last it was a thing foreknowiij and every portion of it was in accordance with a settled plan and design. In the highest, fullest sense, when Christ died, He " died according to the Scriptures." (1 Cor. xv. 3.)
We need not hesitate to regard such fulfilments of prophecy as strong evidence of the Divine authority of God's Word. The Prophets foretell not only Christ's death, but the particulars of His death. It is impossi- ble to explain so many accomplishments of predicted circumstances upon any other theory. To talk of luck, chance, and accidental coincidence, as sufficient expla- nation, is preposterous and absurd. The only rational account is the inspiration of God. The Prophets who foretold the particulars of the crucifixion, were inspired by Him who foresees the end from the beginning ; and the books they wrote under His inspiration ought not to be read as human compositions, but Divine. Great indeed are the difficulties of all who pretend to deny the inspiration of the Bible. It really requires more un- reasoning faith to be an infidel than to be a Christian. The man who regards the rej^eated fulfilments of minute prophecies about Christ's death, such as the prophecies about His dress. His thirst. His pierced side, and His bones, as the result of chance, and not of design, must indeed be a credulous man.
We should mark, secondly, in these verses, the pecu- liarly solemn saying which came from, our LorcVs lii^s just before He died. St. John relates that " when He had received the vinegar. He said, it is finished ; and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost." It is sure- ly not too much to say, that of all the seven famous say- ings of Christ on the cross, none is more remarkable than this, which John alone has recorded.
The precise meaning of this wondrous expression, '•' It is finished," is a point which the Holy Ghost has not