the hand, and stamping with the foot," on the poverty, contempt, guilt, and misery of such injustice. Imagine him to unfold the conduct of God, and the effects, which such goodness ought to produce in man. Suppose the wretched prostitutes and their children, on the last day, to be brought to public contrition, asking pardon of God and man, received again into favour, clothed anew in bridal ornaments, and sent away with a thousand emotions of gratitude and religion in themselves, and a profusion of benefits and blessings from the people. Doth it not seem to you, that the prophet might be very eloquent on these subjects, bring many to faith and repentance, and convert a custom indifferent in itself into a very powerful mode of information?

Further, let us allow the merit of the Jews. They deserve all the reputation, which the inspired writers give them. They exhibit single characters of consummate virtue, as Abraham for faith, Moses for meekness, Nehemiah for love of his country, and so on. As a nation they excelled in some periods in arms, in others in industry, commerce, splendour, and wealth; and in all, in good writers; for what historians are equal to Moses and the Evangelists, or what ancient poetry breathes such pure and sublime sentiments as that of the Jews? As a church they preserved the oracles of God, and at their fall their remnants became the "riches of the world." The apostle of us Gentiles was a Jew, and to say all in one word, the Saviour and the judge of mankind was a Jew. Let us respect the ancient Jews in the persons of their children, and for their sakes let us be friends to universal toleration.

Let us recollect the sins and the calamities of these people. Their sins were many and enormous; but it was the killing of Jesus Christ, that completed their ruin. Let us examine what sins brought Jesus to the cross, and let us avoid the practice of them. Nor let us forget their calamities. They have been under all the punishments foretold four thousand years ago by Moses, and seem doomed to travel over the world to recommend a Gospel which they reject and despise. Their prophets, we find, did not slander them; they

are the people described, and their punishments prove the divine mission of their prophets. Thus God is glorified, whether man be lost or saved. In some future time he will be glorified in us, either his mercy if we embrace it, or his justice if we reject it, for to reject the Gospel is to reject both the mercy and the justice of God.

Let us finish by observing the recall of the Jews. The prophets foretell it, and a course of events renders it probable. They are preserved a distinct people, though the nations that conquered them are lost. They are more numerous now than they were when a nation. The Gospel is truth and virtue struggling against error and vice: it is natural to hope that the stronger must in time subdue the weaker. Error and vice are supported by man: but truth and virtue by God. Let us not despair. The Jews came out of Egypt under the conduct of a shepherd with only a rod in his hand to point out the way. Providence is at no loss for means to effect its purposes; "he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."

There are four things implied in the text, which the Jews will reverence in the latter days. First, Tha: divine patience, which bore with their provocations: after they have rejected Moses and the prophets, after they have committed crimes of every sort, after they have crucified Christ, persecuted his apostles, and persevered for ages in approving the crime; afterwards shall the children of Israel reverence the Lord for his patience, which out-lasted all their perverseness.

Next, they will reverence his providence, which, when they were persecuted in one country, always provided them an asylum in another. Providence hath given them skill, and made them useful to many nations. It hath prospered their industry, and crowned it with plenty, so that their riches are almost as proverbial as their infidelity. When Jews from all countries, in the latter days, shall compile their own history of their dispersion, it must needs display a bright scene of Providence, which they themselves will reverence in those days.

Will they not also reverence the grace of God? The Lord will both forgive their offences, and restore them to favour. To this we add, the glory of God, as another object of reverence. Great and marvellous displays of Divine power have been made in favour of this people formerly, and, it should seem by the Prophecies, more such displays will be made in favour of them at their "return to their first husband." May God hasten it in his time.

What remains? Only this at present. Let us avoid putting stumblingblocks in the way of the Jews. Let us propose Christianity to them as Jesus proposed it to them. Instead of the modern magic of scholastical divinity, let us lay before them their own Prophecies. Let us show them their accomplishment in Jesus. Let us applaud their hatred of idolatry. Let us show them the morality of Jesus in our lives and tempers. Let us never abridge their civil liberty, nor ever try to force their consciences. Let us remind them, that as Jews they are bound to make the law of Moses the rule of their actions. Let us try to inspire them with suspicion of rabbinical and received traditions, and a generous love of investigating religious truth for themselves. Let us avoid all rash judging, and leave their future state to God. Read at your leisure the sixty-third chapter of Isaiah, in the beginning of which Jesus Christ is described as the Judge of the world, and the passage is explained in that sense in the revelation of John. It is the Judge alone, whose habit is stained with blood; the saints, white and clean, only follow him to behold and applaud his justice. Grace and peace be with you! Amen.

THE END.