1873. Testament, and although one of them applies in the first instance to the scoffers of this world, the context, not to speak of certain other well-known passages in the Gospels, shows that the church, also, is in imminent danger of being betrayed into such conclusions. In 2 Peter iii, 3, we read "that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." The ground of objection to the expected personal interference of the Lord with the established order of things is strikingly like the arguments which we hear around us almost every day of our lives. Yet it is none the more true. For, after all, there are more mysteries in heaven and earth than popular philosophy dreams of, and for all the prating of them, "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.” As our last instance is connected with Israel, as it specially applies to the Christian church in our days, and hence may evoke some little contradiction, more space may be allowed us for its discussion. It occurs in the well-known passage concerning Israel in the epistle to the Romans, and consists of two questions, put in precisely the same form, and answered with the same brief, energetic, almost indignant emphasis. "I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid !" (chap. xi, verse 1). Again (verse 11), "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid!" Now, what first of all strikes one about these questions is, the strangeness that they could have been put at all; that such doubts could have arisen at such a time. Let it be remembered, that it was the age of the Apostles; that the Gentiles had only just been admitted to the fellowship of the saints; that they had received the word through the ministry of the Jews; and that there were around them thousands of believing Israelites. And yet even then such suspicions could crop out, which Paul had to uproot by explaining the mystery of God's dealings with His ancient people! Since then eighteen centuries have passed, and matters have continued much as they then were. The unbelief of the Jews as a nation is as rooted, if not more so, than it was in the days of Paul. True, there are many converts, not a few distinguished by intellectual attainments, commanding position, learning, or influence for good-and if by neither of these, yet by a humble, earnest, consistent life, closed at eventide by an abundant entrance into the Master's kingdom. But then the question is again and again pressed by the Jews pertinaciously, offensively, even vulgarly-and sneeringly by certain nominal Christians: What are your results? Are they adequate to the efforts you make, to the amount of money you spend, or to the missionary agency you employ? And if not, are you not mistaken about it all? How many unworthy "inquirers" are there; how many "disappointing converts?" Of "disappointing converts," there are, thank God, very few in proportion to the total number, and we may here well challenge inquiry. The point is all the stronger, that many of them have been taken from a class ill-educated, ill-circumstanced, and which more than any other has to struggle against the ill effects of previous habits. It is no use turning round upon us with the question, why we do not address ourselves to others, socially higher than they? We are indeed 1873. most ready to do so; most anxious to discuss with the earnest and devout Jew that solemn question, whether or not Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God. They refuse to give us that opportunity, not we to avail ourselves of it; and we are naturally in the first place often brought into contact with those waifs which float on the surface of society. We do not say this in disparagement of any, for we are well aware that Christianity has exhibited its most wonderful effects in the marvellous transformation upon many of those who seemed at first most unpromising. But we are entering on a discussion far too long for the present paper. We are rather concerned to bring before Christians quite another cause of failure, and that the greatest, though at the same time the least observed of all. It is not the want of means, nor of missionaries, nor of platform-meetings, nor of proper organisation, nor of the right mode of addressing ourselves to the Jewish mind, important as each and all these may be. It is the want of faith on the part of the church—and, therefore, the want of prayer and of real effort. The statement is not a pleasant one; probably much less so to him who makes it, than to those to whom it is addressed. Yet illustrations of it abound on every side. We all hold certain things to be true, which yet few of us really believe. Every one knows he must die; but few believe it in the sense of acting in accordance with their belief. Or, to take another instance, most of us have from infancy heard, that "except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God," and probably we may hold it to be true. Yet how few really believe it in the sense of going personally to Christ, as the Redeemer? Is it then either unreasonable or uncharitable to infer, that a similar disbelief or unbelief may exist in regard to what God says about His people Israel, or that this "sleep and slumber” has extended from "the foolish " even to the wise virgins"? Are there not abundant evidences of this all around, and patent to every one who seeks the welfare of Israel? Nay more, may not this misunderstanding of God's dealings and purposes with Israel be traced through all history, and does it not form part of "the mystery of the Gentile dispensation" itself? But as our object is not to conceal nor to explain away anything, neither is it to pronounce harsh words of condemnation. Rather would we seek, however humbly, to lead to better and higher thoughts, if by any means faith might be re-kindled and prayer re-awakened. We have lately enjoyed a blessed season of united prayer for missions, more especially to the heathen. Why not similarly join together on behalf of Israel? If there be hesitation, what can be its cause? There are two things in the Word of God which, if they stood quite isolated and alone, would suffice to stir our deepest emotions. The one is, what God tells us of Himself concerning His ancient people; the other, what the most devoted and eminent of His servants records as his feeling concerning them. The former reads as follows: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee. Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my hands" (Isaiah lxix. 15). And to this unspeakable tenderness on the part of the Lord does the almost despairing affection of St. Paul, as it were, 1873. make answer in these words: "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh " (Rom. ix. 3). Here we might be content to leave this matter. It has proved sufficient in the case of tens of thousands of His "servants," who "take pleasure” in Zion's "stones, and favour the dust thereof." But the more clearly to show the importance of the whole subject, we propose to set out in detail, though briefly, how from the first and to this present God has been specially, mysteriously, and marvellously, but most undeniably dealing with Israel, to carry out His covenant purpose in regard to them. These dealings of God may be marked under three particulars: the People-the Land-and the King of Israel! Rabbi Joseph's Dision. CALM-EYED lay Rabbi Joseph: though he knew Holding the fatal sword within his hand. Save when borne tombwards by the unwilling band So through the weary watches of the night But when the sun made bright the Eastern sky Then fell a sudden silence upon all, And no man sighed nor suffered tear to fall, "I hear the sound of a trumpet blown, East, West, South, and North, And a mighty call to the chosen race— Come forth! come forth! And lo, the tramp of innumerous feet Far away, Like an army marshalling its array, Or ocean's roar, With rhythmic beat, On the troubled shore. 66 'Again the sound of the trumpet blown, East, West, North, and South, And the stone is rolled away From the dark grave's yawning mouth, "And onward, onward they come, Into our fatherland? "And lo, in the midst of the people A godlike figure arises, Towering over the crowd. But the face is turned away, So that I only see The sweep of the vesture's hem, And the mark of blood on the hands, And the mark of blood on the feet, And the gaping wound in the side, And the thorny crown on the brow. And the people who stand around Him 'Be thou our Leader and Guide Out of the travail and stress Of the dreary wilderness Into the promised land!' I, too, will rise, and take my staff in hand, He ceased: once more upon the chamber fell Had smitten, and full well the mourners knew Grieving for him of whom they were bereft; 1 B. P. N. Our Missionaries. I.-ENGLAND. MR. MOLLIS is stationed in Manchester. He speaks of the work as progressing favourably. "I have had several opportunities," he writes, "during this month of preaching the Gospel to the Jews. Several come to see me, and by the Spirit's aid I am enabled to make known the unsearchable riches of Christ. With one Israelite I had a long interview about the great Hosannah, and after referring to Psalm cxviii. I read Matthew xxi. He requested me to read with him the whole New Testament, and to compare it with the Old. Another young Jew seeks instruction, and I am endeavouring to separate him from the Jews, and to obtain employment for him at a factory and lodging with Christian friends. Another, from the Hague, often comes, and has borrowed several books. He appears a respectable and wellinformed man, and I pray he may have interest created within him after the truth as it is in Jesus. Another son of Abraham, who keeps a shop, is willing to receive Christian teaching, and I hope to report of him bye-and-bye." This missionary is anxious for Dutch Bibles and Testaments, and the Secretary has supplied his present wants. May the circulation of God's own book carry with it the promised and abundant blessing! room. Mr. Naphtali writes from the same great city, and speaks of meeting many of the poorer Jews in "sundry places," as they will not enter the MissionHe states the old conflict with the enemy of souls is raging fiercely all around. He is thankful to report that one who has been for three years seeking Christ has been brought to confess His name publicly in baptism. The Rev. Alex. Thomson, who administered the ordinance, writes that he has conversed on several occasions with this convert, and is perfectly satisfied with his testimony. We thank God on this behalf, and take courage. This circumstance has stirred up the wrath of unbelieving Jews, who have expressed themselves strongly and intemperately in the newspapers and elsewhere. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure. The elder brother of this Jew is a believer in Jesus, who has been consistent and steadfast for many years. Mr. Adler-himself a Jewish convert, who has been under instruction in the Home-is now labouring among his Israelitish brethren, and is earnest |