meaning was as is evident from other fimilar expreffions in fcripture, to defire Ahaz, to afk God for a miracle, and in confequence of his refufal, to declare the miracle, which God would afterwards perform.

Fifthly. I have collected, and refuted, the GENERAL PRINCIPLES, upon which, the interpretations of all former commentators, were built.

Sixthly. By confidering, what was evidently the defign of the Prophet, in bidding Ahaz to afk a fign, and delineating to you, the ftate of Ahaz's own mind, and of his people, I have fhown, how extremely mistaken, all former

former commentators were, in admitting the common tranflation of the one verfe, which contains Ahaz's refufal; and of the other, which contains the Prophet's anfwer to it, which he addreffed to the whole houfe of David. And, as the tranflation of both verses is equally wrong, whether any of their interpretations, or my own, be admitted, this furely affords no flight prefumption, that they did not give all the attention to the interpretation of this illuftrious prophecy, which it's vaft importance demands.

And here I muft beg leave, ftill further to remark, that the obfer

vation which I have before made, concerning the different times, at which the prophecy, relative to the prefervation of Jerufalem; and that in refpect to the birth of Emanuel were delivered; and the affertion, that the one was not intended, as the confirmation of the other; are by no means adduced, merely to deftroy the comments of former interpreters, and to establish my own. For, if the contrary fuppofitions could be admitted, they would as well quadrate with my interpretation, as with any of theirs.

But, I come now to mention one fuppofition, UNIVERSALLY

made

It is

made by the foregoing commentators, which is indeed, I muft confefs, fo far from being compatible with my interpretation, that they are diametrically oppofite, and totally repugnant to each other. It is indeed, the very center, upon which, the whole interpretation turns. that, which has, I believe, ultimately given birth, to all the inconfiftencies and incongruities, which I have already pointed out, in the interprctations given by other writers; and though fuch inconfiftencies and incongruities furnish no abfolute proof, that the fuppofition itself is wrong ; -yet, thus much at least they evince,

R 2

that

that if THAT be right, the inferences from it, must have been very illogi cally deduced.

It is time, however, that I fhould now point out to you the fuppofition itself, without further preface. It is the following.

Commentators found, that the chapter began with the relation of the Two kings of Syria and Ifrael, coming up in confederacy, against Jerufalem. They faw, likewife, that the prophecy, relative to the preservation of Jerufalem, foretold, the fruftrating the defigns, and the defeat of the intentions of thofe kings.—

In