The Jews attributed to different places different degrees of relative holiness. The feveral cities of Judea were deemed holy; for in them were fynagogues, wherein were depofited copies of the law, which on every fabbath was read to the people. Jerufalem poffeffed a higher degree of holiness; for the temple itself, where the more folemn acts of religion were performed, was within her walls; and the Lord Jehovah had there given his bleffings, and manifefted his glory. An army therefore encompaffing Jerufalem, which St. Matthew himself has not ferupled to call "the holy city," might, according to Jewish notions, very properly be faid to stand on holy gound, or where it ought not.

But what is the import of those other terms, "the abomination of defolation?” Every image of a man, we are told by good authority, was in the eyes of the Jews an abomination; but every idolatrous image they held in ftill greater deteftation and abhorrence.

When Herod had built a theatre in Jerufalem, and adorned it with the trophies of

d See Kidder on the Meffias, P. I. p. 115.

⚫ Matt. iv. 5. xxvii. 53.

f Chryf, Serm. Il, adv. Jud. T. VI. p. 333. 1. 19.

nations

nations vanquished by the Romans, the Jews were not a little enraged at his conduct; because under the fpoils they fuppofed were concealed images of men. When Pilate was governor he fent by night fome troops into the city, bearing on their standards the emperor's image; which was no fooner perceived than the Jews in a body repaired to the governor, far more willing to undergo death, than to suffer this public violation of their laws h.

An army therefore, carrying thefe offensive and idolatrous enfigns, for we are expressly told that the Romans facrificed to their ftandards, might juftly be styled an Abomination; and for the other part of the defcription, That, it is evident, marks the defign of these hostile appearances, to lay the city and the temple defolate.

From what has been faid, we feem fully authorised to understand the prediction of an army with enfigns of idolatry or abomina

& A. J. L. XV. c. viii. §. 2.

b Ibid. L. XVIII. c. iv. §. 1.

i They did fo upon taking poffeffion of the Jewish temple. See B. J. L. VI. c. vi. §. 1. Religio tota caftrenfis figna veneratur, figna jurat, figna omnibus diis præponit. Tertull, Apol. c. xvi.

tion

tion furrounding Jerufalem; and fince this was given as a fignal for the Chriftians to prepare for flight, it must doubtless relate to the first time, when fuch an army fhould be feen before the walls, after the prophecy itself was delivered; for otherwife no reason can be affigned, why it should be applied to the fecond attack, rather than the third; or to the third, rather than any fubfequent invafion. We have only to inquire therefore when the city was firft encompaffed by pagan forces; and our inquiry needs not be long.

In the year of our Lord fixty fix, the first of the war, Ceftius Gallus the prefident of Syria, with an army of Roman and auxiliary troops, marched against Jerufalem, as was before mentioned, at the feaft of tabernacles. Having encamped at Scopus, within feven furlongs of the city, he waited three days, in hopes that the Jews, feeing danger fo near, would propose terms. None being offered, on the fourth day he advanced to the walls; and the feditious in confternation retired into the inner city and the temple. Ceftius now mafter of the lower city burnt fome parts of it, and pitched his camp oppofite the royal palace; and had not fome of

* Serm, IV. p. 150. See B. J. L. II. c. xix.

the officers, bribed by Florus to protract the troubles, diverted him from his purpose, he might on that very day, by a vigorous affault, have taken the city, and put an end to the

war.

In the mean time, many of the more honourable and peaceable inhabitants invited Ceftius to the gates; which they would have opened to him as their common benefactor; but the feditious perceived and prevented the attempt. The Romans therefore affailed the walls on all fides' for five days. On the next day Ceftius, with fome chosen men, attacked the northern part of the temple; the tortoise was formed, the wall was undermined, and they were ready to set fire to the gate of the temple. At this critical moment, when the factious were feifed with difmay, when many privately efcaped from the city, as if it would inftantly be taken, and when the smallest perfeverance would really have carried it; at this anxious moment, the commander on a fudden called off

1 παντοθεν επιχειρισι κ. τ. λ. This feems fufficient to juftify the words of St. Luke in the text: κυκλομένην ὑπο τρατοπέδων. When he speaks of the final fiege, he uses the more expreffive compound : περικυκλωσάσι σε. See Luke xix. 43.

his

his men, and most unexpectedly withdrew from the city".

The hiftorian, in his reflections on this ftrange retreat, attributes it to the anger of heaven; which would not fuffer the calamities of that race of finners to come to fo speedy a termination. This might be a part, but it was only a part, of the divine counfels respecting this remarkable event. It was defigned not merely to shew the severity, but likewise to manifeft the goodness of GoD.

Our bleffed Saviour had promised his faithful followers, that notwithstanding they should be perfecuted even to death, both by Jews and Gentiles, at other times; yet, in the general defolation of Judea, not a hair of their head should perish. Of this holy band fome perhaps as inhabitants, and others come up to celebrate the feaft, abode ftill in Jerufalem; a bulwark stronger than the valour of her fons, or the pride of her battlements wherein the confided. Against those, as against another Sodom, the deftroying angel had received commiffion to fmite; but as yet, peradventure, there remained fifty righ

παραλογώτατα απο της πόλεως ανέζευξεν, are the exprefive words of Jofephus.