sacred books in casting lots, and their literary men pay the same homage to the memory of Kung-foo-sze (Confucius) as their neighbours do. They never pronounce the ineffable name of God, but say Etunoi (Adonai), and in writing Chinese they render that name by Teen (heaven), just as the Chinese do, instead of Shang-te (Lord above), or any other ancient appellation of the Deity.

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"They have no formulary of belief, but hold to the unity of God, and to the doctrines of heaven, hell, a sort of purgatory, the resurrection of the dead, the day of judgment, and the hierarchies of angels.

THE Seventh Annual Report, presented in May, 1815, announces the pleasing fact that means had been afforded for paying the very heavy debt which the Committee had incurred in building, and in carrying on the various operations of the Society. The late excellent Sir Thomas Baring, Bart., accepted the office of President on condition that the debts of the Society should first be paid. The Committee applied to Sir Thomas, requesting him to undertake this office. He desired, first, to know the state of their affairs. When he saw how deeply they were involved in debt, he at once declined to accede to their request. He could not become the President of an Institution which was so involved.

In the midst of their embarrassment, the late Reverend Lewis Way, with noble munificence, came forward and offered to free the Society from debt. He waited upon Sir Thomas Baring, and told him of his intention to pay down at once many thousand pounds, to set the Committee free from all present difficulty, and earnestly entreated him no longer to decline to accept the office of President. Sir Thomas remonstrated with Mr. Way; pointed out the injury which he would do his family by such an unparalleled act of munificence, and begged him to reconsider his proposal. Mr. Way was unmoved by the representations of Sir Thomas, and to convince him that he was not injuring his family by giving the money now, brought his will to him, in which the same sum was bequeathed to the Society at his death. His family, therefore, he said, would not suffer by the gift of the money; and a gentleman of high standing and great influence would be secured as the President of the Society, from whose advice and experience the best of results might be expected.

Thus the embarrassment of the Society was removed, and Sir Thomas Baring commenced the long-continued and most beneficial presidency of the, then, only institution in our country which sought the temporal and spiritual well-being of the descendants of Israel.

The circumstance which led Mr. Way to take a deep interest in the present state and future destiny of Israel is thus related: "Mr. Way was riding in Devonshire with one of his friends, and passing before a country house, he admired the beauty of the trees which surrounded it. Do you know the extraordinary history belonging to

them?' said his companion. A lady to whom this country seat belonged, has positively forbidden in her will that they should be touched until the Jews have become once more possessed of Jerusalem.' Mr. Way, touched by this example of faith in the Divine promises to Israel, examined the Scriptures more attentively, to see whether there was any authority contained in them for expecting the speedy restoration of the Jews, and this inquiry left in his mind a deep feeling of respect and interest for them.

From

that time he employed the resources of his large fortune and his great powers of mind in their cause, and had the happiness of awakening in many other eminent men the same active charity and the same desire to help them as inspired himself."*

The Society continued to confine its labours to the Jews of London, with the important exception of sending out the completed portion of the Hebrew New Testament. Several valuable correspondents brought before the friends of Israel in England, the state of the Jews in various parts of the world, and gave much information useful for future missionary operations. The Schools flourished. The various institutions for the employment of poor inquiring and believing Jews were usefully maintained. Lectures were delivered to the Jews in various Churches and Episcopal Chapels in London. The Services at the Society's Episcopal Chapel were attended by many Israelites, and a deeper and more widespread interest in behalf of God's ancient people was awakened in the Church.

*Geneva and Jerusalem.

The Society felt bound to send forth labourers into other lands, and Mr. Way, accompanied by the Rev. R. Cox, of Bridgenorth, and the Rev. N. Solomon, a converted Jew, and the Sultan Katagary, left this country in the autumn of 1817, with the view of ascertaining by personal enquiry and investigation the state of religion amongst the Jews abroad, and of endeavouring to diffuse amongst them, as opportunity might occur, evangelical light and knowledge. The journey was undertaken at Mr. Way's sole expense. The result was highly encouraging, and the reception which they experienced confirmed the desire of the Committee to enter upon foreign missionary labours. Mr. Way and his companions visited many countries. They began with Holland and proceeded to Hanover, to Prussia, to Russia, Poland, &c., &c., preaching wherever opportunities were given, and in every place conversing with learned Jews and distributing New Testaments amongst them.

Mr. Solomon was appointed by the Committee missionary in Poland; of which country the Jewish population is so numerous, that, in many places, they seem to be its possessors, while "the native Poles appear among them as the strangers and proselytes of ancient Judea. The trade of the country is in the hands of the Jews. In such a district the most favourable opportunity could not but be afforded of trying their disposition towards Christianity, and of scattering the seeds of instruction amongst them." A few extracts from the journal of the missionary will show that this expectation was well founded. I am happy to tell you that what we have witnessed amongst the Jews during our abode in Poland, has ex

ceeded all my expectations, and, in some instances, quite overwhelmed me with astonishment. Their old prejudices against the very name of Jesus, which have so long darkened their minds, and have been a bar against all enquiry and reasoning, are now marvellously dispersed, and they are inclined and even desirous to speak about the Christian religion with every possible freedom. It was truly pleasant to see the avidity with which they received the Hebrew New Testament from our hands, and the thirst which they uniformly manifested to know its contents. Whenever any were given to them, numbers of Jews were immediately afterwards seen in the streets in circles, and one of them reading the book aloud. Where we remained awhile, they used to surround me in the marketplaces, or come to the inn in numbers, asking explanations of some passages or making objections to others. All were patient for an answer, and whilst sometimes a person stood up against it, others at the same time heard gladly, and even manifested joy in their countenances at what I had to say to them of Christ and his Gospel."

(To be continued.)

JERUSALEM.

LAST month we gave a short extract, from Mr. Lowthian's book, on Tyre. We now present our readers with one on Jerusalem. It gives a correct and interesting picture of every-day life and business in the once holy city.-"I went" says our traveller," to see some of the principal streets