frail and brittle as the crystal walls of this Temple of Concord. It was pleasant in this weary and strife-loving world to see so grand a reality, and to be reminded of the better things laid up in store, when the whole world shall be under the dominion of the Prince of Peace, when as a proof of their conviction of its longendurance, and the calm repose of confidence, men shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; when all creation shall revive, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose."

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Clouds hung upon the skirts of the departing year." In a neighbouring country a sudden revolution, in violation of all law and all truth, told how little man can hope for from the promises of his fellow-man, and teaches that we should be ever turning to the faithful word of promise as the only sure foundation upon which our hopes may rest. In that word there are many promises of peace to the world, and of joy to the creation. We should observe how these are connected with the future destiny of the Jews, and then we should see, that as God in times past chose them as instruments of mercy to the world, so he will through them give light and peace again. We should then see that the universal song of praise cannot be raised, till the Harp of Judah be re-strung, and the voice of the daughter of Zion lead the grand chorus, whose burden shall be, Glory to God in the Highest, peace on earth, and good will to man.

This should sustain and increase our interest in the spiritual welfare of the ancient nation. This should lead us to more earnest and believing intercession for them at the throne of grace.

We hope, in our future pages, to place before you some of the plain predictions which bear upon the present and future history of the Jewish people, beginning with the earliest and going on to the latest of their prophets. In this we shall speak as plainly and simply as we can, in the hope that the younger of our readers may take a scriptural interest in our work, and also better understand God's purposes in the whole history of his chosen people.

Further, we hope to have some engraved illustrations of objects and places of interest, in the city and land of the Jews, and thus to make our little work more interesting and instructive. Our present number necessarily follows the footsteps of its predecessors, but we hope our friends will help us, not with suggestions only, but with simple and interesting contributions relating to the state and history of the nation, or of individual Jews.

We will only add our renewed earnest wishes that you, whilst labouring or praying for the good of Israel, may realize the fulfilment of the ancient promise" I will bless them that bless thee." Ever, your faithful friend,

THE EDITOR.

ANNUAL LETTER OF THE BISHOP AT
JERUSALEM.

THE Bishop of our Church, residing at Jerusalem, has sent his usual Annual Letter to the friends of both the Jews and Gentiles in the Holy City and the land of Israel. We extract some of

those parts of it which relate to the mission of our Society: they are calculated to try the faith and exercise the patience of the friends of Israel, and to call for more earnest prayer that the evils of which the Bishop complains may be remedied, and God's blessing yet descend upon a holy and active agency in poor, dark Jerusalem. Bishop writes:

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The

'Beloved Brethren,-It is with mingled feelings of sorrow and joy, of fear and hope, that, according to the practice of former years, I bring the present state of our Church and Mission in Jerusalem under your notice, with a view of exciting your sympathy, and thus of moving you to pray more earnestly for us, and with us, for the prosperity of the important and arduous work

entrusted to our feeble hands.

"I cannot express the feelings with which I invite you for the fifth time to unite with us in prayer and praise on that day, on which we commemorate the entrance into this city of the first Protestant Bishop in Jerusalem, ten years ago, and of the consecration of the first Protestant Church on Mount Zion, three years ago, viz., the 21st of January, 1852; I cannot, I say, express my feelings on this occasion better than in the words of Holy Writ:- I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain. Yet surely, my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.'

"Not to mention inward conflicts, more or less common to all the disciples of Christ on earth, while travelling towards their heavenly home, a dead apathy on the part of the great number of the objects of our solicitude, troubles and trials caused by persons of whom better things were ex

pected, open and latent opposition to the spread of the Gospel by more than one party, have been our portion during the past year, with but little to cheer and to encourage us.

“In manifold and great trials, we have made experiences so unexpected and so painful, as to convince us that the power of darkness is displaying an activity altogether frightful, to prevent the light of the Gospel from penetrating into this dark abode of superstition and worldliness. I will not enter into the details of the evils against which we have to contend. I will only say that the sight of them, and of the almost palpable workings of that evil spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, alternately fill me with dismay and joyful hope; the first, when I compare the little strength we have to oppose and attack such an enemy; the second, when, relying simply on the grace of God, I am led to believe that the extraordinary exercise of Satan's rage is a sign that he sees his hold on the people of this land in danger; to believe not only that Jesus and His cause will at last triumph, but also that the victory is near. But, notwithstanding all our trials, the Lord does not leave us without tokens of His mercy and goodness to us. This mission was this year in too weak a state, there being only one ordained, and one lay missionary. But, with thanks to God, I expect a considerable reinforcement in a few days, the London Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews having kindly resolved to send us one of their most experienced missionaries, with a lay missionary of good report. And there is work enough for as many as the Lord will be pleased to send; for, although the Rabbies have again on several occasions shown

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their opposition, and their persecuting disposition, yet there are many Jews whose hearts and minds are more or less open to the truth of the Gospel. I have just this hour heard of a most interesting case, but this is not the place for entering into details of this kind.

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During the course of this year, only one adult Jew has been baptized, a true Israelite, who having been a teacher for many years, and being well-informed, promises to become very useful to his brethren after the flesh.

"The church services have been regular, and upon the whole, well attended; and although it is extremely difficult to minister to a congregation composed of individuals differing from one another in so many respects, and many possessing but a very imperfect knowledge of any language, yet, I trust, and know, that the Lord is with us, and blesses our services; for whilst troubled souls have occasionally found both instruction and comfort, others on hearing the description of those who are on the way to perdition, have felt so much as to suppose that they were personally aimed at.

The Jewish Hospital has continued to be a source of much temporal good to many suffering sons and daughters of Abraham. And there is no doubt, although we have not the means of ascertaining it in most cases, some spiritual good will be the effect of this exercise of Christian love towards a people still trodden down, scattered and peeled.

"The House of Industry, which has already proved a source of blessing to several Israelites, received a severe wound a few months ago, through the most lamentable behaviour of two individuals.