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Jews. To be sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt. xv. 24), was the work that Christ took as his own. Who, then, dares to despise it? It is a work full of difficulties, and calling for unexampled patience and self-denial; but a work in which it is delightful to know that you will have an invisible but ever-present Comforter and Helper, the Holy Spirit, who shall abide with us for ever.

MEN IN GENERAL.

God proclaims to the end of the world the duty of taking an interest in the daughter of Zion; and there are principles on which we can appeal to all men to aid in this work. You must allow that the situation of the Jew is very peculiar. What other people can approach them in antiquity, distinctness, dispersion among all nations, and preservation amidst such protracted persecutions and sufferings? Can you contemplate the Jew, and not be sensible that he is a living witness of the truth of the Bible? and not feel an interest in his future state? Can you know the history of his nation for 1800 years, without learning the danger of despising Christ and neglecting his salvation?

Nearly 4000 years since this promise was made to his ancestor, I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee. Gen. xii. 3. This promise has lost none of its power, but is as fresh in its influence as it was the very day it was first given. Men who have helped their affliction have ever been punished for it, and so certainly shall they who help their joy be blessed.

And is not the very character of the times in which we live, such as to awaken every one's attention? Surely men of reflection must be struck with the instability of all earthly institutions, and the underground movements beneath the whole surface of society in every nation. What is there earthly on which you can fix yourself, and say, This is secure?

All human establishments, however they may for ages have remained the hope and the glory of man, are shaking and giving way. Now God has assured us that all that is not divine shall perish. Popery, and Mahomedanism, and Paganism; hypocrisy, worldliness, and self-righteousness, superstition, formality, liberalism, and infidelity, shall fade and vanish away, and the everlasting principles of the word of God alone triumph. O, let your confidence in what is human be shaken, and build on the only rock, the infallible word of the ever-living God.

How, then, can we obtain national security? There is an implied preservation in the very threatening, The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish (Isaiah Ix. 12); that if we do, as a nation, serve Zion, we shall not perish. O, that in the midst of the shakings of the nations, our country might be distinguished by having this pledge for its safety and protection, that we have cared for Zion!

But though we cannot move our country, we may, as individuals, take a wise and Christian course. O, my brethren, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matt. vi. 33); it is your safest, wisest, and happiest course, for time and for eternity. Fix not your affections on a transient world. Wealth, if hoarded up as your security, will be the grand witness against you for condemnation; secure what you can, by putting it into the only bank that can never be broken, laying it out on the only estate that can never be taken away, and committing it to the only exchange that God has assured us will repay with full interest. Prov. xix. 17. Matt. xxv. 27.

By the last command of your final Judge, who has told us to begin with preaching his gospel to the Jews; by all the benefits which we have received already, and which God has promised that we shall receive through this nation; by all the injuries which our forefathers have done to them; by all the wrath

which God has declared shall descend on those who have afflicted them; by all the blessings which he has promised to those who bless them; by every humane, benevolent, and Christian feeling towards them, and through them towards the whole human race, and by the most animating motive of all, love to your divine Saviour, who gave himself for you, I entreat you, I exhort you, take a lively interest in the conversion of Israel, and largely and joyfully support the Society now brought before you.

And may He who is the King of the Jews (Matt. ii. 2), as well as the Head (Eph. v. 23) of the church universal; the glory of his people Israel (Luke ii. 32), as well as the God of the whole earth (Isaiah liv. 5), be present with you. May that divine Saviour manifest his presence by filling your hearts with deep feelings of the riches of his grace, and the freeness and fulness of his salvation! May He himself who died for us, inspire our souls with holy zeal, to give up ourselves unreservedly to HIM in all that work to which he in this day calls his people!

DISCOURSE VI.

THE KINGDOM TO BE RESTORED TO ISRAEL.

PREACHED IN THE EPISCOPAL BETHEL CHURCH, KINGSTOWN, ON FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 12, 1840.]

ACTS 1. 6.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel.

THE situation of the Jews is not a matter of slight or temporary interest to Christians. It is one of growing and vital importance to the church of Christ. Even in the eyes of all the world, their state is very peculiar.

Century after century, for 1800 years, amidst all the shock of ages and the revolutions of empires, scattered and dispersed through the regions of the earth, reproached, insulted, trodden upon, and spoiled in every land, we see them still preserved in their distinctness-a peculiar race among all nations, of untold riches, number and extent. It cannot be for nothing that they are thus preserved. Their political importance is manifestly growing; their future state might thus even interest men of the world.

But all this is of little importance to the Christian, compared with its being the most striking fulfilment of the past word of prophecy, and its furnishing wellgrounded expectation of events affecting the whole human race, on their restoration. This it is that makes their lengthened, extended, and visible dispersion over the earth a lesson to the world, every where teaching mankind the veracity of God's word by what is past, and leading his people to the most cheering and glorious hope of what is to come-a lesson which, independent of the welfare of any religious society, it is most profitable for us all to attend to and fully learn. It is true, that in so large a subject, consisting of so many particulars of yet unfulfilled prophecy, Christians who study the scriptures for themselves, will come in some points to different conclusions. It is so in every science-it is so in every other part of knowledge, human or divine; nor will this be without great advantage, if it lead us all to more diligent study of the word, more humbling views of our own remaining ignorance, more diffidence of ourselves, and, may I not add, increased love to those who differ from us, where they really love Christ. Were it only for calling our attention to these things, we are greatly indebted to God for the formation of the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews. But it has an important bearing on that work on which hangs the happiness of the human race-If the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness,-then, how blessed a work, to promote that fulness.

The passage which I have taken will lead us, I trust, to a realizing view of these things.

I. The circumstances in which the question was put. II. The intermediate kingdom at present established. III. The nature of the kingdom to be restored to Israel.

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