to teach the world. Not endued with the wisdom of the time, not experienced in the ways of the world, not acquainted with scientific, physical, theological, moral, or social theories, they had been taught by one, Jesus.

Pass from the men to the Books.

The Books, whether old or new, not always chronological in canonical arrangement, are coherent with the circumstances of their date, and as to matter, congruous. Everything has due place in the successive steps of one indivisible yet exceedingly variable history; and in every part are symbols, allusions, prophecies, showing that the whole was seen from the beginning, and linked with knitted purport.

The predictions concerning our Lord's nature and work and suffering, are not fewer than one hundred and nine,1 taken from nine and twenty books. There is no merely human development of doctrine, for-notwithstanding a progressive unfolding of the Divine scheme-the unity of a personal God, the creation and preservation of the world by His power, a particular Providence, the corruption of man, atonement through sacrifice, efficacy of prayer, human responsibility, the necessity of personal holiness, were as plainly stated at first as last. The whole being-not a human science, but a system of objective truth revealed by God, with subjective counterpart in man.

Verification may be obtained by any candid intelligent mind who reverently searches Scripture to discover those continuous lines of thought, of prophecy, of doctrine, of morals, which run through the whole, making it one piece.

One line of prophecy, the Messianic, may be taken as example of the wonderful accuracy, yet complexity of the prophetic portion. So soon as man falls by means of woman, restoration is promised even through that weak one (Gen. iii. 15). After the Flood, lest men think the ancient blessing has departed, the kingdom of God is re-established in Shem; and Japheth, received into holy community, is to dwell in the tents of Shem (Gen. ix. 26, 27). Abraham and the patriarchs are told that through them will come the Benediction of Nations 1 Classified in "Simpson's Plea for Religion."

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(Gen. xii. 1-3, xlix. 8-10). Balaam's prophecy (Numb. xxiv. 17-19) 'is of a Star-the symbol of splendour in Divine Rule, and of a Sceptre-symbol of dominion. Against his will, the man said concerning his enemies-" the Lord is amongst them." Moses' prophecy, of a Prophet like unto himself, gave yet greater definiteness of view (Deut. xviii. 15-19). Afterwards, we learn that this Messiah is not only to be of Judah's tribe, but of David's family (2 Sam. vii. 1216). The predictions in the Psalms are too numerous to mention; these may be profitably studied-ii., viii., xvi., xxii., xxiv., xl., xli., xlv., lv., lxviii., lxxii., lxxxvii., lxxxix., xc., cx., cxviii. Passing on, we find the Man of sorrows (Isai. liii.), the Lord our Righteousness (Jer. xxiii. 6), the Shepherd of Ezekiel (xxxiv. 23, 24), Messiah the Prince (Dan. ix. 24-27), the Lord and His Goodness (Hosea iii. 4, 5), the Builder of David's Tabernacle (Amos ix. II, 12), the Saviours of Obadiah (ver. 21), the Salvation and Resurrection typified by Jonah, the Ruler in Israel (Micah v. 2), the Giver of Peace (Hag. ii. 9), the Fellow of the Lord of Hosts (Zech. xiii. 7), and the Messenger of the Covenant (Mal. iii. 1). These are a few out of many predictions which critical investigation, application and fulfilment in the New Testament, manifest as a light shining in dark places and ancient times to testify of the Lord's Dominion.

This one line of investigation, well continued, will bring conviction to any, possessed of acuteness and learning, who may wish to understand the reality of prophecy, the Inspiration of Scripture, the establishment of God's kingdom. The truth will be found to deepen in meaning with the profundity of a student's capacity. Sacred, like physical science, enlarges with the growth of human intelligence; and prophecy is a continual abiding revelation, the speaking of God afresh to us in every fulfilment; and, with reference to Jesus, predictions in the Psalms and the Prophets as to His character and work, translate themselves by the peculiar power of Scripture into the believer's heart and mind, to renew his nature, and make him, Christ-like, live resolutely in the whole, the beautiful, the good.

Nor is that all-the "curiosa felicitas" of the Book is sur

prising even in its feeblest translations. It fits almost naturally into every language; it is easiest of all books to translate without great loss of energy, of beauty, of specific character; yet let any one who thinks that he can cast it in any mould but its own, endeavour to submit David's Psalms to our metre or rhyme; his words will be as notes of a whistle to the majestic roll of an organ, or as the trickling of a rill in comparison with the "voice of many waters."

The Book has become universal: evoked more literature than all other books in the world. Every book, that works any good, seems connected with this-either for or against; and, in the more than two hundred languages into which it has been translated, it reigns as king. Children love it, the dullest of our race delight in it; the feminine mind becomes more graceful and womanly by it; the masculine, more manly; and the troubled find by means of it a "peace which passeth all understanding." Men, in the front of science, learning, civilisation, everlastingly pore over it, illustrate, interpret, translate, defend, or attack. No pains are too great to make plain even its insignificant parts; and the greatest of wicked men, the Lucifers of ungodliness, shout and roar if they find a mote in the light, or a spot on the face of this Sun. It is quoted more than any other book, lives a manifold life in every school of thought, is the delight of painters, and suggests to pocts their most gorgeous conceptions. "There never was any book like the Bible, and there never will be such another." It is the Book for all men and for all time: as a phenomenon it is unique. Like an old oak, in its days and under its branches, the harvest of thousands of years spring, ripen, fall beneath the sickle of Time.

It is of no avail to say-"Many sacred books have received admiration and reverence, there are always ignorant people, and nations in a low stage of civilisation." We reply-No book is like this: so full of variety as to events, so inimitable in style, so rich in mysterious endowment of the writers. No other book has been received, by power of moral persuasion, to rule life and morals amongst nations and races of every conceivable variety as to origin, position, tradition, belief, language, and that in days when men of loftiest minds guided

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public opinion. No other book has been so sifted, as to evidence; so tested, as to power; so tried, as to purity. Errors, if any exist, are not consecrated by law; doctrines, when opposed, are not fenced in against hostile criticism; its principles, even enemies declare, can never be uprooted from our nature; it alone seems capable of raising a succession of men heroically bent on making it universal. No other book so vividly sets forth the doom of guilt; yet the guilty are wont to read, admire, and obey. Men weary and heavy laden, the sick and those about to die, find rest-healing-life.

The Book is one, yet the product of many men in many ages; by writers-for the most part, neither conscious nor capable of co-operating; a portion now, and a part then dreams, centuries separating, strangely finding realisation; disclosures made piecemeal, so adjusted that grandest results are obtained from minutest beginnings. The cylinder of the world's history—as it unrolls, art and science-as they advance, are found inscribed with hieroglyphics: the Bible reveals their meaning.

MARVELLOUS WORK WROUGHT BY THE JEWS.

The Hebrews have embalmed the spirit, thought, laws, history, all that constitutes the life of a nation; but the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, whom the world account greater and cleverer, left far inferior memorials-and we discover the records, and bring them from out the tomb of centuries, through a spirit of investigation excited by the Bible.

By means of Miracles, by power of the Bible, this race has done more for literature and science, both as to God and man, than did the Greeks-celebrated for genius, than the Romans-renowned for government. The paradox is not diminished by their alleged insignificance and obscurity, but explained when viewed as part of a Divine Plan. No fortuitous collection of tracts-written by men of unaided powers, could so win the homage of mankind and extort the passionate love of ten thousand times ten thousand.

They did not hold the world in amazement by means of Jewish genius-the Jew holds little place, apart from Scripture,

in the world's mental history; yet the Jew had the sublimest system of spiritual truth, the purest morality, the clearest knowledge of God. He brought a new life into the heart of the world. Deeper and deeper the truth struck its roots in all lands, wider and wider became its influence among the nations. The science of Babylonia, Egypt, Arabia; the subtle genius in philosophy, speculative intellect, vividness and vigour of thought amongst the Greeks; the wisdom of all other races in the world; failed. Where they fell, the Jew rose; soared with a flight true and lofty to the knowledge of God. He declared that to be wrong which heathendom declared to be right, and that right which heathendom pronounced wrong. Centuries of thought had not advanced one step nearer to the solution of problems with which, child-like, it began-began with child-like question, ended with aged doubt. Jesus, the Jew, solved those problems. In what school had the Jew been taught highest wisdom and purest faith? In the school of the Almighty. The greatest minds have seen no further, nor added one truth to religion, since John, taught by Jesus, wrote of Love to God and man. Those mysterious themes-Sin, Ruin, Redemption, Sanctification, Eternal Life, do now and will for ever form the great matters on which profound minds meditate: all that we know of these things has been learned from the Jews. We look at human science, and trace its hesitating course through ages of uncertainty and imperfection; but, turning to the Bible, we find it plainly stated that man is connected with the Infinite by place and authority; is related to the Eternal in origin; if he falls, it is to rise higher; if he dies, it is that he may live again. Brought down to the depths of humiliation, tried and tempted, the servant of God is, nevertheless, destined to highest glory. In his spirit, in the depths of his heart, a Divine voice proclaims the final overthrow of evil, the lasting triumph of goodness, the reign of righteousness among men.

The great and wise of the world stood amazed, while prophets and fishermen did a work which they confessed was not their own-but by power of the Spirit of God. They appealed to signs and wonders, marvels and miracles, in proof