to the end should be saved; and further still, that, in this very season of alarm and danger, notwithstanding the various perils from without, and the coldness and apoftacy of many within, the gospel should go forth, and vail over the earth. pre Thus forewarned, and thus fortified, a fign is given them, whereupon They, who had fo long in vain endeavoured to convert their brethren, fhould now betake themselves to inftant flight; left they should be confumed in the deftruction of the wicked, of which a most affecting account is exhibited. Still, however, the defcription of the feducers, who, before the war, and during its continuance, fhould be the ruin of multitudes, was not fo minute and full, as the holy Jefus, in compaffion to those who believed on him, and to thofe who did not, faw to be expedient. This point therefore he graciously refumes; and, in the verfes already quoted, and fome which follow, delineates the impoftors, with fuch particularity, that they, who had read the prediction, and it was published early, that all might read it, must have been blind not to fee its accom accomplishment, if it ever was accomplished, and mad to be deluded, if they did behold it. The admonition of Chrift was, "If they shall say unto you, Behold he is in the defert, go not forth h." And the hiftorian Jofephus, as if it had been his defign to illuftrate this paffage, informs us, that false prophets and impoftors prevailed on multitudes, to follow them into the defert, promifing to display there prodigies and figns; but that thofe, who listened to them, fuffered the just punishment of their folly, and were either flain, or difperfed, by the Roman governor'. If they fay, Behold, he is in the fecret chambers, believe it not," was another part of the warning in the Gospel. From Josephus we learn, that in Jerufalem itself, and during the siege, there were many deceivers, who lied against GOD, and promised their h Matt. xxiv. 26. i Ant. Jud. L. xx. c. viii. §. 6. Soon after our Lord's afcenfion, Dofitheus, a Samaritan, endeavoured to perfuade the Samaritans, that he was the Meffiah of whom Mofes prophefied. See Origen contra Celf. Of Simon Magus, the countryman and contemporary of Dofitheus, an account may be feen in the fame author, and in others. It feemed not neceffary to my design to mention any impoftors befides those who appeared in these days in Judea. coun countrymen peace and fafety. Even at the laft, when the temple was in flames, multitudes of all ages flocked thither from the city, upon the proclamation of a false prophet, that GOD enjoined them to go up to the temple, where they fhould receive the figns of deliverance; and of fix thousand affembled there, on this occafion; not one efcaped the fire, or the fword *. "I am come," said Chrift to the Jews, "in my Father's name, and ye receive me not; if another fhall come in his own name, him ye will receive'." The true difciples of our Lord were few, though in one instance four, and in another, five, thousand were miraculously fed by him". But a Jew, who afterwards came from Egypt, with no other credentials, but felf-confident boasting, led away to mount Olivet, as Jofephus informs us, no lefs a number, than thirty thoufand deluded followers"; and though, as far as appears, neither he, nor any of his brethren in imposture, actually affumed the title of * B. J. L. VI. c. v. ý. 2, 3. m See Matt. xv. 38. xiv. 21. John v. 43. Ant. Jud. L. xx. c. viii. §. 6. B. J. L. II. c. xiii. §. 5. He fays of thcfe deceivers juft before (§. 4.) προχηματι θειασμό και δαιμοναν το πλήθος ανέπειθον. Meffiah; Meffiah; yet their general conduct fufficiently fhewed, to what their ambitious views afpired. They styled themselves prophets, and profeffed to act under the immediate influence of heaven; and they likewife undertook to deliver the people; and this twofold character, of a victorious prince and an inspired prophet, was what the Jews, in that age, univerfally expected to find in their Mefliah. The impoftors therefore, if not in express words, at least by the exploits, which they engaged to perform, feverally declared, "I am the Chrift.” This character, and these promises, it is probable, no deceiver ever held forth, till the true Son of David had converfed among men, and wrought a deliverance, not from temporal, but fpiritual, enemies. Judas of Galilee, mentioned in the Acts, who opposed the enrollment, afferting, that GOD was the only governor and lord, was the founder of a new fect among the Jews, but did not challenge, in support of his schemes, the authority of heaven, or the title of a prophet. The pretenfions alfo of the Theudas, of whom Ga • See Grot. on Luke xxiv. 21. P v. 37. See A. J. L. XVIII. c. i. §. 6. L. XX. c. iv. §. 2. B. J. L. II. c. viii. §. 1. maliel there speaks, were, it is likely, of a fimilar nature. And when our bleffed Saviour fays, "All that ever," or rather, All as many as, "came before me, are thieves and robbers;" his words feem to point at the pharifaical and other avaricious fhepherds, who, in those days, led astray, and then plundered, the flock; but did not arrogate to themselves the office of Meffiah. The truth therefore may, in this probably, as in other inftances, claim the honour of priority to error and falfehood". On this, however, it is not neceffary to lay much stress: there is another point, which requires fome confideration. Among the various false prophets, mentioned by Jofephus, and their various boafts, he has not recorded the achievement of any one extraordinary feat, which they promifed. How then, it may be asked, does this agree with our Lord's prediction in the cafe; they "fhall fhew 4 John x. 8. πάντες όσοι προ εμε ήλθον, κλέπται Εισι και λήσαι. Ita autem agebant tunc Judæorum doctores, qui, Chriftum gregem fibi colligere obfervantes, ipfum prævertebant, oves. que ab ipfo ad fe pertrahere conabantur, feque proinde pro janua ovium in ecclefiam venditabant. Wolf. in loc. In omnibus veritas imaginem antecedit; poft rem fimili. tudo fuccedit. Tertull. de Præfcript. c xxix. great |