"fuborned many falfe Prophets to declare, that aid would be given to the people from heaven. This was done to prevent them from attempting to defert, and to infpire them with confidence. In this manner impoftors, abufing the facred name of God, deluded the unhappy multitude; who, like infatuated men who have neither eyes to fee, nor reason to judge, regarded neither the infallible denunciations pronounced by the antient Prophets, nor the clear prodigies that indicated the approaching defolation." But to guard the Christians against the expectation of his personal appearance at that time, our Lord exprefsly declares, that, as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall the coming of the Son of man be." So sudden and so univerfal was to be the display of his power at this momentous period, when the fceptre was to be removed from Judah," and the whole world called to "worship at the throne of God and of his Chrift."

As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one ftone upon another that shall not be thrown doren.

We

*

We must recollect that our Lord thus decifively pronounced: the deftruction of the Temple, in a time of profound tranquillity, when this fpacious, ftrong, and magnificent edifice was held in univerfal honour, and fupported not more by the enthusiastic attachment of the Jews, than the general veneration of the Gentiles. Titus, the Roman General, declared, at a council of war, his refolution to preferve the Temple, and in his fpeech to the Jews he expreffed the fame determination. But the Almighty had decreed its fall *.-—And now, fays Jofephus, the fatal day approached in the revolution of ages, the

The Temple was four furlongs in circuit, or a fquare of one furlong on each fide. In its front were large and lofty galleries, fupported by rows of maffy pillars. It was a hundred cubits in height. The pillars were one hundred and fixty-two in number, each twenty-feven feet high, and in thickness as much as three men could embrace. The ones made ufe of for this building were twenty-five cubits long, eight in height, and twelve in width. Their great dimenfions and folidity make the completion of the Prophecy the more extraordinary Calmet, vol. iii. p. 16. ̧

Two fummers were employed by the Romans in reducing the remoter cities of Judea. Hoftilities were fufpended during the third year, by commotions at Rome. Jerufalem was taken after a close siege of five months. Bell. Jud. lib. vi. c. 4.

1

tenth.

tenth day of Auguft, emphatically called the

day of vengeance," in which the first Temple had been deftroyed by the King of Babylon. A Roman foldier, without receiving any orders-nay, as it appears, contrary to orders threw a flaming brand into one of the windows of the Temple, which fet the buildings on fire. With violent outcries the Jews rufhed in to extinguish the flames; and spared no effort, not even the risk of life itself, to fave that facred edifice on which they vainly rested their fecurity. Titus, informed of what had happened, hastened to the fpot, with his officers and his attendant legions. But in vain he waved his hand, in vain he raifed his voice, commanding his foldiers to extinguifh the fire; fo great was the clamour and tumult, that no attention was paid even to him. Rage and rancour against the Jews hurried on the exafperated Romans with irrefiftible fury-many were thrown down in the avenues of the Temple-many fell among the burning and smoking ruins of the gates and galleries, and were trodden upon by thofe who followed them, eager for plunder and for flaughter

Jofephus fays, he declared himfelf actuated by a Di

vine impulse.

num

numbers of the dead and dying Jews were heaped about the altar, which now afforded no protection, and ftreams of human blood poured through the outer court. A mixed multitude of nearly 6000 perfons, who had fled at the command of an impoftor to a gallery yet standing without the Temple, perished at once by the relentless barbarity of the foldiery, who fet it on fire, and suffered none to escape.

When Titus faw it impoffible to enforce the obedience of his troops, he proceeded to the inner Temple. Struck with the grandeur of the architecture, and the magnificence of the decorations, which furpaffed even its fame; and obferving that the fire had not yet caught the fanctuary, he renewed with redoubled energy his attempts to stop the flames. But neither menaces nor intreaties could avail. While he was intent upon the means of its preservation, fire was actually applied to the door-pofts of the holy place by one of his foldiers, and the conflagration foon: became general.-Titus was obliged to retire, and no one remained to check the horrid carwhich enfued.-Neither the old or the young-neither the priests or common people-neither women or children were fpared.

nage

from

from the avenging fword; and those who furrendered fhared the fame fate with those who refifted. The crackling noife of the devouring flame, which now completely enveloped the Temple, vaft as was its fize, mingled with the fhrieks of despair, the groans of the dying, and the clash of arms; and from the extent of the buildings, the lofty hill on which it stood appeared to a dif tant spectator, as itself burning from its foundations in one terrific blaze.

Thus according to the "fure word of Prophecy," was this Temple completely deftroyed, though it was equally the wifh and the endeavour of the conqueror, and the conquered, to preserve it. The extreme rigour of the Roman difcipline, and the prompt obedience of the legions to the voice of their commander, were in this inftance violated; and an enthusiastic rage, and an ungovernable fury hurried them to the work of deftruction: and thus, human agents became the inftruments of Divine vengeance in opposition to their own determinations.

Titus, ftill anxious to fave the city, not yet involved in the conflagration, again offered the wretched inhabitants their lives, upon condi

VOL. I.