hand; and that is, as here, the overthrow of the temple.

With regard to the extent of the propagation of the gospel, foretold as previous to this great revolution; the words, which are tranflated "all the world," have, like many others, a latitude of fignification, which may generally be determined, with a fufficient degree of certainty and precifion, from the scope of the paffage where they occur. That they are not here to be restrained to Judea, is evident, not only from the text of St. Mark, juft quoted, but alfo from St. Matthew himfelf. If the gospel was to be "preached for a Witness to all nations," it must furely be preached Among all nations; for a testimony, which is unknown, can be no teftimony.

On the other hand however, it is by no means neceffary, from the univerfality of the terms, to extend the prophecy to every individual, or even every district, of the peopled earth. It was justly remarked, by one of the ancients, in a treatife on the present subject, the calling of the Gentiles; that expreffions, fimilar to those now before us, are often used in fcripture, when a part of the globe, or a portion

portion of mankind, is all that is intended. Accordingly, the text may well be conftrued, to have for its object, what certainly included the far greater part of the then known world, the Roman empire. And this interpretation is justified by St. Luke, in a passage, of which the meaning cannot be mistaken. The decree of Auguftus, that "All the World should be taxed d" or enrolled, muft doubtless have respected thofe alone, who were subjects of the empire.

Throughout this empire then, the most extenfive, that ever was united, under one head; from the mouth of the Rhine, to the borders of Ethiopia; from the western Gades, to the banks of Euphrates; kingdoms, which the

Vide Auctor. de Vocat. Omn. Gent. apud S. Ambrof. Tom. IV. L. 1. c. 3.

Τις γαρ ίδων Ιαΐον θαλάττης εκ έθαύμασε

παρειληφοτα την ηγεμονίαν πάσης γης και αρχην όχι των πλείτων και αναγκαιότα των μέρων της οικεμένης, ο δη και κυρίως αν τις Οικεμενην εποι, δυστ ποταμοις οριζομενην, Ευφράτη τε και Ρηνῳ,αλλ', ὡς εἶπον ηδη, την αφ' ήλιε ανίοντος αχρι δυομένε, την τε εντος ωκεανό και υπερωκεανίαν, Philo de Leg. ad Caium p. 546. Compare Agrippa's speech, diffuading the Jews from war, B. Jud. L. II. c. xvi. §. 4, P. 1086.

Luke ii. 1. Compare alfo Acts ii. 5. with the fubfequent enumeration of countries, verfe 9. &c.

• See Tacit. Ann. L. XV. 17. Senec. Nat. Quæft. L. VI.

c. 7:

Roman

Roman fword had been ages in fubduing; it was foretold by our Lord, that his gofpel should be published, during that generation. And this prediction, which was delivered by him, when his death was now at hand, was committed to writing, foon after his afcenfion, while the church was yet confined to the circumcifion; "to teftify to mankind,” as an excellent writer obferves, "that the calling of the Gentiles was not an afterthought of the apoftles themfelves, because the Jews rejected them, but an original part of the gofpel economy."

But all the ways of GoD are prepared, and his judgements are in his foreknowledge." In order therefore that the argument may have its full weight, it will be proper to inquire, whether intimations were not aforetime given by the prophets, that the Gentiles fhould one day be admitted, into covenant with GOD. Aftonishing as the rapid propagation of the gofpel is, confidered merely as an hiftorical event; yet if it is found to have taken place, in perfect conformity with the voice of prophecy, in various

f Dr. Townfon on the Gofpels, p. 127. See alfo St. Chry foftom, Serm. 2. in Ephef. T. III. p. 770.

Judith ix. 6.

ages,

ages, the proof, thence arifing, of the truth of Chriftianity, will, from fuch a view of the matter, be more complete and convincing..

Now first of all, when " by one man fin entered into the world, and death by fin";" the Lord, in his goodness, was pleased to provide a remedy adequate to the fatal disease. As this delivery, therefore, was to comprehend the whole race, and was accordingly promised to all mankind, in their common parents; so it might be expected, that when the feed of the woman was really come, and the power of the serpent crushed and subdued, the victory, which was originally foretold to all, fhould, now that it was obtained, be made known unto all men.

St. Paul has remarked, that "the fcripture, foreseeing that GoD would juftify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham." In the fame manner, I conceive, from the declaration of heaven to our first parents, it may be inferred, that the gospel, or, in other words, universal redemption, was taught to them immediately after the fall.

Rom. v. 12.

i Gal. iii. 8.

But

fact there are many things, in the prophetical parts of the writings of Mofes, agreeing with and confirming thofe antecedent promises, which, as an historian, he has recorded. will move them to jealousy," fays he, "with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger, with a foolish nation "." The jealoufy, here fpoken of, can only be a religious jealoufy; and thofe, who were not a people, or not yet a people, must be aliens' from Ifrael, and confequently Gentiles.

Hitherto the time, for the accomplishment of this promife, had not been distinctly pointed out; but as the day approached, the declarations concerning it became more exprefs. In the prophets it is obfervable, that the coming of the Meffiah, the calling of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews, are often mentioned together, as events connected one with the other, as well in time as in other refpects. Whatever therefore fixes the feafon of one, of the firft, for inftance, upon which fomething was faid in the preceding lecture, must likewise, in some meafure, determine the others. But one or two paffages, which particularly belong to the point in hand, may at prefent fuffice.

■ Deut. xxxii. 21. Rom. x. 19.

See, as one inftance among many, If. lv. 1, 2.

"I will