The human

severest tortures rather than comply with this decree." imagination, indeed, was almost exhausted in inventing a variety of tortures. Some were impaled alive; others had their limbs broken, and in that condition were left to expire. Some were roasted by slow fires, and some suspended by the feet with their heads downward; and, a fire being made under them, were suffocated by the smoke. Some had melted lead poured down their throats, and the flesh of some was torn off with shells; and others had the splinters of reeds thrust beneath the nails of their fingers and toes. The few who were not capitally punished, had their limbs and their features mutilated. No war, that had ever taken place, had caused the death of so great a multitude of persons as this tenth general persecution devoured. Almost the whole of the then known world was deluged with the blood of the martyrs. If the Gospel be only the contrivance of man, the conduct of these its defenders is utterly inexplicable.

III. But not only was the progress of Christianity impeded by the prejudices of authority and of human wisdom, as well as by the violence of persecution; it also encountered a formidable obstacle in the

ARTIFICES OF POLICY.

As soon as those who had embraced the religion of Jesus Christ began to be known by the appellation of Christians, they were pourtrayed by their enemies in the blackest colours. Jews and Heathens alike united all their efforts to ruin a religion which tended to annihilate every thing that appeared venerable to them, regardless of the evidences which demonstrated that religion to be from God: and they represented the professors of the Gospel as dangerous innovators, the declared enemies of all that was sacred; disturbers of the public peace, profligate and immoral; in short, as persons utterly destitute of religion, and impious atheists. These, unquestionably, are most powerful means of prejudicing nations against a doctrine; and for a long time the church had to conflict with these calumnies.

When the Christians began to indulge the hope of enjoying some tranquillity, after Constantine was invested with the imperial purple, and had declared himself their protector, a new enemy arose, who employed the most insidious artifices against the Christian faith. The Emperor Julian, who had apostatised from the Gospel, in his zeal for the restoration of paganism, left no means or efforts unattempted to undermine the very foundations of the church. Though he refrained from open persecution, yet he connived at that of his officers, who persecuted the Christians in places remote from the court. He endeavoured to reform paganism, and to bring it as near as might be to the admirable methods, by which he perceived Christianity had prevailed in the world. He diligently seized every opportunity of exposing Christians and their religion to ridicule; and exhausted all his powers of wit and sophistical ingenuity to exhibit them in a contemptible point of view. Sometimes, he endeavoured to surprise unwary Christians into a compliance with pagan superstitions, that he might raise horror in their minds or injure their reputation. At others, he sought by all means to weaken the power and influence of the Christians, by depriving them of all places of

honour and authority, unless they would sacrifice to idols, and by incapacitating them from holding any civil offices, from executing testaments, or transferring any inheritance. Among other expedients to which Julian's hatred of Christianity induced him to have recourse, was the endeavour to suppress and extinguish all human learning among the Christians, well knowing how naturally ignorance opens a door to contempt, barbarism, and impiety. With this design, he prohibited them from teaching philosophy, and the liberal arts, and annulled all the privileges which they had hitherto enjoyed. And, lastly, still further to gratify his rancour against the Christians, he protected and favoured the Jews, and resolved to rebuild their temple at Jerusalem: but this attempt served only to afford a further testimony to the truth of the Gospel predictions: for it is related both by pagan as well as Christian historians, that balls of fire repeatedly issued from the foundations and destroyed many of the artificers, and scorched the rest, who after many attempts were compelled to desist from their purpose. These various acts, however, proved fruitless. The Christians, though oppressed, continued faithful to their religion, and the death of Julian after a short reign left the church in safety.

From the preceding view of the progressive establishment of Christianity, it is evident that it was not indebted for its success to the nature of its doctrine, or to the personal qualities of those who taught it, or to the dispositions and prejudices of those who embraced it, or, lastly, to the influence of government. On the contrary, the striking contrasts between the nature of Christianity and the state of the world were such powerful obstacles to it, that they excited against it both Jews and Gentiles. Princes, priests, and philosophers, vied with one another, in making the greatest efforts to extinguish this religion. Means the most insidious as well as the most cruel appeared to be the most certain for the accomplishment of their designs. Persecutions, opprobrium, unheard-of torments, the most exquisite punishments, as well as politic artifices, were employed for three successive centuries, in order to prevent it from establishing itself, and yet it did establish itself throughout every part of the then known world. Unquestionably, this great revolution is not to be accounted for by means so contrary to the end. Where then are we to seek for other human means?

Do we find them in the eloquence of its preachers? But they did not possess that human eloquence which surprises and subjugates the mind; and if they had that eloquence, which carries persuasion with it, because it proceeds from a heart deeply penetrated and convinced, it is the seal of truth, and not of imposture.

Shall we seek for them in credit and authority? It would be utterly ridiculous and absurd to attribute either worldly credit or authority to the apostles.

Do we find them in their riches? They had none to offer: besides, they who were desirous of embracing the Gospel were required to be ready to abandon their possessions. Could earthly pleasures promote their success? The persecutions to which the Christians were exposed cut them off from every hope of enjoying them.

Did the apostles possess the means of constraining persons to embrace their doctrines? The first preachers of the Gospel were totally destitute of coercive means, and the nature of their doctrine prohibited them from having any recourse to them. Yet all these means were employed against them in their utmost force.

If, notwithstanding all these obstacles, and this weakness of its resources, there is nothing inexplicable in the establishment of Christianity, how comes it to pass, since it did spread into every part of the known world, that all the philosophers of antiquity had only a small number of disciples? Those philosophers, with all their united knowledge, eloquence, and celebrity, never were able to effect any change in religion, or to produce any general moral reformation in the world; and yet the antagonists of Christianity think it an easy matter that twelve fishermen should have enlightened the world, and persuaded it to abandon its false gods, to renounce its vices, and to follow a man who expired upon the cross, and to die for him!

The establishment of Christianity is a fact so striking, so singular, so contrary to every thing which has ever yet been seen, so disproportionate to its apparent causes, that it was not without reason remarked by a father of the church, that if Christianity established. itself without a miracle, it is itself the greatest of all miracles.'

No. VI.

A TABLE OF THE CHIEF PROPHECIES RELATIVE TO THE

MESSIAH.

CHAP. I.

THE PRINCIPAL PROPHECIES RELATIVE TO THE MESSIAH, WITH THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT, IN THE VERY WORDS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

[Referred to in pages 292. and 352. of this Volume.]

SECT. I.

PROPHECIES RELATIVE TO THE ADVENT, PERSON, SUFFERINGS, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF THE MESSIAH.

§ 1. That a Messiah should come.

PROPHECY. Gen. iii. 15. He (the seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel. Compare Gen. xxii. 18., xii. 3., xxvi. 4., xxviii. 4. and Psal. lxxii. 17.—Isa. xl. 5. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.-Hag. ii. 7. The desire of all nations shall come.

FULFILMENT.-Gal. iv. 4. When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman (4000 years after the first prophecy was delivered).-Rom.

Hey's Norrisian Lectures, vol. i. book i. chap. 18. Duvoisin, Démonstration Evangélique, pp. 177-202. Vanmildert's View of the Rise and Progress of Infidelity, vol. i. Sermons 3. and 4. Anspach, Cours d'Etudes de la Religion Chrétienne, Part II. tome ii. pp. 261-273. Vernet, Traité de la Vérité de la Religion Chrétienne, tomes viii.-x. Warburton's Julian.

xvi. 20. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.-1 John iii. 8. The Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil (that old serpent, Rev. xii. 9.). See also Heb. ii. 14.-Luke ii. 10. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

§ 2. When he should come.

PROPHECY.-Gen xlix. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come.—' -The Messiah was to come at a time of nearly universal peace, and when there was a general expectation of him; and while the second temple was standing, seventy weeks (of years, i. e. 490 years) after the rebuilding of Jerusalem. See Hag. ii. 6—9.; Dan. ix. 24, 25.; Mal. iii. 1. FULFILMENT. When the Messiah came, the sceptre had departed from Judah; for the Jews, though governed by their own rulers and magistrates, yet were subject to the paramount authority of the Roman emperors; as was evinced by their being subject to the enrolment of Augustus, paying tribute to Cæsar, and not having the power of life and death. Compare Luke ii. 1. 3-5.; Matt. xxii. 20, 21.; and the parallel passages; and John xviii. 31. - - When Jesus Christ came into the world, the Roman wars were terminated, the temple of Janus was shut, and peace reigned throughout the Roman empire; and all nations, both Jews and Gentiles, were expecting the coming of some extraordinary person. See Matt. ii. 1-10.; Mark xv. 43.; Luke ii. 25. 38.; and John i. 19-45. for the expectation of the Jews. The two Roman historians, Suetonius and Tacitus, confirm the fulfilment of the prediction, as to the expectation of the Gentiles.

1

§ 3. That the Messiah should be God and man together. PROPHECY.-Psal. ii. 7. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.Psal. cx. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord.-Isa. ix. 6. The mighty God, the everlasting Father.- Mic. v. 2. Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

FULFILMENT. Heb. i. 8. Unto the Son he saith, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." Compare Matt. xxii. 42—45.; 1 Cor. xv. 25.; Heb. i. 13.—Matt. i. 23. They shall call his name Emmanuel, that is, God with us. - John i. 1. 14. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. -Rom. ix. 5. Of whom (the fathers) as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is God over all, blessed for ever. See also Col. ii. 9. ; 1 John v. 20.

§ 4. From whom he was to be descended. PROPHECY. From the first woman, Gen. iii. 15.

From Abraham and his descendants (Gen. xii. 3., xviii. 18.); viz. Isaac (Gen. xxvi. 4.); Jacob (Gen. xxviii. 14.); Judah (Gen. xlix. 10.); Jesse (Isa. xi. 1.); David (Psal. cxxxii. 11., lxxxix. 4. 27. ; Isa. ix. 7.; Jer. xxiii. 5., xxxiii. 15.)

FULFILMENT. Gal. iv. 4. When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.

Acts iii. 25. The covenant, which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abruham, "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." (See Matt. i. 1.)-Heb. vii. 14. It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah.—Rom. xv. 12. Isaiah saith there shall be a root of Jesse.-John vii. 42. Hath not the Scripture said, that Christ cometh of the seed of David? See also Acts ii. 30., xiii. 23. ; Luke i. 32.

§ 5. That the Messiah should be born of a virgin.

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PROPHECY. - Isa. vii. 14. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son. Jer. xxxi. 22. The Lord hath created a new thing on the earth; a woman shall compass a man. (N.B. The ancient Jews applied this prophecy to the Messiah, whence it follows, that the later interpretations to the contrary are only to avoid the truth which we profess; viz. That Jesus was born of a virgin, and therefore is THE CHRIST or Messiah. - Bp. Pearson on the Creed, Art. III. p. 171. edit. 1715. folio.)

FULFILMENT.-Matt. i. 24, 25. Joseph took his wife and knew her not, till she had brought forth her first-born son. Compare Luke i. 26-35.-Matt. i. 22, 23. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son."

Relative to the Advent, Sufferings, &c. of the Messiah.

§ 6. Where the Messiah was to be born.

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PROPHECY.-Mic. v. 2. Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah; yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel.

FULFILMENT.- Luke ii. 4-6. All went to be taxed (or enrolled), every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, with Mary his espoused wife, unto Bethlehem; and while they were there she brought forth her first-born son, Compare also Luke ii. 10, 11. 16. and Matt. ii. 1. 4-6. 8. 11.; John vii. 42.

§ 7. That a prophet, in the spirit and power of Elias, or Elijah, should be the Messiah's forerunner, and prepare his way.

PROPHECY. Malachi iii. 1. and iv. 5.; Isa. xl. 3.; Luke i. 17. Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare my way before me.

FULFILMENT. Matt. iii. 1. In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying, Repent ye, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. - Matt. xi. 14.; Luke vii. 27, 28. This is Elias which was for to come.

§ 8. That the Messiah was to be a Prophet.

PROPHECY. Deut. xviii. 15. 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee.

FULFILMENT. John iv. 19. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a Prophet. John ix. 17. He is a Prophet. -Matt. xxi. 46. They took him for a Prophet. -Mark vi. 15. It is a Prophet, or as one of the Prophets.-Luke vii. 16. A great Prophet is risen up among us. - John vi. 14. This is of a truth that Prophet, which should come into the world. John vii. 40. Of a truth this is the Prophet. Luke xxiv. 19. Jesus of Nazareth, which was a Prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. — Matt. xxi. 11. This is Jesus the Prophet, of Nazareth of Galilee.

§ 9. That the Messiah should begin to publish the Gospel in Galilee. PROPHECY.Isa. ix. 1, 2. In Galilee of the nations, the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.

FULFILMENT.-Matt. iv. 12. 17. Now when Jesus heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

§ 10. That the Messiah should confirm his doctrine by great miracles. PROPHECY. Isa. xxxv. 5, 6. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped: then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.-Isa. xlii. 7. To open the blind eyes. - Isa. xxxii. 3. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim; and the ears of them that hear, shall hearken.. Isa. xxix. 18. The deaf shall hear the words of the book; and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and darkness.

FULFILMENT.-Matt. xi. 4, 5. Jesus... said, "Go, and show John those things which ye do hear and see the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up.-Luke vii. 21. In the same hour, he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind, he gave sight.-Matt. iv. 23, 24. Jesus went about all Galilee...healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people... They brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those which had the palsy, and he healed them. Matt. xv. 30, 31. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others; and cast them down at Jesus's feet, and he healed them. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see. Acts ii. 22. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs; which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye know.

As it would swell this article of the Appendix to an undue length, were we to specify all the miracles of Jesus Christ related by the Evangelists, we annex (in further proof of the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning them) the following