Lam free to affert, that there is scarcely an inftance of a Jew ever having embraced Christianity on the pure principles of religion*: but merely from interefted motives. From

I knew one perfonally well, who had apostatized, and been baptized in catholic countries, no less than five times; by which means, he got a pretty fum of money. One time, his holiness the Pope, stood god-father to him. I have also in my poffeffion, the hiftory of another of these adventurous knights, who, after being baptized in France, Poland, and Ruffia, fuccessfully practifed a few years back, the same trick on the late Countefs of Huntingdon; and fo artful were those impoftors, (father and fon) that they made the poor Lady, as well as a number of her friends, fondly believe, that a confiderable progrefs had been made in my converfion, by means of the fon; (who had been introduced to me, by one of our nation, under the pretence of attaining a thorough knowledge of the facred Language; and earnestly entreated me, "to difpel the many erroneous notions that he must undoubtedly have imbibed, and give him a more adequate idea of the true fenfe and value of sacred writ.") and that as foon as my converfion was effected, that of the whole nation, would follow of course; and fo credulous were these infatuated zealots, and enthusiasts, that they eagerly swallowed the bait, and actually furnished this arch impoftor with money and books, in order to promote fo good a caufe: thus they went fwimmingly on for fome time, till the father having made a pretty fwindle of about eighteen hundred pounds; of, and by the credit of his fpiritual friends and patrons, all of a fudden disappeared, and the whole was difcovered: I then had vifits from several of the injured parties, by which, I be

came

From all which, it is manifeft, that this pr phecy has not the most diftant relation any fuch thing, as the pretended converfio of the Jews to Christianity; as I am confi dent, that not one of all the Prophets, eve had any fuch thing in view: but the fol purport of this prophecy is, to foretel the return of the ten tribes, as well as the othe part of the nation; and their being formed together into one kingdom, under a prince of the house of David; and which will be, after they have been fcattered in all parts, and but few true believers left among them: and which is the real cause of their being thus gathered one out of a city, and two out of a family; because, there will then be fo few deferving the name of Jews, left among them as all the wicked, apoftate, and

pre

came acquainted with the whole fcheme, as laid at the Spa Chapel and to my fhame be it spoken, I was fo wicked, as in ironical terms to chide them gently, for their eager pursuit of the wild chimera of making profelytes.I had alfo a meffage from the poor deluded Lady H-, defiring I would be fo kind as to wait on her, whether for my converfion, or to be better informed concerning the impofture, I cannot tell; as her laft illness, which just then took place, and her death which followed foon after, prevented the interview.

tended

tended Jews, will be cut off, and destroyed by the troubles and afflictions, that will take place in the world, immediately preceding the restoration of the nation, by the true Meffiah; as I have already fhewn in the explanation of this prophecy, and those of Ifaiah.

As to the quotation from Ifai. xxvii. 12. which the Dr. has adduced in support of his hypothefis, is not in the least applicable to the fubject; as I have fhewn in the explanation of that prophecy, See Vol. Ift. page 210. &c.

The fecond prophecy commences verse ift of Chapter xxiiid, and is continued to the end of verse 8th, of the fame.

The purport of this prophecy is, to exclaim against the wicked kings of Ifrael and Judah, who by their wickedness, and the enormous crimes they committed, were the cause of the deftruction and difperfion of the nation, in like manner, as the evil minded fhepherds destroy and fcatter the flock, inftead of keeping and preferving them, as is their duty to do: and therefore, the Prophet says unto them, verfe ift. "Wo to the fhepherds that destroy and fcatter the sheep of

my

my pafture, faith the LORD. Therefore th faith the LORD God of Ifrael concerning th fhepherds that feed my people; Ye have fca tered my flock, and driven them away, an have not taken care of them :" Ye did no take care to lead them in the paths of righ eousness; and therefore, "Behold, I will v fit upon you the evil of your doings, faith th LORD." And which denotes the juft Judg ments which God brought upon several o thofe wicked kings; fome of whom wer flain by their enemies; others of them, by their fervants, &c.

He farther informs us that there will ye come a time, when God will gather the rem nant of his flock from all the countries, where they have been caft to, during the captivity; and will caufe them to return to their own land, as aforetime: verfe 3d, "But I will gather the remnant of my flock, from all the countries whither I have driven them; and 1 will bring them back to their own fold:" And, as by the length of the captivity, and the dreadful perfecutions which they fuffered; and the troubles and afflictions brought upon them, they will be left but few in num

ber,

ber; as is mentioned in the preceding prophecy and as the Prophet Isaiah faid, (xvii. 6.). "Two or three berries on the top of the uppermost bough;" &c, he therefore tells us, "And they fhall be fruitful and fhall multiply." So as to increafe far beyond what they were aforetime.

And, as Ifrael will abide many days without a king, and without a prince*; the Prophet affures us, that God will restore their kings and Judges as aforetime; verse 4th. "And I will raise up fhepherds over them, who shall feed them, and they shall not fear any more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be miffing, faith the LORD." Not one of them fhall be miffing after they are settled in the land, and have multiplied and increased therein: neither by wars, nor by captivity,

any more.

And as the Prophet prophefied in general terms, of two important events; viz, the restoration of the nation, and the establishment of their government; he now proceeds to speak more diftinctly of these promises. And first, in regard to the king, he says,

VOL II.

*Hofea. iii. 4.
R

verfes