AN HISTORICAL DISSERTATION ON THE PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, CHIEFLY THOSE OF A CHRONOLOGICAL CHARACTER; SHEWING THEIR ASPECT ON THE PRESENT TIMES, AND ON THE BY MATTHEW HABERSHON. K "I am God, and there is none like Me; declaring the end from the beginning, "Knock at the gates of nations! rouse their fears! COWPER. The Second Edition. LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO., BERNERS STREET. B. WERTHEIM, 14 PATERNOSTER ROW. M.DCCC.XL. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. THE increasing importance which, during the last twenty or thirty years, has been attached to the study of the prophetic writings of the Old and New Testament; and the deep interest which every individual has in the issue of the consummations which appear to be closing around us, whatever be his rank, station, or calling in society; may well serve as an apology for any attempt to throw additional light on the difficulties which have ever been found to involve the subject. The assertion made by Sir Isaac Newton, who, it is well known, devoted much time and study to these subjects, that, among the interpreters of the last age, there was scarcely one of note who had not made some discovery worth knowing, is a great encouragement to any person who considers he has any thing new to offer, not to withhold it from the public. It is only |