8. It is added, fourthly, “That the cutting off the Messiah, here spoken of, is expressly joined with the destruction of the city in one week, to be accomplished the last seven years; whereas Christ suffered above thirty years before the destruction of the material Jerusalem, verses 26, 27.”
Ans. There appears no such thing in the text. The destruction of the city and people is only mentioned as a consequent of the cutting off and rejection of the Messiah, without any limitation of time wherein it should be performed; and de facto it succeeded immediately in the causes of it and direct tendency thereunto.
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9. In the last place, he says, “ Those phrases, verse 24, ‘ To finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to purge iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness,’ are manifest characters of the time of the end, as shall be showed.”
Ans. But why are not the other ends expressed in the prophecy, namely, “ To seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy,” here mentioned also? Why is that phrase, hY 7B2?, trans- lated, “To purge iniquity,” whereas it rather signifies, “To make atonement” (or “ reconciliation”) “for iiquity?” Is it not because it would be very difficult to make any tolerable application of these things unto the season which is called “The time of the end?” In brief, these things are so proper, so peculiar unto the Lord Christ and the work of his mediation, that, in their first, direct, and proper sense, they cannot be ascribed unto any other things or persons without some impiety, and there is no reason why we should here wrest them from their native and genuine signification ; all which will be fully manifested in our ensuing exposition of the words them- selves.
10. I shall not here insist on those reasons and arguments whereby we prove the true and only Messiah to be intended in this prophecy; for as they are needless unto Christians, who are uni- versally satisfied with the truth hereof, so we shall from the context and other evidences immediately confirm them against the modern Jews and their masters. In the meantime, wholly to remove this unexpected objection out of our way, I shall show the invalidity of those pretences which the same learned author makes use of to countenance his application of this whole angelical message unto the Christian churches of these latter days, which are these that follow :—
11. First, saith he, “ Because the effects characterizing the end of those years,—the consuming of transgression, and the bringing in of everlasting righteousness,—are effects to be accomplished in the Christian church at the fall of Antichrist, Isa. 1, 25-28, xxvii. 9; Apoc. xxi. 27.”
Ans. (1.) These are but some of the effects mentioned, and one of them not rightly expressed; there are others in the prophecy,— as the anointing of the most Holy, and cutting off the Messiah,— that can with no colour of probability be applied unto that season. (2.) However something analogous unto what is here spoken of, as an effect and product of it, may be wrought at another time, in the conformity of the church unto its Head, yet, properly and directly, as here intended, they are the immediate effects of the anointing, death, and sufferings of Jesus Christ. (3.) The places quoted out of Isaiah have no respect unto the churches of the latter days, other than all Scripture hath, which is written for their instruction.
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(4.) The things mentioned, Apoc. xxi. 27, are effects of this work of Christ in and towards his church, not the work itself here expressed, as the first view of the place will manifest.
12. He adds, “In the other prophets, the restoration of the Christian church from the Babylon of Antichrist is in like types proportionably represented, Isa. x., xi., xiii, xiv. ; Jer. 1, li.; Apoc. xlv. 6-8, xvi. 19, xv. 7, xviii. 2, 10, 21.”
Ans. (1.) I know not what is understood by, “represented in the like types.” There are no types in this prophecy, but a naked prediction of the state and continuance of the Judaical church until the coming of the Messiah, and of the work that he should accom- plish at his coming, with the effects and consequences thereof. To allow types in these things is to enervate all the prophecies which we have of him in the Old Testament. (2.) The places directed unto in Isaiah and Jeremiah intend not the deliverance of the Christian churches, unless it be xar& debrepov cxorév, and that in ex- pressions no way coincident with or suited unto this prophecy. (3.) Where any thing is represented in a type, there must be an accomplishment of somewhat answerable unto it in the type itself; and such was the deliverance of the Israelites from Babylon of old insisted on by those prophets. But here our author allows no such type, but refers the. whole prophecy firstly and only unto the Christian churches. (4.) In the Revelation, indeed, the deliverance of the churches of Christ from antichristian persecution is foretold; which hinders not but that the coming and suffering of the Messiah may be immediately intended, as undoubtedly it is, in this place.
_ 18. He says, thirdly, “ In all other prophecies of Daniel, the main