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Africa, to the south of Egypt. Of the accession of Egypt itself to the kingdom of Messiah, we were informed in a former prophecy, so that this is a further extension of his reign in that direction. And, in like manner, placing, on the same authority, Moschi and Tubal, between the Euxine and the Caspian, and recollecting that Assyria has been also already mentioned in the passage just referred to, as standing, together with Israel and Egypt, eminent among the nations that form the kingdom of the Messiah, we may also say this marks the extension of his dominion in that direction. By Javan, Greece is, of course, to be understood; so that the great outlets from the new metropolis of the renovated earth are plainly marked; for Arabia has before seen his glory, † and, perhaps, the eastern nations were already witnesses of this divine interposition:‡ and, lastly, the term " far distant coasts" extends our view to the remotest regions of the globe.

There will be found, as it should seem, still Israelites to be gathered and sent home to their destined country, in all these regions of the earth.

20. And they shall bring all your brethren,

From all nations an oblation to Jehovah.

Surely this must be the present presented to Jehovah, mentioned in chap. xviii., after which the ships of Tarshish are first and principally to be employed. Not only they, however, but all the neighbouring nations, according to their respective means, are represented as engaging in the work :—

Chap. xix. 24, &c.
Chap. xli.; xlii.

+ Chap. xlii. 11, &c.; lix. 19.

On horses, and in carriages, and on litters,

On mules, and on dromedaries,

Up to my holy mountain, Jerusalem, saith Jehovah.

As the children of Israel bring the oblation,
In purified vessels to the house of Jehovah.

The descendants of Israel, we shall remember, are symbolized by the oblation presented to Jehovah. The nations of the world are bringing them to Jerusalem with all respect and honour, as persons most sacred to Jehovah; and sacred to Jehovah they are ever to remain, though that sanctity becomes extended, in some sort, to all the nations of the earth: :

21. And of them, also, will I take for priests and for Levites, Hath Jehovah said:

22. For like as the new heavens,

And the new earth which I create,

Continue before me, Jehovah hath said,

So shall your seed and your name continue. '

23. And it shall be that from new moon to new moon,
And from sabbath to sabbath,

All flesh shall come to worship before me,
Hath Jehovah said.

How far this is literally to be accomplished, or how far it is figurative, or in what manner it is symbolical of something" new in the kingdom of God," perhaps we are not qualified to declare or to comprehend. But surely we may say a real THEOCRACY is established over all the nations; and, though the holy mountains of Jerusalem are the seat of its manifested glory, its dominion extends to the utmost limits of the globe, and is to continue as long as the mundane system stands.

"Continue," "stand," or "be established."

The last verse is as awful as remarkable:

24. And they shall go forth and look on the corses Of the men who transgressed against me.

For their worm shall not die,

And their fire shall not be quenched,

And they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.

Who the transgressors against God are, we can easily distinguish from parallel passages; * but in what manner their punishment is a spectacle, to be perpetually viewed by all flesh, that is, men in the flesh, is certainly beyond our comprehension, who "know but in part." The metaphor which is used represents it to be, as though we saw their dead bodies, not eaten by a worm that consumes them and dies, or burnt on the funeral pile, which becomes extinguished when it has devoured its materials with the body, but it is, as though a perpetual endurance were given both to these instruments of destruction and to the destined objects on which they prey. This is certainly ETERNAL DEATH, the bands of which are never loosed. So far our divine Master's reference to this awful passage guides us to understand, though we know not how "flesh shall see it." It relates, our Lord's words imply, to that place of torment into which “ God,” "after he hath killed, has power to cast both soul and body."" It is better for thee to enter into life,” "into the kingdom of God," " than to be cast into hell fire, where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched."

* Jude, ver. 14; Job, xix. 23; Deut. xxxii. 40; Num. xxiv. 24; 1 Sam. ii. 10; Psalms, iii. 7, 10; ix. 15; and x.; xlvi.; lviii. 9; lxviii.; lxxvi. 5; lxxxix.; xcvii.; cx.; Isaiah, ii. 10; xiii.; xxv.; xxvii. 1; xxix. 5; xxx. 30; xxxiii. and xxxiv.; xlix. 24; lix. 17; lxii. 8.

CHAPTER IV.

THE MINOR PROPHETS, COTEMPORARY WITH ISAIAH.

SECTION I.

Amos.*

We next proceed, according to the plan we have proposed, to consult the writings of the other prophets who were cotemporary with Isaiah. The close of the prophecy of Amos will, in this view, first claim our attention. It will be found parallel to those parts of the prophecies already considered, which predict the dispersion of Israel, their restoration, and great prosperity in the last days. The connexion of these events with the second advent of our great Redeemer, we have already learned.

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5. And the Lord Jehovah, it is' he who is the God' of

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'It is' he who toucheth the earth and it melteth,

And all the inhabitants thereon do mourn;

* Supposed to have prophesied between the years 823 and 758 before Christ.

The Creator and the Governor of the shining hosts of heaven. Or, with Bp. Horsley,"The compound Jehovah Sabaoth belongs properly to the Second

Person [in the Godhead,] being his appropriate demiurgic title: the Maker and Sustainer of the whole array and order of the universe."

And it heaveth, all of it, like a river,

And sinketh as the river of Egypt.'

6. It is he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, And foundeth his vaulted arch over the earth;"

Who calleth for the waters of the sea,

And poureth them upon the face of the earth:
Jehovah is his name.

7. Are not ye as the sons of the Cushites to me?
O ye sons of Israel! saith Jehovah.

Did not I bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,

And the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from

Kir??

8. Behold, the eyes of the Lord Jehovah are upon the sinful kingdom, '

And I will destroy it from off the face of the land.

Notwithstanding, I will not utterly destroy the house of
Jacob, Hath Jehovah said:

9. For, behold, I will command,

And I will shake together the house of Israel among all nations; "

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As one' shaketh together corn' in a sieve,
And not a particle shall fall to the ground.

10. By the sword shall all the sinners of my people die,
Who say, evil shall not reach or surprise us.

1. That is to say, it is He whose mighty power is seen in the earthquake.

The

See Sim. Heb. Lex. meaning of these lines is, It is God that covereth the heavens with clouds, in order to pour down the storm and rain upon the earth. What is Israel, but by my

special favour, more than other nations? Jehovah is equally the Disposer of all.

"The kingdom of Israel seems here to be meant."-ARCHBISHOP NEWCOME.

"Sift, or shake together and toss to and fro, so as completely to mingle."-IDEM.

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