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who had only the ordinary means of information, (and no other were granted where they were not neceffary) could not foon be certified of this univerfal promulgation; or if they were, yet, from the words of this prophecy, they were not authorifed to conclude, that the deftruction of the temple should immediately ensue. A certain event was declared, before which, the final excifion, whatever there might be of rumours abroad, or commotions at home, should not take place; but it was not faid, that when one was fulfilled, the other might not still, for a short while, be delayed.

For thefe reafons therefore, our bleffed Lord, befides the swift propagation of his gofpel, was pleased to forefhew other figns of the times, peculiarly obfervable to the inhabitants of Judea, and fome of them pointing out the critical moment, when flight would be the only means of fecurity.

4 Ου γαρ επι μικροις το Θείον την έαυτε συμμαχίαν οις αν ευνεν η δίδωσιν αλλ' εφ' οις ανθρωπίνην ελπίδα μη βλεποι προς το κρειττον παprov. Jof. Ant. Jud. L. II. c. xv. §. 5. Vide et Chrysost. in Act. xvi. 10. T. IV. p. 804. 1. 4. et confer p. 812. l. 1. 817. 25. T. V. p. 277. 1.33. et feqq. See also an admirable remark on St. Peter's deliverance from prison, in Dr. Townfon's Difc. on the Gofpels, p. 6z. Laftly comp. 2 Cor. i. 5.

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Of

Of these local marks one was that, which is contained in the text: "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many fhall come in my name, faying, I am Chrift," or rather, the Chrift," and fhall deceive many." St. Luke, in the parallel paffage, adds, “ and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them." And the three evangelists, after mentioning another token, that of wars and tumults, have carefully recorded the caution to the disciples, not to be terrified; forafmuch as these things muft, indeed, come to pass, but the end should not be yet.

O Xeros. It is fcarcely ever used absolutely in the Gofpels. The contemptuous speech, #go¶nrivσov Xgısı, Matt. xxvi. 68. cannot be thought an exception. In Mar. ix. 41. the other words are fo exprefs, that the article seemed not neceffary: εν τῷ ονοματι με, ότι Χριςε εσε. In Luke xxiii. 2, if it is not an epithet of king, it is in appofition with it; and the one not admitting the article, the other could not have it. The only remaining text, where it stands alone, is John ix. 22. and here poffibly it may have its common, not its appropriate, fignification: "If any one fhould acknowledge him to be anointed, to have any divine commiffion, though not that of the Meffiah." This feems to be confirmed by what follows; for the man was excommunicated for confeffing Jefus to be a prophet. Compare verse 33. with 17. He afterwards (38) believed him to be the Son of GOD. In the Epiftles the word Xgsas very frequently occurs, without any addition whatsoever. See Rom. v. 6. 8, vi. 4. 8, 9. viii. 9, 10. 1 Cor. i. 17. 23. ii. 16. iii. 1. ix. 21. xii. 27. 1 Pet. i. 11. ii. 21, iii. 16. &c.

After

After this, St. Matthew, at the twenty third verse, again takes up the fubject of the false chrifts, in the following words, moft of which are transcribed by St. Mark: "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Chrift, or there; believe it not. For there fhall rife falfe chrifts and false prophets, and shall shew great figns and wonders, infomuch that (if it were poffible) they fhall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before."

This paffage is, by fome, applied to a different race of impoftors, from thofe, who are characterised in the beginning of the chapter; to the deceivers, who, as they fuppose, shall precede the second coming of our Lord. It is not neceffary here to enter upon the great question, whether the whole of this important chapter does, or does not, relate to the deftruction of Jerufalem, and the concomitant circumftances of that event. On either fuppofition, I fee no good reason, why the paffage before us fhould not be understood of those days.

St. Luke has entirely omitted it; which he would probably not have done, had it been

f He has however, in another place, a paffage altogether fimilar, which evidently relates to the Jewish calamities. See e. xvii. 23,

totally

totally diftinct from the foregoing predictions. His Gofpel being defigned for the ufe of the Gentiles remote from Judea, he is lefs minute and circumftantial, than the former evangelists, in describing those signs, of which few or none of his readers were likely to be eye-witneffes. But against the lying prophets, if fuch there fhall be, in the last days, it was expedient for the whole church, for the Gentile as well as the Jewish converts, to be forewarned; and the book more adapted for general inftruction would probably have contained the more generally neceffary caution.

Moreover, fome parts of the defcription, efpecially in St. Matthew, are evidently local, and feem particularly to point out pre tenders to the Meffiahship; and whatever falfe teachers may have been in the church, or fhall hereafter arife, we can hardly fuppose, any of them will be bold enough, to affume a character more exalted, than that of a prophet.

The difcourfes of our Lord, as recorded by the evangelifts, if they have not a critical arrangement of parts, are not however void of order and method. Being lefs artificial,

they

they have perhaps, for that reafon, more of dignity and weight; but there is certainly a connection, which is wife and good, and commonly apparent. In the chapter before us, our blessed Saviour does not give a direct and immediate anfwer to the inquiries of his apostles; which they made, it is probable, from curiofity and concern for their native country, but with little apprehenfion of danger to themselves. The warning that was moft requifite is therefore given first. They are cautioned, and their converts through them, not to be led away by impoftors, who should appear, and, with too much fuccefs, study to deceive. The beginning of forrows, infurrections and tumults, famine and peftilence, are next mentioned; and the Chriftians, under their peculiar afflictions, which are then foretold, might derive perhaps fome degree of patient firmness, from the confideration, that they fuffered, when fufferings were common; but they would undoubtedly feel inexpreflible joy, in the enlivening reflection, that what they underwent was for the name, and for the fake, of Chrift. They are likewise affured, in exprefs words, that whofo endured

See verfe 4. &c. and S. Chryfoftom on the place.

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