relating to the birth and coming of the Messiah, an event of the utmost importance to that whole nation; the other addressed to the king in particular, and relating to the overthrow of the two armies, which then threatened him, and which was to take place in a few years.

Isaiah was introduced to the king and the assembly of Jerusalem, waiting with great expectations for a message from God. This surely was a fit opportunity to announce to this nation the future coming of the promised Messiah, and describes him by a circumstance in which he was distinguished from the whole race of mankind, "his being born of a virgin." This, therefore, was the first and great prophecy. But as the king Ahaz was then under apprehension from his combined enemies, who threatened him with immediate destruction, the prophet proceeds, before he leaves off speaking, to satisfy him with respect to them; and that the king might take no concern, and set himself at ease with respect to the danger which he dreaded, he assures him that in a very few years -before the child that stood near him came to years of discretion, he should get rid of them both.

There are two circumstances which confirm this interpretation, and so strong, that I cannot forbear mentioning them. Isaiah, as I told you, was com→ manded to take with him upon this message his young son Shear-jashub. Now this must have been for some purpose; yet unless he was the child meant as coming to man's estate, as we have explained it, it is im

possible to say what business he had there, or for what purpose he was commanded to be taken. This is one most striking circumstance: another is this. You read in the next chapter that Isaiah had a son born, and it was solemnly recorded, that before this son could speak, this same event, namely, the destruction of the two kingdoms, should take place. Now the second son coming to his speech, and the first to years of discretion, might very naturally be about the same time; and Isaiah is made to cry out, “behold, I and my children are for signs and for wonders in Israel;" "my children," that is, not only the second child Maher-shalal-hash-baz in the 8th chapter, but his former son Shear-jashub in the prophecy we have been explaining.

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If you admit the explanation which thus goes upon so many circumstances of probability, the plain and simple fact is established, that six hundred years before the birth of Christ, it was foretold that a divine person, Immanuel, God with us, should be born, contrary to the course of nature, of a pure virgin. Is not this what we are told of Christ? is it believed is it even seriously professed indeed, of other in the whole world? Let no one say person that he is not qualified to comprehend or judge of the proofs of this. Thanks be to God, who hath given us the sure word of prophecy, which seems to require only a little attention to apprehend it; who hath vouchsafed us such means of conviction, as only ignorance could miss, or what is worse, obstinacy could withstand.

XXXII.

PROPHECIES.

(PART II.)

ACTS XXVIII. 23.

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God; persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

MANY prophecies of the Old Testament which admit not of so clear, although of a probable, application. to the coming of Christ, I take no notice of, notwithstanding it should be observed that these, from the number of them, and taken altogether, constitute a very considerable proof of the truth of our religion: for throughout so large a volume as that of the Old Testament, there might occur here and there an expression which bore by accident an allusion to this. great event, or was capable of some figurative application to it; yet that many of them should point the same way, that so great a number should admit of any application at all, can hardly be accounted for without design.

There are also other prophecies which, was I to. read them to you, would not appear to you to have that relation to Christ which there is reason to believe they have, and that for want of understanding the style and language of the ancient prophets, which is very singular; and this is a knowledge not to be expected from the generality of an audience, nor to be taught in the compass of a sermon. Confining myself, therefore, as I proposed, to those prophecies which more apparently respect the coming of Christ, the first which I would offer to your consideration is that noted one of the prophet Micah, to be found in the 5th chapter and 2d verse of this book: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." "Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah:"-The kingdom of Judah was divided into districts, which were called thousands, as certain districts are now-a-days with us called hundreds. Bethlehem was the capital town of one of these districts, though small and inconsiderable, compared with many other capital towns. This is what the prophet means by the expression "though thou be little among the thousands of Judah." These districts were likewise sometimes called principalities; on which account Saint Matthew quotes it thus: Though thou be little among the princes, or principalities, of Judah," without any alteration in the

verses from the words as they are read in the book of Micah itself. But the main thing to be observed is the description that is given of this extraordinary person, and the place he was to come out of-it was he that was to be ruler in Israel. Our Saviour assumed to himself the title and character of king of the Jews; that is, he whom his Father had appointed to give new laws to that nation, and to whose authority many of the Jews did, and all ought to have submitted themselves, "whose goings forth have been of old, and from everlasting." This is a most remarkable description. Who remembers not what is said of Christ, that "he was in the beginning;" that "before Abraham was, he is; that he came forth from the Father; that he was before all things, the first-born of every creature?" If what is related of Christ be true, he existed with his Father before the foundations of the world: so that in the strictest sense, it might be said that his goings forth were of old, and from everlasting: thus much is certainly true; that Christ laid claim to this character, asserted that he had his existence with God before the creation ; nor is there any reason to suppose that he made this claim or assertion in order to bring himself within the scope and description of this prophecy--for this prophecy is never quoted by him or any of his disciples with that view, or for that purpose. There never appeared any other person, either in Bethlehem or where else, of whom the same things can be said, even if you allow them every thing to which they

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