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THE

RESTORATION

OF

ISRAEL:

BY RABBI JOSEPH CROOLL,

TEACHER OF THE HEBREW LANGUAGE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. MICAH Vii. 15.

The breaker is come up before them; they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it; and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them. MICAH ii. 13.

And their seed shall be known among the gentiles, and their offspring among the people; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord bath blessed. ISAIAH Ixi. 9.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1 THESS. V. 21.

DECLARATION.

*IF ever this book should fall into the hand of a Christian, the author would beg of him to consider the following observations.

First, It was written without any design to publish it, and only to satisfy the author's own opinion, as will be seen in the sequel. Secondly, It may be said that the author is an enemy to Christians to banish this idea, the following proof is offered.

* It is well known that at the time when the law was given to Israel all the seventy nations were worshippers of idols. By this way of worship there was no life for the gentiles to exist in God's world. But "the Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works :" he commanded to his people Israel to make intercession for all the gentile world, and also to offer sacrifices for them; and this was done during all the time that Israel dwelt in their own land. And And every year, on the feast of Tabernacles, seventy young bullocks were offered for the seventy nations of this world, Numb. xxix. 13: the first day thirteen, the second twelve, the third eleven, the fourth

The passages which are made the subject of particular remark in the answer are here distinguished by asterisks perfixed to them.

ten, the fifth nine, the sixth eight, and the seventh day seven.

In the time of Jeremiah the prophet, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and took Jeconiah, at that time king, together with the queen, and a great number of the nation, captives, and brought them into Babylon. At the same time, Hananiah, a false prophet, spoke in the name of God, saying, "Within the space of two full years, all those that are in captivity in Babylon shall return.” Jer. xxviii. 11. The prophet was commanded by God to write an epistle to the captives in Babylon. "And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace." Jer. xxix. 7.

It is well known that Israel never had any greater enemy than Nebuchadnezzar and his people; yet were our forefathers commanded by God to pray for them. *But how much more is it our duty to pray for the nations at the present time, in particular for this country, for here we are used well, and treated better than in any other country; here we enjoy ease and security. As for myself in particular, during the time I have resided in this country, I have received a great deal of kindness from both sexes. * But the real cause of writing this book was, from reading a small tract published by the Committee of THE LONDON SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONGST THE JEWS. And here I shall

quote their own words: "If any doubts should yet remain in the mind of any person sincerely inquiring after truth, upon the heads discussed in

this address; or if any new difficulties should present themselves; it would give pleasure to any member of this Committee, to confer personally with such inquirer on the subject."-No. II. p. 12. -In the beginning of this paragraph it is said that they have answered almost every thing, and that a Jew has no more to say for himself. Considering these things, I thought I would search, and try to find if their statement was sufficient for the conviction of a Jew. And, after I set to work, I found fresh difficulties, by which it appears to me that they have yet answered nothing; and, further, I think that those things which I have advanced in this book, it is impossible for the Committee to answer. All learned Christians will allow a Jew to suggest every difficulty which he thinks it impossible for a Christian to answer; * but there are some ignorant Christians, who, as soon as a Jew advances any thing in his own behalf, will immediately say, he blasphemes. I hope that whoever reads this book will be a learned Christian, and will remember that a learned Committee have sent forth their publications to the Jews, on purpose to see any Jew has any thing further to say. What difficulties I have found, I have declared in the following pages; and if the Committee are able to answer them, it may be good for both parties.

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