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Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Salisbury.

Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann.

Lady Seton, Great Cumberland Place.

Mrs. Sampson, 38, Harley Street.

W. C. Sherbrooke, Esq. Oxton, Nottinghamshire, (2 copies.)

Sir John Simeon, Bart. St. John's Ryde, Isle of Wight.

Edward Simeon, Esq. St. John's Ryde, Isle of Wight.

Richard Simeon, Esq. St. John's Ryde, Isle of Wight.

Mr. Simpson, Hadleigh, Suffolk.

William Smyth, Esq. Professor of Modern History, Cambridge. N

Robert Smythe, Esq. Methven Castle, Edinburgh.

Rev. J. Sneyd, Elford, Lichfield.

Dr. Storer, Nottingham.

Rev. R. Sutton, Broughton, Nottinghamshire. ⠀

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Mrs. Unthank, Heigham, Norwich.

John Unthank, Esq. Trinity College, Cambridge. 15 Cvor's

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Rev. Ashton Vade, Vicar of Hardington, Northamptonshire.

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Miss Wake, Pheasant Grove, Chislehurst, Kent.

T. Wakefield, Esq. Wendover, Bucks.

Rev. Dr. Warnford, Burton on the Hill, Gloucestershire

Rev. H. Watkins, Conisbro', Yorkshire.

Mrs. Westcombe, Langford Grove, Maldon, Essex.

Rev. J. White, Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge.

T. Wilkinson, Esq. 8, Fitzroy Square.

Robert Wilmot, Esq., 23, Montague Square.
William Wilshire, Esq. Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Richard Wilson, Esq. 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Mrs. Wilson.

Percy Wilson, Esq. St. John's College, Cambridge.

R. Woodhouse, Esq. Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge.

S. Wright, Esq. Gunthorpe Lodge, Nottinghamshire.

T. Wright, Esq. Norwood Park, Nottinghamshire.

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His Grace the Lord Archbishop of York.

Mrs. Young, 48, Welbeck Street.

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THE siege and destruction of Jerusalem, by Titus Vespasian, have occupied the attention of many writers; some few of whom have noticed the prophecies relating to both these events in a general manner, with a view to illustrate other topics with which they have been connected. Dr. Lardner, with his usual learning and precision, has treated the subject more fully than any other writer, yet he has not entered into all its connections, and seems to have omitted, as irrelevant to the object of his work, not only the prophecies of the Old Testament, but, with the exception of such of our Saviour's predictions as refer to events preceding the destruction, almost all those of the new; together with many other striking circumstances by which the History of the Siege is materially affected. Archbishop Newcome with a view to shew the fulfilment of all things spoken by Christ as a Prophet, has discussed such matters as are connected with those prophecies alone; and has proved very largely their regular accomplishment from the work of the Jewish Historian: but as his intention was not to enter into the particulars of the Jewish History during the time of the siege; or into other detail than what either very briefly manifested, or could immediately establish the prophetic character of

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(1) Jewish Testimonies, vol. 7.

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(2) Observations on the Conduct of our Lord.

of Christ; his investigation was not designed to answer. the purpose of a History of the signal downfal of the City and Nation of the Jews.

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Bishop Newton' and Mr. Kett both introduce us to the subject by means of the Prophecies themselves, and consequently relate no other particulars than are requi site concisely to exhibit their completion. Others might be mentioned, who, though they have only partially treated, have added much to the general elucidation of the subject: so that little more seems necessary to form a detailed History of the overthrow of Jerusalem, as connected with the Scripture Prophecies; than a compilation from the works of these various authours in conjunction with that of Josephus; and... consequently the degree of merit must be trifling that can accrue to an attempt of this nature.

But however small the merit, the utility of such an undertaking is evidently great; not only as it furnishes a most signal assurance that the vengeance of heaven is the inevitable consequence of national guilt; but as it confirms the accomplishment of the most ancient prophecies; corroborates the authenticity of the gospel; and stamps the divine character of Him by whom that gospel was delivered. With a desire to attain these important ends, the works of the authours alluded to have been impartially, though not indiscriminately, employed

(1) Dissertations on the Prophecies.

(2) History, the Interpreter of Prophecy.

(3) Whitby on Matt. xxiv.-Tillotson's Sermons, &c.

(4) This prophecy stands eminently distinguished by its singular importance and the great variety of matter which it embraces, affording so decisive, se irresistible a proof of the divine authority of our religion." Bp. Porteus.

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employed in drawing up the following pages: and such an account is presented to the reader as may, at one view, make him acquainted with the Jewish and Roman histories, so far as they are connected with the subject of the work; with the City and Temple of Jerusalem as they were standing at the time of Christ's appearance, and for some time afterwards; with the various stages and proceedings of this destructive siege; and with every corresponding particular recorded in IIoly Writ; in the order of their occurrence.

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Nothing appears better calculated to reward the attention of the serious observer of religion than the contemplation of this part of the Jewish History, and its connection with the writings of the Evangelists; for, as Eusebius has remarked-" If any man will compare "the words of our Saviour with the whole History of "the Jewish war, as related by Josephus; he cannot "forbear to admire and acknowledge our Lord's pres"cience and prediction to be wonderful above nature, " and truly divine:"" nor does it seem less probable that he could fail to be forcibly struck with the completion of those predictions also of the ancient prophets, which though not so singularly precise, or so remarkable, as those of our Saviour; from their antiquity and evident application, in no less a degree establish the revered characters

(1) Quod si quis Servatoris nostri verba cum iis comparet, quæ ad eodem Scriptore de universo bello commemorata sunt, fieri non potest quin admiretur præscientiam ac predictionem Servatoris nostri, eamque verè divinam et supra modum stupendam esse fateatur.

Euseb. Eccl. Hist. iii. 7.

(2) The prophecies of the Old Testament referring to the former destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, were most of them fulfilled a second time by Titus; indeed, they appear to bear a particular reference to this latter siege.

characters of those by whom they were spoken; and the infinite power and wisdom of Him, by whose spirit they were made to shew and promulgate the mysteries of futurity.

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If we want reasons for believing in a divine revelation, what stronger proofs can be brought in confirmation of its truth, than the plain discovery of the fulfilment of those things which that revelation has predicted: predicted too, to substantiate its validity, and to confirm the assurances that the conditions it imposes are those best calculated to benefit mankind? If then, by shewing the predictions of a prophet to have been verified after his death, the character of that prophet is confirmed; and as none can see into futurity > but God alone; that, therefore, the prophet has been

directed by the divine spirit: and consequently that Lavnothing he has spoken professedly in his prophetic A character can be otherwise than true; it follows that a revelation of the will of God to man is established whenever such declarations are proved to have been fulfilled; and the importance of the objects to which the obedience of mankind has thus been directed, is rendered at the same time equally conspicuous. Now, though the certainty of a divine revelation may have been abundantly manifested by the completion of a variety of other scripture prophecies, as well as by those now under consideration; yet, by bringing the History of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem into a form calculated to excite an interest in the mind even bof an indifferent reader; and to set the events, as they occur, on a parallel with the prophecies which relate to them; it surely appears highly probable that a more ready assent to the truth of the scriptures will be given,

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