230 clx. Mat. Jesus foretells its approaching destruction. SECT. him, Master, behold what vastly large and curious stones, and what stately edifices [are these. And Jesus replying, said unto them, [As for 2 And Jesus [anXXIV.2 these things which ye behold with so much admi-swering,] said unto them, [LUKE, As for ration, do you not see the splendour and magnifi- these things which ye cence of all these great and pompous buildings behold,] See ye not which are the pride of the Jewish nation, and all these [great buildthe wonder of all the rest of mankind? Yet unto you, [LUKE, the ings Verily I say notwithstanding all the present grandeur of this days will come, in the stately temple, verily I say unto you, That the which there shall not days will quickly come, in which a victorious upon another, that enemy shall profane its sanctity, and deface its shall not be thrown beauty, insomuch that there shall not be left one down.] [MARK XIII. single stone upon another here, that shall not be 2. LUKE XXI. 6.] entirely demolished, till no remains of any 3 part of it shall be preserved. be left here one stone of and And when he was retired from the city, as he 3 And as he sat sat down upon the mount of Olives, which was upon the mount over-against the temple, and commanded the Olives [over-against finest prospect of it from the east, the disciples, ciples [Peter, the temple,] the disPeter, and James, and John, and Andrew, who James, and John, were favoured with a peculiar share of his inti- Andrew] came unto macy and confidence, came to him privately, say- LUKE, Master,] tell him privately, saying, ing Master, we entreat thee that thou wouldst us when shall these tell us when these awful things shall happen? and things be? and what what [shall be] the sign of thy second coming coming, and the end when thou wilt execute thy vengeance on these of the world, [when thine enemies and of the end of the present age all these things shall and dispensation, when all these things shall be be fulfilled? [MARK mon in most of the ancient temples. Ta- There shall not be left one stone upon ano- accomplished, shall be the sign of thy XIII. with the Romans, and the strength of their citadel, which forced Titus himself to acknowledge that it was the singular hand of God which compelled them to relinquish fortifications which no human power could have conquered. (Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. 9. al. vii. 16,) § 1.) (Com. pare note b, on Luke xix. 43. p. 162.) — Bishop Chandler justly observes that no impostor would have foretold an event so unlikely, and so disagreeable. Defence of Christianity, p. 472, 473. d The end of the present age.] So onl λεια τα αιωνος may well be rend red. Compare Matth. xii. 32. Rom. xii. 2. 1 Cor. x. 11. Eph. ii. 2, 7. Heb. vi. 5. ix. 26. in all which places av may be rendered age.-Archbishop Tillotson, and many other excellent writers, would retain our translation, and suppose here are two distinct questions: What should be the sign of his coming to punish the ungrateful inhabitants of Jerusalem? and What the sign of his final appearance to the universal judgment? And that Christ answers the XIII. 3, 4. XXI. 7] His disciples asking when these things shall be. 231 clx. LUKE accomplished, to make way for the brighter glo- SECT. ries of that kingdom which thou wilt establish, when all thy sufferings are over, and every thing Mat. which opposes thy triumph subdued? XXIV.3. And Jesus answering them, began to say, with 4 first question in the former, and the second in the latter part of the chapter: though where the transition is made, has been, among those that embrace this interpretation, matter of much debate.-Others supposed the apostles took it for granted that the world was to be at an end when Jerusalem was destroyed; and that Christ was not solicitous to undeceive them, as their error might make them so much the more watchful; and therefore answers in ambiguous terms, which might suit either of these events.-But it seems much more natural to conclude that they expected the wicked persecutors of Christ (in which number most of the magistrates and priests were) would by some signal judgment be destroyed; and that hereupon he would erect a most illustrious kinzdım, and probably a more magnificent temple, which they might think described in Ezekiel : an expectation which they did not entirely quit even to the day of his ascension. (See Acts i. 6.) Our Lord, with perfect integrity and consummate wisdom, gives them an account of the prognosticating and concomitant signs of the destruction of Jerusalem; and then without saying one word of any temporal kingdom to be erected, raises their thoughts to the final judgment to which the figures used in the former description might many of them be literally applied) and sets before them an heavenly kingdom, and eternal life, as the great object of their pursuit, Mat. xxv. 34, 46. This I take to be the key to this whole discourse; the particular parts of which have been admirably illustrated by many learned commentators; but the whole scope and connection of it, so far as I can recollect, fully explained by none. • Many shall come in my name., &c.] See when Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 13 (al. 12), § 4, 5.-Christian writers have always with great reason represented Josephus's History of the Jewish War as the best commentary on this chapter; and many have justly remarked it as a wonderful instance of the care of Providence for the Christian church, that he, an eye-witness, and in these things of so great credit, should (especially in such an extraordinary mauner) be preserved, to transmit to us a collection of important facts, which so exactly illustrate this noble prophecy in almost every circumstance. (Compare Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. iii. cap. 3, al. 14.) But as it would swell my notes too much to enter into a particular detail of those circumstances, I must content myself with referring to Dr. Whitby's excellent notes on the xxivth of Matthew, and to Archbishop Tillotson's large and accurate discourse on the same subject, in the second volume of his Posthumous Works, Ser. 183-187, p. 547, & seq. f The time is come.] The word nylixs may signify either the approach or arrival of the time, and may with great propriety express the first opening of a scene to be gradually disclosed; in which sense it is applied to Christ's kingdom, as preached by himself and his apostles, during the time of his personal ministry.-Such pretended Messiahs did indeed arise towards the close of the Jewish state. (See 1 John iv. 1; Acts v. 36, 37; and Joseph. Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 8, (al. 6, 7), § 6, 10.-The Rhemish Jesuits, as much as they triumph in their infallible guide to the interpretation of scrip ture, ridiculously explain this as a prophecy of Luther and Calvin; which I mention only as one instance, among many more, of their contemptible ignorance or wicked prevarication. g Nation 322 clx. Mat. He mentions the calamities that would fore-run them. 6. therefore after them.] [MARK XIII. LUKE XXI.-8.] SECT. when the yoke is to be broken off from their [LUKE, go ye not neck, and their enemies are to be subdued under them; and by these plausible pretences they XXIV.5 shall deceive many: but do not ye therefore go after them; for all their promises and hopes will be in vain, and sudden destruction will overtake them and their followers. 6 6 [LUKE, But when] ye shall hear of wars, [LUKE, and commotions,] see that ye be and rumours of wars, [LUKE, these things] must [LUKE, first] come to pass; but the end is not yet. [MARK XIII. 7. LUKE XXI. 9.] 7 [LUKE, Then said tion shall rise against he unto them,] Nanation, and kingdom But when ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars, among the Jews, and seditions raised by them in several places against the Romans, see that you be not troubled [and] terrified, as if the great event that I have now foretold would im- not troubled [LUKE, and terrified]: for all mediately happen; for all these things must first come to pass, and be the gradual openings of it; but the end of them, in the utter destruction of the Jewish state, is not yet: nay, some of you, my disciples, will have several important services to perform here after these alarms are begun ; services which even by means of these alarms you may pursue with some peculiar advantages. 7 And then he further added, and said to them, Judea shall not be the only seat of war at that time; for in the neighbouring countries nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against against kingdom and kingdoms and partly as the consequence of and pestilences, and these ravages and slaughters, and partly by the [LUKE, great] earthimmediate hand of Providence on sinful men quakes in divers places, who have rejected the gospel, as also to exercise and fearful sights, and [and troubles] LUKE the faith and charity of its professors, there shall great signs shall there be severe famines, and mortal pestilences; and be from heaven.]there shall also happen great and terrible earth- LUKE XXI. 10. 11.] quakes in various places, and troubles and anguish of mind in the apprehension of yet greater calamities. Here at home there shall also be dreadful sights, and great signs from heaven, particularly a comet like a flaming sword waving over Jerusalem, and the appearance of con8 tending armies in the air". But all these things g Nation shall rise up against nation, &c.] Grotius gives us a particular account of several wars of the Jews among themselves, and of the Romans with the Syrians, Samaritans and other neighbouring nations, before Jerusalem was destroyed.-There were also earthquakes at this time in Apemea, Laodicea and Campania: (see Tacit. Annal. lib. xii. § 43, 58; lib. xiv. § 27; lib. xv. § 22; Sueton. Nero, cap. 48; Galb. cap. 18.) The famine in the days of Claudius is mentioned Acts xi. 28, as well as recorded in history Sueton. Claud, cap. 18, [are] there shall be famines, [MARK XIII. 8. 8 All these are the [be. and Euseb. Hist. Eccl. lib. ii. cap. 8); and many perished by it in Judea. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 2, § 6. h Dreadful sights, and great signs from heaven, &c.] Of these appearances, see Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. 5, (al. vii. 12), § 3, and Tacit. Histor. lib. v. § 13.— I cannot here but add an excellent observation of Mr. West relating to the authors by whom this prophecy, which is expressed in terms so very plain and circumstan tial, is recorded; that Matthew and Mark were incontestibly dead before the event, as Luke His disciples should first be violently persecuted. 233 fbeginnings] of sor- [are] only the beginnings of those sorrows and SECT. rows. [MARK XIII. alarms that will issue in the destruction of clx. -8.] MARK XIII. 9. But secute you, and] shall deliver you up to coun synagogues, and into testimony against them Jerusalem. Mark But take ye heed to yourselves, and be cautious XIII. 9. take heed to your- how you behave; and though you meet with the selves: for [LUKE, before all these] they severest persecutions, be not discouraged from [LUKE, shall lay their persisting in the truth, and from continuing faithhands on you, and per- ful in your regards to me: for before all these things shall happen they shall lay their violent cils, [LUKE, and to the hands upon you, and persecute you with the greatest cruelty and rage; [and] shall deliver some of prisons,] [to be] beaten [and afflicted, and you up to the greater councils [and] cite others of shall kill you]: and ye you to appear before the inferior courts in the [shall be hated of all nations, and shall be Synagogues, and shall cast some of you into pribrought before rulers sons, to be severely scourged [and] otherwise afand kings for my flicted by confinement and a variety of hardships [name's] sake, for a there; and indeed they shall go so far as to kill some of you, in a few years: and as for the rest, ye shall be generally hated, not only by the Jews here at home, but by those abroad, and by all the Gentile nations to whom you go; [and] shall be brought before rulers and kings for my name's sake, and for a testimony against them, that the gospel has been offered to them in the most public manner, even to the greatest of men, to whom you might otherwise have had no access : 13. (compare Mat. x. 17, 18, sect. lxxv.) And it shall also turn to you for a public and honourable testimony of the innocence of your cause, however it may be misrepresented, and of the integrity and uprightness of your conduct. [MAT. XXIV. 9. LUKE XXI. 12.] LUKE XXI. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. MARK XIII. 10. And the gospel must among all nations. Luke XXI.13. XIII. And indeed, notwithstanding this early and Mark first be published violent opposition, vet before the destruction of Xili. 10. Jerusalem the gospel must first be preached among all the heathen nations, which are subjected to the Roman empire (see note"); and there also you will be followed with the like assaults and 11 But when they persecutions. But when they shall bring you shall lead you, and deliver you up, settle it before governors and kings, and deliver you up 11 in your hearts, not to to the officers of justice, to be prosecuted as crimeditate before, what minals in their most solemn courts, settle it at ye shall answer; and such times in your hearts as a constant rule not take to Luke also probably might be; and as for John, the only evangelist who survived it, it is remarkable that he says nothing of it, lest any should say the prophecy was forged after the event happened.-See West on the Resurrection of Christ, p. 393. i Shall deliver you up to the councils, &c.] All this was exactly accomplished: for Pe- 234 clx. Mark The Spirit would help them to make their defence. hand what ye shall that speak, but the SECT. to draw up any formal speech, nor to premeditate take no thought beforewhat answer or apology you shall make; [and] speak: but whatsoever be not anxiously solicitous before-hand what you shall be given you in XIII.11. shall speak in your defence, to vindicate your- that hour, that speak selves and your religion from the unrighteous ye: for it is not ye charges and aspersions of your enemies; but Holy Ghost, [LUKE whatsoever shall be given in to you, and be strong- XXI. 14.] ly suggested to your minds in that hour, that speak boldly and resolutely; for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit himself, who shall assist and dictate to you. (Compare Mat. x. 19, 20, sect. lxxv. and Luke xii. 11, 12, sect. cxi.) Luke For it is really my cause in which you are engaged; and therefore, though you are ignorant and wisdom, which all and unlearned men, and so may be apprehensive your adversaries shall you shall be confounded in the presence of per- not be able to gainsay, sons who are in rank and education so much nor resist. XXI.15. Mat. XXIV. 10 your superiors, vet depend upon it, that I will LUKE XXI. 15. For I will give you a mouth MAT. XXIV. 10. And then shall many ther, And many that have owned themselves mv followers shall then be offended, and give up all be offended, and shall regard to the gospel, when they see the profes- betray one another, sion of it must cost them so dear; and having and shall hate one ano proved apostates, they shall become persecutors too, and shall betray one another, and hate one another, as being in their consciences secretly galled at the greater fidelity of their companions. Mark And this wretched temper shall rise to such a XIII.12. height, as to break through all the bonds of na Luke XXI.16. MARK XIII. 12. Now the brother shall betray the brother to their parents, and shall ture, insomuch that one brother shall betray an- death, and the father some of you shall they cause to be put to and |