LECT. VII. a constant trial of righteous principle struggling against human propensity and worldly interests, and exhibiting, at least, one grand and extraordinary transition of deepest interest, forms a valuable and satisfactory test of the inspiration of that professedly divine volume, which has foreshown this long and chequered course of suffering, and yet of triumph; of change, and yet of progression; which poured out upon the head of this holy brotherhood, the church, even from its infancy, the selectest benedictions of heaven, imparting to it a divine and an imperishable vitality, and which has suspended, upon its yet future universality and unity, the blessedness of the whole human family, and the everlasting glory of the Great God and Father of all. If the argument is sound and convincing, let inspiration wear the honour of your cordial faith, and its Author receive the glory due unto his name. LECTURE VIII. ON THE KINGDOM OF THE MESSIAH, AS REPRESENTED IN THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES, COMPARED WITH ITS HISTORY AND PRESENT PROSPECTS. The Kingdom of the Messiah-Exhibited in a typical form, in the sacred books and religion of the JewsPrevalent opinions founded on them-Proved from various sources-These predictions and expectations verified in the character of Jesus Christ-The improbability of such a character being fabulous-Credibility of the Evangelists-Probable effect of such a real characterFacts correspond― And thereby attest its reality-Opposite suppositions as to Christ's character-All proved untenable-The establishment and success of the Christian cause-Representations of contemporary enemies— Weakness of Christianity at its rise-What it effectedTestimonies to its progress-Jewish and heathen-Character of its triumphs - Indubitable proofs of their reality-Means by which they were wrought-Explanations of infidels wholly untenable-Means of detecting imposture then possessed-Inspiration and miracle obvious-As clear after as during Christ's life-Facts otherwise inexplicable - Supposition of pretended mi H H LECT. VII. a constant trial of righteous principle struggling against human propensity and worldly interests, and exhibiting, at least, one grand and extraordinary transition of deepest interest, forms a valuable and satisfactory test of the inspiration of that professedly divine volume, which has foreshown this long and chequered course of suffering, and yet of triumph; of change, and yet of progression; which poured out upon the head of this holy brotherhood, the church, even from its infancy, the selectest benedictions of heaven, imparting to it a divine and an imperishable vitality, and which has suspended, upon its yet future universality and unity, the blessedness of the whole human family, and the everlasting glory of the Great God and Father of all. If the argument is sound and convincing, let inspiration wear the honour of your cordial faith, and its Author receive the glory due unto his name. LECTURE VIII. ON THE KINGDOM OF THE MESSIAH, AS REPRESENTED IN THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES, COMPARED WITH ITS HISTORY AND PRESENT PROSPECTS. The Kingdom of the Messiah-Exhibited in a typical form, in the sacred books and religion of the JewsPrevalent opinions founded on them-Proved from various sources- These predictions and expectations verified in the character of Jesus Christ-The improbability of such a character being fabulous-Credibility of the Evangelists-Probable effect of such a real character Facts correspond-And thereby attest its reality - Opposite suppositions as to Christ's character-All proved untenable-The establishment and success of the Christian cause-Representations of contemporary enemiesWeakness of Christianity at its rise-What it effectedTestimonies to its progress-Jewish and heathen-Character of its triumphs - Indubitable proofs of their reality-Means by which they were wrought-Explanations of infidels wholly untenable-Means of detecting imposture then possessed-Inspiration and miracle obvious-As clear after as during Christ's life - Facts otherwise inexplicable - Supposition of pretended mi H H Messiah. racles- Disproved - Magic alleged to explain the facts - Never proved - The miracles never rivalled - Confirmation of Apostolic claims-Coincidence of the document and the facts-Bearing of the argument on the inspiration of the Scriptures-Conclusion. LECT. VIII. IN pursuing our general views of scriptural verifiKingdom of cations, we come now to those which we conceive the sacred word has received, in reference to that moral and religious system which is denominated the KINGDOM OF THE MESSIAH. Seheme of the argu ment. I. A Messiah foreshown by Jewish prophets. There are three branches of this inquiry, which we shall pursue in the following order. I. The Messiah's Kingdom appears to be set forth, both typically and prophetically, in the sacred books and religion of the Jews. II. We possess a remarkable verification and fulfilment of these anticipative descriptions of the Messiah, in the personal character and history of Jesus Christ. III. The establishment and subsequent successes of the Christian cause, further and fully verify the descriptions and anticipations which preceded it. 1. We propose to show, that such a religious system, as we understand by the gospel, was foreshown, and its introduction into the world ascribed by the Jewish prophets to some extraordinary person, denominated the Messiah, to whom general attention had long been directed. It is obvious, that all the testimonies of the New Testament, respecting the person and the system of |