ADVERTISEMENT.

THE great value of Bishop Newton's Dissertations on the Prophecies, both to the learned and to the general reader of Scripture, has induced the Publisher to spare no pains to render the present edition correct. For this purpose the text and notes have been closely revised, and the classical quotations and references compared with the original authorities. It is hoped, therefore, that this edition will be found worthy of public attention for its superior correctness, and as a valuable reprint of one of the most enlightened treatises on the subject of prophecy which our language can boast.

INTRODUCTION.

PROPHECIES One of the strongest proofs of revelation, 9. A history of prophecy desired by Lord

Bacon, ib. The consequence plain from the believing of prophecies to the believing of revela-

tion, ib. The objection that the prophecies were written after the events, groundless, and be-

trays great ignorance, or something worse, 10. The truth of prophecy may be proved by in-

stances of things fulfilling at this very time, ib. The evidence drawn from prophecy, a growing

evidence, 11. Miracles the great proofs of revelation to the first ages, Prophecies to the last, ib.

The necessity to which infidels are reduced, either to renounce their senses, or to admit the

truth of revelation, 12. Most of the principal prophecies of Scripture will be comprehended

in this work, as well as several of the most material transactions in history, ib.

DISSERTATION I.

NOAH'S PROPHECY.

Very few prophecies till Noah, 13. Noah's drunkenness, and the behaviour of his sons there-

upon, ib. In consequence of their different behaviour he was enabled to foretell the different

fortunes of their families, 14. The prophecy, 15. Not to be understood of particular persons

but of whole nations, ib. The curse upon Canaan, a curse upon the Canaanites for their

wickedness, ib. The wickedness of the Canaanites very great, 16. The curse particularly

implies the subjection of the descendants of Canaan to the descendants of Shem and Japheth, ib.

The completion of this shown from the time of Joshua to this day, 17. A different reading pro-

posed of Ham the father of Canaan instead of Canaan, 18. The curse in this larger sense also

shown to be fulfilled from the earliest times to the present, 19. The promise to Shem of the

Lord being his God, how fulfilled, 20. The promise of enlargement to Japheth, an allusion to

his name, ib. How fulfilled both in former and in latter times, 21. The following clause, and he

shall dwell in the tents of Shem, capable of two senses, and in both punctually fulfilled, ib.

Conclusion, 22. A mistake of Mr. Mede corrected, ib. Lord Bolingbroke censured for his in-

decent reflections on this prophecy, 23. His ignorance about the Codex Alexandrinus, 24. His

blunder about the Roman historians, ib. His sneer about believers refuted, ib. Condemned by

himself, ib. Had great talents but misapplied them, 25.

DISSERTATION II.

THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING ISHMAEL.

Abraham favoured with several revelations, 25. Those concerning Ishmael or the Ishmaelites,

ib. The promise of a numerous posterity, how fulfilled, 26. The promise of twelve princes,

how fulfilled, ib. The promise of a great nation, how fulfilled, 27. The saying that he should

be a wild man, how fulfilled, ib. The saying that his hand should be against every man, and

every man's hand against him, how fulfilled, 28. The saying that he should dwell in the pre-

sence of all his brethren, how fulfilled, ib. The Ishmaelites or Arabians have from first to last

maintained their independence, 29. Against the Egyptians and Assyrians, ib. Against the

Persians, 30. Against Alexander and his successors, ib. Against the Romans, 31. Their

state under Mohammed, and since his time, and now under the Turks, 32. Dr. Shaw's account

of them, 33. Bp. Pococke's, ib. And Mr. Hanway's, 34. Conclusion, ib. Wonderful, that

they should retain the same manners for so many ages, ib. More wonderful that they should

still remain a free people, 35. The Jews and Arabs in some respects resemble each other, 36.

DISSERTATION III.

THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING JACOB AND ESAU.

More prophecies concerning the posterity of Isaac than of Ishmael, 37. The promise of the

blessed seed, how fulfilled, ib. The promise of the land of Canaan, how fulfilled, ib. The

promise of a numerous posterity, how fulfilled, 38. The promises concerning Esau and Jacob,

ib. Not verified in themselves, but in their posterity, 39. Comprehend several particulars, ib.

I. The families of Esau and Jacob two different people and nations, 40. II. The family of the

elder subject to that of the younger, 41. III. In situation and other temporal advantages much

alike, 42. IV. The elder branch delighted more in war and violence, but subdued by the

younger, 43. V. The elder at one time shook off the dominion of the younger, 44. VI. In all

spiritual gifts and graces the younger superior, and the happy instrument of conveying the

blessing to all nations, 45. Conclusion, ib. The prophecies fulfilled in the utter destruction

of the Edomites, ib

DISSERTATION IV.

JACOB'S PROPHECIES CONCERNING HIS SONS, PARTICULARLY JUDAH.

An opinion of great antiquity, that the soul near death grew prophetic, 46. Jacob upon his death-

bed foretold his sons what should befall them in the last days, the meaning of that phrase, 47.

Jacob bequeaths the temporal blessing to all his sons, the spiritual to Judah, 48. The prophe-

cies concerning several tribes, how fulfilled, ib. The temporal blessing how fulfilled to Judah,

49. The spiritual blessing, 50. I. An explanation of the words and meaning of the prophecy,

50-54. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, explained, 50. Nor a lawgiver from be-

tween his feet, explained, 51. Shiloh in all the various senses of the word shown to be the

Messiah, 52. Le Clerc's singular interpretation, 53. Jews as well as Christians have by

Shiloh generally understood the Messiah, 53. And unto him shall the gathering of the people

be, capable of three different constructions, 54. II. The completion of the prophecy, 54-59.

Judah hereby constituted a tribe or body politic, and so continued till the coming of the Mes-
siah and the destruction of Jerusalem, 54. The latter clause fulfilled in the first sense, and the
people gathered to Judah, 56. Fulfilled in the second sense, and the people gathered to the
Messiah, 57. Fulfilled in the last sense, and the people gathered to the Messiah before the
sceptre's departure, ib. The prophecy with regard to Benjamin fulfilled, 58. Conclusion that
Jesus is the Messiah, ib.

DISSERTATION V.

BALAAM'S PROPHECIES.

The gift of prophecy not always confined to the chosen seed, or to good men, 59. Balaam both a

Heathen and an immoral man, ib. A ceremony among the Heathens to curse their enemies,

60. The story of Balaam's ass considered, 61. A proper sign to Balaam, and the prophecies

render the miracle more credible, 62. The style of his prophecies beautiful, ib. His prophecy

of the singular character of the Jewish nation, how fulfilled even to this day, 63. His pro-

phecy of their victories much the same as Jacob's and Isaac's, 64. His prophecy of a king higher

than Agag, how fulfilled, ib. His preface to his latter prophecies explained, 65. His prophecy

of a star and a sceptre to smite the princes of Moab, how fulfilled by David, 66. Who meant by

the sons of Sheth, 67. His prophecy against the Edomites, how fulfilled by David, 68. This

prophecy of the star and the sceptre applied by most Jewish and Christian writers to the Mes-

siali, ib. But principally to be understood of David, 70. His prophecy against the Amalekites,

how fulfilled, ib. His prophecy against the Kenites, and who the Kenites were, 72. How ful-

filled, ib. His prophecy of ships from the coast of Chittim, 73. The land of Chittim shown to

be a general name for Greece, Italy, and the countries and islands in the Mediterranean, ib.

How afflict Asshur, 75. How afflict Eber, and who meant by Eber, ib. How perish for ever,

76. Conclusion, 77.

DISSERTATION VI.

MOSES'S PROPHECY OF A PROPHET LIKE UNTO HIMSELF.

Moses hath not only preserved several ancient prophecies, but hath likewise inserted several of

his own, 77. His prophecy of another prophet like unto himself, ib. I. What prophet was

here particularly intended, 78-81. The Messiah principally, if not solely, 79. Proved from

the conclusion of the book of Deuteronomy, ib. From God's declaration to Miriam and Aaron,

79. From the text itself, ib. From this prophet's being a lawgiver, 80. From fact, ib. II.

The great likeness between Moses and Christ, 81-84. Christ resembled Moses in more respects

than any other person ever did, S1. The comparison between them as drawn by Eusebius, ib.

As enlarged and improved by Dr. Jortin, 82-84. His conclusion from thence, 84. III. The

punishment of the people for their infidelity and disobedience to this prophet, 84, 85.

DISSERTATION VII.

PROPHECIES OF MOSES CONCERNING THE JEWS.

Prophecies of Moses abound most in the latter part of his writings, 86. The 28th of Deuterono-
my a lively picture of the state of the Jews at present, ib. Prophecy of their enemies coming
from afar, how fulfilled, ib. Prophecy of the cruelty of their enemies, how fulfilled, 87. Of
the sieges of their cities, ib. Of their distress and famine in the sieges, 88. Of women eating
their own children, 89. Of their great calamities and slaughters, 90. Of their being carried
into Egypt, and sold for slaves at a low price, ib. Of their being plucked from off their own
land, 91. Of their being dispersed into all nations, 92. Of their still subsisting as a distinct
people, ib. Of their finding no rest, 93. Of their being oppressed and spoiled, ib. Of their
children taken from them, 94. Of their madness and desperation, ib. Of their serving other
gods, ib. Of their becoming a proverb, and a by-word, 95. Of the long continuance of their
plagues, 96. Conclusion, ib.

DISSERTATION VIII.

PROPHECIES OF OTHER PROPHETS CONCERNING THE JEWS.

Other prophecies relative to the present state of the Jews, 96. I. The prophecies concerning the

restoration of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the dissolution of the ten tribes,97--

103. The restoration of the two tribes foretold to be after 70 years, 97. Fulfilled at three periods;

ib. The ten tribes to cease from being a people within 65 years, 98. The prophecy how ful-

filled, ib. What is become of them since, and where are they at present, 99. Vain con-

jectures of the Jews thereupon, 99-101. Not all returned with the two tribes, 101. Not all

swallowed up and lost among the heathen nations, ib. Whether they remained, or whether

they returned, they ceased from being a distinct people, and were all comprehended under

the name of Jews, 101-103. The reason of this distinction between the two tribes and the ten

tribes, 102. II. The preservation of the Jews, and the destruction of their enemies, 103-105.

The preservation of the Jews one of the most illustrious acts of divine providence, 103. Nor

less the providence of God in the destruction of their enemies, 104. Not only nations but single

persons, ib. III. The desolation of Judea another memorable instance of the truth of pro-

phecy, 105-109. Foretold by the prophets, 105. The present state of Judea answerable to

the prophecies, 106. No objection from hence to its having been a land flowing with milk and

honey, ib. The ancients, Heathens as well as Jews, testify it to have been a good land, ib.

Mr. Maundrell's account of its present state, 107. Dr. Shaw's, 109. IV. The prophecies of

the infidelity and reprobation of the Jews, how fulfilled, 109. V. Of the calling and obedience

of the Gentiles, 111. This revolution effected by incompetent persons, and in a short time,

112. The prophecies concerning the Jews and Gentiles have not yet received their entire com-

pletion, 113. What hath been accomplished a sufficient pledge of what is to come, ib. Con-

clusion, dissuading all persecution, and recommending humanity and charity to the Jews, 114.

DISSERTATION IX.

THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING NINEVEH.

Some prophecies relating to other nations which had connexions with the Jews, 116. Want of
arcient eastern historians to clear up the prophecies, ib. The Assyrians terrible enemies to
both Israel and Judah, ib. Isaiah's prophecy against the Assyrians. 117. Nineveh, the capital