than life itself. But who in this view does not stand self-condemned before God? But let us enter upon another part of the subject. God's design and purpose towards them (Jer. xxxii. 41), “Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul." Now, I ask, is this God's state of mind towards them? What, then, should have been ours? But, alas! what are our own? what have they been in times past? What are they at the present moment? Tell me, are we not sadly unlike to God? and should it not be a matter of daily humiliation that we are so ? Yea, should we not all rise at this moment as one man with selfindignation against ourselves, that we are so utterly unlike to God? and so little ardent to resemble him, and to accomplish his will? Read what is said at Zeph. iii. 17-20, "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord." And having read it, ask whether we should not rise to this mind? Can we hope for God's blessing on our own souls, when we have so little regard for the souls of his most dear people, and so little resemblance in ourselves to him respecting them? I say no more. May God speak to all of you with thunder and with love. And may my dying hour be a source of life to God's interest among you all, both in this place and throughout the world! [The address was listened to throughout with the most intense interest and attention-as a voice from the grave.] II. SCRIPTURAL STUDIES, AS TO THE CONVERSION AND RESTORATION OF THE JEWS, POINTED OUT AND RECOMMENDED IN A LETTER TO A CLERICAL FRIEND. The following paper, now somewhat enlarged, was drawn up at the request of a private Friend. MY DEAR FRIEND, I have great pleasure in redeeming the promise which I made to you at to give you such hints in a letter as might assist any of our dear brethren to a course of study that would be useful in furnishing their minds for instructing their people in the very important duties of caring, praying, and labouring for, the salvation of Israel. The only drawback is the conviction of my own ignorance in comparison of so many more able to render this work of love efficiently. I will bring the subject before you under Scriptural Reading, General Reading, and Personal Intercourse with Jews. I.-SCRIPTURAL READING. The largeness of the subject here is the chief difficulty, as from Gen. xii. to Rev. xxi. there is a continual reference to Jewish relations. I will therefore rather here give heads of subjects than any argumentative statement.* * The author has given, in his Practical Guide to the Prophecies, a collection of the prophecies concerning the Jews, taken from Powel's Concordance, which was approved by Dr. John Owen. The same table was also adopted by the Rev. John Brown of Haddington, and inserted at the end of his Bible. The views respecting the Jews advocated in this publication are common to those who have diligently searched the scriptures. I. GENERAL VIEWS. 1. The danger of ignorance on this subject, and its connexion with the fall of the Gentiles. Rom. xi. 25, and 20, 21. 2. The mind of Christ about the salvation of Israel. Isaiah lxii. ; Matt. x. 6; xv. 24; xxiii. 37-39. Luke xiii. 34; xix. 4144; xxiii. 27-31, 34. 3. His last direction as to preaching the gospel. Luke xxiv. 47. Acts i. 8. Rom. i. 16. 4. His exaltation to give them repentance, Acts v. 31. 5. The mind of the apostles. Rom. ix. 1–5; x. 1. 6. Their last recorded question to Christ and his answer. Acts i. 6-8. 7. The connexion between the history of the Jews and the progress of the gospel. The rejection of Israel. Rom. ix. The call of the Gentiles. Rom. x. The restoration of Israel, that God may have mercy on all. Rom. xi. 8. The connexion of the Jewish economy with spiritual things. Heb. viii. 9, 10. II. COURSE OF SCRIPTURE TESTIMONY IN ORDER OF BOOKS. Gen. xvii. 1—8. The original promise made to Abraham; its everlasting nature; its extent and perpetuity. See Acts vii. 1-5. Exod. iii. 1-15; vi. 1-8. The connexion of Israel with the name of God and with everlasting promises. Exod. xix. 1-6. Original covenant with Israel compared with the Christian, 1 Peter ii. 5-9; renewed to Israel on a ground of grace, Jer. xxxi. 31-37; and the future application confirmed, Jer. xxxi. 38-40. Lev. xxvi. 32-45. Deut. iv. 27-31. The promise of special grace to Israel after all their sins. Deut. xxx. 1-10. The promise of final restoration after the Babylonian and Roman captivities. Deut. xxxii. The song of Moses. ver. 21. The calling of the Gentiles occasioned by the sin of the Jews. 29-35. Their victory at their latter end. 43. The rejoicing of the Gentiles in Israel's de liverance. Psalms of Israel's recovery or deliverance. xlviii. Compare ver. 2, with Matt. v. 35; and ver. 8, 11— 14, its everlasting establishment. liii. The comfort, the hope of the salvation of Israel, ver. 6. lxvii. The blessing of Israel leads to the Gentiles' salvation. lxviii. 22-34. Blessings yet to be fully realized through Israel, as also lxix. 34-36. lxxvi. Victory of God connected with Judah and Israel. lxxx. Prayer for the restoration and blessing of Israel. lxxxvii. Privileges of Zion, notwithstanding its present rejection, ver. 7-15. xcviii. A new song for mercy shown to Israel, in which two great effects, joy of creation and salvation of God, are seen by all. cii. 13-28, relate to the redemption of Israel. cv. 5-12. The covenant of the inheritance of Canaan made to a thousand generations; even an everlasting covenant. cxv. Special blessings of Israel and house of Aaron, leading to general blessings. cxviii. The same connexion, and also the blessing of Messiah, when Israel is restored. Compare ver. 26, quoted by Christ, Matt. xxiii. 39. cxxii. Prosperity to those who love Jerusalem. cxxv. The abiding of Mount Zion an image of eternal protection. cxxvi. The restoration of Israel full of amazing mercies, ver. 1. cxxviii. The crowning mercy to see the good of Jerusalem. cxxxii. 13-18. Zion chosen as God's rest for ever. cxxxv. Blessing on the house of Israel, Aaron, and Levi, and Jerusalem, prepare for a general blessing. Isaiah ii. The local hill of Zion: Compare Micah iv. 1—13. Connected with the worship of all nations. From ver. 10-21 the great day of the Lord, the time of its fulfilment. iv. Visible glory to rest upon the assemblies of Judah, v. 3-6. Isaiah viii. Judea dignified with the title of Emanuel's land. ix. The great promise of Christ is connected with the deliverance of Israel, ver. 3-7. x. The ceasing of God's indignation (ver. 25) is connected with Israel's redemption. xi. In this chapter we have 1. Literal and Local restoration, ver. 11-14. 3. The judgment of Christ attending it, ver. 4, 5. 5. The revealing of God's glory. xii. Israel's song of praise, and its diffusion through all nations, ver. 4, 5. xviii. Local presentation before God in Zion, ver. 7. An invitation to all the world to behold and adore, ver. 3-7. xix. Israel a source of blessing to other nations, ver. 23-25; and a special title of honour given to Israel, ver. 25. xxiv. The visible reign of the Lord in Zion, ver. 23. The season of this reign, the binding of Satan. Compare ver. 22, and Rev. xx. xxvi. The rejoicing of Judah in the restoration of the Jews, ver. 1-6. Its effects on the world, ver. 9. xxvii. The sure protection of Israel, ver. 2-5. The blessing of the world through Israel. The time of this the opening of the Millennium. and Rev. xx. Compare ver. 1, xxix. Knowledge, life, and joy, the fruit of Israel's con version, ver. 17-23. xxx. 19. Two connected promises, the people dwelling in Zion and weeping no more. xxxiii. The perpetuity of Zion as a habitation of the Jews, ver. 20-24. xliv. The outpouring of the Spirit at Israel's redemption, ver. 1-6; 21-23. xlix. Christ's first coming; call of the Gentiles during Israel's dispersion, ver. 5-7. Restoration of Israel, and their glory, ver. 8—26. |