before me all that they have done, both in the deftruction of Jerusalem, and the burning of the temple, &c. For, (verse 6th.) "A voice of tumult from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, rendering recompence to his enemies!" The voice from both city and temple, crieth aloud for vengeance. But, as the Prophet mentions the noun voice three times, one of which is attributed to God; it is clear, as the learned Abarbanal obferves, that the moft High will take vengeance on his enemies, for three different crimes which they have committed: firft, for the voice of the flain at the deftruction of the city of Jerufalem; fecond, for the voice of the burnt temple; and third, for the voice of blafphemy towards the Supreme, by the manner, in which they have spoken of his Divinity and thus fays the Prophet Daniel*; "I beheld then, becaufe of the great words which the horn fpake: I beheld (even) till the beast was flain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." Whence it is manifeft, that the deftruction

* Dan. 7. 11.

deftruction of the fourth beaft, will be in confequence of the erroneous doctrine promulgated by it, concerning the Divinity.

The Prophet having thus spoken of the vengeance which God will take of his enemies, for the fins they had committed, proceeds to speak in figurative language, of the refurrection, which is to take place, about nearly the fame time: verfe 7th. & 8th. "Before she was in travail, fhe brought forth; before her pangs came, fhe was delivered of a male (child.") Before the city above mentioned, (i e. Jerufalem) shall travail, she will have brought forth: that is, fhe will bring forth, without the pains of child birth which image, the Prophet made ufe of, to fhew the manner of the refurrection; that it will not be as is the natural birth, which he calls the pains of travail, that always precede it; but that the bodies of those that shall rife at the refurrection, will, in a fupernatural manner, appear all at once fuddenly; and which he calls her being delivered before her pangs came. And, as this will be a most astonishing, and ftupendous act, the Prophet fays, verfe, 3th. "Who hath heard fuch a thing?

and

and who hath seen the like of these things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Is a nation born in an instant? For no fooner was Zion in travail, than she brought forth her children." By a nation being born in an inftant, the Prophet fhews that, they will be exceeding numerous : that they will all arife inftantaneously; and that they will be the children of Zion.

But, as it is extremely difficult for the mind of man, to form an idea of the refurrection, fo as to be able to comprehend it; and which, may therefore be the cause of his doubting the truth of the prediction ; the most High argues in fupport of it; verse 9th. "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? faith the LORD, shall İ, who beget, restrain the birth? faith thy God." Shall I who was able to create man, and every thing else at the beginning, from nothing; not be able to raise him again at the refurrection? This, no one can doubt; but as I have been able to effect the one, I fhall certainly be able to effect the o

ther.

The Prophet then proceeds to fhew the caufe, and end of the refurrection; verfe

oth. Rejoice with Jerufalem, and exult on her account, all ye that love her; be exceedingly joyful with her, all ye that mourn over her :" The Prophet here shews, as I have already obferved*, one great end of the Refurrection : viz, that those who have been perfecuted, flain, and maffacred, during this long and dreadful captivity, for their adherence to the true faith; and who died mourning, and lamenting for Jerufalem; may then rejoice, and exult with her, in her falvation: for as they were fatiated with trouble, forrow, and affliction, on account of her deftruction; it is but juftice, that they. fhould partake of her happiness; as the Prophet fays, "That ye may fuck, and be satis fied, from the breast of her confolations; that ye may squeeze out, and be delighted with the splendour of her glory." The first of these members, denotes their temporal happiness; and the second, denotes their spiritual happinefs; and which is the true glory and both these they will enjoy in their greatest latitude; verse 1ath. "For thus faith the LORD; Behold, I will fpread profperity over her, VOL. II.

M

See Vol. ft. page, 193. &c.

like

like a River; and like an overflowing stream the wealth of the nations, which ye fhall fuck ye fhall be carried at the fide; and on the knees fhall ye be dandled. As one, whom his mother comforteth, fo will I comfort you and in Jerufalem fhall ye receive confolation." Hence it is manifeft, that this promife, folely relates to the redemption of the Jewish nation: for as all their mifery was in confequence of the deftruction of Jerufalem: the Almighty affures them, that on that very spot, they shall receive confolation; and their happiness be rendered compléte.

In verse 14th, &c, the Prophet addreffes himself particularly to thofe that fhall rife at the Refurrection. "And ye shall fee it, and fhall flourish, like the green herb:" With their corporeal eyes fhall they fee all this: and their bones that were dry* in the grave, fhall flourish as the green herb: and by this means, "The hand of the LORD fhall be manifefted to his fervants:" All will then know, that there is a God in Ifrael: and who will also take vengeance on the nations;

* See Ezek. xxxvii. 2.