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that the Power of France should execute this project, instead of invalidating, it will confirm the truth of Prophecy, and afford another fignal example of the over-ruling providence of God. The wicked and blaspheming Affyrian was the rod of his anger," and executed his judgments upon his people. The tremendous Antichristian Northern Power, which has been raised to be the scourge of nations, fhall “fulfil his will, though in his heart he means not fo." The restoration of the Jews may be a part of their commiffion; and there are some reasons which make this not a very improbable fuppofition, though, in my judgment, the weight of probability is against it. The Jews have long looked to the deftruction of the Papal and Mahometan powers, as events to happen not long before the manifeftation of their Meffiah: and Chriftians look to the deftruction of Antichrift, with the expectation of his fecond advent. Both therefore look for the coming of our Lord foon after these great

of Christianity were foon blended with the Gentile Chriftians; and it feemed to be the exprefs defign of the Apostles, to banish all idea of fuperiority or differ

ence.

f See Mr. King's "Signs of the Times."

events; and the remarkable agreement between Jewish and Chriftian opinions upon this fubject will, perhaps, authorize a conjecture, that the accurate fulfilment of the Prophecies, given by the Chriftian difpenfation (and which, however, correspond with the predictions of their own Prophets) concerning thefe great events, may be a means of their converfion, or at leaft prepare this stubborn people to see their Meffiah in the rejected Jefus of Nazareth. Now should the tri-coloured ftandard of Infidelity be placed in Conftantinople, as it has already been in Rome, we must acknowledge, that these events will appear to be striking proofs of the downfal of the Papal and Mahometan Powers, though we look to their total destruction by fome indifputable mark of Divine vengeance, for the complete accomplishment of the Prophecy concerning them. And in the time allotted for this last form of our Antichriftian adverfary, the Jews may be collected into their own land-" the fanctuary may be cleanfed," and the church of Chrift may be purified by tribulation," and made ready to receive her Lord.

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I offer thefe conjectures with the doubt

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it becomes us to feel refpecting events yet future; but at fuch an awful period as the prefent, I cannot help adding an earneft, though feeble warning to the nations among whom they dwell, to make no vain attempt to hinder the return of the Jews by whatever means it appears defigned to be effected, "left they be found to fight against God," and bring upon themselves "utter deftruction." The cruelties that have been exercifed upon the Jews for many ages have been a fcandal to the Christian name; but we may derive no fmall confolation from the fact, that the Proteftant Church of England has had no part in their perfecution; on the contrary, it has ever viewed them with the eye of compaffion, and looked to the termination of their calamities with faith, and the hope of union. The nation at large has treated them with the fame spirit of kindness since their return, in the reign of Charles II; their numbers have greatly increased, and their fituation has been as happy as the circumstances of their exile would permit ".

But

The Jews were all banifhed from England in the reign of Edward I. about A. D. 1290; nor did any of them attempt to return till the time of Oliver Crom

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But whether the conqueft of the Mahometan power will enable and incline the Infidel tyrant to re-establish the Jews in their own land, or to " plant the tabernacle of his [own] palaces between the feas, in the glorious holy mountain," it is yet impoffible to find folid ground even for conjecture. Thefe are circumftances, concerning which we must remain ignorant, till time difcovers the manner of accomplishing the certain event of their restoration. If, however, the fuppofed reference of the Prophet Daniel to this Infidel power be admitted as a juft interpretation, it will appear probable, not only from prophecy, but from the actual ftate of the world at this time, that the Power of France would not be long permitted to retain quiet poffeffion of Jerufalem.

h

"THE KING OF THE NORTH

well, whom they petitioned for a repeal of the Act against them, and fent the excellent and learned Rabbi, Manaffeh Ben Ifrael, as their reprefentative to London. But they could not then obtain a legal fettlement; and it appears, from the National Records of the Jews, that fo late as 1663, there were not more than twelve Jews in England. It is well known they have never been fubjected to any hardships fince their return to England, but have enjoyed many privileges. See Tovey's Anglia Judaica, published in 1738.

h See Introductory Chapter, vol. i. p. 375.

is to come like a whirlwind, with chariots, and horfemen, and with many fhips, to enter into the countries, to overflow and pafs over; to have power over the treasures of Egypt; and the Lybians, and Ethiopians 1, are to be at his fteps he is to enter into the glorious land, and to overthrow many countries; but Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon, fhall escape out of his hand. But tidings out of the eaft and out of the north fhall trouble him therefore he shall go forth with great fury to deftroy, and utterly to make away And he shall plant the tabernacle of his palaces between the feas, in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none fhall help him." If Infidel France be this " King of the north," we may prefume, that it will take poffeffion of the

many.

;

Herodotus mentions two Ethiopias, Afiatic Ethiopia, or a part of Arabia, and African Ethiopia, or the interior of Africa. A part of India is alfo occafionally called Ethiopia, and the inhabitants Ethiopians, by fome antient writers. And the Arabians as well as the Africans are called Ethiopians in Scripture. The Cubim, or descendants of Cush, inhabited a part of Arabia.

* Edom lay to the south of Palestine, and was inhabited by the children of Abraham; Moab and Ammon to the east of Palestine; their inhabitants were the defcendants of Lot.

prefent

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