THE RECOLLECTION OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS AN EXCELLENT MEANS OF PRESERVING US FROM SIN.

As for these-things which ye-behold, 6 the-days will-come, in the-which

there-shall-not-be-left
one-stone upon another, that
shall-not-be-thrown-down
καταλυθῃ.

3 And as-he-sat upon the
mount of Olives
hover-against the temple,
Peter and James and John
and Andrew
asked him privately,

4

Tell us, when
shall-these-things-be? and
what shall be the sign
το σημείον

of-thy coming της σης παρουσίας,
and of the end of-the world
και της συντελείας του αιώνος?

4m*And Jesus answered andsaid unto-them, Take-heed

that no man

when all these-things
shall μελλῃ
be-fulfilled συντελείσθαι ?
5 And Jesus answering them
began to-say, Take-heed
lest any man

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xxiv. 2. See ye not, &c.-As deserted by the God of Israel, the outward adornings of the temple were only to make the judgment of God in its destruction the more conspicuous-comp. Mk. xiii. 2; Lu. xxi. 6, supra-see on Mt. xxiii. 37-.9, § 85, p. 320.

3. mount of Olives-Zec. xiv. 4. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives,' &c.

the disciples-Mk. xiii. 3, 'Peter and James and John and Andrew'-the last mentioned was one of the first two followers of Jesus, Jno. i. 40-.2, § 10, p. 71-The other three were those chosen by Jesus to see the Son of man coming in his kingdom,' a hear the Father's acknowledgment of Christ on the holy Mount, Mt. xvi. 28, § 50, p. 44; xvii. 1-5, § 51. these things, &c.-the things which Jesus had just predicted, the destruction of the temple, even to the overturning of every one of those stones upon which their admiration was fixed, Mk. xiii. 1-These things'

there-shall-not-be-left one-stone upon another, that shall-not-be-thrown-down καταλυθήσεται.

7

And they-asked him, i saying, Master, k but when ποτε ουν shall-these-things-be? and what sign

το σημείον will there be

when these-things
shall μελλη
come-to-pass viveσlai?

And he said, Take-heed 8
that-ye-be-not-

may also include the things he had before said should happen to that generation-Jesus speaks of various signs, Mt. xxiv. 15-29, and of The Sign,' ver. 30. thy coming-see INTROD., and ver. 27, infra, p. 336. end of the world-the fulfilling of the age-This phrase occurs only in the two books which were written, as is supposed, primarily for Jewish believers, ch. xiii. 39, 40, .9, § 33; xxviii. 20, § 96; and He. ix. 26. 4. Take heed, &c.-De. xi. 16, .7, Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside,.... and.... ye perish quickly from off vii. 4, Take heed, and be quiet; -9, If ye will not the good land which the LORD giveth you.'-Is. believe, surely ye shall not be established.'-Eph. v. 6, Let no man deceive you with vain words:'-Col. ii. 8-18, Beware,' &c.-2 Th. ii. 3, Let no man deceive you by any means:' (as to the time of Christ's Second Advent.)

NOTES.

Mt. xxiv. 2. Not be ieft... one stone. The Jewish writers themselves acknowledge that Terentius Rufus, who was left to command the Roman army, tore up with a ploughshare the foundations of the temple.

occurs to denote a period or point of time in the world's existence, at which the Son of God appeared in the flesh to do away sin, by his one sacrifice of himself, once offered; a period which might well be called & συντέλεια τῶν αἰώνων, if it was,... . a cardinal division of time in the existence of the world; when two-thirds of that existence were elapsed, and onethird still remained to elapse, before the consummation of the whole.-See also 1 Co. x. 11.'-Greswell. PRACTICAL REFLECTION.

3. And of the end of the world. Rather, of the conclusion of this age; for so the words Συντέλεια τοῦ αἰῶνος may be rendered. Comp. He. ix. 26, where the phrase ouvréλsia тāv àíævæv, though not rou alaves,

[Mk. xiii. 1, 2. Riches, beauty, and strength, all and made more plainly to appear the truthfulwhich the temple eminently possessed, could give to ness of the Foundation upon which believers are it no security, when the Lord was departed there-built up an holy temple to the Lord. See Eph. from. All only rendered its fall the more remarkable, ii. 20, .1.]

The first division of this prophecy, following Matthew, is from ver. 4-14, inclusive'-Combining together the three accounts, each of two of which specifies one particular among this class of events, omitted by the rest, we obtain the following division of the events themselves in the following order :-first, the rise and appearance of false Christs; secondly, wars and rumours of wars; or, as St. Luke expresses it, wars and commotions (axaTaoTaoías); thirdly, the rising of "nation... against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,' which are classed apparently together, as events of the like kind in genere, though different in specie; fourthly, "great earthquakes" in such and such places (xarà rómovs), "famines, and pestilences," which likewise are classed apparently together, as events of a kindred nature, and consequently admitting of being differently specified in the order of succession: St. Matthew places "earthquakes" last, St. Mark and St. Luke placing them first-but both St. Matthew and St. Luke, who only mention pestilences as well as famines, concurring in placing the former after the latter; fifthly, "troubles" (rapayaí), specified by St. Mark alone, in conjunction with the other particulars of the fourth class, but posterior to them; sixthly, "fearful sights" (Bóßnrpa), "and signs..... from heaven" (oqueia àr' ovparov), specified by St. Luke. (This is the first member of the first division of the prophecy, ver. 4-14.)-Greswell on the Parables, Vol. V. p. 224. 321] HEAR YE THE WORD OF THE LORD;-Jer. xxi. 11. [VOL. II.

ON EARTH THE SAINTS MUST WALK, WORK, AND WATCH IN THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD.

NOTES.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

FAITH COMETH BY HEARING,-Rom. x. 17.

THAT YE MAY ABOUND IN HOPE, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.-Rom. xv. 13.

IF YE WALK CONTRARY UNTO ME, AND WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO ME;

9 Then shall-they-deliver-+

for they-shall-deliverSCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xxiv. 7. famines threatened against Israel, Le. xxvi. 19-21, and against Jerusalem, Eze. xiv. 13, 4-represented by the Black horse, &c., under the third seal, Rev. vi. 5, 6.

pestilences-threatened against Israel, Le. xxvi. 16-.8 and Jerusalem, Eze. xiv. 19-21-represented by the Pale horse, &c., under the fourth seal, Rev. vi. 7, 8.

But

12

before πpo all these, theyshall-lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering

8. of sorrows-divar-Severe afflictions are frequently compared by the psalmist and prophets to the pangs of child-birth-see the LXX.; Ps. xlviii. 6; Is. xiii. 8; lxvi. 7; and Je. xxx. 6, 7.

Lu. xxi. 12. persecute, &c.-The first Christians were persecuted, He. x. 32, .3; I Th. ii. 14, .5; 1 Pe. iv. 12;

NOTES.

against each other. Ist. That of the Jews and Galileans against the Samuritans, for the murder of some Galileans going up to the feast at Jerusalem, while Cumanus was procurator. 2ndly. That of the whole nation of the Jews against the Romans and Agrippa, and other allies of the Roman empire; which began when Gessius Florus was procurator.

It would be irrelevant to interpret the prediction of the civil wars which should take place in course of time between the successive competitors for the Roman purple, Nero and Galba, Gaiba and Otho, Otho and Vitellius, Vitellius and Vespasian, for these were the contests of Gentiles with Gentiles,. . . . the fact of which also did not begin to be verified until a year and a half after the commencement of the Jewish rebellion.'-Greswell: and see ADDENDA, p.358.

Mt. xxiv. 7. And there shall be famines. There was a famine foretold by Agabus, Ac. xi. 28, which is mentioned by Tacitus, Suetonius, and Eusebius. Its presence was likely to be felt more severely in Judæa than elsewhere, because it set in immediately after a sabbatic year, U.C. 791, ..5, ab autumno.'Ibid. See NOTE, p. 261.

Earthquakes. This is the first among the fourth class of events. The word Ecool in this verse cannot refer to the commotions and insurrections mentioned above, as some commentators assert. From the deficiency of our historical materials, we are not able to recite any recorded instances which actually came to pass in Judæa before the necessary point of time to serve the purpose of a sign, or a presage of

the approaching visitation of the Jews. Contemporaneous history makes mention of several before and after the time of the delivery of the prophecy, oftentimes very disastrous in their effects, so as truly to deserve the name of great, and oftentimes affecting the neighbourhood of Judæa, if not of Judæa itself; and Josephus describes a memorable instance of the same kind of natural phenomenon in the very vicinity of Jerusalem,.... but the former must be excluded from the scope of the prophecy as not happening in Judæa, the latter, as too late.... to fulfil the common purpose of this class of events as a sign.'— Ibid.

Mk. xiii. 8. Troubles. This is the fifth class of signs, the combined effect of every antecedent species of sign besides, the increasing troublousness, restlessness, and agitation of the times, as the period of the end drew nigh;.... a characteristic of the intervening period between the ascension and the destruction of Jerusalem, after a certain point, as well authenticated and remarkable as any.'-Ibid.

Lu. xxi. 11. Fearful sights and great signs . . from heaven. Signs of the sixth class. The two being one of them a phenomenon which appeared in most remarkable events which attest this fulfilment, the air,.... a sign from heaven, the other a truly alarming and portentous occurrence.'-Ibid.-See ADDENDA, p. 358.

Mt. xxiv. 9. Then shall they deliver you up to be aflicted. Rather, Then they will deliver you up to PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

Mt. xxiv. 7. Although pestilence may naturally be destruction of nations, according as men are led to expected to follow faniine, as famine does the desola- repentance or left in impenitence. tions of war, yet neither of them come but in the [8, 9 ver. The sore judgments, whereby the unbeorder of Providence; they come for the correction or lieving Jews were swept from off their land, and left Mark and Luke give priority to earthquakes as writing later than Matthew, before the date of whose gospel no earthquake [to be noted as a sign] is supposed to have happened.'-See Greswell, NOTES, supra. The collateral member of the first division of the prophecy is from ver. 9-14 in St. Matthew's account. Two series of events are combined in the first division (ver. 4-14), so far as it is prophetical of the future in general, which must consequently be supposed to begin together, and to run parallel to each other during the same interval, up to the same period.... The persons addressed in this member of the division (ver. 9-14), were the four apostles, as representatives of their fellow-disciples, and the future members of the future Hebrew church.

This member, like the former of the same division, consists of preceptive, combined with historical matter;... That the business of the historical portion of it is to acquaint the disciples with the course and circumstances of futurity, affecting themselves as members of the christian community among the Jews, through the same period for which the order and kind of facts previously recited, were destined to affect the rest of their countrymen, may be taken for granted. Combining as before the several accounts into one, we obtain the following enumeration of the particulars of the course and the circumstances in question:-first, the beginning, continuance, and increase of persecution; secondly, the taking of offence, by many; thirdly the rise and agency of false prophets, or teachers; fourthly, the growing lukewarmness, or coldness, of the love of believers in general; and fifthly, the odium of the christian name universally among the Gentiles. -Greswell on the Parables, p. 272.

I WILL BRING SEVEN TIMES MORE PLAGUES UPON YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR SINS.

Lev. xxvi. 21.

326]

THE LORD MOST HIGH IS TERRIBLE;-Psa. xlvii. 2.

VOL II.

LET THEM THAT SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD COMMIT THE KEEPING OF

"and shall-kill you: and ye-shallbe hated of all nations των εθνών

for my name's-sake."

10 And the gospel must de first be-published
among es all nations τα έθνη.

11 But when they-shall-lead you, and-deliver- you'-up,
SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Ac. xxvi. 11- They were imprisoned: Peter and
John, iv. 3; viii. 3; Paul and Silas, xvi. 23; 2 Co. xi.
23-so also Ac. xxii. 4; xxvi. 10-They were beaten
in the synagogues, xvi. 23; 2 Co. xi. 24, 5; Ac.
v. 18, 40-brought before councils, iv. 3-6-before
kings, xii. 1, 2- before rulers, Paul before Gallio,
Felix, and Festus, xviii. 12; xxiii. 33; xxv. 6-They
were killed: Stephen, vii. 59; James, xii. 2-so xxii. 4.
Mt. xxiv. 9. and shall kill you, &c.-The subject of
the fifth seal, when were seen, Rev. vi. 9-11, under
the altar the souls of them that were slain for the
word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
hated of all nations, &c.-1 Th. ii. 14, Ye also have
suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as
they have of the Jews:-iii. 3, Yourselves know that

we are appointed thereunto.'-Ja. v. 7, Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.'1 Pe. iv. 12-.9, Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,' &c.

Mk. xiii. 10. published among all nations-which would partly result from the disciples being driven out from among the Jews by the persecutions mentioned, ver. 9-Ac. xiii. 46, Seeing ye put it from you,....lo, we turn to the Gentiles.'-See Mt. xxiv. 14, infra, and the great commission, xxviii. 19, 20, § 96, pp. 503, ..4.

11. But when they shall lead.... and deliver you up, &c.-The same advice, Mt. x. 19, 20, § 39, p. 299; Lu. xxi. 14, infra.

NOTES.

afliction, els xiv. By a bold figure of speech afliction is here personified. They are to be delivered into affliction's own hand, to be harassed by all the modes of inventive torture.

The particle róre, which ushers in this division of the subject in St. Matthew, is not to be referred to the point of time indicated by the fulfilment of the last of the classes of signs just enumerated, but to the point of time indicated by the commencement of the enumeration of these signs in general; that is, it must be referred to the general question, WOTE σTAL Taura, not to what immediately precedes in the narrative.'-Greswell, p. 272.

The particular persecutions intended are those which should be begun and carried on by the Jews; ....The first instance of a persecution, which answers to the description in the prophecy, is that which was begun seven years after the ascension, and was rendered memorable by the death of Stephen, and the active part taken in it by Saul of Tarsus. The progress of the hostilities of the Jews against the Christians is clearly pointed out in the Acts of the Apostles.'-Ibid. -See SCR. ILL., and ADDENDA, p. 359, Of persecution.' Mk. xiii. 9. And in the synagogues, &c. See on Mt. x. 17-22, § 39, p. 298. Lu. xxi. 12. For my name's sake. 1 Pe. iv. 16, strictly on that account; for the Epicureans denied

a God or a Providence, and the Jews were equally enemies to idolatry; yet both escaped. So that it was, as Tertullian says, nominis prælium, a war against the very name of Christ; for he who was called Christian had, in bearing the name, committed crime enough to be put to death!

13. It shall turn to you for a testimony. By this means they would have an opportunity of confirming their testimony for Christ before kings and rulers. It is also to be remarked, that what was by men accounted dishonour, their being martyrs for Christ, has become at length one of the most honourable distinctions; and it is as having suffered for the testimony which they held, that they will at last be raised up in glory.

Mt. xxiv. 9. Ye shall be hated of all nations. Thus our Lord had before warned them, ch. x. 22, § 39, p. 299. In Ac. xxviii. 22, we find the Jews at Rome, in the reign of Nero, speaking of the Christians as a 'sect... everywhere spoken... against.' And so Nero, when, as there is reason to believe, he set fire to Rome, taking advantage of the general hatred to the Christians, made it the ground of inflicting upon them the most cruel torments.

Mk. xiii. 10. And the gospel must first be, &c. See on Mt. xxiv. 14, p. 330.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

without the power of persecuting, as they had done, the followers of Jesus, were not by these to be rejoiced in: they were the beginning of sorrows to the nation generally. The Christians had been previously persecuted by their own nation, but now they were to be hated of all nations. Let us pray that the day of grace to our people may be prolonged. The evils we suffer from one another are small compared with those we might be called to endure, if left to the mercy of other nations.]

Lu. xxi. 12, .3. The Christian, when called to suffer for Christ's sake, should rejoice, inasmuch as he is thereby given an opportunity of evincing the sincerity of his religious profession, and of bringing the truth before those from whom it might otherwise remain hid.

[Mt. xxiv. 9. The disciples of Christ were bid to look for nothing less than hatred, persecution, and

VOL. 11.]

death from man. If we are exempted, we ought to inquire the reason; and if not on account of our unfaithfulness, we ought to be thankful for the quiet we enjoy, in place of complaining at every little slight or seeming injustice we receive from those around us.]

[Mk. xiii. 10. The blood of the saints was not to be shed in vain. Let us not only be willing to suffer, but be diligent in making known the truth for which we are willing to suffer.]

to perform, or dangers to pass through, in the Lord's [Mk. xiii. 11. Those who have extraordinary duties work, may expect extraordinary help from on high; and those who are remarkably gifted may expect to be as remarkably tried. The disciple will best be prepared for trial by simply committing himself into the hands of God, being diligent to know, and do, and suffer his holy will.]

GIVE HEED TO ME, O LORD,-Jer. xviii. 19.

[327

THEIR SOULS TO HIM IN WELL DOING, AS UNTO A FAITHFUL CREATOR.-1 Pet. iv. 19.

MATT. xxiv. 10.

MARK Xiii. 12, .3.
take-no-thought-

before-hand μη προμεριμνᾶτε
what ye-shall-speak,

neither do-ye-premeditate: but
whatsoever shall-be-given you in that
hour, that speak-ye: for it-is not ye
that speak, but the Holy Ghost.c

LUKE xxi. 14-.7. Settle code it therefore 14 in your hearts, not to-meditate-before what-ye-shall-answer απολογηθηναι :

for I will-give you a-mouth and wis- 15
dom, which all your adversaries shall-
not-be-able to-gainsay nor resist.

BE NOT THOU ... ASHAMED OF THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD, NOR OF ME HIS PRISONER.

10 And then shall-many-be-offended,

and shall-betray one-another,
and shall-hate one-another."

12

Now de

fthe-brother shall-betray

the-brother to death,

and the-father the-son; and children shall-rise-up against their parents, and shall-cause-them-to-be-put-to-death."

13 And ye-shall-be
hated of all men for
my name's-sake:

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Lu. xxi. 15. a mouth and wisdom, &c.-comp. Mt. x. 19, 20, § 39, p. 299-This promise fulfilled in the case of Peter, Ac. iv. 13, .4-of Stephen, vi. 8, 10-of Paul, xxiv. 25.

Mt. xxiv. 10. then shall many be offended, &c.-Is. viii. 15, And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.'Mt. xiii. 21, § 33, p. 255, When tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.'-Examples in Paul's experience, 2 Ti. i. 15; iv. 10, .6.

betray one another-[Mk. xiii. 12; Lu. xxi. 16.]

hate one another-Ja. iii. 14-.6, If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts,' &c. Lu. xxi. 16. ye shall be betrayed, &c.-see a similar warning, Mt. x. 21, 36, § 39, pp. 299, 302; Mk. xiii. 12, su. 17. hated of all-Mt. xxiv. 9-Hated of all men,' &c., x. 22, § 39, p. 299.

odium or infamy attaching to the professors of For proofs of the existing or gradually increasing Christianity, see Ac. xiii. 6-8, 50; xvii. 5-7; xviii. 6; xix. 9; xxii. 21, .8; xxiv. 5, 6, 9, 14; xxv. 7,8; 1 Co. iv. 12, .3; 1 Ti. iv. 10; Ja. ii. 7; 1 Pe. ii. 12, .5; iii. 16; iv. 4, 14, .6.'-Greswell.-See NOTE.

NOTES.

[Lu. xxi. 14. Settle it therefore in your hearts. | defend themselves and their faith "before kings and Oboes obv sis rás xapdías bu. wy. i. e., 'Make it a firmly- rulers," he, though no longer on earth, will supply fixed and heartfelt principle,' &c.--Comp. Mt. x. 19, them with such powers of speech, and such wisdom, 20, § 39, p. 299; Lu. xii. 11, .2, § 63, p. 164.] as shall put down all contradiction and resistance.See Ac. vi. 10.'-Lonsdale and Hale.]

Mk. xiii. 11. Neither do ye premeditate. The exact rendering of the original is, 'Neither prepare yourselves by practice,' that is, for making your defence. -See ADDENDA, p. 359.

The same Spirit which wrought by their hands, would speak by their mouths; and the same supernatnral agency would be as visible in their discourses, as in their miracles. ... The admirable specimens of christian eloquence which occur in the history of the Acts of the Apostles, so pregnant and sublime in the matter, so just and cogent in the argument, so animated, rapturous, and elevated in the expression, are not the words of the mouth which pronounces them, but of the Holy Ghost.'-Greswell.

Mt. xxiv. 10. Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another. "This is to be understood as a preliminary step to the falling away of some among the christian community themselves..... The parable of the sower prepared us beforehand to expect instances of the apostacy everywhere as one of the first and most natural effects of the subjection of christian principle, and fervour of christian love, to so severe a trial as persecution.'-Greswell, p. 276.

To illustrate this point, one sentence out of Tacitus, Annal. 1. xv., will be sufficient; who, speaking of the persecution under Nero, U.C. $17. A.D. 64, says, At first several were seized, who confessed, and then by THEIR DISCOVERY a great multitude of others were convicted and per secuted.' Lu. xxi. 17. Ye shall be hated of all men, &c. This PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

[Lu. xxi. 15. I will give you a mouth and wisdom. In this promise we have a remarkable proof of the divinity of our blessed Lord. For he here assures his disciples, that when they shall be called upon to

[Lu. xxi. 15, .6. Let not the Christian be over-confident that the danger is past, when those who have been in open hostility are put to silence. We have a wily adversary, who, if he cannot overcome by force, will not be backward to use fraud, and this as working with instruments that we could least of all suppose would become subservient to his designs.]

[Mt. xxiv. 10. The most dangerous enemies the church has met with have been from within. It is more difficult to exercise patience as meeting with

328]

offenders, betrayers, and haters of each other among the brethren, than to meet with open hostility from the world. But such trials are part of the discipline through which the Christian should be prepared to pass.]

Mk. xiii. 12. Let us admire the wisdom and kindness of our Saviour, who has made conducive to the confirmation of our faith even the most painful and discouraging circumstances, such as betrayal unto death by one's nearest and dearest relatives.

HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS,-2 Tim. i. 13.

[VOL. II.

BUT BE THOU PARTAKER OF THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE POWER OF GOD;-2 Tim. i. 8.