DISSERTATION IV T'sk CHRIS T's Entry into JERUSALEM, Added in the Third Edition of The Ufe and Intent of Prophecy, &c, Printed feparately to compleat the forme EDITIONS. By the Right Reverend THOMAS Lord Bishop of Bangor. LONDON: Printed for J. PEMBERTON, at the Buck against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetftreet, MDCCXXXII* DISSERTATION IV. CHRIST's Entry into Jerufalemn. HE Circumftances of this Piece of Scripture History are well known, and not lefs to thofe who defpife, than to those who receive the Gofpel. My Intention is to confider the Prophecy relating to this Fact, as it stands in Zechariah, Chap. ix. ver. 9. And tho' the Subject of this Differtation has no immediate Relation to the preceding Difcourses, yet it may not perhaps be improper to fubjoin to them the Explication of a Paffage, which is fure always to find its way into every Converfation or Controverfy upon the Subject of Prophecy. There is indeed no Circumftance relating to the Meffiah that has given occafion to more profane Wit and Ridicule than this now before us. We reckon an Afs to be a contemA 2 ptible ptible Creature; and a Man, especially a Man of Character, riding upon an Ass, to be a ridiculous Figure. These are Prejudices of our Time and Country. And when they, who look no further than to the Manners and Customs which are before them, examine this Part of facred Story by the Standard of modern Prejudices, they fee, or think they fee, fomething quite inconfiftent with the Gravity and Dignity of the Person pretending to be King of the Jews, when Christ is reprefented entring in Triumph into Jerufalem mounted on an Afs. But, contemptible as an Ass, or a Man riding on an Ass, may be at present, from the beginning it was not fo. In many Countries, and particularly in Judea, Persons of the highest Distinction were usually so mounted. The Governors of Ifrael are described in the Song of Deborah as riding on white Affes (Judg. v. 10.) And the Thirty Sons of Jair, who was Judge and Prince over Ifrael Twenty-two Years, are faid to ride on Thirty Affes (Judg. x. 4.) And another Judge of Ifrael is recorded to have had Forty Sons and Thirty Nephews that rode on Seventy Afs Colts, (Judg.xii. 14.) Were it at all neceffary, it would be eafy to confirm this Obfervation with many more Autho |