pect the incarnation of Vishnu, with the same ardour as the Jews looked forward to the appearance of the Messiah *. The veneration entertained for the character of Abraham was not confined to the East. The author of the book of Maccabees informs us, and the fact is also noticed by Josephus, that the Lacedæmonians claimed kindred with the Jews, as being, like them, descended from Abrahamt. We need not, therefore, be surprised at finding among the Grecian philosophers, some traces of this general expectation. Plato represents Socrates as saying: 'We must wait then, till one shall teach us our duty to the gods and to men.' Alcibiades asks: When, Socrates, will that time come, and who will be that teacher? Most happy should I be to see this man, whosoever he is.' The sage replies: 'He is one who is concerned for Smith's Scrip. Test. vol. i. p. 162, &c. † 1 Maccab. xii. 21, and Joseph. Ant. b. xii. c. 4. M thee: he feels for thee an admirable regard.' You have read a good deal about Socrates, Harry; and you know the just ideas he entertained of the power and wisdom of God. These ideas might have been acquired by a careful observation of the works of nature, but I think we cannot account for the expressions I have just repeated, without supposing that, at least, some faint remembrance of the early tradition, or some distant report of later revelations to the Hebrews, had given this direction to the thoughts of the philosopher." "These facts are very curious," said Harry; "but did the Romans know nothing of such a tradition?" "Their historians, Tacitus and Suetonius, speak of a rumour extensively prevailing, and supported by the uniform voice of antiquity, that some one from Judæa should obtain the empire of the world. * Smith, ibid. p. 163, &c. It was so generally believed that this prediction was on the point of being fulfilled, that the Roman historians imagined it referred to Vespasian, who was appointed to succeed to the empire while he was in Judæa*. But the Jews, who were better informed by the repeated communications of prophecy, understood the promised deliverer to be the Messiah; and having reasons of their own for expecting his appearance just at that time, we find that on the preaching of John the Baptist, all men mused in their hearts, whether he were the Christ or not.” "I remember it," said Harry, "and John told them that Christ was coming: but what was the particular reason which the Jews had for expecting him at that time?" "The prophet Daniel had predicted that the Messiah would come within five * Lardner, Test. Anc. Hea. c. v. & viii. hundred years from the publication of a of them, Another Jer. xxiii. 5. || Matt. ii. 4, 5, 6. F PREDICTIONS CONCERNING CHRIST. 125 proof occurs in the seventh chapter of St. John, where the people are represented as being so much affected by the miracles and discourses of our Lord, that many of them were ready to acknowledge him as the Messiah; but some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the Scripture said that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was ? Thus you see, my dear Harry, the question between Jews and Christians is reduced to this: Whether Jesus of Nazareth answers to the description given of the Messiah by the Jewish prophets? Now you have been so long in the habit of reading the New Testament, that you must know enough of the history of our Lord, as it is there recorded, to judge of this matter for yourself." "I think there would not be much difficulty in it, mamma, so far as the Testament is concerned; but I am not well ac |