LECTURES
ON ANCIENT ISRAEL, AND THE ISRAELITISH ORIGIN OF THE MODERN NATIONS OF EUROPE
BY J.
WILSON, London, 1840
"The following Lectures are intended to
prove, that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is verily a God of truth,
is fulfilling His word with regard to the multitudinous seed, - the many
nations to come of the House of Ephraim: and that as truly as He has
accomplished His purpose, in giving the One Seed Christ, to come of the house
of Judah. These nations have, from the beginning, been in a state of training
for their high and important destiny, that of shewing forth the praise of
Jehovah, who is the God of Nature and of Providence, as well as of Redemption,
and whose wondrous wisdom is manifest in all.
"The author holds, with many modern
students of prophecy, that the prophecies must be literally fulfilled; and that
Judah must mean Judah, and Israel mean, literally, Israel. At the same time, he
agrees with those who apply, to these Christian nations, many of the prophecies
respecting Israel; believing, as he does, that these nations have not merely
come into the place of ancient Israel, but are truly the seed of Abraham
according to the flesh - are of the so-called "lost-house" of Israel,
- the leading tribe of which was Ephraim. These nations have been brought forth
at the time, and in the place predicted: they are the modern nations of Europe,
- and especially those of Saxon race, whose glorious privilege it now is, to preach
the gospel for a witness unto all nations ere the end come. How the promised
seed have come to be sown in these countries, is accounted for in the latter
part of the course; but the author earnestly requests a careful perusal of the
first six Lectures, as it is upon the Scriptural foundation there laid, that
his after conclusions chiefly rest. These he has supported by proof, as various
in kind, and great in quantity, as, he trusts, will be requisite to
substantiate the truth of the view he has been led to entertain. The plan of
the Lecturer has been to look on the subject in all points of view; but
especially in the light of God's word In that light would he ever rejoice to
look upon all around him, - upon the world and its inhabitant, man; And the wondrous
course of God's providence, which all hath had respect to His people of Israel,
- of whom he hath said in truth, "I have chosen thee, and not cast thee
away." Even after they were seemingly cast away, the God of Abraham still
declared, by his prophet Jeremiah,
"I am a Father to Israel,
And EPHRAIM is my FIRST-BORN."