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had been then already fulfilled or were then coming to pass . From the fulfilment of past promises and prophecies , that of those not yet accomplished , and then being given , might be justly expected ; and with abundant reason might Ahaz therefore confide in what God had now declared to him
id the / th , 8 th and 9 th verses . But to this it may be replied , that we may very justly question , even if we are not fully assured , that Ahaz
would not understand this prophecy as referring to the Messiah ; and what impression could a reference to such an event predicted , be expected to make on a mind so estranged from God as was that of Ahaz ? The birth
of the Messiah had never before been spoken of in such a manner , nor is there any thing in the connexion of the prophecy which should direct the attention to that event . And if the
design of the Deity in delivering this prophecy had been such as was just mentioned , it is very reasonable to suppose that he would have spoken of that event in such a manner , as
should infallibly direct the attention of Ahaz to it , and prevent his mistaking that reference , when we consider that this is supposed to be a testimonial that the prophecy of an event in which he was concerned , should certainly come to pass .
But farther , it seems not very consistent with the wisdom of the Deity , to suppose him making use of such means to gain the attention and faith of such a character as Ahaz was , in what he might say . Ahaz totally contemned the God of his fathers , and paid no regard to what had been
actually done and promised to be done by the God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob . He had no faith , he gave no credit to any of these things . To what purpose then , would it be to call his attention , especially in so obscure and ambiguous a manner as it must have been in this instance , to the recollection and consideration
of such things , in order to confirm his faith in what the Lord now declared ? It should seem altogether inconceivable and in vain . It would be unsuitable and consequently ineffectual to the intended purpose . It was said that the sign promised to Ahaz could not on Dr . K / s supposition , be the birth of the child spoken
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of in the 14 th and 15 th verses . p or this would involve in it the absurdity so often objected on this passage , that the event whose prediction was to be confirmed , would precede that which was predicted in confirmation of it by several hundred years . The
absurdity of which is too palpable to need any illustration with a thinking mind , and to others it would be of no effect to illustrate it . Such as wish to see this clearly set forth , may consult Postlethwaite ' s Discourse on this passage , Part 1 st , as referred to
by iJr . Blayney . It may not , however , be irrelevant to make a few general observations here on this subject . The purpose to be answered by a sign in such cases was , to confirm the faith of the person to whom such a
sign was given , and to establish the credit of the prophet by whom the promise was given or the prediction was foretold . The sign ought therefore , in the nature of it , to be adapted more immediately to strike the
attention , more clearly to enlighten the mind and convince the judgment . The sign given will accordingly be always found to have been something which exhibited full proof and afforded clear evidence to the person addressed , that he who could do , or foresee
what constituted the sign , must also be capable of doing or foreseeing that , for the confirmation of the promise or prediction of which the sign had been given ; and that therefore the prophet was deserving of full credit . But how this could be accomplished
by constituting as a sign of the certainty of a future event , the prediction of another future , more distant and more astonishing event , it will be difficult to shew , and it is impossible to conceive . It is more distant in futurity , therefore less likely to be foreknown : it is more remarkable in
its nature , therefore less likely to gain credit . Nor is there any higher authority or superior ability manifested in the one case than in tbe other . If Ahaz did not believe in the former prediction of events regarding
himself and his family , it is not possible that such a sign should convince him or so impress his mind as to assure his faith . The same p rinciples which influenced him to discredit t&e first prediction , would induce him w
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500 Mr . S . Freeman on the Prophebtei of Isaiah , < ftt . til .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1823, page 500, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1788/page/4/
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