of the then mightiest empire in the world. The Jews, whilst they had the power, were not deterred by their religion from persecuting the Christians; but the Christians were enabled by theirs to bear persecution patiently, yea, even, as we are informed by the historians of those days, to suffer death for their faith—death in its most cruel forms, by the sword, by fire, by water, by wild beasts—and tortures even worse than death, and not unfrequently to meet their doom singing songs of joy and triumph with their last breath, as if they were going to a wedding-feast, or to be crowned as victors. To every thoughtful and unprejudiced man it must, then, have appeared . indubitable that Christianity was the true means to lead the erring into the way of truth, and sinners into the path of righteousness; that it was a heavenly light, a divine gift, a life stronger than death, a power to overcome the world by its own spiritual nature and influence, without the aid of the sword or other worldly weapons; and that it was justly entitled to take its place as God's revealed truth, the religion destined for all mankind.

II

CHRIST AND CHRISTIANITY FORETOLD AND EXPECTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT DISPENSATION

IF this much is clear from the triumphant spread of the new religion, and the effects attending its reception in the hearts of believers, an honest examination

of its nature and evidences can likewise not fail to demonstrate that it is a higher and maturer form of the true religion than the Mosaic law which it has superseded.

The first observation we have to offer in this place is, that Christ and Christianity did not appear without due notice, but that, on the contrary, in the sacred writings of the Jews themselves there were explicit intimations, or prophecies, respecting the coming of a great reformer under the character of a Prophet, Priest, and King, and of a consequent change in the national religion.

We shall now note a few of these prophecies. According to Deut. xviii. 18-19, God said unto Moses, 'I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.' The fulfilment of this prophecy can be gathered from Acts iii. 22-6; Luke xxiv. 19; John iv. 25-26; viii. 28; xii. 49-50; xv. 15; Heb. ii. 3 iii. 1-2; xii. 25. In Psalm cx. 4 we read the remarkable word addressed to one who was then still future, and who was to be not only David's son, but at the same time his Lord (see Matt. xxii. 42-5), 'The Lord has sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedeck.'