were rebuilding their Temple and City, and molefted by their neighbouring Enemies. And when they had, according to their Ability, rebuilt their Temple, this fecond Structure not only fell short of the former in Magnificence, but alfo wanted the Schechinah, and other illuftrious Monuments of the divine Favour. And prefently from that time, even till the Days of our Saviour, all Prophecy, and every eminent and fingular Gift of that Nation,

ceafed.

Befides, as we have before obferved, the Jews ftruggled with many and great Inconveniencies under the Kings of Syria, that they could scarce gain a breathing time, or refpite, from thefe Moleftations. At laft they were driven from their Country, and difperfed all over the World. Befides I muft again obferve, that this Deliverance from Babylon was not univerfal, fince those who were then brought back made up but a little, or no Part of Ifrael. If you compare this with the Words of the Prophet, you will fee that it is fo far from anfwering every Part of the Prophecy, that it will indeed agree with no fingle Branch of it.

Therefore this Prophecy, fo far as it concerns the Jews, has not been fulfilled. But this Prediction of Amos is fuppofed to be referred by St. James in an Apoftolical Synod (Acts xv. 13, &c.) to the Converfion of the Gentiles. But he has not fo far reftrained it so as to exclude the Jews. St. James affirms, that the Gentiles are to be called firft (agreeable to those first Fruits exhibited by St. Peter) as the Prophets witnessed. And that afterwards the Tabernacle of David is to be raised, and the refidue of the Nations to be gathered together. These things we willingly grant; yet I cannot therefore believe, that all the Parts of this Prophecy of Amos were fulfilled by this Converfion of the Gentiles. There E

are

are none but will acknowledge, that this Prediction does in fome measure concern the Jews; I think, indeed, that it does principally regard them, and others but in a fecondary manner. For the Prophet at first speaks concerning a great Defolation (v. 8.) and about a Reduction from a State of Captivity. Now how do these things agree with the Gentiles? How can they be drawn or wrefted to their State? Befides, the Prophet fpeaks concerning Breaches and Ruins, and afterwards about rebuilding and reftoring them to a former Condition. What has this to do with the Gentiles, either already converted, or that are yet to be turned.

Here is mention made of the Reftitution of Structures and Cities to their former Condition. Now if it be understood concerning the Gentiles, I ask to what ancient State did they return, by the Preaching of the Gospel? they certainly came to one entirely new, having altogether forfaken their ancient Customs. I do not here infift upon the Promise that their Fortunes fhall be reftored, and all things become more delightful. Now thofe among the Heathens who embraced the Chriftian Faith at the fame time alfo, were obliged to take up the Cross of Chrift, and fo rendered themfelves lefs capable of public Honours and Preferments; becoming by that very Action obnoxious to the fierceft Perfecutions. Let us repeat the laft Verfe of the Prophet; And I will plant them upon their Land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their Land, which I have given them, faith the Lord thy God. Thus much as to Amos.

The Prophet Joel forewarns the Jews of thofe future Evils which hung over them by reafon of their Iniquities, and exhorts them to fafting, and Repentance. And after he has mentioned many Judgments of God, he fhews that the Deity would yet be propitious, and the State of the Jews be

come

come happy. (c. ii. 18.) Then will the Lord be jealous for his Land, and pity his People: yea the Lord will answer, and fay unto his People, Behold I will fend you Corn, and Wine, and Oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a Reproach, among the Heathen, &c. And then repeating the fame matter he fays, (v. 26, 27.) And ye shall eat, and be fatisfied and praise the Name of the Lord your God that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my People fhall never be ashamed, (or confounded.) I fhall not at prefent confider the Import of thefe Phrafes, fince they fo often occur in the Writings, of the Prophets, and make as it were a fort of pro-, phetic Common Place. I understand that the Jews are here promifed future Liberty, and abundance of all good things, nor fhall these Bleffings be any, more taken away.

But perhaps you will fay the ufe and value of temporal good things, is but very mean, dubious, and infignificant, unless they are joined with fpiritual. I grant it, therefore we find a Promife of these most holy Gifts going along with them. And it fhall come to pafs (fays the Prophet) (v. 28, 29.) afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh, and your Daughters fall prophefy, your old Men fhall dream Dreams, your young Men fhall fee Vifions. And also upon the Servants, and upon the Hand-maids in thofe Days will I pour out my Spirit.

St. Peter applied this celebrated Prophecy to the Effufion of the Holy Spirit on the Apoftles. And indeed very properly. For that was an illuftrious Demonftration of divine Power. But he did not thereby exclude the future Completions of the fame Prophecy. Let us hear what follows in the fame Prophet; (v. 30, 31.) And I will shew wonders in the Heavens, and in the Earth, Blood, and Fire, and Pillars of Smoke. The Sun fhall be turned into Dark

E 2

ness,

ness, and the Moon into Blood, before the great and the terrible Day of the Lord come. Were these things accomplished on the Effufion of the Holy Ghoft on the Apoftles? Surely no Man will affert it. Therefore what great and terrible Day of the Lord is it which the Prophet here points out? If this World is to be confumed by Fire, as St. Peter exprefly teaches us in his fecond Epiftle, (c. iii. 7, 10, 12.) and St. Paul alfo affirms in his first Epistle to the Theffalonians, (c. i. 7.) fuch Signs as thefe we are fpeaking of will neceffarily go before and accompany the univerfal Conflagration, when all Nature fhall be diffolved, as we have elfewhere fhewn*. Our Saviour alfo tells us of the fame Prodigies which are to appear before the coming of the Son of Man in the Clouds of Heaven, (Matt. xxiv. 29, 30, 31.) which I can no other ways interpret than with reference to his fecond Advent, at the End of the World. There yet therefore remains a farther Completion of the fame Promife toward the End of the World, when that great Day of the Lord fhall approach, which fhall burn like a Furnace against the Wicked, and fhall devour them as Stubble; but to the Pious it fhall be like the rifing Sun with refreshing and falutary Rays; as the Prophet Malachi obferves. (c. iv.). Having made thefe Remarks it appears, that the Interpretation of the Apostle may have its full force, and yet according to the Words of Joel we may look for an Effufion of the Holy Spirit on the Jews in the latter Days; nor only on the Jews, but on the Gentiles alfo, for it follows. in the fame Prophet, And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord (that is the Meffiah, with a true Faith and upright Mind) hall be delivered; for in Mount Sion, and in Jerufa

Theory of the Earth, Book III. Chap. 2.

lems

lem, phall be Deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the Remnant whom the Lord fhali call.

Thefe things eminently refpect the Jews. This fame Prophet in his third Chapter, after the bringing back the Captivity of Judah and Jerufalem, proclaims a dreadful War between the Jews and the Gentiles; and then in the close of his Prophecy he promifes the Jews, that they fhall be in a happy Condition, which fhall endure for ever. (v. 18, to the end.) But we must take fome farther Notice of this great War, mentioned by the Prophet. It will found like Thunder throughout the World, and flash around it like Lightning. The Apparatus and Denunciation of this War are fo very folemn, the Troops of the Warriors fo numerous, and the Slaughter fo difmal, that they can fcarcely be reprefented in any Words different from thofe of the Prophet, who has thus defcribed them. (v. 9-17.) Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; prepare War, wake up the mighty Men, let all the Men of War draw near, let them come up. Beat your Plow-fhears into Swords, and your Pruning-hooks into Spears; let the weak fay I am strong. Affemble your felves, and come all ye Heathen, and gather your felves together round about; thither cause the mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the Heathen be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I fit to judge all the Heathen round about. Put ye in the Sickle, for the Harveft is ripe; come get you down, for the Prefs is full, the Vats overflow, for their Wickedness is great. Multitudes, Multitudes, in the Valley of Decifion: for the Day of the Lord is near, in the Valley of Decifion. The Sun and the Moon shall be darkned, and the Stars fball withdraw their fhining. The Lord alfo fhall roar out of Sion, and utter his Voice from Jerufalem, and the Heavens and the Earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the Hope of his People, and the Strength of the ChilD 3

dren