صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

vity; it feems rather more applicable to the final rejection of the Jews, after their rejecting of the Meffiah, in the times of the gospel; which are the times treated on, both in the foregoing and following prophecies. The defcription of fufferings in y 6. hath a remarkable conformity with the predictions concerning the Meffiah's fufferings in chap. lii. and elsewhere; and the triumphant expreffions in the following context, imply, that the sufferer here fpoken of was to overcome his enemies, notwithstanding the injuries he was to fuffer from them: it is obvious, that this is more applicable to the Meffiah than to Ifaiah himself. If it seem difficult to make out the connection, supposing the prediction to relate to the Meffiah, it is rather more difficult to make it out in applying the prediction to Ifaiah, the foregoing and following prophecies fpeaking nothing about Ifaiah, but a great deal about the Meffiah.

That the 51ft chapter treats of the times of the Meffiah, appears from y 4. & 5. where it is faid, that "a law fhall proceed from him, and that he " will make his judgement to rest for a light of "the people; - that the ifles shall wait upon him, " and that on his arm they shall trust."

The other parts of this chapter contain general gracious promises, "that God would comfort "Zion; that he would make her wilderness like E

[ocr errors]

den, and her defert like the garden of the Lord; " and that he would comfort all her waste places;" where we may observe, that building wafte places is applicable, in a spiritual sense, to the times of the Meffiah, as well as in a more literal sense, to the times after the return from captivity. The latter part of the chapter contains earnest prayers, that God would exert his power in behalf of his church, to carry her fafely through all difficulties, as when " of old he made the depths of "the fea a way for the ranfomed to pass over;"

with various and comfortable instructions, implying, that fuch prayers should be heard.

The three last verses of the 52d chapter, were formerly proved to contain predictions, both of the Meffiah's fufferings and his subsequent exaltation, and to be really a part of the clear prediction contained in the following 53d chapter. In the first

- part of this 52d chapter, the captive daughter of Zion is exhorted " to awake and put on strength;

66

to loofe herself from the bonds of her neck;" which expreffion seems to refer to the deliverance from captivity. To shew the connection of purpofes in the different parts of this chapter, it is sufficient to refer to the general remarks formerly made.

The 53d, and three following chapters, contain a series of clear predictions of the Meffiah; setting forth the feveral chief branches, both of the hiftory and doctrine of the gospel, particularly concerning the Meffiah's fufferings, the causes and fruits of them, his death, his exaltation, the unbelief and difperfion of the Jews, the converfion of the Gentiles, the excellency of the blessings of God's covenant, and the privileges which he would bestow on his people in his house, when it should be called a house of prayer for all people. In all these chapters, there is no mention made of the Babylonish captivity, or the return from it, abstracting from fome figurative expreffions, which seem to allude to those events.

The 57th, and two following chapters, contain a variety of the most important practical inftructions; and at the end of the 59th chapter there is a clear prediction concerning the conversion of the Gentile nations, following immediately after a general threatening against God's enemies, y 18.19. 20.21. He will repay recompence to his enemies, to the islands he will repay recompence. "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

west, and his glory from the rifing of the fun." And then it is added, "When the enemy shall

[ocr errors]

come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall " lift up a standard against him. And the Re"deemer shall come to Zion. - This is my cove"nant with them, faith the Lord, My spirit that " is upon thee, and my words which I have put " in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth,"

&c.

From the 60th chapter to the end of this book, there is a great number of predictions relating to the times of the Meffiah, without any intermixture, at least any considerable intermixture, of predictions relating to other matters: fo that there is not the fame occafion here, as in confidering former parts of this book, to make remarks on subjects with which the predictions of the Meffiah are mixed. It is fufficient to point out fome of the cleareft predictions in these chapters on that important fubject, fuch as the following. "Arise, shine, for thy light " is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon "thee. The Lord shall arise upon thee, and " his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the "Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the " brightness of thy rifing. The abundance of "the fea shall be converted unto thee; the forces "of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. - Thou "shalt fuck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt fuck "the breasts of kings. The Lord God will "cause righteousness and praise to spring forth be"fore all the nations. The Gentiles shall fee thy " righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou "shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth "of the Lord shall name. - Oh that thou wouldst

،،

rent the heavens, that thou wouldst come down, " that the mountains might flow down at thy pre"fence! - To make thy name known to thine

८८

" adverfaries, that the nations may tremble at thy prefence. For fince the beginning of the "world

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"world men have not heard, &c. what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. - I am "fought of them that afked not for me : I am "found of them that fought me not: I faid, Be"hold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not " called by my name. I have spread out my hands "all the day unto a rebellious people. - Ye shall " leave your name for a curfe unto my chofen: for "the Lord God shall flay thee, and call his servants

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

by another name. - Where is the house that ye build unto me? - To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite fpirit. - He that facrificeth a lamb, is as if he cut off

a dog's neck: he that offereth an oblation, as if "he offered swine's blood: he that burneth in"cense, as if he blessed an idol. - Who hath "heard fuch a thing? - Shall a nation be born " at once : for as foon as Zion travailed, she

[ocr errors]

brought forth her children. - Behold, I will "extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of "the Gentiles like a flowing stream. - I will " gather all nations and tongues, and they shall come " and fee my glory. And I will fet a fign among them, and I will fend those that escape of them, unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that "draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the ifles "afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither "have feen my glory; and they shall declare my glo

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

،،

ry among the Gentiles."

SECT.V. Of Jeremiah's prophecies.

In the third chapter of Jeremiah, y 15. 16. 17. we have a prediction, not only of the future abolishing of the Levitical service, implied in the abolishing of the ancient regard shewn to the ark of the covenant, but alfo of the converfion of the Gentiles, implied in the "gathering of all nations to the name of the

66

Lord, "Lord, to Jerufalem, so that they would not walk

[ocr errors]

any more after the imagination of their evil "heart." Though both these events are faid to happen after the return from the captivity, so as to be a continuation of the history of the church, after that return; yet they are not faid to happen immediately after it, but at a confiderable distance, after the small remnant, called, y 14. one of a city, and two of a family, should be multiplied and increased in the land. The words at the close of y 16. rendered, Neither shall that be done any more, may be rendered, Neither shall any more facrifice be offered there. But, without this, the other expreffions in that text contain a prediction, that the ceremonial service was to be abolished. There are two chief subjects with which these predictions relating to the times of the Meffiah are mixed; first, Promises of restoration from captivity; and, 2dly, Promises of paftors after God's own heart; which subjects we meet with afterwards in other passages concerning the Meffiah, in this prophecy. The predictions both about the abolishing of the ceremonial law, and the enlightening of the Gentiles, are contained in promises directed to Ifrael, (as diftinguished from Judah), v 14. of restoration from captivity; but in y 18. we have a promife of a joint return of Ifrael and Judah. Whereas fome apply both these promifes to the fecond and final restoration of the Jews yet to come, which they suppose will be previous to the converfion of all nations, or the fullness of the Gentiles; whatever way we understand these promises about the restoration of the Jews from captivity or difperfion, it cannot annul the evidence of the chief predictions in view, viz. those relating to the abolishing of the ceremonial law, and the converfion of the Gentiles, begun by the calling or gathering of many nations, and completed by the

* See Mr Lowth on the place.

gathering

« السابقةمتابعة »