employed by the facred writers appear fometimes to partake of a coarse and indelicate caft, it must be recollected, that the Eastern manners and languages required the most forcible reprefentations; and that the masculine and indignant spirit of the Prophets led them to adopt the most energetic and defcriptive expreffions. No ftyle is perhaps fo -highly figurative as that of the Prophets. Every object of nature and of art, which could furnish allufions, is explored with induftry; every scene of creation, and every page of fcience, feems to have unfolded its rich varieties to the facred writers, who, in the spirit of Eastern poetry, delight in every kind of metaphorical embellishment. Thus, by way of illuftration, it is obvious to remark, that earthly dignities and powers are fymbolized by the celestial bodies; the effects of moral evil are fhown under the ftorms and convulfions of nature; the pollutions of fin are reprefented by external impurities; and the beneficial influence of righteousness is depicted by the ferenity and confidence of peaceful life. This allegorical language being founded in ideas univerfally prevalent, and adhered to with invariable relation and regular analogy, has furnished great ornament and elegance to the facred writings. Some times, however, the infpired penmen drew their allufions from local and temporary fources of metaphor; from the peculiar fcenery of their country; from the idolatries of heathen nations; from their own hiftory and circumstances; from the fervice of their temple, and the ceremonies of their religion; from manners that have faded, and customs that have elapfed. Hence many appropriate beauties have vanished. Many defcriptions and many representations, that must have had a folemn importance among the Jews, are now confidered, from a change of circumstances, in a degraded point of view. Hence, likewife, here and there a fhade of obfcurity. In general, however, the language of Scripture, though highly fublime and beautiful, is eafy and intelligible to all capacities." The courfe of Prophecy was guided by the light of previous revelation, and thus a regular connexion was preserved, which was itself a testimony to its truth. The Prophecies taken together form a connected feries of the divine difpenfations from nearly the beginning of the world to the end of time. Taken feparately, they prefent detached fcenes of * Gray, p. 351. what what has been tranfacted, is now II ANIA and will hereafter take place upon the great theatre of the world, as far as they relate to the concerns of true religion. Many of these predictions are delivered with the greatest degree of accuracy, precision, and minutenefs; and all of them refpect one particular train of events, either directly or ultimately-many of them relate to one particular perfon, and to one only-and one particular period of time, and one only; but more contain a first and fecondary reference to particular objects of a similar kind, at different points of time, which, far from rendering them of vague and uncertain fignification, more fully establishes their title to our faith and admiration. Founded upon the basis of eternal truth, no human device can undermine, no human effort can overturn them. The declarations of Prophecy, confidered with respect to their design, as well as their extent, are the most fublime that can be imagined→ the most gracious for the Supreme Being to impart, and most beneficial for man to receive. The feed of the woman is ordained to bruise the serpent's head, as foon as man had fallen from his original state of innocence and happiness.-Preparations are made for the Redeemer, and a more diftinct profpect is - given of his perfon, office, and dignity, as the fulness of time for his appearance ap proaches; and the progrefs of his Religion-the fufferings and triumphs of his Church and his conqueft over Satan, and his attendants, fin and death, gradually extend to the confines of the world, and "finish the mystery of God."-Such is the outline of the wonderful scheme of Prophecy ! which is harmonious and complete in all its parts, and may be traced through almost every page of the Old and New Teftaments. It is fcarcely poffible to contemplate Prophecy as a regular fyftem, without perceiving its direct tendency to prove the conftant overruling providence of God, and the truth and certainty of divine Revelation, which must be confidered as its moft important use.The evidence arifing from Prophecy is a growing evidence.-The divine defign, uniformly pursued through a series of fucceffive generations, opens with a greater degree of clearnefs, in proportion to the lapse of time and the number of events.-An increase of age is an addition to its ftrength; and the nearer we approach the point, towards which the difpenfations of God unvaryingly tend, the more clearly shall we difcern the wonderful regularity, regularity, confiftency, and beauty of this ftupendous plan for univerfal good.-Of the great ufe of Prophecies which have been fulfilled, as a direct and ftrong argument to convert unbelievers to Chriftianity, and to establifh Chriftians in the Faith, we have the most ample proofs. Our Lord himself made very frequent appeals to Prophecy, as evidence of his divine miffion; he referred the Jews to their own Scriptures, as most fully and clearly bearing witnefs of himself. Upon them he grounded the neceffity of his fufferings;-upon them he fettled the faith of the Disciples at Emmaus, and of the Apostles at Jerufalem. The fame fource fupplied the eloquence of St. Peter and St. Paul, and the means with which Apollos "mightily convinced the Jews." This was a powerful instrument of perfuafion in the fucceeding ages of the Church, when used by the primitive apologists. Upon this topic were employed the zeal and diligence, not only of Justin Martyr, but Tertullian, Cyprian, and Auguftine. It would never have been fo frequently employed, if it had not been well adapted to the defired end: and that it did most completely answer this end, by the conversion of unbelievers, is evident from the accounts VOL. I. |