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and defy the power, of the universal empire? Or was it to be supposed that the mistress of the world, irresistible to all nations, instead of controuling, should deem it worthy of her utterly to exterminate a state comparatively so insignificant? Or did it accord with the disposition or custom of the Romans, like Goths, to de molish buildings famed for their antiquity and magnificence? Rather was it not to have been expected that they would preserve them, to maintain the renown and glory of their empire? Nevertheless, as we have seen, they did destroy them, and even the illustrious temple of Jerusalem, the chief ornament of Asia, and the wonder of the world. But it was predicted that "thus it must be ;" and therefore Titus himself, with all his authority and exertions, could not preserve it.

But there are a number of very material. circumstances closely interwoven with the prophecy, that still further identify the events which fulfilled it, and demonstrate

that the prophecy itself was something very different from a happy conjecture, suggested by the aspect of the times, or conclusions from past experience. For,

case.

"

1. Our Lord foretold, as "the beginning of sorrows," and as alarming harbingers of his coming," as "the Son of Man," to destroy Jerusalem, that terrible calamities would prevail in various parts of the world, during the intermediate period: and, unquestionably, this was the But it is very material to remark here, that our Lord did not describe these calamities in general terms merely, as an impostor might have done, but distinctly specified them thus: rumours of warsactual wars-nation rising against nation -kingdom rising against kingdom-famines-pestilences-and earthquakes, in divers places which all came to pass accordingly, and nearly in the very order in which they were foretold. False prophets, also, were not merely to arise-but to personate the Messiah, to pretend to mi

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raculous powers, and to deceive many; and such were the characters and success of those which actually appeared. Again, the prognostics are not described as "sights" merely, but as "fearful sights;" not generally, as "signs," but as " great signs from heaven;" and such they were. These wonderful appearances stand last. in the prophecy, and they occurred, according to Josephus, on the very eve of the Jewish war*.

2. The investment of Jerusalem was to take place "suddenly," "as a snare,” which predictions, as we have seen, were accomplished in the most surprising and extraordinary manner.

3. Our Lord declared also, that, "except those days (i. e. the "days of vengeance") should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake (said

* Vide page 34-40.

ti. e. for the sake" of the christians, who, no doubt, prayed ardently for the termination of these calamities.

he) those days shall be shortened."-And they were shortened accordingly: 1st, by the determination of Titus vigorously to push the siege by assault, in opposition to the opinions of his officers, who recommended the more tedious plan of blockade: 2dly, by the conduct of the Jews themselves, who accelerated the capture of their city by intestine divisions and mutual slaughters, contrary to what is usual upon such emergencies, in which a common sense of danger ordinarily tends to unite contending parties against the common foe: 3dly, by the madness of the factions in burning storehouses full of provisions, and thus wasting the strength which was necessary for the defence of the place: 4thly, by the extraordinary panic by which the Jews were seized when the Romans made their final attack on the higher city, in consequence of which they fled affrighted out of their strong holds, which Titus afterwards pronounced to be impregnable and, lastly, by the crowded state of the city during the siege, which,

as we have before remarked, occasioned pestilential disorders, and hastened the approach of famine.

4. Our Lord likewise foretold that his followers should escape the destruction of Jerusalem; and, accordingly, whilst countless multitudes of unbelieving Jews were fatally involved in this calamity, not a single christian perished therein; for he that "knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished*," had said, that "not a hair of their heads should perisht." Who, that seriously meditates on these equitable arrangements of Providence, can help exclaiming, with the devout psalmist"Verily, there is a reward for the righte ous; verily, he is a God that judgeth in the earth!"

5. Our Lord declared also that the extreme miseries of the

Jews should be

* 2 Peter ii. 9.

Luke xxi. 13.

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