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through, both before their return, and alfo in the wilderness, in their paffage up thither, will be fulfilled at the time of their firft going up, we cannot pretend to ⚫ determine.

If,' continues the author, the following prophecy of Daniel ix. 25,' instead of pointing to the first coming of the Messiah, as I have fuppofed, relate to these times, know alfo and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment, to caufe to return, and to build Jerufalem, unto the Meffiab the prince, fhall be feven weeks; fo it fhould be tranflated, then, if we ⚫ reckon a day for a year, (fee Numbers xiv. 34. Ezekiel iv. 4, 5, 6, 7, &c.) it will ⚫ be forty-nine years from the going forth • of this commandment for their return to the coming of the Meffiah as their prince. From whom this commandment will go forth for their return is very uncertain. Since, fays Sir Ifaac Newton, the com• mandment to return and to build Jerufalem, precedes the Meffiah, the prince, forty-nine

* years,

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years, it may perhaps come forth, not from the Jews themselves, but from fome other kingdom friendly to them, and precede their • return from captivity, and give occafion to it. See Newton on the prophecies, page 132, 133, and 134.

• Now the 50th year was always the Jubilee, when every one returned to their own poffeffions; at the end of which they began again to fow and plant for fix years; then the feventh was a fabbath, or year of

reft, to the land, and after feven fuch

fabbaths, the jubilee year began again. And the coming of the Meffiah as the prince of the Ifraelites feems to be at the * beginning of the first Jubilee, being at the

end of forty-nine years after their return; and indeed what can be a more proper period for the beginning of a jubilee, than when the reign of the Meffiah upon earth, as the king of the Ifraelites begins?

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Now that this coming of the Meffiah will be at the time of this deftruction of

• the

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the Turks, and that the return of the rest of the children of Ifrael will immedi

ately fucceed his coming, we fhall endeavour to fhew in its proper place.

Let us now enquire into their ftate and condition in the land, from the time of ⚫ their first going up thither, till the Turks 'come against them. And here we find, ⚫ they will dwell at ease, in peace and plenty, in fafety and security, increafing in goods, ' cattle and riches: For Ezekiel xxxviii. 8. 10, 11. In the latter days thou shalt come into the land, &c. &c. addreffing himself to their enemies, at the time of their future invafion of this country, and calling them by the name of Gog, by which we fhall hereafter fhew the Turks are meant, • delivers a prediction of the state of the Ifraelites at that time. They will dwell at reft and in fafety, having no fortified or even walled towns, except perhaps Je

rufalem.

• And

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And what feems farther to confirm their peaceable and happy state, and that they will be bleft with plenty and prosperity

during this period, is the riches they shall be poffeft of at the time of Gog's invafion of the land: For thus the prophet goes

on, fpeaking to Gog, and telling him, that his defign will be to take a spoil, and

to take a prey, to turn his hand upon the defolate places, which are now inhabited,&c. • &c. Ezekiel xxxviii. 12, 13.

• Add to this another argument for their · peace and quiet during this period, I mean the neceffity of it, in order to fettle their • ftate, to build their villages, and the city ' of Jerufalem, with the temple, in the manner God has directed them by Ezekiel. These things, we think, they will begin upon immediately after their return, but will require many years peace and quiet to complete and finish. And as their numbers will probably be very confiderable, and the Turks will be engaged in wars with an eastern and northern

power,

power, as we shall fhew hereafter, fo this feems to be one reason why the Turks ⚫ will not moleft or disturb them for fo many ' years.'

The author then proceeds to confider their future civil ftate and government after their restoration, which, he says, will resemble the original civil conftitution of the Ifraelites, as fettled by Moses, according to the command of God,' a constitution excellently and wifely adapted to • make the whole nation happy, to preserve

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liberty and property, and to prevent am

bition, pride, and luxury,' by an equal divifion of the land among them, continued to their pofterity by unalienable poffeffion. He admits, however, this difference between their former and future political state, namely, that they will then,' at their restoration, appoint them felves one head,

or prince, to be their chief judge and 'governor, till the coming of the Meffiah; ' and who will then also probably continue their chief head under him. The power Q

• of

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