P Zech. xii. 10. i Jer. xiii. 15, 16. " Isai. 1. 10.
s 1 John ii. 8. * John xii. 35. " Isai. Ix. 20.
SIGNS ATTENDANT ON OUR LORd's DEATH.
Matt, xxvii. 51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom ; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.
THE incarnation and death of God's co-equal, co- eternal Son are facts so incredible, that nothing but a concurrence of the most unquestionable proofs can justify us in beheving the Scripture report concerning them. But God has been pleased to give us proofs equal to the occasion. The birth of Christ was attested by a multitude of angels, who were sent from heaven to announce and celebrate the event : and the death of Christ was attested by a variety of signs and wonders, which could not fail to impress all whose minds were open to conviction. The miraculous darkness for the space of three hours at mid-day has been already noticed : and we have now to notice two other phe- nomena, the earthquake, and the rending of the veil. We may suppose indeed that these two events might happen without any particular interposition of Pro- vidence to effect them, or any particular end to be answered by them : but such a construction is alto- gether precluded, botli by the prophetic declarations respecting them, and by the liglit thrown upon them in the New Testament. It shall be our endeavour at this time,
I. To illustrate these phenomena —
These, like the miraculous darkness, may be con- sidered as testimonies from God to the truth of Christ's Messiahship : but we shall direct our attention to them rather as signs, or emblematic rej)resentations, of mysteries at that time accomplished. In this view let us notice,
1. The earthquake —
[This had been predicted by the Prophet Haggai*: and though we might have justly regarded the expressions used by
a Hagg. ii. 6, 7, 21.