be much more order and connexion in this book, than Mr. P. supposes. The historical part was evidently added to illustrate the prophecies, and to prevent, not make, confusion.*

It is very easy to ridicule the burden of Damascus, the burden of Moab, or the burden of Babylon; but not so easy to shew, by what means the writer could foresee, that Babylon, then growing in greatness, and shortly to be the metropolis of the world, would at length be " swept with the besom of destruction," as it actually hath been; so that it is not at present certainly known, where that vast and magnificent city once stood!! This single prophecy amounts to a demonstration, that God spake by the prophet Isaiah.

The prediction of Cyrus by name, above an hundred years before his birth, if allowed to have been written by Isaiah, would have subverted our author's whole system. Like an able general, therefore, he forms a stratagem of seizing our artillery, and employing it against us! He confidently asserts, (and that passes for proof with many readers,) that the whole passage was written an hundred and fifty years after Isaiah's death, in compliment to Cyrus!†

But the connexion of these predictions, with the whole scope of the prophet's address to the people in the name of JEHOVAH, tends to expose the absurdity of this bold assertion. The God of Israel repeatedly appeals to prophecies already accomplished, as proofs of his deity in opposition to the claims of idols: he

* P. ii. p. 43, 44. † P. ii. p. 44, 45. Is. xliv. 28. xlv. 1-4.

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adds, "New things do I declare, before they come to pass I tell you of them:" He thus challenges his rivals, the idols of the nations, saying, "Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may "know that ye are gods:"* and after various other predictions, he delivers that in question, with the greatest solemnity, as a proof of his eternal power and Godhead.

Had this prophecy stood single in the writings of Isaiah, this pretence might have been rather more plausible: but the whole book is replete with predictions at least equally plain, and verified by the events in the most astonishing manner! So that it might as reasonably be asserted, that the fifty-third chapter was written after the crucifixion of Christ, and the establishment of his religion; or the fourteenth after the entire desolation of Babylon: as that the prediction concerning Cyrus was added after he had conquered the Chaldean monarchy.

The testimony of the Jews, through every age, to this book as genuine, though it contains such numerous prophecies, which were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, sufficiently determines that point with all sober and competent judges; for how could it be possible to persuade a whole nation that they had always been acquainted with the prediction, during the course of an hundred and fifty years, if they had never before heard any thing of it? But infidels seem to take it for granted, that if priests be sufficiently knavish to attempt

imposition, the people will always be found sufficiently foolish to swallow their impostures without exam. ination! whereas much art has ever been found necessary for such attempts; the prophecies of impostors have always been ambiguous; and the miracles to which they pretended, either doubtful in their nature, or wrought only before a few individuals who were friendly to the cause.

It may also be added, that a man must have taken a singular method of complimenting a great prince; who should forge predictions, tending to pour contempt on his religion, and to degrade the gods, to which he was continually sacrificing.

Mr. P. in speaking of our Lord's miraculous conception, as predicted by Isaiah, uses these words, This doctrine has stained every spot in Christendom with blood, and marked it with desolation.'-Blood enough has, alas! been shed by men called christians; but this doctrine has seldom been so much as the pretence of it. The Athanasians and Arians had too acrimonious contests: but both parties agreed in the miraculous conception, and in this application of Isaiah's prophecy. The papal antichrist has been drunk with the blood of martyrs: but where has the denial of the miraculous conception of Christ been so much as the pretext of these outrages? The Socinians have only of late denied the miraculous conception; though many of them, and others likewise, have understood Matthew, as quoting Isaiah by way of accommodation; but they have not in many instances been harassed with bloody desolating persecution. Indeed there would be some dificulty in precisely

pointing out a dozen spots in Christendom, stained with blood, and marked with desolation on this ac

count.

Should we grant, that the prophecy had a subordinate reference to events, which took place soon after it was delivered:* it would still be true, that the literal and exact accomplishment can only be found in that great event, to which the evangelist applies it. Some measure of obscurity seems adapted to the nature of prophecy, prior to its fulfilment: and, though the virgin's Son was named JESUS; yet he was EMMANUEL, in his person and character, and has been so called with fervent adoring love and gratitude by tens of thousands in all succeeding generations.

Mr. P. has brought a direct charge of imposition and falsehood against Isaiah, which requires some notice. The kings of Israel and Syria confederated to invade Judah, to destroy the family of David, and make the son of Tabeal king of Judah: and Isaiah predicted, that this counsel should not stand; that the kingdom of Israel should come to an end in seventyfive years; that the confederate princes should be de.. stroyed; and that the family of David should be preserved till the coming of Emmanuel. At the same time, however, he declared to Ahaz and his princes, that "if they would not believe, they should not be "established."-But we find,† that "the Lord deli"vered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Syria, and "into the hand of the king of Israel;" and that they

* Is. vii. 14.

† 2 Chron. xxviii.

made most dreadful havock of the Jews, and took-an immense number of captives:-on this ground, Mr. P. says, the two kings did succeed, Ahaz was de'feated and destroyed. Thus much for this lying prophet, and his book of falsehoods.'* But we ask, did the two kings succeed in dethroning Ahaz, destroying the family of David, and advancing the son of Tabeal to the throne? Ahaz indeed was not established, because he did not believe: he was defeated, but he was not destroyed; for he survived both the confederate princes many years, and died a natural death. Pekah, king of Israel, induced by the humane remonstrances of a prophet, sent back the prisoners, refreshed and clothed from the spoil; and he was slain by Hosea in the fourth year of Ahaz; as Rezin king of Syria was by Tiglath-Pilezer about the same time. Within the prescribed years, the Assyrians finally destroyed the kingdom of Israel, and the family of David was preserved till the birth of Emmanuel. Isaiah's predictions were therefore most circumstantially fulfilled during the course of above seven hundred years: and his accuser was either grossly ignorant of his subject, or very desirous of misleading his readers.

JEREMIAH.†

Jeremiah had prophecied about forty years, when Jerusalem was taken: and, as he had been the faithful friend of his country, and of succeeding princes, for

* P. ii. p. 40.

† P. ii. p. 47-54.