ing to some remarkable personage who was expected to appear.

1. For example: the time of this appearance was fixed by the prophet Daniel at about four hundred and ninety years from his own days; which so closely corresponded with the birth of Jesus, that such an event was looked for, by "devout persons," at the very period when it occurred. This would be, as was before observed, a circumstance greatly in their favour.

2. The next thing to be considered by the framers of this deceit, would be the place of their leader's birth. Jesus was born at Bethlehem. Upon consulting their Scriptures, they would find this passage respecting Bethlehem: "Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be a ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been

6 Dan. ix. 24. Luke, ii. 25.

from of old, from everlasting'." This would prove, beyond what could be anticipated, an assistance to their design.

3. It seemed to be intimated in the prophecies, that the deliverer who was to come should be preceded by a forerunner, who might awaken the attention of the people to him. For it was written, "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." And again, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come into his temple"." Now it was notorious that a singular character, John, called "the Baptist," had appeared a short time before Jesus began his ministry, pretending to be this messenger, and nothing more, and directing his followers to one who was to "come after him."

7 Micah, v. 2.
9 Malachi, iii. 1.

8. Isai. xl. 3.

This was another coincidence equally wonderful and favourable ".

4. Further, as to the most important point; the way in which Jesus had lived, and been received, and died. His character, as represented in the Gospels, had been peculiar in every respect; but especially remarkable for the union of meekness and constancy which it displayed.

Of unknown origin and humble parentage, he had attracted considerable notice, and many followers; yet he had not been generally acknowledged among his countrymen, and those who adhered to him were not the great and powerful. His life, upon the whole, was one of trial and hardship, not one of triumph and exaltation. In the end, he was sentenced to death, with those notoriously wicked; and suf

10 If it should be thought that there is too much assumption here, in taking it for granted that the ministry of the Baptist, and the time and place of the birth of Jesus, were real facts; the objection has been met and answered in Chap. I. p. 7-14.

fered a punishment, which even his judge confessed that his conduct had not deserved. Yet though dying with malefactors, he was laid in a rich and honourable tomb '.

A character answering this description was pourtrayed by that prophet, who had always been considered as most particular in what respected the future Messiah. report; and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our trans

"Who hath believed our

1 Matt. xxvii. 57–60.

gressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, and have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, even so he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth "."

It cannot be denied that the existence of these ancient prophecies would be very advantageous to men setting out with the purpose in question. But it is time to ask, in our turn,

2 Isai. liii.