A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

(3) We may draw this further argument for the divine authority of the scriptures from what has been said, viz. that God has so fulfilled those things which are foretold in the scriptures. —I have already observed, as I went along, how the prophecies of the scripture were fulfilled: I shall now therefore single out but two instances of the fulfilment of scripture prophecy.

(1) One is in preserving his church from being ruined. I have just now shown what an evidence this is of the divine authority of the scriptures in itself considered: I now speak of it as a fulfilment of scripture-prophecy. This is abundantly foretold and promised in the scriptures, as particularly in the text; there it is foretold that other things should fa•l, other kingdoms and monarchies, which set themselves in opposition, should come to nothing: "The moth should eat them up like a garment, and the worm should eat them like wool." So it has in fact come to pass. But it is here foretold, that God's covenant-mercy to his church should continue for ever; and so it hath hitherto proved, tho' now it be so many ages since, and though the church has passed through so many dangers. The same is promised, Is. liv.17. "No weapon• that is formed against thee, shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against the in judgement, thou shalt condemn." And again, Is. xlix.14.15 16. "But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me." The s•me is promised again in Is. lix.21. and Is. xliii.1.2. and Zech. xii.2.3. So Christ promises the same, when he says, "On this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Now if this be not from God, and the scriptures be not the word of God, and the church of Christ built on the foundation of this word be not of God, how could the persons who foretold this, know it? for if the church were not of God, it was a very unlikely thing ever to come to pass. For they foretold the great opposition, and the great dangers, and also foretold that other kingdoms should come to nought, and that the church should often be almost swallowed up, as it were asy to show, and yet foretold that the church should remain. Now how could they foresee so unlikely a thing but by divine inspiration?