of the sacred Scriptures. It is the key of interpretation; and tends to enlarge our conceptions of the adorable wisdom, sovereign power, and grace of God. It is through this medium that we see the lengths and the breadths, the heights and the depths, and "the love of Christ that passeth knowledge." Having now been engaged in this cause about thirty years, I trust I may be permitted to say, that I have found it to be a labour of love, of personal profit, and delightthat it was the first means of rescuing me from that paralyzing system of interpretation, which is called “spiritualizing the promises;” that is to say, ascribing all the promises to spiritual Israel instead of allowing their primary application to the literal seed of Abraham; and their secondary, and more enlarged accomplishment, in the person of the Gentile Church. It is laid down by an eminent writer, as a fundamental principle in the right interpretation of the Scriptures, never to overlook the literal sense and meaning of a passage, when the natural import of the words bears that construction. By the non-observance of this rule, the plain meaning of words has been violated and perverted; and an attempt been made to defraud the Jew, the original claimant, the heir by promise, by descent, and by a grant and tenure confirmed to him by the oath of God himself, of his inalien

able right to the covenanted mercies of Jehovah. It is no small ground for thankfulness to be delivered from error. It is still more so to comprehend and to embrace the truth. Let it be remembered, too, that this is no speculative question, but one of deep vital importance, of conscientious principle, and of great practical results. It involves the inquiry, What is the Church's duty to the Jews, what are God's purposes of mercy to them, and what is the connexion between the accomplishment of these purposes, and the future glory of the Redeemer's kingdom? I have now lived long enough to see these things better understood, though much still remains to be effected. I have beheld this small grain of mustard-seed gradually becoming a great tree, bearing its fruit, at home and abroad, and expanding its branches on every side. Nor is it a small consolation that the Church of England has been the honoured instrument of putting forth this great cause, and of proclaiming to "the cities of Judah, Behold your God." A Church engaged in such an advocacy, can never fall. "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early."* Animated by such hopes, and cheered by such recollections, I can thank God, and take courage. It will sweeten the last * Psalm xlvi. 5.

moments of expiring life to have shared in the labours, and to have partaken in the triumphs of such a cause; and to be able to exclaim with Simeon, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!"

But it is now time to draw these remarks to a close. I consider, therefore, lastly,

The connexion which the restoration and conversion of the Jews bears with the hopes and expectations of the Church of Christ, and with the future glory of the Redeemer's kingdom.

I leave to those who follow me the various details and circumstances, as to the nature and character of this millennial kingdom; and whether by a personal reign of Christ, or not, to each man's own peculiar view and interpretation. I beg here to express my own decided conviction, that if we wish now more particularly to introduce the Jewish cause to the conscience and hearts of the British public, we must do so in a spirit of calm and impartial investigation; with a constant reference and appeal to the authority of the Holy Scriptures; avoiding a dogmatizing spirit; allowing for many shades of opinion in a subject so confessedly difficult and mysterious as prophetic interpretation. But there ought to be an agreement upon the grand outline, or there

will be a want of uniformity, where uniformity is not only desirable but essential; viz., that all the hopes of the Church are suspended on the restoration and conversion of God's ancient people. For this she prays; for this she waits in anxious expectation; for this "the watchmen upon her walls" are commanded "never to hold their peace, day nor night;"" to keep not silence," and "to give the Lord no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Until this event takes place the Church will be "in the wilderness;" in a depressed state; in her humiliation and bondage. But when the Lord shall have mercy upon Zion, she will then put on her "beautiful garments," and enlarge the place of her tent, and stretch forth the curtains of her habitations. She will lengthen her cords, and strengthen her stakes, and break forth on the right hand, and on the left. The conversion of the Jews will be the lever that will raise the world.

"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?"

"If the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?*

* Rom. xi. 12, 15.

CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.

The Grandeur of this event.

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The Prophets, in contemplating this great event, employ the most lofty and magnificent imagery. Rapt with the vision of the glory that was to be revealed, they abound in sublime addresses, and in the most impassioned exclamations. "O Zion," says the prophet Isaiah, "that bringeth good tidings, get thee up in the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringeth good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"* Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy on his afflicted.”+ And while Zion, remembering the long period of rolling years, since God hath withdrawn his loving mercy, mournfully exclaims, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me;" he replies, with accents of affectionate regard, “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 I not forget thee. Behold! I have graven thee on the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." "For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction

*Isaiah xl. 9.

+ Ibid. xlix. 13.