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"Whilst the Managers have this state of things frequently brought before them, they rejoice that the means which lead to such disclosures, at the same time afford the opportunity of imparting to the ignorant and vicious the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ, the only efficacious remedy for misery and sin. From the numerous cases which have come under their notice, attesting its Divine power, the Managers are fully convinced that this remedy is faithfully declared by the Missionaries. Those portions of the Word of God, which are most adapted to the diversified condition of the people, are read and expounded. Men every where are called upon to repent and believe the Gospel, and are reproved, rebuked, exhorted, with all long-suffering and patience.

"It is gratifying to state, that there is much reason to hope that many who had been deluded by the errors of Socialism have renounced them. Some, on the bed of death, have bitterly repented having embraced and advocated this wretched system; and there are several instances in which there is reason to believe that mercy has been obtained through the merits of the Redeemer.

"Including the Superintendent, eleven Missionaries are now employed. Two have left the Mission since the Annual Meeting for other fields of usefulness, and the Managers, though most anxious to supply the vacated districts, have found themselves under the painful necessity of declining several promising applications, owing to the state of the Funds.

"The Contributions already received or promised, for the current year, are inadequate to defray the expenses of the present number, but the Managers hope not only that the deficiency will be speedily supplied, but that many, who have not yet contributed to the Funds, will be disposed to enrol themselves among the supporters of the Mission.

"They hope it is unnecessary to make any other appeal, than simply to refer to the facts here recorded;-facts which show that there are persons living in our own neighbourhood who have arrived at maturity, not only ignorant of the first principles of the Gospel, but even of the existence of the Saviour; and that, were it not for the visits of the Missionaries, many might die in ignorancé of the way of salvation-no man caring for their souls. The Managers are sanguine enough to hope that their fellow-Christians will not only enable them to maintain the present number of Missionaries, but will put it into their power to extend the sphere of their operations, until the whole town shall be visited by those who daily, in every house, cease not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.' They cannot conclude without again commending the Institution, and the Missionaries especially, to the fervent prayers of all the people of God, that more abundant blessing may be granted on the work, to the glory of God our Saviour."

Macintosh, Printer, Great New Street, London.

THE LONDON

CITY MISSION MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1841.

THE MOVEMENTS OF THE JEWS IN LONDON.

OUR readers will remember that our Magazine for May last contained a letter from the Committee of the London City Mission to the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Besides an increased circulation of that number of the Magazine, the letter was published separately, and a copy of it given or sent to every Jewish family in London that could be found.

This very naturally produced a great sensation among the Jews. In the letter, every sentiment was kind and Christian in itself, and affectionately expressed; but the affection which pervaded it, did, in some instances, kindle the greater wrath and malice. Nothing encounters a fiercer opposition from a malignant mind than love: but love, like truth, must ultimately prevail. In several letters which we received, the worst motives were attributed to us : epithets were copiously lavished: and apparently, the original enmity and hatred that prompted the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, had been perpetuated undiminished among some Israelites, and that, amidst the sorrows and sufferings of a dispersion, during nearly eighteen centuries. Other communications were of a very different kind. We were thanked for the letter, for our affection and sympathy for the scattered children of Abraham, and were encouraged to persevere in our work in the same spirit as that in which we had commenced it.

We know on Jewish authority that many Jews who read the letter thought it was quite time that they should, as Jews, attend to themselves. Considerable apathy had characterized the Jews as a religious body in the metropolis. Famed as they are for their plodding industry to get money, and many of them for their large wealth, they had so long laboured under serious disadvantages and

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privations, that education among them, as well as religious knowledge and zeal, were at the lowest ebb. Their long slumber is broken. Whatever has led to it, we rejoice in the fact, and hope that a bright and happy era of Israel's existence is not far distant. The movements in the metropolis among the Jews are of so striking and interesting a character, that we shall not be afraid of trespassing upon our pages by placing them as fully before our readers as our limited space will permit: sincerely hoping that every friend of the London City Mission is a warm and praying friend of the house of Israel.

First, There are at the present time in the course of publication, two new translations of the Old Testament, and both of them by Jews. The one by the late Solomon Bennet, edited by Francis Barham, Esq., and the Hebrew department edited by Mr. Henry, Head Master of the Jews' Free School. The second is by the Rev. D. A. De Sola, J. L. Lindenthal, and the Rev. Morris J. Raphall. The Jews have great expectations, especially from the latter of these, being edited by gentlemen of recognised erudition among English and Foreign Jews.

The second movement is the secession of a large body of Jews from their brethren, on what may be termed among them, as among Christians, the great Protestant principle of the sufficiency of the holy Scriptures. The seceders are determined to abide by Moses and the Prophets alone, and to reject the trammels of tradition. That they may therefore become a Protestant body, they are about to erect a new synagogue. This, of course, has given great offence. An important meeting on the subject was held at the residence of the venerable Chief Rabbi, on Monday, Nov. 8, and a full account of the whole matter is to be published in a few days.

The third movement is, that the original body, which is in favour of tradition, has issued a fortnightly periodical, called "The Voice of Jacob; for the Promotion of the Spiritual and General Welfare of the Jews, by the Dissemination of Intelligence on Subjects affecting those Interests, and by the Advocacy and Defence of their Religious Institutions." Their motto is, "Thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'-' Vocation of the Jews." "(Gen. xxviii. 14.)

"PLAN.-I. Intelligence of Passing Events in London, the Provinces and Colonies; including Reports of Proceedings of Public Bodies, and important Charitable or Congregational Meetings. II. Foreign Intelligence, from Correspondents, as well as Translated from the Continental Jewish Periodicals.-III. Doctrinal Essays, on the Literature and Language of the Hebrews.IV. Expositions of such Passages in the Sacred Scriptures as have been misconstrued: their obvious and established versions supplied.

Defence of our Religious System against the calumnious and insidious Attacks of its Adversaries.-V. Retrospective Reviews, and Extracts from Ancient Standard Works, and Reviews of Recent Publications in Jewish Literature.-VI. Original Essays, and other Contributions; Tales continued through consecutive numbers, &c.-VII. Sabbath Evening Discourses, Original, or Translated for Family Use.-VIII. Notices of Educational and Charitable Institutions, and Inquiry into their working.-IX. Correspondence, &c.-X. Advertisements."

Four numbers of this periodical have now been issued, and we should think that there is every reasonable prospect of its permanency. We heartily hope it may be continued. It must be productive of great good to the Jews, and will be highly instructive and useful to all Christians who take an interest in the Jews. Already the great question of "The Messiah" has been opened in its pages. The discussion of the subject has been chiefly on the side of Christians, we rejoice that the Jews are now approaching it, and we sincerely pray that the Holy Spirit may enlighten all who may engage in it, and to one and to all, "testify of Jesus," and glorify him.

That the Jews may be heard on this subject, and their views brought before our readers, we shall give their first article, published November 12. Some parts of it will be found very affecting.

"THE MESSIAH.-'And it shall come to pass at the end of days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared above the mountains; and it shall be raised above the hills, and to it shall stream the nations. And many nations shall go and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and He shall teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for (says the prophet) from Zion forth shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.' (Micah iv. 1-2.)

"In Isaiah (see the beginning of the eleventh chapter) we read: -And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.'-And further: They shall not injure, nor shall they destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And it shall come to pass on that day, that the Lord will again display his power, to bring in the remnant of his people and He will raise up a banner to the nations, and gather the exiles of Israel; and the dispersions of Judah He will assemble from the four corners of the earth!'

"That the passages just cited relate to a time which has not yet been experienced, either by our or any other nation, cannot be denied; and whereas the words of Scripture have either come to pass, or will eventually do so, we say, that we have either felt their fulfilment, or that we look forward to their eventual accomplishment. The first is knowledge, the latter is hope; and although we have no ocular evidence by which we can dive into the future,

yet we can compare this future with the past, of which we have record in history, or appeal to our daily experience, which is the present, and consequently to us mortals the best of evidence. Now the question is: What does past history or present experience teach concerning Scripture promises? Or, in other words, has any thing ever occurred which tended to verify Scripture predictions, and are there any events now in progress to verify these predictions?' -To these questions we answer, that many predictions contained in the Bible have, in times gone by, seen their fulfilment, and as far as the present period is concerned, we also see the effects of these accomplishing events daily perpetuated. Not to multiply examples, let us refer to the admonitions contained in the books of Moses concerning our people. They were there promised that they should enter the land of Canaan; but that the nature of their tenure should be, an exact obedience to the commandment contained in these books. The event proved the truth of the prediction. The Israelites entered Palestine and conquered it. Long they lived within its boundaries, and no nation was able, during some periods of their history, to withstand their power, and yet they were but few in number, living on a narrow margin of the eastern termination of the Mediterranean Sea; what then, we ask, made them so strong? it was the power vouchsafed to them for obedience to the Divine will. Anon they trespassed-they were, in truth, tired of happiness, and followed the idolatrous course of other nations; again and again were they warned of the threatening danger, and they laughed at the voice of admonition; but the evil nevertheless came over them like a whirlwind, and they were swept from off the surface of their land, and fifty-two years of utter desolation saw not the foot of man or domestic beast treading the deserted highways of ruined Palestine.-But seventy years soon elapsed, and at their ending, a small number of Jews, now no longer the united Israelites, returned to repossess their land, and again they dwelt therein; but not in that independence and national greatness which had been once theirs. A second time the temple was built, and the smoke of sacrifices was again seen to arise from the sacred altar! But wo! bloodthirstiness and disunion broke out among them, and the land, which should not be defiled by innocent blood, saw it shed in torrents; the brother murdered the brother at the foot of the altar, and in the courts of the temple the aged was slain! The Lord saw it, and his anger was kindled, and the ruthless foe destroyed all, and passed the plough over thy prostrate ruins, O sacred Jerusalem! He called thy name Aelia; he imagined thus to root out thy memory from our minds but he was deceived, O holy city, residence of the Most High, and even desolate as thou yet art, thou hast seen that tyrant's empire subverted by hordes of unheard-of barbarians, whilst thou art even in ruins, the holy place of many nations! In this manner was the prediction of our downfall accomplished;

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