it would be in the highest degree absurd to interpret so, as I have shewn in a former letter. (See Letter V. under " NO MORE”— "FOR EVER".)

Thus have the difficulties which encumber the doctrine of a literal restoration been stated; and, in the preceding observations, it may have appeared that these difficulties are entirely obviated by an interpretation upon other principlesan interpretation more simple, and more in harmony with the general tenor of the Word of God.

Yours, &c.

LETTER X.

That the doctrine is held by the Jews themselves, and by most Christians, no sufficient ground for receiving it-why.-The continued existence of the Jews, as a nation, to the present time, nothing in favour of it-why.-Probable effect of their conversion before the Gentiles.-The opinion that they will be converted before the Gentiles contrary to Scripture; and, consequently, the notion that the Jews will be chief agents in the conversion of the Gentiles.-The continued national existence of the Jews a proof of the Divine intention to employ them as agents in the conversion of the Gentiles.-Their scattered condition no proof of such intention. More reasonable, as well as more scriptural, to expect the Gentiles will be converted first.-Personal reign of Christ-Millennium-both unscriptural doctrines.-Remarks of the late Rev. John Cooke, of Maidenhead, on Dr. Gill's description of the Millennium.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

April 12, 1828.

AFTER all it may be considered by many as an argument in favour of the restoration, that the Jews themselves, and most Christians to the present time, have expected such a literal fulfilment of prophecy.

But this is not sufficient ground for concluding the expectation to be warrantable, any more than the short-sighted and temporal views of the Jews, and of Christ's disciples concerning the Messiah, when and before He came, were a sufficient ground, as the high priests and others alleged it to be, for rejecting him as not agreeing, in their opinion, with the notices contained in the Scriptures.

The opinions of the two disciples, who were overtaken by our Lord going to Emmaus, were in favour of the doctrine of a literal restoration-"We trusted that it had been He that should have redeemed Israel" and had they been consulted previous to His death, as to the nature and object of His mission, their opinions would, no doubt, have been regarded as powerful evidence that Christ was come to set up an earthly kingdom, and, literally, to accomplish that restoration of which the prophets wrote. But his death falsified their views; and, when he himself declared the spiritual nature of his kingdom, and "expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself," "their eyes

were opened," and their opinions were altered; and we now wonder that their expectations were ever so carnal. And when the world's wild wilderness, still desolate in sin, shall "blossom as the rose," and the Church of Christ be made "the joy of the whole earth," perhaps there may be wonderment that Jews or Gentiles ever limited their views to Palestine, and to "the Jerusalem, which now is, and is in bondage," when they read of the promised plenty of "the glorious land," and the future splendour of "the holy city"" in the latter days." Again, the continued existence of the Jews as a nation, may be regarded as an argument in favour of the doctrine; and it may be said, that if the Jews cease to exist in a national capacity, one of the strongest testimonies to the truth of Revelation will be removed. But, supposing their conversion to precede that of the Gentiles in general, and in the sudden manner some expect, the occurrence will be one of the most wonderful and striking to all men, that the world ever witnessed; and will, therefore, be itself a powerful testimony in favour of Christianity,

and, to after ages, a standing memorial, to the same effect, on the well-authenticated page of history. And this historical testimony will be as satisfactory to the wellinformed of other nations, as the national existence of the Jews in Palestine would be; while, to the ill-informed, such national existence would be no more a matter of certain cognizance, than historical testimony would.

If the conversion shall be gradual, every individual instance of it will aid the cause of Christianity; and when "all Israel shall be saved," the historical fact, that they once existed as a nation in the midst of all other nations, bearing the tokens of Almighty wrath, and that the awful brand of national distinction only disappeared upon their obedience to Him their fathers crucified, will be a flaming torch of evidence too strong for honest scepticism to withstand, and too brilliant for wilful enmity to feign unseen.

Thus, meeting the objector on his own ground, and supposing the conversion of the Jews will precede that of the world in general, his objection is wholly destitute

G