I find this succession, this religion, wholly divine in its authority, in its duration, in its perpetuity, in its morality, in its conduct, in its doctrine, in its effects.  The frightful darkness of the Jews was foretold:  Eris palpans in meridie.[276] Dabitur liber scienti literas, et dicet:  Non possum legere.[277] While the sceptre was still in the hands of the first foreign usurper, there is the report of the coming of Jesus Christ.

So I hold out my arms to my Redeemer, who, having been foretold for four thousand years, has come to suffer and to die for me on earth, at the time and under all the circumstances foretold.  By His grace, I await death in peace, in the hope of being eternally united to Him.  Yet I live with joy, whether in the prosperity which it pleases Him to bestow upon me, or in the adversity which He sends for my good, and which He has taught me to bear by His example.

737

The prophecies having given different signs which should all happen at the advent of the Messiah, it was necessary that all these signs should occur at the same time.  So it was necessary that the fourth monarchy should have come, when the seventy weeks of Daniel were ended; and that the sceptre should have then departed from Judah.  And all this happened without any difficulty.  Then it was necessary that the Messiah should come; and Jesus Christ then came, who was called the Messiah.  And all this again was without difficulty.  This indeed shows the truth of the prophecies.

738

The prophets foretold, and were not foretold.  The saints again were foretold, but did not foretell.  Jesus Christ both foretold and was foretold.

739

Jesus Christ, whom the two Testaments regard, the Old as its hope, the
New as its model, and both as their centre.

740

The two oldest books in the world are those of Moses and Job, the one a Jew and the other a Gentile.  Both of them look upon Jesus Christ as their common centre and object:  Moses in relating the promises of God to Abraham, Jacob, etc., and his prophecies; and Job, Quis mihi det ut,[278] etc. Scio enim quod redemptor meus vivit, etc.

741

The Gospel only speaks of the virginity of the Virgin up to the time of the birth of Jesus Christ.  All with reference to Jesus Christ.

742

Proofs of Jesus Christ.

     Why was the book of Ruth preserved?

     Why the story of Tamar?

743

“Pray that ye enter not into temptation."[279] It is dangerous to be tempted; and people are tempted because they do not pray.

Et tu conversus confirma fratres tuos. But before, conversus Jesus respexit Petrum.

Saint Peter asks permission to strike Malchus, and strikes before hearing the answer.  Jesus Christ replies afterwards.

The word, Galilee, which the Jewish mob pronounced as if by chance, in accusing Jesus Christ before Pilate, afforded Pilate a reason for sending Jesus Christ to Herod.  And thereby the mystery was accomplished, that He should be judged by Jews and Gentiles.  Chance was apparently the cause of the accomplishment of the mystery.