2. But the accumulation of prophetical inspiration is yet more striking: for there is not only an arrangement in the accomplishment of the prophecies of the Messiah, but a new prophetical inspiration attending that accomplishment. Not only is John Baptist the precursor of the Messiah, but, lo! an angel appears to his father Zacharias, foretels his birth of Elizabeth, who was barren as well as advanced in age, expounds the prophecy of Malachi, adds new circumstances, announces the name of the Baptist, and inflicts a punishment on the unbelieving and astonished father. This is what I term an accumulation of prophetical inspiration. In like manner, an angelic message announces to the favoured virgin, that she should be the mother of our Lord, and predicts the circumstances and manner of the miraculous nativity: a similar message relieves Joseph from his perplexity, designates the name which the divine babe was to receive, and describes before-hand his future office.

When our Lord entered upon his ministry, his doctrine and miracles, as we have already noticed, not only fulfilled the required terms of the ancient predictions, but were in themselves independent proofs of a divine mission. But what shall we say, when we further find an accumulation of prophetical inspiration, in his

teaching and predictions? He has himself an original prophetical spirit, which marks him out as commissioned of God. The Holy Ghost rests upon him without measure. He reads the hearts of men, he predicts their thoughts, he foresees their motives and conduct. His wonderful prophecy of the destruction of the Jewish metropolis, temple, and polity, we shall consider in our second part. But his life is pregnant with the word of prophecy, and that as to events not immediately connected with the predictions of the Old Testament. He declared to the weeping penitent, that wherever his gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, there what she had done should be told for a memorial of her. He foretold the resurrection of Lazarus. He predicted the circumstances attending the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, as well as those of the preparation for the last paschal festival.

Then, as to his own character as Messiah, what super-human prescience is apparent in his comments on the ancient oracles! The sermon at Nazareth, we have mentioned in another view. His exposition of the mission of John Baptist, and of the types—the brazen serpent, the manna, and the passover; his appeal to Moses; his assertion of the joy of Abraham at the prospect of his advent; his declaration con

cerning Jonah; his his explanation of the stone which the builders rejected, to say nothing of many of his parables, prove his prophetical inspiration, and his knowledge of the whole scheme and force of the predictive scriptures.

The same is apparent, from our Lord's prophecies of his own sufferings and death, which are in such detail, and with the addition of so many particulars not at all necessarily arising from the language of the Old Testament, as to show his own prophetical character. Did he not declare, that the temple after three days should be reared again? Did he not foretell the minute circumstances of his sufferings before there was the slightest probability of such events occurring; his death by crucifixion, contrary to the Jewish mode of punishment; the treachery of Judas; the very day on which he should be put to death; and the additional and new fact, not deducible from any ancient prophecy, that he should be delivered to the Gentiles? Did he not predict explicitly his resurrection on the third day, and fix the spot where he would meet his disciples? 55 Did he not, in a word, re-announce in literal and express terms, what the prophets had uttered in figurative and general language; thus furnishing the clue for unra

55 Frank's Hulsean Lect.

velling the whole mystery of prophecy concerning the Messiah as David's son, and yet, David's Lord; and reconciling all the apparently contradictory attributes of the promised Saviour, the character of his kingdom, and the purposes for which he was manifested?

Even during his most cruel sufferings at the tribunal of the Jews, and the bar of Pilate, he knew all things that should come upon him, and acted accordingly; and on the cross, that the scriptures might be fulfilled, he said, I thirst; and, when all things were accomplished, uttered those memorable words, It is finished; and then commended his soul in the words predicted, into the hands of his heavenly Father.

But it was after the resurrection, that the prophetical spirit appeared most conspicuous in our Lord. Joining the sorrowing friends as they walked to Emmaus, he urged the predictions of the ancient sacred scriptures, and enquired whether the Christ ought not to have suffered what he had endured, and to enter into his glory; and then, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Yet, more complete was his instruction to the assembled company, when he delivered his last commission. He then referred, in the first place,

to his own prophecies, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me. In these expositions, he had repeatedly shown that his sufferings and death would not annul the other prophecies accomplished in his birth, miracles, and doctrine, but establish and complete them. He then opened their understandings, that they might understand the scriptures; leading them to see one consistent and ever growing testimony to his character, office, and proceedings, as the Messiah, in the prophetical writings. He next said unto them, Thus it behoved Christthe Christ, to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem: that is, the Messiah was to rise, not in order to be exalted to an earthly throne, but to be a SaviourPrince, giving repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. This it behoved the Christ to do. The original promise of a deliverer from evil, the succeeding prediction of the patriarchal age, the typical observances of the law, the prayers, promises, and predictions, found in the latter prophets, all asserted these spiritual blessings of the Messiah's kingdom. Lastly, he added, And ye are