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prophecy, and the establishment of the divine authority of the religion which he introduced.

II. If you ask for A CONTRAST to all this plain interpretation of prophecy in the person of Christ, and to all these offices of grace discharged by him, look to the subterfuges of the Jews in evading the application of their own sacred word to our blessed Lord; and to the false Christs by whom they have been so often deceived. See their ancient doctors admitting all the chief predictions to belong to the Messiah, and the modern ones denying such an use. Hear them prohibiting the reading of the prediction of our Lord's passion in Isaiah; and denouncing a curse on those who compute the years of Daniel. Examine, if your patience can endure the trial, the childish follies which they produce as explanations of our noblest evangelical oracles. And when this part of the contrast has raised and set forth the brightness of the sacred predictions as unequivocally accomplished in Jesus our Lord; then turn to the false Christs who in different ages have arisen to delude and destroy those who refused Jesus as their true Messiah. Remember, the very time when these wretched impostors began to appear, marked out that the fulness of the predicted period was come, and

proclaimed with a loud voice, that the weeks of Daniel were run out, and that the Messiah had actually appeared. Before this period, no pretender arose. After the rejection of our Lord, crowds of the basest false prophets obtained attention. This we shall have to notice in the next part of this lecture. But I observe the

fact here, that the contrast, by its deep gloom, may serve to set forth the genuine characters of truth and grace which mark every step of our Redeemer's life, every part of his miraculous works, and every word that proceeded out of his mouth. Like all the other branches of the evidences of the gospel, truth stands out boldly and alone. There is nothing second or similar to it. It is unequalled and unmixed. It meets the sincere enquirer, and commends itself to his reason, his conscience, all the affections of his soul.

III. Let us make the only true use of this part of our subject, by IMPLORING OF OUR LORD THE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS which he is dispensing. Let us not stop in acknowledging the accomplishment of predictions, and confessing our belief in the mission of our Lord Christ. Let us rely upon him as our Saviour, let us seek pardon and reconciliation at his hands, let us beseech him to be our Teacher,

our Master, our Intercessor, not only by the general instructions of his word and his ministers, but by the special communications of his grace, by his merciful answers to our prayers, by the influence of his Holy Spirit upon our hearts, by his supplies of power and wisdom under temptation, and his mighty succour in the seasons of difficulty. Thus shall we understand all the fulness of his name and offices. Thus shall we know him as our King and our Lord. Thus shall we look forward with joy to his second coming to judge the world, assured that he will then most completely fulfil all the import of his spiritual titles and functions, and receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also.

LECTURE IX.

THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY.

PART II.

HAVING shown the most exact and surprising accomplishment of prophecy in the person and kingdom of our Lord, we come now, as we proposed, to consider the fulfilment of it in events which relate to the Jewish and Christian Church.

In doing this, we shall direct your attention to the DESTRUCTION OF THE CITY AND POLITY OF THE JEWS, and their dispersion throughout the world-to VARIOUS CITIES, NATIONS, AND EMPIRES Connected at different times with the Jewish and Christian church-to the APOSTACIES of the latter days-and to the future conversion of the world, and the FINAL TRIUMPH of holiness and truth-in other words, to the history of mankind, as connected with the designs of redemption, from the earliest ages of the world to the present day-a series of accomplishments answering in extent and mag

nificence to all that scheme of prophecy which we reviewed in a former lecture.

I. We call your attention to our Lord's prophecy of THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CITY AND POLITY OF THE JEWS, AND THE DISPERSION of that favoured people.

This prediction is the most memorable in the whole scriptures, next to the prophecies which we have been considering, relative to the immediate person and mission of the Messiah.

1. The manner of our Lord's introducing the prophecy is the most striking imaginable. As he was going out of the temple, his disciples began, quite accidentally, as we speak, to show him how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts; and one of them, smitten it should appear with unusual admiration, exclaimed, Master, see what manner of stones, and what buildings are here. To this remark our Lord immediately, and without premeditation, as one in whom the fulness of the prophetical spirit dwelt, replied, See ye not all these great buildings? Verily I say unto you, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Thus pointing out at once, in a single sentence, without the least preparation, circumlocution, or hesitation, the most prominent

1 Matth. xxiv. 1, 2; Mark xiii. 1,2; Łuke xxi. 6.

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