EXPECTATION OF THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST. 89 



spiced wine, an intoxicating drink. . . , The cross was first 

 set up, then the prisoner was fastened to it by driving nails through 

 His hands ; the feet were often nailed, sometimes merely tied 

 with cords. . . . Jesus tasted these horrors in all their 

 atrocity. A burning thirst, one of the tortures of crucifixion, 

 devoured Him. He asked for drink. There was at hand a cup 

 of the ordinary drink of the Roman soldiers, a mixture of vinegar 

 and water called ' posca ' . . . a soldier dipped a sponge 

 in this drink, put it on the end of a reed, and bore it to the lips 

 of Jesus, who sucked it. The thieves were crucified on either 

 side. The executioners, to whom were ordinarily abandoned 

 the minor spoils of criminals, drew lots for His garments, and, 

 seated at the foot of the cross, guarded Him. . . . The 

 passers insulted Him, He heard about Him vulgar raillery, 

 and His death-cries of anguish turned into hateful mockeries. 

 Ah, behold Him, said they. He who called Himself Son of 

 God ! Let His Father come now and deliver Him, if He will 

 have Him. He saved others, it was muttered. Himself He 

 cannot save. If He be the King of Israel let Him now come 

 down from the cross, and we will beUeve Him. ... He 

 cried out. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me. . . 

 His head fell upon His breast and He expired. . . . Joseph, 

 of the little village of Arimathea, went at evening and asked the 

 body of the procurator. Joseph was a rich and honourable 

 man. . . . Joseph and Nicodemus buried Jesus according 

 to the Jewish custom." 



The prophecies whose fulfilment is thus acknowledged by 

 Renan, and which are not found in the two chapters quoted above, 

 are in Psalm Ixix, 21. See also Zech. xiii, 6. 



It was foretold that Messiah would be a Saviour from the power 

 of sin, and a shelter in certain of the troubles of life. It was, 

 of course, also foretold that Messiah would be a Saviour from the 

 guilt of sin. Perhaps some will wonder why I do not detail 

 these latter prophecies, or the equally notable ones that He 

 would be Divine ; but if I went on to argue from the fact that 

 such prophecies were fulfilled, I should be begging two very 

 important questions. I could only argue from fulfilment by 

 assuming inspiration, which is what I wish to prove. 



Isa. lix, 20, reads, " And a Redeemer shall come to Zion " ; 

 xlix, 6, " My servant ... a light to the Gentiles, that 

 thou may est be My salvation unto the end of the earth " ; 

 9th verse, " Saying to them that are bound, go forth " ; Ixi, 1, 



