Now no man will contend that, ried through, and the whole of it be on Israel's restoration to Canaan, all thus understood ? this will be accomplished literally. Let us see if there are any other Some part of the representation is, passages which will help us to setby the admissson of all, to be under- tle this question. God says, “I will

,

66 stood figuratively. And here the make them one nation in the land question arises, Where shall the upon the mountains of Israel: and figurative interpretation strp, and David my servant shall be king the literal begin? How much of over them.” (Ez. xxxvii. 22. 24.) the language of scripture on this We are certainày not here to undersubject is figurative, and how much stand that David, literally, will be is literal ?

Israel's king. The meaning is that Undoubtedly it must be admitted Israel will submit, and be happy, that this language is figurative, so under the government which God far as it is founded on those pecu- shall appoint for them, even as liarities of the ancient worship they formerly did under the governwhich are done away by the Chris- ment of David: they shall enjoy tian dispensation. Altars, and sa- the blessings of the Messiah's reign, crifices, and purifications, and many of which the reign of David was a other observances, will not literally faint emblem. Now, since the exist.

promise that David shall be their Let the inquiry then be made, king, must be understood, not litewhether, if a part of the language rally, but as a promise of spiritual of scripture on this sybject is to be blessings; why shall not the prointerpreted figuratively, the whole mise of planting them again on the may not be thus interpreted? If mountains of Israel be understood, the promise that the Jews shall be not literally, but as a promise of restored to the observance of the those high spiritual blessings and Mosaic rites, is to be understood, privileges which, once, the mounnot literally, but simply that they tains of Israel alone afforded, but shall be restored to the enjoyment which now, under the Christian of religion, why may not the pro- dispensation, may be equally enmise that they shall be restored to joyed in any other part of the Palestine be understood, not lite- world? Do not the rules of interrally, but as indicating their return pretation allow, and, if there are to the divine favour?

no opposing considerations, do they A moment's consideration will not require, that we take this view show that this interpretation is very

of the subject ? natural. In all their former disper- There are one or two other

passions they looked on a return to sages which it may not be amiss to their own land, and to the enjoy- mention. 66 Thus saith the Lord of ment of their religious rites, as the hosts, In those days it shall come richest of God's mercies. This to pass, that ten men shall take was, in a very important sense, un- hold, out of all languages of the nader the ancient dispensation, a re- tions, even shall take hold of the storation to the enjoyment of reli- skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, gion. Would it not hence be very We will go with you: for we have natural, in predicting a future re- heard that God is with you.” (Zech. storation to God's favour, to borrow viii. 23.) And “at that time they language from the state of things shall call Jerusalem the throne of then existing? And as a part of the the Lord; and all the nations language employed on this subject shall be gathered unto it, to the must be understood in this manner, name of the Lord, to Jerusalem.” why shall not the principle be car. (Jer. iii. 17.)

a

Now here are expressions which, figuratively, why shall it not be understood literally, give the Jews, thus interpreted in the other? at their restoration and afterwards, Perhaps the New Testament a great pre-eminence above all will throw some light on the subother nations; and which, at their ject before us. We there find the restoration, make all other nations conversion of the Jews to Chrisfollow them to Jerusalem, as the tianity very frequently mentioned. place where God has his seat, and The veil shall be taken away from is to be worshipped. But who be- their hearts: (2 Cor. iii. 16.) lieves that the Gentiles must go to They shall be grafted into their Judea, and be gathered into Jerusa- own olive-tree: (Rom. xi. 24.) As lem, to worship God? Every man touching the election, they are beunderstands this representation of loved for the fathers’ sakes. (Ibid. the prophet in a figurative sense, v. 28.) And if their return to Juas signifying simply that the Gen- dea, and the re-organization of their tiles will be converted to the true national establishment, constitute a religion, and be brought to the part of the promised blessing, we worship of the true God, who, at may certainly expect that the the time when the prophet spoke, writers of the New Testament will was worshipped chiefly at Jerusa- speak of these things as clearly, at lem, but who is now worshipped, in least, as the propheis did who lived spirit and in truth, in any part of several centuries before them, and the world. And the remark that under a darker dispensation. And other nations shall take hold of since a part of what the prophets the skirt of him that is a Jew, and wrote must be understood figurago with him, seems to signify the tively; and since the whole, witheagerness with which they will in- out violating any just rule of interquire on the subject of religion, pretation, may be thus understood ; and the readiness with which they we shall do well to see whether will unite themselves to God's true the instructions of Christ and his worshippers, wherever found. The apostles will help us towards a deJews, when the prophet wrote, cision of what now remains doubtwere God's peculiar people. With ful. them, and almost with them only, But where are those declarations was the knowledge of the true God. of Christ and his apostles, which To hear, therefore, and follow show that the Jews shall be retheir instructions, was to embrace turned to Canaan, and be re-organthe true religion. Hence, in point- ized into a nation, and enjoy those ing out the future conversion of the peculiar distinctions which some Gentiles, the prophet very natu- suppose are in reserve for them? rally used language accommodated Sofar as I recollect, the whole New to this subject; used language found- Testament is silent on this subject. ed on the state of things then exist. And what inference shall this siing

lence lead us to make? When so But if the prophet, when he teils much is said about the conversion us that the Gentiles are to be ga- of the Jews to Christianity, and thered into Jerusalem to worship nothing is said about their return to God, means only that they will be Palestine, and the supposed distincconverted to the true religion, why tions connected with it, is it not may we not, when he teils us that reasonable to infer that that return, the Jews will be gathered there, and those distinctions, constitute no understand him as meaning only part of the promised blessings; and that they will be converted to the that, when the Jews are brought true religion? If the language in to embrace Christ, and his religion, the one case, is to be interpreted the whole import of the langnage

ceases.

of the prophets on this subject will accomplishment of a great object; be accomplished ?

which object being accomplished, But not only is the New Testa- . the necessity of the distinction ment silent as regards any thing

God would make an expewhich might favour the opinion riment with the world, to let it be that the Jews are hereafter to seen what human powers would acenjoy great and peculiar distinctions complish on the subject of religion, as a separate community: it con- when left to struggle alone. But tains some expressions which di- whilst this experiment was going rectly militate against that opi- forward, lest all knowledge of himnion. Christ, speaking with refer- self and the true religion should be ence to the Jews, says, “Other lost from the earth, he selected sheep I have, which are not of this one people whom he would not fold: them also I must bring; and give up to themselves entirely; there shall be one fold and one with whom he would deposit such shepherd.” (John x. 16.) This communications as he had made, seems to imply that all his people and might wish to make, for the ulwill be, essentially, placed on a le- timate benefit of the world ; and vel, and treated alike. The apos- among whom should rise up, in due tle says that the wall of partition time, a Saviour for all nations. between Jews and Gentiles, Christ The Jews never were the peculiar hath broken down, to make, in him- people of God, in that sense in which self, of the two, one new man. (Eph. they sometimes understood themselves ii. 14. 15.) And again ne teaches to be. God frequently says to them, us that, under the Christian dispen- “Be it known unto you, not for sation, distinctions which had for your sakes do I these things unto merly exi-ted were done away. you : but for mine own sake."* It Here “ there is neither Greek nor was for the accomplishment of his Jew, circumcision nor uncircumci

own purposes that these things sion, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor were done. free: but Christ is all, and in all.” But when the experiment with (Col. iii. 11.)

the rest of the world was compleSuch is the uniform representa- ted; when the oracles of God were tion of the New Testament, when- preserved through the period of ever it speaks on this subject. And darkness, for the benefit of subsedoes not this testimony furnish us quent ages; and when the great with a safe guide in explaining the Deliverer had come; the accomlanguage of the prophets? Added plishment of these purposes was to the silence of the New Testa- effected. Then why need the disment on the other side of the ques- tinction which previously existed tion, is it not decisive that the Jews be kept up? The whole New Tesget the whole amount of their pro- tament, as we have seen, teaches mnised blessings, when they are us, when it speaks on the subject, brought to an interest in the gos- that it ought not to be kept up. pel, on an equal standing with the The object is accomplished-let Gentile world?

the distinction cease. I know that the Jews have been It may be said, indeed, that the the peculiar people of God, and dispersion of the Jews from Paleshave been peculiariy distinguished tine has been literal. And from as the objects of the divine care this, it may be thought, an arguand beneficence. And from this

ment arises in favour of their lite. we may be ready to infer that it al- ral return. But is it not probable ways will be thus with them. But we should remember that

Deut. ix. 5, 6. Ps.cri. %. Ezek. xxxvi. their former distinction was for them. and other planas

that the divine purpose, in their tually become converts, this distincdispersion, while it included the tion and pre-eminence among their punishment of the nation for their Gentile brethren? There was no unbelief and sin, was yet designed point in which the Jewish converts chiefly to effect a complete aboli- were more strenuous than in this, tion of the old system of rites and that they might be considered as ceremonies? Their literal disper- holding a more distinguished place sion seems to have been, in some in the church than their Gentile sense, necessary, in order to the brethren. And there was no point accomplishment of this object. But in which the apostles declared their literal return is noi necessary themselves more fully and decidedin order to their enjoyment of the ly than in this, that under Christ's privileges of Christianity. Under dispensation there was neither The Christian dispensation, the Gentile nor Jew, but all were on a whole arch of heaven is a temple, level-all were one. Now, what and the whole earth an altar, and reason is there to believe that, every holy man a priest to offer when the whole Jewish nation are spiritual sacrifices by Jesus Christ. converted, they will be admitted to In this temple let every believing any better standing than the first Jew worship: on this altar let him converts after our Saviour's ascenoffer his sacrifices: and be content sion? to stand on a level with his brother Perhaps the Jews, when the converts from the Gentile nations. way is open, will many of them re

This is an appointment, howe- sort to Palestine. It would not be ver, to which the Jews yield with strange that this should be the case. great reluctance. It was one of Yet probably as they become real the grand causes why they rejected converts to Christianity, they will Christ, that he would not allow think more of the heavenly Canaan them in that outward distinction than of that on earth. And it may and pre-eminence above other na- be doubted whether their usefultions, which they claimed. If any ness in the world, after their conthing of this distinction and pre- version, would be so great, if they eminence had been promised them, were enclosed in a separate comwhy did not Christ grant them as munity by themselves, as if they much at least as the prophets in- were still living in the four quarters tended, and so remove all needless of the earth. Be this, however, as difficulties to the acceptance of his it may, it has but little bearing on religion ? Even further, if this dis- the present question. Many things tinction and pre-eminence had been may yet take place respecting the promised them, they had a right to Jews, of which the scriptures give dlaim it, and Christ must have been us no information ; and which we under obligations to allow it to cannot now, therefore, make a part them. Yet he allowed it not. And of our belief, without going beyond this shows that it was not pro- what is written. But it is impormised.

tant for us to know how far the If it should be said that it was scriptures do go; what they do promised on their repentance and teach ; both as the truth itself is faith, it may then be asked why valuable, and also as it might throw Christ did not thus explain the mat- some light on the best methods of ter to them? And it may be asked, benefiting that interesting, but long still further, why the apostles did neglected and much abused, portion not allow those Jews who had ac- of our race.

ALEPIT.

A SERMON.

graduated to a high exercise of be

nevolence, they would, with the Philippians ii. 21.

exception of the few, be found For all seek their own, not the things wanting. It has been the mistake which are Jesus Christ's. of some great and good men, that

they have resolved the whole of CHRISTIANS are commanded to grow Christian character into an illustrain knowledge as well as in grace, tion of one individual principle, because knowledge of duty must which has led them to set aside precede the performance of duty; true evidences of grace, which were knowledge of what is acceptable to not considered as springing from God must be prior to acceptable that root. To generalize and clasobedience. Deficiency in know. sify the different graces as though ledge, therefore, will be accompa- they were the branches of a differnied with deficiency in practice; ent stock, has occasioned much unhence the same consistency, and an easiness and darkness among proentire uniformity, are not to be ex- fess. d Christians, and been the pected in all the professed follow- ground of much disputation in the ers of Christ. There is a great di- church. versity in the manner and ability Although great allowances are to of perception, and in previous ad- be made in judging of the evivantages ; which diversity is not dence and degrees of piety, still inconsistent with the existence of there are certain prominent and true religion, but furnishes a rea- radical characteristics, which enter son why the strong should bear the into its very nature, and absolutely infirmities of the weak. In spirit- decide the fact of its existence. ual as well as natural life, there No man, for instance, can he proare different stages : maturity is nounced a Christian, who does not not expected at the moral, more love God supremely; yet he may than at the natural birth. Each

not in every case give indubitable stage from infancy to advanced age proof that he acts under the influhas its duties; nor are we to con- ence of this love. The diversity sider him as destitute of holiness

among professors of religion, ariswho has not reached its highest ing from constitution, habit, educaattainments. What would be re- tion, and prejudice, renders it exgarded with tenderness, and over- tremely difficult to decide upon satlooked as a weakness, in one mem- isfactory claims to Christian cha. ber of Christ's family, would be no. racter. It would be an improper ticed with severity and marked judgment, no doubt, to say that all with censure, in another. In nothing the teachers and Christians alluded perhaps is this inequality among to by the apostle in the text, with Christians discoverable, more than the exceptions of Timothy and Epain the efforts made for the enlarge- phroditus, were destitute of a prinment of the Redeemer's kingdom. ciple of piety; although he makes Some make an occasional prayer the general assertion that they all for the salvation of souls and the sought their own, not the things which conversion of the world; others ap- are Jesus Christ's. Now if it were propriate a very small portion of a fact that, in every instance, they their substance to the furtherance consulted their own interest to the of these objects; while others add neglect of the welfare of Christ's a remnant of time; and a few make kingdom ; that they always prefergreat sacrifices and laudable exer- red their own benefit to any claim tions. Now these would all desire which the great Head of the church to be accounted Christians; but if asserted, they gave very concluthey were to be judged by a scale sive evidence that the love of God