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them of the truth of these various and mysterious statements. He predicted the "greater works which would be done by those that believed on him; because," said he, "I go unto the Father." But he proceeded to predict the gift of "another Comforter to abide with them for ever," after his departure, 'even the Spirit of truth;" by whom, after the suspension of their faith, they would be finally convinced that "he was in the Father, and the Father in him;" who would "teach them all things, and bring all things to their remembrance, whatsoever he had said unto them." Having exhorted them to tranquillity, conjured them not to be afraid, and assured them that his return to the Father was a fitter cause for joy than regret, he repeated his declaration, that "he told them these things before they came to pass, that, when they had come to pass, they might

believe."

He then exhorted them to persevere in their obedience; and proceeded also to foretel their own sufferings, and, repeating the promise of the Comforter, declared that "he would testify of him; and that they also would testify of him, because they had been with him from the beginning." Fully to state how the Comforter, by miracles, and knowledge, and the gift of tongues,—and the Apostles, by their testimony and miracles, by their conduct and sufferings, by their reasonings

and success, testified of Jesus, would be to review the whole history of the Acts of the Apostles.

Lastly, as an immediate assurance of the truth of what he said, Jesus convinced them of his knowledge of their own thoughts, and doubts, and surmises, and availed himself of their conviction of this to repeat his prediction of future things, and also the reason why he thus foretold them. He knew that although he had so repeatedly and plainly predicted his removal from the world, and his glorification with the Father, they did not understand, what he meant by the statement, "A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father." He knew that they were inquiring among themselves respecting it, that they decided that "they could not tell what he said," and that "they were desirous to ask him." He explained it unasked, telling them that he was aware of the difficulties which they had felt. And they exclaimed, as soon as he had concluded, now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee; by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.-Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every one to his own, and ye shall leave me alone, and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These

things have I spoken to you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."

Here let us pause. We have reviewed a vast number of predictions, which were uttered by the mouth of Jesus, and all of which we know to have been accurately fulfilled. By that fulfilment it is clearly proved to us that he was sent of God, and an original Prophet; and we may therefore justly believe all his other communications. But we have somewhat more than this evinced to us. We see that he possessed such a familiarity with all the detail of the events which he predicted, as shews that he was far superior to all preceding prophets; for they seem to have had but a very imperfect knowledge of the meaning of what they were commissioned and inspired to deliver. "When the Spirit-that was in them testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow, they inquired and searched diligently what or what manner of time was signified." Now it was "the Spirit of Christ that was in them"," and we believe that Jesus was the Christ; for we have seen that he knew fully both the time, and the manner, and the object of all these transactions. He foretold them, and they were

1 Pet. i. 10-12.

accurately accomplished. He foretold them, and in him they were accomplished. He foretold them, and they were the very things, which, at the same time that they fulfilled his predictions, fulfilled all those of the ancient prophets respecting the sufferings, and death, and resurrection of the Christ, and respecting the nature and establishment of his kingdom. He, therefore, who foretold events of such a nature, and having such consequences; who so foretold them, as to prove that he was acquainted with the whole scheme of the divine counsels, and that the arrangement of the means and events by which they were accomplished, was known to him in such a manner as cannot be conceived of any other than of him, " between whom and the Father was the counsel of peace," -he, I say, could himself be no other than "the Messiah, who was "to be cut off, but not for himself," and who became "the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him." We may therefore ourselves derive from these predictions, a conviction such as the Apostles themselves attained thereby, in conformity to our Lord's own declaration. "Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he." When all these things had taken place, Jesus enforced the argument, and to the full establishment of their faith.

words which I spake unto you,

66 These are the

while I was yet

with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me." They had then seen, and they believed; and, through their word, we also may believe in Jesus as the Christ of God.

Since, then, the foreknowledge and the Messiahship of Jesus are so demonstrable, we may expect that all his other predictions will be fulfilled in their season. Those, of which the accomplishment is yet future, may exercise our confidence in the perpetuity of his Church. We may believe that "the gates of hell will not prevail against it." We may in hope expect the day when "the times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled," when "the Gospel will be preached to every creature"," when "all men will be drawn" to the standard of him, who was "lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We may pray that "his kingdom may come." And ere long also, "all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of man, and shall come forth, they that have done good to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation." The Son of man will then "come in the glory of his

b Luke xxi. 24.

c Mark xvi. 15.

a Matt. xvi. 18.

d John iii. 14; xii. 32.

f John v. 28, 29.

BB

e Matt. vi. 10.