spot. The Prophet therefore, proceeds thus, "Were it not that the wrath of the enemy would be collected;" The sense of which is, that if they were all in one place, under one prince, and the wrath of the enemy should arise against them, it would be more collected, and con sequently, operate with a greater force to effect their destruction. But, God in his infinite mercy, scattered them among all nations; and thereby prevented their annihilation: for if one prince persecutes them, they retire to some of their brethren, who live under the dominion of another who favors them; as history clearly evinces. And, although they are but few, in comparison to what they were *, owing to the numberless persecutions and massacres which they have suffered in the different kingdoms of Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, England, &c. at various periods; yet, had they all been in one kingdom, they most likely would have been annihilated: but their dispersion among different nations, was the very means of their preservation: for the interest of

the

* This fully verifies the words of Moses, in Deut. iv. 27, and xxviii. 62. "And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you —And ye shall be left few in number, &c."

the various princes were so opposite to each other, that when one persecuted them, another favored, and granted them an asylum. Hence, it is manifest, that their dispersion among so many nations, throughout the world, is not a sign that God hath cast them off entirely; but, on the contrary, is the strongest apparent proof, that they are under the immediate providence of God, who carefully watches over, and preserves them, amidst the numerous enemies that surround them, till the coming of the true Messiah, when they will be all gathered together, and return to their own land: where they will serve God in truth and sincerity, as written in the law which God commanded his servant Moses.

Of this, a Christian writer * of great note, seems to bear testimony: for he observes, Neither the severe edicts of kings, nor the hands of the executioner, have been able to destroy them. No, nor the seditious multitude, who have perpetrated massacres and executions, infinitely more tragical than the princes. Both kings and people, Heathens, Christians, and Mahometans: so opposite in such a number of things, have nevertheless all

* Basnage, history of the Jews.

united

united in the design of ruining this nation; and still have not been able to effect it. No! The bush of Moses, surrounded with flames, hath always burnt without consuming. Notwithstanding that they have suffered misery and persecution from age to age, and have waded through torrents of their own blood: yet, they still subsist a distinct nation; whilst nothing remains of the greatest monarchies but the name.

I have already observed, that the last prophecy of Balaam, clearly points out the restoration of the Jews, and the destruction of their enemies, at the coming of the Messiah; but nothing of this kind took place at the coming of Jesus. For at that time, no star came forth from Jacob, nor did a sceptre rise out of Israel, which smote the corners of Moab, and broke down the walls of all the children of Sheth; i. e. that brought the whole world into subjection, as above shewn. Neither did Edom at that time become the possession of Israel: for although the Edomites or Idumeans were reduced by Hyrcanus to the necessity of becoming proselytes to the Jewish religion *,

*Joseph. lib. xiii chap. 17. And lib. xv. chap. 11.

Strabo lib. xvi. page 760.

yet.

yet, did they not possess the land of Edom: for the Idumea or land of Edom in which those people then dwelt, was not the Idumea or land of Edom mentioned in the Old Testament; for that lay between the lake of Sodom and the Red Sea: but the Edomites being driven thence by the Nabatheans, while the Jews were in the Babylonish captivity, and their land lay desolate, they took possession of as much of the southern part of it, as contained what had formerly been the whole inheritance of the tribe of Simeon, and also half of that which had been the inheritance of the tribe of Judah: and there they dwelt at the time that the Hyrcanus reduced them to the necessity, of either embracing the Jewish religion, or forsaking the country, and seeking new dwellings elsewhere; when they embraced the former. So that it is clear, that their country did not become a possession for Israel. Neither did any come out of Jacob who had dominion, and destroyed the remnant out of the city nor are the Romans, whom he speaks of by the name of Chittim, entirely destroyed, as mentioned by the prophet, "and he shall perish for ever." For although the Roman Empire was broken by the invasions of

the

the Northern nations, yet is the nation not finally destroyed; as the prophet foretold: but which will undoubtedly take place at the coming of the Messiah, when all the enemies of the Jews will receive their due reward: for as the former parts of these prophecies were completely fulfilled, the remainder will be completed in due time.

DISSERTATION II.

The Prophecies of Moses.

THE second that prophecied concerning. the future restoration and happiness of the Jewish nation, was our legislator Moses; from whose writings I shall select two prophecies, which plainly foretel the future restoration of the Jews, and the destruction of their enemies.

The first, is Deut. xxx. 1, &c. "And it shall come to pass when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bring them to thy heart, among all the nations

whither