fomething more noble and refined, and to erect a ftill more fpiritual empire, better adapted to the nature of man, and the general circumstances of the world, and more agreeable to the plans of Providence. All this seemed to require a more than ordinary apparatus. These revolutions in the lower world, were ushered in by figns and tokens in the upper. The fun, the moon and ftars are reprefented as interfering, amidst the deep diftrefs of nations upon earth, whilft the waters of the fea are agitated, and the waves and winds rage tumul tuously, and all nature appears as it were in commotion. Eclipfes, comets, furprising prodigies and meteors in the air, which actually preceded the ruin of Jerufalem, the many awful circumstances that attended it, and the very important confequences which enfued, amply justify fuch manner of fpeaking as our Saviour makes ufe of. High and awakening as the prophetic defcription was, it did not rife above the dreadful events which actually took place. Chrift foretold the appearance of many falfe prophets, who pretending to be the Meffiah would do incredible mifchief. However pacific the prefent difpofition of fovereign' ftates and princes might then be, and however calm and fettled the public tranquility at that juncture was, though the Jewish nation was unembroiled in any wars with their neighbours, or disputes with the Romans, yet he plainly predicted that great commotions and difturbances fhould foon fpring up, that foreign wars and inteftine broils would quickly commence, that nation fhould rise up against nation, kingdom againft kingdom, and that a man's enemies fhould be thofe of his own house: That fevere famines and peftilences fhould rage, and fweep away vaft multitudes of people: That dreadful dreadful earthquakes, and trouble and anguish of various kinds, fhould increase the general calamity: That fearful fights and figns from heaven fhould alarm and terrify an astonished world: That armed hofts fhould encompass Jerufalem, caft a trench about it, hem in the inhabitants on every fide, cover them at last with defolation, and raze their glorious Temple to the ground, fo that not one stone should be left upon another, of that most magnificent fabrick. All this was literally fulfilled, as Jofephus the Jewish hiftorian, one of their own commanders, and an eye-witness, relates. Falfe prophets actually arofe, who feduced and ruined many credulous people. The Romans were involved in wars with the Syrians, Samaritans, and other neighbouring nations, before they brought the flames of war into Judea. The Jews divided among themselves, and fplit into numerous and violent parties, fo that by inteftine faction and fedition, they fpilt more blood, and spread more dreadful havock, than what their very enemies did. There were also terrible convulfions of the earth in Apamea, Laodicea, and Campania *. A violent famine raged in the reign of Claudius which is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles +; and the fame is likewife recorded in profane hiftory. Amazing omens and prodigies appeared in the fkies, contending armies, chariots and horfes of fire: And a blazing star, in the form of a sword, hung over the city of Jerufalem for a whole year together before it was deftroyed. This is attefted by Jofephus | the Jewish, and Tacitus **, a Roman hiftorian. D * Tacit. Annal. lib. 12. fect. 43. 58. + Acts xi. 28. At Sueton. Claud. cap. 28.-Euseb. Hift. Ecclef. lib. 2. cap. 8. Jofeph. Bell. Judaic. lib. 6. cap. 5. ** Tacit. Hift. lib. 5. fect. 13. At length the fatal period arrived: The flames of war were kindled in the 12th year of Nero's reign, and the 66th of the Christian æra, by an infurrection of the Jews against the Romans, exasperated by the cruelty of Geffius Florus their Governor, and of the Syrians who dwelt at Cæfaria, whom he countenanced. It fpread into Egypt and the east, and many Jews were maffacred not only in Judea, but also at Alexandria and Antioch. When Nero was informed of the revolt, he fent Vefpafian with troops to quell the rebellion. In two campaigns he took all the cities of Galilee, and prepared to befiege Jerufalem in form. At this crifis the Emperor died. Vefpafian being called to fucceed him, ordered his fon Titus to profecute the war. This he accordingly did with confummate bravery and refolution. He laid fiege to Jerufalem, a city of large extent, and very populous of itself, and where incredible numbers of people were then affembled from all quarters, on account of the approaching Paffover. The place was ftrongly fortified, and well provided with ftores of all kinds. The inhabitants, tho' miferably divided among themselves, yet proved very refolute against the common enemy, and obftinately refused all proposals of peace which Titus made them. He at laft carried the place by affault, after a fiege of fix months. A powerful enemy rufhed upon them from without, in an irrefiftible manner; peftilence, fire and famine raged within the city, violent factions and jealoufies tore the people to pieces, fo that blood and flaughter, cruelty and mifery, rioted in every quarter. The Temple itself was fet on fire, tho' the ftrictest orders were given to preserve it, and, with the city of Jerufalem, was razed to the very foundations, and laid in ruins. A few towers only were left as mournful monuments of former grandeur. grandeur. Authentic hiftory informs us, that Turnus Rufus plowed up the ground on which the temple stood; and, notwithstanding the moft zealous efforts, it has never been rebuilt. A Turkish mofque at this day pollutes the spot on which the facred Temple of Jerufalem once stood. Juft now, and for ages paft, the holy land has been poffeffed by Mahometan and Antichriftian powers. No human ftrength or device could poffibly fruftrate the prediction of Chrift, or preferve from deftruction. even the fanctuary itself, the pride and glory of the Jewish nation. The holy Temple of Jerufalem was one of the most famous and fuperb ftructures in the world. It was built mostly of marble, and that fo white, as to appear at a distance like a mountain of fnow... Some of the ftones were of an incredible size, and faid by Jofephus to be forty-five cubits long, five in depth, and fix broad. Its gates and porticos were most magnificent, the whole fabrick was of exquifite workmanship, curiously carved, richly gilt within and without, furnished with innumerable veffels of gold and filver, and adorned with many coftly gifts hung around it. Its elevated fituation upon mount Moriah, almost in the center of the city, and over-looking fpacious and fertile plains, contributed to render it a very pompous and fplendid fpectacle. On account of its immenfe opulence, as well as grandeur, it was juftly celebrated as one of the wonders of the world, and is taken notice of even by profane authors *. We obferve the Disciples fenfibly ftruck with the fight of this glorious edifice, and with a kind of rapture pointing it out to our Saviour †. "Mafter, fay they, "See what manner of ftones and buildings are "here!" * Tacit. lib. 5. fect. 8. Jofephus is full of it. Matth. xxiv. 1. Mark xiii. 1. "here!" Neither was it an unimportant object. Noble and stately buildings, especially those that are confecrated for the facred folemnities of religion, naturally excite pleasure and admiration. Nor perhaps can opulent cities or countries better beftow part of their wealth, than in erecting and endowing Christian churches, if not to all that pitch of grandeur and decoration, which might distract the mind or occafion fuperftition, yet with that decency, elegance and liberality, which may preferve religion from contempt, give encouragement to its Ministers, and prevent offence to any worshipper. With refpect to the number of Jews destroyed at this periodt, Jofephus reckons that eleven hundred thousand were flain at the fiege of Jerufalem, about two hundred thousand more in different places during the war, and that one hundred thousand were made prifoners. The most diftinguished of these were referved to grace the triumph of Titus. Some of them were expofed to wild beafts on the public theatres; others were compelled to fight as gladiators against one another, whilst many fled for refuge to foreign countries. One fpecies of mifery to which great multitudes were fubjected, by a fingular judgment of heaven, is remarkable. Not forty years before, the unbe-. lieving Jews cried out with a barbarous voice against the Son of God, "Crucify him, crucify "him." And now they themselves felt the pains of crucifixion, which recoiled upon them with a tenfold vengeance. For the dreadful miseries which the Jews underwent during the fiege, forced great numbers of them to steal out by night into the Roman camp. But Titus, tho' efteemed a good natured Prince, yet with a view to reduce the city to fubmiffion Jofeph. lib. 2. cap. 14. 18, &c. |