35. Sixthly, It is affirmed that 1’ 173! ,—“ Messiah shall be cut off” Not “occidetur,” “ shall be slain,” as the Vulgar Latin renders the word, but “excidetur,” “shall be cut off,’—that is, penally, as one punished for sin; for the word ™?, when it includes death, constantly denotes a penal excision, or cutting off for sin. See Gen. xvii, 14; Exod. xii. 15; Num. xv. 30. This the Jews themselves ac- knowledge to be the meaning of the word. So Rab, Saadias Haggaon in Ha-emunoth, cap. viii. : 9Y OX ‘2 MADNI AWS AMT NAW. MD nbow mia poo 53 ONY wD! PII AMY »;—“ It is not used for slaying, unless it be of him who is slain by the sentence of the judge” (or is judicially cut off), “as it is said, ‘ Every one that eateth of it shall
328 DANIEL’S PROPHECY VINDICATED. [EXERC XIV.
be cut off” Lev. xvii. 14.” It is foretold, then, that the Messiah shall be cut off penally, for sin; which he was when he was made a curse for sin, all our iniquities meeting upon him.
And this also is intimated in the ensuing particles, D i “ And not to him;” for an objection is prevented that might arise about the penal excision of the Messiah,—How could it be, seeing he was every way just and righteous? To this it is answered, by way of concession, that it was not on his own account, not for him- self, but for us, as is at large declared, Isa. lili, Or, 1? PS, “ not to him,” may be a further declaration of his state and condition,— namely, that notwithstanding those carnal apprehensions which the Jews would have of his outward splendour, glory, wealth, and riches, yet in truth he should have nothing in or of this world, none to stand up for him,—* not where to lay his head.” And this is that part of the prophecy for the sake whereof the Jews do so pertina- ciously contend that the true Messiah is not here intended; for, say they, he shall not be penally cut off. But who told them so? Shall we believe the angel, or them? . Will they not suffer God to send his Messiah in his own way, but they must tell him that it must not be so? ‘To cast off prophecies, when and because they suit not men’s carnal lusts, is to reject all authority of God and his word. This is that which hath proved their ruin, temporal and eternal: they will not receive a Messiah that shall suffer and be cut off for sin, though God foretold them expressly that it must be so.
36. It is added, seventhly, concerning the person here spoken of, and whose coming is foretold, pa na 317;—“ He shall con- firm” (or “strengthen”) “the covenant unto many.” The “covenant” spoken of absolutely can be none but that “everlasting covenant” which God made with his elect in the promised Seed, the great pro- mise whereof was the foundation of the covenant with Abraham. And hence God says that he will “give him for a covenant of the people,” Isa. xli. 6, xlix. 8; and the salvation which they looked for through him God promiseth “through the blood of the covenant,” Zech. ix. 11. This “covenant” he “strengthened unto many” in the week wherein he suffered, even unto all that believe in him, This “everlasting covenant” was ratified in his blood, Heb. ix.15; and after he had declared it in his own ministry, he caused it to be proclaimed in and by his gospel. At the time here determined, the especial covenant with Israel and Judah was broken, Zech. xi. 10; and they were thereon cast off from being a church or people. Nor was there at that season any other ratification of the covenant but only what was made in the death of the Messiah.
37. Then, also, eighthly, did he “ cause to cease the sacrifice and gift,” or “ offering.’ First, he caused it to cease as unto force and efficacy, or any use in the worship of God, by his own accomplish-
SECT. 36-38. | DANIEL’S PROPHECY VINDICATED. 329
ment of all that was prefigured by it or intended in it. Hereby it became as a dead thing, useless, unprofitable, and made ready to disappear, Heb. viii. 13. And then shortly after he caused it utterly to be taken away, by a perpetual desolation brought upon the place where alone sacrifices and offerings were acceptable unto God ac- cording unto the law of Moses.
And this is the third evidence that this prophecy affords unto our assertion,—namely, that it is the true, promised Messiah, and none other, whose coming and cutting off are here foretold. The great things here mentioned were fulfilled in him alone, nor had they ever the least respect unto any other. And the Jews do not in any thing more evidently manifest the desperateness of their cause than when they endeavour to wrest these words unto any other sense or purpose.
38. (4.) Moreover, besides the confession of the ancient Jews con- senting unto the truth contended for, we have for our confirmation therein the woful perplexities of their later masters in their attempts to evade the force of this testimony. For some ages they have ab- horred nothing more than that the true Messiah should be thought to be here intended; for if that be once granted, they know that it brings instant ruin unto the pretences of their infidelity, and that not merely upon the account of his coming, which they have in- vented a sorry relief against, but on that of his being penally “cut off,” which can no way be reconciled unto their presumptions and expectations. But if he be not here intended, it is incumbent on them to declare who is; for the utmost extent of the time limited in the prediction being long since expired, the prophecy hath cer- tainly had accomplishment in some one or other, and it is known or may be known:in whom, or otherwise the whole angelical message never was, nor ever will be, of any use to the church of God.