ration of Israel will occur nearly at the time, when in the purpose of God, " the fulness of the "nations" shall become the subjects of Jesus Christ: and that the conversion of Israel, occurring at this crisis, shall introduce that grand display of the power, and truth, and mercy of God: and be "as life from the dead to the nations of the world, and be one grand means of accomplishing it. Certainly the apostle meant the conversion of the nations? and there can be little doubt that the words of our Lord had reference to the same.Till that period shall arrive, "Jerusalem shall" continue " trodden under foot of the gentiles."

I do not deny that the restoration of Israel will be preceded, and attended, by most tremendous judgments on many nations. In this the prophecies both of the Old and New Testament agree.1 'The restoration of Israel' will, no doubt, be one grand part of the Messiah's triumph over the beast, the false prophet, and the old serpent.2 Besides antichristian opponents, the Mohammedans and idolaters, in Canaan and in the east, will no doubt vehemently oppose the reinstatement of Israel in the promised land; as the Canaanites did in the days of Joshua, and with the same event. But these dreadful scenes will be of no very long duration, and will introduce " the " times of the gentiles;" or the conversion of all nations to Christianity. Among the converts to our holy religion, Israel will assuredly have a peculiar preeminence, as the nation through which God has blessed all other nations: not, as they vainly

1

Ez. xxxviii. xxxix. 1-16. Joel iii. * Rev. xix. 11-21.

dream, by ruling over them with haughty dominion; which they will cease to desire, when they fully experience the loving spirit of Christianity: but by the willing honour, and grateful deference, rendered them by their fellow Christians. Then they will understand and enter into the apostle's meaning; "There is neither Jew

nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there " is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in "Christ Jesus." 1

""The times of the gentiles" seem to signify 'the times, during which the gentiles are per'mitted to keep possession of Jerusalem; namely, 'till the Jews be converted unto Christ: then 'their times will be fulfilled; probably the Jews ' will be restored to their own land, and vengeance 'will be executed on those who oppose their 'return. For these events seem to be predicted, 'introductory to the calling of the nations into 'the church. Or, the times appointed for the 'calling of the gentiles, or all nations, into the 'church, may be meant. When this draweth 'nigh, the Jews will recover their holy city.'2

Nothing can be more clear than that such a time is foretold throughout the Old Testament. I shall not, in this place, anticipate a question which will soon come under our consideration : but let the reader carefully consider the texts referred to below; 3 and he must be convinced,

1

Gal. iii. 26-29.

* Scott's Bible, on Luke xxi. 20-24.

I should think, that the times of the gentiles in this sense may confidently be expected: for "the

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scripture cannot be broken." Whether this conversion of the nations to the worship of the God of Israel shall be by their being proselyted to Judaism, as the Jews sometimes appear to admit, or by their conversion to Christianity, may with many persons be a matter of doubt : but the predictions are undeniable: and the times when these shall be fulfilled are "the times of "the gentiles; and not the times when the gentiles, at large, shall be destroyed, or crushed, which is no where foretold by the prophets. On the contrary, after several predictions of dreadful judgments on this or the other nation, it is added, " Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab " in the latter days." The same is said of Ammon and of Elam.1 The times are coming, not when Judah shall rule with an iron rod over all nations, but when all nations shall be gathered to Judah's SHILOH; receive from Judah "the oracles of God;" worship, and serve, and bless themselves, in the God of Israel; and honour and love Israel as the chief nation on earth, and the source of blessings to all other nations. And surely it might be thought that this would be more gratifying even to Jews, than their present expectations of lordly dominion: and certainly it will be so, when the Lord shall "circumcise their heart to "love him with all their heart." Then prëeminence in love, and gratitude, and honour, from

1 Jer. xlviii. 47. xlix. 6.39.

1

all the happy partakers of their own Messiah's reign, will be far more delightful to them than any worldly superiority.

P. 27. 1. 8. "This declaration,' &c. The apostle, in the passage here in part quoted, is most undeniably speaking of the eternal judgment of individuals, whether Jews or gentiles.1 The Jew, "who is contentious, and does not obey the truth, "but obeys unrighteousness," will have the first and largest portion "of tribulation and anguish ;” but the believing and obedient Jews, the first and largest portion of glory and honour, "in the day "when God shall judge the secrets of men by "Jesus Christ." This is the apostle's express meaning; and the passage has nothing to do, in the least, with the state of Jews and gentiles, as to this present world. The degree, whether of anguish cr of glory, and not the priority in time, is intended; for both will be eternal. ·

- P. 27. 1. 20. You see,' &c. The texts referred to below, may shew how Jesus and his apostles understood his predictions on this subject.2

P. 28. 1. 2. Not one of the gentiles' &c. It is an attempt requiring no ordinary measure of heroism, for a man to undertake to prove, from the New Testament that none but Jews would be the servants of God! The ancient Jews had no

1 Rom. ii. 4-16.

* Matt. xxi. 33-46. xxiii. 34-39. xxiv. 15-22. Luke xix. 41-44. xx. 15-18. xxi. 20-24. Acts iii. 22, 23. iv. 10-12. 25-28. vii. 37-53. xiii. 40, 41. xxviii. 23-28. Rom. ix. 1-3. 24-33. 1 Thes. ii. 13-16. Jam. v. 1-6.

idea of an attempt of this kind. It is far from certain that the Jewish converts are exclusively intended by the hundred and forty-four thousand, who were sealed as the servants of God, " out of "all the tribes of the children of Israel;" it being improbable, in the highest degree, that there should be exactly the same number out of each tribe. The innumerable multitude " of all nations, " and kindreds, and people, and tongues," who are afterwards mentioned, are not said to have been sealed, and so Mr. C. excludes them from the title, " the servants of God."-It is, however, said in the subsequent verses, "these are they, which " came out of great tribulation, and have washed " their robes, and made them white in the blood "of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the " throne of God, and serve him day and night in " his temple :1 and he that sitteth on the throne " shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no " more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the "sun light on them, nor any heat. For the "Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall " feed them, and shall lead them unto living foun"tains of waters: and God shall wipe away all " tears from their eyes." 2 If we, poor sinners of the gentiles, may attain such felicity as this, we shall need no other honour.

Much of what follows is assertion: part we assent to, and part we dissent from. But the great point in controversy, respecting Jesus, (Whether he be the predicted Messiah, or whether some other is to be expected,) is not con

1

Rev. xxii. 2-А.

2

Rev. vii. 9-17. Is. xxv. 6-8.