The latter end of the ninth verse fhould be thus tranflated;

"Unless ye will believe, neither "fhall ye keep together;―i. e.-. "neither fhall ye continue to be a people."

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The former claufe of this sentence cannot be underftood to mean, that

if

you do not believe ME, (i. e. IN the prophet himself) this prediction fhall not come to pass; notwithftanding this interpretation is fupported, by the very refpectable authorities of Arch-Bifhop Secker, Dr. Durell, and Bifhop Lowth.

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Eav με πιστεύσητε, ουδε μη συνήτε.

For, it is certain, they did NOT believe IN HIM; and YET, this prediction WAS fulfilled. But, believing, when it stands thus by itself, means-generally,

-a belief in the LORD GOD. In perfect conformity. with this explanation, -to believe, when ftanding fingly in the NEW TESTAMENT, always means, to believe in JESUS

CHRIST.

The latter claufe of this ninth verfe might have been tranflated, "neither fhall you UNDERSTAND;", which would indeed give a fenfe, perfectly conformable with the very defign of the commiffion, given by God to Ifaiah, in the foregoing chapter, at the very time, God fent him

and fee ye in

forth as his prophet, for this was God's command.-" And he said, go "and tell this people, hear ye indeed, "but understand not; deed, but perceive not; "heart of this people fat, and make "their ears heavy, and fhut their

make the

eyes left they fee with their eyes,

"and hear with their ears, and un

derftand with their hearts, and be "converted and healed." Which declaration St. Paul quotes, Acts xxviii. 25. and affigns as the reason, why the gofpel was to be preached to the Gentiles.

25. Well Spake the Holy Ghoft, by Efaias the prophet, unto our fathers: 26. Saying,

26. Saying, Go unto this people, and fay, Hearing, ye shall hear, and fhall not underfland; and feeing, ye fhall fee, and not perceive.

.

27. For, the heart of this people is waxed grofs, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they clofed left they should fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and Should be converted, and I fhould heal them.

28. Be it known, therefore, unto you, that the falvation of God is fent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

I

mentators;

I have, however, tranflated the word more in conformity with former comas I wifh not to differ from them, except, where the context of the prophet makes it abfolutely neceffary; and, in this paffage, as I have shown, it will equally admit of either tranflation. But, I rather prefer the former, because it will be found afterwards, that it furnishes us with a leading idea, which will enable us the better to understand, the remaining part of the chapter. If, however, any fhould prefer the latter verfion, even that will likewife tend to corroborate the truth of the interpretation, which I fhall give, of the following prophecy. For,

C