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tions the calamity firft, because, the pu ment, of those who perfecuted the Jews precede their redemption. "For behold, nefs fhall cover the earth; and thick dar the nations: but upon thee fhall the Lo rife: and his glory upon thee fhall be fpicuous.'

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In verfe 3d. &c. he informs us that, confequence of this will be, that the nat will all flow to them, in order to be inftru in the Law of the true God; as the Prop has faid elsewhere, (Chap. ii. 3.) " And ny peoples fhall go, and fhall fay: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lo to the house of the God of Jacob; and will teach us of his ways," &c. He also forms us, that not only the nations wo come, but their kings likewife; And fart tells them that, when they fhall fee all the gathered together they will be afraid; as thin ing that they are affembled to war againft, a oppress them; and therefore they will fear but when they find that the nations, are con to do homage to them, their fear, will turned to Joy; and which accounts for th different terms made ufe of by the Prophe as will be feen presently. "And the nation

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fhall walk in thy light; and kings în the brightness of thy rifing. Lift up thine eyes round about, and fee; all of them are gathered together, they come unto thee; thy fons shall come from afar; and thy daughters fhall be carried at the fide*. Then fhalt thou fear, and overflow with joy; and thy heart fhall be ruffled, and dilated; because the riches of the sea shall be poured in upon thee; and the wealth of the nations fhall come unto thee. An inundation of camels shall cover thee; the dromedaries of Midian and Epha; all of them from Sheba fhall come: gold and frankincenfe fhall they bear; and the praises of the LORD fhall they declare. All the flocks of Kedar fhall be gathered unto thee; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall afcend with acceptance on mine altar; and my beauteous house I will glorify."

In verse 8th. &c. he speaks of the return of the nation to the land of promise; and compares the swiftness of their coming, to the return of the doves to the dove-cot; for then their flight is more rapid, than when they fet out, on account of their haste to re• This alludes to the expreffion of Mofes Numb. 11. 12. VOL II.

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God; and of the Holy One of Ifrael: he hath glorified thee. And the fons of ftranger fhall build up thy walls; " Fo their ancestors deftroyed them, they are to build them up again: "And their k. fhall minifter unto thee: for in my wra fmote thee; but in my favour I will thee with the most tender affection. And gates fhall be open continually; by day, or night, they fhall not be fhut; to bring u thee the wealth of the nations: and th kings fhall be attended with guides * that nation, and that kingdom which w not serve thee, shall perish; yea, thofe nati fhall be utterly defolated. " And, as in day's of Solomon, Hyram king of Tyre fu nished him with all forts of coftly wood, 1 the building of the temple; fo will the n

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tions in the latter days, bring every rich and costly wood, to build and adorn the fanctuary, as he fays verfe 13th, "The glory of Lebanon fhall come unto thee; the fir-tree, the pine, and the box together: to adorn the place of my fanctuary; and I will glorify the place, whereon I reft my feet. " In verfe 14th, he affures us, that when all thofe nations fhall come to Jerufalem, they will not come in pride and arrogance, but in a low, humble, and fubmiffive manner. "And the fons of thine oppreffors fhall come bending before thee; and all those that despised thee, shall do obeisance to the foles of thy feet: and they shall call thee, the city of the LORD: the Zion of the Holy One of Ifrael. By the expreffion in the latter part of the verse, the Prophet informs us, that the nations will not come and proftrate themselves thus to them, on account of their great power, but for the fanctity and holiness of the Divinity that will then be in the midst of them and which is a demonstration that this prophecy was not fulfilled at their return from Babylon; for then, the Affyrians and Babylonians, who had destroyed their kingdom, vexed and oppreffed them; did not come to bow, and do obeisance

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to them, as is clear from all history bot cred and profane: it therefore remains t fulfilled at the redemption of the nation f the prefent captivity.

He then fhews that, not only their H fent miferable state, will be changed to a m exalted one; but their ruined country, em ging from its obscurity, will become equ great and glorious; verse 15th. "Inftead thy being forfaken, and hated, so that no paffed through thee; I will make thee everlasting excellency; a fubject of Joy perpetual generations.

The Prophet farther informs us, that the nation during this long and dreadful ca tivity, had been continually robbed and plu dered of its property, by the different n tions under whofe dominion they lived, history clearly proves; it should then be th reverse; verse 16, "And thou shalt fuck th milk of the nations; and be delighted wit the riches of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy faviour; and tha thy redeemer is the Mighty One of Jacob. Thus, will all the nations know that thi great change, will not be owing to any na tural cause, but will be purely fupernatural.

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