He then affures us verfe 17th, that the fpoil of the nations, will be fo great, that instead of the brass and iron, which they deprived them of during the captivity &c. they will bring them gold and filver in return. “ Inftead of brafs, I will bring gold; and instead of iron, I will bring filver; and instead of wood, brafs; and instead of stones, iron. And I will make thine infpector peace; and thine exactor righteousness. "For their enemies plundered them in war and captivity; but with them, it will be quite the reverse; for their inspectors and exactors will be peace and righteousness; that is, they will poffefs all this riches in peace and righteousness; because, the nations will of their own accord, bring it in a friendly and peaceable manner : for as he says, verse 18th, "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land; destruction and calamity, in thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls falvation; and thy gates praise.” In all their gates, there will be nothing heard but praise to the Almighty, for these great bleffings. And, as he at the commencement of the prophecy, had compared the captivity to darkness, and the redemption to light: he obferves verfe 19th. "No longer

fhalt

fhalt thou have the fun for light by day; the brightness of the moon to enlighten th for the LORD fhall be to thee an everlast light, and thy God fhall be thy glory. T fun shall no more go down; neither fhall t moon wane: for the LORD fhall be thine verlasting light; and the days of thy mour ing shall be ended. "This fhews, that aft their redemption from this captivity, the kingdom and government is not to be deftroj ed any more. And, that they may be worth of fuch a great bleffing, he informs us, ver. 21ft, "And thy people shall be all righte ous: "For at the time of the redemption God will refine them, as the Prophet fays "And I will refine them as filver is refined and will try them as gold is tried." So that all that shall be left will be righteous; as the Prophet Isaiah says elsewhere, (Chap. iv. 3. "And it shall come to pafs, whofoever is left in Zion, and that remaineth in Jerufalem, holy fhall he be called." Therefore," Shall they for ever poffefs the land:" That all the world may know, that the nation is, "The cion of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. " And, although du

* Zech. 13. 9.

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ring this captivity, they have been reduced to a very small number; yet, will they fo increase after their redemption, that, "The little one shall become a thousand; and the fmall one a ftrong nation." The little tribe will be a thousand times as numerous as it is at prefent, &c. The Prophet then informs us that, this will be in its appointed time, as he says, "I the LORD in due time will haften it. When the appointed time of their redemption Ihall come, the Almighty will haften its accomplishment; for as the Prophet knew that the captivity was to continue such a length of time; he exhorted them, not to defpair on that account; for as foon as the period arrived, God would by no means delay it, but on the contrary would affuredly haften it.

The Prophet having thus delivered the promise and affurance of the redemption of the nation, in the most clear, and explicit manner, observes thus of himself, Chapter lxi. 1. &c. "The spirit of the LORD is upon me, because the LORD hath anointed me. That is, he was inftructed to speak more largely and clearly of the falvation, and redemption of the nation, than any of the

other

66

other Prophets, because the LORD anointed him in an efpecial manner, publish glad tidings to the meek; he ha fent me to bind up the broken hearted. This is an exact description of the nation this captivity; for they have patiently bor innumerable perfecutions without refen ment, the consequence of which is, that th are broken hearted: the Prophet therefore o ferves, that his miffion was, to prophecy the appointed time of the redemption and fa vation of the nation, and the. punishment their enemies : "To proclaim freedom t the captives; and to the bounden perfect li berty *: To proclaim the year of acceptanc with the LORD; and the day of vengeanc of our God. To comfort all thofe tha mourn; To apply it to the mourners of Zi on, to give them a beautiful (crown) inftead of afhes; the oil of gladness instead of forrow; the garment of praise instead of hea vinefs ; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the plantation of the LORD, that he may be glorified." He alfo informs us, that he was appointed, to prophecy the * In Heb. Пip-np Properly denotes, the opening of the prison.

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rebuilding of their ancient ruins; their flousishing and exalted state; and the fubmiffion of the nations to them, verfe, 4th. &c. "And they shall build up the ruins of old times; they shall restore the ancient desolations; they fhall repair the cities laid waste; the defolations of continued ages. And strangers shall stand up and feed your flocks; and the fons of the alien fhall be your husbandmen and vine-dreffers. But ye fhall be called the priefts of the LORD; the minifters of our God, fhall be your title." Ye thall not then be engaged in fuch fervices; but in the meditation of the Law of God, and in his fervice, as priests; and being thus at leifure, and engaged in the fervice of God, "Ye fhall eat the riches of the nations; and in their glory shall ye make your boaft. Inftead of your shame, ye shall receive a double inheri→ tance; and of your ignominy, ye shall rejoice in their portion for in their land a double (fhare) fhall ye inherit; and everlasting Joy fhall ye poffefs. For I the LORD love Judgement; (and) hate robbery (even) for a burnt offering *: and I will give them (the VOL II. reward)

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* Thus the Prophet Malachi fays, " And ye bring that which is stolen," &c. Chap. i. 13.