LECTURE VII. THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES CONCERNING THE REJECTION OF THE JEWS FROM THEIR HIGH AND HONOURABLE STATION As the church of GOD, COMPARED WITH THEIR SUBSEQUENT HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE. Revelation refers to the excision of the Jews and their subsequent state-The Founder of Christianity predicted the fall of his nation-The predictions specified-Certainty that these were known before the event-General view of their accomplishment-Specific facts-Preservation of the race, notwithstanding their calamitiesAttempts to preserve the temple frustrated-Total expulsion-Attempts at restoration-Ever since a fallen people-Judgment always following them-Marvellously preserved-Singular retention of their nationality -Arch of Titus-Protraction of the exile- Discon tinuance of sacrifice-Isolation from other nations, though mixed with them-Fulfilment of prophecies by Jeremiah and Amos-Their numbers appear undiminished-Great vicissitudes of the nations where they have dwelt-No parallel case-Complete separation from Gentiles-Argument for the inspiration of prophecy-Excision of the Jews coincident with the origin of the Christian Church- Foresight of the transition and the peculiar circumstances of it, implies inspiration -The fact of the transition very singular-The history and prophecy viewed together-Conclusion. with the pre ture. THE subject of the present Lecture stands inti- LECT. VII. mately connected with that of the last, and may Connexion be properly considered as a continuation or com- ceding Lecpletion of the remarks we designed to offer upon the general history of the church or people of God. refers to the the Jews, and their subse Though it is certain that, from the institution Revelation of Christianity, the divine authority of Judaism. ceased, yet the references of the sacred word to quent state. the people of the Jews, not being limited to the date of their ecclesiastical and national excision, their subsequent state and history will supply some important and interesting verifications of the Scripture, and may, therefore, be viewed as a necessary appendix to the history of the church. the present There can be no dispute concerning the first Method of principles on which we propose to conduct the argument. present portion of our argument. We shall, therefore, merely state them in brief;-that Christianity did, unquestionably, originate in the land of the Jews, and from one of their own countrymen; that it increased rapidly, and extended itself, in a comparatively short space, into almost every part of the civilized world; that its extension was mainly effected by publishing abroad the LECT. VII. history, and repeating the memorable sayings of its founder. The next step is equally clear;—that it was on account of publishing abroad these narratives, and recounting these sayings of Jesus Christ, his disciples became generally objects of intense hatred to their own countrymen, and of scorn and contempt among the Gentile nations. Founder of fall of his nation. It is further undeniable, that the founder of predicted the the Christian sect did utter certain speeches and sayings, openly, before friends and enemies, which were intended to be understood, and were understood by all, as predictions of the fate of his native country and it is still further clear, that partly on account of these sayings, charged against him, and neither denied nor refuted, he was publicly condemned to an ignominious end, and did actually suffer crucifixion. These open sayings or predictions of his, seemed to them to undermine the authority of the national religion, by foretelling its destruction, the overthrow of their temple, and the subjection of the people at large to fearful calamities. That Christ did deliver such predictions, before their supposed accomplishment, is proved by the fact of their having been made, in part, the ground of his impeachment and condemnation, as well as the reasons of that renewed hostility which the preaching of his disciples excited after his death. The argument to be pursued in the present Lecture will be founded on these undeniable facts. The predic tions speci fied. I shall now proceed to notice, more particu larly, what these predictions were, as preparatory LECT. VII. to the argument to be derived from the subsequent history of those events, which are deemed clear and palpable verifications or fulfilments of them. Let it be supposed, that Jesus Christ was well known as a public teacher and professed prophet, of more than thirty years of age, when he delivered the following discourse: Mark xiii. 1—10, “And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! and Jesus answering said unto him, seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, take heed lest any man deceive shall come in my name, you: for many saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled, for such things must needs be, but the end shall not be yet. nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves; for they shall de For LECT. VII. liver you up to the councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations." (Ver. 14-20,) "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains: and let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house and let him that is in the field not turn back for to take up his garment.-And pray that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation, which God created, unto this time, neither shall be." The discourse is continued to the end of the chapter, and embraces many other particulars. Objection. To meet an objection which may here be started, that these were only private communications, and that we cannot be sure that they were delivered before the events transpired; I would observe, that they refer to other sayings and discourses delivered openly in the courts of the temple; that they formed one principal reason of the general enmity excited against Christ, and cannot, therefore, be considered private communications; and that, though they contain a fuller prediction than was delivered on other occasions, |