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was fulfilled, that the inhabitants of Jerusalem *' should look on him whom they pierced." (Zech. xii. 10.)
Alford observes that the expression, " they shall look," does not refer to the Roman soldiers, but to the repentant in the world, who at the time this Gospel was written had begun to fulfil this prophecy ; and that it also contains a prophetic refer- ence to the future conversion of Israel, who were here the real piercers, though the act was done by the hands of others."
It is almost needless to say that the passage, like many others, does not mean that these things were done in order that Scrip- ture might be fulfilled, but that by these things being done the Scripture was fulfilled, and God's perfect foreknowledge about the least details of Christ's death was proved. Nothing in the great sacrifice happened by chance, luck, or accident. All was arranged as appointed, from first to last, many centuries before, by the determinate counsel of God. Caiaphas, Pilate, the Ro- man soldiers, were all unconscious instruments in carrying into effect what God had long predicted and foretold to the least jot and tittle.
Let us carefully note here what strong evidence these verses supply in favor of a literal, and not a merely spiritual, fulfil- ment of Old Testament prophecies.
Rollock observes, " If God have ordained and said anything, it lies not in the hands of any man to disannul it. If God shall Bay, " There shall not be one bone of my anointed broken," great Caesar and all the kings of the earth, the King of Spain, and the Pope, and all their adherents, shall not be able to do the contrary. So. in the midst of all fear and danger, let us de- pend on the providence of God.