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not in the condition of a statesman, but in that of a carpenter's son! On this subject more in another place.

"And great earthquakes shall be in divers places." Of these significant emblems of political commotions, there occurred several within the scene of this prophecy, and, as our Saviour predicted, in divers places. In the reign of Claudius, there was one at Rome, and another at Apamea, in Syria, where many of the Jews resided. The earthquake at the latter place was so destructive, that the emperor, in order to re lieve the distresses of the inhabitants, remitted its tribute for five years. Both these earthquakes are recorded by Tacitus. There was one also, in the same reign, in Crete. This is mentioned by Philostratus, in his life of Apollonius, who says, that there were others" at Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, and Samos; in all which places Jews had settled." the reign of Nero there was an earthquake

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at Laodicea.

Tacitus records this also.

It is likewise mentioned by Eusebius and Orosius, who add, that Hierapolis and Colosse, as well as Laodicea, were overthrown by an earthquake. There was

also one in Campania in this reign (of this both Tacitus and Seneca speak); and another at Rome in the reign of Galba, recorded by Suetonius; to all which may be added those which happened on that dreadful night when the Idumeans were excluded from Jerusalem, a short time before the siege commenced. "A heavy storm (says Josephus) burst on them during the night; violent winds arose, accompanied with the most excessive rains, with constant lightnings, most tremendous thunderings, and with dreadful roarings of earthquakes. It seemed (continues he) as if the system of the world had been confounded for the destruction of mankind; and one might well conjecture that these were signs of no common events!"

Our Lord predicted "famines" also. Of these the principal was that which Agabus foretold would happen in the days of Claudius, as related in the Acts of the Apostles. It began in the fourth year of his reign, and was of long continuance. It extended through Greece, and even into Italy, but was felt most severely in Judea, and especially at Jerusalem, where many perished for want of bread. This famine is recorded by Josephus also, who relates that an assaron of corn was sold for 5 drachmæ (i. e. about 3 pints and a half for 3s. 3d.). It is likewise noticed by Eusebius and Orosius. To alleviate this terrible calamity, Helena, queen of Adiabena, who was at that time in Jerusalem, ordered large supplies of grain to be sent from Alexandria; and Izates, her son, consigned vast sums to the governors of Jerusalem, to be applied to the relief of the more indigent sufferers. The Gentile christian converts residing in foreign countries, also sent, at the instance of St.

Paul, liberal contributions to relieve the distresses of their Jewish brethren*. Dion Cassius relates that there was likewise a famine in the first year of Claudius, which prevailed at Rome, and in other parts of Italy; and, in the eleventh year of the same emperor, there was another, mentioned by Eusebius. To these may

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be added those that afflicted the inhabitants of several of the cities of Galilee and Judea, which were besieged and taken, previously to the investment of Jerusalem, where the climax of national misery, arising from this and every other cause, was so awfully completed.

Our Saviour adds " pestilences" likewise. Pestilence treads upon the heels of famine; it may therefore reasonably be presumed, that this terrible scourge accompanied the famines which had just been enumerated. History, however, particularly distinguishes two instances of

* 1 Corin. xvi. 3.

this calamity, which occurred before the commencement of the Jewish war. The first took place at Babylon, about A. D. 40, and raged so alarmingly, that great multitudes of Jews fled from that city to Seleucia for safety, as hath been hinted already. The other happened at Rome, A. D. 65, and carried off prodigious mul titudes. Both Tacitus and Suetonius also record, that similar calamities prevailed, during this period, in various other parts of the Roman empire. After Jerusalem was surrounded by the army of Titus, pestilential diseases soon made their appearance there, to aggravate the miseries, and deepen the horrors of the siege. They were partly occasioned by the immense. multitudes which were crowded together in the city, partly by the putrid effluvia which arose from the unburied dead, and partly from the prevalence of the famine.

Our Lord proceeded : "And fearful sights and great signs shall there be from

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