DISSERTATION IV. CHRIST's Entry into JERUSALEM. Added in the Third Edition of The Ufe and Intent of Prophecy, &c. Printed separately to compleat the former 3 By the Right Reverend THOMAS Lord Bishop of Bangor. LONDON: Printed for J. PEMBERTON, at the Buck against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetfireet. MDCCXXXII. DISSERTATION IV. CHRIST's Entry into Jerufalem. HE Circumstances of this Piece of Scripture History are well known, and not lefs to thofe who despise, than to those who receive the Gospel. My Intention is to confider the Prophecy relating to this Fact, as it stands in Zechariah, Chap. ix. ver. 9. And tho' the Subject of this Differtation has no immediate Relation to the preceding Discourses, yet it may not perhaps be improper to fubjoin to them the Explication of a Paffage, which is fure always to find its way into every Converfation or Controverfy upon the Subject of Prophecy. There is indeed no Circumstance relating to the Meffiah that has given occafion to more profane Wit and Ridicule than this now before us. We reckon an Afs to be a contem ptible Creature; and a Man, especially a Man of Character, riding upon an Afs, to be a ridiculous Figure. These are Prejudices of our Time and Country. And when they, who look no further than to the Manners and Customs which are before them, examine this Part of facred Story by the Standard of modern Prejudices, they fee, or think they fee, fomething quite inconfiftent with the Gravity and Dignity of the Perfon pretending to be King of the Jews, when Chrift is reprefented entring in Triumph into Jerufalem mounted on an Ass. But, contemptible as an Afs, or a Man riding on an Afs, may be at present, from the beginning it was not fo. In many Countries, and particularly in Judea, Perfons of the highest Distinction were ufually fo mounted. The Governors of Ifrael are described in the Song of Deborah as riding on white Affes (Judg. v. 10.) And the Thirty Sons of Jair, who was Judge and Prince over Ifrael Twenty-two Years, are faid to ride on Thirty Affes (Judg. x. 4.) And another Judge of Ifrael is recorded to have had Forty Sons and Thirty Nephews that rode on Seventy Afs Colts, (Judg.xii. 14.) Were it at all neceffary, it would be easy to confirm this Obfervation with many more Autho |