TWO SERMONS ON THE INTERPRETATION OF PROPHECY, PREACHED IN THE CHAPEL OF RUGBY SCHOOL. WITH NOTES. BY THOMAS ARNOLD, D.D. HEAD MASTER OF RUGBY SCHOOL. 56 OXFORD, JOHN HENRY PARKER: B. FELLOWES, LUDGATE STREET, LONDON: MDCCCXXXIX. PREFACE. THE great difficulty of the subject of Scripture Prophecy may be shortly stated. We find throughout the New Testament references made to various passages in the Old Testament, which are alleged as prophetic of Christ, or of some particulars of the Christian dispensation. Now if we turn to the context of these passages, and so endeavour to discover their meaning, according to the only sound principles of interpretation, it will often appear that they do not relate to the Messiah or to Christian times, but are either the expression of religious affections generally, such as submission, hope, love, &c. or else refer to some particular circumstances in the life and condition of the writer, or of the Jewish nation, and do not at all show that any thing more remote, or any events of a more universal and spiritual character, were designed to be prophesied. b |