SERMON VIII. THE WRATH TO COME. ZEPHANIAH iii. 8. Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey : for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour out upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. THE fulfilment of the prophecies con tained in the Old Testament by the first Advent of Jesus Christ is one of the great arguments for the truth of the Gospel which its adversaries have never been able to "gainsay nor resist." The circumstances predicted are of so peculiar a nature, and are described by the prophets in such precise terms, that the only resource of those who were resolved not to believe, was to refuse giving any attention to the subject, and to treat it with ridicule and contempt, as beneath the notice of enlightened philosophers and men of the world. But there were not wanting many philosophers of great talents and learning, many distinguished men of the world, who were impelled by curiosity, or by an obscure feeling of interest, or, in some instances, by a desire of controverting the evidences of Christianity, to examine the prophecies with great attention. And the first thing which struck them was, the impossibility of questioning the antiquity or genuineness of the prophetic writings; and the second was, that remarkable boldness and accuracy of prediction which rendered fortuitous fulfilment, or ingenious application to passing events, equally improbable. The consequence was, that multitudes were convinced of the truth; and gladly took refuge, in the clear views and sure promises of the Gospel, from the doubts and perplexity in which their own speculations had involved them; declaring the doctrines of Christianity to contain "the only true and profitable philosophy 1. 199 2 But although this evidence, together with the confident appeal to miracles wrought before their eyes, was sufficient to convince, and finally to convert the heathen world, the Jews, who had the custody of these divine oracles, and were accustomed to hear and to study them, were so hardened by their prejudices, that they continued, for the most part, and to this day continue, in unbelief. They had formed a scheme of interpretation for themselves, highly favourable to the character and prospects of their own country; and to this they adhered, in the face of 1 Justin Martyr, Apol. 1. sub fin. the most unanswerable proofs, with their characteristic stubbornness; affording to us, Christians, a wholesome warning that, in the consideration of prophecies as yet unaccomplished, we attach ourselves to no system founded on interested, or even on patriotic views: no, nor on a laudable attachment to our own Church Establishment: but that we be ready to "follow Christ in the regeneration," and to take part with Him in his warfare with the world, however that great conflict may involve the degradation of our own party, or the destruction of our own Church and country. In a spirit unhappily the reverse of this, the Jews rejected the Messiah, because they chose to adhere to their own construction of those many prophecies relating unquestionably to Him', which nevertheless were certainly not fulfilled, at his first Advent. They could not, 1 See Justin Martyr, Dial. Trypho. then, be fulfilled, because they relate entirely to His second Advent; and they remain still unaccomplished, affording to us those warnings which the Jews rejected, and that trial of faith, in which they failed, and which has brought upon them the wrath of GOD to this generation. These prophecies, as might be expected from the magnitude and importance of the period to which they refer, are very numerous, and are interspersed throughout the prophetic books of the Old Testament, as well as enlarged and explained in the New Testament. The principal use of them is to prepare Christians for the second Advent of their Lord; not by disclosing the precise time of that awful event, nor by gratifying a carnal curiosity respecting dates, and places, and national election; but by rendering us devoted and watchful; by detaching us from the scene before us, so soon to be swept away; by fixing our affections on that King, 12 |