children of Israel and seed of Jacob, to remind you of it, and urge on your attention the necessity of making the most of it.

Say not, I pray you, as did your ancestors when in captivity at Babylon, "Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts." Ezek. xxxvii. 11. But rather believe the declaration of St. Paul, that "God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew;" and further, "that now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation." This is your day of grace-"this is the set time" when the LORD-Jesus-your own Messiah, will arise and have mercy upon Zion, and receive unto Himself His penitent believing people; yea, too, His long rebellious children.

Before however proceeding further, let me explain what I mean by calling this your day of grace. I mean the time in which you shall be saved. Did not your prophets speak of these days? Hear what Jeremiah says (Jer. xxxiii. 16). "In those days shall Judah be saved," &c. Again, Joel ii. 29, and once more, Isa. xxxv. 4, xlv. 17; "Israel shall be saved in the Lord, &c." (Zech. ix. 16; Rom. xi. 26.) Can you not say with the sweet singer of Israel! "I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord ?" Earnestly look for it. (Ps. cxix. 123.) Pray for a joyful sense of it. (Ps. li. 12.) May it be said to each one of the house of Israel and Jacob, as it was once said by Messiah himself to Zacchæus of old, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham." Cry, I beseech you, unto the LORD, and say unto Him, O Lord, show us thy mercy, and grant us Thy salvation."

Doubt not his willingness and ability to save you but believe it. Hear what St. Paul saith: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Delay no longer. Do it now. "And as thy servant was busy here, and there he was not.' 1 Kings xx. 40. The neglect of present duty is the ruin of man. Think this within yourselves that is just possible, yea even probable, that Messiah might return ere His people were prepared to meet Him. And oh, what then! Ponder the solemn words of holy writ: "They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut." (Matt. xxv. 10.)

CREDAT JUDÆUS;

OR THE CRUDE CREDULITIES OF UNBELIEVING JEWS.

[We intend to devote a page or two, each month, to items which may be classed under the above heading. We shall cula them from unbelieving Jewish prints.]

THE CONVERT AND THE CLOTHESMAN. Such is the heading of an article in the organ of the Jewish Free School, which styles itself The Jewish World, of the 11th ult. The following is the burden of that article:

"A poor co-religionist, named Wiener, told us a capital anecdote a few days ago. He was passing along the Harrow Road, in the pursuit of his calling, and was carrying in his hand a few articles of dress he had just purchased for a few shillings. Stopping at the corner of a street, undecided which way to turn, he was accosted by a convert to Christianity, who had bartered his God for a few paltry pounds, and wished to ensnare him by holding out similar golden inducements. clothesman, who is miserably poor, allowed him to proceed, and then coolly replied, 'My dear fellow, you see that it is my way to do business by "swopping," but I always take care to examine well the articles offered me. Your article must be of very inferior quality if you give me such a large sum to take it in exchange for mine!' Mr. convert went away quite crestfallen."

The

Of course, we know there is not a word of truth in poor Wiener's "capital anecdote," inasmuch as we know, as well as every one interested in the repentance and conversion of the Jews knows,that neither" paltry pounds "nor "golden inducements "are either offered to, or realised by, penitent Israelites on their return to THE FAITH taught in Moses and the Prophets. But what will not an unbelieving Jew believe! How often have we to adopt the stinging exclamation of Horace, Credat Judaus Apella! Let us furnish another specimen.

CONVERSION, is the heading of the following letter, which appeared in the same veracious Weekly of the 18th ult.:

"Sir,- I often see the question mooted 'Can a Jew be converted?' What a silly question. Of course he can, a dozen times over. Ask some of the Mohammedan-Maori-Hebrew-Christian gentlemen (how fond they are of aliases)

how often they have been converted, and if they dare tell the truth, we should find that they have been baptized in many a church throughout the kingdom. Towns and villages abound in dear old England; how easy it is to assume an alias, and get baptized a hundred times over, on each occasion pocketing a nice sum for the renunciation of past errors. It is a good paying game.-I am, sir, yours obediently, SAMUEL ISAACS."

We own that Mr. Samuel Isaacs outstrips us in knowledge of the wicked tricks of some of our unbelieving brethren. We are aware that Christrejecting Jews have many methods to turn a penny; but we could never have imagined that there are some members of the Jewish community who drive a "roaring" business by being baptized "in many a church throughout the kingdom." Yet Mr. Samuel Isaacs writes as if he knew the magic virtue of an alias, as if he had been many a year in the business. There is a great deal in that sage epigram of our Rab

There* אין חכם כבעל הנסיון : bis

is none so knowing as the practical experimenter." Let us, however, put on their guard over-credulous Israelites. Let us assure them that Mr. Samuel Isaacs' great success in getting "baptized a hundred times over, on each occasion pocketing a nice sum for the renunciation of past errors," is an exceptional one. We do not believe that a parallel to it can be adduced anywhere. What proved "a good paying game "to Mr. Samuel Isaacs may but prove a snare and delusion to others. Besides, Mr. Samuel Isaacs having explained his "little game," the business, if it ever was generally pursued, must be ruined by his indiscreet confession. You who have an eye to business, be on your guard against the advice of unconverted baptized Jews, of whom Mr. Samuel Isaacs would hold himself up as a successful experimentalist.

THE ISRAELITISH ORIGIN OF THE HOHENZOLLERN DYNASTY.-A canard has lately found its way into one of the German papers, and he of the organ of the Jewish Free School pounced upon it with characteristic credulity, and forgot, for the nonce, to take advantage of the opportunity to vilify Jewish believers in Christ. The following appeared in that print of the 27th of last June:

"The Neue Freie Presse, the most influential journal published in Germany,

states that the present Emperor of Germany is descended from Jewish ancestors. More than a hundred years ago there lived in Italy a Jewish family of the name of Hohenzollern (the same as that of the emperor's family), who after a time took up their residence in Germany, in which country they became conspicuous on account of their wealth. Strange, however, to say, the whole of them embraced Christianity, and from this identical family all the Prussian kings, as also the present Emperor of Germany. are descended." CREDAT JUDEUS!

Correspondence.

[We do not identify ourselves with the opinions of our correspondents; and we are in no wise responsible for the tone and style in which certain opinions are expressed.]

THE TEN TRIBES.

REV. SIR, I was sorry to perceive in the April number an article signed "E. M. H." which was not written by the person to whom those initials belong. It came from the pen of Captain Clifford, an officer in the Indian Army. I do not wish to take the credit of writing it,-nor does it convey the ideas which occupy my mind on this subject.

The Powindahs, or "Wanderers," are probably that part of the lost tribes which God's word indicates as to be found in Elam, or Persia. (See Isaiah xi. 11.) This same passage plainly speaks of six other regions, and also of the "islands of the sea." Why not, therefore, applicable to the British Isles, as well as to others nearer Palestine? Nay, we might perhaps extend the term to the "isles afar off," which have been interpreted to signify "par-excellence" the British Isles, but which may also take in those which appear, with Great Britain and Ireland, to form "the four corners of the earth," viz., Newfoundland, New Zealand, and Tasmania, also, perhaps, Southern Australia. All these islands speak the same language, and therefore, though so widely scattered, can easily be "assembled when the Lord sets His promised sign among them. (Isa. lxvi. 19.) With regard to the various regions, it may be well to put them in a list, and their modern names or localities opposite to them; for there

may be a practical use made of this should the Gracious Disposer to all good stir up the hearts either of Hebrew Christians or believing Israelites to go to their brethren after the flesh, and " by all means save some" of them. The regions mentioned in Isaiah xi.

are:

1. Assyria-in Asia Minor (now called Turkey in Asia), watered by the Tigris.

2. Egypt-well known.

3. Pathros-Upper Egypt, near Nubia.

4. Cush-Arabia (nearly central). 5. Elam-Persia (the Powindahs inhabit Khorassan).

6. Shinar-in Turkey in Asia, watered by the Euphrates.

7. Hamath-the country of Damas

cus.

8. The islands of the sea (?) same as 9. 9. The four corners of the earth (?) -Great Britain and Ireland, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Southern Australia or Tasmania.

We

We have thus eight or nine localities specially named as the dwelling-places of the remnant of the Lord's people. Whether each tribe will be enabled to recognise its own identity may probably remain a mystery till, as the Rev. J. C. Abraham has so plainly pointed out, they shall meet on the mountains of Israel with their brethren, the remnant of Judah, who shall return. are told that "though Thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return." (Isa. x. 22.) It is not, therefore, to be supposed, that there will be any compulsion, but that when they see the "sign" or "signs," they will, by God's grace, feel a desire to return to their own land With regard to the signs, they seem to be twofold, viz:-First, the drying up of the Euphrates, which some interpret figuratively of the decay of the Turkish power. (Compare Isaiah xi. 15, with Revelation of St. John, xvi. 12.) Secondly, the raisingup of some eminent person to assist the Jews who shall have a visible defect -that of "lameness." In four different verses this sign is alluded to: Jer. xxxi. 8; Micah iv. 6, 7 ; and Zeph. iii. 19. Such an one appears likely yet to come to eminent dignity, and her visible defect may be taken as a type of that once glorious nation, now "halting between two opinions."

"England hath halted, mentally hath

halted

As halts her princess (though beloved and blest);

Yet may she aid the Jews, e'en though assaulted,

When they regain in Palestine their rest."

And in the glorious day when Judah shall return triumphant to his own land, shall Ireland be forgotten? For may not many of us call ourselves "desolate and forsaken?" and have we not, as the children of Israel, been abiding "many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim ?" (Hosea iii. 5.) Has not our Church, like Joseph himself, been separated from our brethren, and do we not say, like Ephraim, "What have I to do any more with idols?" Let us then be acceptable and dear to the heart of Judah, to whom we will give goodly words like Naphtali of old, for the Lord has bestowed upon our nation the gift of eloquence above many; and let those of Judah, who are rich in this world's goods, stretch out their hands to our Church in the land of our captivity, for we repent and confess our perverseness and our wickedness, and we return unto God with all our heart and with all our soul. (1 Kings viii. 47-49.)

The Rev. A. A. Isaacs said that none could claim the blessings promised to Israel in the latter days, but such as had been "an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword." (Deut. xxviii. 37.) Has not our Church been made so for the last five years in the sight of the whole world? Many of the other curses in Deut. xxviii. have also been literally fulfilled in the Irish nation of late years, in the famine in the west of Ireland which raged more or less from 1846 to 1853-the carcases were literally meat for the fowls of heaven and beasts of the earth, and none to fray them away. Our sons and our daughters have been given to another people in the great exodus of our nation, and the eyes of their parents have failed with longing for them all the day long. The nation of fierce countenance has well-nigh destroyed our people by fraud and oppression, and some of us have been smitten with madness and blindness, and astonishment of heart; so that we are left few in number, whereas we were as the

stars of heaven for multitude in (proportion to the size of our island). But now let us call to mind the blessing and the curse, and let us return unto the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul, that so He may turn our captivity, and have compassion upon us, and gather us even from the utmost parts of heaven! MARAH.

[We think the advocates of the "Our Israelitish Origin" theory have now stated their case from every point of view. We shall, therefore, with their leave, close the discussion with Marah's letter.-ED. H. C. W.]

"Amsterdam, June 16th, 1873.
"658, Hudde-Straat.

"I am very sorry to say that my Vocational labours at this station will not permit my entertaining the hope of being able to attend at your gathering, in which I should feel so much interest. It will be conceivable to you, dear Doctor, when I say that all my time and strength is absorbed in my work of preparing to preach in a foreign language,-the Dutch,

as our brother Pauli's strength is no longer sufficient to bear the whole burden. For this reason I cannot so fully enter into the expressions of my sympathies with your good and laudable object to unite the Hebrew Christian brethren together as a cloud of witnesses in the face of Jewish and Gentile unbelief;-unbelief not only in the blessed hope of the Gospel, but mistrust and distrust in the reality of the conversions of Hebrews.

"Once more regretting that I shall not be able to attend, and wishing you showers of blessings from on High on the meeting

of our Hebrew Christian brethren, I beg you to believe me, my dear Doctor, yours in Christ Jesus most truly, "A. C. ADLER."

"1, St. James's Square, Hull,
"June 23rd, 1873.

"My dear Brother,-I received your invitation, and truly regret that I cannot join you on that auspicious day. I shall be with you in spirit, for I think the object is a laudable one, and ought to have the support of every Hebrew Christian. I shall be glad to hear of the successful issue of the Conference, and in all that lies in my power am willing to aid.

"I delayed my answer, still hoping I should have been able to be present, but regret that I cannot. With kindest salutation and fervent prayer that the great Head of the Church may be in the midst of the brethren assembled, believe me very sincerely yours in the Hope of Israel,' "J. S. KRENIG,

"Curate of Holy Trinity, Hull. "P.S.-There are several Jewish converts here who strongly sympathise with the movement, but are unable to attend."

"12, Park Place, Clifton, Bristol,

"June 24, 1873. "I was sorry to learn from your last that you were 'far from well,' and trust that, by God's grace and mercy, you will be strengthened for the coming Conference on the 26th inst. Hebrew Christian Conferences I look upon with deepest interest. They are invaluable for drawing our scattered brethren nearer to one another, for uniting them in that holy bond of which our blessed Saviour is the Head and Centre, and for practically proving to the world that God is stirring the hearts of His ancient people and preparing them for the accomplishment of His blessed promises. It is therefore with much regret that I have to inform you that ill or rather weak health prevents my being with you on this occasion. May the spirit of prayer and supplication, of holy union and fellowship, be abundantly poured out upon you and all the brethren! May the Divine blessing be with you to guide and direct you in all things!-With our united kind regards, yours very truly, "J. B. GOLDBERG."