217

they have done to Ifrael; And which agrees with the first principle contained in the phecies of Ifaiah.

pro

Second, The falvation of Ifrael, and their redemption from this captivity, in which they have been scattered all over the world :and which agrees with the third principle of Ifaiah.

Third, that at the future redemption, the ten tribes that were carried captive to Affyria, &c, will also return; and which with the fourth principle of Ifaiah.

agrees

Fourth, that the future redemption will not take place, till after they have been a very long time in captivity, and fuffered innumerable hardships, and afflictions: and which agrees with the feventh principle of Ifaiah.

Fifth, that the visible fymbol of the divine presence, and the holy spirit of prophecy, will again be restored to them, as it was aforetime; when the fecret of God was upon their tabernacle; they will also attain the highest degree of wisdom, and knowledge of the LORD; and which agrees with the eighth principle of Ifaiah.

Sixth, that at the future redemption, a

king

king of the lineage of David, will reign over Ifrael and Judah together, the fame as David did: And which agrees with the tenth principle of Ifaiah.

Seventh, that after the future redemption, God will circumcife their heart; so that they all together, both great and small, will fear him in fuch a manner, that they never will return to fin any more; confequently, they will never be doomed to any other captivity: and which agrees with the eleventh principle of Ifaiah.

As to the other principles of Ifaiah, viz. Firft, That the future redemption, will exactly resemble that of Egypt. Second, that there is a certain fixed and determinate time, appointed by God, for the redemption of his people for they will not be redeemed for the merit of the nation in that age; as there will be fuch a number of finners, and unbelievers amongst them, that they will not be worthy of being redeemed; but the promise of God, must be accomplished, as fhewn in the prophecies of Ifaiah. Third, that those of the nation, who apoftatized through fear of perfecution; will return to God, with their whole heart, and partake of the happi

nefs

ness of the future redemption. Fourth, that at the time of the future redemption by the Meffiah, the nations will all acknowledge the pure Unity of God, and receive his Law. Fifth, that univerfal peace will then reign in the world: fo that nation shall not lift up fpear against nation, nor fhall they learn the art of war any more. Sixth, that the dead fhall live, and rife up out of their graves.

Of those fix principles, mentioned by Isaiah, Jeremiah did not prophecy, as he did not receive any vifion from God concerne ing them. But on the other hand, we find in his prophecies, a promise of two future events, not spoken of by Ifaiah. First, the name of the Meffiah; and, fecondly, the enlarged circumference of Jerufalem; as fhewn in the explanation of his fourth prophecy.

VOL. II.

Ee

DISS.

The Prophecies of Ezekiel.

THE fifth, who prophefied concerning the redemption, and future happy reftoration of the nation, was Ezekiel, the fon of Buzi; from whose writings, I shall select fuch prophecies, as in a clear and unequivocal manner, speak of their future restoration, and the extraordinary happiness they are to enjoy under the Meffiah, and his fucceffors, the princes of the houfe of David.

The first prophecy commences verfe 14th. of chapter 11th, and is continued to the laft verfe of the fame.

For the better understanding of this prophecy, it is necessary to premise, that Jehoiachin understanding from the prophecies of Jeremiah, which he delivered concerning Jehoiachim, that he had exhorted him to bow his neck to the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and live, that the land might not be made defolate: in confequence thereof, when Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jerufalem in the beginning of the reign of

Jeho

Jehoiachin*, he went out to him, together with his mother, his fervants, his princes, and his officers; and the king of Babylon took him, and carried away all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the veffels of gold, which Solomon king of Ifrael had made.—And carried captive all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, -And carried them all to Babylon. And made Zedekiah king in Jerufalem. When therefore, Jehoiachin, and his princes, and all the people that were carried captive with him, faw, that Zedekiah, and the inhabitants of Jerufalem remained in peace, and that the city was not given into the hands of the Chaldeans; and that they, because they believed the words of the Prophet, and went forth to the king of Babylon, and fubmitted to him, were carried captive; they repented exceedingly, in that they had thus liftened to the words of Jeremiah, and went forth to Nebuchadnezzar. Now, in order to comfort them, this vifion was revealed to Ezekiel, who was among them;