mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first born." We must now take a concise view of some of the predictions which the New Testament contains, relating to the calling of the Gentiles: but we, at the same time, entreat our readers not to be satisfied with the few examples and hasty remarks, which this short treatise affords, but to search in the inspired volume for themselves, on this as on every subject; for it is only in the Scriptures that they can learn to run the race, which is set before them, so as to obtain the prize of their high calling. In the birth of the Saviour of the world, we find a perfect agreement with all the prophecies respecting him; of which so many proofs are brought forward by the Evangelists in their compositions, that we cannot be at a loss in applying them. The visit of the Magi, who came from the East to Jerusalem, to worship the infant Jesus, was a prelude to the entrance of the Gentile world into the Christian church; but during our Lord's ministry on earth, we do not find him extending his preaching beyond Judea; and even when he sent his disciples into the cities of Judea, he expressly forbade their entering a Samaritan town. This was in perfect accordance with the ancient prophecies; for Jesus was to be rejected of the Jews before he was to give light to lighten the Gentiles. Though our Lord, while on earth, never actually preached to the Gentiles, yet, both by parables and prophecies, he fully foretold their conversion. The Parable of the Prodigal Son, and that of the Labourer who was called into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour, are both predictions of the calling of the Gentiles. The parable of the Marriage Supper relates to this subject also, while it at the same time predicts the rejection of the Jews. The parable of the Householder, who planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, affords us a powerful example of these predictions as they regard both Jew and Gentile *. When our Lord had related this parable, the answer of his hearers to the question which he put to them, What the lord of the vineyard would do unto those wicked husbandmen, is a prophecy of the clearest kind as to the acceptance of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews," He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons †." And this prediction we find even more fully confirmed in the reply of our Lord to those Jews; " Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof *." But it is time to search into the prophecies given by Jesus Christ, in the shape of open declarations. When they marvelled at the faith of the Roman centurion, our Lord said to his disciples, " Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heavent." St. John records, that our Lord also said, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd‡.” We have abundantly shewn from these examples, both of the Old and New Testament, that the predictions of the Prophets, and those of our Lord, are in perfect accordance with each other, with respect to the calling of the Gentiles; and have brought forward enough for the establishment of Divine truth, which is incontestibly proved by the fulfilment of these prophecies in so great a measure, by the extension of Christianity, and the rejection of the Jews. Every day the Gospel * Matt. xxi. 42, 43. + Matt. viii. 11. John x. 16. is spreading its influence, and, under our own eyes, accomplishing more perfectly the word of God: the in-gathering of Israel will be its complete fulfilment ; and when that will be, when that day of rejoicing will come, is known to Him alone, who dwelleth on high, and who ordereth the unruly wills and affections of sinful men. We have before brought it forward as an argument, that the dispersed and unconverted Jews are living monuments of the truth of holy writ: and we here aver that the Christianised Gentiles are equally unanswerable witnesses for the Divine origin, not only of the New Testament, but of the whole Bible. With this observation, we take leave of our readers, earnestly entreating them, whoever they may be, whether they have taken up this volume in the character of the open infidel, the careless professor, or the pious Christian, to weigh well its contents, to turn to the Holy Bible, to read it daily, to study it deeply, to store their memories with "precept upon precept, and line upon line," from its sacred pages; to pray over it again and again, to pray that they may not only give the assent of their understandings, but the full accordance of their hearts to every maxim which it teaches, to every doctrine which it unfolds, and to the way of salvation, which it opens to man. Many, we know, boldly deny the truth of the inspired volume, without being acquainted with one line of its contents; while others virtually do so by their lives, and are equally ignorant of its pages. Others again profess to believe it, and act in direct opposition to all which it requires, while there are some pious persons who feel that the Bible is the Book of Life, and yet who have no distinct knowledge of the power of those weapons with which its pages supply them against irreligion, those proofs which would enable them to gainsay the unbeliever; to produce, in opposition to every argument of the infidel, a powerful reason for the hope that is in them; and finally compel him to exclaim with the worshippers of Baal, 66 THE LORD HE IS THE GOD, THE LORD HE IS THE GOD." GLORY BE TO THEE, O LORD! * 1 Kings xviii. 39. THE END. Ellerton and Henderson, Printers, |