eyes of a single individual of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the author will not have laboured in vain.

I cannot conclude with greater propriety than in the words of Bp. Newton.

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"The Jews were once the peculiar people of "God: and as St. Paul saith, Hath God cast away "his people? God forbid. We see, that after so "many ages they are still preserved by a miracle "of Providence a distinct people: and why is "such a continual miracle exerted, but for the greater illustration of the divine truth, and the better accomplishment of the divine promises, "as well those which are yet to be, as those which "are already, fulfilled? We see that the great <i empires, which in their turns subdued and oppressed the people of God, are all come to ruin; because, though they executed the purposes of God, yet that was more than they understood: "all that they intended was to satiate their own pride and ambition, their own cruelty and revenge. And, if such hath been the fatal end of "the enemies and oppressors of the Jews, let it "serve as a warning to all those, who at any time " or upon any occasion are for raising a clamour "and persecution against them. They are blame"able no doubt for persisting in their infidelity "after so many means of conviction; but that is "no warrant or authority for us to proscribe, to abuse, injure, and oppress them, as Christians

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"of more zeal than either knowledge or charity "have in all ages been too apt to do. Charity is greater than faith: and it is worse in us to be

cruel and uncharitable, than it is in them to be "obstinate and unbelieving. Persecution is the "spirit of Popery; and in the worst of popish "countries the Jews are the most cruelly used and

persecuted: the spirit of Protestantism is tole"ration and indulgence to weaker consciences. Compassion to this unhappy people is not to "defeat the prophecies: for only wicked nations were to harass and oppress them, the good were to shew mercy to them; and we should "choose rather to be the dispensers of God's

mercies, than the executioners of his judgments. "Read the 11th chapter of the Epistle to the "Romans; and see what the great apostle of the

gentiles, who certainly understood the prophecies "better than any of us can pretend to do, saith of "the infidelity of the Jews. Some of the gentiles "of his time valued themselves upon their superior "advantages; and he reproves them for it, that

they, who were cut out of the olive-tree which "is wild by nature, and were gruffed contrary to "nature into a good olive-tree, should presume

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to boast against the natural branches: but what "would he have said, how would he have flamed "and lightened, if they had made religion an instrument of faction, and had been for stirring up a persecution against them? We should con"sider,

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sider, that to them we owe the oracles of God, "the scriptures of the New Testament as well as "the Old; we should consider that the glorious company of the apostles and the goodly fellowship of the prophets were Jews; we should consider, "that of them as concerning the flesh Christ came, "the Saviour of the world: and surely something ❝ of kindness and gratitude is due for such infinite

obligations. Though they are now broken off, "yet they are not utterly cast away. Because of unbelief, as St. Paul argues, they were broken "off, and thou standest by faith; be not highminded, but fear. There will be a time, when "they will be graffed in again, and again become "the people of God; for, as the apostle proceeds, "I would not, brethren, that ye should be igno "rant of this mystery (lest ye should be wise in your own conceits) that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fulness of the "gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be "saved. And which (think ye) is the most likely "method to contribute to their conversion, which

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are the most natural means of reconciling them "to us and our religion, prayer, argument, long"suffering, gentleness, goodness; or noise and "invective, injury and outrage, the malice of

some, and the folly and madness of more? They "cannot be worse than when they crucified the "Son of God, and persecuted his apostles: but "what saith our Saviour? Father, forgive them,

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"for they know not what they do what saith his "apostle St. Paul? Brethren, my heart's desire "and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might "be saved. In conformity to these blessed ex"amples our church hath also taught us to pray "for them; and how can prayer and persecution "consist and agree together? They are only pre"tended friends to the church, but real enemies

to religion, who encourage persecution of any "kind. All true sons of the church, all true pro"testants, all true Christians, will, as the apostle "adviseth, put away all bitterness, and wrath, and "anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, with all "malice and will join heart and voice in that "excellent collect-Have mercy upon all Jews, “Turks, infidels, and heretics, and take from them "all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of "thy word: and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, "to thy flock, that they may be saved among the "remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord."

Bp. Newton's Dissert. viii. 5.

FINIS.

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