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with which they were all accomplished: we cannot fail to admire the august and sacred characters of these Messengers of God, and the foreknowlege "they were endued with from on high."-How much more striking then, must the minute predictions of HIM appear, whose prescience was derived from his own Divinity; and the wonderful accomplishment of whose words was the punishment of that obdurate and unbelieving race, who rejected the gracious offer of his Gospel, and imbrued their hands in the sanctified blood of its author.

In contemplating the accomplishment of all the prophecies connected with this subject, but more particularly of those of the Saviour himself; how naturally do we feel prompted to exclaim: "THIS IS THE LORD'S DOING, AND IT IS MARVELLOUS IN OUR EYES!

CON

CONCLUSION.

THE evidence made use of and applied to the establishment of the important points now discussed, is such as cannot be rejected by the scruples of any rational or thinking mind. No other has been adduced than that of writers in no way connected or interested in the matter, but such indeed, as if they were not inimical to the Christian Religion, were at least perfectly indifferent, or altogether ignorant of it.

Josephus the Jewish Historian, both from the religion of his nation, as well as from that of the Romans he befriended, was the least inclined to be a favourer of that which he speaks of as insignificant; and whose divine author, if he mention him at all, he considers only as the leader of an inconsiderable sect of deluded and infatuated Jews.1

With

1 The passage here referred to (Antq. 18, iii. 3) in which Josephus speaks of our Saviour, has not been generally received as genuine, being considered by some writers as an interpolation long after his time.

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Bp. Newton observes, that "he" (Josephus) "doth not so much as once "mention the name of false Christs, though he hath frequently occasion to speak largely of false prophets; so cautious was he of touching upon any thing, that might lead him to the acknowledgment of the true Christ. "His silence here is as remarkable, as his copiousness upon other subjects." Paley, in his Evidences of Christianity, considers either the passage as genuine, or the silence of Josephus designed. Vol. 1, p. 121.

Vide Marsh's Michaelis and Gibbon's Roman Hist. vol. ii. p. 40, and notes. Also, Whiston's Dissertation on this subject, prefixed to his translation of Josephus. From these it will appear, that the genuineness of this passage has been given up by Christians upon very inadequate grounds.-Vide also Bryant's Vindicia Flavianæ.

With respect to the testimony afforded by Heathen authors who flourished soon after the Christian æra, as they were still less acquainted with the propagators of Christianity, or the grounds upon which their principles were founded, so are they less concerned about the doctrines and precepts they had taught; so that the truth of the fulfilment of the predictions of Christ, to which we have more particularly alluded, rests upon anthorities no way bearing reference either to Jesus Christ, or to his religion.

In tracing, therefore, the accomplishment of those prophecies relating to the destruction of the city and people of the Jews, two material points may have been obtained: The one establishing the authenticity of the Gospel, the other confirming the divine character of Him who is the subject of it: for as we trust it has been shewn by sufficient testimony in the Introduction to this History, that the Gospel Prophecies were delivered at the time there mentioned; and that it has now been proved, by the History itself, that they were afterwards" in the fulness of time," accomplished; it necessarily follows, that He who is the subject of them must have been endued with that divine power and wisdom his followers have uniformly ascribed to him.1

1 Take ye heed: behold! I have foretold you all things. Matt. xiii. 23. Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. John, xiii. 19.

We may then safely consider this prophecy as an unquestionable proof of the divine foreknowledge of our Lord, and the divine authority of the Gospel; and on this ground only (were it necessary), we might securely rest the whole fabric of our religion. Bp. Porteus' Lect. xx.

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ACRA, Mount-its situation, p. 42.

ADRIAN builds Elia Capitolina upon the site of Jerusalem, and erects
temples to Venus and Adonis, p. 175-denies the Jews the sight of the
Holy Land, p. 176-is the means of introducing Christianity there,
ibid.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT-his attempt to turn the course of the Euphrates,
p. 182.

ALEXANDER JANNEUS-reigns over the Jews, p. 18.

ALEXANDRA the wife of Jannæus reigns, p. 18.

ANTIGONUS, Son of Aristobulus dethrones Hyrcanus, p. 23-is defeated by
Herod, p. 24-beheaded at Rome, ibid.

ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES subdues Judea and oppresses the Jews, p. 15—
profanes the Temple, p. 16.

ANTIPATER the Idumæan appointed to the command of the forces, p. 22-
appointed Procurator of Judea, ibid—is poisoned, p. 23.

ANTONIA, the tower of, taken by the Romans and destroyed, p. 126 and 130.
APOSTLES of Christ persecuted, p. 68.

ARCHELAUS succeeds Herod in the government of Idumæa, Judea, and
Samaria, p. 25-is made Ethnarch, p. 26-is deposed by Augustus and
banished, ibid.

ARISTOBULUS, the first of the Maccabees, his death, p. 17.

ARISTOBULUS, the second son of Jannæus contests the succession to the
throne, p. 18-appeals to Pompey, ibid-is laid in chains, p. 19-and
carried captive to Rome with his children, p. 21.

ARMY OF TITUs described, p. 81.

ASDRUBAL'S wife, her conduct in the siege of Carthage, p. 138, n.

ASMONEAN FAMILY called the Maccabi, p. 16. n.

AUTHENTICITY of Matthew's and Mark's Gospels, p. 4-of Luke's, p. 6—
of John's, p. 7.

AUTHENTICITY of Josephus' History shewn, p. 12—14.

BARCHOCHEBAH the false Messiah flies with his followers before the Roman
arms, p. 175.

BARREN appearance of the city from the destruction of the woods, and the
general devastation, p. 124.

BEZETHA, that part of Jerusalem North of Acra, p. 44.

CALVARY situation of it, p. 41-Dr. Clarke's reasons for supposing it not a
hill, p. 42, n.-Des Hayes' opinion, ibid.

CAMPANIA, the plain moved by an earthquake, p. 73.

CEDRON, a brook, p. 39—gives name to the valley on the Eastern side of
Jerusalem, p. 40, n.

CHRISTS FALSE, mentioned as appearing in Judea, p. 74 and 175.

CHRISTIANS the first, persecuted p. 65-68.

CHRISTIANITY flourishes in Jerusalem, p.179.

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