They should be hated by all Men for his Name's fake. and shall hate one another. MARK XIII. 12. Now the Brother shall betray the Brother to Death, and the Father the Son: and Children fhall rise up against their Parents, and shall caufe them to be put to Death. IO. 377 And Mark XIII. and shall betray one another, gard to the Gospel, when they fee the Profeffion Sect. 160. of it must cost them fo dear; and having proved Mat.XXIV. Apoftates, they fhall become Perfecutors too, and fhall betray one another, and hate one another, as being in their Confciences fecretly galled at the greater Fidelity of their Companions. this wretched Temper fhall rife to fuch a Height, 12. as to break thro' all the Bonds of Nature, infomuch that one Brother shall betray another, not only to Imprisonment, but to Death; and the Father, on the one hand, fhall betray [his] own Son; and Children, on the other hand, fhall rife up as Witneffes against [their] aged Parents, and caufe them to be put to Death without CompafLUKE XXI. 16. And ye fion or Remorse. And thefe Scenes, monftrous Luke XXI. as they may feem, fhall pafs in your Days, and 16. before your Eyes; nay, you yourfelves fhall have a painful Share in them: For you, my Apoftles and Servants, shall be betrayed, even by Parents, and Brethren, and Kindred, and those that pretend to be the most faithful and affectionate Friends; and [fome] of you fhall they caufe to be flain by the Hand of publick and oppreffive Violence. And indeed this Temper fhall fo generally pre- 17 vail, that ye shall be hated by almost all Ranks and Orders, as well as Nations of Men, for the fake of my Name and Gospel (k), tho' they can fhall be betrayed both by Parents, and Brethren, and 17 And ye fhall be hated of all Men for my Name's fake. [MARK XIII. 13.—] find (k) Ye fhall be hated by all Men for the fake of my Name.] That not only the Apostles, but all the primitive Chriftians, were in general more hated and perfecuted than any other religious Set of Men, is moft notorious to all, that are at all acquainted with Ecclefiaftical Hiftory: A Fact, which might feem unaccountable, when we confider how inoffenfive and benevolent their Temper and Conduct was, and how friendly an Afpect their Tenets had on the Security of any Government under which they lived. We are not to imagine, (as Monf. St. Real weakly infinuates, in his ill digested, tho' elegant, Hiftory of the Life of Jefus, pag. 264.) that they had any peculiar Averfion to the Name of Chrift. The learned Mr. Warburton has fhewn beyond all Contradiction, in his mafterly Manner, that the true Reafon of this Oppofition was, that while the different Pagan Religions, like the confederated Dæmons honoured by them, fociably agreed with each other, the Gospel taught Chriftians, not only, like the Jews, to bear their Teftimony to the Falfhood of them all; but alfo with the moft fervent Zeal to urge the Renunciation of them, as a Point of abfolute Neceffity; requiring all Men, on the most tremendous Penalties, to believe in Chrift, and in all Things to fubmit themselves to his Authority: (See Mr. Warburton's Divine Legation of Mofes, Vol. i. Book ii. §. 6. pag. 278,295.) A Demand, which bore fo hard efpecially on the Pride and Licentioufnefs of their Princes, and the fecular Intereft of their Priests, that it is no Wonder they raised fo violent a Storm against it; which, confidering the Character. and Prejudices of the Populace, it must be very easy to do. VOL. II. Bbb (1) Not 378 They are exhorted to poffefs their Souls in Patience. Sect. 166. find nothing else to object to your Character, or accufe in your Conduct; and they shall treat you Luke XXI. 17. as publick Enemies, while you are acting the moft generous and benevolent Part. (Compare 18 Mat. x. 22. Sect. 75.) But in the Midft of all 19 Mat. XXIV. 18 But there fhall not an your Sufferings be couragious and chearful, as Hair of your Head perifb. For tho' your Difcouragements are great, and folutely 19 In your Patience poffefs ye your Souls. MAT. XXIV. 11. And many false Prophets fhall rife, and fhall deceive many. 12 And becaufe Iniquity fhall abound, the Love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall en dure (1) Not an Hair of your Head fhall perish.] Our Lord had foretold but juft before, (ver. 16.) that several of them should be put to Death; he muff therefore here intend to affure them, that when they came on the whole to balance their Accounts, they should find they had not been Lofers in any the leaft Inftance; but that whatever Damage they had fuftained, it fhould be amply made up, and they at length placed in a State of entire Security. This is plainly the Import of this Proverbial Expreffion. See 1 Sam. xiv. 45. 2 Sam. xiv. II. 1 Kings i. 52. and Acts xxvii. 34. (m) In your Patience poffefs ye your Souls.] Tho' the Word as does often fignify, to acquire, or procure; (fee Mat. x. 9. Acts i. 18. viii. 20. xxii. 28.) yet I cannot fuppofe, with Brennius, that our Lord intends here chiefly to intimate, that Fortitude and Compofure of Spirit might have a Tendency to fecure their Lives, as it would enable them calmly to deliberate on the feveral Circumftances which might arife. I cannot but think, that the Senfe, which the accurate and pious Dr. Wright gives of this Paffage, in that excellent Piece of Chriftian Philofophy, his Difcourfe on Self-Poffeffion, (pag. 4, 5.) is much more natural, as well as more noble; as if our Lord had faid, "By keeping the Government of your own "Spirits in thefe awful Scenes, which will bear down fo many others, you will fecure the "moft valuable Self-Enjoyment, as well as be able moft prudently to guard against the Dan"gers which will furround you." (*) This The Gofpel fhould firft be preached in all the World. 379 dure unto the End, the fame folutely endures all these Extremities, and perseveres Sect. 160. fhall be faved. [MARK to the End, fhall finally be faved, and fhall have his Life given him as a Prey. (Compare Mat. x. 22.) XIII.-13.] T And know for your farther Encouragement, that all their Rage fhall not be able to deftroy the Intereft in which you are embarked, and to which you facrifice fo much; for I affure you, that this glorious Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven fhall first be preached in all the World, for a Witness to all its moft diftant Nations (n); and then fhall the End of the Jewish State come, and GOD having thus gathered for himself a People from among the Gentiles, fhall destroy even this Temple itself, in which they have trufted so much, and which they have foolishly looked upon as an inviolable Pledge of his Favour. IMPROVEMENT. HE whole of this Prophecy most evidently fhews us, how vain as these foolish and wretched Jews did, The Temple of the Lord, the Mat.XXIV. 13, 14. this ftately and magnificent Structure, within lefs than half a Century Mat. xxiv.2. after it was finished, not one Stone was left on another undemolished. So particular a Prediction, when compared with the Event, must furely confirm our Faith in Chrift, as the great Prophet which was to come into the World. And we fhall fee Reason to admire the Wisdom and Goodness of Divine Providence in giving us, almost by a miraculous Preservation of the Author, fuch a Commentary on this Prophecy, as is delivered down to us in the Works of Jofephus, which throw a much stronger (n) This Gofpelfhall be preached in all the World, &c.] The Accomplishment of this extraordinary Prophecy is admirably illuftrated by Dr. Arthur Young on Idolatry, Vol. ii. pag. 216, -234. It appears from the moft credible Records, that the Gospel was preached in Idumea, Syria, and Mefopotamia, by Jude; in Egypt, Marmorica, Mauritania, and other Parts of Africa, by Mark, Simon, and Jude; in Ethiopia, by Candace's Eunuch, and Matthias; in Pontus, Galatia, and the neighbouring Parts of Afia, by Peter; in the Territories of the Seven Afiatic Churches, by John; in Parthia, by Matthew; in Scythia, by Philip, and Andrew; in the Northern and Western Parts of Afia, by Bartholomew; in Perfia, by Simon and Jude; in Media, Carmania, and several Eaftern Parts, by Thomas; thro' the vaft Tract from Jerufalem to Iconium, by Paul, as alfo in Italy, and probably in Spain, Gaul, and Britain: In moft of which Places Chriftian Churches were planted in less than Thirty Years after the Death of Chrift, which was before the Deftruction of Jerufalem. 380 Reflections on the Signs of the Deftruction of Jerufalem. Sect. 160. ftronger Light upon it, than if they had been written by a Chriftian on Purpose to illuftrate it. Luke xxi. Let us blefs GOD, that our own Eyes have not feen fuch Defolations and Ruins, fuch Commotions in the natural and moral World, fuch Dif Mark xiii. fentions in civil Life, fuch Perfecutions and Hatreds amongst the nearest Relatives, under the Pretence of propagating Religion; which however propagated, is nothing, without that Love, which is fo often made the firft Victim to it. 12, 13. Mat. xxiv. 12. Ver. 13. Luke xxi. 18. Ver. 19. Yet too plainly do we fee, in one Form or another, Iniquity abounding, and the Love of many waxing cold. Let us endeavour to revive on our own Hearts a deep and lafting Impreffion of Divine Things; and remember, whenever we are tempted to let go our Integrity, that it is he alone, who endures to the End, that fhall be faved. Whatever our Trials are, let us chearfully confide in the Protection of Divine Providence; nor let us defpair of those continued Influences of the Bleffed Spirit, which may animate us to the most difficult Services, and fupport us under the most painful Sufferings. Let us therefore in Patience poffefs our own Souls, and maintain that Compofure and Steadinefs of Spirit, as thofe that know how much more valuable it is, than any Enjoyment which can be taken away, or any Temporal Interest which can be brought into Question. Sect. 161. 20. SECT. CLXI. Our LORD proceeds to defcribe the nearer Prognoftications of the Deftruction of Jerufalem, and the extream Severity of thofe Calamities which should then fall on the Jewish Nation. Mat. XXIV. 15,--28. Mark XIII. 14,---23. XXI. 20,--24. LUKE XXI, 20. UR Lord, having proceeded thus far in his Difcourfe, added fome more immediate Luke XXI. Signs, by which the near Approach of this terrible Destruction might be determined; and faid, When you shall fee Ferufalem encompassed on every Side with the Roman Armies, [and] the Abomination of Defolation, Spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, (Dan. ix. 27.) Standing where it ought not, and Luke JESUS declares the nearer Signs of this Deftruction. Luke XXI. 20. 381 and difplayed in an Holy Place; that is, when the Sect. 161 Standards of their defolating Standards of their defolating Legions, on which they bear the deteftable Images of their Idols, are planted on holy Ground (a); then know that the Defolation thereof is just approaching. And, by the Way, now I mention that remarkable Prophecy, let every one that reads it, paufe ferioufly upon it, that he may understand its Meaning; for it contains one of the most eminent Predictions, which can any where be found, of the Time, Purposes, and Confequences of my appearing; and the whole Context is of great Importance (b). Now I fay, when you fee this Signal, then let them that are in Judea, flee, as faft as they can, from the fortified Cities and populous Towns, to the Mountains and the Wildernefs, where they will be fecure; and efpecially let them that are in the Midft of it, where Jerufalem ftands, depart immediately out of it, before their Retreat is cut off by the Union of the Enemies Forces near that Centre; and let not them that are in the adjacent Countries by any means attempt to enter into it; for all its Strength, and all its Sanctity, will not fecure its Inhabitants. Let every one therefore retreat as faft as pof- Mark XIII. fible, and let not him that is taking the Air on the 15. Battle (a) Planted on holy Ground.] Not only the Temple, and the Mountain on which it flood, but the whole City of Jerufalem, and feveral Furlongs of Land round about it, were accounted holy. (See Mat. iv. 5. Vol. i. pag. 111.) It is remarkable, that by the fpecial Providence of Go D, after the Romans under Ceftius Gallus made their firft Advance towards Jerufalem, they fuddenly withdrew again, in a most unexpected, and indeed impolitic Manner; at which Jofephus teftifies his Surprize, fince the City might then have been eafily taken. By this Means they gave, as it were, a Signal to the Chriftians to retire; which in regard to this Admonition they did, fome to Pella, and others to Mount Libanus, and thereby preferved their Lives. See Jofeph. Bell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 19. (al. 24.) §. 7. and Euseb. Eccl. Hift. lib. iii. cap. 5.Of the Idolatrous Standards in the Roman Armies, fee Grotius's excellent Note on Mat. xxiv. 15. (b) The whole Context is of great Importance.] If any wonder, that fo important a Prophecy is not more frequently infifted upon in the New Testament, I think we may juftly anfwer, that it was not proper for the Apostles to urge it; as the exact Commencement and Termination of the Seventy Weeks was a nice Controverfy out of their Way, and not capable of being fully cleared up to the Populace, with whom they were chiefly concerned; and as feveral of the Events referred to in it had not their compleat Accomplishment, till fome Years after most of their Writings were publifhed. But that the Period is long fince elapfed is certain, however it might be reckoned; as Dr. Bullock has excellently fhewn. See his Vindication, book ii. chap. 4. §. 6. pag. 216,–218. and Dr. Sykes of Christianity, ch. 16. pag. 297,-301. ! (c) Go 21 |