like a River; and like an overflowing strea the wealth of the nations, which ye fha fuck: ye shall be carried at the fide; and the knees fhall ye be dandled. As on whom his mother comforteth, fo will comfort you and in Jerufalem shall ye re ceive confolation." Hence it is manifef that this promise, folely relates to the re demption of the Jewish nation: for as al their misery was in confequence of the de ftruction of Jerufalem: the Almighty affu. res them, that on that very spot, they fhal receive confolation; and their happiness b rendered complete.

In verfe 14th, &c. the Prophet addreffes himself particularly to those that shall rife at the Refurrection. "And ye shall fee it, and shall flourish, like the green herb:" With their corporeal eyes fhall they fee all this: and their bones that were dry in the grave, fhall flourish as the green herb: and by this means, "The hand of the LORD fhall be manifefted to his fervants :" All will then know, that there is a God in Ifrael: and who will also take vengeance on the na

* See Ezek. xxxvii. 2.

tions

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hall

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tions; they being his enemies; as in the latter part of the verfe, "And he will be moved with indignation against his enemies. For, behold! the LORD fhall come, as a fire; and his chariots, as a whirlwind to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke in flames of fire. For by fire fhall the LORD execute judgment; and by his fword, upon all flesh; and many shall be the flain of the LORD." Hence it is clear, that the punishment of the nations, will not only be, by the fword of a man against his brother, but also by fire &c. from heaven; agreeable to what the Prophet Ezekiel fays*, "and I will call for a fword—every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with peftilence and with blood, and (with) an overflowing shower and great hail ftones: fire and brimftone will I rain upon him." Thus will the flain of the LORD, be many.

The Prophet next proceeds to point out, the particular nations and religions, on whom God will thus take vengeance, verse 17th, "They who fanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens: (but) after (with)

M 2

one

one within:" This denotes the Mahometa who by their frequent ablutions and feemi devotion, with to appear pure, and fanctific but this, is all hypocrify, fays the Prophe for presently after that they have perform their ablutions in the baths, and their pra ers in the Mofque; they are with one withi are wallowing in pollution, with fome one their harlots in fecret. And this, I take t be the reason, that the Maforites in correct ing the text in this place, read in the mar gin, which fignifies the fame as one only in the feminine: and which is a prefumptive proof, that they understood the Prophet in the fame fenfe, as here explained i. e. that with all their outward purifications, they were all pollution within.

In the latter part of the verfe, he fpeaks

of the Chriftians, &c. "Who eat fwine's flesh, and the abomination*, and the moufe; together shall they perish, faith the LORD. "

In verfe 18th, the Prophet points at the cause of this punishment, and the manner of its accomplishment. "For I (know) their deeds,

All animals prohibited to the Jews, were called abomination; as Mofes fays, (Levit. xi, 42.) Whatfoever goeth

deeds, and their thoughts: it (therefore) fhall
come to gather all the nations and tongues
together; and they fhall come, and see my
glory." At the time that God will take
vengeance on the nations; he will gather
them all together; to war with each other
fo that the fword of every man, will be a-
gainst his brother: and this vengeance, the
Prophet calls the glory of the LORD. And
thus alfo fays the Prophet Ezekiel* on the
fame fubject.
Thus will I magnify my-

;

felf and fanctify myself, and will be known. in the fight of many nations; and they shall know that I (am) the LORD."

And as a number of them, will then be suffered to escape, with all their wounds and blemishes upon them; agreeable to what the Prophet Zechariah fays, "And this shall be the calamity with which the LORD will fmite all the peoples who warred against Jerufalem. Their flesh fhall confume away while they stand on their feet; and their eyes fhall confume away in their fockets; and their tongue shall confume away in their mouths." Of these, the Prophet fays, verfe

• Ezek. xxxviii. 23.

+ Zech. xiv. 12.

1

19th. "And I will fet a mark upon the and I will fend thofe that escape of them the nations; to Tarshish, Phul, and Lu who draw the bow: Tubal and Javan, t far diftant ifles, that have not heard my fam nor have they seen my glory: and they fh declare my glory among the nations." Wh those that escape, fhall return home to the respective countries, in their wounded an miferable state, (which is the mark that Go will set upon them) and thus declare the glo ry of God; the confequence will be, tha they will all be in hafte, to bring those o the nation that remain in different parts, and have not yet returned, to their own country as in verse 20th. "And they shall bring al your brethren, from all the nations, for an oblation to the LORD, on horfes, and in chariots, and in covered litters*; on mules, and on dromedaries; to my holy mountain Jerufalem,

Bishop Lowth thinks that it denotes counes; a fort of vehicle, much used in the east, confifting of a pair of hampers, or cradles, thrown acroís a camel's back, one on each fide; in each of which a perfon is carried. They have a covering to defend them from the rain and the fun. Thevenot (he obferves) calls them counes, 1. p. 136.