Serra. 'CLXXXV. of the Ilan 'Religion. 551 Titus carne rhsther, the People petitioned him earneftly that they might ex- pel the Jews, but he told them that was unreafonable, for now their Coun- try was laid wafcc, there was no place for them ro go to. Thus we fee how for the Bled fike rhofe days were fhortned. 2. -Another Circumftance which was to follow the Defru&ion of ferelfai lent, was, The ari¡tng of falfe Chrifls, and falfe Prophets, ver. 2 j, 24. sod then, if any Man /hall las ;0 you, Lo, here is Chrïfl, or, lo, he is there! believe him not. For fafe Clr ills, andfall P.tophers fball rife, andfall thew Signs and Wonders. Such was 7onathan, who prefauly after the Deftrultion of yerufalem, as 7ofephus tells us, drewmany inro the Wilderuefs of Cyrene, pretending that he would (hew Signs and Wonders to them ; therefore our Saviour adds, ver. z5i z6. Behold 1 have told you before. Wherefore ifthey /Ball fay unto you. Behold, he is in the defect. Go not forth. There appeared in Eyypt, Crete, and Cyprus, feveral other Impoftors, who gave 'out them. felves to be Chrifls and falfe Prophets, who applyed the Prophecies of the Old Teftament ro thefe counterfeit A4eas's ; as they, did that of Balasm concerning a Star coming out of Jacob, to Barchochelas, becaufe his name fig- nificd the Son of a Star. And this was a notorious Impoftor in the times of Adrian the Emperor, not many Years after the Deftruftion of yerufalerim, about 20 (as I remember) Bufebius counts ; he had a great multitude followed him, which put to Death many Chriftians, becaufe they would not renounce Chrift, and joyn with them againft the Romans, and that was the caufe of the Death of Tome hundred thoufands of them. 3. Another Subfequent Circumflance, was the Yews being led into Capri.; vity, and difpers'd into all Nations. This St. Luke adds, Luke 21. 24. They flail be led away captive into all Nations. I need not prove this out of Hifto- ry, we fee the effe& of it to this day. 4. That they fhould continue in this Captivity and difpers'd.Stare, and their City remain in the Power of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gen: tiles were ful(ll'd. So alío Sr Luke tells us, v. z4. They /hall he led away captive into a/1 Nations, and Jerufalem flail be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles Se fulfilled ; that is, till the Gofpel have had its courfe among the Nations. And thus it is /till with them at this day 5 yerufaiem is in the hands of other Nations, and the Captivity of the Yews continues 5 and when it fhall end, God alone knows. Having thus explain'd the particularsof our Saviour's PrediEtion, concern- ing the Deftruftion of jerufalem, I Ihould in the next place proceed to make borne Refle&ions upon this Predi&ion, and its punctual Accomplifhment 5 but this I referve for the following Difcourfe. 1 1 CCcc SER
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