of their Nation have been scattered abroad through the Earth unto this Day.`

43 Q: What general Remark may be drawn from the whole Hiftory of the Jews fince their Return from the Captivity of Babylon? A. That the Affairs of their Church and of their State have been for the most part so unhappy, they have been fo much difquieted by the Invafions and Perfecutions of the Kings of the Earth, fo wretchedly corrupted with the Introduction of human Traditions, Pharifaical Superftitions and Heathenish Rites among them, and fo frequently and grievously oppreffed by their own Priefts and Princes, as well as Strangers, that they never did enjoy fo peaceful, fo pious, and fo flourishing a State, as to give a full Accomplishment of all those glorious Prophecies which relate to their Happiness after their Return from Captivity.

44 Q. What follows from this Remark? A. That there must be in the Decrees and Providence of God a further Referve of Peace, Holiness, and Happiness for the Seed of Ifrael, which fhall be conferred upon them in the latter Days; and therefore we cannot but expect a more large and general Converfion of the Jews to the Faith of Jefus the true Meffiah, than hath ever yet appeared, with greater Bleffings on that People, who were once fo dear to God, and are beloved for their Fathers fakes. St. Paul, in his eleventh Chapter to the Romans, abundantly confirms what the Prophets encourage us to hope for.

СНАР.

CHAP. XX.

Of the Prophecies which relate to JESUS CHRIST our Saviour, and their Accomplishment; or, a Prophetical Connexion between the Old and New Tefta-

ment.

A

INTRODUCTION.

SI have given an Hiftorical Continuation of the Affairs of the Jews from the Time of Nehemiah, where the Old Testament ends, to the Times of Jefus Christ our Lord; fo -I have here inferted a Chapter of fome of the plaineft Predictions or Prophecies which are found in the Old Teftament that relate to the Perfon, Offices and Glories of our Lord Jefus Chrift our Saviour, and are fulfilled in the Gofpel: And it may be called, A Prophetical Connexion between the Old Teftament and the New.

And because I would not give Offence, by introducing fuch Prophecies as are either much doubted or denied by any Chriftians; therefore I fhall fcarce mention any but what fome of the Writers of the New Teftament either directly cite, or to which they have a plain Reference in fome of their Expreffions.

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1 Q. Since the great Subject of the New Teftament is our Lord Jefus Chrift and his Gospel, Tell me now what are the chief Difcoveries or RepreJentations made of him in the Old Teftament? A. Befides the Types or Emblems of Christ and his Gospel, which are found in the Jewish Worship, there are also feverál plain Expreffions in the Books of the Old Teftament, which are Predictions or Prophecies concerning him long before he came into the World. See fome of the Types in Ch. V. Q. 116.

2Q What is the firft and earliest Prophecy of Chrift? A. Gen, iii. 15. Where God faid to the first Woman, i. e. to Eve, that her Seed Should bruife the Head of the Serpent.

3 Q. Wherein is this Prophecy fulfilled? A. Gal. iv. 4. God fent forth his Son made of a Woman. 1 John iii. 8. The Son of God was manifefted that he might deftroy the Works of the Devil, i. e, he fhould deftroy the mifchievous Defigns and Deeds of the Devil who lay hid in the Serpent, when he tempted Adam and Eve to fin: and this in the Language of Prophecy is called Bruifing the Serpent's Head,

4Q. What is the next plain Prophecy of Chrift? A. Gen. xviii. 18. and xxii. 18. Where God tells Abraham, that in him and in his Seed fhall all the Nations of the Earth be bleffed.

5Q. How does this appear to have a Reference to Chrift? A. Gal. iii. 8. The Scripture preached the Gofpel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all Nations be bleffed. v. 16. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the Promifes made: be faith, To thy Seed, which is Chrift; who was to be derived in a long Course of Generations from Abraham,

and

and therefore Chrift may be called the Son of Abraham, Matth. i, 1.

6 Q. To whom was this Promife given befides Abraham? A. It was given to Ifaac the Son of Abraham, Gen. xxvi. 4. and to Jacob his Grandfon, Gen. xxviii. 14. In thee and in thy Seed fhell all Nations be bleffed.

7Q. Did Jacob prophefy concerning Chrift? A. Yes, in his dying Speech to his Son Judah, Gen. xlix. 10. The Sceptre (or Tribe, as the Word fignifies) fhall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his Feet, until Shiloh come, and till the gathering of the People be unto him.

8Q. How can you prove that this Prophecy relates to Chrift? A. Shiloh fignifies one that is fent, which is the frequent Character of Christ, that he was fent by the Father, John x. 36, &c. and xvii. 18, 21, 23. (and indeed the Jews themfelves own that it fignifies the Meffiah :) Now Judah did continue to be a Tribe, and to have fome fort of Government among them till Chrift came: He was about ten or twelve Years old when Archelaus was depofed, and Judea reduced to the Form of a Roman Province, and then the Power of Life and Death was taken from them. See Chap. XIX. Q. 36. And when the People, i. e. the Jews and Gentiles, were gathered in great Numbers unto Chrift, then the Tribe of Judah or the Jewish Nation was broken to Pieces and fcattered, Jerufalem was deftroyed, and all Appearance of Government amongst them was loft: which is an effectual Argument against the Jews that their Meffiab is already come.

9 Q. Who was the next Perfon that prophefied concerning Chrift? A. Mofes in the xviiith Deut. ver. 15, 18. The Lord thy God will raife up unto

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thee

thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy Brethren, like unto me, and to him shall ye hearken.

10 Q. How does it appear Mofes defigned Jefus Chrift in this Prophecy? A. St. Stephen the Martyr cites thefe Words in his Dying-Speech when he was put to death for the fake of Christ, and ap plies them to him, Acts vii. 37.

11Q But were not many Prophets, as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elifha, and feveral others like unto Mofes? A. None of them befides Jefus Chrift came to institute a new Religion as Mofes did, or wrought fuch numerous and various Miracles to atteft their Doctrine.

12 Q. Who was the next eminent Prophet that Spake plainly of Chrift? A. David fpeaks often of him in his Book of Pfalms in many remarkable Expreffions, and describes his Incarnation, his Sufferings, his Exaltation, and his various Offices of Prophet, Prieft and King. (viz.)

1. His coming into the World to preach the Truth of God and the Doctrine of Righteoufnels for the Salvation of Men, and the Weakness and Infufficiency of the Jewish Sacrifices, Pfal. xl. 6, 7, 8. Sacrifices and Offering thou didst not defire; i.e. the Jewish Sacrifices were not required as real and effectual Expiations, because they could not take away Sin. But mine Ears haft thou opened: then Said I, Lo, I come; in the Volume of the Book it is written of me; I delight to do thy Will, O my God. I have preached Righteoufnefs in the great Congregation, I have declared thy Faithfulness and thy Salvation, &c. The first Part of this Pfalm is exprefsly applied to Chrift, Heb. x. 5, &c. and inftead of the Words, Mine Ears haft thou opened, the Apoftle expreffes it, A Body haft thon prepared me: and then he goes

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on