparalleled  nature,  so  has  been  their 
Punishment.  Their  plagues  have  been 
wondeiful,  almost  from  that  day  to  this. 
How  literally,  and  with  what  accumulated 
horrors,    the   prophecy,   recorded   in  the 

*  Jewish  War,  book  5,  ch.  U.  sec.  1. 
VOL.  I.  X 


S06  LECTURE  VI. 

text,  has  been  fulfilled,  in  respect  to  the 
buildings  of  the  Temple,  the  evidence  of 
the  Jewish  historian  himself  will  expressly 
declare.  As  soon,  he  informs  us,  as  the 
destructive  work  of  burnino;  and  massa- 
cring  was  completed,  Titus  gave  orders, 
that  the  city  should  be  entirely  demo- 
lished, and  razed  to  the  ground.  Those 
parts  of  this  magnificent  pile,  which  had 
remained,  with  one  stone  upon  another,  after 
the  late  devastation,  sank  beneath  the 
weight  of  this  blow.  There  was  nothing 
left  standing  of  Jerusalem,  except  the 
three  famous  towers  of  Hippicus,  Pha- 
saelus,  and  Mariamne,  and  part  of  the 
Western  Wall.  And  these  were  only 
spared  ;  that  the  Towers  might  remain  as 
memorials  to  future  ages  of  the  enterprize 
and  bravery  of  the  Romans  ;  and  that  the 
wall  might  serve  as  a  Rampart  for  the 
troops, whom  it  might  be  necessary  to  leave 
there.  '*  As  to  all  the  rest  of  the  City,"' 
says  the  historian,  "  it  was  so  thoroughly 
*'  laid  even  with  the  ground,  by  those  who 
"  dug  it  up  to  the  very  foundations,  that 
"  there  was  nothing  left  to  induce  those 


LECTURE  Vr,  307 

^*  that  came  thither  to  believe,  that  it  had 
"  ever  been  inhabited  *." 

And  in  this  desolate  condition,  as  far  as 
the  Jewish  Nation  is  concerned,  "  the 
"place  of  the  /br;/2er  Tabernacle  of  the 
"  Most  High"  remains  to  tliis  day.  Not 
even  all  the  efforts  of  a  Julian,  aided  by- 
all  the  opulence  and  power  of  Imperial 
Dignit}^  and  animated  by  all  the  zeal  that 
inveterate  Enmity  against  the  Cause  of 
Christianity  could  supply,  have  been  suf- 
ficient in  any  degree  to  effect  its  Restora- 
tion-f*.  And,  after  a  lapse  of  so  many 
ages,  it  has  at  length  attained  to  no  higher 
distinction,  than  that  some  of  the  Dis- 
ciples of  Mahomet  have  presumed  to  erect 
an  indifferent  Mosque,  upon  a  plat  of 
ground,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been 
once  the  site  of  its  Holij  of  HoUes%. 

*  Jewish  War,  book  7,  cb.  1,  sec.  1. 

f  For  an  account  of  this  attempt  to  re-establish  Ju- 
daism upon  the  ruins  of  Christianity,  the  Reader  is  re- 
ferred particularly  to  Dr.  Mosheim's  Ecclesasiical  His- 
tory, Century  IV".  part  1,  chap.  1,  sec.  14;  and  to  the 
otiier  authors  there  appealed  to,  in  the  learned  notes  of 
Dr.  Maclaine. 

%  In  the  year  644  of  the  Christian  era,     mar,   the 
third  Khalif  of  the  Saracens,  built  a  mosque  on  Mount 

X  2 


308  LECTURE  VI. 

Thus  far  the  Accomplishment  of  this^ 
Prophecy  has  been  confined  to  the  Tem- 
ple at  Jerusalem  ;  but  it  is  capable  of  a 
much  more  extensive  Interpretation.  That 
grand  and  beautiful  Structure  was,  m  one 
sense,  a  Representative,  as  it  were,  of  the 
Jewish  race  themselves.     It  was  the  place 

Moriah,  within  the  space  where  Solomon's  Temple  had 
formerly  stood  :  and  this  was  afterwards  (in  685^  much 
enlarged,  and  adorned  with  many  beautiful  and  magni- 
ficent buildings,  by  the  Khalif  Abd'al  Malec,  the  Son 
of  Merwan ;  who  ordered,  that  the  pilgrimages  from 
Syria  should  be  directed  to  Jerusalem  instead  of  to 
Mecca.  Modern  History,  vol.  1,  p.  432,  and  vol.  2, 
p. 139. 

During  the  time  of  the  Crusades,  while  Jerusalem 
was  in  the  hands  of  the  Christians,  this  edifice  became 
converted  into  a  place  of  Christian  worship  :  but  upon 
the  reversion  of  that  City  to  its  former  Masters,  the 
Mahometan  rites  were  restored,  and  have  continued  to 
this  very  day.  "  This  Mosque,'^  says  Dr.  Pococke, 
*^  has  a  beautiful  appearance,  the  outside  of  it  being 
"  cased  with  tiles  of  diffierent  colours,  but  chiefly 
u  green.''  It  seems,  however,  to  derive  its  chief  eiFect 
from  the  elevation  of  the  spot  upon  which  it  stands. 
For  *'  it  is  neither  eminent  for  its  largeness,  nor  its 
**'  structure ;  and  yet  it  makes  a  very  stately  figure,  by 
"  the  sole  advantage  of  its  situation."  See  Dr. 
Pococke's  Description  of  the  East,  book  1,  chap.  3. ; 
and  Mr.  Maundrell's  Journey  from  Aleppo  to  Jeru- 
salem, page  107,  edit.  7. 


LECTURE  VI.  309 

of  their  general  resort,  once  a  year  at 
least,  for  the  purpose  of  presenting  them- 
selves in  the  most  solemn  manner  before 
the  God  of  their  fathers:  and  zmthout 
this,  constituted  as  their  Government  was, 
they  had  no  ecclesiastical  Establishment, 
no  political  Existence  whatever.  So  that, 
in  effect,  the  fate  of  the  Nation  wasin- 
volved  in  that  of  their  Temple. 

If    therefore     the    expression,    "   your 
"  House"  be  taken,   in  a  more  enlarged 
sense,    to  denote   their  Habitations  gene- 
rally, and  even  the  Cotmtry  that  was  their 
peculiar  Inheritance,  yet  still  this  predic- 
tion will  be  found   to  have  received  its 
fulfilment  in  an  equally  striking  manner. 
The  War  which  Vespasian  waged  with  the 
Jews  was  almost  a  war  of  extermination  ^  ; 
and  Adrian,  about  sixty-five  years  after, 
completed  what  this  Emperor  had  so  far 
proceeded  inf.  Their  Cities,  Towns,  and 

*  The  whole  number  of  Jews  destroyed,  duruig  the 
fatal  war  which  terminated  in  the  dispersion  of  their 
Nation,  is  summed  up  by  Archbishop  Usher,  from 
Jiipsius,  out  of  Josephus ;  and  amounts  to  1,337,490. 
Annal.  A.D.  70. 

t  For  an  account  of  this  murderous  War,  in  which 

X  3 


SIO  LECTURE  Vf. 

Villages  were  destroyed ;  their  Country 
was  laid  waste ;  and  not  only  were  they 
themselves  either  destroyed,  or  ejected; 
but,  ever  since  these  awful  Visitations,  it 
has  remained  in  a  comparatively  desolate 
and    uninhabited    State*;    affording     to 

considerably  upwards  of  half  a  Million  of  Jews  perish- 
ed, by  unheard-of  Massacres  as  well  as  in  baule, 
consult  Modern  History,  vol  13,  p.  149 — 154.  Adrian 
rebuilt  Jerusalem  ;  but  not  with  the  view  of  favouring 
the  Jews :  for  to  mortify  and  humble  them,  he  changed 
its  name;  and  reared  so  many  heathenish  structures, 
and  especially  that  of  Jupiter  Capitolinus  on  the  spot 
where  the  temple  had  formerly  stood,  as  made  them  ab- 
hor coming  into  it.  And  the  more  completel}'  to  pre- 
\ent  their  coming,  he  published  an  Edict,  expressly  pro- 
hibiting tliem, under  the  severest  penalties,  from  ail  fur- 
ther access  to  it.  He  even  proceeded  so  far,  in  respect 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  as  to  cause  a  prodi- 
gious number  of  them  to  be  sold  at  two  difierent  fairs, 
at  the  common  priceof  horses  ;  and  ordered  the  remain- 
der to  be  transported  into  Egypt,  Ibid.  See  also 
Anc.  Univ.  Hist.  vol.  15,  page  1/0;  and  M.  Basnage's 
History  of  the  Jews,  book  6,  chap.  9. 

*  To  Mr.  Maundrell  we  are  indebted  for  some  excel- 
lent ob>ervaiions,  relative  to  the  contrast  which  the  pre- 
sent desolate  State  of  Judaea,  in  the  more  mountainous 
parts,  exhibits,  when  compared  with  the  accounts  of 
Holy  Writ,  respecting  its  ancient  State  of  population 
and  abundance. 

"  At  the  sight  of  this,"  says  he,  "  Pilgrims  are  apt 


LECTURE  VI.  311 

every  subsequent  Generation  a  stupen- 
dous proof  of  the  Truth  of  this  very  Pro- 

^'  to  be  much  astonished,  and  baulked  in  their  expecta- 
^'  tions  ;  finding  that  Country  in  such  an  inhospitable 
"  condition,  concerning  zohose  pleasantness  and  plenty, 
''  they  had  before  formed  in  their  minds  such  high 
"  ideas,  from  the  description  given  of  it  in  the  Word 
"of  God.  Insomuch  that  it  almost  startles  their 
^'  faith,  when  they  reflect,  how  it  could  be  possible  for 
^'  a  land  like  this,  to  supply  food  for  so  prodigious  a 
"  number  of  Inhabitants,  as  are  said  to  have  been 
*'  polled  in  the  twelve  Tribes  at  one  time ;  the  Sum 
^'  given  in  by  Joab  (II.  Sam.  ch.  24,  v.  1).)  amounting 
"  to  thirteen  hundred  thousand  Jighting  Men,  besides 
^'  Women  and  Children.  But  it  is  certain,  that  any 
^'  man,  who  is  not  a  httle  biassed  to  InfideUty  before, 
"  may  see,  as  he  passes  along,  Arguments  enough  to 
^^  support  his  faith  against  such  scruples — 

"  For  it  is  obvious  for  any  one  to  observe,  that  these 
"  Rocks  and  H'dls  must  have  been  anciently  covered 
'^  with  Earthy  and  cultivated,  and  made  to  contribute 
'^  to  the  maintenance  of  the  Inhabitants,  no  less  than 
"  if  the  Country  had  been  all  plain :  nay  perhaps, 
^^  much  more;  forasmuch  as  such  a  mountainous  and 
''-  uneven  surface  affords  a  larger  space  of  Ground  for 
"  cuhivation,  than  this  Country  would  amount  to,  if 
"  it  were  all  reduced  to  a  perfect  level. 

"  For  the  husbanding  of  these  Mountains,  their 
^'  manner  was — to  gather  up  the  Stones,  and  place 
"  them  in  several  lines  along  the  sides  of  the  iiills,  in 
"  form  of  a  Wall.     By  such  borders,  they  supported 

X  4 


31^  LECTURE  VL 

phecy,  and  a  dreadful  Example  of  the 
ruin  vvhicii  inevitably  attends  a  final  per- 
severance in  profligacy  and  niipiety. 


"  the  Mould  from  tumbling,  or  being  washed  down ; 
*'  and  formed  many  beds  of  excellent  soil,  rising  gra- 
"  dually  one  above  another,  from  the  bottom  to  the 
*'  top  of  the  Mountain. 

*'  Of  this  form  of  Culture  you  see  evident  footsteps, 
^'  wherever  you  go,  t?i  all  the  Mountains  of  Palestine. 
*'  Thus  the  very  rocks  are  made  fruitful.  And  perhaps 
"  there  is  n  >  spot  of  ground,  in  this  Vvhole  laud,  that 
"  was  not  formeily  improved  to  the  production  of 
"  something  or  other  mini>tering  to  the  sustenance  of 
*'  human  life. 

"  For  than  the  Plain  Countries,  nothing  can  be 
"  more  fruitful,  whether  for  the  production  of  Corn, 
"  or  Cattle,  and  consequently  of  Milk. 

"  The  Hills,  though  improper  for  all  Cattle  except 
*'  Goats,  yet  being  disposed  into  such  beds  as  are 
*^  afore-described,  served  very  well  to  bear  Corn^  Me- 
*'  Ions,  Gourds,  Cucumbers,  and  such  like  Garden  Stuff, 
"  which  makes  the  principal  food  in  these  Countries 
''  for  several  Months  in  the  year. 

*^  ^\\e  most  rocky  Patts  oj  all,  which  could  not  well 
"  be  adjusted  in  that  manner  for  the  production  of 
''  Corn,  might  yet  serve  for  the  plai-tation  of  Vines  and 
'*  Olive-trees,  which  delight  to  extract,  the  one  its  fat- 
*^  ness,  the  other  its  sprightly  juice,  chiefly  out  of  such 
*'  dry  and  flinty  places. 

**  And  the  Great  Plain,  joining  to  the  Dead  Sea, 
**  which,  by  reason  of  its  saltness,  might  be  thought 


LECTURE  VL  S13 

But  our  bV'S'^pfl  Saviour,  after  be  had 
denounced  the  Wi)e  uhich  we  have  seen 
thus  VionderfuUv  and  dredfuljy  inflirled, 
assured  the  Jewish  Nation,  that  '•  they 
"  should  not  tkt  nee  forth  see  him,  ////  tliey 
"  should  sav.  Blessed  be  he  ihat  eometh 
"  in  the  name  of  the  Lord/'  And  these 
words,  especially  when  taken  in  con- 
nexion with  the  preceding  verse;  and 
compared  witii  some  of  his  own  declara- 
tions on  other  occasions,  and  with  many 
passages  in   the   prophetic    Writings,   do 

'^  unserviceable  for  Cattle,  Corn,  Olives,  and  Vines, 
**  had  yet  its  proper  usefulness,  for  the  nourisument  of 
^^  BePs,  and  for  the  fabric  of  Honey;  of  which 
*^  Josephus  givcs  his  testimony.  (^De  l^ell.  Jud.  lib.  5, 
"  c.  4.)  And  I  have  reason  to  believe  it,  because,  when 
*^  I  was  theie,  i  perceived  in  many  place-,  a  smell  of 
*'  Honey  and  Wax,  as  strong  as  if  one  liad  been  in  an 
'^  Apiar3\ 

<^  Why  then  might  not  this  Country  very  well  main- 
**  tain  the  vast  number  of  its  Inhabitants ;  being  in 
"  every  part  so  productive  of  either  Milkj  CorUy  Wine, 
^'  Oily  or  Honey y  which  are  the  principal  food  of  these 
"  Eastern  Nations  \  The  Cunstiti.tiou  of  their  Bodies, 
*'  and  the  Nature  of  their  Clime,  inclining  them  to  a 
"  more  abstemious  Diet  than  we  use  in  England,  and 
"  other  colder  Regions."  Maundrelfs  Journey  from 
Aleppo,  &c.  pages  65,  66,  edit.  7. 


314  LECTURE  VI. 

certainly  hold  out  a  just  ground  for  ex- 
pectation— that  a  period  for  the  Txestora" 
Hon  of  these  wretched  and  infatuated 
people  will  at  length  arrive*  :  that  a  time 
will  come,  when  they  shall  again  "  look 
"on  him  whom  they  pierced -f- ;"  and 
when  they  shall  say,  not  as  the  first  time 
he  made  his  appearance — "  Away  with 
"  him,  Away  with  him,  Crucify  him  J  !" — 
but  "  Blessed  be  he  thatcometh  in  the 
"  name  of  the  Lord/' 

He  had  before  said — "  behold  your 
"  house  is  left  unto  yoii^"  (or,  as  the  words 
might  be  rendered,  ''for  yon  ) — "  deso- 
"  late ;"  evidently  implying,  that  though, 
as  far  as  they  were  concerned,  it  should 
be  deserted  and  desolate,  during  a  long, 
and  here  undescribed  period,  yet  it  should 
still  be  reserved  for  them,  and  should  be- 
come their  Oram  again  by  actual  possession, 
when  they  should  sincerely  repent,  and 
gratefully  acknowledge  Jesus  Christ  as  the 
true  Messiah,  and  Saviour  of  the  World. 


*  See  Appendix,  Note  AA. 

f  Zechar.  cb.  12,  v.  10. 

j  John,  ch.  19,  v.  15. ;  and  Luke,  ch.  23,  v.  18—21. 


LECTURE  VT.  315 

And  this  is  in  entire  correspondence 
with  thit  ever-memorable  prediction, 
which  Moses  also,  who  was  eminently  in 
this  respect  a  type  of  Christ,  uttered  con- 
cerning the  same  people — *'  When  thou 
"  art  in  tribulation^  and  all  these  things  are 
'^  come  upon  thee^  even  in  the  latter  days^^ 
"  if  thou  turn  to  jEHOVi^H  thy  God,  and 
"  shalt  be  obedient  unto  his  voice:  (For 
"  Jehovah  thy  God  is  a  merciful  God) 
"  he  vvill  not  forsake  thee,  neither  destroy 
"  thee,  nor  forget  the  Covenant  of  thy 
"Fathers  which  he  sware  unto  them -[-/^ 
But  what  was  the  Covenant^  in  relation  to 
this  Subject,  which  God  had  made  with 
their  Fathers  ?  It  was  this — "  I  will  give 
'*  unto  thee^  and  to  thj  seed  after  thee,  the 
"  land  wherein  thou  sojournest,  all  the  land 
"  of  Canaan,  for  AN  EVERLASTING 
''POSSESSION:  and  I  will  be  their 
"  GOD^*"  Such  was  the  promise  which 
God  made  to  Abraham;  and  he  after- 
wards repeated  it  to  Isaac,  when  he  said 

*  "  In  the  tatter  dai/Sy"  that  is,  during  the  period  of  the 
Christian  Dispensation :  so  the  words  should  be  under- 
stood. 

t  Deut.ch.  4,  V.  31,  32. 

J  Gen.  ch.  17,  v.  8  ;  and  ch,  22,  v.  17. 


316  LECTURE  VI. 

— -"  Sojourn  in  this  land,  and  I  ^vill  be 
"  with  thee :  for  unto  thee  and  unto  thy 
"  seed  I  will  give  all  these  Countries,  and  1 
*'  will  perform  the  Oath  which  1  sware 
"  unto  Abraham  thy  father.  And  I  will 
"  make  thy  seed  to  multiply  as  the  Stars  of 
"  heaven^  and  I  will  give  unto  thy  seed  all 
"  these  Countries'^."  And  assurances,  to 
the  same  Effect,  were  afterwards  renewed 
to  David.  To  this  the  Psalmist  alludes 
when  he  says — 

**  My  mercy  will  I  keep  for  him  for  evermore; 

"  And  my  Covenant  shall  stand  fast  with  him. 

*'  His  Seed  also  will  I  make  to  endure  for  ever, 

^'  jind  his  throne  as  the  days  of  heaven, 

"  But  if  his  Children  forsake  my  Law, 

"  And  walk  not  in  my  Judgments; 
If  they  profane  my  Statutes, 
And  keep  not  my  Commandments  j 

'^  Then  I  will  visit  their  transgression  with  the 
rod, 

'^  And  their  iniquity  with  stripes, 

'*  Nevertheless,   my  loving-kindness  will    I    not 
utterly  take  from  him ; 

'^  Nor  suffer  my  faithfulness  to  faih" 

*  Gen.  ch.  26,  v.  3,  4. 


cc 


<e 


LECTURE  VI.  317 

'^  His  seed  shall  endure  for  ever ; 

"  ^nd  his  throne  as  the  Sun  before  me*.*' 

Although  there  is  an  evident  reference 
in  this  passage  to  the  Restoration  of  the 
Line  of  David,  in  the  Kingdom  of  the 
Messiah,  who  was  of  his  race,  yet  "  the 
"  Seed  of  David*'  is  an  expression  of  most 
comprehensive  import;  and  includes  the 
posterity  of  the  good  King  generally^ 
throughout  all  generations.  There  is  also 
a  degree  of  locality,  attached  to  the  phrase 
"  the  throne  of  DavidJ'  His  descendants 
are  now,  as  they  have  been  for  ages  past, 
under  the  Rod  ;  and  for  their  Sins  Ihey 
have  been  "  plucked  off,''  as  it  were, 
"  from  their  own  land ;""  but  this  very  pro- 
phecy plainly  proves,  that  this  is  only  a 
period  of  judicial  visitation.  The  tem- 
poral throne  of  David  has  been  for  many 
ages  removed  ;  but  the  spiritual  throne  of 
the  Son  of  David  remains,  and  will  at 
length  be  established  in  its  place,  when 
the  posterity  of  Jacob,  in   common  with 

*  Psalm  89,  v.  28,  &c.  compared  with  II.  Sam.  cli.  7, 
V.  8— 17. 


31S  LECTURE  VI. 

"  all  the  end*?  of  the  world,  shall  re- 
"  member  themselves,  and  be  turned  to 
"  Jehovah/' 

To  this  happy  season  of  final  Restora- 
tion— to  the  Establishment,  in  the  pleni- 
tude of  its  Glory,  of  this  divine  Dominion 
over  the  present  forlorn,  but  anciently 
peculiar  People  of  God — there  is  a 
strong  and  clear  allusion  in  the  follow- 
ing prophecy  of  Isaiah — 

— — "  Jehovali  liath  anointed  me" — 


"  To  appoint  (comfort)  to  them  that  mourn  in 
Zion : 

"  To  give  them  beauty  for  ashes, 

"  The  oil  of  joy  instead  of  sorrow, 

^'  The  garment  of  praise  instead  of  the  spirit  of 
heaviness  : 

"  That  they  may  be  called  trees  of  righteous- 
ness; 

*'  The  plantation  of  Jehovah  for  his  glory. 

*'  And  they  that  spring  from  thee  shall  build  up 
the  ruins  of  old  times  ; 

*'  Thei/  shall  restore  the  ancient  desolations : 

"  They  shall  repair  the  cities  laid  waste^ 

"  The  desolations  of  many  generations^ 


LECTURE  VI.  319 

*'  And  strangers  shall  stand  up  and  feed  your 

flocks ; 
"  And  the  Sons  of  the  alien  shall  be  your  husband- 

men  and  your  vine- dressers, 
"  But  ye  shall  be  named  the  Priests  of  Jehovah: 
"  The  Ministers  of  our  GOD  shall  thej  call 

you. 
"  Ye  shall  eat  the  riches  of  the  Gentiles ; 
"  And  in  their  glory  shall  ye  make  your  boast*." 

And  do  not  the  peculiar  circumstances, 
both  of  their  Coitntry  and  Themselves, 
afford  a  striking  illustration  thus  far  of 
the  import  of  all  these  predictions  ! 

1.  Their  Country  has  been,  and  still  is, 
in  a  most  astonishing  manner,  held  in 
reserve.  Placed  in  one  of  the  most  eli- 
gible situations  in  the  world,  for  the  Seat 
of  Universal  Dominion,  no  conqueror  has 
hitherto  endeavoured  to  avail  himself  of 
the  advantages  it  held  forth  for  this  pur- 
pose.    Susceptible  of  the  highest  fertility 

^  Isaiah,  ch.  6l,  v.  1 — 9-  See  the  critical  notes  of 
Bishop  Lovvth,  and  the  annotations  of  Mr.  Lowth,  on 
this  passage;  as  also  the  corresponding  remarks  of  the 
latter  upon  Isaiah,  ch.  11^  v.  11 — 16. 


320  LECTURE  VL 

and  improvement,  it  has  been  uniformly 
neglected.  Neither  have  the  Jews  them- 
selves been  allowed  the  quiet  possession 
of  any  part  of  it ;  nor  has  any  other 
Nation,  capable  of  drawing  from  it  the 
benefits  it  might  afford,  been  permitted 
to  enjoy  that  privilege.  It  has,  indeed, 
"  been  left  unto  them  desolate  ;"  but  it 
has  been  "  trodden  down  by  Gentiles^' 
who  were  too  barbarous  to  reap  from  it 
the  rich  harvests  it  was  once  capable  of 
producing,  and  which,  with  proper  culti- 
vation, it  may  be  made  to  produce  again. 
In  short,  we  are  assured,  from  the  lips  of 
our  divine  Master  himself,  that  it  will 
continue  to  be  thus  "  trodden  dozmi  by  the 
"  Gentiles^  until  the  times  of  the  Gentiles 
"  be  fulfilled^."  Then  shall  the  Almighty 
have  "  accomplishedy"  or  brought  to  a 
conclusion,  "  the  scattering  of  the  power 

of  the  Holy  People'' 

2.  And  is  not  that  most  astonishing 
Circumstance  of  their  Preservation,  as  a 
distinct    and  separate  People,  to  this  mo- 


*  Luke,  ch.  21,  V.  24.     Compare  this  also  with  Dan. 
ch.  9,  V.  27. ;  and  ch.  12,  v.  7. 


<( 


LECTURE  VI.  321 

ment,  an  evident  proofs  that  they  have 
been  preserved  for  some  great  and  highly 
impoiHant  purposes?  Is  it  not  a  strikhig 
fulfihnent  thus  far  of  the  words  of  these 
Prophecies  ?  Look  to  the  present  Situation 
of  this  People,  and  to  the  Events  that 
have  befallen  them  in  past  Ages ;  and 
then  say,  if  their  History  does  not  present 
you  with  a  continued  Series  of  Miracles ; 
such  as  no  other  Nation  upon  Earth  has 
ever  been,  or  can  ever  be,  distinguished 
by.  "  Those  first  Misfortunes  that  befel 
"  them/'  says  an  eminent  Writer,  "  in  the 
"  Destruction  of  their  City  and  Temple, 
"  were  attended  with  Calamities  so  dis- 
"  mal,  that  even  those  who  have  the 
"  greatest  Aversion  from  the  Jews,  cannot 
"  without  concern  read  the  history  of  so 
"  hard  and  lasting  a  Misery.  Had  God 
"  only  ruined  his  Temple^  because  it  had 
"  been  profaned ;  and  destroyed  Jeru^ 
"  saleniy  because  he  had  often  tried  to 
"  gather  her  Children  together,  and  she 
"  would  not ;  had  he  only  punished  the 
"  heads  of  the  NatioUy  who  had  cried  out 
^^  Crucify  him,  Crucify  him  ! — in  a  word, 
"  had   his   punishments   gone   no   farther 

VOL.  I.  Y 


522  LECTURE  VI. 

"  than  those  (immediately)  guilty"'— we 
"  should  have  had  no  reason  to  wonder  at 
"  it.  But  they  have  been  extended  from 
"  one  Generation  to  another  for  many 
"  Ages  ;  for  the  Jews  have  groaned,  for 
"  upwards  of  these  seventeen  hundred 
"  years,  under  Misery  and  Captivity, 
"  without  any  (certain)  hopes  of  Relief: 
"  and  this  is  an  Event  without  any  pre- 
"  cedent.  Here  is  also  another  Circum- 
'*  stance  that  heightens  this  Prodigy. 
"  This  forlorn  and  persecuted  Nation  can 
"  scarce  find  one  place  in  the  Universe,, 
"  to  rest  their  heads,  or  set  their  foot  in : 
"  they  have  waded  through  floods  of  their 
"  own  blood,  and  still  are  preserved ! 
"  That  infinite  number  of  Jews  who  have 
"  been  murdered,  through  a  cruel  and 
*^  barbarous  zeal,  weakened^  indeed,  but 
"  did  not  destroy  the  Nation!  For,  not- 
"  withstanding  the  joint  persecutions  of 
^*  Christians  and  Idolators,  nvho  (equally) 
"  designed  their  ruifij  they  are  still  in 
"  existence  *  /'* 

Such  Wonders  as  these  have  certainly 

*  Basnage's  History  of  the  Jews,  book  1,  c.  !• 


LECTURE  VI.  323 

» 

not  been  wrought  in  vain.  They  afford  a 
perpetual  and  invincible  evidence,  for  the 
truth  of  our  holy  Religion.  They  exhibit 
the  most  awful  proofs  of  the  Holiness, 
the  Justice,  and  Faithfulness  of  God; 
and  of  the  danger  of  despising  his  Insti- 
tutions, and  of  rebelling  against  his  Dis- 
pensations. And,  further^  from  these 
facts,  and  from  the  words  of  our  Lord, 
we  may  reasonably  conclude,  that,  with 
respect  to  the  people  of  whom  we  have 
been  speaking,  there  is  something  future^ 
and  of  a  more  propitious  nature  than  any 
thing  that  has  hitherto  happened  to  them^ 
that  still  awaits  them. 

Let  us  now  therefore  attend  again,,  for 
one  moment,  to  the  Cause  which  pro- 
duced their  lamentable  Rejection  of  Jesus 
Christ;  which  led  them  to  crucify  him, 
and  to  bring  upon  themselves  the  De- 
struction that  followed.  This  was  their 
ignorance  of  their  own  Scriptures^ ,  Of  these 
the  common  people  among  the  Jews,  in 
the  time  of  our  Lord,  as  we  know  they 
are  at  the  present  time,  were  profoundly 

*  kQX%,  ch.  13.  V.  27. 

y    2 


324  LECTURE  YL 

ignorant.  And  those,  who  should  have 
taught  them  better,  tlieir  Priests  and 
Scribes,  received  them  only  through  the 
medium  of  their  Traditions  and  Glosses. 
They  gave  them  almost  whatever  Inter- 
pretation they  pleased ;  and  held,  that 
the  Traditions,  they  had  received,  were 
of  equal  Authority,  at  least,  with  these 
Sacred  Writings;  and  often  of  Authority 
superior  to  theirs.  Hence  they  derived 
the  most  false  and  inadequate  Notions  of 
the  Nature  and  Mission  of  Christ :  and, 
for  this  reason.  He  himself  expressly  ac- 
cused them  of  "  making  the  Word  of  God 
"  of  none  Effect  through  their  Tradi- 
"  tions  *." 

The  same  cause — an  ignorance,  or  a  dis- 
use, or  a  partial  and  prejudiced  perusal 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  would  also  pro- 
duce proportionable  Effects  at  the  present 
time.  It  would  lead  us,  with  the  disci- 
ples of  Arius  and  Socio  us,  to  form  erro- 
neous opinions  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
and  of  His  Nature,  Offices,  and  Relations. 
It  would  tend  to  render  us  insensible  of 

*  Matth.  ch.  15,  V.  3  and  6.     Mark,  ch.  7,  v.  9>  13* 


LECTURE  VI.  325 

the  inestimable  blessings  of  bis  Redemp- 
tion;  and  of  those  great  duties  af  Life, 
those  "  peaceable  fniits  of  Righteous- 
"  ness,"  which  he  most  justly  expects 
from  us.  Let  us  then  lay  seriously  to 
heart  the  words  of  our  divine  Master, 
when  he  said — ^""  Search  the  Scriptures, 
"  for  they  are  tliey  which  testify  of  me;'' 
and  let  us  consider,  that,  with  respect  to 
those  who  are  fitvoured  Avith  an  opportu- 
nity of  knowing  the  Will  of  God,  Igno- 
rance will  be  without  Excuse,  and,  conse- 
quently, no  Ignorance  can  palliate  Profli^ 
gacy  and  Infidelity. 

Lastly,  the  History  and  present  State 
of  the  Jewish  Race  should  stronoly  incul- 
Gate  upon  us  a  lesson  of  humanity  and 
charity  towards  them.  However  they 
may  be  now  estranged  from  the  path  of 
rectitude  and  peace,  3^et  still  they  are 
Men ;  they  have  the  feelings  of  Men  ; 
and  happiness  is  of  quite  as  much  conse- 
quence to  them,  as  it  is  to  us,  though,  it 
is  to  be  lamented,  they  are  still  judicially 
blinded,  as  to  the  proper  mode  of  pursu- 
ing it.  Besides,  there  is  every  reasonable 
assurance,  that,  at  length,  the  vail  will  be 

y3 


326  LECTURE  VI. 

removed;  and  that  then,  having  been 
dispersed  among  all  Nations,  they  will 
become  the  means  of  great  good  to  the 
whole  human  race:  so  that,  if  we  now 
regard  their  Impenitence  and  their  Suffer- 
ings with  an  eye  of  pity,  we  may  here- 
after have  occasion  to  regard  theniy  for 
the  Blessings  they  will  be  the  means  of 
diffusing,  with  gratitude  and  admiration. 
And,  for  a  wonderful  Example  of  Cha- 
rity towards  them,  we  may  well  look  up 
to  our  blessed  Saviour  himself.  .  They 
were  to  him  the  bitterest  and  most  im- 
placable enemies  ;  and,  after  having 
been  his  most  assiduous  persecutors 
through  life,  they  became  at  last  "  his 
"  betrayers  and  murderers*/'  Yet  how 
sincerely  did  he  lament  their  depraved 
state,  and  mourn  over  those  calamities 
which  they  were  wilfully  bringing  upon 
themselves !  How  earnestly  did  he  expose 
their  various  enormities,  with  the  hope 
of  correcting  them  !  How  repeatedly  did 
he  urge  them  to  repentance  !  And,  when 
every  hope  and  every  effort  failed,  how 

*  Acts,  ch.  7;  v»  52. 


LECTURE  VL  327 

did  he,  in  the  midst  of  those  extreme 
Agonies  which  he  endured  upon  the 
Cross,  intercede  with  God  for  them — 
"  Father/'  he  said,  "  forgive  them,  for 
"  they  know  not  what  they  do!" 

And   in    this   most  excellent  Spirit  of 
Charity,  we  are  also  taught,  in  the  admir- 
able Liturgy  of  our  Church,  to  pray  for 
them;    to  beseech  that  "  Merciful  God, 
"  who   hath   made    all   men,    and    hateth 
"  nothing  that  he  hath  made,  who  willeth 
"  not  the  Death  of  a  Sinner,  but  rather 
"  that  he  should  be  converted  and  live — 
"  to  have  mercy   upon   all   Jews^    Turks, 
'^  Infidels^    and    Heretics;     to    take    from 
"  them  all  ignorance,  hardness  of  heart, 
**  and  contempt  of  his  Word;  and  so  to 
**  fetch  them  home  to  his  tlock,  that  they 
*'  may  be  saved  among  the  Remnant  of 
"  the  true  Israel,  and  be  made  one  fold 
"  under  one   Shepherd,  Jesus  Christ  our 
"  Lord,  who  liveth  and  reigneth,  with  the 
"  Father  and  the   Holy  Spirit,  One  God, 
**  world  without  end.     Amen^. 

*  Third  Collect  for  Good  Friday. 
Y  4 


APPENDIX; 


CONTAINING 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

Which  could  not  be  so  properly  inserted  in  the 
former  parts  of  this  Volume, 


APPENDIX. 


NOTE  A. 

Referring  to  Page  3,  Note  *. 

Much,  indeed,  we  meet  with,  in  these  inspired 
Volumes,  that  is  plainly  above  the  powers  of 
human  reason.  While  everj  thing,  "  necessary 
"  to  Salvation,*'  is  happily  laid  down  with  a  sim- 
plicity and  perspicuity,  that  render  wilful  igno- 
rance utterly  without  excuse;  there  are  Mysteries, 
which  no  human  intellect,  in  the  present  state  of 
things,  can  ever  be  fully  competent  to  understand. 
And  such  are  the  Bases  of  all  the  essential  Doc- 
trines of  Christianity.  These  are  objects  of  our 
faith  ;  not  of  our  comprehension.  They  are  pro- 
posed to  us  with  all  the  dignity  and  sublimity 
peculiar  to  Revelation ;  and  it  is  our  indispensable 
duty,  as  well  as  our  highest  interest,  to  believe 
them,  on  the  Authority  on  which  they  are  pro- 
posed. 

And  it  surely  requires  no  greater  degree  of 
Credulity,  to  give  credit  to  the  fundamental 
Truths  of  revealed  Religion,  than  it  does  to  be- 
lieve the  existence  of  Elements,  from  which  the 
well  known,  and  most  ordinary  operations  of 
Nature  have  their  commencement  j  for  the  latter 


532  APPENDIX,  A. 

are  all  equally  enveloped  in  mystery  with  the 
former  :  and  are  all  equally,  on  that  account, 
liable  to  exception.  We  have  the  testimony  of 
our  senses,  and  the  clear  deductions  of  reason,  in 
favour  of  the  one;  and  the  most  irrefragable 
arguments^  drawn  from  the  most  sacred  Source, 
to  demonstrate  the  certainty  of  the  other.  And 
it  appears,  that,  where  a  proper  degree  of  Candour 
is  exerted,  it  is  just  as  difficult  to  refuse  our 
assent  to  the  most  obvious  conclusions  drawn  from 
the  testimony  of  our  own  senses,  as  it  would  be 
to  withhold  it  from  that  vast  and  luminous  body 
of  Evidence,  which  is  every  where  presented,  in 
confirmation  of  these  Doctrines,  in  "  the  Scrip. 
"  tures  of  Trutb."  If  we  consult  the  opinion  of 
Him,  who  best  knew  ^'  what  was  in  man,"  we 
shall  find  both  these  difficulties  placed  upon  a 
par  ;  for,  in  exposing  the  desperate  blindness  of 
the  Sadducees  in  his  own  time,  he  was  heard  to 
declare,  that ''  if  they  would  not  hear  Moses  and 
''  the  Prophets,  neither  would  they  be  persuaded 
"  though  one  rose  from  the  dead."  Luke,  ch.  16, 
V.  3J. 

The  Powers  of  Reason  are,  indeed,  so  very 
limited,  that  those  who  will  not  believe  any  thing 
which  they  do  not  perfectly  comprehend,  cannot 
be  justlj  expected  to  believe  any  thing  at  all; 
except  perhaps  it  be,  that  old  ultimatum  of  the 
Academics,  be  scire  nihil.  Who  can  conceive, 
for  instance,  by  what  ties  the  Soul  is  united  to  the 


APPENDIX,  A.  335 

Body  ?  Or,  in  whui  manner  the  Body  acts  upon 
the  Miru!,  so  as  to  produce  perception,  flirough 
the  medium  of  the  Senses  ?  The  precise  mode 
of  onr  own  exisience  is  therefore  as  great  a  mys- 
tery, as  any  of  the  Doctrines  of  Revelation  can 
possibly  be  ;  and  he  who  denies  the  one,  mereltj 
because  they  are  beyond  the  reach  of  his  under- 
standing, ought  on  the  same  account,  if  he  acted 
with  consistency,  to  disbelieve  the  other. 

There  is  no  doctrine  of  Rf^velation,  that  hag 
been  more  resolutelj^  de>:ied  by  minute  philoso- 
phers, than  that  fundaraenta!  4rt  cie  of  the 
Christian  Faith — the  Existence  of  a  trinity  in 
UNITY,  It  has  been  generally  considered  by  such 
persons  as  involving  a  contradiction,  and  therefore 
impossible  in  the  nature  of  things,  Snch  an 
opinion  might  perhaps  admit  of  some  palliation, 
so  long  as  Light  was  accounted  a  homogeneous 
body,  and  Air  and  Heater  were  admitted  as  ele- 
nientary  substances.  But  the  discoveries  that 
have  been  made  in  the  science  of  nature^  within 
the  course  of  little  more  than  a  century,  have 
gone  hand  in  hand,  as  it  were,  with  Revelation  ; 
and  have  presented  such  wonderful  Analogies  to, 
and  Illustrations  of  this  very  Doctrine,  that  a 
modern  Philosopher,  who  is  not  altogether 
blinded  by  his  prejudices^  can  never  again  consist- 
ently doubt  its  Possibility  and  Truth.  It  has 
been  found,  for  instance,  that  a  pencil  of  rays 
coming  from  the  sun,  and    which  in  that  state 


S34  APPENDIX,  A. 

has  the  appearance  of  perfect  homogeneity,  and 
of  a  beautiful  yellowish  whiteness,  consists  not 
merely  of  three,  but  may  be  actually  resolved 
into  seven  pencils ;  each  of  which  is  tinged  with 
a  different  colour ;  and  may  be  made  to  produce 
its  effect,  either  separately,  or  conjointly  with  the 
rest,  at  the  will  of  the  person  who  tries  the  ex- 
periment. Here  is  an  instance  of  complication, 
that  for  many  ages  escaped  even  the  suspicion  of 
the  most  penetrating  mind  *  ;  and  which  sur- 
prizes^ and  remains  unaccounted  for,  to  the  pre- 
sent moment  !  But  the  very  air  we  breathe  will 
furnish  a  still  stronger  analogy,  to  argue  the  in- 
fatuation of  the  sceptic  and  the  infidel.  During 
every  preceding  age,  atmospheric  air  has  been 
universally  considered  by  men  of  science,  as  a 
simple  homogeneous  substance  ;  and  one  of  the 
four  Elements,  of  which  all  bodies  were  com- 
posed.f  It  was  not  till  1774,  that  any  assurance 
was  afforded  to  the  contrary  :  and  it  has  at  length 
been  fully  ascertained,  that  it  is  compounded  of 
three  distinct  elementary  principles,  namely,  Oxy- 
geriy  Azot,  and  as  much  Caloric  as  is  requisite 

*  It  was  discovered  by  Father  Franc.  Maria  Grimaldi  ;  and 
brought  forward  first  to  the  public  notice  in  l565.  See 
Philosoph.  Transact,  of  the  Royal  Society,  for  the  year  1672, 
^'ol.  6,  No.  79. 

+  Dr.  Mayow's  Dissertation,  "  de  Sale  Nitro,  et  Spiritu  Nitro- 
aereo,"  may  perhaps  be  considered  an  exception  to  this.  It 
was  printed  at  Oxford,  with  four  others  of  his  Tracts,  in  l6Y4. 


APPENDIX,  A.  335 

to  preserve  the  other  two  in  a  gaseous  state. 
Does  it  not  argue  then,  a  strange  perversion  of 
human  reason,  that  the  very  Man,  whose  inge- 
nious and  important  discoveries  prepared  the  way 
for  this  conclusion,  and  who  lived  many  years  to 
enjoy  the  knowledge  of  the  fact,  should  have  been 
himself  a  Unitarian  \  disbelieving  this  sublime  and 
essential  Doctrineof  "  A  Trinity  in  Unity,"  merely 
because  he  could  not  comprehend  it  ? 

Here  then  perhaps  it  may  be  proper  to  remark, 
in  further  illustration  of  this  subject,  how  soon 
the  most  profound  Philosopher,  in  the  progress 
of  his  researches,  is  taken  out  of  his  depth.  He 
may  be  able,  for  instance,  to  resolve  the  rays  of 
light  into  their  component  parts,  and  to  exhibit 
their  prismatic  colours  5  but  he  will  never  be  able 
to  investigate  the  dimensions  and  forms  of  the 
particles  of  which  they  consist,  their  distances 
from  each  other,  or  the  causes  of  the  various  re- 
frangibility  of  their  directions,  and  of  the  prodi- 
gious velocity  with  which  they  move.  So,  with 
respect  to  the  other  example  above  given,  he  may 
discover  of  what  elements  the  atmosphere  is  com- 
posed J  but  he  cannot  form  auy  precise  idea,  what 
these  elementary  principles  really  are.  Of  their 
effects  in  various  combination.^,  he  may  be  able  to 
acquire  a  tolerable  notion  ;  but  of  themselves, 
in  the  abstract,  he  can  acquire  none.  And,  gene- 
rally speaking,  when  the  process  of  analysis  can 
no  longer  be  continued,  we  arrive  at  one  or  mor# 


S36  APPENDIX,  A. 

substances  so  simple^  as  to  defy  the  utmost  skill 
and  penetration  of  man.  And,  as  if  it  had  been 
thus  designed  by  divine  Wisdom,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  humbling  the  pride  of  reason,  the 
number  of  these  limits  is  continually  increasing, 
in  proportion  as  the  genuine  knowledge  of  Nature 
is  itself  advancing. 

That  the  Christian  religion  is  founded  on  mys- 
tery is,  in  effect,  an  argument  strongly  in  favour 
of  its  divine  Original.  For — '^  Can  we  by  search- 
^'  ing  find  out  God  ?  Can  we  find  out  the  Al- 
^*  mighty  to  perfection  ?"  Whelher  we  consider 
him,  as  directing  the  elements  in  the  natural,  or 
the  course  of  things  in  the  moral  world,  "  His 
"  works  are  great  and  wonderful ;"  and  ^*His 
ways  past  finding  out.*'  The  more  ardently  we 
push  our  inquiries,  in  the  investigation  of  remote 
Causes,  so  much  the  sooner  do  we  arrive  at  a 
limit;  beyond  which  **  Clouds  and  Darkness" 
prevent  all  distinct  vision,  and  preclude  the 
possibility  of  successfully  proceeding.  Why  then 
should  we  not  acquiesce,  with  gratitude  and  hu- 
mility, in  that  Revelation,  which  "  God,  the  only 
*'  wise,"  has  been  graciously  pleased  to  grant 
us  ?  And  who,  but  He,  could  have  devised  a 
System — so  perfectly  consistent  with  the  purest 
dictates  of  reason,  and  yet,  when  most  minutely 
examined,  so  greatly  incomprehensible  by  it;  so 
sublime  and  heavenly  in  its  nature,  yet  so  exqui- 
sitely adapted  to  the  frailties  and  necessities  of 
men? 


(  537   ; 

NOTE  B. 

Referrhig  to  Page  G,  Note  J. 

See  Bishop  Patrick's  Commentary  on  Genesis, 
ch.  4,  V.  1,  &c. 

The  learned  prelate  considers,  that  the  reason, 
which  Eve  assigned  for  giving  the  name  of  Cain 
to  her  first-born  son,  was  founded  on  a  belief^ 
that  he  was  to  be  the  promised  Saviour,  and 
bruiser  of  the  Serpent's  head.  And  he  justly  ob- 
serves, thatj  at  that  time,  "  the  words  of  the  pro- 
''  mise  (Genesis  ch.  3,  v.  15,)  might  as  well  be 
"  expounded  of  the^rs^  Steel  the  woman  had,  as 
*'  of  any  of  his  posterity."  She  was  certainly 
more  liable  to  be  deceived  by  such  an  expecta* 
lion  theriy  than  on  any  subsequent  occasion  ;  and 
there  is  much,  in  the  original  text,  to  favour  this 
interpretation. 

It  seems,  indeed^  as  if  our  first  paren<s  had 
really  expected,  that  the  illustrious  Person,  so 
foretold,  would  have  been  possessed  of  a  divine 
nature  under  a  human  form.  Upon  the  birth  of 
her  first  child.  Eve  called  his  name  Cain,  which 
implies  acquisition  *;  for  she  said — *'  I  have  got- 
"  ten  a  Person  (p^yiy^  TsH)  eten  Jehovah.''     I  do 

Josephus  Antiquit.  lib  ly  cap.  2. 
YOL.   !•  Z 


SSS  APPENDIX,  B. 

not  clearly  see  how  our  translation,  in  this  verse, 
can  be  vindicated,  in  rendering  the  particle  H^J 
by  the  preposition  *'from^' — a  mode  of  construc- 
tion it  can  never  admit  of,  except  when  it  is  used 
with  a  verb,  that  imports  a  departure  or  proceed' 
ing  forth  frorn^  as  in  Genesis,  ch.  44,  v.  4  *  ; 
which  is  the  only  instance  of  the  kind  I  recollect. 
The  LXX.  render  the  passage  UKrvJocy^nv  ^avQpu'siov 
^la  T«  0£«5  ''  I  have  acquired  a  man,  because/'  or 
for  the  sake,  "(/God;'*  that  is,  in  consequence  of  his 
promise ;  in  which  words  the  reference  is  obvious- 
ly made  to  the  Messiah  f .  If  the  translator  will 
have  the  word  in  this  place  to  be  a  preposition^ 
let  him  recollect^  that  its  most  usual  meaning  as 
such,  is  with  ;  and  then  the  exclamation  of  Eve, 
will  furnish  us  with  what  is  nearly  parallel  with 
the  name  Emmanuel,  which  St.  Matthew  inter- 
prets by  iWffl'  rifjtcov  0  Osog — God  with  us  J;  and  which 
most  undeniably  relates  to  the  same  transcendent 
Personage.  But  there  does  not  in  reality  appear 
to  be  any  sufficient  reason,  why  the  word  ]1N 
should  be  at  all  considered  as  a  preposition  in  this 

*  I'^^^n  TN  ^IN*^*^  Dn  ''  wlieu  they  had  gone  forth  from 
"  the  citv." 

+  In  a  translation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  imprinted  at 
London,  in  15^9,  the  version  runs  thus — '« I  have  obtained  a 
<*  man  bi/  the  Lord  :'*  and  in  a  marginal  note  is  subjoined — - 
*'  that  is,  according  to  the  Lord's  pron>ise,  as  ch.  3,  v,  15." 
which  nearly  corresponds  with  the  abo\  e. 

X  See  Isaiah,  ch.  7,  v.  14;    Matt.  ch.  1,  v.  23. 


APPENDIX,  B.  S$9 

passage.  Its  most  usual  application  is  as  a  con- 
nective particle,  pointing  out  the  rf^lation  between 
verbs  active,  and  the  nouns  which  they  respec- 
tively govern.  In  this  sense,  it  is  used  twice  in 
the  preceding  parts  of  this  verv  verse*;  and 
times  ahiiost  without  number  throu^!jOut  the 
Old  Trstament,  Its  next  principal  use  is  to 
connect  nouns  that  are  in  opposition,  and  relate 
to  the  same  subject  ;  and  thus  it  is  employed  in 
the  verse  iramevJiately  succeeding  the  present  f, 
and  in  many  other  places,  particularly  in  Genesis^ 
ch.  6,  V.  10  I .  Its  effect  in  these  cases  is  clearly, 
to  render  the  sense  more  marked  and  emphaticalj 
and  to  shew,  that  something  of  great  import  is 
to  be  annexed  to  the  person  or  object,  before 
whom  it  is  placed.  In  this  respect^  the  instances 
here  adduced  bear  a  most  evident  and  striking 
analogy  to  the  passage  before  us ;  tliey  are  also 
the  composition,  of  the  same  inspired  Writer  ; 
tliey  occur  in  almost  contiguous  parts  of  the 
same  work  ;  and  were  therefore  as  plainly  as 
possible  intended  to  have  been  all  interpreted  in 
the  same  way.     Standing  in   this  connexion,  I 

*  r])n  nN  V1^  "  knew  Eve"  }   n.n  rh  a       i 

pp  nN  nSni    -  and  bare  Cin"      \  ""'"•  '**•  ^'^'  '' 

t  ^nn  nX  VHiV  riN  nihi  tpn)  ''  and  again,    she 
*'  bar«   Si;  hi  >ther,  6   e;i  Abe!.'" 

t  r\t^^  nNi  on  nN  d;:^  n^  d'^dd  nu^St:;  Noah 

begat  "  three  Sons,  even  Sheni,  even  Ham,  aud  even  Japhet." 

z  2 


340  APPENDIX,  B. 

should  certainlj  be  induced  to  render  the  words 
of  the  original  thus — "  And  Adam  knew  Eve  his 
"  wife  ;  and  she  conceived,  and  bare  Cain  ;  and 
"  said,  I  have  acquired  a  Person,  even  Jehovah." 
During  the  period  of  their  innocence,  God 
certainly  condescended  to  reveal  himself  to  the 
first  parents  of  mankind,  in,  what  was,  compara- 
tively, a  very  unreserved  manner.  He  is  de- 
scribed as  having  ^'  created  them  in  his  own 
"image,  after  his  likeness^;  as  having  intro- 
duced Eve  to  Adam  f  ;  as  having  blessed  themj, 
and  laid  down  a  particular  injunction  for  the 
regulation  of  their  conduct  § ;  and,  even  after 
their  fall,  as  having  been  heard  "  walking  in  the 
*'  garden  in  the  cool  of  the  day  ;"  and  as  inter- 
rogating, and  passing  oral  sentence  upon  them||. 
And  so  little  comprehension  had  thev  of  the  im- 
mense  difference  between  them  and  their  Creator, 
that  they  attempted  "  to  hide  themselves  from 
''  His  presence,  amongst  the  trees  of  the  Garden," 
Though  there  may  be  much  in  these  descriptions, 
that  is  adapted  to  the  limited  state  of  our  Under- 
standing, inasmuch  as,  strictly  speaking,  *'  no 
"  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time  •,"  yet  where  is 
the  impropriety,   or  the  danger,  of  presuming, 

*  Genesis,  cli.  1.  v  26,  27.    Consult  also  Parkhurst's  Lexi- 
con, on  the  words  D7^i     and  HID*?* 

+  Genesis,  ch.  2.  v.  21,  22.      %  Genesis,  ch.  1.  v.  28—30. 
§  Genesis,  ch.  2.  v.  16.  17. 
II  Genesis,  ch.  3. 


APPENDIX,  B.  341 

tliaf,  in  the  manifestations  He  was  pleased  at 
this  time  to  make  of  his  own  Power,  Wisdom, 
and  G  )odness,  the  Divine  Being  did  assume  a  form, 
bj  which  he  might  descend  in  the  most  gracious 
manner  to  their  capacities — a  form,  similar  to 
the  hutnan  ;  similar  to  that  in  which  he  afterwards 
made  his  apearance  to  Abraham  ;  and  to  that 
which  the  Son  of  God  himself  did  actually  as- 
sume, when  ''  the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and 
'*  dwelt  among  us  ?"  These  considerations, 
perhaps,  will  enable  us  sufficiently  to  account  for 
the  surprise  and  exclamation  of  Eve,  upon  the 
birth  of  the  first  man  that  was  ever  horn  into 
the  world.  His  nativity  was  an  event  altogether 
without  precedent.  Making  allowance  for  the 
difference  between  infancy  and  manhood,  he  was 
equally  with  themselves,  at  that  time,  a  par- 
taker of  the  divine  image.  And  Eve  had  still 
strongly  impressed  upon  her  mind,  the  import, 
the  truth,  and  an  expectation  of  the  fulfilment,  of 
that  most  encouraging  promise  of  Restoration 
and  Happiness,  by  which  the  Almighty  had 
been  pleased  thus  early  to  mitigate  the  suft'erings 
of  their  fallen  State. 

If,  however,  these  reasonings  be  just,  the  ex- 
pectations of  Eve  were  erroneous  in  two  respects. 

First,  in  supposing  that  this  divine  promise 
was  to  have  received  its  accomplishment  in  her 
very  first-horn  ;  whereas,  in  reality,  there  was  no 
intimation  afforded  in  the  prophecy  itself,  whe- 

z  3 


342  APPENDIX,  C. 

ther  it  was  to  receive  its  completion  immediately, 
or  at  some  future  period  of  ime.  But  we  are 
naturally  prone  to  believe  what  we  earnestly 
wish  to  be  (rue. 

Secondly,  She  was  not  aware,  that  the  promised 
Seed  was  to  be  exclusively  "  the  Seed  of  the  JVo^ 
^^7ncm"  an  Offspring,  with  the  generation  of  which 
Man  would  have  no  immediate  concern.  And 
that  this  supernatural  Event  did  really  take  place, 
is  evident  from  all  those  passages  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament, which  relate  to  the  miraculous  Incarna- 
tion of  the  Son  of  God. 


NOTE  C. 

With  reference  to  page  Q^  Note^, 

It  appears  to  have  been  foreshown  from  the 
very  first,  that  '*  without  the  shedding  of  blood 
there  could  be  no  remission  *."  We  read  ae- 
coi'dingly,  that  the  sacrifice  of  Abel  was  of  a 
saniiuinary  nature  ;  and  that  it  was  oftered  '*  by 
'*  Fiiuh  t;"  which  certainly  presupposes  '^  some 
^'  divine  promise  connected  with  that  rite, 
*'  and  consequently  a  divine  direction  for  the 
*^  performance  of  it  |."  And  it  is  remarkable, 
in  further  proof  of  this  point,  that   his   sacrifice 

*  Hebrews,  ch.  9,  v,  22. 

+  Hebrews,  ch.  11,  v.  4? 

X  Dr.  Jennings'  Jewish  Antiquities,  Vol.  1.  p.  305,  kc. 


APPENDIX,  C.  343 

consisted  ofihe^^  firstlings  o/his  flock  y?ind  the  fat 
^*  thereof  "^l^'  and  was  therefore  precisely  such  as 
God  himself  was  graciously  pleased  to  ordain 
more  particularly,  in  a  succeeding  age,  for  the 
observance  of  his  own  peculiar  people.  By  his 
special  appointment,  the  victims  to  be  oftered 
were  to  be  ^'  the  firstlings  of  the  flock^  or  of  the 
^^  herdy''  and  *'  males  of  the  first  year\,**  The 
Paschal  Lamb  was  also  to  answer  to  this  descrip- 
tion ;  although  it  was  chitfly  a  sacrifice  of  an 
eucharistical  nature,  and  therefore  not  a  bunit- 
offeringj.  The  oblation  o^  the  fat  was  likew^ise 
an  essential  part  of  <he  sacrifice  §  ;  and  the  con- 
tempt of  the  Sons  of  Eli  for  this  part  of  the  in- 
stitution is  distinctly  stated,  as  one  cause  of  the 
heavy  wrath  of  God  against  them  ||.  Hence 
therefore,  as,  in  the  time  of  Moses,  the  principal 
sacrifices  instituted  by  God  himself,  for  the 
direction  of  his  people,  were  in  every  material 
point,  so  similar  to  that  which  Abel  oftered 
^^  by  faith**  so  many  ages  before  ;  I  think  it  may 
safely  be  concluded,  that  his  was  also  of  divine 
appointment,  and  consequently  met  with  accept- 
ance* 

*  Genesis,  cli.  4.  v.  ^. 

+  Exodus,  ch.  13.  V.  12.   Levit.  ch.  23.  v.  \%     Numbers, 
ch.  18.  V.  17.  &c. 

J  Exodus,  ch.  12.  V.5. 

}  Exodus,  ch.  29.  V.  22.  &c.    Levit.  ch.  1.  v.  12.    Numb, 
ch.  18.  V.  17,  &c.  II  1  Samuel,  ch.  2.  v.  15—17, 

%  4 


344  APPENDIX,  C. 

The  next  sacrifices  we  read  of  were  those  of 
Noah  ;  who  "  builded  an  altar  unto  the  Lord, 
*^  and  look  of  every  clean  least,  and  of  every 
"  clean  fowl 'y  and  offered  burnt-offerings  upon  the 
^'  altar*/'  We  may  perceive  from  this  also,  that 
a  distinction  of  a  religious  nature  was  made,  in 
these  early  times,  between  clean  and  unclean 
beasts,  similar  to  that  which  afterwards  pre- 
vailed, in  consequence  of  God's  express  com" 
raand,  under  the  Levitical  Law  t«"  The  sacri- 
fices, enjoined  under  that  law,  were  to  be  se^ 
lected  only  from  such  as  were  clean  J.  The  burn-' 
ing  also  of  the  sacrifices  was  another  instance  of 
most  striking  correspondence,  between  those  of- 
fered by  Noah,  and  those  prescribed  under  the 
Levitical  Priesthood  ;  and,  taking  every  circum^ 
stance  into  consiv^eration,  there  can  exist  no 
doubt,  notwithstanding  the  silence  of  Moses 
upon  this  part  of  the  subject,  that  those  offered 
by  Abel  were  of  the  same  kind,  namely,  burnt- 
offerings  §.  That  therefore  there  might  be  am^ 
ply  sufficient  in  the  postdiluvian  world,  for  the 
purposes  of  propagation,  of  sacrifice,  and  food, 

*  Genesis,  cli.  8.  v.  20. 

+  See  particularly  Levi.  ch.  11. 

\  Levilic.  ch.  27.  V.  11,2?. 

§  Moses,  at  the  time  when  he  described  the  oblation  of  the 
fat  as  |)art  of  the  sacrifice  of  Abel,  must  have  known  that  it 
would  be  generally  understood,  that  burnt  offerings  were  in- 
tended in  his  relation  j  for  the  fat  was  always  burned  when 
offered.    See  1  Samuel,  ch,  2,  v.  15—17*  before  referred  to. 


APPENDIX,  D.  345 

God  gave  this  particular  cliarge  to  Noah—  "  Of 
"  every  clean  beast  thou  shalt  take  to  thee  by 
'^  sevens,  the  male  and  his  female  ;  and  of  beasts 
"  that  are  not  clean  by  tico,  the  male  and  his 
«^  female*.'' 

The  Correspondences,  in  so  many  instances, 
between  these  very  ancient  sacrifices,  and  those 
afterwards  prescribed  for  the  immediate  adop- 
tion of  the  seed  of  Abraham,  are  much  too  strik- 
ing to  liave  been  the  effects  of  accident;  and 
afford,  upon  the  whole,  a  very  convincing  de- 
monstration, that  they  were  both  equally  the  ob- 
jects of  divine  communication. 


NOTE  D. 

Referring  to  Page  7,  Note  *• 

An  allusion  to  the  same  primeval  promise 
is  traditionally  preserved  in  the  Bhagavat 
Pooraiin  of  the  Hindoos;  where  Creeshna  is 
described  as  crushing  the  head  of  the  great  black 
Serpent^  (Callj-Naga)  and  trampling  him  to 
death.  Mr.  Maurice,  in  the  second  volume  of 
his  History  of  Hindostan,  has  favoured  us  with 
two  engravings ;  one  of  which  represents  the 
Calli-Naga  as  biting  Creeshna's  heel^  and  the 

*  Qenesis,  ch.  7,  v.  2» 


546  APPENDIX,  E. 

other  Creeshna  as  n^ushifig  the  Serpents  head, 
Tliev  are  aho  both  to  be  found  in  Sonnerat ; 
who  asserts,  that  no  Veeshuuvite  of  distinction  is 
without  these  images  in  his  house,  in  gold, 
silver,  or  copper. 

It  will  be  recollected,  that  this  history  occurs 
in  that  of  the  eighth  Avatar,  wherein  Veeshnu, 
the  Supreme  Being,  is  represented  as  becoming 
incarnate^  in  the  person  of  Creeshna.  See  the 
Life  of  Creeshna,  Hist,  of  Hindostan,  vol.  2,  pages 
323,  &c. 


NOTE  E. 

Referring  to  Page  7,  Note  f , 

A  comparison  of  the  passages  of  Scripture 
here  cited,  (Gen.  ch.  3,  v.  15.  Rom.  ch.  16,  v. 
20.;  and  Heb.  ch.2,  v.  14—16.)  with  each  other, 
and  with  those  ever  memorable  predictions  of 
Isaiah,  recorded  in  ch.  7,  v.  14,  and  ch.  9,  v.  6, 
7,  will  supply  us  with  an  unanswerable  Argu- 
ment, in  proof — that  that  Seed  of  the  IVoman, 
who  was  to  bruise  the  Serpent^ s  head,  was  to  be 
a  person  possessed  of  a  divine  as  well  as  human 
Nature,  even  Emmanuel-,  and  that,  though  he 
"  took  on  him  the  Seed  of  Abraham"  he  was  to 
be  no  other  than  "  the  GOD  of  Peace,''  even 
^'  the  mighty  GOD,  the  everlasting  Father,  the 
"  Prince  of  Peace,*'  spoken  of  by  the  Prophet, 


APPENDIX,  E.  347 

'''  of  the   increase   of   whose    Government   and 
"  Peace  there  shall  he  no  end." 

And  it  may  be  observed  in  further  confirma- 
tion of  this,  if  recessarv,  that  the  expressions — 
"  He  shall  bruise  thy  head"  '^  shall  hniise  Satan" 
and  "  shall  destroy  him  thai  had  the  power  of 
'^  deaths  that  is,  the  Devil" — dll  evidently  relate 
to  the  same  malignant  spirit,  the  same  Seducer  to 
evil.  We  may  accordingly  perceive  St.  John,  as 
if  anxious  to  present  the  possibility  of  mistake, 
conferring  upon  him,  in  one  single  passage,  all 
these  titles  of  "  the  Serpetit/'  ''  the  Devil,"  and 
*'  Satan;"  to  which  he  adds  also  that  of  "  the 
"  great  Dragon  "  and  the  circumstance  of  his 
having  ''  deceived  the  whole  woi^UV^"  It  fol- 
lows therefore,  that,  as  the  Foe  to  be  subdued  is 
the  same,  however  variously  denominated  in 
divers  parts  of  Scripture,  so  the  Person,  to  whom 
the  victory  is  constantly  attributed,  must  also  of 
necessity  be  the  same,  notwithstariduig  any  dif- 
ference of  title  by  which  he  may  be  distinguish- 
ed. This  diversity  of  title  arises  merely  from 
his  nature,  his  offices,  and  relations:  and  it  is 
such  as  may  fully  serve  to  convi\«ce  us,  that 
nothing  can  be  conceived  too  great  for  ins  cha- 
racter, or  too  sublime  for  his  nature. 

*  His  words  are  too  remarkable  to  be  omitted — 'e/3Aij9>j  6 
yr^v.    Rev.  ch.  12,  v.  9. 


(     34S     ) 

NOTE  F. 
With  reference  to  Page  10,  Note  ;{;. 

The  passage  yjxi  'eo-kyivoogsv  'sv  'rjijuvy  here  referred 
to,  literally  signifies — "  and  dwelt  in  tents  among 
'^  us ;"  and  is  in  a  verj  remarkable  degree  cor- 
respondent with  the  original  promise,  ''^nNll  pti^^'l 
Cli?,  "  and  shall  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem." 
The  allusion  in  both  is  to  the  genuine  simplicity 
of  the  pastoral  life,  in  early  ages ;  and  is  there- 
fore most  beautifully  applied  ;  either  to  those, 
who,  like  the  progeny  of  Shem,  in  ancient 
times,  were  attached  to  this  mode  of  life ;  or  to 
Him,  who  assumed  the  character  of  ^'  the  good 
^^  Shepherd/'  that  he  might  **  seek  and  save  that 
^^  which  was  lost/'  The}  also  both  received  the 
most  signal  verification,  even  in  a  literal  sense, 
when  Jesus  Christ  condescended,  in  order  to 
fulfil  all  the  righteousness  of  the  Ceremonial 
Law,  to  attend  the  J^y.yjyozs-riyioi,  or  Feast  of 
Tabernacles^  at  Jerusalem.  John,  ch,  7,  v.  10 — 
14,  &c. 

But  it  is  likewise  a  circumstance  well  worthy 
of  observation,  that  the  Tabernacle,  in  which 
the  divine  Being  used  to  manifest  his  personal 
presence  to  the  Israelites,  before  the  erection  of 
their  temple,  is  invariably  styled  Djcjyyv  in  the 
version  of  the  LXX,  and  ]^Vt2  (a  word  from  the 


APPENDIX,  G.  :549 

same  root)  in  many  places  of  the  Hebrew  Scrip- 
tures. And  hence,  the  term  Ni'^Dli^  is  often  oc- 
curring in  the  Targums,  to  denote  the  Shechina, 
or  visible  symbol  of  the  divine  presence,  that 
resided  gloriously  in  it.  This  Shechina  appeared 
only  in  the  Tabernacle,  and  the  first  Temple,  by 
the  confession  of  the  Jews  themselves*:  but 
the  loss  of  it  in  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem,  after 
the  Babylonish  Captivity,  was  more  than  com- 
pensated, by  the  personal  presence  of  Him,  who 
"  was  the  Brightness  of  the  Glory  of  Jehovah, 
"  and  the  express  Image  of  His  Person."  Heb, 
ch.  I ,  V.  3, 


NOTE  G. 

With  reference  to  Page  21,  Notej: 

rh^i:;  Nn^  •'D  n);*'  Until  He  that  gives  Peace 
"  shall  come.'*  I  am  aware,  that  there  are  vari- 
ous Interpretations  given  to  the  word  Shiioh'y  but 
this  appears  to  be  its  most  appropriate  import. 
It  best  corresponds  with  the  nature  of  the  Mes- 

*  As  to  the  Cherubim^  between  which  the  divine  Glory 
used  to  appear,  Josephus  acknowledges,  that  no  one  in  his 
time  could  tell,  or  even  conjeclure,  what  was  their  form. 
Antiq.  lib,  8,  c.  3,  sec.  3.  But  for  an  ample  disquisition,  upon 
the  inferiority  of  the  second  temple  of  the  Jews,  see  Dr. 
Prideaux's  Connexion,  vol.  1,  book  3,  p.  172,  &c.  edit.  14, 


503  APPENDIX,  G. 

siah's  character,  and  with  the  cause  of  his  ap- 
pearance. We  may  accordingly  perceive,  that 
the  proclamation  of  Peace  by  angelic  ministers 
was  one  of  the  first  events  that  succeeded  his 
nativity*  ;  and  the  grant  of  Peace  to  his  disci- 
ples, and  the  implied  promise  of  it,  through 
them,  to  all  those  who  should  afterwards  em- 
brace his  holy  Institution,  were  among  the  last 
demonstrations  he  gave  of  his  tender  love  towards 
mankmd  before  his  dea(h  f .  In  consistency  with 
these,  the  doctrines  he  revealed,  and  the  pre- 
cepts he  delivered,  were  all  of  a  pacific  ten- 
dency; and  were  all  eminently  calculated  to  in- 
spire a  spirit  of  piety  and  humility,  of  justice, 
mercy,  and  mutual  forbearance.  His  supreme 
example,  moreover,  added  an  mexpressible  con- 
firmation and  effect  to  evory  thing  he  taught; 
for,  while  it  was  distinguished  by  the  brightest 
traits  of  generosity,  goodness,  and  mercy,  that 
the  world  had  ever  beheld,  it  was  rendered  no 
less  illustrious,  by  the  pity  and  forgiveness  it 
displayed  towards  the  bitterest  of  his  enemies. 
If  any  circumstances  can  ever  introduce  a  state 
of  things,  wherein  the  happiness  and  innocence, 
that  shall  universally  prevail,  will  resemble  the 
moral  characteristics  of  The  Golden  Age^  so 
beautifully  fabled  by  the  poets  of  Greece  |  and 

*  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  13,  14.  +  John,  ch.  14,  v.  27. 

Hesiod  Epyc(,  Kdi  'H/^£f«/;  109—120. 


APPENDIX,  G.  351 

Rome  *,  as  well  as  bj  the  sages  of  India  f,  tbey 
must  unquestionably  be — a  universal  belief  in 
the  doctriiies,  obedience  to  tbe  precepts,  and 
imitation  of  the  example,  of  This  Great  "  Giver 
''  of  Peace:' 

Bishop  Newton,  in  his  Dissertation  on  this 
Prophecy  of  Jacob,  exhibits  all  the  various 
translations  of  the  word  Shiloh ;  and  proves^ 
with  great  ability,  that  however  it  has  been  in- 
terpreted, it  still  relates,  and  can  relate,  to  no 
other  person  than  the  Messiah.  See  his  fourth 
Dissertation. 

*  A  urea  prima  sata  est  aetas,  quae,  vindice  nuUo, 
Sponte  sua,  sine  lege,  fidem  rectuinque  colebat. 

&c. — Ovid's  Metamorph.  lib.  1,  v.  89,  &c. 

f  See  page  38  of  the  Introduction  to  Mr.  Halhed's  Trans- 
lation of  the  Code  of  Gentoo  Laws. 

These  fables,  as  well  as  all  others  of  a  similar  nature, 
wherever  they  are  found,  originated  evidently  in  a  tradition, 
at  one  time  universally  prevalent,  of  the  primitive  rectitude 
and  subsequent  fall  of  Man,  And  they  must  therefore  be 
admitted  as  a  portion  of  evidence,  in  favour  of  the  truth  of 
that  part  of  the  Mosaic  history,  ia  which  these  particulars  are 
detailed. 


(     352     ) 

NOTE  H. 

Referring  to  Page  25,  Note  *. 

''  We  ought  nof,"  says  M.  Goguef,  "  to  make 
"  any  comparison  between  the  fortn  of  govern- 
''  ment  established  by  Moses,  and  tlie  other 
^^  species  of  GovernmentSj  of  which  history 
^'  gives  US  examples.  The  Hebrew  people  had 
"  the  singular  advantage  of  havuig  God  parti- 
'^  culaily  for  their  Monarch,  aad  for  their  Legist 
*'  lator.  It  was  from  God  himself  that  this 
"  Nation  received  their  laws.  In  a  word,  it  was 
"  the  Supreme  Beings  who  condescended  to  pre- 
*'  scribe  the  Ceremonies  of  the  worship  that  he 
''  would  have  paid  him  by  the  Israelites.  We 
''  ought  therefore  to  make  no  comparison  be- 
"  tween  the  laws  of  this  people^  laws  dictated 
''  by  Wisdom  itself,  and  those  that  could  be 
"  observed  by  other  Nations.  The  precepts  of 
"  the  decaloaue  alone  contain  more  sublime 
"  truths,  and  maxims  more  essentially  promotive 
"  of  the  good  of  mankind,  than  all  the  profane 
''  Writers  of  antiquity  could  afford.  The  more 
"  we  meditate  on  the  laws  of  Moses,  the  more 
"  we  shall  perceive  their  wisdom,  and  inspira- 
'Mion— Miat  infanible  sign  of  the  Divinity 
»'  which  fails  all  human  works,  in  which,  when 
"  we  examine  critically,  we  always  find  great 


APPENDIX,  H  S.53 

"  defects.     Besides,   the   Laws  of   Moses   alone 
''  have  the  inestimable  advantage,  never  to  have 
''  undergone  any  of  the  revolutions  common  to 
''  all  human  laws;  which  havealwavs  demanded 
''  frequent    amendments ;     sometimes    changes ; 
''  sometimes  additions  ;  sometimes  the  retrench- 
''  ing  of  superfluities.     There  has  been  nothing 
'*  changed,  nothing  added,  nothing  retrenched, 
''  i\\  the   Laws  of  Moses ;  a  singular  example, 
"  and  so  much  the  more   striking,  as  they  have 
''  preserved  their  purity  for  above  three  thousand 
''  years.     If  Moses  had  not  been  the  Minister  of 
''  God,   whatever   genius  we  may  suppose  him 
''  to  have  possessed,  he  could  not  have  drawn 
'^  laws  from  himself,  which   received   all   their 
^'  perfection  at  the  instant  of  their   formation ; 
'*  laws,    which   provided     against    every    thing 
''  that  could   happen  in  the  succession  of  ages, 
"'  leaving  no  necessity  for  change,   or  even  for 
"  modification.     This  is  what  no  other   Lesris- 
"  lator  has  ever  done;  and  what  Moses  himself 
"  could  not  have  done,  had  he  written  simply  as 
"  a  man,  and  had   he  not  been  inspired  by  the 
"  Supreme  Being." 

See  the  translation  of  M.  Goguet's  work,  on 
"  the  Origin  of  Lav^s,  Arts,  and  Sciences,  and 
"  their  progress  among  the  most  ancient  Na- 
«*  tions"— Edited  in  1775,  vol.  2,  p,  7,  8. 

VOL.  I.  2  A 


(  554  y 

NOTE  I. 

Me/erring  to  Page  26,  JNote  f  • 

Till  that   fatal  epoch,  when  rebellion  tore 
asunder  the  ten  tribes  from  th€ir  allegiance  to 
the  house  of  Uavid,  and  their  lapse  into  idolatry 
separated  them  from  their  God,  all  the  Tribes 
may  be  said,  in  a  general  sense,  to  have  enjoyed 
equal  privileges,  and  to  have  been  equally  the 
objects   of  the    divine  favour   and   protection. 
After  that  time,  a  wide  and  awful  distinction 
was  made  between  the  subjects  of  the  respective 
kingdoms  of  Israel  and  Judah.     Nor  can  this  be 
a  cause  of  wonder.     Out  of  twenty  Sovereigns, 
who,  in  the  space  of  254  years,  governed  the 
Kingdom  of  Israel,  there  was  not  one  who  was 
not  impious   and   abandoned:  and  the  people, 
imitating  the  evil  examples  of  their  rulers,  had 
rapidly  descended  to  the  most  horrid  depths  in 
idolatry,  and  profligacy  of  manners.     "  There- 
"  fore  the  Lord  was  very  angry  with  Israel,  and 
*'  removed  them  out  of  his  sight :   there  was 
**  none  left  but  The  Tribe  of  Judah  only  ;'*  that 
is,  the  Tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  both  pass- 
ing under  the  common  denomination  of  Judah. 
This  removal  took  place  721  years  before  the 
Christian  Era;    for,    ^'  in  the  ninth  year  of 


APPENDIX,  L  355 

*^  Hoshea,  Shalmanezer,  king  of  Assyria,  took 
"  Samaria,  and  carried  Israel  away  into  Assyria, 
"  and  placed  them  in  Halali  and  in  Habor,  by 
"  the  river  of  Gozan,  and  in  the  Cities  of  the 
"  Medes/'     2  Kings,  ch.  17,  v.  1—24. 

Thus  were  plucked  away  from  their  own  land 
the  ten  Tribes,  that  had  constituted  the  Kingdom 
of  Israel ;  and  so  completely  have  they  been  lost, 
that,  to  this  very  day,  they  have  not  with  any 
certainty  been  discovered  ! 

With  respect  to  the  tribes  of  Judah  and 
Benjamin,  they  were  happy  in  having  several 
Monarchs  placed  over  them,  who  were  patterns 
of  piety  and  virtue,  and  whose  examples  tended 
greatly  to  meliorate  the  principles  and  manners 
of  their  people.  And  these  had,  in  genera], 
rather  long,  and  prosperous  reigns  j  Asa,  for 
instance,  reigned  41  years,  Jehosaphat  25,  Joash 
40,  Amaziah  29^  Azariah  (or  Uzziah)  52,  Heze- 
kiah  29,  Josiah  31  ;  to  which  we  must  add  the 
reign  of  Jotham  for  16  years.  Manaessh  also 
governed  well  during  the  last  34  years  of  his 
life.  Thus,  during  about  297  years,  taken  at 
intervals,  the  excellent  examples,  and  wholesome 
regulations,  of  their  kings,  had  a  strong  tend- 
ency to  control  the  idolatrous  and  immoral  prac- 
tices, to  which  they  betrayed  so  great  a  propen- 
sity. It  is  therefore  no  wonder,  that  the  king- 
dom of  Judah  should  have  continued  133  years 

2a2 


356  APPENDIX,  K. 

longer  than  that  of  Israel  * ;  or  that  God,  "  evet 
"  mindrul  of  his  Covenant/'  should  have  pre- 
served this  branch  of  the  posterity  of  Abraliam, 
as  a  distinct  people,  during  their  Captivity  in 
Chaldjea  ;  and  have  restored  them  to  their  native 
land,  and  sustained  them  in  it,  till  they  had  un- 
gratefully "  filled  up  the  measure  of  their 
*^  fathers/'  by  rejecting,  and  persecuting  to 
death,  "  that  prophet,"  who,  as  Moses  foretold^ 
"  should  come  into  the  world," 


NOTE  K. 

lief  erring  to  Page  36^  Note  J. 

What  the  Apostle  here  applies  to  some  of  his 
pious  countrymen  in  preceding  times,  I  have 
ventured  to  apply  to  many  of  those,  who  had 
embraced  Christianity  during  the  earliest  ages 
of  the  Church.  And  the  analogy  of  suffering 
will   generally   hold   good,    with   perhaps   this 

*  With  Hosea  terminated  the  Kingdom  of  Israel,  721 
years  before  the  Christian  Era;  after  having  continued  sepa- 
rate from  Judah  254  years. 

In  the  eleventh  year  of  Zedekiah,  the  captivity  under 
Nebuchadnezzar  was  completed,  and  put  a  period  to  the 
Kingdom  of  Judah,  588  years  before  the  same  Era ;  after  it 
had  continued,  from  the  accession  of  David  to  the  throne, 
468  years ;  from  the  failing  off  of  the  ten  Tribes  387  years; 
and  133  years  after  the  Destruction  of  the  Kingdom  of  Israel. 


APPENDIX,  K.  357 

exception,  that  the  punishments,  inflicted  upon 
the  Christians  by  the  Pagans,  were  more  nunne- 
rous,  various,  and  refined.  Cruelty  towards 
them  may  be  said  to  have  exhausted  the  Stores 
of  the  most  fertile  invention ;  and  to  those 
already  mentioned  may  be  added — the  being 
burned  to  death,  the  being  exposed  to  perish  by 
wild  beasts  for  public  amusement  in  the  amphi- 
theatres, crucifixion,  and  a  variety  of  the  most 
exquisite  tortures  previous  to  execution.  Ter- 
tullian  relates  that,  by  order  of  Domitian,  St. 
John  was  cast  into  a  Caldron  of  boiling  Oil ; 
but  was  miraculously  preserved,  (Praescript. 
Hasres.)  And  Mr,  Milner,  adopting  the  descrip- 
tion which  Tacitus  gives  of  the  Persecution  that 
was  raised  by  Nero,  says  "  Their  execution 
^'  was  aggravated  by  insult.  They  were  covered 
''  with  skins  of  wild  beasts,  and  torn  by  dogs : 
''  they  were  crucified,  and  set  on  fire,  that  they 
^*  might  serve  for  lights  in  the  night-time.  Nero 
''  offered  his  gardens  for  this  spectacle,  and  ex- 
'^  hibited  the  Games  of  the  Circus.  People 
^'  could  not,  however,  avoid  pitying  them,  base 
"  and  undeserving  as  they  were,  because  they 
^'  suffered  not  for  the  public  good,  but  to 
*^  gratify  the  cruelty  of  a  Tyrant  *."     He  adds — - 


*  The  words  of  the  original  are  very  striking;  and  serve  to 
shew,  how  great  a  Stranger  the  Roman  Historian  was  to  the 
principles  and  manners  of  the  primitive  Christians— **  Piinid 

2a3 


358  APPENDIX,  L. 

"  it  appears  from  a  passage  in  Seneca,  compared 
'*"  wiib  Juvenal,  that  Nero  ordered  them  to  be 
"  covered  with  wax,  and  other  combustible 
"  materials  :  and  that,  after  a  sharp  Stake  was 
'^  put  under  their  chin,  to  make  them  continue 
"  upright,  they  were  burned  alive  to  give  light 
"  to  the  Spectators/'  History  of  the  Church, 
vol.  1,  p.  99,  Edit.  3- 


NOTE  L. 

Kef  erring  to  Page  48,  Note  *. 

The  passage,  to  which    a   reference  is   now 
made,  was  delivered  about  six  weeks  after  the 

first    formation    of    "  The    National    Society." 

•J 

And,  though  it  is  yet,  only,  as  it  were,  in  its 
infancy,  we  may  safely  congratulate  the  Country 
upon  the  extensive  good  that  has  already  attend- 

"  correpti,  qui  fatebantiir,  deinde  indicio  eorum  inultitudo 
**  ingens,  baud  periiid^  in  criniine  Incendii,  quam  odio  humani 
"  generis,  convicti  sunt.  Et  pereuntibus  addita  ludibria,  ut, 
"  ferarum  tergis  contecti,  laniatu  caiium  inlerirent,  aut  cruci- 
"  bus  affixi,  ant  flammandi,  atque  ubi  defecisset  dies,  in  uswm 
"  noctiirni  lummis  urerentur.  Hortos  suos  ei  spectaculo  Nero 
"  obtulerat,  et  Circense  Ludicruiu  edebat,  habitu  Aurigae  per- 
**  mixtus  plebi,  vel  curriculo  insistens.  Unde,  quanquam  ad^ 
*'  versus  sontes^  et  novissima  exempla  meritos,  miseratio 
**  oriehatur^  tanquam  non  utilitate  publicity  seel  in  scsvu 
"  tiam  ufiius  absumerentur,'^     Annal.  lib.  15,  c.  44. 


APPENDIX,  M.  3^ 

«d  its  noble  and  patriotic  views,  and  its  unwea- 
ried exertions.  It  has  wouderfully  acquired 
strength  in  proportion  to  its  progress:  and  after 
80  fair  an  Experiment  as  the  last  three  years 
have  afforded;,  we  are  certainly  at  liberty  to  con- 
clude, that,  whether  we  regard  the  perfection 
of  moral  and  religious  instruction,  or  the  acqui- 
sition of  the  elements  of  useful  knowledge,  the 
admirable  System,  on  which  it  proceeds,  re- 
quires only  to  be  fully  understood,  in  order  to 
be  generally  adopted,  wherever  it  is  admitted, 
"  That  the  National  Religiou  should  be  made 
"  the  Foundation  of  National  Education." 


NOTE  M, 

Referring  io  Page  56,  Note  f. 

«  To  the  Jews,"  says  Mr.  Penrose,  "  there 
**  may  have  been  an  especial  propriety  and 
**  meaning  in  proposing  a  visible  Religion. 
**  Their  habits  had  probably  enabled  them  to 
^*  apprehend  the  meaning  intended  to  be  convey- 
**  ed  by  ritual  ordinances,  with  an  accuracy  and 
**  quickness  which  we  cannot  possibly  possess. 
"  The  eye  is  in  itself  a  medium  of  knowledge 
not  less  unexceptionable  than  the  ear ;  and 
the  Types  set  before  the  Jews,  as  means  of 
**  Knowledge,  must  have  been  as  little  liable  to 

2a4 


360  APPENDIX,  M. 

"  Tiiisconstniclion^  as  the  audible  recital  of  (lie 
"  Decalogue.  The  language  of  Ceremonies 
*'  may  have  had  no  remote  affinity  to  the  lan- 
"  guage  of  Hieroglyphics.  The  Egyptian  Edu- 
"  cation  of  the  Jews  may  have  facilitated  their 
"  knowledge  of  its  import ;  while  that  import, 
^^  however  it  was  expressed,  might  oppose  the 
"  idolatry  of  Egypt. 

''  Instances  can  be  produced,  in  which  a  cer- 
^^  tain  meaning,  that  may  easily  be  enunciated  in 
'^  words,  was  doubtless  intended  to  be  conveyed 
"  by  this  topical  or  ceremonial  language.  The 
"  Ablutions  of  tie  Mosaic  Law  were  indicative 
^'  of  the  Command  to  observe  inward  Purity  ; 
'^  and  must  l^ave  communicated  this  meaning  to 
^^  the  apprehension  of  the  Jews  at  the  period  of 
''  its  delivery,  with  a  more  lively  connexion  be-. 
^'  tween  the  type  and  the  thing  signified,  than 
"  we  should  recognize  at  present,  were  not  the 
^^  same  symbol  rendered  familiar  to  us  by  the 
"  Christian  Institution  of  Baptism. 

^'  The  white  vestments  of  the  Priests  were  in- 
^'  terpreted  to  denote  that  spotless  sincerity  with 
''  which  the  worshipper  should  approach  the 
**  temple  of  his  God.  The  burning  of  Incense 
^'  was  to  the  Je\^s,  no  doubt,  the  immediate 
''  Sjmbol  of  acceptable  Prayer. 

''  The  sprinkling  of  blood  upon  the  unclean, 
"  and  of  the  water  of  separation,  which  we  now, 
^'  interpreting  by  the  Event,  suppose  to  have  had 


APPENDIX,  M.  '36i 

"  a  general  reference  to  the  future  bloodshed- 
"  ding  and  mediation  of  the  Saviour,  might  be 
"  adapted  to  excite  a  more  definite  expectation 
'•  in  those  for  whom  they  were  appointed,  than 

the  same   dark   Ceremonies   would  convey  to 

us. 

In  short,  a  ritual  language  was  accommo- 
"  dated  to  the  Jews  with  a  propriety,  which 
*^  may  have  rendered  edifying  and  impressive  to 
"  them  those  passages  of  their  ceremonial  Law, 
*^  which  to  us  seem  inexplicable. 

*'  The  reasonableness  of  resorting  to  such  an 
"  interpretation  of  the  Jewish  rites  may  be  in- 
"  ferred,  from  the  similar  adaptation  of  paraboli- 
''  cal  and  visual  elucidations  to  the  disclosure  of 
'*"  other  facts  uncoiinected  with  religious  wor- 
"  ship.  The  exaltation  of  Joseph  above  his 
^'  family  is  intimated  by  his  sheaf  standing*  up- 
"  right,  and  the  eleven  sheaves  of  his  brethren 
"  standing  round  and  bowing  to  it.  Thus  the 
"  image  of  the  Lion  is  employed  to  represent 
"  the  regal  characteristic  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
*^  while  the  crafty  Dan  is  typified  by  the  simili« 
"  tude  of  a  Serpent  lurking  in  the  road. 

^'  The  Ceremonial,  therefore,  of  the  Mosaic 
*'  Law  may  have  been  comparatively  imperfect, 
**  yet  still  worthy  of  the  Deity:  it  may  be  par- 
"  tially  inexplicable,  yet  wisely  adapted  to  the 
"  Circumstances  of  the  Jews,"  &c.  Bamptoa 
Lectures,  Sermon  III.  p.  71 — 74.  1808. 


{     362     ) 


NOTE  N. 

Referring  to  Page  56,  Note  J. 

The  Advent  of  the  Messiah^  and  the  Protec- 
tion he  should  afford^  in  the  great  da}/  of  divine 
Wrath,  to  those  among  the  Jews  who  should 
then  fear  God  *,  are  here  most  beautifully  com- 
pared to  the  Rising  of  "  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
"  nessy  with  healing  in  his  wings."  The  glori- 
ous Effects  that  should  result  frotn  the  same 
Advent  are  predicted  by  Isaiah,  under  a  similar 
figure,  and  in  the  grandest  and  most  impressive 
language — 

"  Arise,  be  thou  enlightened;  for  thy  light  is  come; 

*'  And  the  Glory  of  Jehovah  is  risen  upon  thee* 

**  For,  behold,  Darkness  shall  cover  the  Earth ; 

"  And  a  thick  vapour  the  Nations : 

**  But  upon  thee  shall  Jehofah  arise; 

^'  And  his  glory  upon  thee  shall  be  conspicuous, 

^*  And  the  Nations  shall  walk  in  thy  Light ; 

^'  And  Kings  in  the  brightness  of  thy  Sun^rising  +,** 

*  The  further  illustration  of  this  Subject  occupies  part  of 
the  third  Lecture  of  the  present  Course.  See  pages  134 — 
]39. 

t  Isaiah,  ch^  60,  v.  1—3.    Bishop  Lowth's  Translation. 


APPENDIX,  O.  SC3 

Zacharias,  "  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,"  com- 
pares the  birth  of  Christ,  which  was  then  shortly 
to  take  place,  to  "  the  day-spring  from  on  high — 
"  to  give  light  to  them  that  sat  in  darkness,  and  in 
"  the  Shadow  of  Death  *."  And  Simeon,  under 
the  influence  of  the  same  Inspiration,  applies  to 
the  new-horn  Saviour  the  same  animating  and 
prophetic  Imagery  :  he  styles  him  "  A  Light  to 
"  lighten  the  Gentiles ;  and  the  Glory  of  his 
^^  'people  Israeli.**  So  admirably  just  and  con- 
sistent are  the  Descriptions,  by  which  these 
"  holy  men  of  God"  have  foretold  the  joyful 
consequences  of  this  transcendent  Event !  A 
Conversion,  indeed,  from  the  gloomy  and  cruel 
Superstitions  of  Paganism,  to  the  happy  and 
benevolent  Spirit  of  Christianity,  does  certainly 
bear  a  more  appropriate  analogy  to  a  transition 
from  Darkness  to  Light,  than  any  other  two 
Effects  in  the  moral  and  natural  world,  that  could 
have  been  compared. 


NOTE  O. 

Refeiring  to  Page  68,  Note  %. 

See  Exod.  ch.  33,  v.  11;  Numb.  ch.  I^,  v.  6 — 
8,  and  ch.  14,  v.  10 — S5  ;  wherein  the  immediate 

*  Luke,  ch,  1,  v.  78,  79.  +  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  32. 


364  APPENDIX,  O. 

nature  of  those  Revelations,  vvhicli  God  made 
to  Moses,  is  particularly  described  *. 

"  All  the  Prophets  of  the  Old  Testament, 
except  Moses,"  saj  s  Bishop  Porfeus^  ''  saw  Visi- 
**  ons  and  dreamed  Dreams ;  and  the  Prophets 
"  of  the  JS'etv  did  the  same.  St.  Peter  had  a 
"  vision,  St.  John  saw  visions,  St.  Paul  had 
"  visions  and  dreams  ;  but  Christ  himself  neither 
"  saw  visions,  nor  dreamed  dreams.  He  had  an 
*'  intimate  and  immediate  Communication  with 
"  the  Father.  The  same  was  the  case  with 
"  Moses ;  he  saw  God  face  to  face.  Now 
"  Moses,  Vie  ail  know,  was  a  type  of  Christ; 
*'  and  the  Resemblance  holds  between  them  in 
^'  this  instance,  as  well  as  in  many  others.  They 
*'  neither  of  them  had  Visions  or  Dreams,  but 
"  had  both  an  immediate  communication  with 
"  God.  They  both  saw  God  "^  face  to  face." 
*'  This  was  a  distinction,  and  a  mark  of  Dignity, 
*'  peculiar  to  tho^e  two  only — to  the  great  Law- 
"  giver  of  the  Jews,  and  the  great  Lawgiver  of 
*'  the  Christians."  Lectures  on  St.  Matthew's 
Gospel,  vol.  1,  p.  B>5y  edit.  8. 

*  Consult  also  the  learned  and  judicious  Commentaries  of 
Bishop  Patrick  upon  these  texts ;  and  that  of  Dr.  Whitby  on 
John,  ch.  1,  V.  18. 


(     3C)6     ) 

NOTE  P. 

Referring  to  Page  69,  Note  f . 

Moses  was  the  Instrument  employed  by  God, 
for  pointing  out  to  the  Israelites  in  the  Wilder- 
ness the  Manna  by  which  they  were  to  subsist, 
and  the  Laivs  they  were  to  observe  in  the  gather- 
ing of  it*.  And  our  blessed  Saviour  has  most 
impressively  availed  himself  of  this  circum- 
stance^ in  order  to  shew  the  typical  Resemblance, 
which  that  miraculous  food  was  designed  to 
bear  to  "  the  true  bread  from  heaven/'  which 
he  came  into  this  world  to  bestow  f .  But  the 
Resemblance  between  these  illustrious  Prophets, 
in  the  present  instance,  is  so  striking,  that  it  may 
be  almost  said  to  be  more  than  merely  typical: 
for  as,  under  the  Ministration  of  Moses,  the 
thousands  of  Israel  were  fled,  in  a  supernatural 
manner,  in  a  Wilderness,  where  otherwise  they 
must  have  inevitably  perished  ;  so,  under  the 
Ministration  of  Christ,  were  thousands  also  fed, 
by  means  equally  above  the  powers  of  Nature, 
in  a  Desert,  where,  without  these  means.  Sub- 
sistence would   have  altogether   failed   them  J. 

*  Exod.  ch.  16,  V.  4.  5,  14—36. 
+  John,  ch.  6,  v.  30—59. 

X  Matth.  ch.  14,  v.  14--21 ;  and  ch.  15,  v.  32—39  ;  and 
the  parallel  passages  in  the  other  Gospels. 


66  APPENDIX,  Q. 


(C 


Then  those  Men,  when  they  had  seen  the 
"  miracle  that  Jesus  did,  said,  This  is  of  a  truth 
''  that  Prophet^  who  should  come  into  the  world  ^." 
Such  was  the  testimony,  which  the  Jews  them- 
selves were  compelled  to  bear,  on  one  of  these 
wonderful  occasions,  to  the  accomplishment  of 
the  ever-memorable  prediction  of  Moses  concern- 
ing^ Christ ! 


NOTE  Q. 

Referring  to  Page  7%  Note  *. 

Though  this  prophecy  of  Isaiah  portrays,  in 
the  most  exquisite  manner,  the  divine  Character 
of  our  Lord  ;  yet  it  is  not  the  only  one  that 
describes  him  as  discharging,  in  respect  to  his 
people,  the  same  venerable  and  salutary  Office. 
To  a  corresponding  purpose  is  that  remarkable 
prediction  of  Ezekiel ;  where,  speaking  of  the 
people  of  God  in  after  times,  he  represents  the 
Almighty  as  saying — 

'^  Therefore  will  I  preserve  my  flock  ; 

*'  And  they  shall  be  no  more  apreyf, 

*^  And  I  will  raise  up  unto  them  one  Shepherd^ 

*^  And  he  shall  feed  them ; 

*  John,  ch,  6,  v,  14. 

+  Surely  this  prophecy  remains  yet  to  be  fulfilled,  in  re- 
spect to  the  Houses  of  Israel  and  Judah ! 


APPENDIX,  Q.  567 

"  Even  my  Servant  David; 

"  He  shall  feed  them ; 

"  And  he  shall  be  to  them  a  Shepherd, 

"  And  I  Jehovah  will  be  to  them  a  God  : 

"  j4jid  my  Servant  David  shall  be  a  Prince  in  the  midst 

of  them : 
"IJehovah  have  spoken  it*." 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  observe,  that  this 
Prophecy  was  uttered  about  428  years  after  the 
Death  of  David;  and  could  therefore  have  no 
application  personally  to  him.  But  it  may  have 
a  very  evident  one  to  some  Potentate^  who  should 
in  many  respects  resemble  him  f ;  who  should^ 
at  some  future  time^  exercise  a  regal  Authority 
spiritually/  upon  the  throne  of  David  "^  ;  and  be 
of  "  the  House  and  Lineage  of  David  §."  And 
such  was  Jesus  Christ.  ,  He  was  a  reputed  De- 
scendant from  David  on  the  father's  side;  and 
on  the  mother's  was  actually  such.  He  was  also 
born  at  Bethlehem  "  the  City  of  David.'*  And 
concerning  him  in  this  Capacity,  we  have  this 
further  Prophecy  in  Micah— 


*  Ezek.  ch.  34,  v.  22,  23,  24. 

+  See  Appendix,  Note  Z,  where  several  of  these  traits  of 
Resemblance  are  so  particularly  pointed  out,  as  to  prove  that 
David  was,  in  an  especial  manner,  a  type  of  Christ. 

t  See  Lecture  V.  pages  217—220,  and  222—232. 

§  Luke,  ch.  2,  v.  4. 


568  APPENDIX,  Q. 

'^  And  thou,  Bcthlehetn-Ephratah, 
**  Art  thou  little  among  the  thousands  of  Judahr 
*'  Out  of  thee  shall  he  come  forth  unto  me, 
"  Who  is  to  be  the  Ruler  in  Israel : 
"  Whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  of  Old,  from  the 
days  of  Eternity  *." 

This  Prophecy,  with  the  exception  of  its  con- 
cluding Description  of  Deity^  was  directly  ap- 
plied, by  "  the  Chief  Priests  and  Scribes  of  the 
"  People'*  themselves,  to  the  birth  of  Christ, 
which  they  were  then  expecting,  and  which  had 
then  very  recently  taken  place.  But  it  is  remark- 
able, that  St.  Matthew^  who  has  given  this  rela- 
tion f ,  instead  of  rendering  the  words  ''  who 
"  shall  he  the  Ruler  in  Israel"  in  this  literal 
manner,  has  slightly  paraphrased  them  by  saj- 
ing,  ""og  '^sroiiJLaysi,  &c.  ''  who  shall  feed  my  people 
"  Israel;"  that  is^  shall  feed  them,  as  a  Shepherd 
does  his  flock.  And,  in  doing  this,  he  has  not 
only  placed  the  sacred  Dominion  of  the  Messiah 
in  a  most  ii.teresting  point  of  view  ;  but  has 
happily  availed  himself  of  a  simple  and  very 
beautiful  figure,  that  had  descended  from  the 
patriarchal  Ages,  according  to  which  Kings 
were  considered  as  the  Shepherds  of  their  peo- 
ple, and  were  frequently  denominated  by  that 
title.      Thus,    among   the   sacred    writers,    the 

*  Micah,  ch.  5,  v.  2.  f  Mattii.  cb.  2,  v.  6. 


APPENDIX,  R.  369 

Supreme  Lord  of  all  is  sometimes  himself  com- 
pared to  a  Shepherd  * ;  and  Cyrus  was  sublimely 
styled  by  Isaiah,  by  way  of  eminence,  *'  The  Shep' 
"  herd"'  of  Jehovah  f .  Thus  also,  with  the 
poets  of  antiquity,  but  with  the  prince  of  Gre- 
cian poets  especially,  IIo//^>?i/  Aa«  was  a  favourite 
Appellation  for  the  Regal  Dignity  J. 


NOTE  R. 

In  reference  to  Page  75,  Note  %• 

Yet,  however  just  and  striking  the  Analogyi 
here  referred  to  may  be,  there  is  perhaps  no  ne- 
cessity to  have  recourse  to  this  figurative  mode 
of  calculation,  by  making  Days  the  prophetical 
representatives  of  Years,  in  order  to  shew  the 
symbolical  relation  of  the  circumstance  in  ques- 
tion to  the  Person  of  Our  Lord.  It  was  cer- 
tainly verified  in  a  much  more  direct  and  iiternl 
manner.  For,  "  six  days  before  the  Passover, 
'^  Jesus  came  to  Bethany,"  which  was  near  to 
Jerusalem  ;   and  '^  07i  the  next  day,'*  that  is,  on 

*  Psalm  23,  v.  1,  and  80,  v.  1.  1.  Pet.  cli.  2,  v.  25,  and  cli. 
5.  V.  4,  and  in  the  passages  already  cited* 

+  Isaiah,  ch.  44,  v,  28. 

J  In  this  sense  therefore,  and  in  this  sense  St.  Matthew  has 
used  the  word,  woi/xxy£<  is  precisely'  synonymous  with  ^up^si  or 

VOL.  I,  2  > 


370  APPENDIX,  R- 

the  tenth  day  of  the  month  Ahib  or  NisaUj  lie  made 
liis  public  Entrj  into  Jerusalem,  as  the  promised 
Messiah  :  but  *'  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  same 
"  month,  at  even,"  about  the  very  timCy  as  we  shall 
see,  when  the  Jews  -were  killing  the  Passover ,  did 
the  Crucifixion  actually  take  'place  ! 

There  is  nothing  more  wonderful  than  this 
Coincidence,  Thus,  according  to  the  statement 
of  Dr^  Whitby,  "  on  the  tenth  day  of  Nisan, 
''  when  the  Paschal  Lamb  was  taken  up  to  be  re- 
"  served  till  the  Passover,  Christ,  the  true  Pas- 
^'  chal  Lamb,  went  up  to  Jerusalem  :"  and^  to 
continue  the  parallelism  in  the  words  of  Bishopf 
Patrick,  ''  Our  Lord  and  Saviour,  keeping  the 
"  Passover,"  by  virtue  of  his  own  dispensing 
power,  "  the  day  before  the  Rulers  of  the  Jews 
"  observed  it,  it  so  fell  out  that  he,  the  true  Lamb 
''  of  God,  was  offered  on  that  very  day,  which 
"  Moses  had  appointed  for  the  offering  of  this 
"  typical  Sacrifice.'*  See  Dr.  Whitby  on  John, 
ch.  12,  v.  12  J  and  Bp.  Patrick,  on  Exod.  ch.  12, 
V.  6. 

This  last  mentioned  Writer  has  well  observed, 
in  his  remarks  on  that  passage — "  And  the 
*'  whole  congregation  of  Israel  shall  kill  it  in  the 
"  evening" — that,  ''  in  the  Hebrew,  the  words 
*^  are  between  the  two  evenings.  The  first  of  these 
"  began,  when  the  sun  began  to  decline  from  its 
'^  noon-tide  point ;  and  lasted  till  sun-set.  Then 
«*  began  the  second  j  and  lasted  till  night,  between 


APPENDIX,  S.  371 

^^  these  two  evenings^**  at  about  the  middle  of  the 
interval  between  their  respective  beginnings ,  ''  was 
^^  the  Passover  offered  ;^*  that  is,  about  three  o^ clock 
in  the  afternoon,  *'  Now  three  o* clock  in  the  after^ 
''  noon  being  the  same  with  the  Jews'  ninth  hour, 
'^  it  is  evident  that  our  blessed  Saviour  offered 
"  hiniself  up  to  God  for  our  Redemption  about 
"  the  same  time  that  this  Lamb  was  slain  for  their 
^^  deliverance  out  of  Egypt.*'  Mark,  ch,  15, 
V.  34—37. 


NOTE  S. 

In  reference  to  Page  89,  Note  *• 

There  is  so  much  ingenuity  and  learning  in 
the  Arguments  which  Dr.  Jennings  has  advanced 
in  proof  of  this  point,  that  I  take  the  liberty  of 
presenting  them  to  the  Reader  in  this  place. 

"  As  to  the  Vulgar  Opinion,  that  the  birth  of 
''  Christ  was  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  December, 
'^  there  is  not  only  no  good  reason  for  it,  but  the 
*'  contrary. 

'^  It  is  certain,  that  this  day  was  not  fixed 
^*  upon  in  the  Christian  Church,  as  the  day  of 
*'  our  Saviour's  Nativity,  till  after  the  time  of 
**  Constantine,  in  the  fourth  century  ;  and  then 
"  it  was  upon  a  mistaken  supposition,  that  Zacha- 
*'  rias,  the  Father  of  John  the  Baptist,  was  the 
'*  High-priest,  and  that  the  day  when  he  burnt 

2  B  2 


372  APPENDIX,  S. 

'*  incense  upon  the  Altar  in  the  temple,  while  the 
*'  people  were  waiting  without,  was  the  datj  of 
''  Expiation^  or  the  tenth  of  the  month  Tisri, 
"  which  fell  out  that  year  about  the  middle  of 
**  September.  As  soon  as  Zacharias  had  fulfilled 
*'  the  days  of  his  ministration,  John  the  Baptist 
''  was  conceived,  that  is,  towards  the  end  of 
"  September,  Our  Saviour  was  conceived,  six 
*'  months  after,  that  is,  towards  the  end  of  March^ 
"  and  consequently  Lis  birth  must  fall  out  towards 
"  the  end  of  December*  This  is  the  ground  upon 
"  which  the  feast  of  our  Saviour's  Nativity  was 
''  fixed  to  the  twenty-fifth  of  December  *. 

"  However,  that  it  is  erroneous,  is  very  evident  j 
*'  for  Zacharias  was  not  in  the  Holy  of  Holies, 
"  into  which  the  High-priest  only  entered,  when 
**  the  Angel  appeared  to  him;  but  by  the  altar 
*'  of  incense,  which  stood  in  the  Sanctuary,  with- 
''  out  the  Vail  f  ;  at  which  altar  the  common 
"  Priests  performed  their  daily  ministry.  Nei- 
"  ther  was  Zacharias  the  High-priest ;  for  we 
"  are  told,  that  he  was  of  the  course  of  Abia,'* 
*^  and  that  "  his  lot  was  to  burn  incense  |  \* 
"  whereas  theHigh-priest  wasof  no  course  at  all ; 
'^  neither  did  burning  incense  in  the  Most  holy 
"  Place  fall  to  him  by  lot,  but  was  part  of  his  pro- 

*  "  Spanheni.  Histor.  Eccles.  Secul.  i.  sect  2,  de  Nativitate, 
"  §  3,  p.  523,  524 ;  et  Secul.  iv.  sect.  6,  de  Ritibus,  p.  853, 
«*  edit.  Lugd.  Batav.  1701." 

f  «  Luke,  ch.  1  V.  11."  X  "  Luke,ch.  1,  v.  5,  9." 


APPENDIX,  S.  373 


€C 


<t 


per  and  peculiar  office.  '^  Accordingly,  there  is 
*'  no  reason  to  conclude,  that  the  day  when  the 
"  Angel  appeared  to  Zacharias  was  the  day  of 
^'  Expiation^  which  is  the  foundation  of  the  com- 
*^  mon  Opinion  concerning  the  time  of  the  Birth 
''  of  Christ. 

'^  I  add  further,  that  not  only  is  the  vulgar 
Opinion  of  the  season  of  his  Nativity  destitute 
of  any  just  ground  ;  but  there  are  good  and 
valid  arguments  against  it :  For  instance — 
"  There  was  a  decree  from  Caesar  Augustus 
''  issued,  and  executed  at  this  Season,  that  all 
"  persons,  women  as  well  as  men,  should  repair 
'^  to  their  respective  cities,  to  be  taxed,  or  en- 
"  rolled.  This  occasioned  the  Virgin  Mary  to 
"  come  to  Bethlehem  at  that  time  ;  where  she 
**  was  delivered.  But  surely  this  decree  was  not 
^^  executed  in  the  middle  of  winter,  which  was  a 
'^  very  severe  season  in  that  country,  and  highly 
"  inconvenient  for  travelling,  especially  for  such 
^'  multitudes,  and  in  particular  for  women  in 
''  Mark's  condition  j  as  may  be  inferred  from 
"  what  our  Saviour  saith  in  the  twenty-fourth 
'^  chapter  of  St.  Matthew,  concerning  the  difficul- 
^'  ties  to  which  his  Disciples  would  be  exposed, 
'*  if  their  flight,  previous  to  the  siege  and  de- 
"  struction  of  Jerusalem,  should  happen  in  the 
*'  winter  *. 

*  "  Matth.  ch.  24,  v.  20.'* 

Sb  3 


374  APPENDIX,  S. 

'^  Again,  at  the  time  when  Christ  was  horn^ 
**  there  were  Shepherds  abroad  in  the  fields  by 
*'  night  watching  their  flocks  ;  certainly  a  very 
^*  unseasonable  service  for  the  winter  in  Judaea> 
^'  if  we  may  judge  of  the  weather  in  that  country 
'^  and  at  that  season,  by  the  Psalmist's  description  : 
**  He  giveth  snow  like  wool ;  he  scattereth  the 
^'  hoar  frost  like  ashes  ;  he  casteth  forth  his  ice 
*'  like  morsels^  who  can  stand  before  his  cold  *  ?" 

"  Upon  the  whole,  there  is  great  probabilit}', 
^^  that  Christ  was  not  born  in  December.  But 
•'  though  we  do  not  pretend  to  be  certain  of  the 
"  real  time  when  he  was  born,  there  are,  however, 
^*  several  reasons  to  incline  us  to  believe,  it  was 
*'  at  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles ;  particularly,  the 
*^  synchronism  of  the  Type  and  the  Antitype  in 
"  the  two  other  principal  Feasts,^^  The  Passover^ 
"  and  the  Pentecost ;"  and  the  same,  therefore, 
^'  was  probably  the  case  as  to  this  feast. 

*'  Again,  Dr.  Lightfoot  has  offered  several 
*'  arguments,  to  prove  that  Christ  was  baptised 
*^  at  the  time  of  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles  f.  But 
*'  when  he  was  baptized,  he  was  'cccei  'eroov  T^itx.- 
♦*  KovToe,  ^ci^c^ycg^  that  is,  entering  on  his  thirtieth 
"  year  |,  consequently  this  was  the  same  time  of 
the  year  in  which  he  was  born, 

*  *'Psalml47,v.  16, 17." 

+  "  See  his  Harmony  on  Luke,  cli,  3,  v.  21" 

X  "  Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  23.'' 


cc 


APPENDIX,  S.  375 

^^  Further,  Joseph  Scaliger  observes,  that  the 
*^  twenty-four  courses  of  the  Priests,  which 
^'  went  through  the  year,  began  with  the  month 
"  Nisan  about  the  vernal  Equinox ;  and  that 
^'  consequently  the  eighth  Course,  to  which 
*'  Zacharias  belonged,  ministered  in  the  latter 
'*  part  of  July.  If  from  thence  you  reckon 
"  the  five  months  to  the  Virgin's  conception, 
*^  and  nine  more  for  her  gestation,  the  Birth  of 
^*  Christ  will  fall  in  the  latter  end  of  September, 
"  that  is,  at  the  season  of  the  Feast  of  Taber* 
*'  nacles  *.*' 

Jennings's    Jewish    Antiquities,    VoK  2.    p. 
S39— 242. 


NOTET. 

Referring  to  Page  90,  Note  *. 

The  resemblance  between  the  Type  and  the 
Antitype  is,  in  many  instances,  too  minute  to  es- 

*  ^*  See  Scalig.  Fragment,  p.  58,  S^^  ad  calcem  emend, 
**  Temp.  Mede's  Diatrib.  disc.  48,  on  Deut.  ch.  l6,  v.  \6, 
*'  Christ's  birth  mistimed,  a  Tract,  No.  4,  in  the  Phoenix,  1707» 
*'  and,  in  defence  of  the  common  Opinion,  Selden  on  the 
»*  Birth-day  of  our  Saviour,  apud  Opera,  Vol,  3,  torn,  6,  p# 
"  1405,  et  seq." 

2b  4 


376  APPENDIX,  T. 

cape  the  most  superficical  observation  ;  but  it 
may  serve,  notwithstanding,  to  illustrate  still 
further  the  subject  of  the  present  Lecture,  if 
a  few  examples  of  this  correspondence  should  be 
adduced. 

1.  The  Wilderness,  through  which  the  people 
of  God  were  led,  bears  a  striking  analogy  to  the 
general  characteristics  of  a  Christian's  lile. 

That  was  to  the  Israelites  a  place  of  sojourn- 
ing and  pilgrimage  ;  and  the  true  Christian  is 
taught  to  consider  himself  as  *' a  stranger  and 
^^  pilgrim*'  upon  earth. 

That  was  the  region  more  especially  appointed 
for  their  probation  5  and  so  is  human  life  very 
peculiarly  a  state  of  probation. 

That  was  to  them  a  scene  of  wanderings  and 
errors,  of  murmurings,  disobedience,  and  rebel- 
lions against  God  ;  and  is  not  their  passage 
through  this  world  strongly  marked  by  frailties 
and  errors,  by  ingratitude  to  God,  and  repug- 
nance to  his  holy  laws,  even  with  the  best  of 
Men  ? 

2.  The  Seed  of  Jacob,  during  their  passage 
through  this  Wilderness,  experienced  many  sup- 
ports and  aasistances,  which  it  was  plainly  above 
the  power  of  Nature  to  have  communicated ; 
and  how  could  life  be  sustained  with  any — how^ 
more  particularly,  could  the  strength  and  spirits 
of  the  Christian  be  upheld,  without  analogous 
^ids  an(l  influences? 


APPENDIX,  T.  377 

3.  Their  cnfrance  upon  this  scene  of  pilgrim- 
ftge  originated  with  their  passage  through  the 
Red  Sea ;  and  the  course  of  the  Christian 
through  the  world  commences  with  his  baptis7n* 
And  as  their  passage  through  the  Sea  was  hy 
the  express  Ordination  of  God  ;  so  was  baptism 
DO  less  an  immediate  Institution  of  ^'  God  with 

4.  When  thej  had  effected  this  passage,  thej 
became  emancipated  from  the  bondage  of  Egypt ; 
they  professedly  turned  their  backs  upon  the 
abominations  of  that  Countrj- ;  and  wereadopted 
for  **  the  peculiar  people  of  God;"  and  thus, 
by  means  of  the  sacramental  efficacy  of  baptism, 
we  became  delivered  from  the  bondage  and 
guilt  of  Original  Sin  ;  in  that  holy  rite  we  also 
professed  the  renunciation  of  every  thing  that  is 
contrary  to  the  doctrines  and  precepts  of  the 
Gospel,  and  were  admitted  to  all  the  privileges, 
of  "  the  elect  people  of  God/* 

5.  But  ^*  a  mixed  multitude*"  went  up  with 
the  Children  of  Israel,  when  they  came  forth  out 
of  Egypt;  who  were  always  seducing  them  to 
sin,  and  propagating  some  mischief  among  them  : 
and,  in  like  manner,  notwithstanding  the  guilt  of 
Original  Sin  is  removed  by  baptism,  we  always 
bring  with  us  into  the  world,  and  there  accom- 
panies us  through  life,  a  strange  mixture  of  de- 

*  Exod.  ch,  12.  V.  3S.    and  Numb,  ch.  11.  v.  4, 


57S  APPENDIX,  T. 

prayed  appetites  and  passions ;  which  are  always 
soliciting  us  to  evil  ;  and  require  our  utmost 
caution  and  vigilance  to  guard  against  their  in- 
sinuations. 

The  influence  of  this  '^  mixed  multitude/' 
upon  the  manners  of  the  Israelites,  presents  us 
also  with  a  lively  emblem  of  the  contagious  ef- 
fects of  evil  example  ;  for  those  who  do  not  ab- 
stain from  the  society  of  the  profane  and  vicious, 
will  soon  learn  to  resemble  them. 

6.  There  was  generally  a  very  striking  adap- 
tation of  the  chastisements  this  people  endured* 
to  the  enormities  of  which  they  had  been  guilty  : 
thus,  those  who  had  offered  incense  with  unhal- 
lowed hands  were  consumed  by  fire  from  heaven*; 
those,  who,  after  murmuring  against  the  provi- 
dential care  of  God,  had  gorged  themselves  with 
quails,  were  consumed  by  a  plague  generated  by 
the  very  flesh  they  had  devoured  !•  And  how 
often  does  the  sin  committed,  in  an  appropriate 
manner,  ''find  out''  the  Sinner;  and  direct  a 
salutary  example  to  those  who  are  the  spectators 
of  his  punishment ! 

But  there  was  one  instance  of  this  kind  which 
is  the  more  deserving  of  attention,  because  it 
shews  how  wonderfully  Divine  Justice  was  tem- 
pered with  Mercy.      In  this,  the  very  instru- 

*  Numb,  cli,  16.  V.  35. 

t  Numb.  ch.  11.  v.  19,20,33. 


APPENDIX,  T.  379 

nicnt  of  destruction  was  converted,  as  it  were, 
into  a  type  of  the  means  of  future  safety:  for 
*'  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  Serpent  in  the  wilder- 
**  ness,  so  was  also  the  Son  of  Man  to  be  lifted 
*'  up*."  As  therefore  those,  who  looked  to- 
wards the  brazen  Serpent  erected  by  Moses, 
were  healed  of  the  wounds  which  had  been  in- 
flicted by  the  fiery  flying  Serpents ;  so  the  lan- 
guage of  the  great  Antitype  is,  "  Look  unto  me, 
*^  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  f ." 

There  appears  to  be,  in  another  respect,  a 
strong  figurative  allusion  in  the  example  before 
us ;  for  as  these  Serpents  were  emblematical  of 
the  violence  and  exorbitancy  of  the  lusts,  to 
which  the  Children  of  Israel  had  at  that  time  re* 
signed  themselves  ;  so  this  elevation  of  the  Ser- 
pent may  remind  us  very  forcibly  of  that  duty 
enforced  by  the  Apostle  Paul,  when  he  says, 
*'  They  that  are  Christ's  have  crucificdihe  flesh, 
'^  with  its  affections  and  lusts  ];." 

7.  There  was  nothing  in  that  inhospitable  Re- 
gion, in  which  they  so  long  wandered,  to  induce 
the  people  of  God  to  believe,  or  to  wish,  that  that 
were  the  place  of  their  ultimate  destination  ;  they 
were  in  quest  o^  another  Country  which  had  been 
repeatedly  promised  them  :    so  does  this  world 

*  Compare  John,  cli.  3.   v.  14,  15,  with  Numb.  ch.  21, 
V.  6,  Q. 

•\-  Isaiah,  cb.  45,  v.  22. 
X  Galat  ch.  5.  v.  2U 


3S0  APPENDIX,  T. 

present  iiotliing  to  the  view  of  the  sincere  Chris- 
tian that  can  at  all  convince  him,  that  it  is  his 
"resting-place;'*  he  also  is  seeking  "aland  of 
promise,"  another  country,  that  is,  "a heavenly." 
S.  In  the  circuitous  rout  they  took  towards 
Canaan,  the}'  were  miraculously  directed  in  all 
their  journeyings,  by  the  appearance  of  ^'  a 
"  Cloud  by  dai/,  and  of  a  Pillar  of  Fire  by 
^^  night ;"  thus  has  also  the  '*  Inheritor  of  the 
*'  Kingdom  of  Heaven'*  the  supernatural  guid- 
ance of  Revealed  Truth,  to  conduct  him  to  its 
attainment.  In  the  claij  of  Prosperity,  her 
solemn  and  impressive  admonitions  will  pre- 
vent him  from  deserting  the  path  in  which  he 
should  walk:  during  the  iiighi  of  Adversitj', 
the  light  and  comfort  which  her  bright  beams 
will  dispense,  will  support  his  spirits,  and  point 
the  way  towards  happier  scenes. 

9.  The  Israelites  were  not  permitted  to  enter 
"  the  promised  land,"  till  they  had  passed 
through  the  dreary  Wilderness  of  their  proba- 
tion, and  had  performed  all  their  destined  pere- 
grinations ;  so  is  the  close  of  life  to  him,  who  has 
"  served  his  generation  according  to  the  will  of 
**  God,"  the  only  means  of  entrance  into  the 
promised  realm  of  everlasting  bliss. 

10.  But  of  the  typical  resemblances,  arising 
from  peculiarities  that  marked  the  state  of  this 
people  in  the  Wilderness,  the  very  Manna^  bj 
which  they  subsisted,  will  furnish  perhaps  the 


APPENDIX,  T.  »81 

• 

strongest,  and  the  greatest  number.  This  our 
blessed  Saviour  applied  expressly  to  himself,  when 
he  said  "  I  am  the  bread  of  Life,  which  came 
**  down  from  Heaven  :"  ''  For  the  bread  of  God 
"  is  he,  which  cometh  down  from  Heaven,  and 
*'  giveth  Life  unto  the  world  */'  But  the  vene- 
rable Joseph  Mede  has  treated  so  largely  upon 
this  subject,  in  his  forty-third  Discourse  (having 
carried  on  the  parallel  through  nine  different  ex- 
amples) that  it  becomes  unnecessary  to  enlarge 
upon  it  any  further,  than  by  a  reference  to  his 
Works  f . 

LI.  Previously  to  their  entering  into  the  Laud 
that  had  been  promised  them,  the  Israelites  were 
obliged  to  descend  into  the  depths  of  Jordan,  and 
to  effect  the  passage  of  that  river ;[:  ;  and,  so, 
before  wc  can  enter  upon  that  future  state  of  hap- 
piness,  which  is  in  reserve  for  us,  it  is  indispensable 
that  we  should  descend  into  the  vale  of  death  ;  and 
penetrate  through  that  boundary,  which  at  pre- 
sent separates  us  from  it. 

12.  But,  in  accomplishing  this  passage,  the 
Priests,  bearing  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant,  went 
before  the  people  of  Israel ,  and  the  wafers, 
which,  without  a  miracle^,  had  threatened  to  over- 
whelm them,  retired  at  the  presence  of  the  Ark,  so 
that  the  people  walked  through  the  bed  of  the 


*•  John,  ch.  6,  v.  81—58.  t  Edit.  1664,  p.  3^7,  3^28. 

t  Joshua,  ch.  3.  ^ 


APPENDIX,  V. 


river  dry-shod  :  and,  in  like  manner,  Christ,  our 
great  High-priest,  bearing  in  his  own  sacred  Per- 
son the  Ark  of  the  New  Covenant,  has  gone  before 
us:  and,  by  a  glorious  Resurrection,  has  disarmed 
Death  of  his  terrors,  and  caused  his  tumultuous 
waves  to  subside ;  so  tLat  we  may  now  pass  safely, 
and  even  happily,  "  through  the  Grave  and  Gate 
•^  of  Death,  to  oi^r  joyful  Resurrection." 

These  are  a  few  instances  of  analogy,  out  of 
many  that  might  be  selected,  to  shew,  how  truly 
the  Dealings  of  God,  with  his  peculiar  People  in 
the  Wilderness,  are  typical  of  corresponding  Cir- 
cumstances  and  Events,  under  the  Christian  Dis- 
pensation :  and  it  is  hoped,  that  they  have  suffici- 
ently afforded  the  illustrations,  for  which  they 
were  adduced. 


NOTE  V. 

Referring  to  Page  112,  A'o/e*. 

The  Baptism  of  John  had  something  in  it  of  a 
yery  remarkable  and  exclusive  nature.  No  one 
ever  baptized  on  a  similar  occasion,  or  with  simi- 
lar circumstances,  either  before  or  since.  In  shorty 
every  particular  relative  to  him  was  so  far  re- 
moved from  the  ordinary  path  of  human  life, 
that  all  concurred  "  in  holding  John  as  a  Pro- 
phet*:' 

*  Matth.ch.  ^1,  V.  25,  26.  Mark,  ch.  l\,  v.  30,  32. 
I^uke,  ch.  20,  v,  4—6. 


APPENDIX,  V.  383 

His  Baptism,  then,  was  evidently  *'  from  Ilea" 
*^  ren,"  according  to  the  confession  of  the  Jews 
themselves  ;  and  it  was  admirably  adapted  to  the 
object  of  his  Mission,  which  was — "  to  preach 
"  the  Baptism  of  jRepen^rmce /or  the  Remission  of 
"  Sins  ;"  to  proclaim,  that  "  the  kingdom  of  Hea- 
"  vert,"  that  '"  kingdom  of  GOD,''  so  often  fore- 
told, and  so  anxiously  expected,  was  ''  at  hand ;" 
and  to  prepare  the  way  for,  and  actually  to  point 
out  to  the  people,  the  promised  Messiah, 

But  though  '*  the  Baptism  of  John"  had 
these  peculiar  motives,  and  was  on  that  account 
a  different  rite  from  that,  by  which  persons  have 
since  been  admitted  into  the  church  of  Christ ; 
yet  the  mere  circiunstance  of  baptizing  was  as 
manifestly  borrowed  from  some  religious  obser- 
vances which  had  prevailed  for  many  ages  among 
the  Jews. 

There  had  long  been  tivo  sorts  of  Baptism  iu 
use  among  them  ;  but,  as  we  shall  immediately 
perceive,  the  Baptism  in  question  was  materially 
different  from  both  of  these. 

The  first  was  the  Baptism  of  those  Gentiles, 
who  had  become  Proselytes  to  the  Jewish  Reli- 
gion ♦.     And  it  was  naturally  to  be  expected, 

*  There  is  a  very  ample  and  satisfactory  account  of  this  sort 
of  Baptism  in  Lewis's  **  Origines  Hebraeae,"  book  i,  ch.  2,  p. 
456,  edit.  1724. 


S84  APPENDIX,  V. 

that  the  Jevvs^  who  were  much  addicted  to  tlid 
Ceremonies  o^  external  Purification ^  should  cndeii- 
vour  to  teach  these  Converts,  by  the  process  of 
religious  Ablution,  that,  in  becoming  Moses* s 
Disciples^  they  were  cleansed  from  all  the  defile- 
ments of  Paganism,  and  were  pardoned  and 
accepted  by  God. 

Such  was  the  motive  for  this  sort  of  Baptism 
among  the  Jews;  but^  in  this  respect,  it  by  no 
means  accords  with  the  general  Baptism  of  John* 
I  say  ^^  general y^^  because  our  Lord's  Baptism  by 
his  ministration  was  a  particular  exception  even  to 
this.     "  Repent  ye^  for  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  is 
*^  at  hand,"  was  the  purport  of  his  Doctrine^  and 
the  ground  on  which  he  founded  his  Baptism. 
He  looks  back  to  no  ancient  systems  of  Morality 
and  Religion  ;    but  he  announces  an  entirely  new 
Order  of  things — a  new  Dispensation,  in  which  a 
wonderful  display  would  be  made  of  the  Good- 
ness   and   Mercy  of   God,    towards    repenting 
sinners.     And  the  persons,    whom   he  baptized, 
were  not  Proselytes  to  the  Jewish  religion  ;   but 
Me  Jews  themselves  :  nay  "  inani/,"  even  "  of  the 
*^  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  came  to  his  Baptism." 
It  was  his  great  business,  and  his  peculiar  pro- 
vince, to  prepare  his  Countrymen^  in  preference 
to  all  other  people,  for  the  reception  of  Christ ; 
to  these  "  lost  Sheep  of  the  House  of  IsraeV  was 
the  Saviour  sent  \  and  therefore  to  them  was  th« 


APPENDIX,  V.  385 

Message  of  Jolin  more  iiiunediately  directed. 
And  he  therefore  baptized  theiii,  upon  their  pro- 
fession of  Repentance,  in  token  of  G')d's  willi  ig- 
ness  to  forgive  them,  and  of  the  future  purity 
and  holiness  of  Life  which  he  would  expect  from 
them  * . 

The  other  sort  of  Baptism,  which  was  anci- 
ently in  use  among  the  Jews,  was  that  of  the 
Priests,  at  the  time  of  their  Coiisecrati.)ii.  And 
of  this  nature  was  the  Baptism  of  our  Lor  J  ;  hut, 
as  this  subject  has  been  already  touched  upon  in 
Lecture  IL  pages  83 — 86,  it  will  be  sulftcientto 
add,  that,  though  of  the  same  Nature  in  one 
respect,  inasmuch  as  both  were  performed  at  the 
Consecration  requisite  for  undertaking  the  sacer-. 
dotal  functions,  yet  it  was  by  no  means  the  mme 
Rite,  The  Design  in  both  was  not  the  same.  The 
one  was  preliminary  to  the  anointing  of  the  Levi- 
tical  Priesthood  :  the  olher  preceded  the  anoint- 
ing of  a  Person,  who  was  to  abolish  that  Priest- 
hood altogether,  and  to  become  himself  '^  a  Priest 
*'  for  ever"  after  another  Order,  "  the  Order  of 
"  Melchisedech,'*  Nor  luas  the  place  of  Baptism 
the  same  in  both  cases.     The  one  had  been  always 

*  Further  information  upon  this  subject  may  be  obtained 
from  some  valuable  observations  in  Dr.  Mackni^ht's  Har- 
mony of  tbe  Gospels,  vol.  %  sect.  14,  page  50,  Edit.  2.  In 
these  also  are  particularized  the  various  points  of  difference  sub- 
sisting between  the  Baptism  of  John,  and  tliat  afterwards  or, 
dained  by  Christ  for  the  use  of  the  Christian  Chufch. 
VOJL,  I,  2  c 


386  APPENDIX,  W. 

performed  '^  at  the  door  of  the  Tabernacle  of  the 
"  Congregation/'  while  that  subsisted  j  and  after- 
wards within  the  precincts  of  the  Temple  :  the 
othtr  was  performed  in  the  River  Jordan ;  to  sig- 
nify, that  the  Ritual  of  the  Jewish  Church  was 
then  about  to  be  superseded  j  and  that  neither  at 
Mount  GeriziiTij  nor  yet  at  Jerusalem,  should 
be  exclusively  the  temples  of  the  living  God. 

Thus  peculiar  then  was  *'  the  Baptism  of 
John/'  vi'hether  we  consider  it  as  applied  to  the 
multitudes  who  attended  his  ministry,  or  in  a 
more  particular  manner  to  the  Person  of  our 
Lord.  He  had  to  discharge  a  Commission  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  the  Sons  of  men  ;  and 
was  the  only  one  of  all,  to  whom  such  a  Com^ 
mission  was  ever  intrusted. 


NOTE  W. 

Referring  to  Page  143,  I^ote  *. 

That  our  Saviour  commenced  his  public  Mi- 
nistry in  the  very  year  of  the  thirtieth  Jubilee, 
the  last  that  was  ever  celebrated  by  the  Jews  in 
their  own  Land,  will  perhaps  appear  very  clearly 
from  the  following  statement — 


APPENDIX,  Wo  887 

The  departure  of  the   children 
of  Israel  from  the  Land  of  Egypt    ^^ars 
took  place     ...  ,     1491,  B.  C, 

And,  after  forty  years  sojourn- 
ing in  the  Wilderness,  they  were 
allowed  to  pass  the  river  Jordan, 
and  to  invade  the  Land  of  Canaan.        40 

About  seven  years  more  were 
occupied  in  effecting  the  conquest 
of  it  so  far,  as  to  admit  of  its 
being  partitioned  out  among  them ; 
and  before  they  began  to  calculate 
for  the  Sabbatical  years,  and  the 

years  of  Jubilee  *  I      •      .     •      ,  7 

III       I  ^ 

47 
They  therefore  began  to  reckon      .i  .i 

the  years  for  this  purpose     .    ,    .      1444,  B.  C. 

Jerusalem  was  destroyed  ;     .    ,         70,  A.  D, 

Therefore  the  total  number  of 
years,  between  the  time  when  they 
first  began  to  reckon  for  their  years 
of  Jubilee,   and  the  dispersion  of    - 
their  Nation  is      •         •  .      .        I5I4 


This  number  divided  by  49,  the 
number  of  complete  years  in  the  Ju- 


*  Joshua,  ch.  21,  V.  43 — 45 
2  C  2 


388  APPENDIX,  W. 

bilean    period,   shews    that    there 

were  just  30  Jubilees,  with  a  re-      Years 

mainder  of    .  .  .  •  44 

But  our  Lord  was  baptized,  and  be- 
gan the  work  of  his  Ministry,  as  ap- 
pears from  the  evidence  of  St»Luke, 
compared  with   the  history  of  the 
reign  of  Tiberius  CaBsar,         .      .     .     26,  A.  D. 

being  then  in  the  30th  year  of  his  age,  

The  sum  of  these  two  numbers  .     •     70 

gives  the  very  year  of  the  Christian  Era  in  which 
Jerusalem  was  destroyed,  and  satisfactorily  proves 
the  point  in  question. 

Every  seventh  year  was  a  Sabbatical  year,  but 
these  years  of  Jubilee  were  evidently  designed  to 
commemorate  the  complete  revolutions  of  Sab- 
batical years  ;  they  were  the  sevenths,  or  the  sab- 
baths,  as  it  were,  of  Sabbatical  years  ;  and  were 
consequently  dignified  with  peculiar  privileges^ 
and  marks  of  distinction. 

But  among  the  Jews,  in  consistency  with  the 
divine  Ordinance,  the  Jubilee  was  said  to  take 
place  in  *  the  fiftieth  year  ;  whereas,  as  we  have 
seen,  every  forty -ninth  year  was,  strictly  speaking, 
the  year  of  Jubilee. 

Yet  this  remarkable  difference  of  statement 

♦  Levit.  ch.  25,  V.  10,11. 


APPENDIX,  W.  389 

may  perhaps  be  accounted  for  very  satisfactorily., 
upon  the  following  principles — 

The  Jews  had  two  sorts  of  years ;  their  sacred 
and  their  civil  year. 

The  former  of  these  began  with  the  month 
Ahih  ;  which  cprresponded  with  parts  of  March 
and  April. 

The  latter  commenced  with  the  month  Tisri; 
which  answered  to  parts  of  September  and  Octo- 
ber. 

Hence  their  sacred  year  began  about  the  time 
of  the  vernalj  and  their  civil  year  about  the  time 
of  the  autumnal  Equinox  ;  and  the^r^^  month  of 
the  one  was  the  seventh  month  of  the  other,  (with 
the  exception  of  those  intercalary  days,  supplied 
occasionally  at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  amount- 
ing every  third  year  to  about  one  additional 
month,  which  was  called  Ve  Adar,  or  the  second 
Adar). 

But  the  Jubilee  was  both  a  sacred  and  a  civil 
Institution ;  and  though  it  always  began  on  the 
tenth  day  of  the  month  Tisri  *,  considered  in  this 
latter  point  of  view  ;  yet,  as  an  immediate  ordi- 
nance of  God,  the  intervals  between  the  Jubi- 
lees might  well  be  estimated  by  their  sacred 
years,  agreeably  to  the  divine  Command  in  re- 
spect to  the  month  Ahib — "  This  month  shall  be 
"  the  first  month  of  the  year  to  you  f ." 

*  Levit.  ch.  25,  v.  9.  +  Exod.  cli.  \%  v.  2. 

2c  3 


S90  APPENDIX,  W. 

If  then  the  Jubilee  closed  with  the  ninth  day 
of  Tisri^  which  it  mUst  have  done  to  complete 
the  year>  the  interval  between  that  date^  and  the 
beginning  of  the  sacred  year  in  which  it  occurred, 
would  be  about  six  months  ;  which  six  months 
would  be  accounted  as  the  half  of  the  first  sacred 
year  in  reckoning  towards  the  next  Jubilee* 

After  the  completion  of  forty  nine  sacred 
yeMSj  the  fiftieth^  of  course^  would  commence  i 
but  the  year  of  Jubilee  would  not  be  proclaimed 
till  six  months  afterwards  ;  for  the  Divine  Pre- 
cept in  respect  to  this  was — "  Then  shalt  thou 
'^  cause  the  trumpet  of  Jubilee  to  sound  on  the 
"■  tenth  day  of  the  seventh  month  i  in  the  day  of 
"  Atonement  shall  ye  make  the  trumpet  to  sound 
"  throughout  all  your  land/'  Whence  it  ap- 
pears, that  six  months  of  the  fiftieth  sacred  year 
would  actually  have  elapsed,  before  the  next  Ju- 
bilee would  have  been  proclaimed. 

Upon  the  whole,  then,  it  may  be  clearly  in* 
ferred,  that  there  was  the  exact  interval  o^  foriy-^ 
nine  civil-years,  from  the  conclusion  o^  one  Jubi- 
lee to  that  of  the  next*,  although,  according  to 
the  sacred  notation  of  time,  the  succession  would 
take  place  in  the  fiftieth  year. 

I  have  been  thus  minute  in  these  Remarks^  in 
order  the  more  completelj^  to  remove  the  diffi- 
culties, by  which  this  subject  has  been  hitherto 
attended  ;  and  I  trust  that  I  have  in  great  mea- 
sure   succeeded.     That    topics,     so    intimately 


APPENDIX,  W.  391 

connected  with  sacred  history,  and  of  such  in- 
terest on  account  of  their  emblematical  import, 
should  have  given  rise  to  such  a  difference  of 
opinion  as  this  has  done,  is  to  be  lamented;  and, 
if  the  reasoning  above  adopted  be  conclusive,  it 
is  not  a  little  wonderful,  that  principles  so 
simple  and  obvious,  as  those  on  which  it  is 
founded,  should  have  been  so  generally  over- 
looked. 

The  first  Writers,  who  have  thrown  out  any 
hint  of  this  kind,  are  those  who  composed  the 
Ancient  Universal  History;  and  from  their  admi- 
rable work  I  take  the  liberty  of  transcribing 
the  following  passage;  which  contains  the  hint 
alluded  to ;  and  affords  some  sanction,  at  least,  to 
what  has  now  been  advanced— 

"  As  the  solemnity  began  on  the  first  month  of 
"  the  civil  year,  which  was  the  seventh  of  the 
'^  sacred  year,  it"  (the  year  of  Jubilee)  "  might 
*'  be  called  indifferently  the  forty-ninth,  or  fiftieth 
^'  year,  without  any  contradiction  or  difficulty.'^ 
Anc.  Univ.  Hist.  vol.  3,  page  43,  edit.  1747. 

Dr.  Jennings,  in  his  "  Jewish  Antiquities," 
(vol.  2,  page  297,  &c.)  has  mentioned  the  names, 
and  given  references  to  the  works  of  those  great 
and  learned  men,  who  have  differed  in  opinion 
upon  this  subject.  Hs  has  also  touched  upon 
the  particular  remark  I  have  just  cited  from  the 
Universal  History  ;  which  he  hasjustly  described 

2c4 


392  APPENDIX,  X. 

as  an  endeavour,   on  the  part  of  its  Authors^  to 
reconcile  this  difference. 


NOTE  X* 

Referring  to  Page  162,  Note  f . 

It  might  be  both  interesting  and  useful,  could 
\\'c  take  a  survey,  in  this  place^  of  the  several  in-* 
genious  and  profound  Disquisitions^  by  which 
atten^p  s  have  been  made  lo  elucidate  the  fulfil- 
ment of  this  most  remarkable  and  important 
Prophecy  ;  and  point  out,  in  what  respects  they 
have  failed  of  giving  entire  satisfaction  :  but  the 
present  limits  will  scarcely  admit  of  any  thing 
further,  than  a  mere  reference  to  some  of  the 
most  distinguislied. 

The  first  io  be  noticed  is  that  of  the  learned 
and  venerable  Mr.  Mede.  He  has  gone  into  the 
subject  at  large,  v^ith  much  ingenuity  certainly, 
but  perhaps  with  some  hypercritical  labour,  in  a 
Treatise  written  expressly  upon  it,  and  published, 
with  his  otlicr  Works,  in  the  folio  Edition  of 
1664,  pages  857—874.  In  this  Treatise  will 
also  be  seen  the  Objections,  which  this  valuable 
Writer  has  urged  against  the  Computations  of 
Scaliger,  and  Funccius,  who  had  preceded  him 
in  this  research  *. 

*  Yet  tlie  Principles  on  vl.ich  he  has  proceeded,  have  had 
few  advocates;  and  appear,  in  tjfiect,  lo  oppose  the  gtneral 


APPENDIX,  X*  ^9^ 

The  next,  V^bich  deiuands  particular  attention, 
ss  that  of  Dr.  Pntleaux.  This  able  Historian 
and  Divine,  has  also  devoted  much  time  and  at** 
tention  to  the  explanation  of  this  scene  of  pro- 
phecy ;  but  has  taken  a  widel}  diiFerent  ground 
for  the  basis  of  his  calculations.  In  this  inquiry 
he  has  endeavoured   to   clear  his  ground,  by  ex^ 

import  of  the  Prophecy  itself^  The  substance  of  his  Deduc- 
tions may  be  stated  in  his  own  words,  as  follows — *'  Th^ 
"  Weeks  of  Daniel  are  a  divine  Chronology  of  the  time 
*'  which  the  Sanctuary,  and  the  Legal  Service^  should 
*'  continue,  wlien  they  should  be  restored  after  the  Captivity  of 
*'  Babylon.  During  zchich  time  also  the  City  of  Jerusalem 
''  itself  should  be  re-inhabiied,  and  the  walls  thereof  re- 
*'  builded,  A.  d  some  threescore  and  two  zceeks  after 
"  that  began  to  be,  should  Messiah  the  Redeemer  be 
"  anointed^  jea  and  cut  o^  and  rejected  of  his  own:  for 
'•  Khich^  wlien  the  whole  seventy  Weeks  (the  time  allotted) 
"  should  expire,  their  Sanctuary  and  City  should  again  be 
"  razed  ;  and  their  Commonwealth  utterly  dissolved,*^ 

Tims,  dating  backward  49O  years  (''  the  seventy  JVeeks** 
of  \ears)  from  the  70th  year  of  the  Christian  Era,  when  Je- 
rusalem was  destroyed,  his  reckoning  ends  in  the  third  year  of 
Darius  Nothus  or  the  420th  before  the  same  Era.  But  was 
not  *' the  City  re.inhabited,  and  its  walls  rebuilt'' — were 
not  <^  the  Sanctuary^  and  the  Legal  Service  restored'^  be- 
fore that  time  ?  We  kiiow,  from  the  best  authority,  that  the 
rebuilding  of  the  C.ty  and  Temple  commenced  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  reign  of  Cyrus,  about  the  year  536,  B.  C  — that  in 
457,  Ezra  was  sent  as  Governor  inio  Judaea,  with  plenary 
power  to  re-establish  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  Government 
of  the  Jewish  Stale;  and  that  Nehemiah,  thirteen  years  after- 
wards, or  in   the  20th  \ear  of  Arlaxerxes  Longimanus,  was 


S94  APPENDIX,  X. 

posing  the  fallacy  of  those  arguments,  by  which 
some  of  his  predecessors  had  attempted  to  es- 
tablish a  different  exposition. — See  his  connexion 
of  the  History  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament, 
Vol.  2,  pages  10— '56,  or  Part  1.  Book  5. 
Edit.  14. 

The  authors  of  ''  Ancient  Universal  History  '* 
have  likew^ise  entered  rather  largely  into  the 
same  subject.;  and  have  given  a  clear  epitome  of 

sent  to  complete  what  Ezra  had  left  unfinished,  both,  in  re- 
spect to  the  repairs  of  the  City,  and  its  government.  This, 
therefore,  it  appears,  could  not  have  been  the  true  date,  from 
which  "  the  seventy  weeks"  of  years  were  to  be  numbered. 

AgJih),by  translating  ni^^t^  r-ilpn*^*^  (<'  seven  Weeks'') 
dislributively,  by  **  sevens  of  IVeeks,''  and  thus  rendering 
them  identical,  as  it  were,  with  the  three-score  and  tiso 
Weeks,  (in  this  manner, — ^^  from  the  going  forth  of  the  Com- 
**  mandment  to  cause  to  return  and  to  build  Jerusalem,  unto 
<^  Messiah  the  Prince,  shall  be  sevens  of  Weeks,  eveti  three 
*'  score  and  tzco  Jf^eeks'")  the  learned  Writer  entirely  omits 
seven  Weeks  of  years,  or  49  years,  which  form  an  important 
part  of  the  predicted  periods. 

Lastly,  by  omitting  the  49  years  above  alluded  to,  and  at- 
taching the  date  of  Ezra's  Commission  to  the  7tli  year  of 
Artaxerxes  Mnemon,  instead  of  the  7th  year  of  Artaxerxes 
Longimanus,  the  computation  for  the  62  Weeks  commences 
with  the  year  397  before  the  Christian  Era,  instead  of  the  year 
408  ;  which  is  457*  B.  C.  the  true  date  of  Ezra's  Commission, 
with  the  seven  prophetic  Weeks,  or  49  preceding  years,  sub- 
tracted from  it.  This  computation  also  carries  down  the  com- 
pletion of  the  62  Weeks  to  A.  D.  37  ;  which  is  at  least  six 
years  beyond  the  proper  limit,  as  will  soon  be  made  to  ap» 
pear 


APPENDIX,  X.  395 

Several  Iiypoth^'ses  whicfi  had  before  prevailed 
respecting  it —See  Vol.  10,  pages  446 — ^50. 
Note  Q.  So  has  also  Mr.  Lowth^  in  his  Pa-' 
raphrase  on  this  Prophecy;  in  which,  moreover^ 
the  respective  calculations  of  Patavius  and  Arch^ 
bishop  Usher,  of  Dr.  Prideaux,  and  Bishop 
Llojd,  are  briefly  stated  ;  and  the  smalhiess  of 
the  differences  between  them  is  clearly  proved, 
from  the  following  words  of  Dr.  Chandler  : 

'^  The  commencement  of  the  Weeks  must  be 
"  either  from  the  seventh  of  Artaxerxes,  which 
^'  falls  upon  the  457th  year  before  Ann.  Domini^ 
"  or  from  the  iiventieth  of  Artaxerxes.  Add  to 
''  457  years  before  Christ,  26  years  after  Christ, 
"  (which  is  the  number  that  4S3  years,  or  69 
"  Weeks,  exceeds  457  years)  and  you  are  brought 
*^  to  the  beginning  of  John  the  Baptist's  preach- 
"  ing  up  the  Advent  of  the  Messiah.  Add 
"  seven  Years,  or  one  Week,  to  the  former,  and 
*^  you  come  to  the  33d  year  of  Ann.  Domini, 
^'  which  was  the  year  of  Jesus  Christ's  Death. 
"  Or  else,  compute  490  years,  the  whole  70 
"  weeks,  from  the  seventh  of  Artaxerxes,  by  sub* 
"  tracting  457  years  (the  space  of  time  between 
'^  that  year  and  the  beginning  of  Ann,  Domini) 
*'  from  490,  and  there  remains  33,  the  year  of 
*^  our  Lord^s  Death. 

"  Let  the  20th  of  Artaxerxes  be  the  date  of  the 
'^  seventy  Weeks,  which  is  the  4i5th  year  before 
*'  Ann*  Domini  j  and  reckon  69  Weeks  of  Glial* 


$96  APPENDIX,  X. 

"  dean  jears  ;  (70  Chaldean  years  being  equal 
'*  to  69  Julian,  and  so  478  Julian  years  making 
*'  483  Chaldean  years)  and  they  end  in  the  33d 
*'  year  after  Christ,  or  the  Passover  following. 

*^  Any  of  these  reckonings  are  sufticient  for 
*^  our  purpose*  It  is  rather  to  be  wondered^ 
*'  how,  at  this  distance  of  time,  learned  men  have 
''  been  able  to  come  to  any  exactness  in  these 
"  matters." 

This  passage  does  certainly  establish  the  point 
for  which  it  was  adduced:  yet  there  are  some 
statements  introduced  into  it,  that  are  founded 
upon  mistakes,  which  it  would  be  very  proper  to 
attempt  to  remove. 

1.  It  is  asserted  that  the  year  33  of  the  Chris- 
tian Era  was  the  year  of  our  Lord's  Death  ;  but 
this  cannot  be  the  case  for  the  following  rea- 
sons— 

Our  Saviour  was  baptised  by  John,  and 
anointed  for  his  holy  Ministry,  in  the 
Autumn  of  the  year  26,  being  then 
in  the  beginning  of  his  thirtieth 
year,  for  he  was  born  in  the  fourth 
year  before  the  vulgar  Era;  (See 
Luke,  ch.  3,  v.  23,  and  Lecture  111., 
page  14L)  .         .         .         »  A.  D.  26 

He  would  consequently  attend  the  first 
Passover,  after  the  commencement  of 
his  Ministry,  in  ,         .  .  27 


APPENDIX,  X. 

397 

He  would  attend  the  second  in 

.  A.  D.  28 

— . the  third  in 

29 

At  the  fourth,  he  would  himself  he 
oft'ered  up  for  the  Sins  of  the 
World,  in  ...  .  30 

So  that  from  the  time  of  his  Baptism  to  the  time 
of  his  Death  was  only  three  years  and  a  half; 
and  that  would  take  place  in  the  30th  year  of  the 
present  Era,  instead  of  the  33d. 

2.  The  year  83^  above-mentioned,  will  not  at 
all  accord  with  the  express  words  of  the  Pro- 
phecy;  which  resolve  the  70ih,  ox  last  PFeek, 
into  two  equal  parts  ;  and  assure  us  that,  '^  in  the 
**  midst  of  the  PFeek^'^  the  Messiah  '^  shall  cause 
*'  the  Sacrifice  and  the  Oblation  to  cease  i"  which 
could  only  be  effected,  in  consequence  of  his 
superseding  their  further  use  by  the  Sacrifice  of 
himself,  who  was  their  Great  Antitype.  If,  there- 
fore, the  seventy  Weeks,  or  490  years,  terminate 
in  the  year  SS^  it  is  plainly  contradictory  to  the 
words  of  the  Prophecy  to  suppose^  that  our  Sa- 
viour's Death  happened  in  that  year. 

Having  pointed  out  these  inconsistencies,  it 
may  now  be  proper  to  shew,  in  what  manner 
this  noble  prophecy  will  instruct  us  to  avoid 
them,  if  it  be  suffered  to  speak  fully  for 
itself. 

"  Seventy  Weeks^*  says  the  Prophetic  Angel, 
*^  are  determined  upon  thy  people,  and  upon  thy 
"  holy  city,  to  restrain  transgression,  and  to  make 


398  APPENDIX,  X. 

'^  an  end  of  sins,  and  to  make  reconciliation  for 
"  iniquity,  and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteous^* 
"  ness,  and  to  seal  up  the  vision  and  prophecy^ 
"  and  to  anoint  The  Most  Holy." 

Such  were  the  great  purposes  to  be  answered 
by  the  divine  Mission  of  Christ :  and  he  was 
*^  anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghost  andivith  Poiue)\'^ 
in  order  that,  in  his  three- fold  character  of  the 
King^  the  Priest,  and  Prophet  of  his  people,  he 
might  completely  accomplish  them. 

As  their  Priest,  therefore,  by  the  sacrifice  of 
himself  upon  the  Cross,  he  made  an  atonement  for 
their  Sins ;  and  made  an  end  of  them,  by  taking 
away  their  guilt,  and  obviating  the  fatal  conse- 
quences which  would  otherwise  have  attended 
them. 

By  the  same  means  also  he  made  reconciliation 
for  iniquity ;  for  '*  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling 
"  the  world  unto  himseit,  not  imputing  their 
*'  trespasses  unto  them  *.'* 

As  their  Prophet,  or  divine  Instructor,  he 
placed  before  them  ''  an  Example  that  they  might 
^^  follow  his  steps  ;"  he  propounded  to  them  Pre- 
cepts, and  revealed  to  them  Doctrines,  which  came 
immediately  from  God,  and  gave  them  his  Gospel, 
the  law  of  everlasting  Jiighieousness,  to  be  their 
guide  to  the  end  of  time. 

And  as  their  King,  having  vanquished  Death^, 

*  2.  Cor,  ch.  5,  V.  1^. 


APPENDIX,  X.  S99 

'*^and  destroyed  him  that  had  the  power  of 
•^  Death  *,'*  '*  he  was  raised  again  for  their 
*'  Justification  tj''  and  when  ''he  had  ascended 
"  up  on  high/'  having  'Med  captivity  captive,'* 
he  sent  them  the  Gifts  of  his  Holy  Spirit;};,  to 
enable  them  to  keep  the  Law  which  he  had  given 
them,  and  thereby  *'  to  restrain^*''  or  ^' finish ^ 
'^  transgression,'^ 

In  all  these  capacities,  he  was  "  to  seal  up,**  or 
iofuljil,  ^'  tJie  vision  and  prophecy^  to  accomplish 
every  thing,  that  hath  been  either  foreseen^  or 
foretold,  respecting  the  Redemption  of  Man- 
kind ;  agreeably  to  his  own  assertion — "  Think 
^*  not  that  I  am  come  to  destroy  the  Law  and 
''  the  Prophets,  I  am  not  come  to  destroy,  but 
*'  to  fulfil  §/' 

For  the  completion  of  these  most  important 
purposes,  severity  Jfeeks  were  allotted  in  the 
sovereignty  of  the  divine  Will ;  at  the  close  of 
tvhicJiy  the  Gospel  having  been  first  preached  to 
the  Jews,  and  rejected  by  them  j|,  they  would  thence- 
forth cease  to  be  the  'peculiar  People  of  GOD, 
and  their  city  to  be  the  holy  City,  That  this  is 
the  true  interpretation  of  those  words — ''  Seventy 
*'  Weeks  are  determined  upon  thy  people^  and  upon 

*  Heb.  ch.  2.  v,  U. 

t  Rom.  ch.  V.  25, 

J  Acts,  cli,  2.  Philip,  ch,  2, v.  13. 

§  Matt,ch,5.  V.  17. 

ij  Acts,  ch.  3.  V.  26,  and  ch.  13,  v,  46. 


400  APPENDIX,  X. 

"  thy  hohj  City'* — will  appear  evident  from  the 
fulfilment. 

The  Angel,  having  informed  Daniel  of  thr  du- 
ration of  this  period,  proceeds  next  to  slale  the 
exact  time  of  its  commencement,  and  in  what  mati" 
ner  it  was  to  be  subdivided. 

"  Know,  therefore,  and  under-  B.  C, 

'^  stand,  that,  from  the  going  forth 
**  of  the  co?nmandment  to  restore^ 
**  and  to  huiid  Jerusalem^  unto  the 
"  Messiah  the  Prince,  shall  be  seven 
*'  JVeckSy  and  three  score  and  two 
"  TFeeks'* 

Rut  when  did  the^ri^  Command- 
nient  go  forth  for  the  restoration 
and  rebuilding  of  J  erusalem  ?  Who- 
ever compares  the  proclamation  of 
Cyrus,  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign, 
or  that  of  Darius  Hjstaspes  soon 
after  his  accession  to  the  throne, 
with  the  decree  made  by  Arta- 
xerxes  Longimanus,  in  the  seventh 
year  of  his  reign,  will  perceive,  how 
much  more  ample  and  comprehen- 
sive this  last  was  than  the  two  for- 
mer.  They  respected  merely  the 
building  of  the  temple,  and  the 
re-establishment  of  the  sacred 
rites ;  but  ^A/j  included  every  thing 


APPENDIX,  X.  401 

relating  to  civil  polity,  as  well  as 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction;  it  ex- 
pressly commanded  the  appoint- 
ment of  magistrates  and  judges; 
and  encouraged  by  every  means  in 
his  power,  the  return  of  the  people 
of  Israel,  that  they  might  go  and 
settle  at  Jerusalem.-  This  decree 
was  published  .  .  457  B.C. 

If  to  this   number  we   add  26,       26  A. D. 

for  the  year  in  which  the  Messiah     

was  anointed^   and  which  is   evi-     483,  69  weeks 
dently  required  by  the  very  words  of  years, 

of  the  prophecj',    the  sum  will  be 

exactly   483  years,   or  69  weeks 

of  yearsj    (he  number  above  spe- 
cified. 

But  this  period  is  resolved  in  the 

prophecy  into  two  parts  ;   namely 

**  seven  Weeks y''   or  49  years,  for 

the  first  portion,  and  **  three-score     483,  69»Teeks. 

"  and  two  Weeks/'   or  434  years,       49,    7  ,veeks. 

for  the  second.      And  this  circum-     

stance  would  induce  us  to  suspect     434,  62  ^eeks 

that   some  important  change  had  i)f  years, 

taken   place,   in  the    state  of  the 

Jewish  afiairs,  at  the  time,  which 

marks  the  point  of  division  between 

the  two.     And,  if  we  look  into  the 

history  of  those  times,    we   shall 
yoL.  I,  3d 


402  APPENDIX,  X. 

have  reason  to  believe,  that  some 
such  change  did  really  occur  about 
that  time.  Upon  the  death  of  Ne- 
hemiah,  the  face  of  their  govern- 
ment was  entirely  altered.  There 
were  no  longer  any  Jewish  govern- 
ors of  Judsea  under  the  kings  of 
Persia  ;  but  that  country  having 
then  become  strictly  a  province 
of  Syria^  the  administration  of  the 
State  was  committed  by  the  Go- 
vernors of  that  country,  to  the 
Uigk  Priests  ;  **  so  that,  from  this 
*^  time,'*  as  the  Authors  ofthe  Anci- 
entUniversal  History  well  remark*, 
"  we  may  ascribe  the  greatest  part 
*^  of  those  misfortunes  that  befel 
*'  their  nation,  to  a  set  of  men^  ivho 
^'  aspired  to  that  high  Dignity^  more 
"  through  amhition  and  avarice, 
*'  than  any  real  zeal  for  their  i^eli* 
"  gfon,  or  for  the  iv  elf  are  of  their 
**  Country:'  But  Nehemiah  re-  457,  B.C. 
ceived  his  commission  from  Artax-        \S 

erxes  Longimanus,  in  the  tw  entieth 

year  of  his  reign,  or  444  years  B.C.     444,  B.C, 
— at   a  time,    when,    considering         SQ 

what  he  afterwards  did,   he  must 

have  been  in  the  full  vigour  of  life -y      408,  B.C. 

*  Vol  10,  p.  222,  edit.  1747. 


APPENDIX,  X.  403 

And  Joseph  us  informs  us,  that  he 

died  at  a  great  agr^  after  having 

performed    many  excellent  things 

in  a  gh)riou.s  manner  *.    It  is  very 

probable,  therefore,  that   he  maj 

have  presided  over  the   alTairs  of 

Judaea  for  36  years  ;  and  if  he  did 

this,   the  time  of  his    death   will 

complete  the  s€ve?i  Weeks,    or  the     457,  B.C. 

49  years  in  question  f     .     ,     .  49,  7  weeks. 

The  ensuing  three-score  and  two     — 
iveeks,  or  434  years,  have  been  al-     408,  B.C. 
ready  accounted  for     ...     •  26,  A.D. 

These  words — ''  The  street  shall     — — 
"  be  built  again,  and  the   wall,     434,  62  weeks 
even  in  troublous  times*'  contain  of  years. 

merely  a  prediction  of  the  re- 
building of  the  city  and  its  wall  ; 
and  of  the  great  impediments  and 
distresses  which  the  Jews  experi- 
enced, under  Ezra  and  Nehemiah, 
in  accomplishing  those  under- 
takings. 

*  Antiq.  lib.  11,  c.  5,  §  S. 

+  Dr.  Prideaux  proves  much  at  large,  and  upon  other 
grounds,  that  the  seven  Weeks  were  completed  at  this  time. 
The  conclusion  he  has  drawn  from  those  premises  is  this 
— "  Then  the  restoration  of  the  church  and  state  of  the  Jews 
''  in  Jerusalem  and  Jndata  was  fullv  finished, — just  49  years> 
''  after  it  had  been  first  begun  by  Ezra,  in  the  seventh  year  of 
*'  Artaxerxes  Longimanus."— Connex.  Part  1,  Book  6,  p.  l62 
—  178,  Edit.  14, 

2d  2 


404  APPENOrX,  X. 

'*  And  after  the  three  score  and 
*^  two  weeks  sliall  the  P^iessiah  be 
"  cut  off,  but  not  for  himself*.'* 
If  itbe  enquired, what  space  should 
elapse  between  the  end  of  these 
vecks  aid  the  deatli  of  the  Mes- 
siah, the  answer  is  given  in  the 
very  next  verse,  where  it  is  said, 
— *'  He  shall  confirm  the  cove- 
"  naut,'*  (that  Neiv  Covenant  so  re- 
peatedly foretold  bj  the  Prophets) 
"  with  many  for  one  week,'*  This 
one  tveek  is  the  Ia.^'t  portion  into 
which  the  whole  time  iiicluded  in 
this  prophecy  is  divided  ;  and,  49,  7  weeks. 
added  to  the  sixtjj  nine  ueeks  al-  408,  BC. 
ready  exhibited,  will  complete  26,  A.D. 
the   luhole  seventy  weeks ^   or    490  7,  1  week. 

years.     But  "  in   the  midst  of  the     « 

"  iveek  lie  shall  cause  the  sacrifice     490^  70  weeks 
*«  and  the  oblation  to  cease."    The  of  years. 

Death  of  Cljristj  therefore,  which 
was  to  put  a  period  to  the  further 

*  Or,  as  it  is  more  justly  translated  in  the  margin  of  our 
Bibles — "  and  they  (the  Jows)  shall  be  no  ntorc  his  people  ;^^ 
that  IS,  peculiar  li/;  tor,  at  his  Death,  '*  the  Vail  of  the  Temple 
*'  was  rent  in  twain,  Jrom  the  top  to  the  bottom ;"  the 
partition  wall  was,  as  it  were,  broken  down  ;  and  **  a  nezo  and 
'*  living  KOy^^  was  opened  for  mankind  **  into  the  Holiesty^ 
*'  through  the  Vail,  that  is  to  say,  his  flesh."  Compare  Matth. 
ch.  27,  V.  51,  with  Web.  ch.  10,  v.  19,  20. 


APPENDIX,  X.  405 

efficacv  of  the  Jewish   rites,   was 

to  happen  at  the  end  o^  half  a  tveek, 

or  three  I) ears  and  a  half,  after  the       25,  A. D, 

close     of  the  4:S-i  vears,    or    62 

weeks  before.mentioned,  or  in  the         Sj  jweek. 

thirtieth     year    of  the    Christian  » 

Era*, 29^A.IX 

and  the  thirtij -fourth  of  his  age. 
The  remaining  half  of  this  sevsn^ 
tieth  week,  during  which  he  should  -  , 
still,  by  his  holy  Apostles,  be  cfti- 
firming  the  Covenant  with  maniji 
includes  the  time  during  which 
the  Gospel  was  preached  exclusively 
to  the  Jews.  At  the  close  of  tiiat 
period,  the  Gentiles  first  began  to 
reap  the   benefits  of  it.     And   at 

*  The  learned  Dr.  Apthorpe,  in  his  analysis  of  this  Prophecy* 
has  fallen,  in  some  measure,  into  the  same  mistake  upon  this 
point,  as  was  before  alluded  to  in  pf^gc  395. 

"  Christ's  personal  Ministry,"  says  l-.e,  "  contiaued  to  its 
'*  fourth  year,  St.  John*  distinctly  reckons  four  passovers  ; 
"  the  first  A. D.  30,  and  the  first  yepr  of  his  ministry :  the 
"  second,  A.D.  31  :  the  third  A.D.  32:  the  fourth  A.D.  33." 
**  Discourses---Vol.  1,  p.  21?. 

It  will  be  sufficient  to  observe  in  this  place,  that  all  such 
anachronisms  as  these  have  originated  in  the  substitution  of  t!ie 
years  of  the  Cliristian  Era  for  the  corresponding  years  of  Our 
Lord's  Age  :  it  is  well  known  that  he  was  born  in  the  fourth 
year  before  that  Era. 

*  John,  ch.  Q,  V.  IS  i  cb.  5,  v.  1  j  ch.  6,  v.  4  i  ch.  1 1,  r.  15.  • 

2d3 


406  APPENDIX,  X. 

lengthy  finding  that  the  Jewish 
people,  in  general^  were  strenu- 
ously bent  upon  opposing  it,  the 
Apostles  dispersed  themselves;  con-  29-  A.D. 
veying  their  heavenly  message,  in 
every  direction,  to  the  Gentiles  ; 
and,  as  it  were,  giving  evident 
proofs  of  the  Rejection  of  the  for- 
mer People  of  God,  by  abandoning 
them  to  their  fate S|^  J  week. 

The  Conversion  and  Baptism  of 
Cornelius  took  place,  according  to 
the  best  chronologers,  about  three 
years  and  a  hal/ader  our  Saviour's 

Passion  ;  that  is,  in  the  Autumn 

of  the  year  33  *.      .....  33y   A.D. 

And  thus,  as  Dr.  Apthorpe  has  excellently 
observed,  '^  a  prediction^  which  began  with  the 
"  happy  event  of  rehuHding  the  earthly  Jerusalem^ 
^'  sublimely  terminates  with  the  structure  of  the 
*'  heax'eiily,  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the 
*^  Apostles  and  Prophets,  Jisus  Christ  himself 
"  being  the  chief  Corner-stone." — Seethe  War- 

*  The  principal  Events  of  these  three  years  and  a  half, 
may  be  clearly  exhibited,  according  to  the  arrangement  of 
Mr.  Mede  ;  with  th»s  exception  only,  that,  whereas  he  sup- 
poses our  Saviour  to  have  suffered  at  the  Passover  in  the  year 
33  of  the  Christian  Era;  it  fully  appears  that  he  was  put  to 
death  three  years  earlier,  in  the  year  SO,  See  his  Works, 
page  867. 


APPENDIX,  W  407 

huitonian  Discourses  on  Prophecy,  by  this  Wri- 
ter— Vol.  I.  p.  2 IS. 

The  consequences  of  this  Rejcclion  are  held 
forth  in  the  Prophecy,  in  terms  which  require  no 
Comment.  That  Generation  of  Men  did  not  be- 
come extinct,  before  they  were  awfully  brought 
to  pass ;  and  every  subsequent  age  has  set  its 
seal  to  the  truth  of  the  description. 


NOTE  Y. 

Referring  to  Note  *,  Page  165. 

tD^)^n  hD  m,Dn  li^ni  — "  J7id  the  Desire  of  alt 

"  the  Nations  shall  come."     Much  Controversy 

has  arisen  from  tlie  circumstance,   that,   in  this 

passage,  the  singular  noun  HIOH,  governs   the 

plural  verb  *lK3.     But  if  it  be  recollected,  that 

this  noun  is   used   in  a  collective  sense,  to   denote 

the  OBJECT,  in  whom  the  aggregate  Desire  of  all 

Nations  will  be  concentered,  [innsmuch    as  '*  in 

**  Ilim  all  the  Families  of  the  Earth  shall  he  bless- 

'^  ecV^J  this  diHicultyin  the   construction  of  the 

sentence   will  cease  5   for  substantives  involving 

the  idea  of  7;?^//f/i^f/e,  though  singular,  may  have 

verbs  agreeing  wifh  them  in  the  fJural  {WMixhev  ; 

and    thougji    feminine^    may   have    their    verbs 

masculine. 

2  d4 


40S  APPENDIX,  Y. 

INIr.  Parkhurst  has  afforded,  however,    in  his 

Lexicon,    under    the   word    l.tSH,    another,  and 

perhaps,  more  obvious  solution  of  the  difficulty. 

He  says,    **  To    clear    the   Grammatical    con- 

*'  strucfion  of    the  Text,  I  remark,   that  it  is 

"  '\  well  known    Hebraism    for   a    participle  or 

"   a  verb  to   agree,   both  in    numher    and  gen- 

''  der,    with    the   latter  of  two   connected   sub- 

"  stantives,  though    in  sense  it    strictly  relates 

*'  to   the  former,"      Ue  refers   for  instances  in 

proof  of  this  to  Gen.  ch.  4,  v.  10 ;    1  Sam.  ch.  2, 

V.  4 ;  Neh.  9,  v.  6  ;  Job.  ch.  29,  v.  10  ;  Prov.  ch. 

29,  V.  25  ;  Eccles.  ch.  10,  v.  I  ;  Isai.  25,  v.  3  4 

but  in  a  particular  manner,  as  being  more  nearly 

parallel  to   the  case  in  question,  to    2  Sara.  ch. 

JO,  V.  9.  and  Jerem.  ch.  2,  v.  34. 

Considering  these  circumstances,  in  connexion 
with  the  awful  sublimity  and  general  purport  of 
the  sacred  context,  and  with  what  has  been 
already  said  in  the  note  to  page  165,  and  in  pages 
J 78 — 186,  I  do  not  see  how  this  noble  prophecy 
can  be  reasonably  referred  for  its  fulfilment  to 
any  superior  Grandeur,  Offerings,  and  Treasures, 
by  which  the  Temple  then  building  was  after- 
wards to  be  distinguished. 

I  know,  indeed,  that  the  LXX.  have  g'wen 
this  turn  to  the  expression;  for  they  render  it  by 
r.y.i'Yi^H  Td  i'/.7\.SKToi.  TToivTujv  Tccv  sOvMV—  ''  the prccious^^ 
or  desirable,  ''  things  of  all  nations  shall  come  ;" 


APPENDIX,  Y.  409 

but  tliey  were  certainly  not  so  capable  of  dis- 
covering tbe  genuine  import  of  the  Propliecy,  as 
we  now  are,  w  ho  are  able  to  trace  its  accomplish- 
ment;  and  besideSj  in  order  that  the  original 
word  should  be  at  all  able  to  bear  this  interpre- 
tation, it  should  be  nHOH  instead  of  nTJH; 
and  not  a  sing'le  copy  occurs,  in  which  the  word 
is  so  read. 

Bat  there  are  also  other  reasons,  besides  those 
already  mentioned,  which  compel  a  resistance  to 
such  an  interprejation. 

1.  In  the  liist  place,  it  may  be  observed,  that 
such  an  Eminence  i\\  Riches  and  Magnificence, 
as  should  render  the  Glory  of  the  Temple  built  by 
Zorobabel,  superior  to  the  Glory  of  that  built  by 
Solomon,  is  highly  problematical ;  nor  can  any 
adequate  proof  be  adduced  of  its  existence.  The 
probabilities  lean  Ciitirely  towards  an  opposite 
conclusion. 

2,  But,  supposing  this  point  were  granted,  can 
we  conceive  that  any  Offerings  or  Presents,  to  be 
thereafter  made  by  Pagan  Princes  to  the  House 
of  God  at  Jerusalem,  would  require,  in  the 
language  of  prophecy,  to  be  announced  by  such 
an  introduction  as  this  : 

'^  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  God  of  Hosts: 

^*  Yet  once  again,  within  a  little  time, 

**  I  will  shake  the  Heavens  and  tlie  Earth, 


410  APPENDIX,  Y. 

**  And  the  Sea  and  the  dry  Land  : 

"  I  will  even  shake  all  Nations  ; 

**  Jnd  the  desirable  things  of  all  Nations  shall  comi; 

*'  And  I  will  fill  this  House  with  Gloty ; 

**  Saith  Jehovah,  God  of  Hosts  !" 

The  grandeur  and  elevation  of  this  language 
would  be  vastly  beyond  tlieir  Object,  if  that  Ob- 
ject were  confined  to  any  external  Splendour  or 
Decorations,  \\hich  the  Temple  then  building 
might  at  any  time  be  presumed  to  possess. 

3.  It  is  well  known,  however,  that  the  pre- 
eminent Glory  of  Solomon's  Temple  consisted  not 
in  its  Beauty,  ifs  Riches,  and  Magnificence, 
though  they  were  great  indeed  ;  but  in  the  She- 
chinah,  or  visible  Symbol  of  the  JOivine  Presence, 
which  appeared  occasionally  between  the  Cheru- 
bim, over  the  Mercy-seat.  But  of  this  super- 
natural token  of  the  Divine  Presence,  which  is 
frequently  and  peculiarly  styled  ''  the  Glory  of 
*'  Jehovah,"  the  second  Temple  was  altogether 
destitute.  In  this  respect,  therefore,  the  Glory  o^ 
that  Temple  must  have  been  incomparably  less 
than  that  of  the/or;72£r. 

4.  Yet  it  is  here  expressly  predicted,  that  the 
latter  Giorv  of  the  House  of  Gud  at  Jerusalem 
should  h^  greater  than  Xhe  former',  and  that  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  himself  vioxxldi  fill  that  House  with 
Glory.  Whence  we  must  necessarily  infer,  that 
the  Glory  then  to  be  revealed  would,  in  some 
respects,  be  superior  even  to  that,  which  had  be- 


APPENDIX,  Y.  411 

fore  conferred  such  peculiar  Dignity  on  the 
Tabernacle  and  Temple.  Kut  what  can  be 
deemed  super ior  to  the  visible  Symbol  of  the  Divine 
Presence,  except  an  actual  manifestation  of  the 
Divine  Presen  ce  itself? 

5.  To  correspond,  moreover,  with  such  a  won- 
derful discovery  of  the  tender  regard  of  God  for 
his  people  as  tliis,  nolhing,  in  the  language  of 
Inspiration,  can  be  too  sublime,  too  eh)quent,  or 
impressive.  Aad  that,  "  in  the  fulness  of  time," 
such  a  discovery  was  actually  made,  we  know 
from  most  unquestionable  Authority  ;  for  "  The 
*'  Word,"  or  ^^  Son  of  GOD/'  became  flesh,  and 
''  divelt  amongst  us  ;'*  and,  as  *'  The  Messenger  of 
*'  the  Covenant/'  and  he  who  ivas  to  ^'  give  Peace /^ 
he  "  suddenhj  cametoliis  Temple/'  In  this  event 
then,  and  no  other,  can  the  prophecy  in  question 
be  consistently  believed  to  have  received  its 
accomplishment. 

6.  There  is,  indeed,  but  one  circumstance, 
which  seems  to  favour  the  supposition  of  those, 
who  would  confine  its  accomplishment  to  the  ex^ 
ternal  Grandeur  and  Beauty  of  this  Temple,  and 
to  the  Richness  of  the  Olferings  with  which  it 
was  endowed  :    and  that  is  the  following  clause  : 

"  The  Silver  is  mine,  and  the  Gold  is  mine; 
"  Saith  Jehovah,  God  of  Hosts" — 

But,  in  reality,  this  was  a  special  promise,  con- 
nected, and  interwoven  with  the  others.  It  was 
€ver  intended,  and  the  nature  of  the  case  seemed 


412  APPENDIX,  Y. 

to  require,  that  there  should  always  be  some  de<- 
gree  of  Ohscurhy  attached  to  a  prediction,  till 
the  period  of  its  completion  ;  and,  without  the 
introduction  of  some  such  correlative  passage  as 
this,  the  ser.se  of  tliis  prophecy  would  perhaps 
have  been  too  explicit.  Besides,  the  very  situ- 
ation o^  the  pious  Jews,  at  the  time  when  it  was 
uttered,  required  the  aid  of  some  such  assurance 
o^  temporal  support  as  this.  They  were  then 
'*  labouring,"  as  it  were,  "  in  the  very  fire,"  in 
the  rebuilding  of  their  Temple  ;  under  the  great- 
est possible  embarrassments  from  the  enmity  of 
the  Samaritans;  and  in  the  greatest  want  of  all 
things,  and  especially  o^  Money ^  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  their  sacred  purpose.  This  clause  seems 
therefore  to  have  been  particularly  inserted,  for 
their  encouragement  and  support  under  these 
difficulties  and  distresses  ;  by  assuring  them  that 
Almighty  God  was  the  giver  of  every  temporal 
as  well  as  spiritual  blessing  ;  that  he  could  soon 
convert  their  scarcity  of  means,  into  abundance; 
and,  that,  as  they  were  then  devoting  their  most 
strenuous  endeavours,  in  the  spirit  of  genuine 
piety,  to  the  re-edification  of  his  House,  so  not- 
withstanding all  the  discouragements  under 
which  they  were  then  labouring,  they  should  at 
length  1)6  enabled  to  complete  it.  Thus,  taught  to 
look  up  to  God  for  support  and  success,  they 
soon  obtained  them  ;  and  the  several  Edicts  which 
Darius  Hystaspis,  and  Artaxerxes  Longimanus^ 


APPENDIX,  Y.  413 

made  in  tlicir  favour,  verified  <o  (he  utmost  the 
above  implied  promise  of  the  Divine  Assistance. 
See  Ezra.  ch.  6,  v.  1 — 12  ;  and  ch.  12,  v.  12— 
26  ;  and  Nehemiah,  vh.  2. 

I  have  discussed  this  Text  the  more  largely, 
on  account  of  its  hio'b  importance.  Considered 
as  a  promise  of  the  future  appearance  of  the 
Messiah,  every  word  it  comprelioiids,  or  that  is 
con.vrled  with  it,  is  consistent,  has  been  abun. 
dantlv  vorsfied  by  facts,  and  is  worthy  of  God. 
Viewed  Ds  the  mere  promise  of  a7iij  inftriour 
Good,  and  of  such^  more  especialh,  as  is  alluded 
to  in  the  former  part  of  this  Note,  the  terms  in 
which  it  is  expressed  will  be  found  to  be  incor- 
rect:  the  lar,£rua2"e  of  the  context  will  be  muck 
too  grand  and  dignified  for  its  ohject  ;  and  the 
agreement  of  it  with  fact  will  be^  at  the  best, 
extremely  uncertain, 

I  frust^  likewise,  it  will  appear,  from  what  has 
been  presented  to  the  reader  upon  this  subject, 
in  the  volume  now  before  him,  that  the  Evari" 
s^elical  mnoxi  of  this  memorable  Prediction  has 
been  vii-dicated,  without  my  ha\ing'  incurred 
any  ponion  of  the  followini^  ceiisure,  wliich  has 
been  perhaps  but  too  justly  merited  by  the  njore 
usual  mode  in  which  it  has  been  treated. — *'  The 
"  most  plausible  Objections  to  the  Chii^lian  Re- 
*'  liti;ion  have  been  made  out  of  the  weak  Argu- 
*'  ments  whichhave  beeii  advanced  in  its  support. 


414  APPENDIX,  Y. 

"Andean  there  be  a  weaker  Argument*  than 
"that;  which  sets  out  with  doing  violence  to 
''  the  original  iexU  in  order  to  form  a  prophecy  ; 
''  and  then  contradicts  the  express  testimony  of 
"  the  best  historian  of  those  times,  in  order  to 
"  shew  that  it  has  been  accomplished  ?*' 

The  above  animadversion  was  extracted  from 
Dr.  Heberden's  observations  on  the  place,  in- 
serted in  Archbishop  Newcome's  Version  of  the 
Twelve  Minor  Prophets;  and  thence  adopted  by 
Mr.  Hewlett^  as  part  of  his  Annotations  on  Hag- 
gai,  ch.  2,  V.  7,  in  his  late  edition  of  the  Bible. 


NOTE  Z. 

Referring  to  Page  ISS,  Note  §. 

In  several  respects  David  might  very  properly 
be  considered  as  a  tj^e  of  Christ. 

1.  Each  of  these  was  both  a  King^vi^  a  Pro- 
phef. 

*  A  particular  reference  is  here  made  to  the  opinion  of  those, 
who  interpret  this  prophecy  of  Haggai,  as  relating  to  the 
temple  then  buikiing  by  Zorobabel ;  and  ''  contradict  the  ex- 
"  press  testi)nony  of  Josephus,"  by  which  it  can  be  clearly 
proved,  that  the  sacred  structure,  which  was  dignified  by  the 
personal  presence  of  our  Lord,  must  have  been  the  third,  and 
not  the  secondT€mn]e  that  had  been  erected  at  Jerusalem. — 
See  Note  f ,  page  l65,  where  this  opinion  is  also  contro- 
Terted. 


APPENDIX,  Z.  415 

2.  David  was  styled  "  a  man  after  God's  own 
"  heart  *;**  ai>d  Jesus  Christ  was  declared  to  be 
''  the  bek)ved,  in  whom  he  was  well  pleased  f." 

3.  Thepatiep.ee  and  magnanimity,  with  whsch 
David  sustained  the  curves  aid  revilings  of 
Shimei  of  Bahurim  J,  rendered  him  a  very  lively 
emblem  of  that  meek  and  patient  Saviour, 
''  who,  when  he  was  reviled,  reviled  not  again; 
"  wlien  he  suffered,  threatened  not;  but  com- 
«'  mitted  himself  to  hun  that  jud^eth  righte- 
*'  ously  §." 

4.  The  Messiah  is  the  Person,  in  whom  all 
the  promises  of  future  Redeasption  and  Happi- 
ness, made  to    David,  are  to  be  fulfilled  ;  and 

.  therefore  the  Gospel,  by  the  iiistrumentali^y  of 
which  all  these  gracious  purposes  are  to  be 
answered,  is  peculiarly  styled  ''en  everlasting 
^'  Co'ienant — eren  the  sure  Mercies  of  Dari4\\.'' 

5.  David  interceded  m  the  behalf  ot  one,  who 
was  guilty  of  premeditating  his  MurJer,  and 
was  takmg  what  appeared  to  him  the  most  \ike\y 
means  to  effectuate  his  direful  purpose. — ''  Deal 
^'  gently  for  my  sake"  he  said,  "  with  the  young 
''  man,  even  with  Absalom  f ."  So  in  these  ever- 
memorable  words—''  Father,  forgive  them,  for 

*  1  Sam.  cli.  11,  V.  U  ;  and  Acts,  ch.  13,  v.  22. 
t  Malt.  ch.  3,  V.  17  J  and  Ibaiab,  ch.  42,  v.  1,   compared 
\\ilh  Matt.  ch.  12,  V.  18.  t  2  Sam.  ch.  16,  v.  5—13. 

§  1  Pet.  ch.  2,  V.  23.  H  Isuiah,  ch.  55,  v.  3. 

^  2  Sam.  ch.  18,  v.  5. 


416  APPENDIX,/.. 

'^  they  know  not  ivhat  they  do  */*   did  his  illus- 
trious Descendant  pray  also  for  his  Murderers. 

6.  David  was  professionally  a  Shepherd,  In 
the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  ''.he  fed  his  father's 
'^  sheep  at  Beihlehemj"  and  it  was  well  known, 
with  what  zeal  he  defended  the  flock  committed 
to  his  charge  f.  And^  upon  his  advancement  to 
the  throne,  he  became  (no/ju.^i'  Aa«)  a  Shepherd 
of  the  people.  Even  so  was  Christ  also  a  Shep- 
herd y  and  as  '^  the  good  Shepherd/'  he  could 
truly  say,  in  addressing  his  Fa|,her,  *'  of  them 
"  which  thou  hast  given  me  have  I  lost  none  ^]." 
And  it  was  fnrlhcr  prophecied  of  him,  that  he 
should  be  appointed  to  this  very  office,  and  even 
under  the  title  of  David^  as  the  antitypical  Repre- 
sentative of  that  Prince:  for  thus  said  God  by 
the  mouth  of  his  Prophet  Ezckiel — ''  I  mil  set 
*^  lip  one  Shepherd  over  wy  flock,  and  he  shall  feed 
''  theruy  (veji  Mv  Servant  David  §." 

7.  Each  of  these  illustrious  personages  exer- 
cised, when  necessity  required  it^  a  dispensing 
power i  with  respect  to  particular  parts  of  the 
Mosaic  Law.  To  this  our  blessed  Saviour  made 
a  direct  allusion,  when,  in  vindicating  his  Disci- 
ples in  plucking  the  ears  of  corn  on  the  Sabbath- 
day,    he  made  this  retort  upon   their  Accusers 

*  Luke,  ch.  23,  v.  34.         +  1  Sam.  cli.  17,  v.  15,  34,  36. 
J  John,  ch.  10,  V.  11,  14,  &c.  and  ch.  18,  v.  9, 
§  Ezek.  ch.  34,  v.  23,  See  also  Appendix,  Note  Q,  where 
there  is  more  upon  this  subject. 


a 


At^PENDIX,  AA.  417 

— '^  Have  ye  not  read  what  David  did  vvlicn  be 
"  was  an  hnngered,  qnd  they  that  were  with  him; 
"  How  he  entered  into  (he  house  of  God,  and  did 
^^  cat  the  Shew- bread,  which  was  not  lawful  for 
"  him  to  cat,  neither  for  them  thai  ivere  with  hinif 
but  only/or  the  Priests  ?"  Matth*  eh. 12,  v.  3,4:, 
Mark,  eh.  2,  v. 23—26,    Luke,  ch.  6,  v.I— 4. 


NOTE  AA. 
Referring  to  Page  314,  Note  *. 

Unpleasant  as  it  is  to  be  obliged  to  express 
my  dissent  from  an  Opinion,  which  has  had  the 
sanction  of  the  learning-  and  ability  of  any  of  those, 
whom  I  have  had  the  honour  to  succeed  in  the 
ofHce  I  am  nov/  discharging  ;  yei  the  importance 
of  the  subjectjthat  is  here  brought  under  consi- 
deration, renders  this  obligation  indispensable  on 
the  present  occasion. 

It  is  for  the  sake  of  establisliing  the  import  of 
some  few  of  those  sublime  and  animating  Prophe- 
cies, wiiich  relate  to  the  Conversion  of  the  Jews, 
and  their  Restoration  to  their  own  Land^  that  they 
have  been  allowed  to  occupy  so  great  a  space  in 
the  present  Lecture  ;  and  this  investigation  has 
terminated  in  a  conclusion,  widely  dili'erent  from 
that,  which  my  immediate  Predecessor  adopted 
ivL    contemplating    the   same    topics  *.       That 

*  See  Dr.  Pearson's  twelfth  Warburtonian  Lecture. 
VOL.  I.  2    E 


418  APPENDIX,  AA. 

learned  and  respectable  Writer^  after  taking  what 
I  cannot  but  consider  as  rather  a  ^ar//a/  view  of 
the  subject,  is  induced  to  infer,  "  that  there  is  no 
'^  ground  from  Prophecy  for  supposing^  that  the 
*'  Jetus  will  ever  he  restored  to  the  possession  of 
*^  luhat  is  called  their  own  land.**  What  is  not  a 
little  remarkable,  having  taken  for  his  text  those 
very  precise  words  of  Our  Lord — ''They  shall 
^'  fall  by  the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  shall  be  led 
"  away  captive  into  all  nations  ;  and  Jerusalem 
**  shall  be  trodden  down  by  the  Gentiles,  until 
*^  the  times  of  the  Gentiles  be  ful/illed," — He  is  led 
to  regard  this  *^  as  a  denunciation  of  Punishment 
"  only^  and  tzo^,"  (according  to  the  interpretation 
it  will  justly  admit,  and  which  has  indeed  been 
most  commonly  assigned  to  it)  '^  as  a  denun- 
*^  ciation  of  Punishment^  together  with  a  Promise, 
*'  or  at  least  an  Intimation,  of  the  Remission  of  it.** 
But  surely  these  memorable  words  will  require 
a  construction  very  different  from  this:  for,  if 
Jerusalem  is  to  he  *'  trodden  doivn  hrj  the  Gentiles 
"  UNTIL  the  time  of  the  Gentiles  be  fulfilled,**  it  is 
most  assuredly  implied,  that  when  those  times 
shall  he  fulfilled,  it  will  then  cease  to  be  so  trodden 
doivn  ;  and  thus,  i\\Q  latter  clause  of  the  prophecy 
effectually  prevents  us,  according  to  my  apprehen- 
sion, from  considering  the  whole  as  ''  the  denun- 
*'  ciation  of  Punishment  only." 

Such  is  the  conclusion,  that  is  most  easily  de- 
duced from  this  passage  of  Scripture,  even  when 


APPENDIX,  AA.  419 

vie^ved  independent] v,  and  by  itself;  but  if  it  is 
compared  with  others,  to  wliich  it  bears  an  evi* 
dent  relation,  the  inference  that  has  been  drawn 
will  acquire  a  great  accession  of  strenglli  and 
clearness. 

The  Country  they  inhabited,  which  was  their 
peculiar  Inheritance,  was  given  to  the  Patriarchs 
from  whom  they  descended,  and  to  their  Seed 
after  them,  '^  for  an  everlasting  Possession.*'  To 
this  effect  was  the  promise  which  God  made  to 
Abraham  *,  and  repeated  to  Isaac  f  and  Jacob  J; 
and  for  this  reason^  it  has  been  called  with  pecu- 
liar propriety  '^  tlieir  oivn  land/'  by  several  of  the 
sacred  Writers  themselves. 

The  Case,  then,  of  this  people  will  admit  of 
illustration,  from  a  familiar  example  drawn  from 
the  ordinary  occurrences  of  Civil  Life.  A  Person, 
for  instance,  possessed  of  an  amp]'  Kstate,  which 
has  descended  to  him  from  a  loag  and  noble  line 
of  Ancestry,  inai/  indeed  prove  himself  unworthy 
of  holding  such  a  respectable  inheritance;  he  mai/ 
violate  the  laws  of  his  Country  ;  and  for  that 
\iolation  mat/  forfeit,  for  a  stated  period,  the  pri- 
vilege of  his  own  personal  liberty:  and,  in  that 
case,  must  be  deprived  of  all  immediate  enjoyment 
of  his  patrimony,  till  the  time,  for  which  he  was 

*  Genes,  cb.  I7,  v.  8;  and  cli.  22,  v.  16,  I7. 
+  Genes,  ch.  26,  v.  3, 4. 

X  Compare  Genes,  ch.  28,    v.  13—15,  and  cli.35,  v.  12, 
with  ch,  48,  V.  3,  4, 


420  APPENDIX,  AA. 

sentenced  to  confinement^  shall  have  elapsed  :  yet, 
upon  the  expiration  of  the  period  of  his  punish- 
ment, u^Xtss^ Confiscation  has  been  awarded  as  part 
of  that  punishment,  he  has  a  right  to  return  to  his 
Estate,  and  to  hold  it  again,  if  he  pleases,  in  his 
own  hands. 

Analogous  to  this  is  the  tenure  of  "The 
*'  Holy  Land,'*  It  was  given,  by  the  Almighty 
himself,  to  the  Seed  of  Jacob,  for  '^  an  everlasting 
^^ possession.'''  Nor  is  there  any  clause  in  the 
Divine  Promise  by  which  it  was  granted,  to  lead 
us  to  suppose  any  liability  to  what  would  be  equi- 
valent to  confiscaiion  ;  for  the  Promise  is  absolute, 
and  no  condition  whatever  is  implied — ^'  I  will 
^'  give  to  thee,  and  to  thy  Seed  after  thee,  the 
"  Land  wherein  thou  art  a  Stranger,  all  the  Land 
^*  of  Canaan,  for  an  everlasting  possession ;  and 
''  I  will  be  their  GOD:'  Yet,  though  this  distin- 
guished country  is  thus  rendered  unalienably 
their  own,  their  peaceful  occupation  of  it  would 
depend  entirely  upon  themselves. 

In  this  respect,  every  thing  is,  and  ever  has  been 
conditional  \  as  the  whole  of  their  history  plainly 
demonstrates. 

For  their  manifold  offences  against  God,  they 
oniglit  either  be  punished  with  subjugation  and 
misery  in  their  own  Land ;  or  they  might  be  led 
away  into  captivity  from  it ;  and  endure  the 
penalties  of  a  long  and  wretched  deportation. 
And  these  Punishments,  with  intervening  Restor- 


APPENDIX,  AA.  421 

ations,  might  be  repeated,  as  often  as  their 
Wickedness  and  subsequent  Amendment  might 
justly  require  it ;  and  with  degrees  of  duration  and 
severity,  exactly  proportioned  to  the  enormities 
that  demanded  them.  What  instances,  to  prove 
the  truth   of  these  Observations,  have   already 

occurred  1 

What  is  there  then  to  induce  us  to  believe, 
(more  particularly  when  we  take  into  consider- 
ation  the  other  striking  circumstances  exhibited 
in  the  latter  part  of  this  Lecture)  that,  when 
this  long  and  vengeful  period  of  judicial  infatu- 
ation and  unparalleled  misery  shall  haveelapsed*, 
when  they  shall  begin  "  to  bethink  themselves 
"  of  their  ways  and  their  doings/'  and  to  turn 
ascain  to  the  Lord  their  God  /'  for  such  the 
Deity  is  still  to  them,  though  at  present  he  seems 
to  regard  them  not  f— What  reason  can  we  have 

*  And  we  know,  that  the  duration  of  this  period  of  punish- 
ment is  determined  by  the  immutal)le  Decree  of  God  3  and  has 
been  actually  revealed  in  his  holy  Word.   See  Dan.  ch.  12,  v.  7. 

+  To  this  effect  is  that  divine  assurance— 

"  Thus  saith  Jehovah  ; 
**  If  the  heavens  above  can  be  measured, 
«♦  And  the  foundations  of  the  earth  beneath  be  searched  out ; 
«  Then  will  I  also  cast  off  all  the  seed  of  Israel, 
*'  Because  of  all  that  they  have  done,  saith  jEHorAU.''* 
And  that  this  most  merciful  promise  ( Jerem.  ch.  31,  v.  37,) 
cannot  relate  merely  to  the  preservation  of  the  people  of  GoD, 
during  the  period  of  their  captivity  in  Babylon,  and  to  their  re- 
turn after  those  seventy  years  had  expired,  we  learu  very  clearly 
from  the  passage  which  immediately  follows— 

2e3 


4£^  APPENDIX,  AA. 

for  believing,  that  the  Country,  which  has  been 
so  long  held  in  reserve^  will  never  come  regain 
into  the  possession  of  its  rightful  oivners  .^  Is  it 
not  rather  e\ident5  from  the  immutable  truth  of 
GoD^   as  pledged   in  the  promise  that  has  been 

"  Behold,  the  days  are  coming,  saith  Jehovah, 

*•  That  the  city  shall  be  built  for  Jehovah, 

*'  From  the  Tower  of  Hananeel  to  the  gate  of  the  Corner. 

^'  And  a  measuri/g-line  shall  proceed  sirai^'lit  forward 

*'  Over  the  hill  Gareb,  and  shall  encompass  Gotha, 

"  And  the  whole  valley  of  the  dead  bodies  and  of  the  ashes, 

<*  And  3II  the  fields  imto  the  brook  Kidron, 

*'  As  far  as  the  corner  of  the  horse,  gate  towards  the  East. 

*'  Consecrated  to  Jehovah,  if  shall  not  be  plucked  vp^ 

^'  Neither  thall  it  he  thrown  down  any  more  for  efer.^^ 

Dr.  Blayney,  m  his  judicious  remarks  npon  this  passage,  very 
truly  observes,  that  it  contains  "  a  description  of  the  circnm- 
"  ference  of  a  Neiv  City,  to  be  built  on  the  site  of  Jerusalem; 
f'  but  that  it  does  not  mean  the  City,  which  was  rebuilt  after 
*«  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  the  Babyh  nish  Captivity,  is  evi- 
"  dent  from  two  principal  Circumstances — 

*'  First,  because  the  limits  are  here  extended  farther,  so 
<^  as  to  contain  a  greater  space  than  was  contained  within  the 
^'  walis  at  that  time  ;"  as  for  example,  the  hills  Gareb  and 
Gotha,  (or  Gci.Goiha)  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  here  called 
<«  the  Valley  of  the  dead  bodies  and  of  the  ashes,"  and  *'  all 
*'  the  fields  unto  the  brook  Kidron"  ihdicaiing  the  fullers 
fields,  which  were  zzithout  the  walls  of  the  City  of  Jerusalem, 
are  here  included  tcitbin  those  of  the  City  to  be  erected, 

"  Secondly,  it  is  her^  said,  that  it  should  never  be  razed 
^'  or  destroyed  any  more  ;"  which  excludes  entirely  the  sup- 
position, that  the  city  rebuilt  by  Ezra  gnu  Nehemiah  can  be 
the  City  intended. 

"  This  new  City  therefore,^"*  concludes  the  learned  Writer, 


APPENDIX,  AA.  4£3 

just  recited,  and  as  displayed  in  all  his  dealings 
with  this  people,  that  if  they  are  ever  converted 
to  the  knowledge  and  practice  of  true  Religion^ 
thev  will  also  be  restored  to  their  own  land.  They 
have  been  most  miraculously  preserved  to  this 
very  moment  ^    and   their  Country  has  also    re- 
mained through  many  ages  in  a  comparatively 
desolate  and  unpeopled  state  ;  but  it  was  given  to 
them  "/or  an  everlasting  possession  ;"  and  there- 
fore it  must,  according  to  the  laws  oi  ordinary^ 
and  much  more  of  c/ft;mi?  justice,  devolve  to  them 
again,  whenever  they  shall  perform   the  condi- 
tions requisite  for  their  Restoration.     It  must  he 
theirs  to  the  end  of  time  j    although  they  will  be 
only  allowed  to  occupy  \i- conditionally'.    "  For 
*'  ye  shall  not  see  me  henceforth,''  said  our  blessed 
Saviour  to  that  nation,  "  till  \e  shall  say— Blessed 
'«  be  He  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.** 
Then,  and  not  till  then,  will  "  the  reproach  of  this 
*'  people  be  removed  from  ofi'  the  whole  earth  *.*' 
Then  will  Jehovah  ''  put  forth  his  hand  again 
**  THE  SECOND  TIME,  to  ricovcr  the  remnant  of  his 
"  people  that  shall  be  left,  from  Assyria,  and  from 
"  Egypt,  and  from  Pathros,  and  from  Cush,  and 
«'  from  Elam,  and  from  Shiiiar,and  from  Hamath, 

^«  must  be  referred  to  those  after  times,  when  the  general 
*'  Restoration  of  Israel  is  appointed  to  take  place."" 

See  Ihe  Notes  subjoined  to  Dr.  Blayney's  Translation  of 
Jeremiah,  ch.  31,  v.  38—40. 

*  Isaiah,  ch.  25,  v.  8. 

2  E  4 


424  APPENDIX,  AA. 

*"'  and  from  the  res-ions  of  the  West.  And  he 
''  shall  lift  up  a  signal  to  the  Nations,  and  shall 
"  assemble  the  outcasts  of  Israel  ;  and  gather  to- 
^'  getlier  the  dispersed  of  Ji]dah,  from  the  four 
*'  extremities  of  the  earth  *."     Then  will  Jeru- 

*See  Isaiah,   ch.  1 1,  v,  11,    12. — "  I   take  this  part  of  the 

'  **  chapter,"  says  Mr.  Lowlh,  "  from  the  tenth  verse  onward, 

*'  to  forelel  those  glorious  times  of  the  church  which  shall  be 

«*  ushered  in  by  the  Restoration  of  the  Jewish  Nation,  when 

♦*  they  shall  cnibrace  the  Gospel,  and  be  restored  to  their  ozcn 

''  Cou7itrijhom\\\t  several  dispersions  where  they  are  scat- 

^*  tered.    This  remarkable  scene  of  Prophecy  is  plainly  fore- 

"  told  by  most  of  the  Prophets  of  ll.'e  Old  Testament,  and  by 

<*  St.  Paul  in  the  New— See  Deut.  ch.  SO,  v.  S,  4,  5  ;  and  ch. 

"  32,  V.  43;  Isaiah,  ch.  27,  v.  12,  13  ;  ch,  45,  v.  i7,  &c. ;  ch. 

''  49,  V.  6,  &c.;  ch.  54  ;  ch.  5^^  v.  20;  and  chapters  60,  61,  62, 

"  65,  66;  Jereni.  ch.  23,  v.  8 ;  ch.  30,  v.  8,  9?  10  ;  ch.  31,  v. 

"  36—40 ;  and  ch.  50,  v.  4,  Ezek.  ch.  11,  v.  17,  &c.;  ch.  20, 

^'  V.  34,  &c.;  ch.  34,  v.  13  ;  ch.  SQ,  v.  24,  &c,;  and  ch.  37,  v, 

*'  21.;  Hos.  ch.  1,  v.  11  ;   and  ch,  3,  v.  5  ;  Joel  ch.  3,  v.  1, 

*'  &c. ;  Amos,  ch.  f),  v.  14,  15;  Obad.  v.  17,  &c.  ;  Mic.  ch. 

<^^  7,  V.  14,  15  ;   Zech.  ch.  8,  v.  7,  13  ^  ch.  10,  v.  6,  (Sec.  ;  ch, 

«'  12,  V.  10;  and  ch.  14,  v.  8,  &c,  ;  Rom.  ch.  11,  v.  25,  26; 

'' 2  Cor,  ch.  3.  V.  16."  — See   his  annotations   on  the   above 

passage  of  Isaiah, 

And  to  this  List  Mr.  Faber  has  added  largely  in  a  work, 
written  expressly  u/ton  this  very  subject,  and  entitled — ''  A 
^'  General  and  Connected  View  of  the  Prophecies,  relative  to 
'^  the  Conversion,  Bestoration^  Union,  aiid  Future  Glori/j 
^'  of  the  Houses  of  IsiiAE^i  and  JyDAH,  &c."— in  two  Vo- 
lumes Octavo,  1808. 

To  all  ihis  mass  of  evidence,  presented  by  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, Dr.  Pearson  has  opposed  the  v^ry  passage,  to  which 
|his  Nole  is  spJDJoined.    flis  words   are— "  Isaiah  says,    Ths 


appJ':ndix,  aa.  425 

salem   cease  to   be   *'  trodden  down  hij  the   Gen- 
*'  tiles.''     Then    also  will    those    most   glorious 

**  Lord  shall  set  his  hand  again,  the  second  time,  to  rc- 
''  cover  the  remnant  of  his  people."  Considering,  that 
"  Isaiah  said  tins,  not  only  before  the  return  of  ihe  Assyrian 
*'  and  Babylonian  Captivities  took  place,  but  also  before  either 
^'  of  those  Caj)tivities  themselves  took  place,  is  it  reasonable  to 
<'  suppose,  tiiat  he  should  pass  over  this  return  without  notice, 
<*  and  yet  call  any  otiier  return  from  captivity  a  second  one  ? 
"  lie  calls  \\.the  secand,  no  doubt, with  a  reference  to  the  de^ 
f'  llierance  of  the  Israelites  from  their  captivity  or  bondage 
<«  in  Egypt.'' 

But  it  is  rather  unfortunate  for  this  Interpretation,  that 
their  Emancipation  from  Egyptian  bondage  was  not  '*  a  Re. 
•*  coveri/ of  VBT^  remnant  of  his  people  ;"  but  the  bringing 
of  them  forth  "  1)7/  their  Jrniies,''  after  they  had  "  grotvn 
^'  and  multiplied  exceedinglij,''*  and  had  just  risen,  as  it 
were,  to  be  a  great  and  powerful  Nation,  The  very  pre-, 
cision  of  the  propiietical  language,  therefore,  altogether  forbids 
the  reference  that  is  here  contended  for. 

And  no  less  so  does  the  context  immediately  preceding  this 
passage—? 

^'  And  in  that  day,  there  shall  be  a  Root  of  Jesse  ; 
^«  Which  shall  stand  as  an  Ensign  to  the  people  ; 
«'  To  it  shall  the  Gentiles  seek; 
"  And  his  rest  shall  be  glorious,'* 

In  these  words  there  is  a  manifest  allusion  to  the  later  times 
of  the  Christian  Dispensation,  when  there  will  be  a  most  ex- 
tensive influx  of  the  Gentile  nations  of  the  world  into  the 
Church  of  Christ— » 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
^'That  Jehovah  will  set  his  hand  again,  the  second  timjj, 
**  To  recover  the  remnant  of  liis  people,"  &c. 

that  is,  at  the  very  time  when   this  Conversion  of  the  Gen- 


APPENDIX,  BB. 

promises  of  God,  so  sublimely  expressed  by  his 
Prophets,  receive  tiieir  complete  accomplish- 
ment— 

*'  AVhereas  thou  hast  been  forsaken, 

*'  And  haled,  so  that  no  man  passed  through  thee  ; 

'*  I  will  make  thee  an  eternal  excellency, 

'*  A  cause  of  Joj/  to  perpetual  Generations,^* 

"  Thy  Sun  shall  no  more  go  down, 
"  Neither  shall  thy  moon  withdraw  herself: 
"  For  Jehovah  shall  be  thine  everlasting  light, 

"  And  the  days  of  thy  mourning  shall  be  ended, 
<*  Thy  people  also  shall  be  all  righteous, 

*'  THEY  SHALL  POSSESS  THE    LAND  FOR   EVER 

"  The  Cion  of  my  planting ^  the  work  of  my  hands^  that  1 
"  may  he  glorified  *^'' 

tile  nations  shall  be  taking  place,  the  Recovery  also  of  the  an- 
cient People  of  God,  from  their  present  state  of  Captivity  and 
Dispersion,  will  be  carrying  into  effect.  And  if  this  be  the 
SECOND  **  Recovery  of  the  Remnant  of  his  People"  it  is 
necessarily  implied,  that  any  former  one,  such  as  that  from 
Babylon,  must  have  been  the  first,  whether  noticed  more 
particularly  by  the  Prophet  in  this  place,  or  not.  Considered 
in  this  point  of  view,  every  thing  relative  to  this  passage  is  con- 
sistent, and  worthy  of  the  Greatness  and  Goodness  of  God; 
while  on  the  other  supposition,  the  return  from  the  Babylonish 
captivity  must  be  entirely  rejected  from  the  enumeration, 
*  See  the  whole  passage— Isaiah,  ch.  60,  v. 


(     427     ) 


NOTE  BB. 

In  Reference  to  the  following  Passages. 

"  Malachi,  adverting  to  the  same  auspicious 
^'circumstance,  consoles  /he  believing  Jeivs  of  his 
"  timeiuith  the  assurance ^  that  the  LoRD,tuhom 
*'  thei/  sought,  sJiould  suddenly  come  to  his  temple, 
*^  even  the  Messenger  of  the  Covenant  in  whom 
^^  they  deli<ihted,'^  page  Qi>^^  and... 

*'  The  lutter  of  these  was  no  other  than  "  the 
'^  Lord,''  '^ivhom  the  pious  Jews  in  the  time  of 
«'  Malachi  were  seeking,''  page  121. 

When  this  prophecy  of  Malachi  was  cited  in 
the  above  places,  it  was  cited  merely  for  the  sake 
of  its  import,  as  a  prophecy  concerning  Ghrist; 
and  without  any  particular  consideration,  with 
respect  to  the  description  of  persons  to  whom  it 
was  wore  immediately  addressed.  As  there  were 
those,  during  ihdt  period  of  depravity,  to  whom 
the  Prophet  himself  bore  witness,  that  "  they 
^'  feared  Jehovah^  and  thought  upon  His 
*«  Name  *  j"  and  to  whom  God,  by  the  mouth 
of  his  Prophet,  held  forth  that  exalted  encou- 
ragement—l7?2^o  you,  that  fear  My  Name,  shall 
«'  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  arise  with  healing  in  his 
^^  win^s -f" — it   was  at   once    concluded,    that, 

*  Malach.  cli.  3,  v.  16.  +  Malach.  cli.  4j  v.  2. 


428  APPENDIX,  BB. 

to  such  the  full  and  explicit  Promise  of  that 
"  Messenger  of  the  Covenant/*  whom  so  many 
prophecies  had  already  taught  them  less  directly 
to  expect,  and  the  consequences  of  whose  future 
Advent,  they  contemplated  v/ith  so  much  ^'  ^e- 
"  light,'"  would  be  a  subject  of  the  most  powerful 
Consolation,  in  those  days  of  blasphemy  and 
rebuke- 
Such,  without  doubt,  was  the  case ;  and  for 
their  sakes,  in  part^  was  the  prophecy  above  al- 
luded to  delivered,  but  not  tvhollij  so  ;  for  it  was 
addressed  to  persons  of  a  very  opposite  character. 
^^  It  was  addressed/'  says  the  late  Bishop  of  St. 
Asaph.  "  to  persons  who  did  not  seek  the  Lord, 
"  who  could  not  delight  in  the  Messenger  of  his 
'^  Covenant, — to  the  profane  and  atheistical^  w  ho 
^^  neither  listening  to  the  promises  nor  regarding 
'Mhe  threatnings  of  God^  took  occasion,  from  the 
^'  promiscuous  distribution  of  the  good  and  evil 
"  of  the  present  life,  to  form  rash  and  impious 
*^  conclusions  against  his  Providence,  to  arraign 
*^  his  Justice  and  Wisdom^  or  to  dispute  his  Ex- 
'^  istence.  The  expressions,  therefore,  of  seek- 
''  ing  the  Lord,  and  delighting  in  his  Messenger, 
*'  are  ironical,  expressing  the  very  reverse  of  that 
*^  which  they  seem  to  affirm." 

This  Prophecy,  therefore,  was  eminently 
adapted  to  produce  opposite  effects,  on  opposite 
characters  among  the  Jews  of  that  time.  To 
those,  to  whom  it  ivas  not  addressed — who 
deplored  the  abominations  that   then  prevailed;, 


APPENDIX,  BB.  429 

and  piously  confided  in  the  veracity  and  faith- 
fulness of  God,  it  hecame  the  source  of  the 
most  sublime  comfort  and  support:  those, 
to  whom  it  was  addressed,  if  they  at  all  re- 
flected upon  its  awful  meaning,  it  had  a  ten- 
dency  to  overwhelm  with  confusion  and  dis- 
may. 

The  masterly  manner,  in  which  the  learned 
Prelate  has  treated  this  subject,  may  be  seen 
at  large  in  the  third  Volume  of  his  Discourses, 
Sermon  SI.  Edit.  1813.— The  lateness  of  the 
date  when  this  Volume  came  to  my  hands,  is  the 
occasion  of  the  present  explanation. 


END  OF  VOL.  I. 


Pd^^^^dbTlTwTi;;^^^^  London, 


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