Christendom has been, for ages, debarred the use of the Scriptures.

3. The remaining class, on whose behalf these remarks are made, comprises a great multitude of persons, for whom not Britain only, but many other nations, have latterly demonstrated a truly Christian regard. I mean, the unenlightened JEWS and MA

HOMEDANS.

For the purpose of making the Gospel known to the Jews, there already exist various Societies: with regard to the Mahomedans, general Missionaries have been considered-although, perhaps, not with a sufficiently pointed designation—as intended for them. The approach to both these will be, in great measure, by the Mediterranean: but here it is that we find Christianity mainly corrupted. "And truth it is"-as the venerable Founders of our 'Church have powerfully and almost prophetically remarked (Homily against Peril of Idolatry: Part 3) in a spirit of enlarged charity and judgment, worthy of the best Missionary Age-" truth it is, that the Jews and Turks, who abhor images and idols, as directly forbidden by God's Holy Word, will never come to the truth of our Religion, whilst the stumbling-blocks of images remain among us, and lie in their way." By no other means, in fact, can a Protestant expect to obtain a hearing with a Jew or Mahomedan, than by the distinct avowal, that these idolatrous corruptions are not only no part of Christianity, but utterly contrary to it.

The controversy relative to the Worship of Images and Saints is one peculiarly tending to agitate the

most violent passions of mankind: it has therefore been the desire of the Author, while not concealing truth, yet to speak with that temper, which reason and charity demand. It is his earnest prayer to God, that, as this is a point which will probably never be suffered to rest, till the purity of Christ's Kingdom shall have been established in the earth, so all the friends of that Kingdom may have grace given them to confront and expose the delusions of the Powers of Darkness with courage, and, at the same time, with meekness of wisdom.

1

THE JEWS.

A MISSIONARY to the Jews has substantially the same work to do, as a Missionary to any other body of men; namely, to preach to them the great doctrine, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. The sole difference between the case of the Jews and that of any other body of men, (a Heathen Nation for example,) is, that we find the Jews in a different stage of opinion. The main point to be aimed at, in preaching to the one and to the other, is precisely the same: it is, to bring them to receive Christ as the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The very state of opinion among the Jews creates, however, a peculiar additional necessity for placing this doctrine and this object in the very clearest light. The actual civil condition of this people, their habits of thinking, their expectations, and their prospects have, all of them, a tendency to draw away their minds from the essential doctrine of Christ Crucified. It is scarcely possible to meet them in argument on their own ground, without obscuring the glory of the Gospel. This shall be illustrated in two important Scriptural subjects; with regard to both of which it will be seen how widely the thoughts of the Jewish People have ever revolted, and still revolt, from that, which to believe is necessary to their entering the gate of the Christian Dispensation.

1. The MESSIAH, PROPHESIED OF IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, WAS TO BE A DIVINE, YET SUFFERING PERSON. This is the well-established opinion of Christians on the contrary, the Jews, in their apprehensions of the Messiah, neither rise so high as to believe him Divine, nor descend so low as to expect that he should suffer. They look for a King, earthly yet glorious, perfectly holy yet human; who is to reign triumphantly over the whole earth. It is not merely that they do not apprehend in what manner glory and suffering may be compa tible; but they have not learnt, from their own Scriptures, that the character of the Messiah foretold by the Prophets is the character of a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, despised, reject+ ed, and put to death. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?—is an argument, which they would meet with a direct negative: they see not that His humiliation was to lead to His exaltation: the veil is upon their hearts while they read Moses, and David, and Isaiah, and Daniel, and the other Prophets who distinctly foretell the lowly state of the Messiah. Hence, when we preach Christ Crucified, He is to the Jews a stumbling-block. But may Ministers of the Gospel endeavour to remove that stumbling-block, by exhibiting exclusively, or even primarily, an animating view of Christ reigning gloriously upon earth, as He will do, when a voice from Heaven shall declare, The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ? The attempt would be as fallacious, as it would be unscriptural. The offence of the Cross must not, because it is

offensive, be therefore disguised. The Gentile is to be humbled: the Jew is to be humbled: both must learn to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The true doctrine of the Cross is, therefore, to be made the most prominent of all: till that is received, nothing is savingly received; nor can it be admitted, till every high imagination be cast down.

2. That Jesus of Nazareth is, in fact, the only Messiah; that, being already come, He has wrought out man's redemption; and, consequently, THAT THE

JEWS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING NOW THESE EIGHTEEN HUNDRED YEARS A SPECIAL PUNISHMENT ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR REJECTION AND MURDER OF THIS MESSENGER OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT OF

PEACE these are topics, which must come home, with the greatest poignancy, to the conscience of a Jew, in order to his real conversion. They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as one mourneth for his only son; and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. No less than the tenderest imaginable sorrow and anguish will penetrate the soul of a Jew, in whom National feelings and Christian relentings shall have their proper force. Every one is led to expect that a brokenness of heart, a love to Christ, an adoring gratitude, a devotedness to His service, at the hazard or even certainty of losing all things for Him-emotions not differing in kind from those which pious Christians experience, but surpassing them wonderfully in degree-will, in the general accomplishment of prophecy, characterize the truly-converted Jew. From this, however, the spirit of that people at present