All these

luable end of fuch extenfive power. things put together, afford confiderable proof, that the different prophecies in view, treat of the fame event in different lights; and that feeing the univerfal dominion promised to the feed of the patriarchs in Balaam's prophecy, is meant of one par ticular perfon, the power of univerfal beneficence afcribed to the feed of the fame patriarchs, in the promises made to themselves, must be meant of one particular perfon likewife.

If we confider, what a glorious defign it is to promote the blessedness of all nations, and how oft it is promised to the patriarchs, that this defign was to be brought about by their feed, there is good ground, from the nature of the thing, and from the fcripture-account of the wifdom and goodness of God, to look upon that bleffedness of all nations, as the great end of God's fingular providences towards that one nation that was to defcend of the three patriarchs, and towards those patriarchs themselves; and in a fpecial manner, as the great end of any fingular dominion over other nations that is foretold concerning any of their posterity.

In Balaam's prophecy, that feed of Jacob who was to have dominion, has a title afcribed to him of a very extraordinary nature, Numb. xxiv. 17. which perhaps was never given to any person on account of mere temporal dominion; and which cannot be fo properly applied to any other, as to one who would be the fource of heavenly light or inftruction to the nations of the earth. He is not only called a Sceptre, but aftar. Thefe expreffions, when compared with others in the context, naturally denote light and power of univerfal extent and influence.

The expreffions at the beginning of that fame 17th verfe, fhow, that the coming of him who is called the star and Sceptre, was at a confiderable distance; that men would fee him in a future ftate, or after death; and that their feeing him would be of fin

gular

gular importance, Numb. xxiv. 17. "I fhall fee him, "but not now; I fhall behold him, but not nigh." It is reckoned a reafonable rule of interpretation in other cafes, to fuppofe, that very extraordinary expreffions have fome extraordinary scope and meaning; and that that is the true interpretation of them which is the only conceivable one that makes them clear and intelligible. The expreffions in view do not appear otherwife explicable, than by the Chriftian interpretation of them, and by comparing them with fuch other fcriptures as Job. xix. 25. &c. Rev. i. 7.

For obviating various objections against the Chriftian interpretation of Balaam's prophecy, it is of importance to make the following remarks. First, That the application of the chief things in this prophecy to the Meffiah, is abundantly confiftent with the application of fome other things in it to the conqueft of Canaan by Joshua, or of Moab by David; that whether thefe leffer events be confidered as typical of what was to be done by the Meffiah or not, they must be confidered as parts of one and the fame great complex defign, viz. the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. Secondly, That the expreffions importing incomparably extenfive dominion, cannot naturally be applied to David; but that the expreffions about the conqueft of Moab are naturally enough applicable to the Meffiah, as the great conqueror of the enemies of the church or kingdom of God; it being very fuitable to the figurative ftyle, both of the prophecies, and of other writings, to give the names that belonged

If. xxv. 1o. compared with verfe 7. In this mountain he "will destroy the face of the covering caft over all people, and the "vail that is fpread over all nations;" verfe 10. "In this mountain "shall the hand of the Lord reft, and Moab fhall be trodden down."

"Nec Dorica caftra

"Defuerint: alius Latio jam partus Achilles."

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Virgil. Eneid, vi. 1. 88. originally

originally to more ancient enemies of any nation or fociety, to the other enemies of the fame fociety in after times. Thirdly, Though Balaam, in fpeaking of the effects of the fingular dominion of the feed of the patriarchs, does not fpeak fo exprefsly about bleffing other nations, as about breaking the power of adverfaries, this is very fuitable to the frame and ftructure of many other predictions of the Meffiah; the ideas of powerful obftacles, conflict with obftinate enemies, final victory after great and long oppofition, being frequently blended with the other fubjects of fuch predictions, from the firft promife in the Old Teftament to the laft prophecies in the New.

Balaam's prophecy relates very much to the state of religion among the Ifraelites, and their peculiar advantages in that refpect, Numb. xxiii. 9. 10. 21. to 24. What is faid about their innumerable pofterity cannot be fo well explained otherwife, as by confidering the converted nations of the Gentiles as the fpiritual feed of the elites, chap. xxiii. 10. xxiv. 7.; because if we abitract from this, it cannot be faid, that the number of their pofterity could diftinguish them from many other nations. The clofe of this prophecy, chap. xxiv. 22. 24. fhows how unrefonable it is to endeavour to reftrict every thing in it to the more ancient ages of the world, fuch as the times of Jofhua or David; feeing it not only extends to the times of the Affyrian monarchy, which the molt judicious chronologers prove to be later than formerly was imagined, but reaches as far down as the deftruction of that monarchy, chap. xxiv. 24.

This prophecy may be farther illuftrated, by comparing feveral paffages in it with various other prophecies; fome of which have been explained formerly, as others of them will come under confideration afterwards. Compare Numb. xxiv. 9. with Genefis xii. 3. xxvii, 29. xlix. 9.; Numb. xxiv.

17. 18. with If. xxv. 10. Amos ix. 12. Obad. y 18.; Numb. xxi. 28. xxiv. 19. with Jer. xlviii. 45.

The Christian interpretation of the prophecies concerning the feed of the patriarchs, as blefling or ruling all nations, may be farther confirmed by fome plain remarks on the hiftory of Ifrael. It is evident, that from the first rife of that people till the coming of Chrift, it could not be faid, either of the nation in general, or of any one belonging to it, that they either ruled or bleffed all nations, or many nations, in any fenfe whatever. As they were fometimes rather inftrumental in inflicting extraordinary judgements on other nations; fo they were far from being admired by other nations as a fingularly bleffed people; though this is the way that fome misinterpret the promises about the bleffing of all nations. Inftead of being fo highly esteemed by other people, they feem rather to have been generally fpeaking the object of their averfion and contempt. This was their cafe before Chrift's coming, on account of their diverfity of religion and manners from all other people. This has alfo been their cafe fince Chrift's coming, in a great meafure, on account of their oppofition to Chriftianity, and their difperfion, which is looked on as the fruit of it; and in refpect of which their peculiar circumftances have, for many ages, verified the ancient prophetic threatenings against them, that they hould be a hifling and aftonishment to the nations.

It is therefore only in Jefus Chrift that we can find the accomplishment of the many promifes that one of the feed of the Ifraelitifh patriarchs would blefs or rule the nations. Even unbelievers, who deny the peculiar doctrines of the gofpel, muft own, that many nations are beholden to Jefus Chrift for natural religion, or the knowledge of God, his unity, his attributes, law, and providence; and that this knowledge is a chief means,

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and

and part of true bleffednefs. Nor can they deny, but the promises of bleffednefs to the penitent, with which the Chriftian revelation is filled, are real means of bleffednefs, though they do not own the relation of these promifes of the divine covenant to Jefus Chrift as the mediator of it.

IV. What has been faid fhows, that the writings of Mofes contain a confiderable number of predictions, fome more, fome lefs clear, really and peculiarly applicable to the chief branches of the gofpelhistory; particularly, that they foretell the enlightening of the Gentile nations in the knowledge of the true God, fuch knowledge of him as directs them to bleffednefs in him; and that their partaking of fuch bleffednefs fhould be owing to one particular perfon of the feed of the patriarchs, who would be, in a fingular and peculiar manner, the author of the bleifednefs of finners of all nations.

The books of Mofes contain a greater number than many are apt to apprehend, both of facts relating to the hiftory of that extraordinary perfon himfelf, and of facts relating to his church or people, and his enemies. Concerning himself it is foretold, though not fo clearly as elfewhere, that he was to be born of a virgin, being the feed of the woman; that he was to defcend of the Ifraelitish patriarchs, and more particularly of the tribe of Judah. As to the time of his coming, it is intimated, that it was to be after the departing of the fceptre of the ten tribes, and about the time of its departing from the tribe of Judah. His fufferings are hinted at, even in the words of the firit promife, about his heel's being bruifed by the ferpent; and his fubfequent exaltation is intimated, both in that and various other predictions.

As to his church and his enemies it is foretold, in the writings in view, on the one hand, that all nations would bow down to him, would fubmit to his dominion, would gather to him, and expect

bleffedness