inclination to agitate the queftion (even with yourself I mean, for there was nothing at that time to bring into difcuffion before the public) and, after much deliberation with my felf, I thought it better avoided; knowing that your opinions are not rafhly taken up; conceiving that you might reconfider the subject; and perfuaded, that a man of your learning and upright intention is more likely to fet himfelf right, by his own meditation of an abftrufe question, than to be fet right by another. But now that you have given that fame interpretation of this prophecy to the public, in your Supplement to your Remarks on the Signs of the Times, I fhould think myfelf wanting to the duties of the ftation to which God has been pleafed to call me, if I were any longer to fupprefs the refult of a diligent meditation of fo important a portion of the prophetic word. I cannot however enter upon the fubject, without profeffing, not to yourself but to the world, how highly I value and efteem your writings, for the variety and depth of erudition, the fagacity and piety which appear in every part of them; but appear not more in them than in your converfation and the habits of your life, to those who have the happiness, as I have had the happiness, to enjoy your intimacy and friendship. I must publicly declare, that I think you are rendering the best fervice to the church of God, by turning the attention of believers to the true fenfe of the prophecies. For you are perfectly right in the opinion you maintain, that a far greater proportion of the prophecies, even of the Old Teftament, than is generally imagined, relate to the fecond Advent of our Lord. Few, comparatively, relate to the firft Advent by itself, without reference to the fecond; and of thofe that have been fupposed to be accomplished in the firft, many have had in that only an inchoate accomplishment, and have yet to receive their full completion. While we agree in thefe great and leading principles, I hope that a difference of opinion upon fubordinate points, upon the particulars of interpretation (fo far as either of us may venture upon particular interpretation, which is to be ventured upon with the greateft caution, with fear indeed, and trembling) will be received on both fides with that candour and charity, which is due from one to another, among all those who, in these eventful times, are anxiously waiting for the redemption of Ifrael, and marking the awful figns of its gradual approach,'

The plan of interpretation adopted by the Bifhop is, in our opinion, a model for the conduct of fuch inveftigations; labori ous, yet fecure; difcarding all previous affumptions, and entering into a critical examination of every doubtful word in the facred text, referring to its etymology, to the analogy of ufage in the fcriptures, the context of the original, and the decifions of the beft tranflators and interpreters. He then confiders the tendency of prophetic imagery and figures, ac cording to established principles and ufage, not according to particular ideas of refemblance, which, as he justly obferves, are generally both fanciful and mifchievous. The method he has thus employed, the Right Reverend Commentator very K 2 ftrongly,

ftrongly, but no lefs properly, recommends in a paffage, which, as giving alfo the most important rule for the investigation of prophecies not decidedly fulfilled, we fhall here infert.

"The method of investigation I have defcribed, if men had the patience to purfue it, in moft cafes, I am perfuaded, would difcover the general fubject of a prophecy, and even develope the particulars of the accomplishment, when the general fubject lies in any part of the hiftory of paft times, if the detail of that part of history is accu rately known. But when the accomplishment of a prophecy is ftill future; when once the general fubject is afcertained, at that point interpretation ought to ftop for the prefent, reverently expecting the further comments of Time, the authorized and infallible expofitor. You have well remarked, that with refpect to the detail of things future, facred Truth fhould be very much left to speak for itself by flow degrees and for felf it will fpeak, in God's good time; and it is only to a certain extent that man fhould attempt to fpeak for it*: juft fo far as to lay hold of the general fubject, that we know whereabouts, if we may fo fpeak, in what quarter of the world Politico-Ecclefiaftic, we may watch for the completion. If we go beyond this, and attempt to defcend into particulars, it is difficult, I am perfuaded, even for a man of the most fober mind to keep his imagination in order. And though among the fanciful gueffes of a man of learning and judgment, one perhaps in twenty (which I think is a large allowance) may turn out true; it is far better to leave this truth to be brought out by Time, than to hazard the credit, both of the expofition and the text, by the other nineteen, which Time will confute. No mifchief is done in the one cafe; much in the other." P. 11.

When he proceeds to the confideration of the eighteenth chapter of Ifaiah, the learned Bifhop defcribes it as affording a remarkable inftance of the perplexities into which commentators have fallen, by taking up "gratuitous affumptions, concerning the general fcope of the prophecy, before they attempt to fettle the fignification of the terms in which it is delivered." Thefe affumptions of commentators he reduces to three. "1. That the principal matter of the prophecy is a woe or judgment. 2. That the object of this woe is the land of Egypt itself, or fome of the contiguous countries. 3. That the time of the execution of the judgment was at hand when the prophecy was delivered." The refult of the contrary, and more rational method, of trying first to understand

The Bishop fays afterwards, moft judiciously, "indifference to the figns of the times is criminal; mifconftruction of them may be dangerous." P. 105. Rev.

the

the writer's words, before he attempted to decide upon his meaning, has brought the Bishop to the conclufion, that all these affumptions are falfe. His deductions, fet in oppofition to them, are thefe: 1. That

"the prophecy indeed predicts fome woeful judgment; but that the principal matter of the prophecy is not judgment, but mercy; a gracious promife of the final reftoration of the Ifraelites. 2. That the prophecy has no refpect to Fgypt, or any of the contiguous coun tries. What has been applied to Egypt is a defcription of tome people or another, destined to be the principal inftruments in the hand of Providence, in the great work of the refettlement of the Jews in the Holy Land; a defcription of that people, by characters by which they will be evidently known, when the time arrives. 3. The time for the completion of the prophecy was very remote, when it was delivered, and is yet future; being indeed the feafon of the fecond Advent of our Lord." P. 13.

Having thus ftated the refult of his enquiry, the able and fagacious commentator proceeds to lay bore his readers the exact analysis of the chapter, according to the method he purfued. To attend the writer ftep by step in this procefs, would be to infufe a greater part of his publication into your critique, than is compatible with the nature of our work, or would please the generality of our readers. The object most immediately material, to thofe who have read Mr. King's Supplement, is the diftinct anfwer given to his interpretation of

"the land fhadowing with wings." Mr. K. conceives this as intended to defignate France, from a fanciful comparison of the geographical form of the country, with thofe contiguous to it, to a bird with extended wings. To this the Bishop replies first, that probably the prophet never faw a map; to confirm which, he touches upon the hiftory of geographical charts and globes (p. 28); 2nd. that if he had, the rude representations then laid down would little have refembled the true forms of the countries, as delineated in our perfect maps (p. 50); 3d. that it is not probable that such a delineation fhould have been exhibited to the prophet in a vifion (p. 32); and that nothing in the facred text warrants fuch a fuppofition. Without going further into the particulars of the prefent most learned, laborious, and valuable commentary, we will lay the refult before our readers, in the new verfion offered by the Bishop; leaving them to feek his reafons, if they require them, in his own work. We fhall defire the reader alfo to make for himself the comparison between this verfion and others of respectable authority.

"ISAIAH,

“ ISAIAH, CHẬP. XVIII.

I. Ho! Land fpreading* wide the fhadow of (thy) wings,
Which art beyond the rivers of Cufh.

2. Accustomed to fend meffengers by fea,

Even in bulrufh veffels, upon the furface of the waters!
Go fwift meffengers,

Unto a nation dragged away and plucked,

Unto a people wonderful from their beginning hitherto,
A nation, expecting, expecting, and trampled under foot,
Whose land rivers have spoiled..

3. All the inhabitants of the world, and dwellers upon earth,
Shall fee the lifting up, as it were, of a banner upon the moun-
tains,

And fhall hear the founding as it were of a trumpet.

4. For thus faith JEHOVAH unto me:

I will fit ftill (but I will keep my eye upon my prepared habitation.)

As the parching heat juft before lightning,

As the dewy cloud in the heat of harveft.

5. For afore the harveft, when the bud is coming to perfection And the bloffom is become a juicy berry,

He will cut off the ufelefs fhoots with pruning hooks

And the bill shall take away the luxuriant branches,

6, They fhall be left together to the bird of prey of the mountains. And to the beasts of the earth.

And upon it fhall the bird of prey fummer,

And all beatts of the earth upon it shall winter.

7. At that feafon a prefent fhall be led

TO JEHOVAH of Hofts,

A people dragged away and plucked;

Even of a people wonderful from their beginning hitherto,
A nation expecting, expecting, and trampled under foot,
Whofe land rivers have fpoiled,

Unto the place of the name of JEHOVAH of Hofts, Mount
Siont." P.93.

We fhall here prepare to conclude our account of this interefting article; for fo it truly is, to all who know rightly how to eftimate the value of fuch publications. In a few obferva tions fubfequent to his verfion, the author delivers his ideas of the probable connection of this prophecy with thofe preceding it; and refutes, fatisfactorily enough, the objection which might perhaps be made, from its fituation among the writings of the

N. B. The Bishop, writes predding, and in a few other words (as ledde for led) deviates a little, apparently by fome fyftem, from the accustomed orthography; but we think ourfelves bound, in all fuch matters, to refift the unneceffary innovations, even of the most respectable individual,

+ Short notes are fubjoined to the verfion, which we have omitted. prophet,

prophet. He gives alfo his own conceptions of the adult and complete Antichrift, who will, in his opinion, be neitlier

"a Proteftant nor a Papit; neither Chriftian, Jew, nor Heathen; who fhall worship neither God, Angel, nor Saint-who will neither fupplicate the invifible Majefty of Heaven, nor fall down before an idol. He will magnify himfelf against every thing that is called God, or is worshipped, and with a bold flight of impiety, foaring far above his precurfors and types in the times of Paganifm, the Sennacheribs, the Nebuchadnezzars, the Antiochufes, and the Heathen Emperors, will claim divine honours to himfelf exclufively, and confecrate an image to himself." P. 106.

With thefe ideas continues the Bishop, expreffing fome fentiments which we also have already avowed, and adding others replete with an energy and dignity peculiar to himself;

"I fee nothing in the fubverfion of the ancient monarchy of France, but what is caufe of alarm to every Government upon Earth: nothing in the fubverfion of the Gallican Church, but what is caufe of alarm to every Church in Christendom: nothing in the fufferings of the aged Pope, which can be caufe of exultation and joy, in the heart of any Chriftians nothing in the indignities and infults, which have been put upon him by low-born mifcreants, a difgrace to the reformed religion which they profefs, but what should excite horror and indignation. But, though in all these things, I fee no cause of triumph to the reformed churches, but fuch fymptoms of judgment gone abroad, as fhould awaken all to repentance; left all, who repent not, fhould likewife perih; yet I fee nothing in the grefs of the French arms, which any nation fearing God, and worThipping the Son, fhould fear to refift. I tee every thing, that should roufe all Chriftendom to a vigorous cenfederate refiflance. I fee every thing, that should excite this country, in particular, to refift, and to take the lead in a confederacy of refittance, by'all measures which po licy can fuggeft, and the valour and the opulence of a great nation can fupply." P.107.

pro

With this pattage, ftrong in political, as well as religious merit, and exemplifying the juft and legitimate connection of fuch sentiments, we finally chofe our report.

ART. IX. Bubble and Squeak, a Galli-mawfry of British Beef with the chopp'd Cabbage of Gallic Philofophy and Radical Reform. By the Author of Topfy-Turvy, Salmagundi, 3c. 55 PP. 25. Wright, Piccadilly, 1799.

8vo.

THE lively and original talent of Mr. Hoddesford, for burlefque poetry, has been very generally admired in his Salmagundi, which appeared before our undertaking commenced;

and