The fulfilment of the prophecies which speak of desolation is a pledge of the accomplishment of those which tell of restoration. "It shall come to pass, saith the Lord, that as I have brought all this evil upon thee, so will I do unto thee all the good that I have promised." Jerusalem trodden down of the Gentiles is a proof that Jerusalem shall yet be a praise in the earth. Let us then earnestly pray for the speedy approach of the day of her deliverance, encouraged by the knowledge that he who hath torn will heal, that he who hath broken will bind up her wounds. Let us take care also, that as far as we can promote it, every means may be used to spread the knowledge of the Gospel amongst the scattered sons and daughters of the desolate widow, that they may be brought to look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn for him as one mourneth for an only son, and be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." And thus, they turning to the Lord who hath smitten them, may realize the accomplishment of his merciful purposes, glorify his name, and become in his hand a blessing to all the nations of the earth.

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FUNERAL CEREMONIES OF ENGLISH

JEWS.*

ABOUT eight minutes after the soul has departed, the face of the deceased is covered. During these eight minutes the corpse is not to be touched; then a feather is laid on the upper lip,

From Mills's British Jews.

and when the watchers perceive that the breath is entirely gone, all present make a small rent in one of their garments, (which, however, may soon afterwards be mended,) and say the following blessing, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, the righteous Judge." All Jews, when they hear of the death of another Jew, say the same. When the corpse has remained about an hour on the bed, the following is repeated three times, "O house of Jacob come, and we will walk in the light of the Lord. The almighty and eternal God hath spoken, and proclaimed to the earth, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the same. He shall enter

into peace; they shall rest in their beds; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." The corpse is then taken and laid on the floor, with its feet towards the chamber door. A little bundle of straw, or a pillow, is laid under the head, the hands and feet laid in a straight position; and the body covered with a black cloth. A pewter plate, with salt, is placed on the breast; a basin with clean water, and a towel, are placed by it; and a lighted candle at the head.

The water and towel are left there for seven days; and the candle or lamps for thirty days. All the water that was in the house when death took place is poured away, as well as that in the next three houses on either side. The relations, from the moment of death until the interment, are called Onenim, the afflicted; and as such are to abstain from meat and wine. They are also exempt from saying the daily prayers and blessings, from all ceremonial observances, and even from responding Amen,

when the blessings are repeated in their presence. They are allowed to go out, and attend to the preparing for the funeral, They are also allowed to attend to their personal cleanliness. The hour of interment is fixed by the officers of the synagogue, which must be, if possible, within twenty-four hours after the death. The way in which the demise and funeral were usually made known formerly, was the following: A Jew paraded the Jewish locality, holding in his hands a kind of copper money-box. The peculiar sound of the box, when shaken, was at once recognized; and the Jews flocked around the bearer, making their inquiries, and casting in whatever they pleased. This mode is now discontinued; the announcement of the event is only made known in the Synagogue; when the Chazan stops in the midst of the service, and mentions the name of the deseased, and the hour of the funeral. shroud being ready, the body is then washed. It is laid on a plank, which is called the purifying board, with its feet towards the door. A clean sheet is laid over it, whilst the under linen is rent through, from the breast downward, and taken off. It is then washed with lukewarm water. The quantity of water must not be less than nine cabbin, or about nine English quarts. The water is poured upon the sheet, with which the corpse is cleansed, as it is forbidden to touch a dead body with the hand. The washing must commence from the head, and so downwards to the feet. When the whole body is washed, it is laid on its back, and the nails of the hands and feet are properly cleaned with a kind of pin made for the purpose. During these operations, as well as the following, no part of the corpse

The

is

uncovered. The washing being thus finished, the body is now to pass under the ceremony of Taharah, or purification. The operators wash their hands in clean water, and wipe them very dry with a towel. Four persons now hold a clean sheet over the corpse; the wet sheet is removed, and nine cabbin of clean cold water are poured upon the bare body, commencing as before, from the head downward. Previously to pouring this water of purification, they are to repeat as follows: "And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him to sanctify him. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. And ye shall be holy; for I, the Lord your God, am holy.

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Purification! Purification!

Purification!"

The body is then well dried with a clean sheet. When the cap is put on the head, they say the following: "And he put the mitre upon his head." When they place it in the coffin, they say, "May he go to his appointed place in peace."

The purification board is then carefully cleaned and dried; and also the water spilt on the ground must be well dried. The water used for purification must not be poured out where human beings might pass over it, but carefully lodged in a secluded place. The coffin is generally made by Jews, and is exceedingly simple. It consists of only deal boards, merely smoothed and screwed together, without any adornment. No distinction is made between the rich and poor. The corpse is dressed, according to the Jewish custom, with a cap, breeches, shirt, neckcloth, a kind of surplice

and girdle—all of which are made of linen, or common cotton. Lastly, the Talith, or veil, is put on the head, with one of the fringes torn.

In Great Britain, however, this custom is not observed. The general way of dressing the dead, is, after putting the cap on its head, to place a sheet in the coffin, and wrap it over the corpse as a mantle; and then put on the Talith in the same way as the deceased used to wear it when alive. A small quantity of Jerusalem earth is. then placed with the dead. Before the coffin is removed, the relations and friends of the deceased are admitted to pay it their last visit. The face and feet are uncovered, when each, alternately, takes hold of the large toes of the feet, and asks his pardon for every injury they have done to him; and beg of his favourable mention of them in the other world. The mourners are now present-who are, parents for their children, children for their parents; husband and wife for each other, and brothers and sisters for each other. The rabbi stands on one side of the coffin, and the mourners approach in succession, on the other side, leaning on it; when the rabbi takes a knife and cuts the edge of the upper garment, near the neck, and then tears it about a span further; which is Keringah, rent. This is always made on the right side of the garment, and either in the coat or waistcoat of the male; but at the death of a parent, it is made on the left side, and in all the garments the mourner may have on, excepting the under linen garment, and overcoat or mantle.

This rent may be stitched up after the seven days of mourning, and properly repaired after the thirty days, except at the death of parents; then