in loc., to the ancient fathers, and to the most respectable of the modern Christian.

commentators, who all allow and show, that the words of Isaiah are not applicable to the birth of Jesus in their literal sense, but only in a mystical, or figurative, or allegorical sense.
Again, Matthew gives us another prophecy, which he says was fulfilled.

He tells us, that Jesus was carried into Egypt; from whence he returned after the death of Herod, (Mat.

ii.) "that it might be fulfilled, which was of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'out of Egypt have I called my son.'" Which, being word for word in Hosea, (ch.xi.

1) and no where else to be found in the Old Testament, are supposed to be taken from thence; where according to their obvious sense they are no prophecy at all! but relate and refer to a past action, viz., to the calling of the children of Israel out of Egypt, which will, I think, be denied by few.