ed in the 12th of Hebr. at the End where it is quoted.

The other is, the shaking of all Nations, antecedently to the Advent of the Meffiah. This denotes Disturbances and Revolutions of States, by War and Conqueft; and it js to be noted, that these Shakings began quickly after the giving out of this Prophefy, and continued with little Interruption, down to our Saviour's Approach. For the Perfian Monarchy was quickly overturned by the Greeks, and the Grecian, Monarchy was again swallowed up by the Romans; and Rome, after devouring all the Kingdoms that lay within the Flight of her conquering Eagle, fell into civil Wars, that lafted till the Empire and an universal Peace were fettled in the Time of Auguftus. The Jewish Nation had her Share in these great Commotions, being firft oppreffed by the Syrians, and afterwards reduced under the Roman Yoke, and made a Roman Province, under a Governor of that Nation. In Matters of Religion, they were indeed tolerated, and enjoyed their own ecclefiaftical Laws, but with fome very material ReAtraints; for they could not inflict Death for those spiritual Crimes that were capital by the Law of Mofes.

Here

Here their Hands were tyed up by their Conquerors, of which we have an Instance, in the Cafe of our bleffed Saviour, who being convicted, tho' fally, of Blafphemy, which was Death by the Jewish Law, yet they durft not proceed to his Execution, alledging to Pilate, It is not lawful for us John 18.31. to put any Man to Death, and therefore they had Recourse to him, at last, for a Sentence of Crucifixion.

Here then we fee this Prophefy in my Text clearly verified, as far as it relates to the fhaking of all Nations, previously to the Advent of the Meffiah; and that the political Government of the Jews was broken, as well as that of the other Nations by the Roman Power. When these Commotions were over, and all Nations reduced to a peaceful Obedience under Auguftus, then it was that the Meffiah, the Meffenger of Peace, like the Halcyon Bird, made his Appearance in the World, and began his fpiritual Kingdom, which can never be shaken, according to that famous Prophesy of Daniel; That the God of Heaven fhould fet ch. 2. 44. up a Kingdom, which should never be deftroyed. I come,

2dly, To fhew the Effect of these Preparations, for rendering it a happy Juncture for the coming of Chrift. And the Wif dom of divine Providence is herein very confpicuous, upon the following Accounts.

ift, Because the temporal Power of the Jews being broken, they were difabled for making fo effectual an Oppofition to Chrift and his Religion, as they would otherwife have done. Certain it is, that the whole Nation were, at this Time efpecially, full of Hopes and Expectations of the Meffiah, but they had figured to themselves a great Prince, who fhould come with Power and Majefty, to drive out the Romans, and reign in Glory and Riches over the People of 7rael. And when they faw the Son of a Carpenter fetting up for their Meffiah and King, attended by fome poor Fishermen, as his chief Minifters, they treated him at first with Difregard and Contempt, till the daily Miracles he wrought drew Multitudes after him, and procured him many Difciples: then indeed they were ftaggered, and began to look about them; for the chief Priests and Pharifees, gathered a Council, and faid, what do we? for this Man doth

many Mi

racles,

racles, and if we let him alone, all Men will John 11.47, believe on him, and the Romans fhall come,' 48. and take away both our Place and Nation.

Here is a plain Confeffion of our Saviour's Miracles, which could not but create fome Apprehenfions that he might poffibly be the true Meffiah; for he applyed his Miracles to the Proof of this very Point, and a Proof it was, to all honeft and unprejudiced Mindą. But their Hopes of Power and Dominion were raised too high, and they could not digest a King of his forry Figure, who brought no worldly Honours and Preferments in his Hand; and as Pride and Prejudice had hardned their Hearts, they took ver. 53. Counsel from that Day forth, for to put him to death. But the Providence of God had provided against this, by opening the Scene, at a Time when the Power of Life and Death was taken out of their Hands by the Romans; fo that they durft not execute their wicked Intentions, without the Sentence of the Roman Governor. Had the Sovereign Power continued entire in the Hands of the Jews, the Matter would have been brought to a fhort Iffue; our bleffed Saviour, with his Apostles, would have been foon dispatched out of the World, before H 4

the

the Course of his Miracles and Ministry were finished.

Here then we have a plain Inftance of the Wisdom of God's Providence, in ordering the Advent of Christ at that Period of Time, when the Jews were conquered, and disabled from stifling Christianity in its Birth; and yet not fo conquered as to be rooted out and difperfed. This the Providence of God did not permit, but fuffered them to continue ftill in the Form of a Nation for the better introducing of the Gofpel into the World. For the Gentiles were in no fort prepared to receive the Meffiah, having never heard of fuch a Perfon under that Character. They were Aliens to the Common-wealth of Ifrael, and Strangers to the Covenant of Promife.

All the Prophefies and Promises were delivered to the Jews, and all the Rites and Ceremonies of their Religion pointed to the Meffiah, with one common Hand. They were therefore prepared to receive him, and all the devout and unprejudiced Men owned him, when they faw his Credentials, and found upon Enquiry, that he was born in that very Place, and fprung from that Tribe, and particular Line, which

was