Ariftobulus, whom he put to Death, and Sifter of Herod Agrippa, who flew the Apoftle James, As xii. 1, 2. and was afterwards fmitten of God, at Cæfarea. ver. 20-23. Of this Herod Agrippa was born, that King Agrippa the Second, before whom Paul pleaded his Cause, Acts xxv, and xxvi. and his two Sifters were, Drufilla, Wife to Felix the Governor, As xxiv. 24. and Bernice, who attended her Brother Agrippa to hear Paul plead. This Genealogy is borrowed from Dr Prideaux. 35 Q. Did Archelaus continue long in his Government?

A. He was guilty of many and great Instances of Tyranny, for which he was depofed, and banished to a Town in France, by the Roman Emperor, when he had reigned in Judea between nine and ten Years.

36Q. How was Judea governed afterwards?

A. The Romans were fo much displeased with the evil Practices of Archelaus, that they reduced Judea to the Form of a Roman Province, and ruled it afterwards by Procurators or Governors, who were fent thither, and recalled at their Pleafure: The Power of Life and Death was taken out of the Hands of the Jews, and placed in the Roman Governor; and their Taxes were paid more directly to the Roman Emperor, and gathered by the Publicans.

37 Q How did the Jews refent this?

A. The Pharifees, and the People under their Influence, thought it unlawful to acknowledge a King who was not a Jew, Deut. xvii. 15. From among thy Brethren thou shalt fet a King over thee: And therefore, though they were conftrained to pay Tribute to Cæfar, yet they fcarce allowed it to be lawful; upon this Account they looked upon thefe

M 2

thefe Publicans with greater Deteftation than any of the Tax-gatherers in former Ages, while their Governor was of the Jewish Nation or Religion. Note, Though Herod was an Idumean by Nation, yet all the Idumeans having received the Jewish Religion, Herod was fo far counted a lawful Governor, as that they did not fruple paying Taxes to him. 38 Q. How was the High Priesthood carried on at this Time?

A. As Herod had done before, fo the Roman Governors continued to make High Priefts, and to depofe them as often as they pleased, to answer their own Purposes.

39 Q. Who was High Prieft when our bleffed Saviour was put to Death?

A. Caiaphas, who was Son-in-law to Annas, who had been himself High Prieft for fifteen Years, and was depofed by one of their Governors. Note, Caiaphas was not immediate Succeffor to Annas, for there were three High Priests came between them, who had been instituted into that Office, and depofed by the Romans: Hence it may come to pals, that in the Hiftory of the Gofpels we frequently read of feveral Chief Priests at the fame Time, and of Annas and Caiaphas being High Priests at the Beginning of John the Baptist's Ministry, Luke iii. 2. For whether they had any coercive Power given them by the Romans or no, yet being till alive, after they had been in that Office, they might have their Title given them by the People, and fome of them had probably confiderable Influence in the Jewish Affairs In the Cafe of Annas and Caiaphas, fome fuppofe one to have been Head of the Sanhedrim, and to have chiefly managed in Civil Affairs, the other in Sacred. Others fancy one to have been the High Frieft, and the other the Deputy High Prieft, or Sagan, who was always ready to perform the Office, if the High Prieft was indif pofed

pofed or hindered: And fome think they might rule alternately, or together, by Permiffion, or Appointment of the Romans. It is evident, the facred Laws of Mofes were not strictly observed at that Time among them, nor long before.

Note, This Annas is fuppofed to be the fame Perfon with that Ananias, whom Paul did not seem to acknowledge for God's High Priest, when he reproved him, and called him, Thou whited Wall, Acts xxiii. 3-5•

40 Q. Who was Governor of Judea at that Time?

A Pontius Pilate: For Tiberius Cæfar (who had reigned two or three Years together with Auguftus at Rome, and had after his Death fucceeded him now nineteen Years in the Empire) had a few Years before made this Pilate Governor: He was a Man thoroughly prepared for all Manner of Iniquity, which he executed through his whole Government; and gave further Proof of it in that unjuft Sentence, which he paffed even against his own Confcience, for the Crucifixion of our Bleffed Lord, at the Request of the wicked Jews.

41 Q. What became of Pontius Pilate at laft? A. He was in a very fhort Time recalled by the Roman Emperor for Mifdemeanors in his Government, and banished to Vienne in France, where he is reported to have put an End to his own Life by the Sword.

42 Q. Did the Jews grow wifer and better afterwards?

A. They went on by Perfecution and Rage against the Gospel of Chrift, and the Profeffors of it, and by many other Crimes, to fill up the Meafure of their Iniquities; till at last, upon their Infurrection against the Romans, they were expofed to the Fury of a conquering Army, their City and

Temple were utterly deftroyed, according to the Prophecy of Chrift; eleven hundred thousand of the People perifhed, and the Remains of their Nation have been scattered abroad through the Earth unto this Day.

43Q. What general Remark may be drawn from the whole Hiftory of the Jews fince their Return from the Captivity of Babylon?

A. That the Affairs of their Church and of their State have been for the moft Part fo unhappy, they have been fo much disquieted by the Invafions and Perfecutions of the Kings of the Earth, fo wretchedly corrupted with the Introduction of human Traditions, Pharifaical Superftitions, and Heathenish Rites among them; and fo frequently and grievously oppreffed by their own Priefts and Princes, as well as Strangers, that they never did enjoy fo peaceful, fo pious, and fo flourishing a State, as to give a full Accomplishment of all thofe glorious Prophecies which relate to their Happiness after their Return from Captivity. 44 Q. What follows from this Remark?

A. That there muft be, in the Decrees and Providence of God, a further Referve of Peace, Holiness, and Happiness for the Seed of Ifrael, which fhall be conferred upon them in the latter Days; and therefore we cannot but expect a more large and general Converfion of the Jews to the Faith of Jefus the true Meffiah, than hath ever yet appeared, with greater Bleffings upon that People, who were once fo dear to God, and are beloved for their Fathers Sake. St Paul, in his eleventh Chapter to the Romans, abundantly confirms what the Prophets encourage us to hope for.

CHAP.

CHAP. XX.

Of the PROPHECIES which relate to JESUS CHRIST our Saviour, and their Accomplishment; or, a PROPHETICAL CONNECTION between the OLD and NEW TESTAMENT.

INTRODUCTION.

*NNS I have given an HISTORICAL CONTINUATION of the Affairs of

A the Jews from the Time of Nehemiah, where the Old Testament

* ends, to the Times of Jefus Chrift our Lord; fo I have here inferted a Chapter of fome of the plaineft Predictions or Prophecies which are found in the Old Teftament, that relate to the Perfon, Offices and Glories of the Lord Jefus Chrift our Saviour, and are fulfilled in the Gospel and it may be called, A PROPHE TICAL CONNECTION between the OLD TESTAMENT and the NEW.

:

And because I would not give Offence by introducing fuch Prophecies as are either much doubted or denied by any Chriftians; therefore [ fhall fcarce mention any but what some of the Writers of the New Teftament either directly cite, or to which they have a plain Reference in fome of their Expreffions.

1 Q. Since the great Subject of the New Teftament is our Lord JESUS CHRIST and his Gofpel, Tell me now what are the chief Discoveries or