"And in their days, even of those kings, the God of heaven shall set up A KINGDOM which shall never perish, and A DOMINION that shall not be left to another people. It shall grind to powder and bring to an end all these kingdoms, and itself shall stand for ever."—DANIEL.

JOHN THOMAS, Editor. NEW YORK, OCTOBER, 1854—

Volume 4—No. 10

Preface.

The following Lecture is one of twelve delivered by clergymen of the Church of England, at St. George’s, Bloomsbury. In order to reduce somewhat the cost of publication, several portions of comparatively little interest have been omitted, the lecturer’s sentiments not being disconnected thereby, nor the real substance of the discourse in the least affected.

It is published in this form as a most suitable "Tract for the Times,"—a seasonable portion of spiritual meat, calculated, as it is, to call up the reader’s attention to numerous heart-stirring prophecies, pertaining to the nation of Israel, their promised kingdom and dominion. Prophecies which it concerns every one to know the truth of, for the coming years are pregnant with their fulfilment, —big with events, great, terrible, and glorious. All of which are either preparatory to, or intimately connected with, the Second Appearing of the Lord Jesus, "his reward with him, and his work before him,"—the resurrection of "the dead in Christ," and the changing of those of His who are alive at his coming, from mortals into immortals; the redemption and restoration of Israel; the pre-millennial judgment of "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS," as well as of all the nations of the earth; and the setting up of the long-prayed-for Kingdom of God. Surely it is of importance to know the truth of these things! It is certainly as necessary to be "mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets," as "of the commandments of the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour." For "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;" the most watchful will be taken unawares; in such an hour as the best instructed and wisest of Christ’s servants think not, their Lord will come. Nevertheless, "Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments." For "the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand"—Daniel 12: 10.

It is in contemplation to publish a series of similar Tracts, in the hope that, at this critical period of the world’s history—manifestly that spoken of in the Scriptures as "THE TIME OF THE END,"—Daniel 11: 40; 12: 9, and "THE LATTER DAYS,"—Hosea 3: 5; Ezekiel 38: 16—some, who may be blessed with hearing ears and understanding hearts, whose minds "the god of this world," or "the doctrines and traditions of men" have not blinded, may be interested in "THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM," which, if heard and understood, and "joyfully received into good and honest hearts," like "good seed" sown into "good ground," cannot fail of bringing forth "good fruit," in some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some an hundred. See Matthew 13^th chapter. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," saith the Lord Jesus.

The Word of God, as all Christians allow, is a revelation to the whole world. If, however, we open the inspired volume, we are surprised at observing, that by far the greater portion is occupied with the laws and history of a particular people. The Old Testament forms three parts of the second volume, and this, with the exception of the book of Job and the first few chapters of Genesis, refers, almost exclusively, to the ancient people of God. For, to extend our observations further to the prophets, whilst in these there are some Gentile predictions, a considerable number of which are, perhaps, fulfilled, yet they contain, generally, Jewish history, and Jewish prophecies, for the most part, we apprehend, or at least to a great degree, unfulfilled. The Spirit of God, by whom the Scriptures were given, testifying thus extensively to one peculiar people, it surely is the mind of God, that towards that people our attention should be directed, especially when we further consider, that through men of that nation the gospel was preached to us Gentiles, and that from them, "as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever." I shall not now stop to show how sadly we have departed from the analogy of Scripture by neglecting the Jew, by closing, or perverting to Gentile use, the prophecies which belong to him, but rather, blessing God for having turned the minds of many of the present generation to take an interest in Israel, and to search into the page of Jewish prophecy, I will pass to the consideration of what is said concerning God’s ancient people in the Scripture before us—"Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion," &c.

THE PRESENT LOVE OF CHRISTIANS TO THE JEWS is the point on which we have first to dwell. It was at the early part of the last century that this happy feeling first distinctly manifested itself in the formation of the Callenburg Institution, so called after the name of its founder, Henry Callenburg, professor at Halle, in Saxony. The object of this good man was the conversion of Jews to Christianity by means of the press, by provision for proselytes and catechumens, and the appointment of students, as travelling missionaries to labour among them. This institution was suppressed by the Prussian government, in 1792. In the same century, efforts were made by that most excellent people, the Moravians, on behalf of the Jews. Count Zinzendorf took great interest in them, and some Jews joined the Brethren’s Church. The Count desired to keep alive amongst his people an interest on their behalf, and introduced the following prayer for their conversion into the Brethren’s Liturgy: "Deliver the ten tribes of Israel from their blindness, and make us acquainted with their sealed ones. Bring in the tribe of Judah, in its time, and bless its first-fruits among us, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel be saved." But the happiness of the most express favour manifested to Zion, since, I presume, the times of the apostles, belongs to our own age. Year after year marks a growing interest for God’s ancient people. On the Continent there are formed, on their behalf, societies at Berlin, Posen, Basle, Bremen, Amsterdam, &c. America has also been awakened to this sacred cause. How remarkable, also, the establishment, at the instigation of the late King of Prussia, of the bishopric of Jerusalem, where, said he, "different Protestant communities, forgetting their differences, conscious of their unity, might tender to each other, over the tomb of the Saviour, the hand of peace and concord." The Protestant church now building on Mount Zion, for the Jews, is another proof of Gentile love. The same was also seen in the before-named illustrious sovereign giving one of the churches of his capital for the use of the Jews, in which to hear the gospel. Whilst, if we turn our eyes towards home, we see Ireland, with all her difficulties, not unmindful of this noble cause. We see Scotland sending to Palestine a deputation to inquire into the state of the Jews, and following this up with further labours of love on their behalf. We see our Dissenting brethren, happily, at last stirring themselves in the same blessed cause. We hear everywhere of public attention being called to the work by courses of sermons on the Jewish subject. Whilst, above all, the London Society has thirty stations in different parts of the world, and is spending some twenty-five thousand a year in endeavouring to send the gospel to the Jews. "This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes."

We may now, further, show how this GENTILE LOVE IS THE SIGNAL OF GOD’S RETURNING FAVOUR TOWARDS HIS ANCIENT PEOPLE. . . . . .The establishing a British Consul at Jerusalem was a remarkable sign of the times. Whilst the united and indignant remonstrance lately sent to the Porte by the several Cabinets of Europe, in consequence of the atrocities perpetrated on the Jews of Damascus, and other places, seems strikingly to mark that the time of Zion’s tribulation is fast passing away. How wonderful is it, that these governments, each of which, in times past, have imbrued their hands in Jewish blood, should now, with one voice, exclaim against a repetition of these barbarities, and expressly declare that this thing shall not again be. Surely in this we recognise a signal of the Divine favour.

In spiritual things the hand of the Lord is equally manifest in his still beloved people. The present movement in the Jewish mind is most remarkable, especially as to the manner in which they are throwing off the Talmud, together with long-established prejudices. . . . . Forty years ago, it is asserted that there was but one Jewish preacher; but now, upwards of twenty believing Israelites are clergymen of our Church, and more than one hundred in Germany are preaching the gospel of Christ. Many Christian Jews, men of great learning and talent, fill professors’ chairs on the Continent.

"The Ancient Church, after apostolic times, seems to have made no provision for preaching the gospel to the Jews. Some of the fathers wrote against them in languages which the Jews considered profane, and therefore did not read; but no systematic attempt was made by the Christian Church. Individuals were moved to seek the welfare of the Jews, and their attempts were blessed."—Dr. McCall. But, generally speaking, the most opprobrious epithets were applied to them, and a line of conduct pursued, such as was calculated to make their prejudices perpetual. Christians knew nothing of Hebrew; the New Testament had never been translated into that language; and from the time of Jerome to that of Raymund Martyn, a period of nearly eight hundred years, almost all the endeavours to learn, from their own writings, the real objection and difficulties of the Jews, were abandoned. Nor was this all. "The Council of Elvira, and several succeeding Councils, forbade all familiar and friendly intercourse with the Jews, under pain of excommunication. Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Hugo de Velles, Bishop of Lincoln, extended this decree still further; for they denounced the same punishment upon any one who should hold communication with the Jews, or even sell them provisions; and, to crown all, a decree was made, forbidding them to enter any Christian church! After a series of acts of cruelty, they were all banished from England; and in one day, October 9^th, 1290, Edward I drove more than 16,000 helpless Jews from his inhospitable shores. For 350 years none of that nation were permitted to dwell in our country. In the time of Cromwell they returned; but still few cared for their souls."—From Mr. Reynolds’ "Lecture on the Efforts made for the conversion of the Jews." 1845.

But I need not give a catalogue of the atrocities perpetrated from age to age on the Jews, by Christians, so called. Sufficient has been said to show the novel and unprecedented position in which the Jews of the present day, as contrasted with their predecessors, are placed; and hence to indicate, in the clearest manner, the probability that the time of the Divine indignation is drawing to a close. With delight we hail this new, and we doubt not certain token, that the time to favour Zion, yea, the set time, is soon to come. Lord, build thou the walls of Jerusalem, and be thou to her a wall of fire round about!

Let us now take a view of SOME OF THE ULTERIOR MERCIES OF WHICH THE PRESENT RETURN OF DIVINE FAVOUR IS THE EARNEST. "Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion."

It will, indeed, be a happiness to see the city rebuilt, and a marvellous sign of the times when Jewish hands again "raise up the desolations of many generations."—Isaiah 61: 4. To believers it will be marvellous. . . . . . The return of the alone heritors of the soil of Palestine would convey to that now wretched land the blessings of liberty and civilisation. Their intelligence, their industry, their wealth is abundant. Whilst in regard to the land, one or two years of their sojourn in it would, by the Divine blessing, make that present "wilderness to blossom as the rose."—Isaiah 35: 1. For there lie in heaps, already squared to the use of the builder, the stones of multitudinous cities, rich in various marbles, and heaped with shattered column, capital and frieze. There, with unexhausted riches to reward the toil of the husbandman, lies the glebe, waiting to be upturned by the plough. And there, on terraced hills, the traveller, in admiring the labours of former generations, sees prepared to the hand of the planter, ranges for the fig, the pomegranate, and the vine; whilst with glad heart he repeats that rapturous word, "again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry: thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant and shall eat them as common things."—Jeremiah 31: 4-5.

There are mercies in store for the whole nation—mercies greater than the former, and, we apprehend, to be brought about with miracles in a manner at least as marvellous as those which marked their original settlement in the land of promise: for it is written, "According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I show him marvellous things. The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might, they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee."—Micah 7: 16-17.

A few of these mercies, both temporal and spiritual, we will now enumerate.

Such are among the future mercies which await the chosen seed, when the Lord shall "open his eyes" upon them, and of which his present returning favour is, we believe, the earnest and the pledge. Arise, O Lord, have mercy upon Zion. We beseech thee, "Let the Redeemer come to Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob."

THE BENEFITS WHICH ARE TO FLOW TO THE GENTILES THROUGH ISRAEL RESTORED TO THE DIVINE FAVOUR, is the only remaining point of our text which we have to notice. "So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory."

The question is often asked, through what instrumentality the world is ultimately to be brought to the obedience of Christ? The usual answer given to this question is, —through means of missions, as now used. Ardently as I love the missionary cause; holy, necessary, and blessed, as I believe it to be, yet I esteem such a reply as arising from a very mistaken view of Scripture. THE OBJECT OF THE PRESENT DISPENSATION IS TO GATHER IN A REMNANT TO GOD. The gospel, our Lord asserts, is to be preached "for a witness to all people, and then shall the end come."—Matthew 24: 14. Agreeably to this, the apostle James declares, "God did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name."—Acts 15. And thus has it ever been. The preaching the gospel through missions, and in other ways, has been doing, and is doing, its work, and a people by this instrumentality is gathered to the Lord, even "a remnant according to the election of grace." But what progress has the gospel made in the world? Little, indeed; for if we compare the present with the apostolic times, there are probably not more believers now than there were then. And yet, it is near two thousand years since the gospel was first preached! But Scripture, and after Scripture, experience, is, blessed be God! now showing us our error. That which is so apparent we are now beginning, though slowly and late in time, to be convinced of, namely, that SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS"—salvation, not merely as witnessed in the sufferings and death of the adorable Jesus, but in all those glorious effects of that incipient salvation, as hereafter to be developed in the "restitution of all things." It was Jesus of Nazareth, of the seed of Abraham, that purchased our salvation. They were children of the same race, his apostles, who first to us Gentiles preached, and made known that salvation so purchased. And, we apprehend, it is THROUGH THE SAME NATION that we are to look for the full communications of blessings yet promised to the Gentiles. The precise manner in which those blessings are, through them, to be communicated, we do not, perhaps, know. But this, it appears, seems obvious from Scripture, that they shall be a channel of blessing to the peoples, and that they shall be the great means of calling the attention of the nations to their God.

Thus clearly it is revealed, that Israel shall be a blessing to the nations; and thus, through the wonders with which the Lord will accompany their establishment in their own land, shall the attention of the Gentiles be drawn to Him. "Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory."

It now only remains that we should conclude our subject with some suitable remarks.

The believer, instructed in this portion of "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven," is also aware that the return of "the people" to their own land is the next greatest event in the history of the world to be looked for. Long was the period from the creation to the giving of the law. Protracted, again, was the time from that great event to the bringing in of Messiah. And how long has it not been from the coming of Messiah to the present period! But long ago, the Lord has said concerning his promised advent, "Behold, I come quickly." And this, we know, is "the last time." The chronological prophecies also are, by any calculation, almost run out; and "the signs of the times" are strange and foreboding. It is written, "After two days he will revive us; in the third day he will raise us up; and we shall live in his sight."—Hosea 6: 2. One day of Israel’s history elapsed before Messiah appeared. He came; and now another long "day," of near two thousand years, has run out. Surely, "the third day," when they "shall live in his sight," cannot be far remote. "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."—Luke 21: 24. But Gentile ascendancy is not to last for ever; —"Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion." The believer knows this, and he sees that the event must be nigh, even at the doors; and that which his understanding clearly apprehends, his heart also fully embraces. With the prophet, he unites in supplication, "O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name."—Daniel 9: 18.

Seeing, again, that large masses of Scripture are devoted, not only to the past, but also to the future history of Israel, the instructed Christian sees that it is his plain duty to acquaint himself with the page of unfulfilled prophecy which belongs to them. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable." And as we draw near the times when any particular portion of that Scripture is to be fulfilled, it is, of course, important that we should acquaint ourselves with it, lest the events to which they point should take us by surprise. Now, it is evident, that "the time of the end" is near. Hence, we should acquaint ourselves intimately with those events which are then to take place, and, amongst the rest, with those facts and details which belong to the restoration of Israel. It is our positive duty, and especially the duty of ministers, not to be ignorant of these things. What! shall we, who are "children of the day," find ourselves precipitated into a series of events, ignorant of their beginning, ignorant of their course, and ignorant of their close? That be far from us! "God is the Lord who showeth us light." Let us, then, use that light to his glory. The "sure word of prophecy" speaks distinctly as to the future, and is "a light shining in a dark place." I beseech you, Christian, "search the Scriptures;" and, whilst events in rapid succession are hastening to the development of mysteries which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world, do you, instructed by the prophetic Word, be preparing, and at all points ready, for the consummation.

The whole nation of Israel, as a nation, will, we believe, be only brought in by the immediate power of God. Now for this great event it is the duty of believers to pray, both for the sake of that nation, and also of all others. . . . Very importunate, therefore, is the Christian with the Lord in prayer, that he would be pleased to bring about this great event. Very ardent is his love to Zion, when he sees that through her such matchless benefits shall from the Lord flow forth to the nations. Dear to him is her dust, and often he fondly thinks upon her stones; whilst from his heart the prayer ascends, "WILT THOU NOT AT THIS TIME RESTORE AGAIN THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL?"

From duty, we pass to the PRIVILEGE of being helpers in benefits to Israel. . . . Our fathers thought not of them. . . .In the world’s previous history, age after age brought to Israel naught but shame, ignominy, contempt and obloquy. But now, blessed be God, it is not so. A brighter day is dawning on the doomed and hitherto wretched race; and it is our privilege to see and witness these things. . . True is that word, "BLESSED IS HE THAT BLESSETH THEE."—Genesis 27: 29. And one way in which that blessing comes upon any Church which seeks the good of Israel, is obvious; for the Jewish subject at once leads to the Scriptures, the fountain of light and blessing. The Word of God is searched in reference to them, and the Church is illuminated and benefited. The study of the Jewish subject leads to the consideration of unfulfilled prophecy. This always has, as its end and object, THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST; and as this grand doctrine is brought before the Church, so the hearts of believers are animated, and they are led more and more to watchfulness, and holiness of life. In this respect the interest taken by us in the Jews has given us an advantage over other Churches, and over our Dissenting brethren. Hitherto they have not espoused the cause of Israel, and, as a consequence, the study of the prophetic Word (as once with us) is almost unknown among them. The allegorical and figurative interpretation of Scripture destroys amongst them (as still too much amongst ourselves) the marrow and the power, the truth and the literality of the Scriptures of the prophets.

Another privilege connected with labours for Israel’s welfare is, that in these we are undertaking that which is well-pleasing to God. Despite all their untold sorrow, they are still "beloved for the fathers’ sakes."—Romans 11: 28. God has given them a law which cannot be broken—a national covenant, which he cannot annul. "Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the Lord, If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the Lord."—Jeremiah 31.

Clear and strong is this language, and indicative of the deep, the unchanging, the eternal love with which Jehovah loves the chosen nation. Happy we, then, if the same mind and the same love exists in our hearts towards them. Happy we, if, in the use of means within our power, we are fellow-workers with God, and are found "taking up the stones," and preparing materials for that "highway" which the Lord himself will make for their return. Let the thought animate us, that in seeking Israel’s welfare, we are doing that which is pleasing to God; and let us praise his holy name that he has put the honour and the privilege upon us of seeking the peace of Israel.

AND THUS, in speaking to you of the believer’s knowledge, duty, and privilege, respecting the things which pertain to Israel, I have brought to a close our delightful theme. I would that it had been handled with an elevation suited to its dignity, with an unction corresponding to its importance, with a copiousness agreeable to its vastness. But, who is sufficient for these things? The sublimest imagination cannot realise them; the most capacious heart cannot embrace them; the most eloquent tongue cannot describe them.

"And here will I make an end. And could I have done well, and as is fitting, it is that which I desired; but if slenderly and meanly, it is that only which I could attain unto." May, however, a blessing rest on the Word spoken; and may it be rendered effectual in promoting amongst the people of God a more lively interest in the welfare and prosperity of Israel! Even so, Lord, for Jesus’ sake!

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