vards square, supported by four long poles. The bridegroom is led under the canopy by his two friends, and the bride also by her friends; and they are there stationed opposite to each other. The Rabbi then takes a glass of wine in his hand, which had been poured out by the Shamas, and says the following blessing, "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, the Creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast sancti"fied us with Thy commandments, and hast forbidden to us fornication, and hast prohibited to us the betrothed, but hast allowed to us those who are married to us by means of the canopy and the wedding-ring. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the sanctifier of thy people Israel, by means of the canopy and wedlock." The bride and the bridegroom now taste of the wine; when the latter takes out the ring, and, in presence of all the party, puts it on the bride's finger; and, repeating after the Rabbi, in Hebrew, he says:- "Behold thou art betrothed unto me with this ring, according to the rites of Moses and Israel." Then the Rabbi takes the Kethuvah, or marriage contract, which is written in Chaldee, and reads it aloud in that language. Although the parties be not able to understand the reading, it contains, nevertheless, all the items essential to such a contract. When the Kethuvah has been read, the Chazan takes another glass of wine, and says "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast created every thing for Thy glory. Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast created man in the image of the likeness of his form, and prepared for him of Himself a lasting fabric. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the Creator of man She that was barren shall rejoice and delight in the gathering of her children unto her with joy. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the Rejoicer of Zion and her children. With joy shalt thou rejoice those loving friends, even as thy Creator rejoiced thee in the garden of Eden, Eastward. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the Rejoicer of the bridegroom and the bride. Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe who hast created joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, delight and song, pleasure and sympathy, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. Speedily, O Lord our God, let there be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of the merriment of the bridegrooms from out of their canopies, and youths from their musical feasts. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the Rejoicer of the bridegroom with the bride. Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, the Creator of the fruit of the vine." After this the bridegroom and the bride taste of the second glass of wine. Then an empty glass is laid on the floor; the bridegroom stamps upon it and breaks it, when all present cry out, "Mazal tov," i.e., "good luck," and the ceremony is ended. CALL OF THE COMMITTEE TO SPECIAL AND COMBINED PRAYER, THE following call of the Committee to special and combined prayer, has just been issued and will we doubt not meet with a hearty response from all that love Israel. Q. By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small? (Amos vii. 2.) Ans.-Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zech. iv. 6.) To all who love the Lord Jesus Christ, friends of Israel. DEAR BRETHREN,-Our Missionaries are labouring patiently and perseveringly in their allotted spheres, and Jews are listening and learning. The knowledge of Christianity is thus very extensively diffused among them, and is in many instances great, and even surprising. According to this time, it may be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! (Num. xxiii. 23.) There appears a manifest shaking among these dry and scattered bones. (Ezekiel xxxvii. 7.) What is yet wanting? What, but "the Spirit to be poured upon them from on high?" (Isaiah xxxvii. 15.) What, but the lifegiving power of God the Holy Ghost, to quicken the soul, and to render their knowledge of the Scriptures effectual to salvation? (1 Cor. iii. 6, 7.) "Come, then, from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." (Ezek. xxxvii. 9.) Such is the universal cry that reaches us on all sides, from our faithful and devoted labourers. 'Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.' (Rom. ix. 6.) Already we are enabled to rejoice over a very considerable remnant of Christian Israelites, both sons and daughters, the seal of the Divine blessing on the Society's efforts. (Ezek. xiv. 22; Isaiah lv. 11; Rom. xi. 5.) For this, let us thank God and take courage.' (Acts xxviii. 15.) Still the number of those openly added to the Lord is small in proportion to the extent of the movement. Many who are secretly convinced that ́ ́ Jesus is the Christare afraid to confess Him,''for fear of the Jews.' How may we not hope that these also may be given to us in answer to the prayers of God's believing people! We ask, therefore, the friends of Israel far and wide, to help us with their fervent supplications at the throne of grace. (Isaiah lxii. 7; Heb. iv. 16.) To give a practical turn to this appeal, the following heads of prayer have been drawn up, furnishing a comprehensive view of the Society's operations, and accompanied with appropriate Scripture references. It is not, of course, supposed that the whole of these heads should be ordinarily included in any one prayer. They may easily be inserted between the leaves of a Bible, and each portion find a place, in turn, week by week, in our supplications. (Isaiah lxiii. 7.) At Clerical Meetings, one of the divisions might be introduced on each occasion. And in Prayer Meetings, the whole might easily be distributed amongst those who pray in the name of the rest. Special Motives and Encouragements to be borne in mind. 1 The duty and privilege of prayer; and the promises made to it. (Luke xviii. 1-7.) Place held by the Jews in the love, purpose, and promises of Jehovah. (Exod. iv. 22; Isaiah xliii.; Rom. ix. 4, 5.) Love and interest felt for them by the Church of Christ. (Psalm cii. 13, 14.) The debt we owe them. (John iv. 22; Rom. xv. 27.) Our past neglect and ill-treatment of them. (Jer. 1. 6, 7; Zech. i. 15.) Their perishing condition while they continue in unbelief. (John iii. 36; Acts iv. 12; Rom. x. 4.) Gratitude for our own mercies. Rom. xi. 30.) (Matt. x. 8; < Our solemn responsibility. (Prov. xxiv. 11; Ez. xxxiii. 7-9; Matt. xxv. 14.) Signs of the times. (Hab. ii. 1-3; Matt. xxiv. 14, 33.) Evident progress of the work amongst the Jews. (Acts xiv. 1, 3; xxi. 20.) The special enmity of the Devil against this work. (Zech. iii. 1, 2; Rev. xii. 17.) Special promises to those who love, and pity, and care for Israel. (Num. xxiv. 9; Ps. exxii. 6.j GENERALLY. We should call upon God the Father of our We should earnestly entreat that a spirit of grace and supplication may be given us to intercede for Israel. (Rom. x. 1.) We should acknowledge the greatness of that salvation, which it is our privilege to declare unto them. (Acts xiii. 32; Heb. i. 1-4; vii. 25.) We should thank God for any interest which we have been led to feel in such a cause, |