would have ventured his credit as a prophet upon, when he could have avoided giving any such prediction, unless he had been, by Divine inspiration, assured of what he af firmed. For nothing could well be imagined more improbable, than that the seat of the empire of the world should be destroyed; and still more unlikely was it, that it should never be rebuilt. But the event shows the truth of the prophecy. And this prediction is likewise one of those of which it cannot be pretended that it was written since the event.

In Ezek. xxx. 13, it is expressly foretold, that there should be "no more a prince of the land of Egypt." No man of judgment would have ventured, without authority, his credit upon such an asservation, as he could have been wholly silent on the head. For who could know, with out inspiration, that there should never more a prince, a native of Egypt, sit on the throne of that kingdom? The event however has verified the prediction. For soon after the time when it was given, Egypt was made a province of the Persian empire, and has been governed ever since by foreigners, having been, since the fall of the Persian monarchy, subject successively to the Macedonians, the Saracens, the Mamalukes, and the Turks, who possess it at present. This is one of those prophecies against which it cannot be objected, that it is possible it may have been written since the event.

In the xxvith chap. of Ezekiel it is foretold, that the great and powerful city of Tyre, at that time the general resort of traders, and mart of the world, should be utterly desolate, so as to be a place for the spreading of nets, and should never more be rebuilt. This prediction, at the time it was given so utterly improbable, has been literally fulfil led, as may be seen in Maundrell's Voyage. And Dr. Pococke, late bishop of Ossory, says, in his travels in the east, that as he sailed by the place where it formerly stood, he saw the ruins of it covered with fishing nets.

The scriptures of both Old and New Testament are full of predictions of the dispersion of the Jews for a long period of time, as a punishment for their vices, and of their being at last restored to their own land in great triumph and happiness. So early as the days of Moses, whose æra prophane history confirms to have been about the time

we place it, viz. about three thousand years ago, we have predictions of the ruin which was to come upon that people in case of their disobedience (and which did come accordingly) so clear and explicit, that no writer of our time, with the help of history, and particularly Josephus' account of the destruction of Jerusalem, and with the advan tage of knowing the present unhappy condition of that people almost in all the countries of the world but our own, could in an imitation of the prophetic style described their case more exactly. In the xxviiith chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses threatens their disobedience with judgments and plagues of every kind; particularly that they should "become an astonishment, a proverb, and a by-word in all countries;" that "an enemy should come upon them as swiftly as eagles," probably alluding to their conquest by the Romans; that they should, in the severity of the siege, be reduced "to eat their very children;" that they should be scattered through all countries of the world;" and that they should be forced "to serve other gods," as they accordingly are, in the countries where the inquisition is established, obliged to worship the host, which numbers of them comply with, though a gross violation of the second commandment, to avoid falling into the hands of that merciless court; and that among the nations where they should be scattered they should "have no ease nor rest," ," but a trembling heart," and "failing of eyes," and "sorrow," and "continual fear for their lives," with many other threatenings to the same purpose.

It is also foretold by the following prophets, as well as by Moses, that notwithstanding this unexampled dispersion of the Jews into all nations, they should be still preserved a distinct people; that God "will not destroy them utterly," but that "when they shall call to mind among all the nations whither God has driven them, and shall return to the Lord, he will turn their captivity, and gather them from all the nations-from the fartherest parts of the earth-even in the LATTER days." That "though he makes a full end of all other nations," (by revolutions and mixtures of one people with another, which renders it impossible to distinguish their genuine descendants) "yet he will not make a full end of them;" but "a remnant of them" shall be kept unmixed with any other people, and

"shall return out of all countries whither God has driven them;" that he will "set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of ISRAEL," and " gather together the dispersed of Judah," (the posterity of the ten tribes, at present, according to scripture-prophecy, undistinguished, as well as of the two)" from the four corners of the earth;" which shows that the return here spoken of, is not that from the Babylonish captivity; as is also evident from its being fixed to the "latter days," and from its being also spoken of by the prophet Hosea, who lived after the return from the seventy years captivity of Babylon and by Ezekiel who lived in the captivity itself,

And in the New Testament it is clearly forctoid by Christ, that Jerusalem should be destroyed with such destruction, "as had not been since the beginning of the world, nor ever should be." And it is remarkable that he again expressly mentions the "eagles ;" in all probability to point out the Romans, (who bore eagles on their standards) for the executioners of the Divine vengeance on that perverse people. Josephus' history of that tragical complication of events, corresponds exactly to our Saviour's prediction of it. He also foretells that the Jews should be carried captive into all nations, and that Jerusalem should be trodden down of the Gentiles, till the times of the Gentiles should be fulfilled." In the epistles there are various predictions to the same purpose. And we accordingly see that people to this day preserved distinct from all others in the world, without king, without country, without government to enforce the observance of their ceremonial law, which yet they keep up with great strictness, wherever they can.

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That through all the changes, which have happened in all the other kingdoms of the earth, from the date of the first of these predictions to the present time (a period of more than three thousand years) that people should have had exactly the fortune that was foretold them by Moses; and that they should now in so wonderful and unexampled a manner be preserved unmixed with, and easily distinguishable from, the people of all the countries where they are scattered; and this in spite of the cruel usage they have had in most countries, which might have been expected to have driven them long ago to give up their religion,

and mix with the people among whom they lived; and that there should nothing in this long course of years have happened, to render it impossible, but that on the contrary, it should be probable, that the remaining prediction of their return to their own land, will be accom. plished, as well as the rest; this gives, upon the whole, such a view, as is not to be equalled by any thing else in the world; the most amazing of all phænomena! and shows that prophecy is given by authority from the same by whom the government of the world is carried on; since none but he, or whom he authorises, could thus declare the end from the beginning.

No one can imagine the following predictions to be applicable to any other than the Messiah, Gen. iii. 15, the first prediction is given of him, viz. That "the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent." None but Christ could properly be called "the seed of the woman." For he alone was born of a woman without concurrence of man. Nor did any one but he effectually bruise the head of the serpent, or destroy the power of Satan. Again, he is several different times afterwards promised to Abraham, as he in whom "all the families of the earth should be blessed." Now, there never was any sin. gle person, besides Christ, who was a blessing to the "whole world." Gen. xlix. it is foretold that the sceptre should not depart from Judah, till Shiloh should come," and that "to him should be the gathering of the people." It is known, that the Jews became subject to the Romans about the time of the appearance of Christ. And the gathering of the people to him is very conspicuous in the general diffusion of his religion over most parts of the world. The words of Moses, Deut. xviii. 15, are applicable to none but Christ only. "The Lord shall raise up unto thee a prophet, from the midst of thee, like unto me." But no prophet, priest, or king, ever rose among that people like to Moses, but Christ only. For from Moses to Christ, no lawgiver arose among the Jews; their state being fixed by God himself, to continue unchanged till the appearance of the Messiah.

The predictions of Isaiah xi. 1, 3, 6, &c. are still clearer, "Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders. His name

shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace," (Which titles are somewhat different in the Septuagint translation, but such as are applicable to none but Christ only.)" Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and his kingdom, to order and establish it with judgment, and justice from hencefortheven forever." And in the xliii. chap. "Behold my servantmine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. I have put my spirit upon him-he shall set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law."

Nor are those of Jeremiah less plainly applicable to Christ, and to him only. Chap. xxiii and xxxiii. "I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. And this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

And in Ezekiel xxxiv, &c. "I will set up one shepherd over them," (a shepherd of a people always signifies a prince or ruler)" and he shall feed them, even my ser vant David" plainly not David the son of Jesse; he having been dead long before Ezekiel's time. " And I will make with them a covenant of peace," &c. One king "shall be king over them all; neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols." .

It is predicted by Haggai, that "the Desire of all nations should come;" the Shiloh, translated by the Seventy, "the accomplishment of promises." How much the coming of the Messiah was the desire of all nations is shown above, and how properly Christ may be called the accomplishment of promises, is known to all, who know his religion.

Not less express, than magnificent, is the prediction of Daniel, chap. vii. "I saw in the night visions, and behold one, like the SON OF MAN, came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion; and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Of the title, "Son of man," which is found twice or thrice in the Old Testament, it