We write not these accounts of Jewish customs to amuse our young friends, but to shew them the necessity which exists for exertion in their behalf. They were made even in their fall "riches" to us Gentiles, as therefore we have through them "received freely" so let us for them "freely give." THE LATE LAMENTED BISHOP ALEXANDER. Ir was our painful duty, to record in our first number for the present year, the sad intelligence that the late excellent Bishop of Jerusalem, had been suddenly removed from those who were dear to him, and from the scenes of earthly care and earthly toil, by the mysterious Providence of God. We also, in our third number, gave his own account of his conversion to Christianity and reception into the Christian Church. We purpose now to select a few notices of his labours as a missionary, as shewing the devotedness of his life and the constancy of his zeal. He was ordained on Trinity Sunday, June 10th, in the year 1827, by the Archbishop of Dublin. The event is thus recorded in the Jewish Expositor, "We have much satisfaction in stating, that Mr. Michael Solomon Alexander, formerly reader of the Jewish synagogue at Plymouth, of whose conversion to Christianity we have given an account, and who has since resided in Dublin, was admitted into holy orders on Trinity Sunday last by his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin."* "In the month of December in the same year, "Jewish Expositor," August, 1827, Mr. Alexander arrived in Dantzic as a Missionary to his brethren according to the flesh;" by many of whom he was well received, and treated with much kindness, and listened to with great attention, though many circumstances reminded him of the difficulty of the work in which he was called to engage. The plan adopted by Mr. Alexander in addressing his brethren was usually this:-" He endeavoured to impress on them the absolute impossibility of understanding Divine things without the special aid of the Holy Spirit. Often would he quote with great solemnity the words of David, 'Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.' (Psalm cxviii. 18.) He would then, with earnest affection, ask his brethren, 'Have you ever thought that there are wondrous things in the law of God?' 'Have you ever earnestly prayed that you may be enabled to understand those wonders? If you think,' he would say, 'that every thing is plain and easy to your own understanding, you are not in the way to find the truth.' He would then often refer to the New Testament, and say, the same truth is taught by the Apostles as by the Psalmist. Thus it is said 1 Cor. xii. 3, No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.' Unless therefore we pray for assistance, we shall never attain to a right judgment concerning the proofs of the Divinity and Messiahship of the Lord Jesus.' In this way he used to introduce the great questions respecting the birth, life, doctrine, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection of the Saviour as foretold by the Prophets and related by the vangelists. Many, no doubt, still remember the words which he spake with earnestness and unction from on high."* In the year 1828, Mr. Alexander visited his birth-place Schölanke, in West Prussia. The narrative of that event is deeply interesting.t Then indeed his affectionate heart had to mourn over the estrangements of some who had formerly loved him, and he had many painful proofs of the enmity which exists in the carnal mind to the holy and merciful purposes of God, as seen in the character of his people as well as in his inspired word. We can only notice one example of this. On passing through the market-place of his native town the mob repeated in Hebrew the words "Righteousness delivereth from death." These are commonly used in accompanying a dead body to the grave, and they shew how the Jews regarded him, even as one dead. This Mr. A. explained to his friends who accompanied him with deep feelings indeed, but with much calmness. His baptism had made them regard him as already numbered with the dead. Truly was "the world crucified unto him and he unto the world;" truly had he forsaken all and been forsaken by all, because he had become a disciple of Christ. "He was," writes his companion on the above occasions, and fellow-labourer in the missionary field, "deeply touched at seeing the distress of his relatives, and their apprehension of violence, but he spoke and acted with that spirit of meekness and resignation, which showed that he had tasted the love of a dying Saviour and was willing to suffer for his sake." "Jewish Intelligence." His love for his brethren never diminished; but wherever he might be, whether engaged as a Missionary abroad, or, as for some years he was, at home, they were the objects of his earnest labours, and his delight and comfort were greatest when he could proclaim to them the unsearchable riches of Christ. After he was raised to the high office of a Bishop, and had gone to the Holy City to discharge the duties of Chief Pastor of the Church there, and in the extensive diocese allotted to him, he never could forget or neglect his brethren. He would occasionally accompany the Rev. F. C. Ewald, who is also a believing Israelite, into the Jewish quarter, to visit the abodes of poverty, and sickness, and wretchedness of every form, in that crowded part of Jerusalem, and after returning wearied home, he would exclaim, "Ewald, these are amongst the happiest hours of my life." Truly he could say, 66 My heart's desire for Israel is, that they may be saved." The account of his last days, given by his bereaved wife, is most interesting. "On setting out through the desert," wrote Mrs. Alexander, 66 we were generally in advance of the caravan, and we used regularly to chant some of our Hebrew chants, and sing the following hymns: Children of the heavenly King.' 'Long has the harp of Judah hung;' Psalm cxi., and 'Glorious things of thee are spoken;' and never did his warm and tender heart overflow so fully as when he spoke of Israel's future restoration." "His last act was prayer-not merely as usual, but as his custom was on birth-days and solemn festivals. He prayed most sweetly with his wife and daughter, and then laid down on his bed, which was placed on the sand." "His last words were a blessing. He went off in an instant, and without pain. One groan had been his last." Oh, what a change from an earthly desert to the paradise of God! What a birth-day burst upon his unfettered spirit, as it left the night of earth for the state where there is no night, but all is "sacred, high, eternal noon!" The following beautiful verses, by an English barrister, will be an appropriate conclusion to these brief notices. They are entitled, "Thoughts suggested by the death of the late excellent Bishop Alexander:" ; He died not in the palace proud, Now, may the true Messiah bless JEWS IN RUSSIA. A LETTER from Sir Moses Montefiore states, that the Emperor of Russia has consented to |