I believe this remark to be just and well grounded, and that this has not been sufficiently noted by writers on these snbjects. How for this adherence to the true God has been, and is, that of knowledge, faith, love, and spiritual worship, is another questian; respecting which, it cannot be supposed that Jews and Christians should be of the same sentiments.

P. 106. 1. 30. All of them,' &c.-In what sense and how far this was true, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, the prophecies of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, and the histories of Josephus, as well as the New Testament, best explain: but a melancholy conclusion must be deduced from their combined testimony.

P. 106. 1. 34. To begin their ministry.'-It was certainly a most inauspicious beginning; and the progress and success have hitherto been according to it: but something far better may speedily be expected.

P. 107. 1. 10. You shall go abroad and make an atonement,' &c.-Where do we learn from Moses, or the prophets, or any part of the Old Testament, that atonement could be made, except either by the condign punishment of the criminals, or by the sacrificing of innocent animals; the shedding and sprinkling of blood; the death of the innocent for the guilty, according to the rites of the law? The apostle states the fact, and his words cannot be disproved: "Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without "shedding of blood is no remission." 1

'Heb. ix. 22.

Moses indeed says, after the sin of Israel in making the golden calf, "Peradventure, I shall "make an atonement for your sin. And Moses "returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people "have sinned a great sin, and have made them "gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive "their sin; and, if not, blot me, I pray thee, out "of thy book which thou hast written. And the "Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned "against me, him will I blot out of my book."1 As if he had said, ' O Lord, instead of destroying 'Israel as a sacrifice to thy justice; let me be the 'sacrifice, and spare them.' The answer of God seems to imply, that this was his meaning; and that by this disinterested proposal he hoped to make an atonement: but it could not be acceded to. Phinehas also "made an atonement for the "children of Israel," that is, by the condign panishment of the daring criminals. 2 "He executed "judgment, and so the plague was stayed." 3

P. 107. 1. 19. All those families,' &c.—I doubt not that individuals and nations have suffered, and will suffer, severe punishment, for their cruel oppression of Israel. But Jews should remember, that their ancestors shed the blood of their own prophets and righteous men, and were the most sanguinary persecutors of Christians. All partics are deeply criminal: may God give all, concerned in this hateful work, true repentance and forgiveness; and teach them that, forgiving one another, they may henceforth only "strive together in love "and good works." Surely, however, those who

'Exod. xxxii. 30-33

2 Num. xxv.

13.

3

Psalm cvi. 30.

shall be the friends and helpers of Israel at their restoration, will not be involved in the vengeance inflicted on their obstinate enemies.

P. 107. 1. 28. Moses and the of the nation. 1

One bushel of fine wheat,' &c.— prophets give a far different view Israel, before he is restored, must be humbled, and made " to loathe and abhor "himself; and to acknowledge, that God hath "wrought with him for his own name's sake, and "not according to his evil deeds; " otherwise he would have been utterly consumed. Till the

Jews cease to boast and be " haughty, because of "their holy mountain" and their special distinctions, their dispersion will continue. But, when God shall "pour out upon them the spirit "of grace and supplication," they will use a far different language.2 "That thou mayest remem

ber, and be confounded, and never open thy "mouth any more for thy shame; when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou hast done, "saith the Lord." 3 "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all "countries, and will bring you into your own "land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your "ness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new

filthi

spirit will I put within you; and I will take 66 away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will

give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my

'Deut. xxxi. 16-18. xxxii. 21-28. Amos ix. 1-10.

2

Zeph. iii. 11. Zech. xii. 10.

Ezek. xvi. 63.

cr

tr

"statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and "do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave unto your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God."-“ Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good; and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities, "and for your abominations. Not for your sakes "do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you. Be ashamed and confounded, for your "own ways, O house of Israel." From prophecies of this kind we learn the restoration of Israel: ' and we also learn what restored Israel will think and say concerning their own character and conduct, and those of their ancestors from age to age.

P. 107. 1. 34. This people have I formed for 'myself; they shall shew forth my praise, but not 'the gentiles.'-Any one, not acquainted with the writings of Isaiah, would suppose that the concluding clause was quoted along with the rest from him; and marked with Italics, to put additional emphasis on it: but it is in fact Mr. C.'s addition to Isaiah's words; which has no ground to rest on either in the passage quoted from the prophet, or in any part of the scripture. "Praise "the Lord, all ye nations, praise him all ye "people." 2 "Sing to the Lord a new song, and "his praise from the ends of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the "isles and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wil"derness and the cities thereof lift up their voice,

1 Ezek. xxxvi. 24-32.

2

" Psalm cxvii. 1.

"the villages that Kedar doth inhabit. Let the "inhabitants of the rock sing; let them shout "from the top of the mountains. Let them give

glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise "in the islands."1 Do Israelites exclusively inhabit "the isles of the sea," and "the villages of "Kedar?"

P. 108. 1. 23. But now no excuse,' &c.—Mr. C. sees the propriety of leaving the gentiles" without "9 excuse; and it would be well if he were fully aware that Israel is, and will be, without excuse also at the great day of God. The apostle has proved that both gentiles and Jews are without excuse; and " that every mouth shall be stopped, " and all the world become guilty before God." 2 Here at least is impartiality in the charge or verdict.—It must, alas, be added, that the conduct and character of Israel, throughout their dispersions, has not been generally suited to produce the conviction, that they are the true people of God, and their's the true religion. This is intimated by the prophet: "And ye shall behold "their ways and their doings; and ye shall be "comforted concerning all the evil which I have brought upon Jerusalem. And they shall com"fort you, when ye see their ways and their doings and ye shall know that I have not "done without cause all that I have done in it, "saith the Lord God." 3 "And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed "through the countries: according to their way,

1 Is. xlii. 10-12.
'Ezek. xiv. 22, 23.

Rom. i. 20. ii. 1. iii. 9-20.