RUSSIA'S INTENTIONS.

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inveigled into a war with the Afghans (who we believe to be descendants of Benjamin, if not also of Judah, as testified by Josephus, Dr. Bellew, and others), yet it was not a wise measure to retire from Candahar and the so-called "Scientific frontier," because Russia threatened that if we did not do so she would consider our position a menace against Russian territories, and would be compelled in self-defence to advance on Merv! This was undoubtedly a pretext to attain her object, as the sequel showed: for notwithstanding that we withdrew, she took the first opportunity of advancing on and retaining possession of Merv her intention evidently being, to keep the British troops fully employed in India or Afghanistan, while she carries out her programme with regard to Turkey and Palestine, and this she cannot do unless she can secure her position at least as far as Herat, the securing of which important strategical position we think will be her next move.

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An Indian gentleman, speaking the other day relative to the subsidising of the Amir of Afghanstan, remarked that we were only putting off the evil day which must come sooner or later, and it was much better to have it out with Russia and be done with it." We have no hesitation in stating our belief that the great decisive battle with Russia will not be fought either in Afghanstan or in India, but in Palestine, when GOD will interpose with pestilence, blood, rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone (meteors)— and all the heathen (India chiefly) shall see my judgment" (Ezek. xxxix. 21). SO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD THEIR GOD FROM THAT DAY AND FORWARD (v. 22), that is, England will then nationally recognise that she is God's ancient people-Israel.

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CHAPTER XVI

Concluding Remarks on the Scriptural Argument.

WE repeat what we have said elsewhere, that it is of the greatest importance to examine the context of every passage in Scripture bearing on the subject, in order to determine whether it refers to Ten-Tribed Israel, to the Jews, or to both; as also the circumstances of the people at the time of the prophecy, and at the time prophesied of; for it is evident that those prophecies that refer to Ten-Tribed Israel in her "Lo-ammi" (i.e. not my people) condition, when she was to be "divorced" from the Law, "utterly cast out," and so lost as "not to be able to find her paths," during which time she is to be Lo-Ruhamah (i.e. not having obtained mercy), cannot be applied to her in her Ammi and Ruhamah condition, when she is spoken of as God's "servant;" she having turned to the Lord and reformed, God fulfils His promises made to Abraham, for He is faithful, and true, and changeth not; nor can such prophecies be made to refer to her in her final restoration to Palestine. Thus, we should remember, that in the history of Ten-Tribed Israel there was :

(a.) 1. A time of warning, on account of her idolatry under her monarchy.

(b.) 2. A time of her humiliation, when she was deprived of her monarchy in exile, divorced from the Law, lost.

(c.) 3. A time of her reformation and turning to the Lord while in her lost condition; of obedience, and consequent national prosperity in proportion to such obedience under the sceptre of David's line transferred to her from Judah, when she was to be a blessing to the world.

(d.) 4. A time yet to be fulfilled, of her restoration to Palestine, and reunion with Judah; a time of universal glory, righteousness, and peace, when Christ shall sit upon the throne of David, and reign after He hath put all things under His feet.

While, with regard to the Jews, including Benjamin, there

was:

GOD IS FAITHFUL.

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(e.) 1. A time of her warning on account of her idolatry, under her monarchy (of David's line).

(f.) 2. A time of her captivity in Babylon, when the sceptre of David was removed from her, and reinstated over Ten-Tribed Israel.

(9.) 3. Her return and sojourn in the land, without a monarchy, until the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.

(h.) 4. Her dispersion throughout the world, when she was cut off from the blessings of the law, and under its curse, and the Gentile engrafted into the stock of Abraham by faith; a time of her miraculous preservation until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

(2.) 5. A time of her restoration to Palestine, and reunion with Israel, and participation with her of the glories of the millennium, under the personal reign of the Messiah.

To each of these varied circumstances there are distinct references in the Word of God, which it is important to distinguish if the prophecies are to be clearly understood.

We have in chapter xi. shown that Ten-Tribed Israel, though lost, must be one of the existing nations of the earth; and all that had to be done was to apply the Scriptural marks of identification given to each nation upon the earth, until we found one towards which all the marks could be truthfully applied. Moreover, when we find evidence from history, ethnology, philology, genealogy, metrology, and ancient heathen customs extant, bearing out the testimony of those Scriptural marks as applicable to the British, can we doubt, or deny, the inevitable conclusion that we are Israel; that God is righteous, faithful, covenant-keeping, and true; that we are "His people, and the sheep of His pasture," unworthy though we be; that He is our God, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Let us then be glad and rejoice in Him, and in His name let us lift up our banners, and to His praise let our united voices rise in songs of thanksgiving, love, and gratitude. Let us bear in mind our high and holy calling, and walk as becometh the children of God, in holiness, faith, and good works. Let us rectify every existing law of the land, or custom of society that fails to honour our God. And banish every idol from our land, and from our hearts, and trust in Jesus our Saviour, God, and King.

But to return to our subject and amplify our remarks by a simple illustration. Ten years ago, the writer happened to be riding down the Mussoorie Hill to Rajpore, on his return to his duties in the plains, at the expiry of his privilege leave of absence. The day was cold and rainy. On endeavouring to put back his

watch after looking at the time, he misplaced it owing to his fingers being benumbed by the piercing wind: it consequently fell down, and the loss was not discovered until he was too far from the spot to return. The police at Rajpore and Mussoorie were informed, and a reward offered for its recovery. A month after the magistrate at Mussoorie wrote stating that a native was brought before him on a charge of theft, having been caught offering a watch for sale for one rupee; at the same time asking for the number of the watch lost. In reply, the writer said that he regretted his inability to furnish him with the number of the watch, but stated that the watch indicated ten minutes past nine when he last looked at it, mentioning a certain part of the road, that it was a silver hunting English lever watch, bearing the name of Charles Nephew & Co. on the dial plate; that it was chased with eccentric circles on the back and front of the case; and that there was a dent at a certain spot which had been occasioned by a previous fall. A few days after he received back his watch the fall had injured the works and stopped its going, so that the hands still pointed to ten minutes past nine o'clock, the time of the accident. Now, although the number of the watch was not given, yet the magistrate, finding that all the details stated by him corresponded with the circumstances of the case laid before him, rightly adjudged him to be the owner, and consequently restored the watch to him.

Now we ask our opponents, would they have considered the magistrate just in his decision were he to have argued thus, and refused to return the watch ?"It is a curious coincidence that the watch now before the Court should show ten minutes past nine, the very time when witness asserts his loss took place, but then every watch when going, points to that time twice every day; Charles Nephew & Co., too, have sold hundreds of similar watches bearing their name, and chased with eccentric circles too; and as for the dent on the back of the case, why every old watch may be shown to have one or more dents. The only point in favour of the applicant is the mention of the place where the watch was lost : this, too, may be considered an interesting coincidence,' as many persons having watches go up and down the road to Mussoorie, any one of whom may have lost theirs in the same spot; or the prisoner may have heard of a watch having been picked up in the spot indicated, and made his statement to avoid punishment on the charge of theft."

Now many of the arguments used by our opponents are not dissimilar to the supposed decision of the magistrate in the watch. case, and arise from one or more of three causes :Ist. Ignorance of the subject matter dealt with.

TO BE EXAMINED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

2d. Neglecting to examine carefully their own arguments. 3d. Prejudice.

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We could easily have given abundance of quotations in support of our charge, but we refrain, as we have no desire to detain our readers to see our neighbours' dirty coats: but we do ask from our opponent's "fair play." It is not fair to make extracts from publications of letters or articles sent to the Banner of Israel, and other Anglo-Israelitish newspapers, or from books published by any individual, without quoting even the writers' names or nom-de-plume and representing such statements as expressive of “Anglo-Israelite interpretations of certain texts of Scripture" (see "* Anglo-Israelism and the great Pyramid," by Rev. B. W. Savile). It may never have occurred to some of our opponents, to what absurdities such reasoning would lead them, if applied generally. A part can never be equal to a whole; no more can the expression of opinion of an individual be taken as representing the credence of a community.

We venture to express the hope that our opponents will carefully and prayerfully examine the subject, setting aside all prejudice; that reason may be brought to bear upon the plain statements of Scripture, coupled with existing, well-known facts; that their judgment may be unbiassed by preconceived notions, and their mind uninfluenced by supposititious objections to Anglo-Israel beliefs. The case does not lie in believing what this or that writer on the subject wrote; nor, on the other hand, should the personal abhorrence that some entertain of the idea of claiming relationship with a Jew be allowed to interfere with the right solution of the problem; but let the “truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” be the object to be attained; and with the following oftquoted theses and syllogisms on the subject, we leave our readers to consider for themselves the reply to the question, Are the British Israelites? which we have attempted to answer on our part in the affirmative.

We take it for granted that there is a God whose works are manifest around us in Nature, who is infinitely good, holy and wise, omnipotent, omnipresent, and unchangeable. Now, God cannot, because He will not, break His promises. (This is a selfevident truth, though it is revealed to us in His Word: Heb. vi. 18; Jer. xxxii. 40; Isa. liv. 9; Ps. lxxxix. 28, 33, 34; 2 Sam. xxiii. 5; Lev. xxvi. 44.)

Ist. God has made certain promises to the Israelites as a nation, and therefore cannot divert them to any other nation.

2d. The exact fulfilment of these promises is to be found in the present circumstances of the British and in no other. (The proofs of this we have endeavoured to lay before our readers in connection

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