rity who were firmly attached to the fervice of God, or from real love to God and his people, I fhall not ftay to inquire. Charity inclineth to fuppofe, that the motive last mentioned, as it is the best, so it had the most powerful influence upon their conduct.

This prophecy, with the other predictions delivered by Ifaiah, hath been remarkably verified, as history teftifies, in several inftances. At the time in which Tyre was threatened to be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, great numbers of women and children were tranfported to Carthage, that the remaining inhabitants might the more fuccefsfully defend the city from the attacks of their enemies. Thefe ftrangers, however, did not long enjoy tranquillity in that city, which they had chofen for an afylum, but were dif turbed by fome naval expeditions, which were directed against that place. Nebuchadnezzar's conquests commenced with his reign: and, from the time that Tyre was taken by him, the city was forgotten during the continuance of the Babylonian empire; at the expiration of which, the nations, conquered by that monarch, were restored to liberty, and Tyre was delivered from the oppreffive power of those who fucceeded that tyrannical prince. After her destruction, first by Nebuchadnezzar, and then by Alexander, having continued for a long time in a defolate condition, the recovered in fome measure her ancient trade, wealth, and grandeur. The inhabitants, with the other neighbouring countries, early embraced Chriftianity. The apostle Paul, in his travels, found there a number of difciples, fitting before the Lord, who endeavoured to diffuade him from executing his purpofe of going up to Jerufalem. The citizens early began to confecrate their riches to the honour of God, and to employ them in building a very fplendid and magnificent church for the worship of Jehovah ; to which many others, in process of time, were added.

* A&ts xxi. 4.

An

An archbishoprick was formed there under the patriarchate of Jerufalem, with fourteen bishopricks under its jurifdiction. It continued in the profeflion of Christianity till it was taken by the Saracens in 639. It was recovered by the Christians in 1124. In 1280 it was conquered by the Mamulucs, and afterwards taken from them by the Turks in 1516. Since that time, it hath fallen into decay; and is now a mere. ruin, a bare rock, a place to spread nets upon, as the prophet Ezekiel anciently foretold *.

Thus have we confidered the oracles which were revealed to Ifaiah concerning the nations that lay around Jerufalem, and the righteous judgments which he denounced, in the name of God, against the enemies of his people. We have feen, that one great defign of his raising them to power and opulence, to glory and renown, was the trial, or deliverance of his people; and that their punishment and deftruction ferved to difplay his righteous vengeance, and tender care of his fervants, We have heard of God's wonderful doings among the kingdoms of the earth, and the glorious conquests that he hath obtained over the moft powerful empires, ftates, and kingdoms, by means of which he hath preferved and established his church. We have contemplated the fall of Babylon, the overthrow of the Philistines, the defolation of Moab, the calamitous state of the Syrians, the devaftation of Egypt, the defeat of the Ethiopians and Arabians, and the deftruction of Tyre. Whilst we behold all these mighty inveterate enemies of the church of God buried in ruins, we see her wonderfully delivered, and immoveably established on a fure foundation, which cannot be deftroyed. Let the children of Zion then be joyful in their King, and continue undaunted amidit all the difficulties which they may have to furmount in the fervice of God. If you are ready to be difcouraged by the ftrong oppo* Ezek. xxvi. 14. See Lowth's Notes. Sf

VOL. II.

fition

fition which you fee formed against the Lord and his Anointed, be affured, that he, who fitteth in the heavens, fhall have them in derifion, and speak to them in wrath, who would break his bands, and cast away his cords. He will not only fruftrate the foolish defigns of deluded people formed against his church, but he will also disappoint the crafty attempts made by the wisest and strongest enemies, whom, in due season, he will punish for their iniquity and prefumption. By defeating the counfels of the wife, and counteracting the power of the mighty, the Lord our God preferveth his people in fafety, and obtaineth from them praise, and honour, and glory. I conclude, in the concise and energetic words of the church, declaring her trust and confidence in God; The Heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge *.'

* Pfal. xlvi. 6, 7.

PRELIMI

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

WE now enter on the confideration of the con

cluding discourse, contained in the second part of these prophecies, which treats of the divine judgments to be inflicted on the corrupt disobedient Jews, on the enemies of the church of God, and the distinguishing benefits to be enjoyed by his people, after the punishment of their adverfaries. The prophet is employed in convincing, and reproving the people of Judah for their many grievous defections from God, in representing the terrible calamities to which, on these accounts, they stood exposed, and in comforting the diftreffed and difconfolate with precious promises of the most excellent bleffings. Though this discourse seems to have been primarily addreffed, about the beginning of Hezekiah's reign, to the posterity of Ifrael, and had a direct reference to them, yet fimilar judgments are denounced, and fimilar benefits promised, to people of all nations, of the fame character, and in the fame circumftances with them.The chapter begins with an affecting defcription of the defolation of Judea, and the dreadful confufion that prevailed among all ranks of people, a moving picture of extreme diftrefs is delineated in ftrong colours, heightened by many striking circumftances, ver. 1.-12.

Then follows the affurance, that predicted judgments were to be moderated, that the godly were to be exempted from them, and that the divine righteoufnefs and mercy, difplayed in this difpenfation, was to be publicly celebrated, ver. 13.-16.-After which, the fatal effects arifing from the execution of threatened judgments are exhibited in trong metaphorical language, ver. 17.-20.The prophecy concludes, by foretelling the punishments to be inflicted on the enemies of the church, the happy condition of God's people after their deliverance, and the establishment of the kingdom of God in fuch glory as it had not hitherto

hitherto attained, ver. 21. to the end.Interpreters are not agreed as to the particular fubject which is especially intended in this chapter. Some refer it to the defolation of the land of Judah, caused by the invafion of Shalmanefer; fome, to the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar; and others, to the deftruction of the city and nation of the Jews by the Romans. A celebrated commentator applies it to the perfecution of Antiochus Epiphanes. Perhaps it may have a view to all these great devastations of Judea. The prophet, without reftraining it by particular marks to one event, chiefly employs general images, fuch as fet forth the common ruin that was to be brought on the country by these great revolutions, involving in it all orders of men, changing the face of things, destroying their religion and civil polity.

CHAP. XXIV.

BEHOLD, the LORD maketh the earth

empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upfide down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

After having foretold the destruction of several foreign nations, which were the enemies of Judah, the prophet declares the judgments impending over the people of God themselves, for their apoftafy and wickednefs.- -The earth fpoken of, in this prophecy, does not seem to denote the whole earth, which God hath given to the children of men for a habitation, but the land of Canaan, poffeffed by the pofterity of Ifrael. In this limited fenfe the word is fometimes ufed in fcripture, as in Pfal. xlviii. 2. where it is faid,

* Vitringa.

'The