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LETTER IX.

The difficulties with which the doctrine is encumbered stated.The present political aspect of the world less favourable to the doctrine than imagined.-The writer not to be charged with disbelief, or want of confidence in the divine power, for urging the objection of difficulties.-National existence of the Jews after conversion improbable.-Why so.-An error to suppose their continued existence the result of a Divine decree, or their

national preservation miraculous.· The doctrine supposes distinctions between Jew and Gentile which Christianity has destroyed. There are Prophecies that seem directly opposed to it.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

April 10, 1828.

THE difficulties with which the doctrine of a literal restoration is encumbered, are of three kinds.

First, Arising from the magnitude of the events necessarily implied.

Secondly, Arising from the ordinary course of things.

Thirdly, Arising from the apparent contradiction to Scripture testimony which the doctrine involves.

First, The magnitude of the events, necessarily implied.

If the Jews are to be restored to Palestine, it must be by the operation of moral principles; the silent workings of Providence in their behalf; the force of arms, or the intervention of miraculous powerall events most stupendous, whether regarded singly, or in any supposable combination.

Look at their condition scattered among the nations; it is highly improbable that their restoration will be effected by any of these means.

By the operation of moral principles on themselves, or on other nations, or by their operation on themselves and other nations conjointly.

THE RESTORATION, whatever it involves, is promised only on repentance. They must be converted almost simultaneously throughout the world, or, by the slow process of individual conversion that has hitherto marked the history of the Church, they will be merged in the general body of believers, and their nationality be lost. The nation must be "born in a day."

Then there must be an equally powerful operation of moral principles on other nations. The political aspect of the world's affairs must undergo a wonderful mutation. Palestine must change its present masters for others who will be friendly to the Jews, literal interpreters of prophecy, and obedient to the heavenly vision. The tyranny of those who now possess Jerusalem must be subdued by foreign force, brought into exercise by conviction of the justice of the cause, or be vanquished by principle operating on the tyrant possessors themselves, and the restoration be the fruit of a holy war, or of the voluntary vacation of the land the free renunciation of power, territory, home. Where shall the selfejected wanderers go? Such an operation of moral principle, is an event too improbable to be expected, while the prophecies are capable of another, an easier, and a more consistent interpretation than such an event implies. And with this more consistent interpretation at hand, I do not see how, upon any moral principle, the Jews could lay claim to Palestine, with more justice or less fanaticism than actuated the Crusaders of old in their attack

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upon the same territory. However favourable, in the opinion of some interpreters of prophecy, the present political aspect of the world may be to their peculiar views, had they lived at the period of the Crusades, and especially when Jerusalem itself was wrested from the Saracens, and announced their opinions then, they would have entered the arena of debate with eminent advantage against any controvertists, supported only as they themselves now are by political aspects.

By the silent workings of Providence on their behalf.

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Doubtless the Lord, who turneth the hearts of men as the rivers of water, could easily secure the literal fulfilment of the prophecies in question; but, however easy to Him to whom nothing is hard, a literal restoration, produced by the silent workings of Providence, employing all necessary agencies, would yet suppose such wondrous changes, such a revolution in the world's affairs, an exercise of power on the minds and circumstances of men so unparellaled

in human experience, that its natural improbability, connected with its want of agreement with the spiritual nature of the Christian dispensation, and with the consideration that another and more consistent interpretation may be given, appears to me sufficient ground for regarding it as an event, involving in its magnitude a powerful objection against the probability of its

Occurrence.

By the force of arms.

Either the Jews themselves, or themselves in league with others, must be the warriors to subdue; or other nations, urged by principle, as before supposed, or by interest, must effect the conquest for them. If the former, the changes in their habits, their resources, their relative consequence among the nations, must be so great, that credulity itself would be tasked to believe it possible, and faith be nobly tried, if, without alternative, she were called upon to admit that prophecy foretold it. If the latter-the intervention of other nations the task for credulity and the trial of faith would be equally

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