53o `t he Evidences cf the Truth, Vol. II. I fhould have added in the next Place, that the Prophecies and Promifes in the Old Tefiamcnt concerning the Mear, do all exatly, both as to the Time, and all other Circumftances, agree to Jef<s Chrift, who was born at Bethlehem, who gave himfelf out to be the M:has, and whom we Chriftians own to be fo. But this I referve for the next Opportunity. SERMON CLXXXI The Evidences of the Truth of the Chriífian Religion. 2, Cor. IV. 3, 4., The But if our Gofl)el be hid, it is hid to them that are loft : In whom the God Second serm. on of this World bath blinded the Minds of them which believe. not, left the m +: text' Light of the glorious Gofel of Chrif, who is the. Image of God, fhould Thine unto them. IN difcourfing on thefe Words, I have begun to Phew, how thofe who heard the Doctrine of the Gofpcl immediately from out Saviour, might be fatisfied concerning his Divine Authority, and I mentioned four Ways by which fuch Pcrfons might receive full Satisfa&ion. I. By the Agreement of the Prophecies and Promies of the Old Teftament to our Saviour. II. By the Teflimony of an immediate Voice from Heaven. III. By a Power of working Miracles. IV. By the Gift of Prophecy, prov'd and made good by the Accomplifhment of his own Prediélions. In difcourfing of the rift of thefe, I proceeded by thefe Steps. i. That the Prophecies of the Old Teltament did fie a Time for the coming of the Me/jar, and gave certain Marks and Signs whereby it might be known when the Mews would come. 2. That the Time fix'd by thofe Prophecies for the coming of the Meal is already paff. g. And confequently, that the Maas is already come. Thus far I have gone ; and now add, 4. The Prophecies and Promifes cf eau Old Teftament concerning the.Meac, do all exaélly, both as to the Time and all other Circumfiances, agree to you Chri/l that was born at Bethlehem, who gave himfelf out to be the Mjias, and whom we Chriftians own to be fo. Is The Time fpecified in thofe Prediçlions agree to lint. When he came into the World, the Government was departed from Judah; for they were then in Subje- Chon to the Romans ; and Herod their King, who was put into the Government by the Romans, was an Idumean. He came into the fecond Temple, which, not- withflanding its being re-edifyed by Herod, might juftly be accounted the fame, it not having been again defiroyed by any Enemy, but only puli'd down in Or- der to the beautifying and enlarging of it ; notwithftanding which 7aJephoes eve- ry where calls it the fame Temple; for be reckons but two Temples, the one, that which Solomon built, which continued till che Captivity of Babylon; the o- ther that which Zerotbabel built, and that he fays continued till the Romans de- ftroyed Hierufalem. And not long after our Saviour's Death, the City of Hie- rxfalem and the Santluary were utterly dcmolifhed, and the End thereofwas with a
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