NEWTON'S DISSERTATIONS

ON THE

PROPHECIES.

BOOK I.

INTRODUCTION.

An

ONE of the strongest evidences for the truth of Revealed Religion, is that Series of Prophecies, which is preserved in the Old and New Testaments. exhibition of the particularities foretold, and of the exactitude of their completion, cannot fail to afford a strong confirmation of our faith; for it is the prerogative of God alone, or of those commissioned by Him, to foretell, with certainty, future events. The belief of Revelation so necessarily results from the belief of Prophecy, that the infidel has no way of evading the conclusion, but by denying the premises.

Now, why is it incredible that God should foretell future events? or, how could a divine revelation be better attested than by prophecies? God's complete prescience of future events, and entire knowledge of the past and present, being admitted, He may reveal them to others, in whatever proportions He pleases; and that He hath done so is fully established, by a comparison of Scripture prophecies with the fulfilment thereof.

It hath been asserted, that no such thing as prophecy ever existed; and that what are called predictions were only histories written after the events, in a prophetic style. Whereas, there is every possible proof, both that the prophets prophesied, and that the events subsequently corresponded; proofs as strong as can be alleged for any ancient matter of fact whatever : and to deny them, would be to deny the credibility of all ancient history, and to exhibit a temper of mind worse than ignorance.

In the following pages will be produced, not only instances of things clearly foretold in preceding ages, and exactly fulfilled in subsequent ones; but especially also of prophecies known to have been published many ages ago, and yet receiving, in part at least, their completion at this very day.

One great excellency of evidence drawn from prophecy is, that it is a GROWING EVIDENCE; the more pro

phecies are fulfilled, the stronger confirmations are there of the truth of religion; and, in this respect, we of the present day have an eminent advantage over those of Mosaic, Prophetic, or Apostolic times; for what were only matters of faith to them, are become matters of fact to us. God, indeed, graciously afforded sufficient evidence to every age. Miracles were the great proof to the first ages that saw them; as prophecies are to the latter ages, that see their accomplishment.

Neither can this mode of reasoning be evaded; for when the latest of the prophecies were actually published seventeen hundred years ago; and the events were accomplished many ages after; and some of them are even accomplishing at this present time; there is no possible room for denial of the existence of Prophecy and, consequently, the truth of Divine Revelation is established.

DISSERTATION I.

THE first prophecy in Scripture is, the sentence pronounced upon the Serpent; being, as it were, the first opening of Christianity. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Gen. iii. 15.) If this be considered in its common acceptation, as a promise of Redemption, then it is a remarkable prophecy remarkably fulfilled. In any other sense, it is not worthy of Moses, or, indeed, of any sensible writer.

Noah's Prophecy.

Antediluvian history is concise, and contains only a few prophecies relative to the Deluge. As Noah was a preacher of righteousness to the Old World, so he was a prophet to the New; and was enabled to predict the future condition of his posterity; a subject worthy of much investigation.

Faithful Moses records the failings, as well as virtues, of the Patriarchs; and hence we have an account (Gen. ix. 20, et seq.) that Noah, though a just and perfect man, having planted a vineyard, and drank of the wine, (either through ignorance of its potency, or infirmity of age,) became inebriated, and "lay uncovered in his tent; and Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father;" and instead of concealing his weakness, he cruelly exposed it to his two brethren without. But Shem and Japheth, with proper compassion, took a garment, and went backward, so as not to see the nakedness of their father, whilst at the same time they covered it.

When Noah awoke from his wine, he was informed of the different conduct of his three sons: and was, as a Patriarch enlightened, and, as a father, empowered,

-to foretell the different fortunes of his sons' families, in the way of reward and of punishment; not that he did so either from wine or resentment,-(for neither could impart a knowledge of futurity ;)—but God, to show His superintending Providence, thus enabled him to disclose His purposes towards the future race of mankind. Shem and Japheth were rewarded for their filial reverence, in hearing of the blessing and enlargement of their posterity; whilst Ham was punished in hearing of the malediction and servitude of his.