ness, by showing that the only legitimate, nay the only possible application which can be made of such predictions, is to the lineal descendants of faithful Abraham.

Before Israel was at all admitted to the promised land, Moses gave them a prophetic narrative, or prospective history of all that should befall them—the blessings the Lord should bestow—their future apostasy—the captivity of themselves and of their king— the destruction of their city—the unparalleled sufferings to which they should be exposed—and their dispersion into all nations. Deut. xxviii. xxix. And having thus predicted with fearful minuteness, the calamities by which they have since been overtaken for their sins, as the inspired servant of God he left them the gracious assurance that their wanderings and misery should ultimately terminate, by their being re-admitted to the favour of God and restored to their own land: "And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice, according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, -with all thine heart and with all thy soul; that then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return, and gather thee from all tn* nations whither the Lord thy God hath scattered, tHee. any of thine be driven out into the utmost part heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God and from thence will he fetch thee. A-ti thy God will bring thee into the land whicf1' possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he good, and multiply thee above thy fathers-"

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of language wliich characterizes the preceding chapters, the judgments detailed in which have been inflicted with the utmost minuteness. The prediction is extensive. It embraces the whole period of Israel's history till the present and future times—as the verses quoted, (which form its conclusion,) evidently refer to their final restoration. The Babylonish captivity is not however overlooked. It is foretold in a preceding part of this remarkable prophetic narrative in terms sufficiently distinctive : " The Lord shall bring thee, and tliy king which thou shall set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known." (xxviii. 36.) This then clearly refers to that captivity when, "in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it; and the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into Ms hand."—" Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon."— "And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths; none remained, save the poorest sort of the land." Dan. i. 1, 2. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 0. 2 Kings xxiv. 14. This then was the captivity to which Israel with the'r "king" were to be subjected. This part of the prediction nad at that time its complete fulfilment, while it cannot at all apply to the captivity which afterwards followed their overthrow by the Romans—for they had then no king to be carried captive.

But we have also another distinctive mark by which the prediction in the above verse is fixed to the Babylonish captivity, and by which it is also rendered inapplicable to that which they afterwards suffered. They, together with their king, were at this time to be carried only into "a nation," while the restoration promised in the conclusion of the prediction must refer to their subsequent dispersion, which is afterwards predicted. It is a restoration "from all the nations," "from the utmost parts of heaven." (xxx. 3, 4.) Besides, having foretold their being carried captive with their king into one nation, the prophet had therefore declared that " the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other." (xxvii. 64.) There is no mention of their king as participating in this wide dispersion, an omission which exactly corresponds with the circumstances attending that captivity which followed their overthrow by the Romans. They had then no king, and it was not till then that they were dispersed "among all people." The Romans are evidently the scourge here described. They are strikingly characterized by Moses to his brethren, as "a nation whose tongue thou shall not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, which, shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young." (xxviii. 49, 50.) An account of the aggravated horrors of siege to which the Jews were subjected by them, forms part of the inspired detail, including even the mention of the revolting fact of delicate mothers eating their own children. Both captivities aro, therefore, predicted ; and it is " when All these things" are come upon them, and when they shall call them "to mind, among All the nations whither they have been scattered," that they are to be restored. This therefore is a prediction not merely of their restoration from Babylon, though that is included, but clearly is the restoration succeeding their last and greatest captivity, and from which they yet remain to be rescued.

It is instructive to attend to such distinctive marks, given relative to events of a similar nature. Such an exact fulfilment of the threatened curse, shovM svweVy teach us in what manner the promised Wessm^s ate to be received; and as the judgment of ^P61 all its attendant miseries, has been literacy fo we doubt that their restoration will be f It is added, that after this return to the \andthers, the Lord "will do thee good, and above thy fathers"—a promise which apply to their return from Babylon, ponds with other prophecies concerning restoration.

the promises given to Israel; and as those of the latter class are by many as little understood as those of the former, it may be proper, before entering upon the consideration of that doctrine, first to point attention to some of the Scripture declarations concerning Abraham's race, classified under distinct heads. So completely blended, indeed, are these promises with all that is predicted of the Millennial age, as to render surprising the ignorance and unbelief displayed on this subject, by many not otherwise ignorant of the Scriptures.

SECTION II.

THE CONVERSION OP ISRAEL.

The distinguishing goodness of God has been illustriously displayed in his dealings with the children of Abraham. From the time when He appeared to the patriarch in "Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran," down through the long lapse of ages which have since intervened, the history of this people beautifully exemplifies the doctrine of a special providence, and places in the most attractive light the long-suffering and sovereign mercy of God. It is a record of human depravity, displaying deep forgetfulness of the way in which they were continually led, and tells of their invincible ingratitude to God for his abundant goodness and many wonderful interpositions in their favour, and in giving into their hands nations greater and stronger than they. Throughout, it is one continued display of Heaven's love and man's rebellion—of the most signal manifestations of divine interference in their behalf, followed by the most criminal departure from their gracious Deliverer.

In studying the annals of Israel, we see that although their perversity of disposition and untowardness of character often call forth the chastisements of Heaven, still the loving-kindness of the Lord is not withdrawn, and renewedly is his favor manifested towards them. If He takes vengeance on their devices, it is still in measure, and by his love he again woos them to himself. Various kinds and degrees of punishment have at different periods been meted out to them, for their awful apostacies from the living and true God; but their last and longest and most severe affliction has been that which followed their arrival at the summit of rebellion, in the crucifixion of the Lord of glory, and which they still continue to endure. But even from the guilt of this, Prophecy declares, they will yet be cleansed—being washed in the blood they so wantonly shed. Although, in His righteous displeasure, the Lord has long left them to wander in the vain imagination of their own hearts, he has not forsaken ihem altogether. They shall yet be converted and healed.; they shall yet be restored to purity and peace, to holiness and happiness. Then shall they see and acknowledge the enormity of their sin, in having "denied the Holy One and the Just," and in having "killed the Prince of life." "I will cleanse them," says the Lord, "from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and 1 will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have transgressed against me." Jer. xxxiii. 8. "Neither will I hide my face any more from them; for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God." Ezek. xxxix. 29. This conversion is, therefore, to be followed by no future apostasy; and, accordingly it is here said, "So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day and forward." ver. 22. "And I will give you the land of Israel; and they sha\\ come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof, and all the abominations thereof, from thence. And I will give them one heart, andV wvv put a new spirit within you; and 1 will tate To stony heart out of their flesh, and will give Xtovo a heart of flesh; that they may walk in ^ and keep mine ordinances, and do them; _ shall be my people, and I will be the Ezek. xi. 17—20. "Then will I upon you, and ye shall be clean;