apart to preserve a knowledge of the one God in the world. The Egyptians worshipped the stars as emblems of gods, and Ra, the sun, and Isis, the moon; but this the Israelites were forbidden under penalty of death.* The Egyptians, like others, bowed before statues; but the Israelites were to “make no image.” Some of the Egyptians marked their bodies in honour of their gods; the Israelites must not cut or mark their flesh. The Egyptians buried food in the tombs with the bodies of their friends; but the Israelites were forbidden to set apart food for the dead.

Many rites and usages, not essentially wrong, were borrowed by the Israelites, and remain perpetual attestations of the Scriptural history.

This subject is far from being exhausted. We have simply selected some of the most salient points as specimens of the many. It is evidently proof of insanity to deny the credibility of a history like that contained in the Old Testament, authenticated by existing institutions, by languages, usages, ceremonies, monuments, paintings, other histories, and by the immovable frame-work of nature itself.

a

CHAPTER IX.

EARLY SCRIPTURE PROPHECIES, AND THEIR

FULFILMENT.

It is evidently beyond the power of man to predict, with certainty, any future events, except those growing out of the regular course of nature. It would be safe to foretell that ten years hence the sun will rise at a certain hour in the morning, and the moon be eclipsed at a certain time, on a specified evening. Such predictions require no supernatural skill or knowledge. But the causes which affect human and national character are so various and complicated, that the wisest are most willing to acknowledge that their predictions are only conjecture; and that clearly to foresee any contingent future event transcends the power of man.

Now the Bible professes to present a great number of distinct predictions, some of which have already been verified, and others of which it maintains will be fulfilled; and this is appealed to as strong and satisfactory evidence of the divine origin of the book.

Before examining any specific instances, it is well to inquire when first, and how frequently, and for what purpose, the prophetic power has been given to man. Even before the deluge Noah and Enoch prophesied. The very act of building an ark was prophetic, and the reason assigned for the act must have been prophecy. Of the prophesying of Enoch we have no account in the Old Testament, but the apostle Jude distinctly asserts the fact.

After the deluge, previous to the call of Abraham, Noah prophesied, in the memorable blessings pronounced upon Japheth and Shem, and in the curse pronounced upon Ham through his son Canaan.* Subsequently Abraham was styled a prophet,t probably because he made known the promises given to him by the Almighty. Isaac and Jacob also prophesied, and Moses and Joshua, and many others in Israel and Judah, till the times of Malachi, whose predictions close the Old Testament. The New Testament also contains many distinct predictions, some preceding the birth of Christ, many uttered by him and his disciples. Prophecy, indeed, may be regarded as the most valuable and important part of the Old Testament, while in # Gen. ix, 26, 27.

† Gen. xx, 7.

the New Testament it occupies a subordinate position.

Now if, when all men enjoyed the primitive religion, previous to the call of Abraham, God had commissioned some to predict the future, it was perfectly natural for pretended prophets to arise among the heathen nations, after they had gradually lapsed from the true religion into idolatry. A perfect parallel to this is seen in the pretended miracles and prophecies of the Papal Church. From this fact some have endeavoured to throw discredit on Scripture prophecy, which effort betrays lamentable ignorance or wickedness. What good thing has not been imitated ? Is it wise to refuse to take any money because spurious coin is in circulation? Nay, does not the counterfeit show that there must be some genuine ?

The wondrous gift of prophecy bestowed upon the early chosen people of God, the children of Abraham, had been heard of by surrounding nations. Cicero commences his volume, entitled De Divinatione, with a statement of this fact:

“ It is an ancient opinion, descended indeed from the heroic ages, and strengthened by the unanimous belief of the Roman people, and of

all nations, that there is exercised among men a kind of communion with God; that is, a presentiment or a knowledge of future things. A glorious thing indeed, and healthful, if it is a fact, and elevating our mortal nature nearest to the Deity. Principally the Assyrians, on account of the extended plains which they inhabit, allowing the heavens to be presented on every side, have observed the passages and motions of the stars, and have recorded what was thus signified to every man.”

The Jews were known to the Romans as Assyrians; and it is likely that the fact of divine inspiration is dimly represented in the above opinion.

With reference to ancient prophets, we are by no means certain that there were not some, genuinely inspired, whose predictions are not recorded in the Bible, and who dwelt out of Judea. Job was not an Israelite; Balaam was certainly a prophet; and Abimelech and Nebuchadnezzar were favoured with divine communications.

The general expectation of a great Deliverer, about the time of Christ's advent, we think cannot rationally be accounted for, but as proceeding from actual, true prophecies, received either