THE JEWS IN PALESTINE-THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM. 289 of support from Europe, however small, induces many to live in idleness. Hence, there are said to be in the city four hundred acknowledged paupers; and five hundred more who actually receive charity. Many are so destitute, that without relief they would not be able to subsist during the winter season.1 No thoughtful and reflecting mind can regard the present state of the Jews-especially in Palestine, without feeling the force of that living commentary which they afford upon the pages of divine truth. They are witnesses for God, and for Christ, and for Christianity-in spite of themselves. When will the Church of Christ arise, and, in the broad sunlight of revelation, take up her proper position to the full, on behalf of God's ancient people? I praise God, from my heart, that the Church of England is now beginning to do so; and that I was permitted, in Jerusalem, to see the commencement of her scriptural organization for that purpose. I think I can now believe, expect, and hope all things. Oh that we could see a vast and rapid increase at home, of those who "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," in the assurance that "they shall prosper that love her." Just before I quitted Jerusalem, the foundation of the Church, which has been so long in intention, was completely laid and brought to a level with the surface-the present surface of Mount Zion. How delightful the thought-that the Church of England should be permitted, in the providence of God, to set up her banner there. May she be the honoured channel through which the waters of life shall flow forth abundantly! May He whom the Father hath exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins-be there truly and fully set forth, that so eventually IIe may become, in the For valuable and deeply interesting information in reference to the Jews in Palestine, the recent publication of the Deputation from the Church of Scotland may be well consulted. Some of the above particulars have been obtained from that source. V 290 THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM-JEWISH CUSTOM. fulness of the divine purpose, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel. The digging for the foundation has been a most laborious and costly process. So great have been the accumulations of soil, since Jerusalem has "become heaps," that until reaching the solid rock, at a depth of forty feet, no sufficient bed could be procured for the foundation. At that depth, then, the first stones were laid; and the Church will, in the fullest literal sense of the expression, be founded on the hill of Zion. The stone for the building is procured from a quarry a few miles north of the city, not far from a village now called Anata, the ancient Anathoth-the birth-place of the prophet Jeremiah. It is of a fine, firm texture, and bears the tool of the mason admirably. Considerable progress had been made in the various departments of masonry when I was on the spot, and a great number of hands-some of them Arabs, and some Maltese, were employed in shaping pillars, arches, architraves, and other parts of the building, so as to be ready as the progress of the work might call for them.' On every Friday, it is the custom for many Jews to assemble for humiliation and supplication, near the precincts of the sacred spot on which once stood the temple in its glory, but within which not one of them can now obtain admission. On one of these occasions we were present. The wall of the enclosure at that place, which is toward the west, is formed with stones of immense magnitude, and of such a kind and character as may favour the notion that they were once a part, either of the temple itself or its boundary. Certainly, they are very unlike the materials of which the city and its present walls are constructed. They have been wrought with great care, and are bevelled off at their edges with great exactness and beauty. The Jews are said to have Since this was written, the work has been suspended by order of the Turkish Government-an event not much feared at one time. The final issue of it is yet to be seen. JEWISH CUSTOM MY SECOND SABBATH IN JERUSALEM. 291 a persuasion that their prayers will find especial acceptance, when breathed through the crevices of that building of which Jehovah said "Mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually." On reaching the spot, we found a row of aged Jews sitting in the dust in front of the wall, all of them engaged in reading or reciting certain portions of the Hebrew scriptures. There was no such outward manifestation of strong emotion as I had been led to expect; but yet every one appeared to be intently occupied, and but little disturbed by the approach of European strangers. Among them were several Jewesses, enveloped from head to foot in ample white veils. They stepped forward to various parts of the ancient wall, kissed them with great fervency of manner, and uttered their petitions in a low whisper, at the points where the stones came in contact. I thought of Israel, when by the waters of Babylon they sat down and wept; and could not but lift up my heart for the hastening of the time when their King shall be again in the midst of them-no longer in humiliation, but in glory, and when all "shall know him, from the least to the greatest." I remember Sunday, the twenty-sixth of June, as one of the most deeply interesting and affecting days of my life. By five o'clock in the morning, I was descending the valley of Jehoshaphat, and paused a moment as I crossed the then dry bed of the brook Kedron, over which my Saviour had so often passed. I was on my way to the Mount of Olives, for a purpose in which he himself delighted. All was silent and motionless, as the rising sun of the Sabbath shed his glory on the sacred scene around me. I passed on to Gethsemane-alone in the flesh-but not in the spirit, I believe, and meditated within the bounds of that wondrous enclosure. I proceeded upwards to the first ridge of the Mount of Olives, and took my seat under the shade of a wide-spreading fig tree, in a spot which presented to me the Holy City-slumbering as it were in silent inactivity. I had met only a solitary Arab as I passed through the city towards 292 MY SECOND SABBATH IN JERUSALEM. the gate of St. Stephen; and while sitting on the mount, not a single voice broke upon the sense of solitude which pervaded my mind. Often, amidst the stir and toil of active life at home, have I recurred to that season of sweet sabbath repose which I enjoyed on the sacred mount, where my Saviour had so often passed his hours of secret communion with the Father. I will not attempt to lay bare the spiritual process of my soul, while there I prayed for divine light and guidance, and meditated on the portion of the Holy Word which I had been led to select, as containing the message I was that day to proclaim on the heights of Mount Zion. Again and again, I pondered over the precious passage-the words of Jesus himself-"AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM THOU HAST SENT.' 991 What a volume of imperishable truth do they contain! I have been privileged to set forth the truth as it is in Jesus amidst thousands in my own beloved country; and my heart has often glowed at the prospect, and expanded in the exercise; but now, in prospect of proclaiming life eternal in Christ, in the city from which the streams of life began to flow-I felt for a time borne down by the thought-"Who is sufficient for these things?" I returned, however, to the city, with a serene and happy heart; passed up the way along which Jesus bore his cross for me; and pausing for a brief space at the slope of Calvary-awaited the hour in which the little church of Christ should assemble in the "upper room" on Mount Zion. The season of public worship was delightful and refreshing. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered by the Bishop, assisted by Mr. Williams, his chaplain. It was a spiritual exercise to be had in continual remembrance, for its simplicity, solemnity and impressiveness. In the evening, we attended the usual service at the Episcopal residence; after which, the Bishop kindly chanted for us the first chapter of the book of Lamentations, in the 1 John xvii. 3. FUTURE MOVEMENTS. 293 manner still observed by the Jews when bewailing the destruction of their temple and city. It was extremely plaintive and affecting; and filled the mind with saddening associations, while surrounded, as we were, by the proofs of Israel's desolation. Before finally quitting Jerusalem, we resolved to make our visit to the Dead Sea and the River Jordan; and as our time was gliding rapidly away, we procured the attendance of Sheikh Hamdan-the Chief of the Arabs inhabiting that region, and settled the terms upon which he was to give us safe conduct to those interesting localities. I shall make the particulars of this excursion the subjects of a separate chapter; and then bring my reader back with me to Jerusalem. |