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When I have performed this service, I shall then secondly, endeavour to explain, what is meant, by the gathering of the people unto him, and from whence I trust will appear also additional evidences, to the confirmation of this an cient prophecy.

And I very earnestly pray God, that our attention to this subject, may be so graciously accompanied, by the teachings of the Holy Ghost, that the hearts of many who hear me, may be led to see, in Jesus the Shiloh of his people and still more to feel their personal interest, of being gathered unto him. And may the Lord at the same time, mercifully grant, that all his household present, who are already brought nigh unto him in a way of grace, may be the more stablished, strengthened, and settled, in this hope of the Gospel, and built up firmly in their most holy faith.

According to my first proposal, I am to prove that the period so long predicted, for the manifestation of the Shiloh hath expired, and in the Person, and Ministry of the Lord Jesus, this memorable Scripture hath had its accomplish

ment.

it

In the opening of this branch of our subject, may not be improper, to explain the meaning

M

of

of the word Shiloh; as one among the many significant names of the Messiah: and which, as the name of a person, is no where else to be found, but in this text, in all the sacred writings.

The Jews themselves, though by a strange fatality, denying the advent of the Shiloh, readily allow, that in this prophecy of their Father Jacob, the Messiah is clearly meant; and that the Office, which was to mark his character, when he came, was very properly distinguished by this appellation.

The word Shiloh, may without violence to the original, be considered as implying the Son: and if accepted in this sense, it will mean, that the Son of the Lord shall come. Perhaps, it may also be equally rendered, Shiloh the peaceable one. And in this idea, it will of course refer to the object he came to accomplish; peace on earth good will among men. But I rather think, the word itself, is taken from a root in the original, signifying to deliver; and hence the Shiloh will mean the deliverer. And what could be more descriptive, or significant of his Person, and Office, who when he came on earth, came on purpose to deliver his people from the wrath to

come.

*

The

* 1 Thess. 1. 10.

The Prophet Isaiah, ages after this perdiction of the Patriarch Jacob looking forward unto Gospel times, declared, that the Redeemer should come unto Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob. § Which passage of the Prophet, the Apostle Paul without hesitation, applies to the person of the Lord Jesus, and in doing it, confirms at once, the pleasing assurance, that this Redeemer is the Deliverer which should turn away ungodliness from Jacob. † And without all question, the advent of the Messiah as the Redeemer, or Deliverer, of his People, is the sum, and substance, of all the promises, and predictions, of Scripture; and which all the believing Jews, at the time of Christ's appearing, it is said, looked for of redemption in Israel.

Concerning this Almighty Deliverer, this Shiloh; Jacob, under the influence of prophecy, declared, that the Sceptre should not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until

he came,

We cannot be at a loss to apprehend what is meant by the Sceptre, and the Lawgiver. Both terms, are clearly expressive of one, and the same thing; and mean to say, that the administration of Justice, with the ensign of regal power, in a way of government, and protection, should exist in the family of Judah; and there M 2 continue, Romans 11. 26. || Luke 2. 38,

Isaiah 59. 20.

continue, until the whole was accomplished, by the appearance of him, in whom all the prophecies had their completion.

And in confirmation of this part of the prophecy, it is worthy observation, that the Sceptre of regal authority, began in the tribe of Judah, in the Person of David, and in a long series of years, continued uninterruptedly, until the Shiloh actually came. For though during the Babylonish captivity, the ensigns of Government, seemed to have been tarnished, yet the vestige of authority still remained. There were Governors among the heads of the families, which were carried away captive, as appears from their history, who exercised their prerogative, in the peculiarities of the Jewish law. Neither did they cease, even when Judea became a Roman province. For tho' subsect to the Government of the Romans, the Sanhedrim exercised their peculiar privileges still; and upon that memorable occasion, when the Lord Jesus was arraigned at the bar of Pilate, and he from a conscious assurance of Christ's innocence, was disposed to let him. go; the Jews made this remarkable expression; We have a law and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God. *

Hence therefore it plainly appears, that the Sceptre did not depart until the Shiloh came. But that it did then totally cease, is as fully proved,

*John 19. 7.

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proved, from the records of Sacred, and Profane history. For added to the particular relation we have, of the overthrow of Judea, by Titus Vespasian's Army, that unconscious testimony, which the Jews themselves gave, to their situation, stamps the whole. For upon the same occasion as the former, when Pilate tauntingly said unto the Jews, shall I crucify your King? the Chief Priests answered, we have no King but Cæsar. §

How blind, how short sighted, the policy of man! In the very moment, that the Jews by this declaration, intended to deny Jesus, for the Messiah; by the confirmation of this illustrious prophecy, concerning him, they most effectually acknowledged him. And the very circumstance, by which they meant to overthrow the authority of the Redeemer, tended more effectually, to establish, and confirm it.

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And hence that prophecy of Hosea how remarkably fulfilled! The children of Israel, shall abide many days, without a King, and without a Prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim. And thus you see them at this hour, dispersed as they are, in every quarter of the earth. Every Jew you meet, carries an evidence in himself, of the confirmation of the whole. And in whatever part of the habitable earth they

§ John 19. 15. + Hosea 3. 4.

are

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