of the world or the conclufion of the age is the fame period with the deftruction of Jerufalem; for there being two ages (as they were called) among the Jews, the one under the law, the other under the Meffian; when the city and temple were destroyed, and the Jewish polity in church and state was diffolved, the former age muft of course be concluded, and the age under the Meffiah be commenced. It is true the phrafe συντέλεια τε αιώνος moft ufually fignifes the end of the world properly fo called; as in the parable of the tares (Matt. XIII. 39.) the harvest 15 συντέλεια τα αιωνος the end of the world ; As is therefore the tares (ver. 40.) are gathered and burnt in the fire, fo fhall it be εν τη συντελείᾳ τα alwvos THTH in the end of the world. And again (ver. 49.) So fhall it be Ev TY CUTEREḍ të diwvos at the end of the world, the angels fhall come forth, and fever the wicked from among the just. In like manner our Saviour says to his disciples, (Matt. XXVIII. 20.) Lo, I am with you alway, sws Tns συντελείας τε αιώνος even unto the end of the world. But here the phrase appears to be used much in the fame manner as in the Epift. to the Hebrews, (IX. 26.) But now once in the end of the world bath he appeared to put away fin by the facrifice of himself; in the end of the world, s

αιώνος

επι

συντελεία

αιώνων,

συντέλεια των aww, in the conclufion of the Jewish age or ages: And thefe, I think, are all the places where the phrafe occurs in fcripture. The coming of Christ is alfo the fame period with the deftruction of Jerufalem, as may appear from feveral places in the Gofpels, and particularly from these two paffages. There are fome fanding here, faith our bleffed Lord, (Matt. XVI. 28.) who shall not tafle of death, till they fee the fon of man coming in his kingdom, that is evidently, there are some standing here who fhall live, not till the end of the world, to the coming of Chrift to judge mankind, but till the deftruction of Jerufalem, to the coming of Chrift in judgment upon the Jews. In another place (John XXI. 22.) fpeaking to Peter concerning John, he faith, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? what is it to thee, if I will that he live till the deftruction of Jerufalem? as in truth he did, and longer. The coming of Chrift and the conclufion of the age being therefore only different expreffions to denote the fame period with the deftruction of Jerusalem, the purport of the question plainly is, when fall the deftruction of Jerufalem be, and what shall be the figns of it? In the parallel place of St. Mark (XIII. 4.) the question is put

thus,

thus, When shall thefe things be, and what shall be the fign when all these things shall be fulfilled? In the parallel place of St. Luke (XXI 7.) the question is put thus, When shall thefe things be, and what fign will there be when these things shall come to pass? So that the difciples ask two things; first the time of the deftruction of Jerufalem, when fhall these things be; and fecondly the figns of it, and what shall be the fign when all thefe things fhall be fulfilled as it is in St. Mark, and what shall be the fign when these things fhall come to pass as it is in St. Luke, and what shall be the age fign of thy coming and of the conclufion of the as it is in St. Matthew. The latter part of the question our Saviour answereth first, and treateth of the figns of his coming and the destruction of Jerufalem from the 4th to the 3ft verfe inclufive ; and then paffeth on to the other part of the question concerning the time of his coming: And these two heads of our Saviour's anfwer fhall likewife in the fame method and order be made the subject of this and fome fubfequent discourses.

Our bleffed Saviour treateth of the figns of his coming and the deftruction of Jerufalem from the 4th to the 31ft verfe inclufive; by figns meaning the circumftances and accidents which fhould forerun, ufher in, and attend this

great

great event: And I am perfuaded the whole compass of history cannot furnish us with a prophecy more exactly fulfilled in all points than this hath been.

Falfe Chrifts our Saviour mentions as the firft fign of his coming, (ver. 4. and 5.) Take beed that no man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, faying, I am Chrift; and shall deceive many. With this he begins in all the evangelifts, and in all useth almost the very fame words; only in St. Luke (XXI. 8.) he addeth the time draweth near; and indeed within a little time this part of the prophecy began to be fulfilled.. For very foon after our Saviour's decease appeared Simon Magus, (Acts VIII. 9, 10.) and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was fome great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. He boafted himself likewife (1) among the Jews as the Son of God. Of the fame stamp and character was alfo (2) Dofitheus the Samaritan, who

(1) Irenæi Lib. 1. Cap. 20. p. 94. Edit. Grabe. Theodoret. Hæretic. Fab. Lib. 1. Cap. 1. p. 192. Vol. 4. Edit. Paris. 1642. (2) na μeta тus Ino de xeoνας ηθέλησε και Σαμάρεις Δοσι Θεος πείσαι Σαμαρεις, ότι αυτος ειη ὁ προφητευόμενος ὑπο Μωσέως

pretended

Χρισος και έδοξε τίνων τη ἑαυτε acnadia Rexgarneval. Poft Jefu tempora voluit et Dofitheus quidam Samarita fuis perfuadere, fe effe Chriftum illum, quem Moyfes prædixerat, vifufque eft nonnullos fibi fua dactrina conciliare. Origen contra

Celfum

pretended that he was the Chrift foretold by Moses. In the reign of Claudius, about twelve years after the death of our Saviour, when Cufpius Fadus was procurator of Judea, a certain impoftor, named Theudas, perfuaded a great multitude with their best effects to follow him to the river Jordan; for he faid that he was a prophet, and promised to divide the river for their paffage, and faying these things he deceived many, (3) faith Jofephus. But Fadus fent a troop of horse against them, who falling unexpectedly upon them, killed many, and made many prisoners; and having taken Theudas himself alive, they cut off his head, and brought it to Jerufalem. A few years afterwards in the reign of Nero, and under the procuratorship of Felix, these impoftors arofe fo frequent, that (4) many of them were apprehended and killed every day. They feduced great numbers of the people ftill expecting the Meffiah; and well therefore might our Saviour caution his disciples against them.