rend gentleman that occupied that station last, are still fresh in the memory of the inhabitants; and it will require the utmost caution, judiciousness, and discretion, that a man can exercise, to be able to avoid a similar result, and to remove hindrances in the way of the progress of Christianity there, and so effect a reconciliation between contending parties, and keep at peace with the Roman Catholics, the Greeks, the Mohammedans, and the Jews. My principle is to endeavour to have as little to do with the authorities as possible. Our work is that of preaching peace on earth and goodwill toward men; and if the Gospel be preached in the spirit and love of it-if the missionary confines himself to his sacred duties, and meddles not with politics-if he should allow himself to be really the friend of the people, he will unquestionably make his way among them, and prove successful in his work. My brethren, I go, confidently believing that you will follow me with your prayers, and thus bring down God's blessing upon my feeble labours." The Rev. W. H. RULE observed, that the preliminaries were already settled, in, the acknowledgment of our duty to preach the Gospel to the Jews, wherever they are dispersed, and to the Jews of Northern Africa in particular, for whom God is, in his mercy, raising up brethren from among themselves, to address them in their own language, and to apply to this work that Hebrew learning which is so peculiarly necessary to the acceptableness and efficiency of such a mission. He regarded the Rev. Abraham Ben Oliel as one whose adaptation to the work had been already tested by the experience of several years, and commended him to the sympathy and prayers of the friends of Israel. While among the Jews of Tunis, he would find many willing to hear, and perhaps many others utterly indifferent. It would surprise no one to hear that some opposed themselves. And although in that independent principality, it might now be allowed him to preach Christ, this very preaching might provoke, as elsewhere, the opposition of the world in such a manner as to make his work extremely arduous, and his position difficult, to say the least. For a missionary, in such a case, it was right to bespeak the support of sympathy, prayer, and necessary contributions. Mr. Rule also dwelt on the circumstance that Mr. Ben Oliel does not go alone, but will have at the same time the cares and the advantages belonging to the head of a Christian family-a family that must also be a Christian Church; a model of practical religion, and the nucleus of a Christian congregation. He further dwelt on the great importance of establishing, if possible, the solemnities of worship, and the means of stated in

struction in Christianity, both to old and young, in preference to a mere ambulatory mission, without any element of permanence, and regarded Mr. Ben Oliel's present appointment as of the highest interest, because tending to the attainment of this object.

Mr. YONGE and the Rev. JOHN WADDINGTON then spoke, the latter of whom referred to the opinion expressed to him by the late Rev. Dr. M'All, after the delivery of his sermon for the Wesleyan Missionary Society, that the northern coast of Africa would prove the key of missions to the world.

The Rev. H. CHEESEBROUGH having offered prayer,

Mr. YONGE proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, and a cordial expression of gratitude to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee for the use of the Hall, and for the kind interest which they had manifested for the welfare of this Society on every occasion.

The vote was seconded by the Rev. B. LEWIS, who said that he attended a meeting of the London Society at Bedford, not long ago, and heard a clergyman deliver an eloquent and interesting address, and stated that he subscribed to the British Society also, and that if there were other societies for the Jews in England, he would subscribe also to them. The Rev. Gentleman observed, that if more were known of the Society it would meet with greater support. He, therefore, recommended the "Jewish Herald" to the perusal of the friends of the cause.

The Rev. E. HOOLE, in acknowledging the vote, which was carried unanimously, believed that he might state on the part of the Trustees, that whenever the Hall was required by the British Society, they would have much pleasure in appropriating it to their use.

FOREIGN OPERATIONS.

PALESTINE.

A COMMUNICATION has recently been received from Mr. Manning, dated from the Mountains of Lebanon, whither he had been compelled to retire, under medical direction, on account of the prevalence of cholera and small-pox. His assistant in the school, Mr. Abraham, states, that the providential dispensations to which the people have been subjected, had caused increased attention to religious matters, with an evident concern on the part of some for their eternal welfare. He has disposed of all the Bibles and Tracts he had; and could have distributed many more, if he had possessed them.

Mr. M. has had pleasant intercourse with a wealthy Jewish family, resident near him; the son of which has been in the school, and is diligently reading the New Testament.

FRANCE.

MR. COHEN speaks of the great readiness with which the Truth is listened to by the Jewish families he visits; and thinks that they were never in a more hopeful state of mind for the reception of the Gospel. They look, he says, upon the missionary of the Cross as their best friend; and are often willing to put off the hour of meals, that they may hear more fully of the truth. Preference for Protestant over Jewish schools is also manifesting itself among some of the Jewish people.

WURTEMBURG.

In the following sensible and pertinent observations, every thoughtful friend of Jewish spiritual emancipation will cordially concur :

"The want of more striking success must be sought not with God, who is faithful to his promises, but with Christendom, which is wanting in faith. Conviction, answering conviction, of the truth and verity of a cause, is here, also, as in many other things, the secret of success. Take any body of Christians, confessedly believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and anxious for the spread of his Gospel in every land and every clime, and ready to give of their substance and yet more of their prayers for the good of the cause, and speak to them about the conversion of the Jews; and then see how many among these Christians will join you, heart and soul-not to speak of those who will turn away from you incredulously-in prayer on their behalf, and ask how many among them can think of Israel's conversion, without a spark of doubt lurking within the folds of their hearts. This is, I humbly think, one of the great reasons of the more apparent want of success. If the Church approaches the mercy-seat, offering prayers on behalf of the conversion of a fallen nation, with a doubt as to the success, or a feeling of the fruitlessness of all such labour lurking in her bosom, how can she expect such faithless prayer to be heard? Were it but felt sufficiently by the Christian Church, that the faithfulness and the success of those who are in the field, so much depend on their intercession and prayer, how much would even be gained by this! Aided by these mighty arms, we can do and accomplish all things; without them, we are helpless, and can do nothing! Yet, whatever man may think, the LORD is faithful and at work! The following,

which I learnt the other day from authentic accounts, is a new proof of it :

"One of the most distinguished Jewish families in Stuttgart is that of The father of the family, lately dead, was well-spoken of by the whole town for his unlimited benevolence, indiscriminately conferred on Jews and Gentiles. Never have I heard of a Jew's name so highly esteemed by all; his praise seems to be in everybody's mouth. This man had a daughter, who early evinced a serious turn of mind. She was allowed to visit Christian schools, and to form friendships with Christian girls of her age, and was known frequently, though secretly, to attend Christian worship. On such occasions, she always used to drink in eagerly of the waters of life, which she was led to by the preachers. Once, the Rev. Dr. Steinkopf (of the Savoy Chapel, London) preached at Stuttgart, (I could not learn on what occasion,) when she attended. On being asked by her companions, on the following day, whether she had heard that preacher, she answered, Yes, I have. He has said something for everybody, except to poor me! Later, she formed a resolution to unite herself to a Christian minister; but, yielding to the entreaties of her parents and relatives, she abandoned this idea, and was afterwards betrothed to a Jewish merchant. Ever since, she pined away, and soon after died; in her last moments confessing her faith and trust in her Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Is this not an evidence, that the good Husbandman has not yet abandoned His gracious purposes towards His people, and that He is still gathering in unto Himself according to His pleasure, and without our poor instrumentality, one and the other from among them, into the glorious assembly of the Redeemer."

To the subsequent remarks of Mr. Gotheil, we wish to call the prayerful attention of our readers :

"The state of the Jewish people, especially in Germany, is one of peculiar and deep interest. The immediate future prospects of the missions among the German Jews, will be none that can shew forth splendid results. It will be evidently a time of sowing, and less so of harvesting. Here and there an early fruit may ripen, under peculiar circumstances, nourished by the peculiar influences of the Sun of righteousness, but this will be the exception and not the rule. In this view, I believe, I am fully borne out by the different reports published from the stations in Germany. Look at Berlin-not many years ago a station abounding in fruit-now the baptisms are few and far between. The same may be said of other stations; for instance, Mr. Bauli's, at Amsterdam,

where, during the last year, but one baptism has taken place; and equally so on other stations. But what is the reason of this change? I humbly conceive none other than that Israel, by a variety of circumstances, is rapidly sinking deeper and deeper into the depths of unbelief and spiritual unconcern. So rapid is their descent, that ten and twenty years are making a vast and most remarkable difference. As long as the nation held fast to the traditions of the elders, they retained also a certain amount of respect for the Word of God and His ordinances, and were thus preserved from falling into infidelity; but this hold is rapidly giving way, and link after link of that chain by which they were riveted to the past is being loosened; and the last joints giving way, they must needs be rapidly precipitated into the abysses of despair and unbelief. May it not be that it is the Lord's plan, to let them sink deeper and deeper in their misery, to make them taste fully of the horrors of despair, and shrink from the terrors of the Lord, in order by these means to create in them a hunger for His Word, and a thirst for His salvation? Who can tell the ways of the Lord? None! but our duty is plain enough-even to persevere in scattering the good seed to and fro in all directions, looking up to God for the increase."

FROM THE RECORDS OF KINDRED INSTITUTIONS. LONDON SOCIETY.

EGYPT.

The Burying-place of Moses ben Maimen, called Maimonides. Respecting this place Mr. Lauria writes:-" About noon I passed by the square in which stands the synagogue of Maimonides, and saw people going in and out. As it was not time for prayers, I went in to see what they were doing there. The synagogue, on account of the soil accumulated in the streets, stands very low; and I had to go down about a dozen steps before I found myself in this old and small building. The south-east corner is separated, and forms a dark room, in the midst of which Maimonides' remains were interred, ere they were transported to the Holy Land. Near the door of this room, I saw many Jewesses sitting, and on the other side, sick Jews sleeping. On inquiring of the women what they did there at that time of the day, they pointed to the dark room and said, they brought patients to be cured on the tomb of Rabbi Moses (Maimonides). I entered the room, and by the dim light of a lamp saw two women, one in a dying state, lying on a carpet spread on the spot where Maimonides was