hand". In the cafe before us, it may be prefumed, that the figns described by our Lord would mark, by their accomplishment, the time of escape with fufficient exactness. But when the day approached, it might seem good to providence to point out, what before was not known, the individual city to which they should withdraw; and as it lay on the other fide of Jordan, and had lately been plundered by the Jews, it was less likely to be again attacked by them, or by the Romans.

If it should be queftioned whether the date which Eufebius affigns to this event agrees with the account given above, that the retreat was not before the commencement of the war, but upon the flight of Ceftius, at the close of the first campaign; this at least will probably be granted, that it is less inconfiftent with the prefent hypothefis, than with that which delays the escape of the Christians near four years longer, till the final fiege was begun by Titus.

But the truth is, the hiftorian, giving here a summary view of the principal transactions refpecting the church, from our

▾ Acts xi. 28.

2 B. J. L. II. c. xviii. §. 1. Lord's

Lord's afcenfion to the utter extermination of the unbelieving Jews; is anxious rather to record facts, than to determine dates. It is evident, moreover, that the admonitions in the Gospels belong to a time posterior to the first beginning of troubles. For the believers in Chrift are forewarned to flee, not when deftruction hovered round the coast, but when danger had reached the walls of Jerufalem.

But let us leave the historian, and return to the written word of God. The difciples were commanded by their bleffed Master to pray that their flight might not be in the winter, nor on the fabbath. Both petitions. were, no doubt, preferred by the faithful; and both, we might prefume, were graciously heard. But let us not conjecture, if we can prove.

With respect to the time of the retreat, whether it was at the beginning of the fiege by Titus, or when Ceftius retired from the walls, the inclemency of winter would not, in either cafe, preclude their escape, or retard their speed. This however may be obferved, that if the season alluded to was the fpring,

a Matt. xxiv. 20. Mar. xiii. 18.

the

the usual time when kings go out to battle, there may feem to have been lefs neceffity of commanding them to pray that their flight might not be at a period fo unlikely in itself and fo far off. But if, on the other hand, the ftandard of abomination was to be erected in autumn, there was reafon to implore heaven, that it might not continue till winter came on; and the sudden departure of Ceftius in November, when the season was yet mild and favourable for travelling, will appear, in this view, peculiarly striking.

Of the other petition the ground is lefs certain. The reason of it is by fome deduced from the unbelieving Jews; but by others, and with greater probability, from the Chriftians themselves.

Whether the ceremonial law was totally and immediately fuperfeded by the death of Chrift, or whether its obligation continued while the temple ftood, it may not here be neceffary to inquire. It were fufficient perhaps for our prefent purpose, if the Mofaic institutions were ftill confidered as binding the conscience, from that principle to which the first Chriftian converts, with fo much honour to themselves and advantage to the

church,

church, invariably adhered; to do nothing whereby unbelievers might be hardened, or weak brethren mifled. But there seem to be, in this inftance, plain intimations of a higher obligation.

"I teftify," fays St. Paul, "to every man that is circumcifed, that he is a debtor to do the whole law." If this were the cafe with thofe who fhould afterwards receive circumcifion, furely it held equally with respect to fuch as had already received it. Hence, no doubt, fprung that, earnest desire which we fee in this apostle, to celebrate, when the indifpenfable duty of diffeminating the gospel in diftant parts would allow him to celebrate, the Jewish feftivals at Jerufalem. Hence too his zeal, in conjunction with the apoftles there, to fhew that the reports, spread abroad concerning him, were not true; but that he walked orderly, and kept the law ".

The believing Jews were not perhaps bound to circumcife their children, after the new law had been authoritatively promulged on the day of Pentecoft; but certainly not after the destruction of the temple. The church of the circumcifion therefore would gradually

▷ Gal. v. 3.

• See' Acts xx. 16. xxi. 24. • cease.

ceafe. But fo long as there were converts from Judaism, and fuch there were later than the Jewish war, fo long and upon them the law of Mofes feems to have been in force; and confequently, as a part of it, the precept which forbade them to travel beyond a limited and short journey on the fabbath.

If befides this, their feparating themselves and retiring in a body or in numbers, on the day when others were at reft, would be more obfervable; and might induce their enemies to follow after and fall upon them in their march, when the fabbath was ended; these were additional and powerful motives to them to offer up the petition, which the Lord had taught them, with frequency and fervor. The fuccefs of it let us now observe.

The unexpected retreat of Ceftius above mentioned was on tuesday evening the fourth of November. But the escape of the Chriftians, if it were now poffible, which may reasonably be queftioned, was however an enterprise which prudence would not direct them to attempt. The enemy were still within fight of the walls; and what route they would purfue, if it was their intention. totally to abandon the place, was as yet un

certain.