and can we with the gracious truth before us, allow a single sin to be secreted? Our duty consists, not merely in the possession of faith, or in the addition thereto of virtue and knowledge, but also in a constant warfare to expel the leper that would abide within us, so that we may through the Spirit be a fit habitation for God. Eph. ii. 22. What holiness of life must necessarily ensue from a positive belief of Scripture truth. If for instance we ever carried in our minds the statement that God dwells in us, what a blessed influence it would have over our actions, our conversations, extending even to our secret thoughts: for it may be that sins that are never exposed to the view of our fellow-creatures, may yet find a place where in thought they are indulged and carried out into practice. But can we suppose that in the sight of the High and Holy One, there can exist one shade of difference in the character of such sins! The first rising suggestion must be checked, and may we receive strength from above to carry out the resolution issuing out of the question. How can I, by the secret indulgence of sin, presume to defile the place in which the Lord of his infinite compassion has vouchsafed to dwell?

Let us endeavour to have more exalted ideas of the holiness of God, and may we learn to feel more deeply the exceeding sinfulness of sin in his sight. It was but one sin that ruined the world, and brought Jesus from his glory to suffer and die. Sin is not lessened because it is of such constant occurrence. Eve was tempted and fell; when we are tempted let us think of her, and may we have grace to resist the serpent and to believe God. Eve sinned and was ruined-she could not anticipate the grace of God which would restore and bring salvation-but the promise of life and restoration in Christ

was soon given. To us the promise has been fulfilled, the work has been accomplished: let us therefore in a loving gratitude, give up ourselves to him who died for us and rose again.

It is needful for us also to seek for a more perfect knowledge of ourselves; we need God's light and assistance to detect error. There is a beautiful prayer for us in the Psalms, a prayer which God has provided for us, and which we cannot faithfully use without benefit "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any way of pain or grief in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm cxxxix. marginal reading. God is willing to aid us, to subdue our sins, he will do so according to his gracious promise. What happy security for us is there in casting our souls upon God, and in striving against sin, not trusting to the strength of our minds, or to the constraining influence of resolutions and pledges, but in relying for victory on the faithful word of our God.

We must be aware of the first appearance of evil, and of its subtle growth; the love of money may first arise in a small spot of discontent, a mere wish for something unpossessed which money would procure. Envy is excited in us, or in the gratification of our desires, we ourselves may be the occasion of sin in others; there is a sad system of rivalry carried on, without any regard to consistency; pride is engendered and fostered, selfishness takes a deeper root, the love of the world gains strength, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life are not mortified. But these are high things and imaginations that must be cast down, thoughts that must be brought into captivity, besetting sins that must be laid aside, lepers that must be put out of the camp,

A most wonderful thought it is that God dwelleth in us! By nature we are the children of wrath, dead in trespasses and sins. What do we not owe to the grace of God the Father, to the love of Jesus, to the power of the Holy Ghost! How then, what communion can light have with darkness? What concord Christ with Belial ? What agreement the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. vi.

S. S.

JEWISH PROSPECTS.

WE have great delight in laying before our readers the following letter from Sir Moses Montefiore, which appeared in the last number of the Voice of Jacob.' Intended as it was for publication, we may be assured that it is the reverse of an exaggerated picture of the measure of success with which it has pleased the God of Israel marvellously to crown the attempt of this noble Hebrew. A few months since, the condition of the Jews under Russian sway was wretched in the extreme, and their prospects dark and sad beyond all description: now, "What hath God wrought!"

We must earnestly ask the especial prayers of our friends on behalf of the precious partner, whose health her husband represents as suffering. Just previous to their departure, Lady Montefiore lost a beloved brother by a very sudden stroke indeed; and this, added to her intense solicitude in the cause to which she is no less ardently devoted than her spouse, greatly unfitted her for the fatigues of this her third expedition into far distant lands with him, for the purpose of succouring oppressed Israel. The thought of leaving him now, and returning to her home, would not be entertained for a moment: she will cleave to him throughout. May it be their lot to end those missions of mercy in their own Judea ; there to reap the overflowing blessings that await redeemed Jacob in the land of their inheritance under the rule of Messiah, their King and ours!

'St. Petersburgh, Monday, 20th April, 1846. 'MY DEAR SIR,

'I cannot leave this city, without first having the pleasure of communicating to you, that my intercourse with all the ministers of this government has proved most satisfactory. To-morrow, please God, I proceed on my visit, in compliance with the desire of his Imperial Majesty, to several towns in which the Jews principally reside. After witnessing their situation, I have the assurance of the ministers, that any report or suggestion that I may think proper to make, shall have their earnest attention, and a promise that my letter shall be placed in the hands of the Emperor himself. I have had long and frequent intercourse with the principal ministers, on the subject of the unfortunate condition of our co-religionists in this empire; and I feel confident that there is a great desire for their improvement; but I fear there is the greatest poverty among them. The most likely remedy for this evil would be their employment in the cultivation of land, and the establishment of manufactories; these pursuits require capital, which I apprehend it will be difficult to raise in this country. I have been much pleased with two Synagogues, which I have had the gratification of attending during the holydays, with the consent of his Majesty, who was graciously pleased afterwards to inquire if I was satisfied with them. Both buildings were crowded with Jewish soldiers; and it was a gratifying sight to witness their orderly conduct and great devotion. The Hazanim were soldiers, and the prayers, Parasa, &c., were extremely well read, and would have done credit to any Synagogue in London. I have received from the ministers my route, with letters to the several authorities; they have also been so good as to