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joined themselves to the young church of these times. I need not remind you, brethren, of Justin the Martyr, whose charitable zeal, devotedness, impartial and true explication of the prophets, are known by his excellent "Dialogus cum Judae Triphone," containing so good a provision of heavenly wisdom, explaining the Scriptures, not as the Christian Church has done, century after century, in a manner as unsound as inequitable, applying all the threatenings and judgments in a literal sense to the Jewish nation, but even so, for the old promises of blessing returns and future glory and spirituality to the Christian Church. With an utmost remarkably exactness and clearness he commented on the fulfilled, not alone, but also the unfulfilled prophecies of the Messiah in his humiliation, and in his exaltation and glory; the time of Israel's rejection, and also of her restoration. After the first four centuries, when the despotic power of the clergy was increasing, and the decay of Church doctrine deepened, man began to forget that the whole tree of Christendom was grafted into the Israelitish stem; the Israelites were more exclusively regarded as concerning the gospel enemies, forgetting that they are also beloved as touching the election. Even they who in this matter seem to make an exception, were still far of the desire to bring the love-creating gospel, in its reconciliating character, in contact with the poor children of Abraham. I can therefore not say much of the efforts of Sencrus, bishop of Minorca, who, in the fifth century endeavoured to preach the Gospel to the Jews; or of the Pope Silvester, and the Bishop Leona on the isle of Chypore-but I like to remember how the pious Bishop of Poitiers has been enabled, by his warm love, to bring a great number of Israelites to Christ their Saviour alone, by his meekness and charitable conduct, and most ardent prayers for their salvation. Especially I ought to make mention of the zealous Isidorus, whose efforts in the first council of Toledo, made a deep impression upon all the assistants, so that they became convinced of the unjust and perverse means of constraint and violence in order to convert the Jews. From time to time some arose under the high clergy, pitying the state of the Israelites, and using the means of love and tender compassion amongst the people, in order that they may learn the spirit of Christendom-such was Julianus, the Bishop of Toledo, in the seventh century; the excellent Rabbi Mons, better known by his new name, Don Pedro Alfonso, celebrated for his piety and science, and baptized under the god-fathership of the King of Arragon, in the 12th century, at Hucsea. This zealous man has been, by the grace of God, a powerful instrument to convince many Israelites of the gospel truths. But all these good men were exceptions, as glittering stars in a dark night. I may not forget the great Rabbi Tomah of Murcia, or Dr Hieronymus of Santa Fé, or Solomon Levi, one of the most learned and pious men, well known under the name of Panlus de Burgos, patriarch of Aquitania, who endeavours to show the fulfilment of the prophecies in the dear person of our Lord, have been a blessing for several Jews. But, I repeat, these are exceptions. The Church, lying down in darkness and idolatry, and continually armed with the sword of persecution, has indeed not the power of bringing the Israelites from Moses to Christ and his Gospel. This being the truth, the Christian, instead of wondering himself about the long-protracted hard-heartedness of the Jews, has more reason to humble himself in sackcloth and ashes and confess; yea, lament her guilt towards that

people because she has done more for the nourishment of their hatred feelings on Christendom, than to attract them to Christ by love. How many centuries went on ere the Jew could give another answer to the demand, What think you of Christendom? than this, it is a service of images, and it manifests its power by the bloody sword and terrible persecution of its people. The Christian Church, in the middle age, has plainly forgot the touching words of the dying Saviour-" Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The Christian Church, planting in every place the cross, with the image of the crucified King of the Jews, forgot the tears in His blessed eyes that He once wept over the guilty Jerusalem; instead of these, every one bearing his name ought to learn, by His example, that meekness, love, commiseration, and softness in our conversation with the Israelites are truly the best, the godliest way to promote their conversion. At last, after that long and dark night of the middle ages, the first morning beam of a new day illuminated the horizon of the Church. The Lord spake again, The Lord spake again, "Let there be light, and there was light." The Reformation begins. The God-man, the Elias of this time, arose. As after a long winter all around shows a renewed life, the doctrine of salvation, so long time oppressed, but imperishable, came out with new clearness, and the banner of the cross, moved by the breath of God, displayed itself anew gloriously, in order to let it be known to the sinners of all people, nations, and tribes, that there is a redemption in the blood of the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. For anew, as in the apostolic times, the fountain was opened for the thirsty ; for anew the aspirations of so many people ascend to the throne of the Almighty with joyful thanks for the blessings and the new life bestowed upon the Church. But alas for the poor sons of the friend of God, for the swerving, exiled out of the inheritance of their fathers. However, the sword was now silent, and the great persecution and oppression have ceased. Still the day-spring gave not a cheering warmness. No, the rising sun was colouring and illuminating the tops of the mountains, and Israel dwelt in the valley. But there also the clouds of prejudice and uncharitableness will be dissipated by the light of the gospel, and open a fresh and lively way for the nations of sorrow. now I will come to a better season for Israel. I must make some mention of the zeal and activity of the pious Franken and Callenberg, who have been the instruments, in the hand of God, to bring so many Israelites to believe in Christ, and formed so many evangelists and missionaries, who spread the gospel seed over the whole earth. Especially I remember the energetic labours of Schulr, by whom, in his constant and charitable efforts, the resistance of so many Israelites has been broken and overpowered by the victorious force of the resurrected Saviour. This unwearied man was standing upon the rock of the divine promises for the readoption of the seed of Abraham, and was going on his way hopeful and joyous. And now the sun is rising. As I look on the last century, upon the vast extension and great work of the English Society for Promoting the Gospel among the Jews, I thank God for that blessed day, thirty years ago, when, in your General Assembly, my honoured, now unspeakably happy friend, Wodrow, a man of prayer, and devoted friend of the old people, because he was a warm friend of the King of Israel, rose in order to plead for the sake of Israel and the whole Christian world; yea, so many souls of the children of Abraham

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are perfectly aware of the unparalleled blessings the Lord himself has showered upon your efforts for the salvation of Israel; and it is a happy duty for my heart to give openly, before my mouth will be silent for ever, my warmest thanks for your consistent love for my brethren in the flesh. The conclusion of all that is said is the following:-A comparative examination of the state of the Christian Church, and the conversion of Israel, instructed me that in every period of a flourishing state of the Church, abounding in love, the number of the conversions of the Jews in different places have been increasing, so that I venture to say that a life of faith in the Church, love for Israel, and blessings from above on the Church of Christ and on the people of Israel, for His salvation, are three utterly indispensable things. Now let me, by some examples, lay before you the evidence how love for Israel will always be blessed by the Lord. The good man Schulr witnessed once in Despau a striking proof of this. A very lively young student Israelite came to a dressmaker, in order to get a new dress for himself. This workman was a very humble and pious Christian, and he loved much the children of Abraham. Being occupied in taking the measure, he felt so deep an emotion at the thought of the lamentable state of mind of the young Israelite, that he could not keep his tears. "What is the matter?" asked the student. Then he explained, with great simplicity, but with a trembling voice, the feeling of his heart. "Well, what is that to you?" replied the Israelite. "You have nothing to do with my religion, and I am satisfied when you make me a good fashionable cloak." 'Oh, my dear sir," the workman replied, "may God, in His mercy, give you the privilege once to read the New Testament. I entertain the hope that it will be for your good." The Israelite soon left the place, but he could never forget the tears in the eyes of this simple man, the trembling voice, and lovingkindness in his words to him. Continually they were present to his mind, and he fought a long time against them; but at last he took the resolution to read the gospel. He began to do so in secret. From time to time he cast away the holy book, but after one or two days the renewed remembrance of this Christian weeping over his salvation gave him anew the desire to take up the book and read it. More and more attracted to search after the truth, he found it, by the powerful working of the Spirit of God. Then he made rapid progress, and was accepted, one year after, by baptism, into the Church of Christ, and has made, after two years, a translation in Hebrew of St Luke, which has been spread over the whole of Poland, and has come into the hands of many Jews. Then history reminds me of a well known missionary from the Gentiles. He told me that if his age was not so advanced, he should have a great desire to become a missionary to the Jews; and on my demanding by what means he should undertake this work, he said, "I should take my place at the door of the synagogue, and weep." Indeed, a tear of love and pity speaks loudly to the heart of a child of Abraham; so as it is written, "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof," (Ps. cii. 13, 14.) May we not forget that if, by the mighty word of the Prince of Love, the dead Lazarus rose, the tears of the Redeemer have prepared the way! Yes, I venture to say that when the Christian, in his closet, has tears of commiseration for the Jews, then the very time will

be then that we shall hear a noise and a shaking among the dry bones in the valley, and Israel, as Lazarus, will rise, and come out of her grave. This proof of what charity can do happened in Germany.

to give you a second proof, which took place in the north of England many years ago. A faithful and zealous clergyman, coming to a new curacy, and discovering that there were plenty of Jews, took the resolution to begin meetings for the Jews, in which he tried to expound all that Moses and the prophets have spoken of the Messiah. He invited a great many Jews to come to the meeting. The church was crowded. He began by saying that after the explication done by himself, he was prepared to give plain liberty to every one to make the remarks he would, so that every Jew also could freely come up and place before the assembly the arguments against the statements of the minister. After an hour, a young rabbi, well known by his talents and science, rose. The minister let him take a seat near him, on the platform. It was a solemn moment. Nearly the whole number of Israelites of the town were assembled. The rabbi began in a very honest manner to propose his arguments; but it was not difficult to the Christian clergyman to refute all the arguments of the Jewish rabbi. He proposed one after another, beginning in a very calm frame of mind; but when he saw himself overruled by the words of the minister, he began to be very agitated. At last, seeing that all his arguments fell down, and feeling that, before the whole congregation, he was losing his reputation as a man of science, he became so angry that, not possessing himself, he gave such a stroke to the minister that he fell down before the pulpit. The minister rising, asked the rabbi, with great calmness, that if he desired to propose other arguments, he was prepared to treat him with the same love. But the rabbi, overpowered by this meekness and charity, descended from the platform and left the church. Two years after this terrible scene, the clergyman being in retirement on the Sabbath day, and having given the order not to come and trouble him, the bell rings. The servant seeing that it was a Jew, and well knowing the love of her master for the Jews, took the liberty of breaking the law, and knocked at the door of the minister's study, saying that a Jew was there. He let him come up. The Jew, in an extreme agitation of mind, asked the minister if he did not recollect him; and that was not easy, because the man was worn out by the many fast-days and the ardent struggles he had had. He was the rabbi, and he told to the minister, that after the witnessing of the unparalleled calmness of announcement of his own, manifested in the person of the clergyman, he, the rabbi, had been deeply shocked in his heart, and had evidently prayed to God that He would answer himhow it could be that a false religion gave such fruit? By the loving conduct of the minister, by his love, charity, and self-denying calmness, he has been plainly attracted to search with the greatest earnestness the truth, and having found this in the gospel, he came to the minister, praying him to prepare him for baptism. Afterwards, he became a tender and humble child of God. Thus you see, my friends, the great power of the Christian law; yea, far more than all the most striking arguments, the good fruits of the good trees come to the heart; and, indeed, Christian love and charity are the best missionaries we could find for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. One proof more, and I stop. Ten years ago, a gentlemau asked for me.

I came down stairs,

and I saw on his countenance that he was a Jew. He told me that his heart was full of thanks to the Lord, because He is a hearer of our prayers. He had prayed that he might once see my face and press my hand. Three years ago he was in New York, as a tradesman, and passing from one village to another, it happened in his way that he saw on a little bill a gentleman lying with his back against a great tree, absorbed plainly in the perusal of a book that he had in his hand, so that he overlooked him passing that way. The curiosity to know what may be this, gave him the resolution to climb the hill very silently, and looking over the shoulders of the reader, his movement awoke his attention. I made my excuse, and was resolved to relieve him. No, my friend, he says, acknowledging that I was a Jew, come here, sit down, it is here beautiful scenery, and I will show you the book I read. He began to speak to the Jew with great love and tenderness, and then proposed to him to listen to two or three pages of his book. Now this was the little book of the dealings of God with myself, that I published nearly forty years ago. The Jew began to be angry. It is all false, he said, and could I have a copy of this, I am well prepared to write a refutation of this pamphlet. Well, says the Christian friend, I will give you my copy, read it with earnestness, and write against it what you will; but give me the promise not to read, not to write, without imploring the help of God, that He may guide you. Well, this gentleman began in a very bad frame of mind, well resolved to publish a refutation. But the Lord had other things upon him. The more he read, the more he became convinced of the truth, and after some months of heavy struggles, he joined himself as a faithful member to the Christian Church. Therefore he had so great a desire to see my face and grasp my hand. It is not needed to say, that after this most moving story I had no words to speak, but we both knelt down before our Lord and Saviour, the true Messiah, the light of the nations and the glory of Israel. May, then, after all this the conviction be deepened in your hearts, and the hearts of all children of God, that love, love to the Jews, and the warm prayers for their salvation, will certainly be heard by our blessed Lord, the life of our life, and on His blessed return, the promise will certainly be fulfilled, that all Israel will be saved. The land waits on the people; the people wait on their king, and the king upon the due time. But I may no longer abuse your patience, I finish in the expression of my heart, that the Free Church of Scotland may be more and more humbled under the blessings so peculiarly bestowed by God upon her; and as she is a blessing for so many churches on the Continent, she also may be, in the hand of God, an extended blessing to the children of Jacob.

Mr ADAM, Aberdeen, moved the adoption of the following deliverance: "That the General Assembly approve of the report, and return their thanks to the committee. They express their gratitude to the God of Israel for the continued and growing success of the schools for the children of Jews in Pesth and Constantinople, and for the progress of the work at other stations. They desire to commend Mr Meyer to the head of the Church in his new sphere at Amsterdam, and the other missionaries and agents in their respective stations. They rejoice also in the important, varied, and enlarging field that is opened among the Gentiles through the mission to the Jews, especially in Hungary, and they commend the Hungarian and Bohemian bursaries to the liberality of the

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