appear again in miraculous ways, for to bring all the Saints, Jews and Gentiles, out of all those Countries, in which they now lie fcattered; tho' they are never fo far at a distance, yet from thence will the Lord bring them to himself, and to their own Land. Therefore this Prophecy muft mean fomething more than the Generality of Expofitors run it, who take this only for the Return of the Jews out of Babylon. Surely thefe Words do hold forth no less than the Converfion of the Jews, with a multitude out of the Gentile Nations, who will come flocking, in a wonderful manner, at this time, unto Jefus Chrift; as is fignify'd by their being gathered out of fo many Nations and Countries here expreffed. Again V.12.And fball fet up an Enfign for the Nations, and fhall affemble the Outcaft of Ifrael, and gather together the Difper fed of Judah, from the four Corners of the Earth. This Enfign which is to be fet up, I take to be the extraordinary Appearance of God, for the gathering of his People out of all Parts and Places of the World By the Outcast of Ifrael, and the Difperfed of Judah, muft in thefe Words principally refpect the People of the Jews, or the Number of the twelve Tribes; and their being gathered from the four Corners of the Easth, doth undoubtedly mean fomething more than their Return either out of Egypt or Babylon; because it is faid that they fhall be gathered out of, or from the four Corners of the Earth, where they now are, and have a long time been, like a Forlorn and Diftreffed People. Verfe 13. Then the Envy of Ephraim fhall depart, and the Adverfaries of Judah fhall be cat off: Ephraim shall not envy Fudah, and Fudab fhall not vex Ephraim. After the Revolt or Rend

ing of the Ten Tribes from Judah, there were Envies and Wars held up and continued between these Tribes, Well! But when they fhall be converted by the Spirit of Grace, and Supplication poured down upon them, as they fhall be in the First Branch of the Kingdom of Chrift; then it is that they fhall not envy nor vex each other any more. At this Time of their Return they shall fly upon the Shoulders of the Philistines, and spoil those who spoiled them: Edom, Moab, and the Children of Ammon, Jhall then obey or fubmit themselves unto God's Ifrael,v.14.Then will the Lord utterly deftroy the Tongue of the Egyptian Sea, and with his mighty Wind fhall be fake his hand over the River, and fhall fmite it in the Seven Streams, and make Men go over dry food. And there fhall be an Highway for the remnant of his People, which fhall be left from Affyria, like as it was unto Ifrael in the Day that he came up out of the Land of Egypt, ver. 15, 16. By the Tongue of the Egyptian Sea fome do understand the Red Sea; becaufe that Part which butted upon Egypt (fay they) was in Form and Fafhion of a Tongue. And therefore the Lord's utterly deftroying the Tongue of the Egyptian Sea, muft fignify the Lord's wonderful Appearance (at this time) for the Deliverance of his People out of their long and tedious Captivity, as he did in the Days of old. To this the other Parts of the Words do agree, where it is faid that be will shake his hand over the River, and fmite it into Seven Streams, that Men may pass over dry-fhod, and an Highway may be made for the Saints, out of all Parts and Places, to come into the Land of Promife: And therefore doth fhew that there shall be no Impediment to hinder their coming, like as it

was

was to Ifrael, in the Day when the Lord led them thro' the Red Sea, as npon dry Ground.

Oh then fball this Song be fang by all the Children of God, in this great Day of the Lord's Appearance. We have a strong City; Salvation hath the Lord appointed for Walls and Bulwarks. Open ye the Gates, or fand open ye everlasting Doors (What to do?) that the righteous Nation, which have kept the Truth, may enter in, Ifa. xxvi. 1, 2. This is the Time that a King fhall reign in Righteoufnefs, and Princes fhall rule in Fudgment. By this King I understand the Lord Jefus Chrift to be meant, who will reign in that Day among the Saints; firft, By the Power of his mighty Spirit; fecondly, In his Perfonal Glory: By the Princes that shall rule in Fudgment, all the Saints are taken in: They being Kings and Priefs, or Kings and Princes, fhall reign with Chrift in his Kingdom, and that both in the First and Second Branch of it: For thefe Words may be fo taken, under both thefe Confiderations. Ifaiah xxxii. 1. Then all the Lord's People dwell in a Peaceable Habitation, in Sure Dwellings, and in Quiet Refling Places, perfectly free from all Harms and Dangers, ver. 18. How full is Isaiah xxxv. for the Proof as well as the Manner of this promifed Glory? The Wilderness and the Solitary Place fhall be glad for them: And the Defart fhall rejoice and bloffom as the Rofe. Sure this must be fo in the Kingdom of Chrift, when thofe Places or Perfons which are now like a Wilderness or Defart, being deftitute of the Knowledge of Chrift, fhall flourish in their Souls, and bloffom like fragrant Roses, in refpect of mighty Grace, that then fhall be poured down by the Spirit, as Rain on the mown Grafs, upon each

of them. Verse 1. Then shall the Saints bloffom, that they may bring forth Fruit abundantly; which will caufe them to rejoice with exceeding Joy, yea and fing with Ravishment of Spirit, when the Glory of Lebanon, the Excellency of Carmel and Sharon, fhall be given unto them; which will manifeft the Glory of the Lord Jefus, and make them to behold with exceeding Wonder, the Excellency of their God. Verse 2. The Weak Hand fhall then be ftrengthen'd, and the Feeble Knees confirmed: When it fhall be faid to the Fearful Heart, Be frong; be not afraid; because your God in the Mediator will come, he will come with Vengeance to your Enemies,but with an everlastingSalvation unto you.Verfe 3, 4 This will be the time that the Eyes of the Blind fhall be opened, that they may fee into all the Myfteries of the Kingdom: And the Ears of the Deaf fo unftopped, as to hear continual News of joyful Tidings. Then the Lame Man fhall leap, or 1kip for Joy of Heart; the Tongue of the Dumb fhall fing the Song of Mofes and the Lamb. O what rejoicing, finging, and celebrating will here be, by all the Saints, in that Day, both for temporal, Spiritual, and eternal Salvation: When the Waters of Life fhall break out in the Wilderness, and Streams of mighty Grace like an overflowing Deluge in the Defart. Verfe 5, 6. Then every Child of God fhall fpring and grow up, in the Graces of the Spirit, as the young and tender Grafs after Rain; yea they fhall grow in the Grace of Chrift, as the Willows by the Water-courfes: When one fhall come and fay, am the Lord's, the Lord Jefus my Redeemer: Another fhall call himself by the Name of Jacob, who ftands in Covenant Relation to the God of Jacob

And

vens,

And another fhall fubfcribe with his Hand, yea, and with his whole Heart too, to be the Lord's for ever; and therefore fhall firname himfelf by the Name of Ifrael, as his Glory. Ifaiah xliv. 4, 5. Then it fhall be faid, Sing, Oye Heavens, for the Lord hath done it: Shout, ye lower Parts of the Earth: Break forth into finging ye Mountains, O Foreft and every Tree therein. Here is a Reafon given why the Heathe Earth, and the Mountains, muft fing for Foy; because the Lord hath redeemed Facob from Sin and eternal Wrath; yea from the Hands of all their Enemies; and now will glorify himself, or be glorify'd in Ifrael, ver. 23. By the Heavens and the Earth, the Mountains and the Foreft, I understand the People of God to be spoken of, gathered by effectual Grace (as they shall be in that Day) out of many Nations and Kingdoms, unto Jefus Chrift; as the Word Mountains are oftentimes taken in Scripture. These fhall fing aloud, and break forth into Songs of ravishing Joy, when they fhall be in the full poffeffion of the glorious Mountain of Chrift's Kingdom. To this agree thofe Words in Ifaiah xlix. 13. and are almoft the fame: Sing, O ye Heavens; and be joyful, O Earth; and break forth into finging O Mountains: For the Lord hath comforted his Pecple, and will have mercy upon his Afflicted. Sure thefe Words must be referr'd to the Latter Day Glory. Then it is that the Heavens and the Earth fhall fing, and fhout aloud with Acclamations of Eternal Wonder, for what the Lord hath done for them, and in that Day will beftow upon them. Then the Saints fhall lift up their Eyes, and be aftonifh'd, to fee what a multitude of Converts there are which come flocking into Zion from all Parts and

Places: