Chap. V. vity; it feems rather more applicable to the final rejection of the Jews, after their rejecting of the Meffiah, in the times of the gofpel; which are the times treated on, both in the foregoing and following prophecies. The defcription of fufferings in y 6. hath a remarkable conformity with the predictions concerning the Meffiah's fufferings in chap. lii. and elsewhere; and the triumphant expreffions in the following context, imply, that the fufferer here fpoken of was to overcome his enemies, notwithstanding the injuries he was to fuffer from them: it is obvious, that this is more applicable to the Meffiah than to Ifaiah himself. If it feem difficult to make out the connection, fuppofing the prediction to relate to the Mefliah, it is rather more difficult to make it out in applying the prediction to Ifaiah, the foregoing and following prophecies fpeaking nothing about Ifaiah, but a great deal about the Meffiah. That the 51ft chapter treats of the times of the Meffiah, appears from y 4. & 5. where it is faid, that "a law fhall proceed from him, and that he "will make his judgement to reft for a light of "the people; that the ifles fhall wait upon him, "and that on his arm they fhall truft." The other parts of this chapter contain general gracious promifes, "that God would comfort "Zion; that he would make her wilderness like E"den, and her defert like the garden of the Lord; "and that he would comfort all her wafte places;" where we may obferve, that building wafte places is applicable, in a fpiritual fenfe, to the times of the Meffiah, as well as in a more literal fenfe, to the times after the return from captivity. The latter part of the chapter contains earnest prayers, that God would exert his power in behalf of his church, to carry her fafely through all difficulties, as when" of old he made the depths of "the fea a way for the ranfomed to pafs over;" with various and comfortable inftructions, implying, that fuch prayers fhould be heard. The three laft verfes of the 52d chapter, were formerly proved to contain predictions, both of the Meffiah's fufferings and his fubfequent exaltation, and to be really a part of the clear prediction contained in the following 53d chapter. In the first part of this 52d chapter, the captive daughter of Zion is exhorted" to awake and put on ftrength; "to loofe herself from the bonds of her neck;" which expreffion feems to refer to the deliverance from captivity. To fhew the connection of purpofes in the different parts of this chapter, it is fufficient to refer to the general remarks formerly made. The 53d, and three following chapters, contain a feries of clear predictions of the Meffiah; fetting forth the feveral chief branches, both of the hiftory and doctrine of the gofpel, particularly concerning the Meffiah's fufferings, the caufes and fruits of them, his death, his exaltation, the unbelief and difperfion of the Jews, the converfion of the Gentiles, the excellency of the bleflings of God's covenant, and the privileges which he would beftow on his people in his houfe, when it fhould be called a houfe of prayer for all people. In all thefe chapters, there is no mention made of the Babylonish captivity, or the return from it, abftracting from fome figurative expreffions, which feem to allude to those events. The 57th, and two following chapters, contain a variety of the most important practical inftructions; and at the end of the 59th chapter there is a clear prediction concerning the converfion of the Gentile nations, following immediately after a general threatening against God's enemies, y 18. 19. 20. 21. "He will repay recompence to his ene"mies, to the iflands he will repay recompence. "So fhall they fear the name of the Lord from the "weft, and his glory from the rifing of the fun." And then it is added, "When the enemy fhall "come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord fhall "lift up a standard against him. And the Re"deemer fhall come to Zion. This is my cove"nant with them, faith the Lord, My fpirit that "is upon thee, and my words which I have put "in thy mouth, fhall not depart out of thy mouth," &c. From the 60th chapter to the end of this book, there is a great number of predictions relating to the times of the Meffiah, without any intermixture, at least any confiderable intermixture, of predictions relating to other matters: fo that there is not the fame occafion here, as in confidering former parts of this book, to make remarks on fubjects with which the predictions of the Meffiah are mixed. It is fufficient to point out fome of the cleareft predictions in thefe chapters on that important fubject, fuch as the following. "Arife, fhine, for thy light "is come, and the glory of the Lord is rifen upon "thee.- The Lord fhall arife upon thee, and "his glory fhall be feen upon thee. And the "Gentiles fhall come to thy light, and kings to the "brightness of thy rifing. The abundance of "the fea fhall be converted unto thee; the forces "of the Gentiles fhall come unto thee. Thou "fhalt fuck the milk of the Gentiles, and fhalt fuck "the breafts of kings.. The Lord God will"caufe righteoufnefs and praise to spring forth be"fore all the nations. The Gentiles fhall fee thy " righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou "fhalt be called by a new name, which the mouth "of the Lord fhall name. Oh that thou wouldst "rent the heavens, that thou wouldst come down, "that the mountains might flow down at thy pre"fence! To make thy name known to thine "adverfaries, that the nations may tremble at thy "prefence. For fince the beginning of the world “ "world men have not heard, &c. what he hath "prepared for him that waiteth for him. I am "fought of them that afked not for me: I am found of them that fought me not: I faid, Be"hold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not "called by my name. I have fpread out my hands "all the day unto a rebellious people. Ye fhall "leave your name for a curfe unto my chofen for "the Lord God fhall flay thee, and call his fervants "by another name. Where is the house that ye build unto me? To this man will I look, cc even to him that is poor, and of a contrite fpirit. He that facrificeth a lamb, is as if he cut off a dog's neck he that offereth an oblation, as if "he offered fwine's blood: he that burneth in"cenfe, as if he bleffed an idol. Who hath "heard fuch a thing? Shall a nation be born "at once for as foon as Zion travailed, fhe "brought forth her children. Behold, I will "extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of "the Gentiles like a flowing ftream.- I will "gather all nations and tongues, and they fhall come "and fee my glory. And I will fet a fign among “them, and I will fend those that efcape of them, “ unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that "draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the ifles "afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither "have feen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles." SECT. V. Of Feremiah's prophecies. In the third chapter of Jeremiah, y 15. 16. 17. we have a prediction, not only of the future abolishing of the Levitical fervice, implied in the abolishing of the ancient regard fhewn to the ark of the covenant, but also of the converfion of the Gentiles, implied in the "gathering of all nations to the name of the "Lord, "Lord, to Jerufalem, fo that they would not walk any more after the imagination of their evil "heart." Though both thefe events are faid to happen after the return from the captivity, fo as to be a continuation of the hiftory of the church, after that return; yet they are not faid to happen immediately after it, but at a confiderable diftance, after the fmall remnant, called, y 14. one of a city, and two of a family, fhould be multiplied and increafed in the land. The words at the clofe of y 16. rendered, Neither shall that be done any more, may be rendered, Neither shall any more facrifice be offered there. But, without this, the other expreffions in that text contain a prediction, that the ceremonial fervice was to be abolished. There are two chief fubjects with which thefe predictions relating to the times of the Meffiah are mixed; firft, Promifes of restoration from captivity; and, 2dly, Promifes of paftors after God's own heart; which fubjects we meet with afterwards in other paffages concerning the Meffiah, in this prophecy. The predictions both about the abolishing of the ceremonial law, and the enlightening of the Gentiles, are contained in promifes directed to Ifrael, (as diftinguifhed from Judah), y 14. of reftoration from captivity; but in y 18. we have a promife of a joint return of Ifrael and Judah. Whereas fome apply both thefe promifes to the fecond and final restoration of the Jews yet to come, which they fuppofe will be previous to the converfion of all nations, or the fullness of the Gentiles; whatever way we understand these promifes about the restoration of the Jews from captivity or difperfion, it cannot annul the evidence of the chief predictions in view, viz. thofe relating to the abolishing of the ceremonial law, and the converfion of the Gentiles, begun by the calling or gathering of many nations, and completed by the * See Mr Lowth on the place. gathering |