of the Jews; sometimes they have a subordinate application to some figurative character -such as David or Solomon; and as a whole they are curiously worked into that system of types, which may be described as the peculiar genius of the religion of the Hebrews.

Had it not been for the key with which God has provided us in the New Testament, and which searches the most curious and hidden recesses of the lock, many parts of that lock would for ever have continued latent. It is an important principle, of which we ought never to lose sight in reference to Scripture prophecy, that it can be fully interpreted only by its events. When the history and doctrine of the New Testament are brought to bear upon these predictions, we immediately perceive their relation to a single subject, and not the slightest doubt can any longer be entertained respecting their true meaning. Nevertheless such is their peculiar position and construction, that no man either would or could have forged them. Any attempt to

7 What a striking illustration of these remarks is afforded us by the following remarkable prophecy respecting our Saviour: "His visage was so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men; so shall he sprinkle many nations!" Isaiah lii, 14, 15. This strange combination of ideas was probably quite unintelligible both to the prophet and his hearers. But who can now doubt either the meaning or the divine origin of the prediction? It is the New Testament which teaches us that the sufferings of Jesus were the appointed means not only of our reconciliation with God, but of our obtaining that gift of the Holy Spirit, with which, from his throne of glory, he sprinkles all his believing followers.-See Acts ii, 23-33.

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compose these prophecies and palm them on the world after the date of the events to which they relate, would have been unlikely and absurd, and success in such an undertaking utterly impossible.

2. It has often been observed that prophecies which relate to circumstances dependent on the will and power of man, and on the working of human passions, have an inherent tendency to accomplish themselves. Now it is certain that there was no such tendency in those respecting Christ. The incarnation, miracles, resurrection, and ascension, of the Holy One of Israel were events which no human power could either hasten or delay. And his sufferings and atoning death were brought about through the instrumentality of his enemies-persons who were so far from rightly applying the prophecies, that they utterly disregarded and despised the truths which many of them contained. When the Jews refused to believe in Jesus, and rejected their only Saviour; when they led him as a lamb to the slaughter; when they pierced his hands and his feet; when they gave him vinegar mingled with gall to drink; when they mocked him as he was hanging on the cross; when they consigned his body to the rich man's tomb-they little thought that they were affording to the church in all generations, unquestionable proofs that he was the true Messiah.

Since then the prophecies respecting Christ and the events of his history precisely corres

pond, and since it is certain that the events did not produce the prophecies, nor the prophecies the events, no alternative remains but to ascribe them both to the wisdom and power of God.

SECTION III.

ON THE SUPREME BEING.

EVERY man who reasons fairly from the premises with which nature furnishes us, will confess that the contrivances with which we are surrounded prove the existence of an all-wise Contriver; that their uniform tendency shows the benevolence of God; that the moral character of his government is made known to a considerable extent, in the perceptible order of his providence; and that his holiness may be inferred from the very mature of that law which he has written on the hearts of all men. Yet it must be allowed, that it is chiefly through revelation that we are thus led to reason from creation and providence, and that merely natural religion, even with the additional light of tradition, has left the heathen world in all ages, in a state of great darkness respecting the Supreme Being.

Surely then it is a convincing evidence of the divine origin of the Holy Scriptures, that this darkness is removed wherever the sacred volume is known; and that prophets and apostles have supplied us with an account of

the Deity, so luminous and complete that philosophy itself can demand no addition to it. The several particulars of that account must be familiar to the mind of every serious Christian, and ought to be the frequent subject of his thoughts and contemplation. They may be briefly summed up as follows:

God is one. "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord."1 "There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. "2

He is the eternal one-Jehovah-a name which denotes that he exists absolutely and independently. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and which was and which is to come." 3 "Even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God."4

He created the universe-formed it out of nothing." In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." 5 66

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."6 He is therefore omnipotent. "I know that thou canst do every thing."7 "The invisible things of God from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power

and godhead."8 He is also infinitely skilful. "He hath made the earth by his power; he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his discretion." The same attributes he displays in reproduction, in supplying the wants of his creatures, and in maintaining the perpetual order of nature." He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man ;"1 "Thou sendest forth thy spirit and they are created; and thou renewest the face of the earth."2 "In him we live and move, and have our being."

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God is the sole Ruler and Disposer of the universe which he has made; and he conducts the order of all events with perfect wisdom. He is the "blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." "The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom ruleth over all.” "Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, for wisdom and might are his; and he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings and setteth up kings."6 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"7

"God is a Spirit"s "dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no