The prophetic scriptures must be examined for themselves. "Nor is this the only instance," says a great writer, referring to the prophecies, wherein our means of judging of revelation depend on some personal study of it. Scepticism is often no more than a form of very unreasonable enthusiasm, demanding conviction without the pains of inquiry." Unbelievers, generally speaking, know nothing of the Bible. Nominal Christians too often know but little more of it. It demands all our attention. It is the study of a life. The simplest Christian indeed, with the use of marginal references and chronological tables, may trace out much of the vast theme. His heart assists his understanding. The glory of God, shining in the face of Jesus Christ, guides his footsteps. But in the full developement of the divine system, there is employment for the noblest powers, and the longest and most diligent research. It is remarkable that even the prophets themselves understood not adequately their own sacred oracles-The prophecy came not by the will of man. They spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. They inquired and searched diligently what or what manner of time the spirit of Christ that was in them did signify. Let this teach us humility, and stimulate us to diligence in the heavenly science. IV. LET US, HOWEVER, ALWAYS KEEP IN VIEW THE PRACTICAL ENDS OF THE STUDY. We do well to take heed to the word of prophecy, as unto a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts. This holy purpose this cheering view of a future world-this obedient attention to present duty-this anticipation of a heavenly and eternal state which is opening upon us-this is the high end of the prophetic word. Thus hope is sustained-thus present afflictions are tolerated-thus painful duties are made more easy-thus, as events confirm and make sure to us the sacred system, we render praise and glory to God. Let us guard against private interpretations—against the will of man—against prying with unhallowed curiosity into unfulfilled predictions—against indulging fancy and conjec (1) Davison. ture. The church has seen, in different ages, the mischiefs arising from this practice. No thing tends more to discredit the magnificent subject—if anything could discredit it -than the impertinence of human conceit, especially if united with ignorance and dogmatism, in deciding on unfulfilled predictions; and, instead of waiting for the slow but sure comment of events, and interpreting prophecy according to the general import of the system to which it belongs, rushing in with unhallowed haste, fixing on an interpretation on partial grounds or insufficient evidence, and then attempting to impose on others the opinions we have espoused ourselves. True wisdom, as well as modesty, appears in the holy and cautious use of the prophetic revelation; which should never be approached but with a recollection that it was written under the inspiration, and must be interpreted according to the entire record and testimony, of the Holy Ghost. Then will the practical ends of it be answered. The scheme, so far as it has been accomplished, will fill us with admiration, love, gratitude, and reliance on a divine. guidance in all future events. When we read the unfulfilled portions, we shall content ourselves with those holy exercises of faith and anticipation, which they are calculated to excite. In cases where a real doubt may exist, whether the predictions are fulfilled or not, we shall pursue our inquiries with humble fear. In all cases, we shall keep in mind that the main use of the prophetic word, is not to establish us as inspired seers-not to enable us to pronounce, as our Lord did, on the exact manner of the accomplishment of each prophecy-but to afford us that friendly, though feeble light, in a world where futurity is to us impenetrable darkness, which may not, indeed, dispel that darkness, but guide and cheer our faith through the midst of it, till the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts. LECTURE IX. THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY. PART I. ISAIAH xli. 21-24. Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. HAVING presented a general view of scriptural prophecy, we proceed to give a specimen of the actual fulfilment of it in events which have undeniably occurred, or which are now taking place in the world; and the effects of which remain before our eyes, for the confirmation of our faith. And here two main topics demand our attention. The first, the accomplishment of the PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH, in the person of our Lord. The second, the fulfilment of those CONNECTED WITH HIS DISPENSATIONS TOWARD THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. We begin with the fulfilment of the PREDICTIONS OF THE MESSIAH in the person of our Lord. Every child before me knows enough of the sacred scriptures, to be able to point out the exact accomplishment of many of these predictions. But such is the dignity and importance of the subject, so entirely does the whole scheme of prophecy centre in it, and so momentous is it to all the ends of Christianity, that I must enter somewhat at large into its details. I shall consider therefore, on the present occasion, the prophecies of Christ; reserving for a second part of this lecture those connected with the church. And here we must direct your notice, 1. TO SOME DISTINCT PREDICTIONS, broadly and palpably marking out the Messiah, and most clearly fulfilled in our Lord. 1. For the time, place, family, name, and forerunner of the Messiah were expressly foretold. The birth of Messiah was to take place when the sceptre was departing from Judah, and the lawgiver from between his feet; it was to be while the city of Jerusalem and the second temple remained standing; it was to be when a general expectation of him should prevail; whilst the royal house of David continued distinct from others, though exceedingly depressed; it was to be at the distance of seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety years from the edict to rebuild Jerusalem, after the captivity in Babylon. The place of the Messiah's birth was expressly fixed to be Bethlehem Ephratah, so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zabulon.f The family from which he was to spring, was that of Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob, to Judah; and from his tribe, to the royal line of David, the son of Jesse." His name was predicted to be Emmanuel, or, as the angel expounds it, Jesus, because he should save his people from their sins.h (a) Gen. xlix. 10. (c) Haggai ii. 7; Mal. iii. 1. (e) Daniel ix. 24, 25. (b) Isai. xl. 9; xli. 27; Haggai ii. 6-9. (g) Gen. xii. 3; xviii. 18; xxvi. 4; xlix. 10; Isai. xi. 1; Ps. lxxxix. 4, 27. (h) Isai. vii. 14; Matt. i. 21-23. Lastly, a messenger was to be sent before his face to prepare and make ready his way.i Distinct notices these; yet every one of them accomplished in our Lord, and designating him, by their particularity, to be the true Messiah. II. But, further, various details were given, in the prophetical records, of the life, sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, whose name and descent were thus distinctly fixed. These prophecies include his birth of the seed of the woman, and of a virgin in an extraordinary manner; his flight into Egypt;k his education at Nazareth;' his entry into Jerusalem, riding upon the foal of an ass;m the cry of the children who surrounded him;" the gentleness and compassion of his manner of teaching; the zeal he expressed for the worship of his Father; the price at which he was betrayed, and the use to which the money was applied; the treachery and awful end of one of his disciples;" the sufferings he should endure; his back given to the smiters, and his cheek to them that plucked off the hair; his face dishonored with shame and spitting; his wounds, bruises, and stripes; his being cut off from the land of the living, the mode of death by which he suffered, the sad companions of that death; the gall offered him in his agonies, the spear that transfixed his side;" the taunting language of the multitude, the parting of his garments, and the lots cast on his woven vest; his bones not broken; the very words which he uttered in inconceivable agony on the cross; his manner of commending his departing spirit to his Father; his grave made with the wicked, and with the rich man his tomb;" his not being left to see corruption, his being shown the path of life, his resurrection the third day, his prolonging |