7 eth within our borders. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for a man, nor waiteth for the fons of 8 men. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people: as a lion among the beasts of the foreft, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

The words, therefore will he give them up, &c. in the third verse, have reference to the first and fecond verses, Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops (or robbers), by which fome understand the Roman state, which were robbers of mankind in general, who laid fiege against them, and smote the judge of Ifrael with a rod upon the cheek; notwithstanding which, the ruler who should come out of Bethlem Euphratah, should give them up no longer than until the time which she that travaileth hath brought forth; and the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the

• of Salmanaffer and Sennacherib still fresh in their minds: and perhaps those nations were then at the devotion of the Af'Syrian, and no small part of his army, as they used to be • of the Saracens, when they ruled in those parts. Howso

6

ever, by this name, he pointed to a northern enemy, what

• foever the nation should be that should then empire it in ⚫ those parts, as the Affyrians did, when he prophecied. For

6

Affyria is described by that situation, Ifa. xiv. 31. Jer. i. 13. and iv. 6. Zech. ii. 6.'

MEDE, B. IV. Epift. XLI.

children of Ifrael. By the Affyrian, who shall come into their land, and tread in their palaces, is not meant the Affyrian empire at that time subfifting, which was never laid waste by the sword of Ifrael, or any shepherds or princes by them raised up against it; but those who should possess the land of Affyria in the latter days, and should oppose the Restoration of Ifrael. By the Affyrian, therefore, I take the Turkish empire to be intended; among whom the remnant of Jacob are to be as a lion among the beasts of the field, &c.

XXVI.

MICAH Vii. 11. In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far re12 moved. * In that day also he shall come even to thee from Affyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from féa to 16 fea, and from mountain to mountain. -The nations、 shall fee and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears 17 shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a ferpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of Jehovah our 18 God, and shall fear because of thee. Who is a 20 God like unto thee, &c. Thou will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

What this was that was sworn unto Abraham, I have above shewn †, viz. That the land Abra

* In TINDALE, The law shall go abroad. ↑ Article I.

ham then stood upon, should be given unto bim and to his feed for ever..

ZEPHANIAH prophefied in the days of Jofiab, about the year before Chrift 630.

XXVII.

1

ZEPH. iii. 8. Wait you upon me, faith the Lord, until the day that I rise up unto the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may affemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them my indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth hall be devoured with the fire of my jea

19 loufy.Behold, at that time, I will undo all that afflict thee, and will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praise and fame in every land, where they have been

20 put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, faith the Lord.

The day referred to in the 8th verse is plainly the same time which is fpoken of in the two last verfes; and also in all the intermediate verses, which I have omitted, to avoid prolixity, and not because they are any ways foreign to my design. The return from captivity here mentioned, is evidently future; because the Jewish nation have not yet been made a name and a praise among all people

people of the earth; but rather a reproach: neither can it relate to the return from Babylon, because it is faid, ver. 15. that they should not fee evil any more.

JEREMIAH began to prophecy in the days of Jofiah, king of Judah, about the year 629, before Chrift.

JER. iii. 16. It shall come to pass when ye be multiplied and increased in the land: in those days faith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind, neither shall they remember it, neither shall they visit it, neither shall that be done any more. 17 At that time they shall call Jerufalem the throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerufalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of 18 their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Ifrael, and they shall come together out of the land of the north, to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

ΧΧΙΧ.

JER. xvi. 14. Therefore, behold the days come, faith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth that brought up the children of Ifrael 15 out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth that brought up the children of Ifrael from the land of the

:

the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

xxx.

JER. xxiii. 3. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them AGAIN to their folds, and 4 they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them, which shall feed them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither 5 shall they be lacking, faith the Lord. Behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and profper, and shall execute judgment and justice 6 in the earth *. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called, Jehovah our Righteous7 nefs. Therefore, behold the days come, faith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth which brought up the children of Ifrael out of the 8 land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth which brought up, and which led the feed of the house of Ifrael out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them, and they shall dwell in their own land.