the city like a sword; and a comet continued a whole year. 2d. The people being assembled at the feast of unleavened bread, at the ninth hour of the night, a great light shone about the altar and the temple, and this continued for half an hour. 3d. At the same feast, a cow, led to the sacrifice, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple! 4th. The eastern gate of the temple, which was of solid brass, and very heavy, and could hardly be shut by twenty men, and was fastened by strong bars and bolts, was seen at the sixth hour of the night, to open of its own accord ! 5th. Before sun-setting there was seen all over the country, chariots and armies fighting in the clouds, and besieging cities. 6th. At the feast of Pentecost, when the priests were going into the inner temple by night, to attend to their service, they heard first a motion and noise, and then a voice as of a multitude, saying, LET US DEPART HENCE. What Josephus reckons one of the most terrible signs of all was, that one Jesus, a country fellow, four years before the war began, and when the city was in peace and plenty, came to the feast of tabernacles, and ran up and down the streets day and night, crying, "a voice 7th. from the east! a voice from the west! a voice from the four winds! a voice against Jerusalem and the temple! a voice against the bridegrooms and brides! and a voice against all the people!" Though the magistrates endeavoured by stripes and tortures to restrain him, yet he still cried with a mournful voice, “Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" And this he continued to do for several years together, going about the walls and crying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe to the city, and to the people, and to the temple ;" and as he added woe, woe to myself!" a stone sent by the Romans from some sling or engine struck him dead upon the spot! It is worthy of remark that Josephus appeals to the testimony of others, who saw and heard these fearful things. Tacitus, a Roman historian gives nearly the same account with that of Josephus.-Clarke's Commentary. 66 4. DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM./ The siege and destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem, and the subversion of the whole political constitution of the Jews, is one of the most striking instances of the divine vengeance on a wicked people, that we have recorded in history. Our Lord, who foresaw the desolation and calamities coming upon the city, wept over it, declaring his willingness to gather them under his protection; but they would not accept of his salvation, therefore destruction came upon them, and their "house was left unto them desolate." About forty years after our Lord had foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, the Roman government sent an army under Cestius Gallius against the Jews in order to quell their rebellious and factious spirit. Gallius came and invested Jerusalem with a powerful army. Our Lord declared to his disciples that "when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." And then, in order that his followers might be preserved in safety, he adds, "Then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of it depart out," &c. This council was remembered and wisely followed by the Christians, and it is mentioned as a remarkable fact by Eusebius and other ancient historians, |