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"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh come." By Christians, great complaint was made, that the very prosperous, and in a worldly sense, glorious position of the Jews, was (I quote the words of the venerable Paul, Bishop of Burgos, himself an Israelite by birth) "not only an offence, but a great peril for simple believers, ever ready to imitate the errors of their superiors."

All this grandeur and these privileges were nevertheless, not unfrequently accompanied by violent acts on the part of the populace, and complaints and protestations from the Councils and the Cortes. To satisfy their clamours, it was sometimes needful to promulgate afresh ancient decrees which had almost fallen into oblivion, such as the limitation of Jewish places of abode to a peculiar quarter, the obligation to wear a distinctive mark, and exclusion from posts of dignity and public offices. The more un

limited and severe the enactment, however, the less chance there was of its being actually put in force. Sometimes, at the instigation of the political or ecclesiastical body, a reprimand was issued to the Jews by those kings who themselves regarded them with the greatest favour. Thus King Alphonso X. reproved them for the exorbitant luxury of their habits, and Alphonso XI. forbade Christians attending their festivals.

The opposition and remonstrances of the Cortes and Councils against the influence of the Jews, and the abuses which it occasioned, made more impression on the kings of the dynasty of Transtamare. Henry de Transtamare, however, (the second of that name,) although the Jews opposed the revolt made in his favour in the reign of his

brother, Pedro, seems to have paid little attention to the complaints made against them by the Cortes of Burgos. When this assembly, one day, enjoined him to dismiss all Jews from office about his person, either as physicians or ministers, asserting that their presence at Court caused trouble and civil dissensions, the new king answered, that he himself knew what was the wisest course to take in that matter."

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Whereupon he confirmed the privileges granted to the Jews by his father, Alphonso XI., and availed himself equally of their talents and services.

MISSIONS TO THE JEWS.

LONDON.

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A GOOD and great work is we trust doing amongst the Jews in our metropolis. The schools are, in many instances, "nurseries for heaven." The Chapel is to many an Israelite a Beth-el," a house of God, a gate of heaven. Evidence of this is often afforded to the minister of the Chapel, the Rev. J. B. Cartwright, whose constant and unwearied attention to the instruction and training of the young of the flock of Israel, and whose intelligent convincing and affectionate addresses from the pulpit to hundreds of their nation, cannot but have been and will we trust still be a blessing of incalculable value.

In a communication, dated Feb. 14th, Mr. Cartwright, speaking in reference to the Schools and the Chapel, says :

"I frequently meet with persons who have been

educated in our Hebrew Schools, whose childhood and youth I well remember, but whom time and circumstances have so altered, that I fail to recognize the child in the man or woman of mature age, until a recurrence to past and familiar events at once identifies the person. In this way I have often cause of thankfulness in discovering, that even under unfavourable circumstances, the good seed sown in childhood is by no means lost; encouraging the hope that ere long the Holy Spirit may give life and power to the instruction of former years, and attest the faithfulness of the Divine promise: Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.'

"A few days ago I was told that a young man, a soldier, was waiting to see me. On going to him, I found a smart young soldier, who from his general appearance, his rank as a corporal, and the good conduct stripes on his arm, seemed to have conducted himself satisfactorily in his present calling. For some time I could not at all recollect him, but after a little conversation and hearing the sound of his voice, his whole former appearance and history were present to my mind. He had completed his apprenticeship, but not being able to earn his living very satisfactorily, he had been induced to enlist in the army. He was on furlough from his regiment, at present stationed in Ireland. He had several times heard sermons in behalf of the Jews when marched to Church with his regiment, and had been delighted to recognize well known faces in the pulpit on such occasions. He mentioned an instance or two in which the subject had made a deep impression on his superiors. He

possesses sufficient of the Jewish aspect not always to escape the ridicule, with which the world in its most amiable mood, does not fail to treat the descendants of Israel; but on the whole, I should think that he had conciliated the kindly feelings of his comrades. May the Lord, the Holy Spirit, bless this child of Abraham, and make him a blessing in the ranks of a Gentile Christian army."

In the same communication, Mr. Cartwright gives the following account of the

Baptism of Six Israelites.

"On Sunday evening, Feb. 1st., I baptized six adult Israelites, five of whom had been for some time under Mr. Ewald's instruction, and were prepared by him for baptism; the sixth had received a very lengthened and careful course of instruction from a young friend and member of our congregation, whose labours in a private station in behalf of God's ancient people have been for some years most valuable and unwearied.

"The occasion was a very solemn one; the congregation was large and deeply impressed; and the attendance of Jews such as I think I have never before witnessed; inasmuch as they all remained to the close of the sermon, instead of leaving after the baptisms, as a portion of them generally do. I preached from Romans x. 12, "There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek." Many manifested great attention; and I could only pray, as I believe many of the congregation did most earnestly, that the Lord would open many hearts, and magnify His own word, as the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also the Gentile."

Poetry.

"YE ARE MY WITNESSES."

ISAIAH XLIV, 8.

"YE are my Witnesses." Thus spake the Lord,
To ancient Israel. Theirs the written word;
Theirs the adoption, and the glory theirs ;—
Of prophets, kings, and patriarchs the heirs ;
Promise and covenant to them were given,
Earth's loveliest land, and kindling hopes of heaven.
The people sat in darkness. All around

Death cast his mournful shadows on the ground;
But Israel's homes were lighted from above,
And the broad banner over them was love;
God's Witnesses, His power and truth to show,
To Gentile nations, sunk in guilt and woe.

"Ye are my Witnesses." Thus saith the Lord
To Israel now. Famine, and plague, and sword,
And years of dreary exile they have borne;
The world's fierce hatred, and reproach, and scorn;
For awful was their crime, and such the woes
Denounced by God 'gainst his rebellious foes.
Dread Witnesses! Who looks on them nor fears
Just vengeance for the sins of by-gone years;
Who looks on them, nor prays the blood they spilt
May cleanse his soul, remove his load of guilt;
Nor breathes a prayer for those, self-doomed to be
Proofs of the righteous God's severity.

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