ulty_ by watching the _signs_ and fleeing to
the mountains of Judea as Jesus had forewarned them.

Luke records the language of Christ more plainly to be comprehended
than that of Matthew. "In your patience possess ye your souls. And
when ye shall see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, then know that
the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which be in Judea flee
into the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart
out," &c. We should be led to suppose that, after the walls of the
city were surrounded by an army, it would then have been too late for
the christians to save themselves. But Christ as a prophet knew that
Cestius Gallus would raise the siege, and fall back to make
preparations for a more decisive attack, and thus afford the
christians an opportunity to escape. It is evident to every candid
reader that Luke expresses in chap. 21st, all that Matthew does in
chap 24th and 25th. And that Luke does not refer to a judgment at the
end of time is certain from the manner in which he concludes, which is
as follows: "And take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged
with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so
that day come upon you unawares * * * Watch ye, therefore, and pray
always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that
shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man." Here we
perceive that not the least allusion is made to a judgment at the end
of time; because there would be no propriety in warning his disciples
not to be _drunk or overcharged with the cares of life_ at a judgment
day thousands of years after their death. The day when the christians
were "to stand before the Son of man" was at the destruction of the
Jewish polity, and it was to take place in the life time of some of
the disciples. Christ says, "there be some standing here that shall
not taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in his
kingdom." The day of Christ was therefore at hand, and the apostles
were warned to keep it in view, and watch the signs that were to
precede it. Peter was faithful to these warnings, and when he saw the
_signs_, presaging its near approach, he exclaimed--"_The time is
come_," &c. This was the day of tribulation, when the christians were
scarcely saved from the dreadful fate that overtook their own
countrymen, who remained blind till the things that made for their
peace as a nation were hidden from their eyes.

[Concluded in o