posites of each other. And as it is on all hands acknowledged that Mahomet was an impostor, it is fair to conclude that Christ, who was the very reverse of Mahomet, was the reverse of an impostor, that is, a real messenger from heaven. In Mahomet we see every distinctive mark of fraud; in Jesus, not one of these is to be found; but, on the contrary, every possible indication and character of truth. PROPOSITION IX. The predictions delivered by the ancient Prophets, and fulfilled in our Saviour, show that he was the Messiah expected by the Jews, and that he came into the world by divine appointment, to be the great Deliverer and Redeemer of mankind. THE word Messiah signifies anointed; that is, a person appointed to some high station, dignity, or office ; because originally among the eastern nations men so appointed (particularly kings, priests, and prophets) were anointed with oil. Hence the word Messiah means the person preordained and appointed by God to be the great Deliv. erer of the Jewish nation, and the Redeemer of all mankind. The word Christ means the same thing. Now it was foretold concerning the Messiah, that he should come before the sceptre departed from Judah, that is, before the Jewish government was destroyed; and, accordingly, Christ appeared a short time before the period when the Jewish government was totally overthrown by the Romans. It was foretold that he should come before the destruction of the second temple. "The Desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts; the glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former."+ Accord. ingly Christ appeared some time before the destruction of the city and the temple of Jerusalem by the Romans. It was foretold by the prophet Daniel, that he should come at the end of 490 years after the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which had been laid waste dur+ Haggai ii. 7, 9. Gen. xlix. 10. ing the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, and that he should be cut off; and that afterwards the city and sanctuary of Jerusalem should be destroyed and made desolate.* And accordingly, at what time soever the beginning of the 490 years can, according to any fair interpretation of the words, be fixed, the end of them will fall about the time of Christ's appearing; and it is well known how entirely the city and sanctuary were destroyed by the Romans some after he was cut off and crucified. It was foretold, that he should perform many great and beneficial miracles; that the eyes of the blind should be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; that the lame man should leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; and this we know was literally fulfilled in the miracles of Christ; the blind received their sight, the lame walked, the deaf heard. years * Dan. ix. 26. + Isaiah xxxv. 5. It was foretold, that he should die a violent death; that he should be wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; that the chastisement of our peace should be upon him; and that with his stripes we should be healed; that God would lay on him the iniquity of us all.* All which was exactly accomplished in the sufferings of Christ, "who died for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God."+ It was foretold, that to him should the gathering of the people be; and that God would give him the heathen for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession,‡ which was punctually fulfilled by the wonderful success of the gospel, and its universal propagation throughout the world. * Isaiah liii. throughout, and Dan. ix. 26. Pet. iii. 18. |