which are sent unto thee, how often would I
have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, but ye would not!" He then left the temple
for the last time; but as he was departing from it, his disciples,
astonished at his denunciation, and regretting that such a magnificent
edifice should be destroyed, exclaimed--"Master, see what manner of
stones and what buildings are here!" And he said unto them "there
shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown
down." The disciples immediately asked him saying, "tell us when shall
these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the
end of the world?" By the end of the _world_ we are to understand the
end of the Jewish _age_. As they asked him the _signs_ portending this
terrible destruction, so that they might know when it was nigh at
hand, he immediately proceeded to point them out, and warned them to
flee to the mountains of Judea for safety.

The signs are as follows--many false Christs should arise, there
should be wars and rumors of wars, nation should rise against nation,
kingdom against kingdom, and there should be famines, pestilences and
earthquakes in diverse places. Then shall they deliver you up to be
afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations
for my name sake. Then shall there be great tribulation such as was
not since the beginning of the world to this time, no nor ever shall
be. The most prominent _sign_ he gave them, and one that more
immediately concerned his disciples, was that they should deliver them
up to be afflicted, and they should be brought before kings and
governors for his name's sake. "But, (says Jesus) when they persecute
you in one city, then flee ye to another."

Christ gave his disciples plainly to understand, that when the Jews
began their persecutions against his followers, then the destruction
of Jerusalem was nigh at hand. After giving these instructions to his
disciples, he laid down his life, and on the third day he arose,
triumphing over death and leading captivity captive. His disciples
soon after commenced the spread of the gospel of peace, and waived the
banners of the cross over kings and subjects, calling upon them to bow
to the reign of Jesus Christ, who was King of kings, and Lord of
lords. They proclaimed a religion so contrary to the partial notions
of the Jews and the traditions of the Elders, that it began at length
to me