: EVIDENCE OF THE TRUTH OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, DERIVED FROM THE LITERAL FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY; PARTICULAUL.Y AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE HISTORY OP THE JEWS, AND BY THE DISCOVERIES OF RECENT TRAVELLERS. BY THE REV. ALEXANDER KEITH, MINISTER OF THE PARISH OF ST. CYRUS. THIRD EDITION, ENLARGED. opinionum commenta diesdelet, Natura? judicia confirmat.— Cic. dc Nat. Dr. EDINBURGH PRINTED FOR WAUGH & INNES, EDINBURGH; J. M. OGLE, GLASGOW ; A. BROWN & CO. ABERDEEN ; NICHOL, JIONTROSE ; R. M. TIMS, DUBLIN ; JAMES DUNCAN, LONGMAN & CO. J. HATCHARD <5t SON ; AND JAMES NISBET, LONDON. M.DCCC.XXVIII i historical medical # Edinburgh : Printed by A. Balfour & Co. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM ADAM, LORD CHIEF COMMISSIONER, &c. AS A SMALL MARK OF THE MOST SINCERK ESTEEM AND REGARD, THE FOLLOWING TREATISE IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY HIS lordship's MUCH OBLIGED AND VERY FAITHFUL SERVANT, ALEXANDER KEITH . ' ^ ' ' ^ .' c t T ’ *I *-.V ' kf A a Mv- •-E f ^ S ^ V * 1 I* Tgr * —" "~ ' — #^ -ai .r.v 'JT, fc t. -_. ‘•- •• ^ 3 “f j':‘. < - J| '••I^-? '• -’ ^'V ' ' x;il#'HHW4AAp<t£C 'Eift#' * 1,'iuJ I ^ \. **• >^*1(111^^* 'TB>* y ^ U| T V -> it -V ' a- ' «.'.; .'•.W4iii* S5?- 1. •' ^‘ - — . • *j-'-'^* - t, -» . t: % - V \ »Jwi- ••«n3<v • »*« *-, » •- #* y«m mi > i » - , .^>w V4^ # -^ Mf 15 ^ ri ''Hk Mi ^ vY4 ^ - n# j* j» • 1W/1 - ’-» *« I ’" -^ - i , * t y • . i ,*f'. .i-' -i ? 0 PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. The following pages are presented to the public, in the hope that they may not be altogether un- productive of good. The idea of the propriety of such a publication w’as first suggested to the writer, in consequence of a conversation with a person who disbelieved the truth of Christianity, but whose mind seemed to be considerably affect- ed even by a slight allusion to the argument from Prophecy. Having endeavoured in vain to ob- tain, for his perusal, any concise treatise on the Prophecies, considered exclusively as a matter of EVIDENCE—and having failed in soliciting others to undertake tlie work, who were far better qua- lified for the execution of it—the writer was in- duced to make the attempt, and to endeavour to bring the subject into view. He was urged and encouraged to the prosecution of it by his worthy and learned friend, the Rev. Mr. Brewster of VI PREFACE. Craig, to whom, and to another esteemed friend, the Rev. Dr. Mitchell of Kemnay, by whose able ci'itical remarks he has profited much, he owes, at least, this acknowledgment of his obligations. Unbelievers are often most unreasonably averse to listen to any arguments, which establish the truth of Christianity, that may be urged by a to have clergyman ; and it was therefore intended published this sketch anonymously. The advice of the Publishers, and of others, prevented this. Testimony, the most unexceptionable, has, how- ever, been adduced to substantiate the facts which verify the different Prophecies ; and that testi- mony cannot be invalidated, by whomsoever it may be produced. In the following Essay the argument is brought within narrow limits. Those Prophecies are not included which were fulfilled previously to the era of the last of the Prophets, or of which the meaning is obscure, or the application doubtful. And the only question to be resolved is—Whether there be any clear predictions, literally accom- plished, which, from their nature and their num- ber, demonstrate that the Scriptures are the dic- tates of inspiration, or that the spirit of Prophecy is the testimony of Jesus ? PREFACE. Vll PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. In the present edition the title has been partly altered, in order to convey a more distinct idea of the object of the treatise ; and the fifth chap- ter, in particular, has been enlarged much be- yond the original views of the Author. He has not only endeavoured to obtain a more complete account of the existing state of Judea and of the surrounding countries, from the published works of Travellers of authority, but he has derived much important information from the Travels in Egypt, Syria, hy the Honourable Charles Leo- nard Irby, and James Mangles, Esq. F.R.S. Com- manders in the Loyal Navy, which were printed for private distribution, with a copy of which, with full permission to make use of its contents, as well as with the copperplate of the Ground Plan of the Ruins of Petra, they kindly furnished him. General Straton also favoured him with Vlll PREFACE. the perusal and use of his valuable Manuscript Travels, to which, in several instances, reference is made. A brief description of the Journey of Captains Irby and Mangles, in company with Mr. Bankes and Mr. Legh, is published in Dr. MacrtiichaeVs Journey to Constantinople. The Researches of Travellers in Palestine have been so abundant, and the prophecies thereby verified are so numerous and distinct, that no labour is requisite for elucidating their truth, but to examine and compare the predictions and the events ; and the literal prophecies need no other interpretation than the literal facts. Though well aware that any one who seeks to illustrate the external evidence of the truth of Cliristianity may be said to stand only at the outer porch of the temple of Christian Faith, yet the writer of these pages humbly hopes that he may be permitted to point to a way, without a stumbling-block, by which some who may be merely the proselytes of the gate, or others who would pass altogether by, may be enabled to en- ter into that edifice of divine architecture, fitly framed together, which is filled with all the riches of mercy, with all the beauty of holiness, and with all the light of truth. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Introduction. Page Importance of the Subject .... 1 General View of the Evidence . » 5 On the Obscurity of Prophecy . 7 Nature of Proof from Prophecy . 8 Antiquity of the Old Testament Scriptures . 10 Subj ects of Proph ecy CHAPTER 11. Prophecies concerning Christ and the Christian Religion. The Coming of the Messiah .... 17 Time of Christ’s Advent, &c . 20 The Place of his Birth . 28 The Manner of his Life .... .30 His Character, &c. 31 The Manner of his Death .... 33 Nature of the Christian Religion . 39 Its Rejection by the Jews, &c. 45 Propagation and Extent of Christianity,' &c. 48 CHAPTER III. The Destruction of Jerusalem . 58 CHAPTER IV. The Jews . .. 79 CHAPTER V. The Land of Judea and Circumjacent Countries 108 The ancient fertility of Judea H 4' X CONTENTS. Page The Cities of Judea, &c. 11.0 The Countries, Inhabitants, &c. 122 Partial exceptions from desolations, &c. 14.1 Samaria, &c. 144 Jerusalem . 145 Ammon ...... 150 Moab . 158 or. Edom Idumea .... 172 Philistia . 220 Gaza, Eshkelon, Ekron, &c. 223 Lebanon . 228 CHAPTER VI. NineTeh . 236 • Babylon • • 241 Tyre . • . 256 Egypt • . 262 CHAPTER VII. The Arabs . 271 Slavery of the Africans .... 274 in European Colonies Africa . • . 275 The Church of Rome .... * . 278 CHAPTER VIII. Prophecy of the Things Noted in the Scriptures of Truth . 280 Macedonian Empire, Alexander the Great . 281 Kings of Syria and ' Egypt . 282 Roman Empire ..... 283 Subversion of the Jewish State, &c. 284 Long Continued Spiritual Tyranny . 285 Turkish Empire ..... 287 Conclusion . 294 Appendix . 311 EVIDENCE OP PROPHECY. INTRODUCTION. No subject can be of greater importance, either to the unbeliever or to the Christian, than an investigation of the evidences of Christianity. The former, if his mind be not fettered by the strongest prejudice, and if he be actuated in the least by a spirit of free and fair inquiry, cannot disavow his obligation to examine its pretensions to a divine origin. He cannot rest secure in his unbe- lief, to the satisfaction of his own mind, without mani- fest danger of the most fatal error, till he has impar- tially weighed all the reasons that may be urged on its behalf. The proof of a negative is acknowledged and felt to be difficult ; and it can never, in any case, bo attained till aU direct and positive evidence to the con- trary be completely destroyed. And this, at least. a INTllODUCTIOX. must be done before it can be proved that Christianity is not true. Without this careful and candid examina- tion, all gratuitous assumptions and fanciful specula- tions, all hypothetical reasonings or analogical infer- ences, that seem to militate against the truth of religion, may be totally erroneous ; and though they may tend to excite a transient doubt, they cannot justify a settled unbelief. Being exclusively regarded, or being united to a misapprehension of the real nature of the Christian religion, the understanding may embrace them as con- is vincing ; but such conviction neither rational nor con- sistent— it is only a misapplication of the name of free- thinking. For, as Christianity appeals to reason, and submits its credentials—as it courts and commands the most prying scrutiny—that scrutiny the unbeliever is bound, upon his own principles, to engage in. If he be fearless of wavering in his unbelief, he will not shrink from the inquiry ; or, if truth be his object, he will not resist the only means of its attainment—that he may either disprove what he could only doubt of before, or yield to the conviction of positive evidence and un- doubted truth. This unhesitating challenge religion gives ; and that man is neither a champion of infidelity, nor a lover of wisdom or of truth, who will disown or decline it. To the believer such a subject is equally important and interesting. The apathy of nominal Christians, in the present day, is often contrasted with the zeal of those who first become obedient to the faith.