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No. LXXV, LXXVI.

A prophetic Intimation of the Establishment of a new religious System under Christ, of the coming in of the Gentiles to his Worship, and of the perpetual Duration of that System, of the Protection to those who should embrace it, and the Vengeance upon its Opponents.

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No. 75. Hearken unto me, my people, and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and my arms shall judge the people: the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Isa. li. 4-6.

* "My people" and "my nation" as if he were addressing the Israelites (or Jews) in particular, and calling their recollection to the peculiar favour and protection he had shewn to them.

y" A Law," &c. so that there was to be a substitution for, or an addition to, the Mosaic dispensation.

z "The isles," i. e. the places where the Gentiles dwelt, so that they should be part of God's people who had not been so, and the Gentiles should form part of Christ's church.

a "The heavens," and "the earth," probably "the then esta"blishments of the world:" looking forward to "that kingdom "which the God of heaven should set up," Dan. ii. 44. ; to what St. Peter calls "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth "righteousness," 2 Pet. iii. 12.

b"For ever," prophecies still fulfilling-the perpetual duration of Christ's kingdom.

No. 76. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law: fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings; for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. Is. li. 7, 8.

No. LXXVII.

A prophetic Intimation of the Exertions God should make to advance Christianity, and by calling to mind what he had done for the Israelites in former Times, giving them Encouragement to embrace it.

No. 77. Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord awake, as in the antient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut d Rahab, and wounded the dragon? Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion: and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Is. li. 9—11.

"The moth." See ante Is. li. 8. ante LXXV.

d" Rahab;" i. e. Egypt.

• "The redeemed" &c. i. e. probably, those who shall embrace Christianity-those whom Christ shall redeem.

No. LXXVIII

A prophetic Intimation of one of the Objects of Christ's Coming; viz. to establish a new religious system.

No. 78. I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered & thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion," thou art my people." Is. li. 16.

No. LXXIX.

A strong Appeal to the Jews—an Intimation that it will not succeed that the Desolation and Destruction of Jerusalem will be the Consequence-with an Assurance that God will nevertheless, perhaps in Times not yet arrived, take the Jews again into his Favour, and punish those by whom they shall have been oppressed.

No. 79. Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury, thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up. These two things are come upon thee, who shall be sorry for thee? Desolation, and Destruction, and i the famine, and the sword. By whom shall I comfort thee? Thy sons have fainted; they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury

f" Put," &c. in accordance with Deut. xviii. "I have put my "words in his mouth :" and see ante Is. xlix. 2. and 1. 4.

g So Is. xlix. 2. "In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me." h" Plant," &c. See note on ver. 6. ante p. 77.

i "And," or (6 even;" i. e. "desolation by famine," and "destruction by the sword."

of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God. Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted and drunken, but not with wine. Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, " Behold I have taken out of thine "hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup "of my fury: thou shalt no more drink it again: but I "will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee: which "have said to thy soul, 'Bow down, that we may go over," " and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the 66 street, to them that went over." Is. li. 17-23.

No. LXXX.

A prophetic statement of what should be expected from Christians, viz. the putting on of Righteousness, and putting off of Sin, with an Intimation that the oppressive manner in which the Jews should be treated would induce God to use great efforts to bring them to the true Worship.

No. 80. Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean: shake thyself from the dust, arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Sion: for thus saith the Lord, "Ye have sold yourselves for "nought, and ye shall be redeemed without money." For thus saith the Lord God, "my people went down "aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian 66 oppressed them without cause. Now therefore what "have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken "away for nought? they that rule over them make them "to howl, saith the Lord, and my name continually every "day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know "my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I "am he that doth speak. Behold it is I." Isa. lii. 1—6.

"Come," &c. See Is. xxxv. 8, 9.

No. LXXXI.

A prophetic Account of the Joy Christianity should be calculated to produce; of the Nature of its Blessings, viz. Peace and Salvation; of their Extent, viz. to the Ends of the Earth; of the Requisites necessary to partake of its Benefits, viz. Purity and Holiness; and of the Protection God should give to those who should embrace it.

No. 81. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace: that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, "thy God reigneth.' Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice: with the voice together shall they sing for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the of all the nations: and all the ends of the earth shall eyes see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence: touch no unclean thing, go ye out of the midst of her be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord; for ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. Isa. lii. 7-12.

No. LXXXII.

Upon the Prudence and Exaltation of Christ; of his want of worldly appearance; of the Extent nevertheless of his Influence, -the spread of his Religion.

No. 82. Behold my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of

"Thee," or (possibly) "him."

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