would be once more taken and destroyed; and again, the third time ;* and that immediately after, the fulfilment of the prophecy would commence. It will be seen, as we proceed, that the fulfilment of the prophecy begins, at the close of the civil war, between the converted and unconverted Jews, subsequent to the restoration; during which the city is taken by the former. [n] Whatever destruction of buildings may ensue, the city from that time, ceases to be the abode of the adherents of the individual system; and at the close of the war, the ancient worship is forever abolished, in Palesestine.†

We are informed that the vision happened on 2 the fourteenth anniversary of the capture of the city by the Babylonians, in a manner calculated to arrest and fix the attention. In the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day, &c. We are also informed, that it happened in the five and twentieth year of the captivity. That is, of those carried to Babylon with Jehoiachin, of whom, it seems, Ezekiel was one. This period alludes to that, (after the restoration,) during which, the Christian Jews are in a sort of captivity to their unconverted brethren. We have seen,

* Of course being in possession of the Jews.

†The survivors of the antichristian party, non-combatants only, the rest, fighting with characteristic obstinacy, being all destroyed, [n] soon embrace Christianity. [n]

3

that towards the close of the thirty years, subsequent to the commencement of the restoration, is the invasion of the king of the north.* Immediately after, follows the election of a king, by the Christian Jews; and the civil war. Admitting this to terminate in the five and twentieth year of the restoration, five years are allowed for establishing the new economical, civil and religious constitutions of the state, previous to the commencement of the forty-five years,† in which, the ten tribes, and the remainder of the Jews, in every part of the world, are to be restored.

2. In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. The prophet has a part, and a future part, assigned him in the vision. See chap. 46: 13-15. Doubtless therefore, he represents some portion of those to whom the vision relates. The passages referred to, and others, shew that he represents the Jewish leaders. These are about introducing, in a national view, the institutions of England. From this eminence they contemplate the land. Hence they 4 are said to be upon a very high mountain.‡ Regarding England as their example, they turn their eyes to Palestine, and see, as it were, the frame

*Dan. 11; 40.

† See Dan. 12; 12, with 11, &c.

See introduction, comment on Is. 2; 2, 3; page 38.

Under an

[or model] of a city ON THE SOUTH.* architectural symbol is expressed the institutions. which they are about to give to the nation; with various associated particulars, which will be noticed as we proceed. (3) And he brought me thither, 5 and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed.―The prophet conductor has also, a future share in the vision. The part allotted him is that of the Jewish sovereign. See § 29; 13, &c. As figured by observances of the law it is also, that of Moses, and of the high priest, on occasions of peculiar solemnity. See chap. 43: 21. Unquestionably therefore, he personates, in reference to the time more particularly in view, that individual of the royal family of England, whom the Christian Jews, subsequent to the defeat of the king of the north, and previous to the civil war, elect their king. His appearance is 6 like that of brass, to indicate the permanence of the rule of his descendants, over the nation: extending to the close of time. The line of flax and 7 the measuring-reed, in his hand, signify, that he has the means of accurate knowledge, respecting the frame of the city; and that in founding a state, destined to last, with no change, other than progressive improvement, while the earth endures, he will conform strictly, to that model which God has

*The Hebrew, by which, &c., may be translated, upon which, &c. †See Note (A.)

8 appointed for his guide. (3)-And he stood in the gate. See $25; 2.

9 4. And the man said unto me, Son of man, be hold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon what I shall shew thee.-The Jewish leaders, represented by the prophet, as above, are emphatically exhorted, to make themselves acquainted with those institutions, and those historical reminiscences, and prophetical intimations, which are 10 figured in the visionary emblem. And set thine heart upon ALL that I shall shew thee. That "accommodation" of prophecy, which has lessened the confidence in its specific import, or in the possibility of discovering this, till after the event, incomparably more than all the reasonings, and all the sarcasms, of unbelievers, is uniformly based upon a few resemblances, which may ever be found. An exposition, thus imperfect, is at best dubious. In an inspired prophecy, every discriminative particular is adapted to convey instruction; and it scarce need be remarked, how greatly the probabilities are multiplied, than an explanation, which, without forced construction, omits nothing, 11 is the true one. (4)-for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither.—The newly elected sovereign is represented as explaining these things to the Jewish leaders. To him they will look, in consequence of his relation to England, for that information, seldom obtained, except from the highest sources. There seems

however, another sense in which he is said to instruct them, in the various particulars, which are the subject of the vision. It has appeared that the man, as he is designated, represents, the Jewish royal line, for ages in advance, during a very considerable portion of the third woe. See § 29; 13, &c. As the vision is often retrospective, there seems no reason to doubt, that he also represents the same family, that is, the royal family of England, at an earlier period. During that period at least, in which, under the auspices of this family, the social system is established in England, and perfected, along with the existing institutions, so as to form the original of that frame of a city, portrayed in the vision. Officially, the individual himself is to be regarded as the organ, by which the knowledge is communicated to the Jews. For to the intent that 12 I might shew them unto thee ART THOU BROUGHT HITHER. The Jewish leaders are brought, in the providence of God, to the crisis above specified, for the purpose that they should be led to study the institutions of England, with the design of giving them to the nation. The prosperity of England, and the rapid increase of her power, after the adoption, (though but partial,*) of the social system; their own restoration, and the invasion and discomfiture of the king of the north; the share taken by England in these transactions; the events

*The social system is to become universal in England, soon after the defeat of the king of the north. [n]