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And it is obfervable that the latter evangelift, plainly copying from this part of the former Gospel, drops it however when he comes to the twenty third verfe, the paffage in question; as if to tell us, that this related not to the fubject then in hand and it certainly does not. For the gospel was to be preached, before the temple was destroyed, not only throughout all Judea, but among the Gentiles alfo, even to the uttermoft parts of the then known and inhabited world".

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Shall we then, with Theophylact and others, understand the text before us to mean nothing more, than if it had been faid, in plainer words, "I will come to you?" This, it fhould feem, is also inadmiffible. As the apostles were fent into different diftricts, two

in the words and the order, exactly the fame with the 12th and 13th verfes of St. Mark; and the latter being copied from the former, that is the reason why the words Twvvwv are not in St. Mark, though St. Matthew has them in the correfponding part of his Gofpel, c. xxiv. 9. The addition of the 10th verfe in St. Mark (c. xiii.) is a further proof, that these verses in St. Matthew (c. x. 17-22.) belong to the time after our Lord's afcenfion. St. Matthew expreffes the fame thing, but in different words, xxiv. 14.

y See Matt. xxiv. 14. Mark xiii. 10.

In loc. S. Chryfoftom, Beza, &c.

and

and two together, their Lord could not well go to Them, and they did, in fact, return to Him. Then, had this been his intention, he would have faid, I conceive, as he elfewhere does, "I will fee you again," or "I will come to you;" and not have used a mode of speaking, which they would probably misapply.

The Meffiah, it has been obferved, was promised by the prophets, and expected by the Jews, as the ò pxouevos, he that was comερχόμενος, ing, or fhould come. On this ground it was probably, that the Coming of the Son of man is fo frequently and emphatically applied, in the New Teftament, to our blessed Lord; and though it sometimes may denote his bodily prefence, yet not as unaccompanied

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And fo the feventy, Luke x. 1.

Mark vi. 30. So likewise the seventy, Luke

John xvi. 22. xiv. 18.

See Kidder on the Meffias, P. I. p. 37. See also Dr. Bandinel's excellent Sermons, p. 169.

e It seems in fuch inftances not to be used fimply, but to have fome other words joined with it, as Matt. xi 19. Luke vii. 34. So too with regard to his future appearance to judge the world, it was faid by the holy angels to the apostles, "This fame Jefus, which is taken up from you into heaven, fhall fo come in like manner as ye have seen him go into bea

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with fome fignal circumstance of dignity or power; not a private interview between him and the apoftles.

How They would understand the words it feems not difficult to explain. They believed their Mafter to be the Redeemer of Ifrael ; and they knew that his kingdom had been announced, by the preaching of the Baptist, But all that had been done, from his days to the present time, they confidered, and rightly confidered, as introductory to fomething more illuftrious. What they were instructed to proclaim, and what their Lord himself taught, Was ήγγικεν ἡ βασιλεια, the kingdom of heaven is near, or at hand; a phrase never used when the thing spoken of was actually prefent.

The whole space of the public ministry of our Lord was, if I may fo call it, but the inchoation, or commencement, of his kingdom. He had indeed, by the defcent of the Holy Ghost upon him at his baptism, been anointed king; but the adversary, the prince of this world, the Saul, as it were, of this

ven." Acts i. ii. In other paffages where coming is mentioned abfolutely, as 1 Cor. xv. 23. 1 Theff. ii. 19. &c. the word in the original is different.

f See Matt. x. 7. iv. 17. &c.

Son

On

Son of David, was not yet deftroyed. the cross the great confummation was pronounced; the fhadows of the law were done away; death was fubdued, and he that had the power of death. By the refurrection the victory was made manifeft; and when he afcended into heaven, he was enthroned king at God's right hand, and gave, at this his folemn inauguration", gifts unto men, in the miraculous effufion of the Holy Spirit.

To this magnificent train of events it is probable our bleffed Redeemer alluded, when he spoke of the coming of the Son of man, as about to take place, before the apostles should have gone over the cities of Ifrael. And although of these things they had then no conception, for they, with their country→ men, expected a Meffiah invested with temporal authority and fplendor; yet being right in the main, in referring the words to the inftating of their Lord in the throne of David, how that great event was to be brought about, and what should be the nature of his kingdom, were points which were left to be explained, partly by future conference with

See Heb. ii. 14.

See Hammond's Pract. Catech. p. 21.

their divine Mafter, partly by the marvelous works themselves, but chiefly by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, which was to guide them into all the truth.

If to this interpretation it fhould be thought an objection, that the words are not referred to one fingle appearance; it may be answered,

that the refurrection and afcenfion of our Lord and the miffion of the Holy Ghoft followed each other fo foon, and were, in the divine economy, so closely connected, that they may properly be regarded, not as feparate independent facts, but rather as parts of one and the fame tranfaction. Thus it is that the fcripture seems to speak of them; and expofitors accordingly often apply a particular text to all the three*. If however any one chooses, with Grotius, to confine the paffage to the last of these three glorious events, the descent of Holy Spirit, before which it is certain the kingdom of the Meffiah was not fully come;

i See Eph. i. 20. where the refurrection and ascension of Chrift are represented as one continued operation, if I may fo speak, of divine power. And in the fame Epiftle, c. iv. 8. the ascension of our Lord and the miffion of the Holy Spirit are mentioned as of equally clofe connection. Compare John xiv. 28. xvi. 7.

So Grotius, Beza, &c. on Matt. xvi. 28.

that

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