along a nation, (and not merely a religious sect,) distinct and separate from every people among whom they sojourned; but scattered, and without any political union or concert, or any connecting ties except those of religion alone, like dry and separated bones. But now, by the almighty fiat, bone had come to his bone, and there wanted no property of a living body, but the breath or soul, which as in the original creation of man, so here also, is the last act of this spiritual creation, and the perfecting of the work of God.

In this wonderful prophecy, there is a marked, and (perhaps slowly) progressive advancement, of the mysterious process of regeneration, by several steps; perhaps unobserved, or deemed of trivial importance at the time. Thus often in the course of God's providential government of the world, mighty revolutions are beforehand preparing in secret, and from small beginnings events of the utmost magnitude originate. When all things are in a state of suitable arrangement, then, suddenly and irresistibly, the great

change comes. prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, thus saith the Lord God, come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."

"Then said he unto me,

There is a grandeur of imagery and peculiar sublimity of stile in this prophecy, which demands and deserves the closest attention to the mysterious process, of the regeneration and restoration of God's people. Ezekiel prophesying to the wind, is like Moses, in more trying circumstances to his faith, prophesying to the sea, or like one greater than Moses, whose omnipotent voice stilled the tempestuous winds and the raging sea in a moment, and there was a great calm. (Matt. viii. 26.) There is a frequent and striking allusion to the Exodus, and miraculous transit through the Red Sea, in of the prophecies of the restoration of Israel in the last days; from which it seems probable, that in some respect there will be an analogy between the two events. Moses, in the greatest un

many

certainty of counsel, and depressed almost to despair by the near approach of Pharoah's host, and the tumultuary emotions of his own people, in a situation so ill chosen in point of military skill, that it afforded neither the means of escape nor the chance of victory, is commanded to lift up his rod upon the sea, and lo! a passage on dry ground through the deep is opened for Israel.

Possibly this prophesying to the winds, a thing as much out of nature as crying to the deep," be thou dry,"* may import some miraculous interposition in favour of the jews, just in the very crisis of their fate; which, by giving a turn to events beyond all expectation, decides the question of their captivity, and the indignation is over past. They obtain a full acknowledgment of their civil and political rights, or they successfully vindicate their claims by the sword. The The powers of re-animation, whatever may be the real import of it, come upon them from the four quarters of

* Isaiah xliv. 27,

"I will

the world," and they lived, and stood upon. their feet, an exceeding great army." put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then shall ye know that I the Lord (Christ) have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord."

Bishop Atterbury, and some other commentators remark upon this prophecy of Ezekiel, that it has been applied by some of the ancients to the general resurrection. But I think there are no grounds for so far-fetched and very mystical an application of a prophecy which is close in point to another fact, of the utmost national importance to the jews; nor any need of such a very figurative revelation of that doctrine, as it was generally believed by the ancient jews, and established upon more clear and substantial declarations.* The prophet himself gives the right application, and the reason of the prophecy :-because they say, our bones are dried, and our hope is lost, we are cut off for our parts;"-the prophet is therefore sent to as

* Job xix. 25.-Dan. xii, 13.-Matt. xxii. 31,

sure them, that as nothing is impossible to God, so "he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep;" but will literally replace them in their own land; and by the evident signs of the divine Omnipotence to be exerted in their behalf on that occasion, will make a converting impression upon their minds, that they shall then know the Lord Jehovah in truth, and that he is that Messiah whom they had rejected in their unbelief. For it follows immediately afterwards." So they shall be my people, and I will be their God, and MY SERVANT DAVID* SHALL BE KING OVER THEM, and they shall all have ONE SHEPHERD, they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes and do them. And they shall DWELL in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant,

WHEREIN YOUR FATHERS HAVE DWELT,

David, is one of the mystical names given in prophecy to Christ the Son of David, and of whom David was a type. The eternal throne here ascribed to him, shews that no other PRINCE can be meant; and every circumstance in the prophe. cy shews equally I think beyond dispute, that a literal resto. ration to the country of Judea, and that in the latter days, is also meant.