not by any means be applied to the spiritualizing scheme of the Christians: whence it is demonftrable, that this prophecy remains to be fulfilled at the appearance of the true Meffiah. The fourth prophecy commences verse 16th, of the chapter we have been treating of; and is continued to the end of the last verse of the fame. The purport of this prophecy, is as follows. The Prophet having prophefied that God would assemble the outcasts of Ifrael, and restore them to their own land; and knowing that schoffers and unbelievers might say, if God is so earnest to restore them to their land, why did he drive them out from thence: he therefore observes that, when they were in their land, they defiled it by their wickedness; so that if they were driven out, it was on account of their manifold fins; ver. 16-19. "The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying: Son of man, when the house of Ifrael dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their way and their doings: their way was before me as the defilement of a removed woman. Where fore I poured out my fury upon them for the VOL. II. Mm blood 1 blood which they had shed upon the land, and (because) they had polluted it with their idols. And I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way, and according to their doings I judged them." It must be observed, that the Prophet's comparing their evil doings to the defilement of a removed woman; is not to shew the heinousness of their offence; but on the contrary, is highly favourable to them: for under the image of a menftruous woman, the Prophet shews, that at no time whatsoever, during their defolations, and captivity, did God ever give a bill of divorcement to the nation; so as to repudiate them: "for Ifrael is not forsaken of his God." And there-. fore, although when they dwelt in their land, they defiled it; and for which reason, they were driven out; yet, was it never the intention of God, when he scattered them among the nations, to spend his wrath upon them, to consume them, and utterly caft them off; so that they should no more be his people; No: But they were only confidered to be in the same state as a removed woman; who, during all the days of her defilement, is removed from her husband; but after her purification, she again returns to his bosom; even so is it with the nation: for she is, as it were, fanctified* to God by his precepts, and wedded to him by the written contract of his law: and therefore, when the finned against him, he, as her husband, removed her, because of her defilement; and scattered the nation though the countries; judging them according to their doings: yet nevertheless, it was always in his mind to restore them, as the menftruous woman is restored to her husband after a certain time. The Prophet however, proceeds to shew that, even from this temporary removal, God's name was profaned among the nations whither they went: verse 20th. " And when they came to the nations whither they went, they profaned mine holy name, in that it was taid concerning them, These (are) the people of the Lord, and they are gone forth out of his land." Not that they themselves This is a term made use of in the marriage ceremony of the nation. See Levi's Ceremonies of the Jews, P. 133. Note 3d. Mm2 pro : profaned the name of God, but that they were the cause of its being profaned; for the nations said, that God had totally caft them off, and made choice of the Gentiles, in their stead; because they had rejected, and crucified his beloved fon, and lord of life: thus has the holy name of God been profaned by the doctrine of a triune Deity, of a god made flesh in the womb of a virgin; so contrary to the doctrine of the strict Unity of God, inculcated throughout the Law and the Prophets: he therefore tells them, that he will have pity on his holy name that had been thus profaned among the nations; ver. 21. "But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Ifrael have profaned among the nation; whither they are gone." For by their being thus among the nations, his holy name was profaned; he therefore assures us, that he will fanctify his name, by redeeming them; although they should be totally unworthy of it; ver. 22-24. "Therefore say unto the house of Ifrael, Thus faith the LORD God; Not for your sakes do I (this), O house of Ifrael, but for mine holy name, which ye have profaned among the nations, whither ye are gone. And I will sanctify my great great name which hath been profaned among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I (am) the LORD, faith the LORD God, when I shall be fanctified in you in their fight. For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries; and bring you into your own land." And as the Prophet had made use of the image of a menftruous woman, to shew their defilement, he says, ver. 25th. "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be cleansed: from all your defilements, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." For as the menstruous woman is cleansed by ablution; so will God cleanse them with clean water, that they may become pure again. And that they should no more return to fin; he says, verse 26th. " I will also give you a new heart, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh, and will give you an heart of flesh." By this figure, the Prophet shews that, they will no more follow their ir regular defires, and their cupidity; for that the |