which relate more immediately to the Messiah ; and if it should appear, from a survey of facts, that there were many prophecies uttered concerning Him which no human skill or fore-thought could have ventured to announce, and which have realized a minute and circumstantial accomplishment, it will then follow, that they furnish a convincing testimony to his character as the Son of God, and to his mission as the Saviour of the world. We shall first make the induction of the prophetic testimony, and then inquire how far it is probable that the prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures could have induced the followers of Jesus of Nazareth to endeavour, by their own means, to bring about the events predicted-in other words, to produce a coincidence in the life of Jesus to the anticipations of the prophets. The minuteness both of the predictions and the fulfilments will, perhaps, surprise those who have not closely examined this most interesting topic. In the texts referred to in the notes, the prophecy and its accomplishment will be placed in immediate contact, so that those who wish to examine this subject for themselves may see how utterly impossible it was for any thing like chance or human imposture to have furnished such an exquisite harmony.* When we look at the very first page of man's apostacy, we find the Great Deliverer promised, as that seed of the woman who was to bruise the head of the serpent.+ This mysterious personage was to be of the seed of Abraham. He was to belong to the tribe of Judah.§ He was to be a member of the royal house of David.|| He was to be born at Bethleham Judah, the city of David. He was to be miraculously conceived and born of a virgin.** He was to be carried + See a very able Discourse on "the Object and End of the Prophetic Dispensation," by the late Archibald M'Lean. Works, vol. iv. 12mo. p. 283. + Compare Gen. iii. 15. with Luke i. 29-36. and Gal. iv. 4. Com. Gen. xxii. 18. with Gal. iii. 16, 17. and Heb. ii. 16. § Com. Gen. xlix. 10. with Heb. vii. 14. Com. 1 Sam. vii. 12-17. Isa. xi. 1-6. Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. with Luke i. 32, 69. Rom. 1. 3. 4, II. ** Com. Micah v. 2. with Matt. ii. 1, 5, 6. and Luke ii. Com. Isa. vii. 14. with Matt. i. 20-24. into Egypt, and called out of it.* He was to have Elias, or John the Baptist as his forerunner.† He was to confirm his mission and doctrine by miracles. He was to make a public though lowly entrance into Jerusalem, riding upon a colt, the foal of an ass.§ He was to be rejected of his own countrymen the Jews.|| be betrayed by one of his disciples. to be sold for thirty pieces of silver.** He was to He was He was to be scourged, mocked, and spit upon.†† He was to be nailed to the cross, by his hands and his feet. He was to be numbered with the *Compare Hos. xi. 1. with Matt. ii. 13-16. + Com. Isa. xl. 3, 4. iii. 1—4. xvii. 10-14. Mal. iii. 1. and iv. 5. with Matt. Com. Isa. xxxv. 5, 6. with Matt. xi. 3-7. John v. 36. and Acts ii. 22. $ Com. Zech. ix. 9. and Psalms cxviii. 25, 26. with Matt. xxi. 2-12. and John xii. 12-19. || Com. Isa. viii. 14, 15. xviii. 16. liii. 3. and Psa. cxviii. 22. with Matt. xxi. 42-45. John i. 10, 11. xii. 37-40. and xv. 22-26. ¶ Com. Psa. xli. 9. with John xiii. 18. ** Com. Zech. xi. 12. with Matt. xxvi. 14, 15. and xxvii. 3-11. tt Com. Isa. 1. 6. with Matt. xxvi. 67, 68. and xxvii. 26-32. # Com. Psa. xxii. 16. with Luke xxiii. 33. and John xix. 17, 18. transgressors.* He was to be mocked and reviled while on the cross.† He was to have gall and vinegar to drink. His garments were to be parted, and upon his vesture lots were to be cast. He was to be cut off from the land of the living by a violent death. He was to be pierced, but not a bone of him to be broken.T He was to make his grave with the rich.** was not to see corruption.++ He was to rise from the dead.‡‡ He was to ascend into heaven, sit at the right hand of God, and pour out the Holy Spirit in his various gifts upon men.§§ He * Com. Isa. liii. 12. with Luke xxii. 37. and xxiii. 33. + Com. Psa. xxii. 7, 8. with Matt. xxvii. 34, 35. Com. Psa. lxix. 21. with Matt. xxvii. 34, 48. $ Com. Psa. xxii. 18. with Matt. xxvii. 35. and John xix. 23, 24. || Com. Isa. liii. Dan ix. 26. with John xix. 30. Acts ii. 23. ¶ Com. Zech. xii. 10. Exod. xii. 46. Psa. xxxiv. 20. with John xix. 33-38. ** Com. Isa. liii. 9. with Matt. xxvii. 57-61. tt Com. Psa. xvi. 10. with Acts ii. 25-32. xiii. 34-38. #Com. Psa. ii. 7. xvi. 11. and Isa. liii. 8. with Acts ii. 30, 31. xiii. 33, 34. SS Com. Psa. lxviii. 18. and cx. i. Joel ii. 28. with Eph. iv. 8-13. Mark xvi. 19. Acts ii. 33. 1 His divine dignity was also distinctly marked in the prophetic testimony. According to the flesh, he was to be of the seed of David; but beyond this there was a view of his character which exhibited him in all the glory of essential and uncreated Godhead. He was to be called Immanuel.* He was described as the mighty God.t He was spoken of as Jehovah our righteousness. He was portrayed as the Son of God.§ He was declared to be David's Lord. Nor were the offices which Messiah was to sustain overlooked by the omniscient spirit of the prophetic dispensation. He was to be a prophet like unto Moses.T He was to be a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.** He was to be an anointed King, on Zion's holy *Com. Isa. vii. 14. with Mark i. 23. † Com. Isa. ix. 6. with Tit. ii. 13. Com. Jer. xxxiii. 5, 6. with 1 Cor. i. 30, 31. $ Com. 2 Sam. vii. 14. Psa. ii. 7, 12. with Rom. i. 3, 4. Heb. i. 5. Com. Psa. cx. 1. with Matt. xxii. 42-46. ¶ Com. Deut. xviii. 18. with Acts iii. 22-24. ** Com. Psa. cx. 4. with Heb. v. 5, 6. vii. viii. ix. x. |