depended on. Consider the vast collective body of prophecies : consider,
1. Their fulness —
[There is not any one point relating to Christianity that has not been the subject of prophecy. Every thing relating to Christ, his person, his work, his offices; his life, his death, his resurrection and ascension ; his investiture with all power at the right hand of God ; the nature, extent, and duration of his kingdom ; and his second coming to judge the world ; all has been fully and distinctly declared by holy men of God, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Now I ask, Would any one have ventured to predict so many things respecting an impostor? Supposing that the dangerous ground of prophecy had been taken by any who conspired to deceive the world, would they not for their own sake have been satisfied with a few general predictions, that were capable of different interpretations, and that were likely in the common course of events to happen ? Would any persons have undertaken to give beforehand so full, so large, so complicated a disclosure of all that should come to pass ? But add to this,]
2. Their minuteness —
[It is surprising that prophecy should condescend to such minute occurrences as were actually foretold concerning Christ. Not only were the time and place of his nativity foretold, but his expulsion from thence to Egypt, and his subsequent abode at Nazareth. So again, not only was the manner of his death declared, but such minute circumstances as could not be con- ceived; such as the very words which his enemies should taunt him with, whilst yet he should hang upon the cross ; and their offering him vinegar to drink ; and even the manner in which they should dispose of his raiment, casting lots for one part, whilst they divided the rest. Now I ask, Could any but the omniscient God predict such things as these ? things, which could not be fulfilled by any except by the very enemies who put him to death as an impostor ?
But the evidence, as arising from the fulness and minuteness of the prophecies, will derive great strength from marking,]
3. Their consistency —
[Certainly, when we consider that the prophecies were delivered by different persons wholly unconnected with each other, at distant times and places, during the space of three thousand six hundred years, and that the things which they predicted were in appearance so opposite to each other ; it is inconceivable, that no inconsistency should be found in any of them, if they were not inspired by the omniscient and un- changeable God.
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