that (3) in Crete in the reign of Claudius, that the constitution of the univerfe was confounded for the deftruction of men'; and any one might eafily conjecture, that these things portended no common calamity. To thefe St. Luke addeth (XXI. 11.) that there jhall be fearful fights and great figns from heaven. Jofephus in (9) the preface to his history of the Jewish war undertakes to relate the figns and prodigies, which preceded the taking of the city: And he relates accordingly, that (1) a star hung over the city like a sword, and the comet continued for a whole year; that (2) the people being affembled to celebrate the feaft of unleavened bread, at the ninth hour of the night there fhone fo great a light about the altar and the temple, that it seemed to be bright (9) και τα προ ταύτης σημεία και τεραία. quæ que præcefferant figna et prodigia. Sect. 11. P. 957. (1) ύπερ την πολιν αςρον εση. ῥομφαία παραπλησιον, και παρατεινας επ' ενιαυτον κομήτης. fupra civitatem ftetit fidus fimile gladio, et anni fpatio ardere perfeverabat cometes. Lib. 6. Cap. 5. Sect. 3. p. 1281. (2) αθροιζόμενες τε λας προς την των Αζυμων εορτην,-κατα νυκλος εννάτην ώραν, τοσ8τον φως περιες λαμψε τον βωμου και τον ναον, ως bright day, and this continued for half an hour; that (3) at the fame feast a cow, led by the priest to facrifice, brought forth a lamb in the middle of the temple; that (4) the eastern gate of the temple, which was of folid brafs and very heavy, and was fcarcely fhut in an evening by twenty men, and was faftened by ftrong bars and bolts, was feen at the fixth hour of the night opened of its own accord, and could hardly be shut again; that (5) before the fetting of the fun there were feen over all the country chariots and armies fighting in the clouds, and befieging cities; that (6) at the feaft of Penticoft, as the priests were going into the inner temple by night as usual to attend their fervice, they heard firft a motion and noife, and tur, agnum in medio templo enixa eft. Ibid. (4) ή δε ανατολικη πυλη κ. τ. λ. fed et janua, &c. Ibid.. (5) προ ήλιος δύσεως ώφθη με τεωρα περὶ πασαν την χώραν άρμα τα και φαλαγγες ενοπλοι διαπλε σαι των νεφων, και κυκλωμέναι τας Toλs. ante folis occafum per univerfam regionem currus in aere fublimes ferri, et armatæ phalanges per nubes difcurrere, urbefque circumvallare funt vife. Ibid. p. 1282. (6) xala de Thy oglny, και μεν τεκοςη καλείται, νυκλως οἱ ἱερεις παρελθοντες εις το ενδον ἱερον, ὥσπερ αυτοις εθος ην προς τας λελεργιας, πρωΐον μεν κινησεως αντιλαβέσθαι εφασαν και κτυπε, μελα δε ταύτα φωνης αθρόας, μεταβαινω Fefto autem die ελεύθεν. qui Pentecofte appellatur, facerdotes noctu templum ingreffi ad obeunda ex more minifteria, primùm quidem motum ac ftrepitum fe exaudiffe dixerunt, tum deinde vocem quafi confertæ multitudinis fimul clamantis, Migremus hinc. Ibid. R 4 (7) το and then a voice as of a multitude faying, Let us depart hence; and (7) what he reckons as the most terrible of all, that one Jefus, an ordinary country fellow, four years before the war began, and when the city was in peace and plenty, came to the feast of tabernacles, and ran crying up and down the streets day and night, A voice from the east, a voice from the weft, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerufalem and the temple, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, a voice against all the people.' The magiftrates endevored by ftripes and tortures to reftrain him; but he ftill cried with a mournful voice, • Woe woe to Jerufalem !' This he continued to do for seven years and five months together, and efpecially at the great feftivals; and he neither grew hoarfe nor was tired: but went about the walls, and cried with a loud voice, "Woe woe to the city, and to the people, and to the temple;' and as he added at laft, "Woe woe alfo to myself,' it happened that a stone from some fling or engin immediately ftruck him dead. These were indeed (7) το δε τελων φοβερώτερον Ιησες γαρ τις κ. τ. λ. Quod vero his omnibus terribilius eft, Jefus quidam &c. Ibid. (8) Evenerant prodigia--Vife per cælum concurrere acies, rutilantia arma, et fubito nubium igne collucere templum. Expaffe Occurrences. deed fearful fights and great figns from heaven : and there is not a more creditable historian than the author who relates them, and who appeals to the teftimony of those who faw and heard them. But it may add fome weight to his relation, that Tacitus, the Roman historian, also giveth us a fummary account of the same He faith that (8) there happened feveral prodigies, armies were feen engaging in the heavens, arms were feen glittering, and the temple fhone with the fudden fire of the clouds, the doors of the temple opened fuddenly, and a voice greater than human was heard, that the gods were departing, and likewife a great motion of their departing. Dr. Jortin's (9) remark is very pertinent, "If Chrift "had not exprefly foretold this, many, who give little heed to portents, and who know "that hiftorians have been too credulous in "that point, would have suspected that Jose phus exaggerated, and that Tacitus was mif"informed; but as the teftimonies of Jofephus "and Tacitus confirm the predictions of "Chrift, fo the predictions of Christ confirm "the Expaffæ repente delubri fores,et audita major humanâ vox, Excedere deos. Simul ingens motus excedentium. Tacit. Hift. Lib. 5. p. 217. Edit. Lipfii. (9) Remarks on Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, Vol. 1. p. 41. (1) Eufeb. |