verfes 5th, & 6th. Behold the days a coming, faith the LORD, that I will raise u to David a righteous branch, and a king sha reign and act wifely; and fhall execute Jud ment and Justice in the land. In his day Judah fhall be faved, and Ifrael fhall dwell fafety and this is the name that the LOR shall call him, our righteousness." Th description of the Meffiah, perfectly agre with that given of him by the Prophet Ifa ah*: for the righteous branch, correfpond with, "But there shall

from the ftem of Jeffe."

fpring forth a r

And who is to r store the regal state of the house of David as fhewn Vol. Ift. page 75. Agreeable which, the Prophet says here," And a kir shall reign:" Isaiah fays, " And the spirit the LORD fhall rest upon him, the spirit wisdom and understanding." and Jeremia fays, "he shall act wifely." Ifai. "He wi judge the poor with righteousness, and wit equity will he reprove the meek of the earth Jerem. "And he fhall execute Judgment ar

73. &c.

See the Second prophecy of Ifai. Vol. Ift. pa

jufti

justice in the land." Ifai. fays, "And it shall come to pass in that day, (that) the LORD fhall again put forth his hand a second time to recover the remnant of his

peo

ple, &c.—And he shall gather the outcasts of Ifrael, and the difperfed of Judah will he collect," &c. Jerem. fays, "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Ifrael fhall dwell in fafety." And which, as I have already fhewn, denotes the union of the two kingdoms of Ifrael and Judah; confequently, the entire reftoration of the nation.

To which, Jeremiah adds the name of the Meffiah, that the LORD fhall call him, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS: as by the example of his virtuous life and actions, he will lead the nation into the paths of righteousness, and thus be the means of their falvation; contrary to the manners of the wicked fhepherds, who destroyed and scattered the sheep.

Secondly, in regard to the redemption of the nation, he fays. "Therefore, behold the days (fhall) come, faith the LORD, when they shall no more fay, (as) the LORD liveth, who brought up the children of Ifrael out of the land of Egypt: But, (as) the LORD liveth, who brought up, and who conducted

1

Af

the feed of the house of Ifrael from the nort countries whither I had driven them, tha they might dwell in their own land.” ter their future restoration, they will no mor fwear by the LORD as their deliverer from the Egyptian bondage; but as him who ha delivered them from a much more calami tous fituation, after they had been difperfe through all countries; and fuffered fuch cru el and dreadful perfecutions, as no nation e ver fuffered; and that, for fo many hundred years, as almost to despair of ever being redeemed the latter deliverance will therefore, be fo much the more important and wonderful, as to fwallow up all remembrance of the former redemption.

,

From our explanation of this prophecy, the five following fundamental principles, are deducible. First, that God will turn the captivity of his people, and affemble his difperfed, as in verse 3d. "I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries whither I have driven them :" And which agrees with the third principle of the prophecies of Ifaiah.

Second, that their redemption will not take place, till after they have been greatly

dimin.

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4

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diminished in the captivity: and therefore, the Prophet makes use of the expreffion, the remnant of my flock; because there will be but a small remnant of them left; and therefore tells us, that after they are brought back to their own fold, then "They fhall be fruitful and fhall multiply:" And which agrees with the feventh principle of Ifaiah.

Third, that the ten tribes that were carried away captive by the king of Affyria to the north, will then return, as mentioned verfe 8th. "And who conducted the feed of the house of Ifrael from the north country". Which agrees with the fourth principle of Ifaiah.

Fourth, that at the future restoration, of the nation, a king of the house of David will reign over them; and which agrees with the tenth principle of Isaiah.

Fifth, that they fhall not go into captivity any more; as mentioned verse 4th. "So that they fhall not fear any more, nor be difmayed, nor fhall they be mifling, faith the LORD". And which agrees with the eleventh principle of Isaiah.

Now, it is well known from all history, both facred and profane, that none of those

great

great and important promises were ev fulfilled at their return from Babylon; an much less, can it be faid that, they were ad complished in, or by Jefus; for in his days the ten tribes were not restored; confe quently, that great and wonderful deliver ance of the whole nation, that is to fwallow up all remembrance of their former redemp tion from Egypt, did not take place: nei ther did he ever reign over the nation during the short period of his ministry, as it is called; it therefore is demonftrable, that he could not be that king of the house of David, that righteous branch, that the Prophet fpeaks of, that was to reign over them, act wifely, and execute Judgment and justice in the earth.

And, I would willingly be informed, how it is poffible to apply the following great and glorious promises to Jesus ? "In his days Judah fhall be faved, and Ifrael fhall dwell in fafety." And as the Prophet fays verfe 4th. "So that they shall not fear any more, nor be dismayed, nor fhall they be miffing faith the LORD." Which promifes, denote the temporal happiness they are to enjoy under the reign of the true Meffiah; and that they

Should