Star.
London, England, 1808-03-17 00:00:00

~_
ON THE PROPHECIES.

NUMBER 11.

INTRODUCTION.
Tbe fulfilment of Prophecy is an argument for the
th of Revelation, Which connot be overthrown by'
tiji: adversaries ; for, events, which take place many
turies .after they were predicted, cannot be the re-
:of combination and imposture. If only a few facts
trout partially applicable, either as to their nature,
,the foe of their fulfilment, there might be some
• orsioivj in the objection, ' that they were merely
q
result of contingencies ;' for either the
telccia:tiaare wholly true or wholly false. But when
see them receive their accomplishment in every
t only as to the event foretold, but in coincidence
py
itb a ,fitrified time, and all in the precise erder in which
:,,,nts corer tippointed to follow each other, it must re-
oil a great share of credulity to believe that such a
rec ord rests on any thing short of divine authority.
It is not my intention to enter into an examalation
tf the prophecies in general, and of the events, which
the course of that PROVIDENCE, which governs the
enicerse, have been brought about to fulfil each of
orr, in par/iodize. Such a work would go beyond
winch which I have prescribed to myself, and
su,Oss necessary, as many of the Old Testament
rillcies have been already the subject of copious
rd able comments. I may here observe, however,
at the corning of the MEssimr, his marmot of life,
Es mighty works, his death, his resurrection, were
vcomplished, so exactly agreeable to what had been
...7etold by the prophets of GOD; that many of the
Irish ration professed their faith in him as GOD'S
soirrr.o, and thus conf.rmed the truth of the pro-
,ltcies. The rejection of the SAVIOUR by the rest of
tat nation, the desolation that afterwards came upon
and their consequent dispersion over the world,
s)far from being arguments against the truth of the
Gxistiaa religion, are proofs of the truth of the pro-
Odes. That nation, by the wise Providence of
Go, is still preserved a distinct people, as a //vitt',
rei,we for the truth—a circumstance without a pa-
ellA in history. Had it happened to the Jews as to
::±er conquered nations, the enemies of Truth, avail-
: themselves of the circumstance, would not have
ailed to assert, that the prophetic books of the Old
Testament were written subsequently to the events
they redicted. Nay, such is the obstinate perverse-
tess el some men, that they have actually made this
as, rtion, as if it could be credited by any person in
[is right mind, that the Jews, who have ever hated
tlle Christians, could have been brought to agree
with these very Christians in fabricating books which
endemn themselves. Yet those, wholican believe
ech an inconsistency, affect to wander at the credu.

.:y of others !
The Jews have been thus preserved distinct from
2 nations, among which they were scattered, as
vardians of the Scriptures, and witnesses of their
nth. Ido not mean to affirm that they have not
:any case altered them, for the contrary is the fact;
bat I have no hesitation in asserting, that the present
sate of the Hebrew text furnishes abuadant evidence
that these alterations were alt effected in consequence
cf any deliberate design to corrupt them. They
have arisen chiefly from the carelessness of transcri-
lrs, and partly from the too hasty adoption of emen-
dations intended to restore the purity of the text, in
places where it was judged faulty from the former •
cause. In short, though the Jews cannot be acquit-
ted of having been instrumental, though uninten-
fmlly, in corrupting some pa!:sages, they may be
?lowed the credit of having been jealous to main-
ta:n the purity of the Scriptures*, and their jealousy
has b2en of much service in preventing some of the I
Doctors of :he Christian clinch from effecting the
mischief, which chemise have been expected
from their zealous labours to make the Scriptures of
the Old Testament speak a language consonant to
tut wishes.
Not only the first coming of the MESSIAH, but
events that were to happen subsequently, and to fol-'
lc...reach other in a specified order, down to the end
ef the worici, HP: shall corn- the second time,
v:ere foretold by the Prophets of the Old Testament.
The volume of prophecy was enlarged by CHRIST t
md his Apostles ; and the regular accomplishment
e. these predictions leaves those men without ee:cuse,
rho deny the truth of the miracles wrought by JESUS

!speak of the Jew, here only as a nation to whom, and to
llz'karnedmtn as a body—l wish to render that justice which
their due. It may,. however, without prejudice to them as a
be admitted, that there have been individuals amoag
'-'nu who have wiltally endeavoured to corrupt the Text of
:riptere. This is only allowim- that ter are men among the
!etts as void of principle, as some of tin's.: that have falsely been
(44 Christians. A learned Itw, a v,ry sound critic, once
in my hearing, that he h.t,l no dcubt %ch..tever that seve-1
rl of the Ilehr.w MSS. had been vitiated by unprincipled Jews,
'll4a good price might Le obtained for them, when Kennicott
11
"Istoaking his cciationc, on account of thcir ~n;que reading: !
!"their translaions they have, like others, leanedto their own
hut this is very ditf...rent frt.nt wilfully corrupting the
ginAL

t the Evaigtlirts Lave recorded Li; prophtcies.