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tends from the Perfian Gulph, to the Mediterranean, at the fouth end, and from the Euphrates to the extremities of the land of Paleftine, that is, to the fea-coaft at the north end.

The fame expreffions are used Pfalm lxxii. 8. where they have likewife a double meaning. They represent the extent of the Meffiah's kingdom, and likewife of Solomon's. Now Solomon reigned over all the kings betwixt the Euphrates and the Mediterranean, 1 Kings iv. 24. which fixes the meaning of the expreffions both here and in Zechariah, as far as they relate to the people of Ifrael.

The divifion of the land fhall be different from that originally made by Joshua. It is minutely described in the 48th chapter of Ezekiel. The inheritance of each tribe shall extend along the breadth of the land, from the east to the weft fide, so that each tribe shall be poffeffed of

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(1) Many have fuppofed, that the lake Afphalites, or Dead Sea, is meant; but obferve that the kingdom of Solomon extended beyond it, and that the country of the Moabites and Ammonites, which lay to the east of it, is faid to be poffeffed by the children of Ifrael upon their reftoration, (Zeph. ii. 9.), confequently it cannot be intended. Now the next fea to the east is the Persian Gulph, into which the Euphrates falls, therefore being the continuation of the fame line, which makes the eastern boundary at the north end, it is most probably intended 3 A

fea-coaft. Seven of the tribes fhall lie to the north of Jerufalem in the following order, be. ginning at the entrance of Hamath: Dan, Afher, Naphtali, Manaffeh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah; and five to the fouth, Benjamin, Simeon, Iffachar, Zebulon, Gad. The holy portion for the city, defcribed Ezek. xlv. 8.-21. fhall lie betwixt the inheritance of Judah and Benjamin, fo as not to be reckoned of either '.

(1) The city and the holy portion may be understood, partly in a literal fenfe, but chiefly in a myftical, fignifying the national polity, like the new Jerufalem. I prefume the meaning of it cannot be fully understood, till the Jews receive the model of their national polity, upon their converfion. However, it may have thus far a literal meaning, that a certain portion of land, diftinct from the inheritance of the twelve tribes, thall be allotted for a fubfiflence to perfons in public offices, both ecclesiastical and civil; and that in lieu of tithes and taxes, that have been frequently fources of oppreffion to the people. I build this idea, on the portion allotted to the prince; for which the reafon is given, "My princes fhall no more "opprefs my people; and the reft of the land fhall they "give to the houfe of Ifrael, according to their tribes."O princes of Ifrael, take away your exactions from my "people, faith the Lord God;" Ezek. xlv. 8, 9. Again, it is faid of a part of the holy portion, "It fhall be for "food to them that ferve the city," chap. xlviii. 18.; that is, for a fubfiftence for public functionaries. Farther, the part allotted to the priests and Levites, may fignify a fubfiftence to the ministers of the gospel.

When the Jews are put in poffeffion of the land given to their fathers, at this period, they shall never be ejected out of it, but shall continue in poffeffion of it while the earth remains. So God explicitly afferts. "Thou shalt no more be term"ed, Forfaken; neither shall thy land any more "be termed, Defolate: but thou shalt be called

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Hephzi-bah, (I have delighted in her), and r thy land Beulah, (married): for the Lord "delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be mar"ried;" Ifa. lxii. 4. "The Lord hath fworn "by his right hand, and by the arm of his "ftrength, Surely I will no more give thy corn "to be meat for thine enemies; and the fons "of the ftranger fhall not drink thy wine, for "the which thou haft laboured: but they that "have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the "Lord; and they that have brought it toge"ther fhall drink it in the courts of my holi"nefs;" ver. 8, 9. "And they shall dwell in "the land that I have given unto Jacob my "fervant, wherein your fathers have dwelt: " and they fhall dwell therein, even they and their children, and their childrens children, "for ever; and my fervant David fhall be their "prince for ever;" Ezek. xxxvii. 25. "Judah fhall dwell for ever, and Jerufalem "from generation to generation ;" Joel iii. 20.

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"I will plant them upon their land, and they " shall no more be pulled up out of their land " which I have given them, faith the Lord thy "God;" Amos ix. 15.

SECTION II.

Final extirpation of Popery.

ANOTHER remarkable event, confequent upon the victory at Armageddon, is the final extirpation of Popery, that fyftem of Antichriftianifm which had continued fo long in the world, for the deftruction both of the fouls and bodies of men.

The horrible confternation of Popish idolaters after the battle of Armageddon, is reprefented by Ifaiah, chap. ii. 10, 11.—18, 19, 20, 21. "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the

duft, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory "of his majefty. The lofty looks of man shall "be humbled, and the haughtiness of men "fhall be bowed down; and the Lord alone "fhall be exalted in that day. And the idols "he fhall utterly abolish. And they shall go "into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves " of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majefty, when he ariseth to shake

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"terribly the earth. In that day a man shall "caft his idols of filver, and his idols of gold, "which they made each one for himself to wor"fhip, to the moles, and to the bats; to go in"to the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of "the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and " for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth "to shake terribly the earth."

This confternation in them fhall be accompanied by a conviction in others, that the fyftem maintained by them is moft offenfive to God, and subjects those who adhere to it to the pu. nishment of eternal death. We might infer this from the feveral texts which intimate the deftruction of the beaft by fire, as Ifa. xxx. 33. chap. xxxi. 9. Dan. vii. 11.; for all these feem to have an aspect not only to the material fire at Armageddon, but likewife to the torments of hell, fo frequently defcribed by fire in fcripture.

But the fentiment is explicitly afferted in the following texts. "And they fhall go forth, " and look upon the carcafes of the men that "have tranfgreffed against me: for their worm

fhall not die, neither fhall their fire be "quenched; and they shall be an abhorring " unto all flesh;" Ifa. lxvi. 24.

The tranfgreffors mentioned here are those deftroyed at Armageddon ; for their deftruction is coeval with the return of the Jews, ver. 20. and

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