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lowed by Dr . B . in his interpretation , ig directly the reverse of all similar facts . He may perhaps , be confidently challenged to produce an instance in which any thing" is said
about a sign till after the prophecy has been delivered , of which the sign promised is a confirmation . For brevity ' s sake let the reader refer to Genesis ix . 8 —17 , xii . 2 , 3 , xiii .
14—17 , compared with xv . throughout . Exodus iii . 12 ; Judges vi . 17 , 21 , 22 , 36 — 40 ; 1 Samuel ii . 34 ; I Kings xiii . 3 , 5 , 6 ; Isaiah xxxviii . 7 , B , 22 , compared with 2 Kings xx . 8 , 9 ; Jer . xliv . 29 , 30 . To ' these may be added the prophecy given by our Saviour in Matthew xxiv . 3—24
Luke xxi . 7—31 , to which Dr . B . indeed , refers and calls our attention . Again , in Isaiah xxxvii ., after the prediction of an event , we have a sign given in the circumstances of time , very similar with the one in question . The event had been foretold in the
preceding verses . Verse 30 , " And this shall be a sign unto thee , " &c . In about three or four years after the prediction , the sign by which it is confirmed , as in the present instance , is accomplished . Thus " though attempts have been made to dispossess us of such authority by representing
things otherwise , the blaze of truth has shone superior to any fallacious misrepresentations . Here , therefore , I shall leave things as they stand , since from an attempt to explain further what is sufficiently clear already , seldom any thing arises but perplexity , darkness and error . " Sermon , pp . 2 , 9 .
From what has been said it appears clear , and may be justly concluded , that the sign spoken of in the 11 th verse , must be in confirmation of the prediction delivered in verses 7—9 ; that the child whose birth is foretold
in the 14 th verse , and that spoken of in the 16 th verse , must be the same child , and therefore cannot be Shearjashub , but must be some child that would be shortly conceived , and in due time afterwards born . It is also
plain that three prophecies of different events are delivered in this chapter . The first , in verses 7—9 h the second , in verses 14—16 ; the third , in veraes 17 to the end of the chapter , of a long train of events . Of tjhegfe , that mentioned second would shortly
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take place first , and would be a confirmation that that mentioned first would next take place in <\ ue time j and after these , in the course of events , would follow that mentioned last ; though it might be at some distance of time , yet it would come to pass as assuredly as the others .
The meaning of the first and last of these three prophecies is sufficiently clear , and their fulfilment obvious . The difference of opinion and supposed difficulty of interpretation , lie in the second in the order of
predictions , but first in that of fulfilment . This we shall now proceed particularly to explain , obviate objections which may be raised against it , and shew the prophecy accomplished in the event . With this latter article
will be connected the fulfilment of the first prediction but second accomplished event . After this we may refer briefly to the history and fulfilment of the third prediction . I . We are to explain this prophecy according to what appears to be the
most consistent and just method of interpretation . As far as the beginning of the 14 th verse has been already explained . The prophet then proceeds , " Behold a virgin shall conceive , and shall bear a son , and shall call his name Immanuel . " It
is asked , who is this person here called a virgin ? The reply is , it is the prophetess spoken of in the 3 rd verse of the following chapter ; and the child spoken of in this prophecy is that which in chapter viii . is called Maher-shalal-hash-baz . The reason
of applying the prophecy to these is the coincidence between vii . 16 and viii . 4 . Before the child , mentioned vii- 16 , shall know to refuse the evil
and choose the good , the land which Ahaz abhorred ( that is Syria , of which Damascus was the head , and Ephraim , of which Samaria was the head ) shall be left desolate of both her kings , Rezin and Pekah- Before the child
mentioned viii . 4 , shall have knowledge to cry my father and rny mother , the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria . And still farther does this appear confirmed \ jy the close connexion there is between what is related in the last chapter and at the beginning of this . Isaiah was commanded to
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502 Mr . S . Freeman < m » the Prophecies of Isaiah , ch » vii .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1823, page 502, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1788/page/6/
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