sent day. Jerusalem also was, according to the prediction of
our Lord, to be trodden down by the Gentiles. Accordingly it
has never since been in the possession of the Jews. It was
first in subjection to the Romans, afterwards to the Sarazens,
then to the Franks, after to the Mamalukes, and now to the
Turks. Thus has the prophecy of Christ been most literally
and terribly fulfilled, on a people who are still preserved as
continued monuments of the truth of our Lord's prediction,
and of the truth of the Christian religion. See more in Bp.
Newton's Dissert. vol. ii. p. 291, &c.
Verse 32. Learn a parable of the fig tree] That is, These
signs which I have given you will be as infallible a proof of
the approaching ruin of the Jewish state, as the budding of the
trees is a proof of the coming summer.

Nero, and the seventeenth of Agrippa, mentioned Acts xxv. and xxvi. that is, in May, A. D. 66.

The temple was burnt August 10, A. D. 70. the same day and month on which it had been burnt by the king of Babylon: Josephus, Ant. b. xx. c. 11. s. 8.

The city was taken September 8, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, or the year of Christ 70. Ant. b. vi. c. 10. That was the end of the siege of Jerusalem, which began, as Josephus several times observes, about the fourteenth day of the month Nisan, or our April. See War, b. v. c. 3. s. 1. c. 13. s. 7. b. vi. c. 9. s. 3.

Dr. Lardner farther remarks, There is also an ancient inscription to the honour of Titus, "who, by his father's directions and counsels, had subdued the Jewish nation and destroyed Jerusalem, which had never been destroyed by any generals, kings, or people before." The inscription may be seen in GRUTER, vol. i. p. 244. It is as follows:

IMP. TITO. CESARI. DIVI. VESPASIANI. F
VESPASIANO. AUG. PONTIFICI. MAXIMO
TRIB. POT. X. IMP. XVII. Cos. VIII. P. P
PRINCIPI. SUO. S. P. Q. R

QUOD. PRÆCEPTIS. PATRIS. CONSILIISQUE. ET
AUSPICIIS. GENTEM. JUDÆORUM. DOMUIT. et
URBEM. HIEROSOLYMAM. OMNIBUS. ANTE. SE
DUCIBUS. REGIBUS. GENTIBUSQUE. AUT. Frustra
PETITAM. AUT. OMNINO. INTENTATAM. DELEVIT

Verse 34. This generation shall not pass] Hyeva aven, this race; i. e. the Jews shall not cease from being a distinct people, till all the counsels of God relative to them and the Gentiles be fulfilled. Some translate nya avτn, this generation, meaning the persons who were then living, that they should not die before these signs, &c. took place: but though this was true, as to the calamities that fell upon the Jews and the destruction of their government, temple, &c. yet as our Lord mentions Jerusalem's continuing to be under the power of the Gentiles, till the fulness of the Gentiles should come in, i. e. till all the nations of the world should receive the gospel of Christ, after which the Jews themselves should be converted unto God, Rom. xi. 25, &c. I think it more proper not to restrain its meaning to the few years which preceded the destruction of Jerusalem; but to understand it of the care taken by divine providence, to preserve them as a distinct people, yet to keep them out of their own land, and from their temple service. See on Mark xiii. 30. But still it is literally true in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. John probably lived to see these things come to pass; compare Matt. xvi. 28. with John xxi. 22. and there were some Rabbins alive at the time when Christ spoke these words, who lived till the city was destroyed, viz. Rabban Simeon, who perished withing inscription: the city; R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, who outlived it; R. Zadock, R. Ismael, and others. See Lightfoot.

and

The war began, as Josephus says, Ant. b. xx. c. 11. s. 1.

in the second year of the government of Gessius Florus, who succeeded Albinus, successor of Porcius Festus, mentioned

For this complete conquest of Jerusalem, Titus had a triumphal arch erected to his honour, which still exists. It stands on the Via Sacra, leading from the Forum to the Amphitheatre. On it are represented the spoils of the temple of God, such as the golden table of the shew-bread, the golden candlestick with its seven branches, the ark of the covenant, the two golden trumpets, &c. &c. for a particular account sec the note on Exod. xxv. 31. On this arch, a correct model of which, taken on the spot, now stands before me, is the follow

SENATUS

POPULUSQUE ROMANUS

DIVO TITO. DIVI VESPASIANI. F
VESPASIANO AUGUSTO

"The Senate and People of Rome, to the Divine Titus son of

Acts xxiv. 27. in the month of May, in the twelfth year of the Divine Vespasian: and to Vespasian the Emperor.”

41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 ¶ Watch therefore: for ye know not what T

f

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also hour your Lord doth come. the coming of the Son of man be.

g

43 But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant,

i

a Ps. 102. 26. Isai. 51. 6. Luke 21. 33. Hebr. 1. 11.

Jer. 31. 35, 36.

ch. 5. 18. b Mark 13. 32. Acts 1. 7. 2 Pet. 3. 10.- Zech. 14. 7.—d Gen. 6. 3, 4, 5. & 7. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 20.

Mark 13. 31.

1 Thess. 5. 2.
Luke 17. 26.

Luke 17. 31, &c.—f ch. 25. 13. Mark 13 SS, &c. Lue 21 36.Luke 12. 39. 1 Thess. 5. 2. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Rev. 3. 3. & 16. 15. ch. 25. 13. 1 Thess. 5. 6.- Luke 12. 42. Acts 20. 28. 1 Cor. 4. 2. Hebr. 3. 5.

On this occasion, a medal was struck with the following inscription round a laureated head of the emperor :-IMP.erator Julius CES.ar VESP.asianus AUG.ustus. P.ontifex Maximus, TR.ibunitia P.otestate P.ater P.atriæ CO.nS.ul VIII.—On the obverse, are represented a palm tree, the emblem of the land of Judea; the emperor with a trophy standing on the left; Judea under the figure of a distressed woman, sitting at the foot of the tree weeping, with her head bowed down, supported by her left hand, with the legend JUDAEA CAPTA. S.enatus C.onsultus. at the bottom. This is not only an extraordinary fulfilment of our Lord's prediction, but a literal accomplishment of a prophecy delivered about 800 years before, Isai. iii. 26. And she desolate, shall sit upon the ground. Verse 36. But of that day and hour] nga here is translated season by many eminent critics, and is used in this sense by both sacred and profane authors. As the day was not known, in which Jerusalem should be invested by the Romans, therefore our Lord advised his disciples to pray that it might not be on a sabbath; and as the season was not known, therefore they were to pray that it might not be in the winter; ver. 20. See on Mark xiii. 32.

Verses 37, 38. As the days of Noah-they were eating and drinking] That is, they spent their time in rapine, luxury, and riot. The design of these verses seems to be, that the desolation should be as general, as it should be unexpected.

Verse 39. And knew not] They considered not-did not lay Noah's warning to heart, till it was too late to profit by it: so shall it be--and so it was in this coming of the Son of

man.

be taken, and the other left.] The meaning seems to be, that so general should these calamities be, that no two persons wheresoever found, or about whatsoever employed, should be both able to effect their escape: and, that captivity and the sword should have a complete triumph over this unhappy people.

Two women shall be grinding] Women alone are still employed in grinding the corn in the East; and it is only when dispatch is required, or the uppermost millstone is heavy, that a second woman is added. See Wakefield, and Harmer, Obs. vol. i. 253. That they were formerly thus employed, sce Exod. xi. 5. and the note there. See also Isai. xlvii. 2.

Verse 42. Watch therefore] Be always on your guard, that you may not be taken unawares, and that you may be properly prepared to meet God in the way either of judgment or mercy, whensoever he may come. This advice the followers of Christ took, and therefore they escaped; the miserable Jews rejected it and were destroyed. Let us learn wisdom by the things which they suffered.

"As

Verse 43. If the good man of the house had known] a master of a family, who expected a thief at any time of the night, would take care to be awake, and ready to protect his house; so do ye, who know that the Son of man will come. Though the day and hour be uncertain, continue always in a state of watchfulness, that he may not come upon you unawares.” WAKEFIELD.

Verse 45. Who then is a faithful and wise servant] All should live in the same expectation of the coming of Christ, which a servant has with respect to the return of his master,

Verses 40, 41. Then shall two men-two women-one shall who, in departing for a season, left the management of his

a

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh, shall find so doing.

evil and oppressive servant.

49 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

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50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make hour that he is not aware of, him ruler over all his goods.

C

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint

d

48 But, and if that evil servant shall say in his him his portion with the hypocrites : there heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

Rev. 16. 15.b ch. 25. 21, 23. Luke 22. 29.

affairs to him; and of which management, he is to give an exact account on his master's return.

shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Or, cut him off. ch. 8. 12. & 25. 30.

nister. 1. A sudden death, and the weight of God's judgments falling upon him, without a moment to avert it: this answers to his infidelity and forgetfulness. He shall come in a day in which he looketh not for him. 2. A separation from the communion of saints, and from all the gifts which he has abused: this answers to the abuse of his authority in the church of Christ. 3. He shall have tears and eternal pains in com

Here is an abstract of the duties of a minister of Christ. 1. He is appointed not by himself, but by the vocation and mission of his master. 2. He must look on himself not as the master of the family, but as the servant. 3. He must be scrupulously faithful and exact, in fulfilling the commands of his master. 4. His fidelity must be ever accompanied by wisdompany with all such hypocrites as himself: and this answers to and prudence. 5. He must give the domestics-the sacred his voluptuous life, pampering the flesh at the expence of the family, their food; and this food must be such as to afford soul. them true nourishment. And 6. This must be done in its season. There are certain portions of the bread of life, which lose their effect by being administered out of proper season, or to improper persons.

Verse 51. Cut him asunder] This refers to an ancient mode of punishment used in several countries. Isaiah is reported to have been sawed ASUNDER. That it was an ancient mode of punishment is evident from what Herodotus says: that Sa

Verse 46. Blessed is that servant] His blessedness consists bacus, king of Ethiopia, had a vision, in which he was comin his master's approbation.

Verse 47. He shall make him ruler over all his goods.] O heavenly privilege of a faithful minister of Christ! He shall receive from God a power to dispense all the blessings of the New Covenant; and his word shall ever be accompanied with the demonstration of the Holy Ghost to the hearts of all that hear it. Much of a preacher's usefulness may be lost by his unfaithfulness.

manded sous diarapur, to cut in two, all the Egyptian priests, lib. ii. And in lib. vii. where Xerxes ordered one of the sons of Pythius pero diatas, to be cut in two, and one half placed on each side of the way, that his army might pass through between them. See Raphelius also in his notes from Herodotus and Polybius. This kind of punishment was used among the Persians: see Dan. ii. 5. iii. 29. Story of Susannah, ver. 55, 59. See also 2 Sam. xii. 31. and 1 Chron. xx. 3. It may also have reference to that mode of punishment, in which the different members were chopped off seriatim, first the feet, then the hands, next the legs, then the arms, and lastly the head. This mode of punishment is still in use among the Chinese.

Verse 48. But, and if that evil servant] Here are three characters of a bad minister. 1. He has little or no faith in the speedy coming of Christ, either to punish for wickedness, or to pardon and sanctify those who believe. It may be, he does not outwardly profess this, but he says it in his heart, and God || searches his heart, and knows that he professes to teach what he does not believe. 2. He governs with an absolute domi- The Reader has no doubt observed in the preceding chapter, nion, oppressing his colleagues, and doing violence to the fol- a series of the most striking and solemn predictions, fulfilled lowers of Christ. And shall begin to smite, &c. 3. He leads in the most literal, awful, and dreadful manner. Christ has an irregular life-does not love the company of the children foretold the ruin of the Jewish people, and the destruction of of God, but eats and drinks with the drunkards, preferring the their polity; and in such a circumstantial manner, as none tables of the great and the rich, whose god is their belly, and else could do, but He, under whose eye are all events, and thus feeds himself without fear. Great God! save thine in- in whose hands are the government and direction of all things. heritance from being ravaged by such wolves! Indeed he rather declared what he would do, than predicted Verse 50. The lord of that servant] Here are three punish-what should come to pass. And the fulfilment has been as cirments which answer to the three characteristics of the bad mi- cumstantial as the prediction. Does it not appear that the G g

Reflections on the literal fulfilment

ST. MATTHEW.

of the preceding prophecies.

predicted point was so literally referred to by the occurring || the solemn record, already alluded to, is strictly and literally fact, by which it was to have its accomplishment, as to leave true! Who that has ever consulted the Roman historians no room to doubt the truth of the prediction, or the certainty of the reigns of Vespasian and Titus; the history of Josephus, of the event by which it was fulfilled? Thus the wISDOM of and the 24th chapter of St. Matthew's gospel, and who knows God, as also his justice and providence, have had a plenary any thing of the present state of the Jews over the face of manifestation. the earth, or even of those who sojourn in England, can doubt for a moment the truth of this Gospel, or the infinite and all comprehensive knowledge of Him who is its author! Here then is one portion of Divine Revelation that is incontrover tibly and absolutely proved to be the truth of God. Reader! if he, who while he predicted the ruin of this disobedient and refractory people, wept over their city and its inhabitants, has so minutely fulfilled the threatenings of his justice on the unbelieving and disobedient, will he not as circumstan

But this wisdom appears farther, in preserving such a record of the prediction, and such evidence of its accomplishment, as cannot possibly be doubted. The New Testament, given by the inspiration of God, and handed down uncorrupted from father to son, by both friends and enemies, perfect in its credibility and truth, inexpugnable in its evidences, and astonishingly circumstantial in details of future occurrences, which the wisdom of God alone could foreknow-that New Testament is the record of these predictions. The his-tially fulfil the promises of his grace to all them that believe? tory of the Romans, written by so many hands; the history of the Jews, written by one of themselves; triumphal arches, coins, medals, and public monuments of different kinds, are the evidence by which the fulfilment of the record is demonstrated. Add to this the preservation of the Jewish people; a people scattered through all nations, yet subsisting as a distinct body, without temple, sacrifices, or political government; and who, while they attempt to suppress the truth, yet reluctantly stand forth as an unimpeachable collateral evidence, that

The existence of his revelation, the continuance of a Christian church upon earth, the certainty that there is one individual saved from his sins by the grace of the Gospel, and walking worthy of his vocation, are continued proofs and evidences that he is still the same; that he will fulfil every jot and tittle of that word on which he has caused thee to trust; and save to the uttermost all that come unto the Father by Him. The word of the Lord endureth for ever: and they who trust in Him shall never be confounded.

CHAPTER XXV.

The parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish, 1-12. The necessity of being constantly prepared to appear before God, 13. The parable of the talents, 14-30. The manner in which God shall deal with the righteous and the wicked in the judgment of the great day, 31—46.

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HEN shall the kingdom of hea- | which took their lamps, and went forth A.M. 4035. be likened unto ten virgins, to meet the bridegroom.

TH
Tven

ven

a

A. D. 29. An. Olymp. CCII. 1.

Lev. 21. 14. Psal. 45. 9-11. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Rev. 14. 5.

b Ephes. 5. 29, 30. Rev. 19. 7. & 21. 2, 9.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXV.

Verse 1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven] The state of Jews and professing Christians--or the state of the visible church at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, and in the day of judgment: for the parable appears to relate to both those periods. And particularly at the time in which Christ shall come to judge the world, it shall appear what kind of recep- || tion his gospel has met with. This parable or something very like it is found in the Jewish records: so in a treatise intitled RESHITH CHOCMAH, the beginning of wisdom, we read thus: "Our wise men of blessed memory say, Repent whilst thou hast strength to do it, whilst thy lamp burns, and thy oil is not extinguished; for if thy lamp be gone out, thy oil will profit thee nothing." Our doctors add in MEDRASH: "The holy blessed God said to Israel, My sons, repent whilst the

gates of repentance stand open; for I receive a gift at present, but when I shall sit in judgment in the age to come, I will receive none." Another parable mentioned by Kimchi on Isai. lxv. 13. "Rabbi Yuchanan, the son of Zachai, spoke a parable concerning a king, who invited his servants, but set them no time to come: the prudent and wary among them adorned themselves, and standing at the door of the king's house, said, Is any thing wanting in the house of the king? (i. e. Is there any work to be done?) But the foolish ones that were among them went away, and working said, When shall the feast be in which there is no labour? Suddenly the king sought out his servants: those who were adorned entered in, and they who were still polluted entered in also. The king was glad when he met the prudent, but he was angry when he met the foolish: he said, Let the prudent sit down

CHAP. XXV.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom com- An. Olymp. 3 They that were foolish took their eth; go ye out to meet him. lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. slumbered and slept.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest

Virgins] Denoting the purity of the Christian doctrine and character. In this parable, the bridegroom is generally understood to mean Jesus Christ. The feast, that state of felicity to which he has promised to raise his genuine follow-sleep which rendered them as unconscious of their danger, ers. The wise or prudent, and foolish virgins, those who truly enjoy, and those who only profess the purity and holiness of his religion. The oil, the grace and salvation of God, or that faith which works by love. The vessel, the heart in which this oil is contained, The lamp, the profession of enjoying the burning and shining light of the gospel of Christ. Going forth, the whole of their sojourning upon earth.