proceeds alone from the fincere Good-will which the Author of this Paper bears to wards all Mankind in general, and to you Sir, and your Nation in particular. It is to your and to our Father Abraham, for we Chriftian Gentiles pride ourselves in that Title by adoption, that we are indebted for the Promifes; and it is through the Hands of the Jews, that we acknowledge to have received the facred Writings of the Ancient Prophets; to them therefore, and their Writings, we join with you. in our Appeal, as to an impartial and unerring Judge in the determination of this Controverfy. But before we proceed any further, it feems proper, in order to avoid all Dif putes about Words, to declare what I mean by the Word Meffiah. This Word literally, fignifies one that is anointed, which was a Ceremony ufed under the Mofaical Difpenfation, in † sanctifying or feparating particular Perfons to particular Offices, fuch as of || Kings, Priefts, or Prophets.. And * See Rom. iv. 11. &c. &c. † See Ex. xxviii. 41, And as there is Reason from the Scriptures of the Hebrew Bible, to believe that God hath from the Foundation of the World appointed some one Perfon of extraordinary Note, to be as a King, Priest and Prophet to the Nation of the Jews, and through them to all the Nations of the Earth, in whom they shall all be bleffed: Therefore this extraordinary Perfon is by way of Eminence, distinguished by the Title of the Meffiah, according to the Hebrew, or of the Chrift, according to the Idiom of the Greek Tongue, which also literally fignifies The anointed. And therefore we fed this extraordinary Perfon described in the Scriptures of the Hebrew Bible, under each of these Characters; that is, as a King, as a Priest, and as a Prophet. Not that we are to expect to find this as fully and as plainly defe ibed, as that he that runneth may read; but fo as that they who fearch the Scriptures with Diligence and Industry, and are of a teachable Difpofition, may difcover it there with fufficient eafe. For though Almighty God hath framed Mankind for Happiness, yet yet this Happiness is not to be acquired without a little Labour and Industry on our Parts. The Earth will bring forth Briars and Thorns, if we do not take Care to cultivate and till it: The Oar lies hid in the Bowels of a barren Mountain, and is to be discovered by a few Marks in the Surface, known only to the Curious and Inquifitive. And why is all this Wealth fo artfully concealed? Only to try and prove the Industry of Man. Knowledge alfo in general lieth deep, it must be dugg for before it is found; And why? Only to prove us, and try whether we think it worth the fearching for. And for this Reason it is that, although in the Hiftory of the Hebrew Bible, which seems to have been written chiefly with a View to inftruct the Jews in the expectation of the Meffiab before his coming, and the Knowledge of him when come; he is nevertheless rather obfcurely hinted at, than openly revealed, here a little and there a little, that those who will not use their *Ifai xxviii. 13. their own proper Endeavours to discover the Truth, may go and fall backwards. and be broken, aud fnared and taken. Or as the Prophet Daniel expreffes it, that * none of the Wicked may understand, but that the Wife may understand. And hence it arifeth that there are fuch different Opinions concerning this extraordinary Person, and that the Jews and Christians differ fo widely about him. And what contributes much thereto, feems to be this; that the Jews, out of a national Partiality towards themselves, are too apt to confine the Office of the Meffiah, and the Benefit of his coming to their own. Nation; and to fuppofe the Kingdom promifed him to be entirely of this World;. and that the cheif Purport of his coming is to restore the Temporal Kingdom of Ifrael and re-establish the Throne of David. Whereas though it cannot be denied, but that the Nation of the Jews have been particularly favoured of God in the Promifes made unto Abraham, that in his Seed Abould Dan, xii. 10. Should ALL THE NATIONS of the Earth be bleed; yet furely the Jews ought to confider, that although the Honour of being the Inftrument of Happiness to all Mankind was conferred on the Seed of Abraham, yet that the Bleffing was defigned to all Nations, as well as them. And that the Benefit which was to accrue to all Mankind in general, was the chief Purport of the coming of the Meffiah is manifeft from the Promise made to Eve immediately upon the Tranfgreffion of cur firft Parents; when God fpeaking to her concerning the Serpent, said, * I will put Enmity between thy Seed and her Seed; it shall bruife thy Head, and thou shalt bruife its Heel: Which Text is by the Jews themselves, acknowledged to refer to the Meffiah, and is applied to him by Name in the Targums of Jonathan and Jerufalem. As therefore the whole Race of Mankind was equally affected by the Fall of Adam and Eve, if the Meffiah comes to bruise the Serpents Head, the Redemption from Gen. iii. 15. |