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CHAPTER IV.

ON THE EVIDENCE FROM PROPHECY.

Increasing force of Evidence from Prophecy-Argument in its favour from the unbelief of the JewsGeneral expectation of the Messiah-Reverence for the Character of Abraham-Predictions of several Jewish Prophets-Pope's Messiah-Prophecy of Isaiah respecting Christ-Philip and the Ethiopian-Lord Rochester-Prophecy respecting John the Baptist illustrated by the progress of Semiramis-Prophecy of Jacob respecting Shiloh -Jewish Targums-Deposition of ArchelausProphecies of Malachi and Haggai, how fufilled.

HARRY one day observed that he thought people who lived in the time of Moses, or of our Saviour, had very much the advantage of us with regard to the evidences of religion. "There is a great difference," said he, "between hearing that miracles were wrought in a distant age and coun

try, and actually witnessing them with our own eyes."

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Unquestionably," replied Mrs. Beaufoy, "miracles are, to the witnesses, the most striking proofs that can be imagined; but God in his goodness has granted to each successive age of the world, sufficient evidence of the truths which he has been pleased to reveal. We justly account them happy who were the believing witnesses of miracles; but, in one respect, we are more highly favoured than they. They witnessed some things which to us are the subjects of a belief founded upon their testimony; we, in our turn, have the certain knowledge of other things, which were only matters of faith to them.”

"I should be very glad, indeed," said Harry, "to know that we have in any respect the advantage over persons who lived at the time when the Almighty was pleased to give such evident signs of his power; and I wish, dear mother, you

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would tell me all you can upon this subject."

"That would occupy more time than I can very well spare just at present; but I should be glad, by pointing out a few striking particulars, to give you an idea of the treasure of knowledge and instruction which is contained in the Bible. Every person who desires to make that treasure his own, must seek it for himself."

"I think I shall seek it. I am sure the Bible is more interesting to me since we have talked so much about it. And now, I hope you will tell me in what respect we have the advantage of those who lived in the age of miracles?"

"The advantage I alluded to," replied Mrs. Beaufoy, "consists in the Evidence of Prophecy, which is much clearer and stronger now, than it was in the early ages of the world. You were speaking of the certainty those persons must have felt of the truth of religion, who saw it attested

by a sensible interposition of Divine power. Now, when many things very unlikely to happen are particularly foretold, and long afterwards come to pass exactly as foretold, we cannot account for knowledge so far surpassing the powers of the human mind, without ascribing the communication of it to the Almighty."

"It seems, then," said Harry, "that prophecy is a kind of miracle-a deviation from the natural order of things, which cannot happen but by the interposition of God."

"It is so, my dear child: nay, in the series of Scripture prophecies which have already been fulfilled, and are now fulfilling in the world, we do not behold a transient miracle, but a continued evidence of the truth of our holy religion. Some prophecies still remain unaccomplished, but the exact fulfilment of others, delivered by the same authority, is to us an assurance that the Almighty, by his overruling Pro

vidence, will continue to direct the course of events, and to make the schemes of men subservient to the completion of his own purposes. Those who are interested in observing the gradual development of prophecy, may receive satisfactory proof, that the moral government of God has been exercised through the successive ages of the world. They may also derive from this source the most unquestionable evidence of the Divine origin, and consequently of the truth of Christianity.

You would be surprised, my dear Harry, if you were told how many circumstances relating to the birth, life, and death of Christ-how many particulars of his character, office, and spiritual dominion, have been the subjects of prophecy. Nor, at first, does it appear less a matter of surprise, that the favoured people who were the depositaries of these prophecies, should be the least disposed to receive that Messiah whom their ancestors had