We  must  not  forget  to  mention  the  accomplishment  of  several  prophecies,  recorded  in  the  New
Testament,  as  a  further  confirmation,  given  by  God  to  the  Gospel.
The  most  eminent  and  signal  instance  under  this  head,  is  that  of  our  Lord's  prediction  con-
cerning tlie  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  as  rscorded  by  St.  Matthew,  in  his  twenty-fourth  chapter.    The


AN  INTRODUCTORY  DIS3EBTATION.  XXV

tragical  history  of  H  is  most  circumstanfwlly  described  by  Josephu?,  the  historian,  who  was  an  eye-
witness of  it;  Hijii  the  description  wliirh  iie  has  given  of  this  sad  cahiinity  so  exactly  corresponds
with  the  prophecy,  that  one  would  huve  thought,  had  we  not  known  the  contrary,  that  it  had  been
written  by  a  Christian  on  |)urpose  to  illustrate  it.  And  one  can  never  enough  admire  the  series  t)f
amazing  providence,  l)y  which  die  author  was  preseived  from  most  imminent  danger,  that  he  might
leave  us  that  invaluable  treasure  whicli  his  writings  contain.
We  have  no  need  of  further  evidence  than  we  fijid  in  Josephus,  of  the  exact  accomplishment  of
what  was  prophesied  concerning  the  desuuction  of  Jerusalem.  But  our  Lord  had  also  foretold
the  long-continued  desolatiem  of  the  temple.  And  we  cannot  forbear  mentioning  the  awful  sanction
which  was  given  to  that  part  of  the  prediction.  For  it  is  well  known,  that  a  heathen  historian
has  assured  us,  that  when  Julian  the  apostate,  in  deliberate  contempt  of  that  prediction,  so-
lemnly and  resolutely  undertook  to  rebuild  it,  his  impious  design  was  frustrated  miraculously,
again  and  again ;  the  workmen  consumed  by  globes  of  fire,  which  broke  out  from  the  founda-
tions.
