2. When Christ uttered this prophetic declaration, there was not the least sign or probability, according to the external appearance of things, of its being accomplished within so limited a time as 30 or 40 years, which was the period assigned; and yet every jot and tittle, as we find from various records of ancient history, were literally and exactly fulfilled. Christ declared, in reference to the temple, that there should not one stone of it be left upon another. And although from its magnitude, and the stability with which it was built, such a circumstance was then exceedingly unlikely to occur, yet we learn from history that this prediction also received its full accomplishment: for a report being circulated among the Roman soldiers, that a considerable quantity of gold was buried beneath its foundations, they dug them up, with the hope of obtaining this supposed treasure; by which they literally, and to the utmost extent, fulfilled this prediction of the Redeemer respecting it.

The second of the two prophecies which I am now more particularly noticing, is that which relates to the dispersion of the Jewish people, with the destruction of their state and polity. It comprizes a considerable part of the xxviiith chap. of Deuteronomy, which was written more than 1450 years before that event took place. In the xxist chap. of the gospel by Luke, the 20th and following verses, we have a repetition, by the Lord Jesus Christ, of this prophecy, with some enlargement, and the near approach of the period when it would be fulfilled, with various preceding circumstances connected with it, clearly defined.

Let the enquiring reader, therefore, after perusing these predictions in the passages referred to, take into his serious consideration the full and circumstantial manner in which they have been fulfilled-let him also consider how minutely they describe the state of the Jews from the period of their dispersion; and surely he must be ready to acknowledge, that he may with almost as much reason doubt the reality of his own existence, as the divine authority of the book in which these prophecies are contained.

In fact, the present state of the Jews is a standing miraclé —a miracle which is satisfactory, convincing, and undeniable-a proof which is open to the investigation of all who are interested in the enquiry, and demonstrates, beyond all reasonable possibility of a doubt, that the Bible is the word of God.

I now proceed, from remarking on those prophecies which have already received their accomplishment, to notice, secondly, two others, which are, as is evident to every observer, progressively fulfilling, and by which the argument before me is considerably strengthened and elucidated. The first of these prophecies, which was written 2430 years ago, will be found in Jer. x. 11. "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens." In reference to this inspired declaration, I observe, that when it fell from the lips of the prophet, all the nations of the earth, with the exception of the Jews, were idolaters, and devoted to the worship of the gods whose destruction is here predicted. But this passage has been completely fulfilled, as it respects the whole of the western world. In Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, Poland, with various other countries in Europe, these gods have perished, i. e. the inhabitants of these countries have destroyed the idols which their ancestors worshipped-have expunged idolatry from their towns and their cities, and have renounced the service of these fictitious deities for the service of Jehovah, who, being the one living and true God, hath made the earth by his power, established the world by his wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by his discretion. (Jer. x. 12.) same glorious work also continues to go forward in the present day. The fulfilment of this prophetic declaration is open to ocular investigation. Multitudes of these false gods have been destroyed, and perished from under these heavens, during the last 50 years. The inhabitants of the islands of the South Pacific, half a century ago, were all idolaters but in the greatest part of these islands, not a

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vestige of idolatry now remains—the idols are destroyed -the worship of the one living and true God is now the basis of their religion, and the kingdom of Christ is set up amongst them. In the remainder of these islands, as well as in various other parts of the heathen world, the idols are daily continuing to perish. And it must be evident to every intelligent observer, who is at all acquainted with the present state of mankind, that the time is not far distant, when idolatry, perpetually losing ground as it is, shall cease to exist, and with its obscenities and delusions, like a tale that is told, vanish from the face of the earth.

The second prophecy which is daily fulfilling under our immediate observation, refers to the universal spread of the gospel: it is recorded in the gospel by Matt. chap. xxiv. 14. "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations." This important and interesting prophecy, which is but the counterpart of the one relating to the universal destruction of idolatry which I have just noticed, is elucidated by a variety of corresponding passages, which refer to the same subject, in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. We are there told, that from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, Jehovah's name shall be great among the Gentiles-that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea—that in his name (i. e. the name of Christ) shall the Gentiles trust; and that the heathen shall be given to him for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. It is not my intention, as I deem it unnecessary, to remark upon these prophecies in general. The quotation which I have given from Matthew, being as it is the most explicit, and one of the last inspired declarations relating to this interesting subject, is the one to which I would more particularly solicit the reader's attention in the following observations. When this important prediction first fell from the lips of Christ, there was not the least prospect or apparent probability of its ever being fulfilled. The gospel had then obtained no foot

ing in the world-it had no secular influence to support its claims-it held out no temporal prospects to them that embraced it. Destitute as it was of these advantages to accelerate its interests, it had at the same time to encounter the most fearful opposition. The malice of men, armed with power and influenced by pride, rose up in hostile array, and threatened its extinction at the commencement of its career. Instead of its claims being acknowledged, it was, wherever it went, universally hated and despised: and notwithstanding these disadvantageous circumstances in which it was placed, it had, in order to make its way, to overturn all the long established and deep rooted systems of superstitious and idolatrous worship which every where abounded in the world: and yet, great as these difficulties, and discouraging as these appearances were, it completely effected its purpose. In the first ages of Christianity, its triumphs were general: and if we look at what is now going forward in the earth, and contemplate the exertions which are every where making to disseminate its truths, we may refer, both to the past and the present, as instances of the fulfilment of this inspired declaration. In conformity with this prediction, the gospel has triumphed, is triumphing, and will undoubtedly continue to triumph, until it swallow up all the religions in the world; and the Redeemer, according to the inspired testimony of the Psalmist, shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. (Psalm lxxii. 8.)

From these prophecies, which under our immediate observation are visibly fulfilling, I now pass on to notice, in the third place, two other equally important and interesting prophecies which yet remain to be fulfilled. The first of these the reader will find in Isa. xliii. 5, 6. "Fear not, for I am with thee. I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth." The second relates to the same subject, and is re

corded Jer. xxix. 14. "I will be found of you, saith the Lord; and I will turn your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord, and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." These prophecies, with several others of a similar nature, which, were it necessary, might here be inserted, refer to the restoration of the people of the Jews, after their dispersion, which has already been spoken of, had accomplished the purposes for which God in his providence had permitted it to occur.

It is now about 1800 years since that dispersion took place; and the first of these prophecies was written 750 years, and the second 650 years, before this divine judgment overtook them. In considering these prophecies, it seems natural to suppose, that the reader will enquire, What argument can possibly be drawn from such prophetic declarations as have not yet received their entire accomplishment, to prove the divine inspiration of the Scriptures in which they are contained? With reference, therefore, to the predictions which are the subjects of our present investigation, I answer, that the argument here is derived from the present state of the Jewish people, viewed in connection with these prophecies, as it relates to their future condition in the world. The Jews are scattered almost through every nation upon the face of the earth. They are universally despised on account of their peculiarity. In almost all places where they have taken up their abode, they are persecuted, and treated with cruelty and contempt. They are, therefore, from the circumstances in which they are placed, under the strongest possible temptations to deviate from their own peculiar customs, and to coalesce with the inhabitants of the several countries where they reside; because by doing this they would be free from all the inconveniences to which they are now exposed in consequence of their remaining a separate people, and be advanced to the enjoyment of all the privileges and comforts which the native inhabitants of