The Prophet then proceeds to fhew that notwithstanding all the fufferings of the nation, yet fhould they never ceafe to be a nation: they never should be mingled with, and loft, or swallowed up among the nations; but fhall continue to exift as a diftinct nati"Thus faith the

on; ver. 35. 36. & 37. 35.36. LORD, who hath appointed the fun for a light by day, the ftated order of the moon and ftars for a light by night; who quieteth the fea, when the waves thereof roar; the LORD of hosts (is) his name: If these ordinances fhall depart from before me, faith the LORD; (then) fhall the feed of Ifrael also cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus faith the LORD, if the heavens above can be measured, or the foundations of the earth beneath be traced out; then will I also reject the whole feed of Ifrael, because of all that they have done faith the LORD." This prediction, which hath been fo fully, and so completely accomplished, is a standing miracle to this very day, of the truth and verity of the word of God, delivered by the mouth of his Prophet; for although it is upwards of feventeen hundred years fince they have been driven out of their own country, and scatter

ed

ed in all parts, where they have fuffered innumerable maffacres and perfecutions; (às already mentioned in the course of this work*) fuch as no nation ever fuffered; yet are they not extinct, but ftill fubfift as a diftinct nation. And now, I fain would afk the deifts, or modern philofophers, how it was possible for Jeremiah, who prophefied upwards of two and twenty hundred years ago †, thus to exprefs himself in fuch clear and unequivocal terms, concerning the ftate of the nation, at this very day, as he has done; unless he had received it from God: from him to whom all things are known, bleffed be his name.

Amen.

I muft alfo take the liberty to obferve, that it is demonftrable from this prophecy, that

17.

* Vol. Ift. Introd. p. 16. &c. and Ibid. Differt. p. 18. &c.

Jeremiah was called to the prophetic office, in the thirteenth year of King Jofiah; forty years before the deftruction of the first temple; which according to the Jewish chronology, is the year of the world 3298. (See Gans in Temach David, fol. 15. 2.) and as the prefent year 1796 is according to the fame chronology 5556. it is plain that upwards of two thousand two hundred years have clapfed fince the delivery of this prophecy; allowing that he did not deliver it, till the latter part of his life.

God

God never yet did, nor ever will, reject the houfe of Ifrael, as a nation, and take the Gentiles in their ftead, as the generality of Chriftian writers pretend; (and which I fuppofe they found on thofe expreflions, put into the mouth of Jefus, Math. xxi. 42. Mark. xii. 10. & Luke xx. 17.) No: no fuch thing ever will take place; " For the LORD's portion (is) his people; Jacob (is) the lot of his inheritance *" And this prophecy, as well as that in chap. xxxiii. 25.-26. are the clearest evidence, that the Jews are never to be rejected by God, but to continue his people for ever.

In ver. 38th. the Prophet gives a defcription of the circumference of the new city that is to be built on the fite of Jerufalem. "Behold, the days come, faith the LORD, that the city shall be built unto the LORD, from the tower of Hananeel unto the corner gate: And the meafuring line fhall yet go forth over againft it upon the hill Gareb, and fhall encompass Goath; And the whole valley of the dead bodies †, and of the athes,

and

* Deut. xxxii. 9.

This certainly was the valley of Hinnom; or

the

and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, as far as to the angle of the horse gate eastward, fhall be holy to the LORD: it shall not be plucked up, neither fhall it be thrown down any more for ever." From the preceding explanation of this prophecy, the five following fundamental principles are deducible. First, that the ten tribes, called the kingdom of Ifrael, the principal of whom was Ephraim, fhould alfo be restored at the future redemption, as well as Judah; and which agrees with the fourth principle contained in the prophecies of Isaiah.

Second, that immediately preceding the redemption, the nations will go up to the land of promife, in order to conquer Jerufalem when God will there take vengeance on them as mentioned ver. 6th.

;

"For

there is yet a day unto the LORD our God, that the deftroyers upon mount Ephraim fhall cry, Arife, and let us go up to Zion.” And which agrees with the fecond principle

of Ifaiah.

Third, that the vifible fymbol of the She

the valley of Jehofhaphat, where all the afhes and filth was earried to, after Jofiah had defiled it.

chinab,

chinah, or divine prefence, and the fpirit of prophecy, will be again restored to Jerufalem; as is faid. verse 23d. The LORD bless thee, O habitation of Juftice, O mountain of holiness." And which agrees with the eighth principle of Ifaiah.

Fourth, that after the future redemption, they will not go into captivity any more; for that God will circumcife their heart; and the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD. And which agrees with the eighth and eleventh principles of Ifaiah.

Fifth, that Jerufalem will be greatly enlarged in circumference: and which is an addition to what the Prophet Ifaiah had prophecied concerning the future redemption, and happiness of the nation.

He has also fhewn in this prophecy, that God will never caft off, nor reject the feed of Ifrael; and which agrees with what our Legiflator Mofes foretold upwards of three thousand years ago, "And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not caft them away, neither will I abhor them, to deftroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I (am) the LORD their God" &c. (Levit. xxvi VOL. II.

A a

440)