dued. I know that (7) Diodorus Siculus accounts for their prefervation from the dryness of their country, that they have wells digged in proper places known only to themselves, and their enemies and invaders through ignorance of thefe places perifh for want of water: but this account is far from being an adequate and just representation of the cafe; large armies have found the means of fubfiftence in their country; none of their powerful invaders ever defifted on this account; and therefore that they have not been conquered, we must impute to fome other caufe. When in all human bability they were upon the brink of ruin, then (as we have before feen at large) they were fignally and providentially delivered. Alexander was preparing an expedition against them, when an inflammatory fever cut him off in the flower of his age. Pompey was in the career of his conquefts, when urgent affairs called him elfewhere. Ælius Gallus had penetrated far into the country, when a fatal disease destroyed great numbers of his men, and obliged him to return. Trajan befieged their capital city, but was defeated by thunder and lightning, whirlwinds

(7) Diodorus Siculus. Lib. 2. p. 92. Edit. Stephani. p. 131. Edi. Rhodomani. & Lib. 19.

pro

p. 722. Edit. Steph. p. 730. Edit. Rhod.

winds and other prodigies, and that as often as he renewed his affaults. Severus befieged the fame city twice, and was twice repelled from before it; and the hiftorian Dion, a man of rank and character, though an heathen, plainly ascribes the defeat of these two emperors to the interpofition of a divine power. We who know the prophecies, may be more affured of the reality of a divine interpofition: and indeed otherwise how could a fingle nation stand out against the enmity of the whole world for any length of time, and much more for near 4000 years together? The great empires round them have all in their turns fallen to ruin, while they have continued the fame from the beginning, and are likely to continue the fame to the end and this in the natural course of human affairs was fo highly improbable, if not altogether impoffible, that as nothing but a divine prefcience could have forefeen it, fo nothing but a divine power could have accomplished it.

These are the only people befides the Jews, who have fubfifted as a diftinct people from the beginning; and in fome refpects they very much resemble each other. The Arabs as well as the Jews are defcended from Abraham, and both boast of their descent from that father

of

of the faithful. The Arabs as well as the Jews are circumcifed, and both profefs to have derived that ceremony from Abraham. The Arabs as well as the Jews had originally twelve patriarchs or heads of tribes, who were their princes or governors. The Arabs as well as the Jews marry among themselves and in their own tribes. The Arabs as well as the Jews are fingular in feveral of their cuftoms, and are ftanding monuments to all ages, of the exactnefs of the divine predictions, and of the veracity of fcripture-hiftory. We may with more confidence believe the particulars related of Abraham and Ishmael, when we fee them verified in their pofterity at this day. This is having as it were ocular demonstration for our faith. This is proving by plain matter of fact, that the most High ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and that his truth, as well as his mercy, indureth for ever.

III. The

III.

The prophecies concerning JACOB and

ESAU.

A S it pleafed God to difclofe unto Abra

ham the ftate and condition of his

pofterity by Ishmael, who was the son of the bond- -woman ; it might be with reason expected, that fomething should be predicted concerning his pofterity alfo by Ifaac, who was the fon of the free-woman. He was properly the child of promife, and the prophecies relating to him and his family are much more numerous than those relating to Ishmael: but we will felect and inlarge upon fuch only, as have reference to these later ages.

It was promised to Abraham before Ishmael or any fon was born to him, (Gen. XII. 3. In thee fhall all families of the earth be blessed. But after the birth of Ishmael and Ifaac, the promise was limited to Ifaac, (Gen. XXI. 12.) for in Ifaac shall thy feed be called. And accordingly to Ifaac was the promise repeated, (Gen. XXVI. 4.) In thy feed fhall all the nations of the earth be bleffed. The Saviour of the world therefore was not to come of the family

of

of Ishmael, but of the family of Ifaac; which is an argument for the truth of the Christian religion in preference to the Mohammedan, drawn from an old prophecy and promise made two thousand years before Chrift, and much more before Mohammed was born...

The land of Canaan was promised to Abraham and his feed four hundred years before they took poffeffion of it. (Gen. XV.) It was promised again to Ifaac, (Gen. XXVI. 3.) Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: for unto thee and unto thy feed I will give all thefe countries, and I will perform the oath which I fware unto Abraham thy father. Now it is very well known, that it was not till after the death of Mofes who wrote these things, that the Ifraelites gat poffeffion of the land under the command of Joshua. They remained in poffeffion of it several ages in purfuance of these prophecies: and afterwards, when for their fins and iniquities they were to be removed from it, their removal alfo was foretold, both the carrying away, of the ten tribes, and the captivity of the two remaining tribes for feventy years, and likewife their final captivity and difperfion into all nations, till in the fulness of time they fhall be restored again to the land of their inheritance.

VOL. I.

F

It