and is found." The ransomed Jew, as he ascends the hill of Zion, will mingle his songs with the whole church militant, and triumphant, saying, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

But how will this interesting work be accomplished? By the benevolence of the Gentiles. Even so have these not believed, says Paul, when addressing the Gentiles, that through YOUR mercy they may obtain mercy. As they gave the Gospel to us, we are to give it to them, and how great is the privilege of reflecting back a part of that glory, which has so long beamed upon us from the holy of holies!

every

That there has been, for a considerable time, an increasing solicitude among the Jews with regard to the Christian's Messiah, is abundantly evident from the many facts which are daily presented to our notice. Permit me to refresh your memories with a few of the most important. About the middle of the seventeenth century, for the purpose of examining the question whether the Messiah had appeared in the flesh, a GENERAL COUNCIL assembled in Poland, at which were present three hundred Rabbies, and Jews out of nation. After the council had been in session six days, a learned Rabbi insisted upon the propriety of examining the claims of the Christian religion. A Pharisee who was present remarked, that a person, who appeared in so humble and despised a character, could not be the promised Messiah. The Rabbi replied, By what power did he perform his miracles? The answer was, By magic. No power of magic, said the Rabbi, can open the eyes of the blind, and bring the dead to life. The assembly was dismissed in the greatest confusion, without a decision of this important question:

A public dispute held in Venice, in the year 1747, between two Rabbies and a convert to the Christian religion, is not less interesting. The contest was conducted with great spirit upon both sides; but the Christian convert reasoned with so much energy, and clearness from the word of God, that the Rabbi exclaimed, "I beseech you, permit us to close our books and be silent; for if we proceed to examine the prophecies further, we shall all be Christians. The proph ecy of Daniel," he continues, "speaks so distinctly of the coming of Christ, that the time of his appearing must be past, but whether Jesus be that person or not, I cannot tell."

The testimony of missionaries, now in the field, affords ample encouragement for persevering efforts. Their language is this, "In Russia there is a great, inclination prevailing among the first Jewish families to embrace Christianity. Several have already been received into the church. Six Rabbies, in a letter written in Hebrew, requested the New Testament for nine hundred families. It is singular to observe, that there have been many unexpected conversions from the Jewish to the blessed religion of Jesus, around the Mediterranean. And the Jews are not so obdurate as they once were, and when converted prove the most active members of the Church of Christ. In POLAND, within a short time, more than thirty Jews, and among these, many families of great property, have by baptism - been added to the church. The same remark may extend to Bohemia, and to many other adjoining coun

tries."

"Various facts," say the Committee of the London Jews Society, "have during the last year indicated that

a general movement is taking place in the Jewish mind, which can scarcely fail to be attended with the most important consequences, and this too at no distant period."

While enumerating the blessings, which have descended upon the Jewish nation, we cannot forget the unexampled benevolence of the Emperor of Russia, whom Divine Providence has raised up as a second Cyrus, to gather together the out-casts of Israel. And what is still more remarkable, and auspicious, we find among the advocates for the conversion of the Jews, the Allied Sovereigns of Europe!

With these facts before us, we cannot for a moment hesitate? Surely the day so long desired by the people of God is beginning to dawn! The darkness and gloom of this long and dismal night are retiring before the light of truth. The blessed Gospel has commenced its gradual, yet yet irresistible progress. The Holy Spirit is carrying on among them a work of grace. The sacred Scriptures are circulated, and received, with the most animating prospect of success. Jewish children are receiving a Christian education; and are thus secured from the most bitter prejudices against the name of Jesus.

Encouraged by these events, the Christian world are awaking from their long and criminal slumbers, and are inquiring, with deep solicitude, "Lord, what wilt thou have us to do."

This leads me to the third particular in the discourse, III. THEIR CLAIMS UPON THE GENTILE CHURCH. If any individual, in this assembly, should inquire, what part can I bear, what duties can I discharge? To such I reply,

1. Let the Jews be the subject of your prayers. We ask you not to imitate the example of the crusaders, those deluded champions of the cross. The battles of the Lord are not fought with these carnal weapons, But we do request your unceasing intercessions. Most earnestly do we request you to cherish the spirit of Daniel, and of Nehemiah. Who can read the prayer of Daniel for Jerusalem, without mourning over his own unbelief. That good man prayed, because God had promised to build the walls of Zion. His faith was unshaken, although that city had been seventy years a desolation. And every good man will pray, because God has promised to restore the lost tribes of Israel. O where is the faith of Nehemiah, and of Daniel? Where do we hear the language of St. Paul, My heart's desire, and prayer to God, for Israel is, that they may be saved. We must forever despair of the conversion of the house of Israel, unless there be a revival of the spirit of the prophets and apostles. God will be inquired of by his people, before he accomplishes his great work.

Often did the Jewish saints pray for us; for our familes, for our churches. They toiled, and suffered, and died, in defence of our holy religion. Our God was their God, our heaven is their heaven. This Holy Bible they faithfully handed down to us, secure from the assaults of infidelity. All our seasons of communion with, God, all our hopes of glory, are come to us through the instrumentality of the Jewish saints. Gratitude demands a suitable return for these invaluable favors.

The duty of prayer is enjoined upon us by the great Head of the Church. Are the Jews obdurate? We will weep for them. Did they crucify our Lord?

He

himself prayed, Father, forgive them. Every Christian will adopt the same prayer. In the sincerity of his heart, he will plead for their forgiveness, and restoration to the privileges of the Gospel.

As I may not again plead the cause of Israel, in this place, I earnestly commend them to your prayers in secret; to your prayers in your families; to your prayers in this house, consecrated to the worship of God. Do you wish to see the dispersed Tribes gathered into the fold of Christ? Pray for them. Do you wish to hear them crying, Hosanna to the Son of David? Pray for them. And let it be the resolution of every Christian, If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

But, brethren, this is not all we have to do. Our prayers and our alms must ascend together as a memorial before God.

2. The Jews have special claims upon our charity.

As a benevolent people, the Jews held a high and important station. Observe the conduct of the first Jewish Christians! They brought their substance, and laid it at the apostles feet. The love of Christ constrained them. Their religion was a religion of benevolence. They sought not their own, but the things which are Jesus Christ's. And, to exceed all this, behold the first Missionaries of the Cross relinquishing every earthly interest, for the salvation of the Gentiles. Even while we were pagans, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, they suffered perils by land, and by sea; if by any means they might save some of us. O when shall we, Gentiles, imitate this blessed example!