east, and Ifrael by the Affyrian into the north, (namely in refpect of the holy land) and in those parts the greatest number of each are difperfed at this day. Of the reduction of "Ifrael from the north, fee, the prophecies Jer. "XVI. 14, 15. and chap. XXIII. 8. alfo chap. "XXXI. 8. Or, if this tidings from the north "may be fome other thing, yet that from the "eaf I may have fome warrant to apply to the

Jews return, from that of the fixth vial in "the Apocalyps XVI. 12. where the waters of "the great river Euphrates are dried up, to

prepare the way of the kings of the east." If this application be not admitted, yet it is univerfally known, that the Perfians are feated to the east of the Othman dominions, and the Ruffians to the north. Perfia hath indeed of late years been miferably torn and distracted by inteftin divifions; but when it fhall unite again in a fettled government under one fovran, it may become again, as it hath frequently been, a dangerous rival and enemy to the Othman emperor. The power of Ruffia is growing daily; and it is a current tradition among the common people in Turky, that their empire fhall one time or other be destroyed by the Ruffians.

(7) 178 Et extendet tentorium fuum fuper eos.

Ruffians. Sir Paul Rycaut in his account of the (9) Prefent State of the Greek Church, fpeaking of the respect and reverence which the Mufcovites have for the fee of Conftantinople, fays also that "the Greeks on the other fide have "an efteem and affection for the Mufcovites,

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as for those whom ancient prophecies mention "to be defigned by God, for their avengers " and deliverers in after-ages." Which, if it 'proveth nothing more, yet proveth that the Greek church interpreted this prophecy much in the fame fenfe as we explain it. However this may be, the Port is at all times jealous of the junction of the two powers of Perfia and Ruffia, and exerts all its policy to prevent it. They are certainly two very formidable neighbours to the Turks: and who can fay what tidings may or may not come from thence to trouble the Port? who can fay, how unlikely foever it be at prefent, that they may not hereafter be made inftruments of providence in the restoration of the Jews? Whatever be the motive and occafion, the Turk fhall go forth with great fury to deftroy, and utterly to make away many. The original word, which we tranflate "utterly to make away, (1) fignifies to anathematize,

to confecrate, to devote to utter perdition, fo that it ftrongly implies, that this war fhould be made upon a religious account. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his camp between the feas in the glorious holy mountain. It is a notion advanced by (2) fome commentators, that here both the Turk and the Pope are, fignified, the former of whom hath fixed his feat between the Mediterranean and Euxine feas at Conftantinople, and the latter between the Mediterranean and Adriatic at Rome; both Antichrifts, the one without, the other within the temple of God. But fuch notions are more ingenious than folid, and have rather the femblance of worth than the substance. Between the feas in the glorious holy mountain must denote, as we have shown, some part of the holy land. There the Turk fhall incamp with all his power, yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him, fhall help him effectually, or deliver him. The fame times and the fame events seem to be prefignified in this prophecy, as in that of Ezekiel concerning Gog of the land of Magog. He likewife is a northern power. Не is represented as of (3) Scythian extraction. (XXXVIII. 2.) He cometh from his place out of

(2) See Poole, and his addisional commentators.

the

(3) Vide Bocharti Phaleg. Lib. 3. Cap. 13. Col. 187, &c. (4) πολλος

the north parts. (ver. 15.) His army too is described as confifting chiefly of horses and horsemen, (ver. 4.) He likewife hath Ethiopia and Lybia with him. (ver. 5.) He shall come up against the people of Ifrael in the latter days (ver. 16.) after their return from captivity. (ver. 8.) He too fhall incamp upon the mountains of Ifrael. (XXXIX. 2.) He fhall alfo fall upon the mountains of Ifrael, and all the people that is with him. (ver. 4.) There the divine judgments fhall overtake him, (XXXVIII. 22, 23.) and God fhall be magnified and fanctified in the eyes of many nations.

At that time there fhall be great tribulation, (XII.1.) fuch as never was fince there was a nation, even to that fame time: And after that shall be the general refurrection, (ver. 2.) and many of them that fleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, fome to everlasting life, and fome to Shame and everlasting contempt. They certainly are guilty of manifeft violence and injury to the facred text, and rack and torture the words to confefs a meaning which they never meant, who contend that nothing more was meant in this paffage, than the perfecution of the Jews by Antiochus, and the Maccabees after fome time coming out of the holes and caves of the earth, wherein they had concealed themselves from the fury and cruelty of their

enemies.

enemies. These critics usually pretend to be frong advocates for the litteral and obvious meaning of the prophecies: but here they pervert the plaineft expreffions into figures, and prefer the moft forced to the most natural interpretation. The troubles under Antiochus were neither in degree nor in duration to be compared to what the nation had fuffered under Nebuchadnezzar; fo that the time of Antiochus could not be reckoned a time of trouble, fuch as never was fince there was a nation. The Maccabees too came out of their lurking holes and caves, and recovered their city, and cleansed the fanctuary, even before the death of Antiochus himself: but the resurrection in this place is described as fomething fubfequent to the deftruction of the king of the north. Besides how could the Maccabees, who were a fett of brave virtuous men, zealously devoted to their religion, liberty and country, by coming forth from the rocks and caves to oppose the enemy in the open field, be faid to awake, fome to everlasting life, and fome to fhame and everlasting contempt? Such expreffions can with truth and propriety be applied only to the general refurrection of the juft and unjust and though it be faid Many of them that fleep in the duft of the earth shall awake, yet that is no objection to the truth here deliVOL. II,

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vered;