ophets Nineveh has been desolated (Nahum i. 1, 2,
3); Babylon swept with the bosom of destruction (Isaiah xiii. 14);
Tyre become a place for the spreading of nets (Ezekiel xxvi. 4, 5);
Egypt the basest of the kingdoms, etc. (Ezekiel xxix. 14, 15). Daniel
distinctly predicted the overthrow, in succession, of the four great
empires of antiquity--the Babylonian, the Persian, the Grecian and the
Roman, all of which has taken place. Not only are the leading features
of the character of Christ delineated with the faithfulness of history
hundreds of years before He appeared, but there is scarcely an
incident in His life which prophecy has overlooked. And according to
the predictions of the New Testament we see Jerusalem in ruins; the
Temple not rebuilt; the Jews scattered, but not destroyed; the
conversion of the nations to Christianity; the many anti-christian
corruptions of the Gospel; the idolatry, tyranny and persecution of
the Roman hierarchy, etc. What prescience does all this
imply--prescience no where to be found but in God! "Let now the
infidel or the skeptical reader meditate thoroughly and soberly on
these predictions. The priority of the records to the events admits
of no question. The completion is obvious to every competent enquirer.
Here, then, are facts. We are called upon to account for those facts
on rational and adequate principles. Is human foresight equal to the
task? Enthusiasm? Conjecture? Chance? Political contrivance? If none
of these, neither any other principle that may be devised by man's
sagacity, can account for the facts; then true philosophy, as well as
true religion, will ascribe them to the inspiration of the Almighty.
Every effect must have a cause." Prophecy is a species of perpetual
miracle. And the prophecies of Scripture do not come short of the
fullest demonstration which the case will admit of, that the books
that contain them are the unerring word of God.

_From its holy tendency._ It came immediately from God, and leads
immediately to Him. It bears on it the stamp and impression of Deity;
and is, emphatically and really, "the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth." It contains the most excellent
precepts--the most weighty exhortations--and the most precious
promises. The Bible teaches us the best way of living; the noblest way
of suffering; and the most comfortable way of dying. The word of God,
accompanied by His Spirit, conveys strength to the weak, wisdom to the