account of the Affghans is this:-That their ancestors were Jews that their common histories record the names of David, Saul, and other kings of Israel—that the Mahomedans came upon them with an invading army, and said unto them, We are Jews as well as you : we observe circumcision and keep the sabbath; let us incorporate our nations, and be one people, and unite against the Infidels-that they made a shew of yielding to Mahomedanism (as the Jews of Spain and Portugal pretended to yield to Christianity); but in process of time the ascendancy of the new religion corrupted their ancient institutions: their sacred books began to diminish in number; and it came to pass at last, that in many places they could be only recognized to be Jews by their countenance-by tradition-by peculiar rites, and the observance of the Sabbath; which are the only marks which distinguish some of the Beni-Israel of the south of India. Let us, therefore, address the Ten Tribes, and receive them in the state in which, by the providence of God, they are to be found. Some of the Jews of London are as ignorant, and as little entitled to the name, as the Affghans of India..

But there is a third body of Jews to whom you ought to write I mean the SAMARITAN JEWS. They are not far from the shores of the Mediterranean, and are easily accessible. They possess only the Pentateuch. They are few in number, and will receive with much deference any communication which you will be pleased to make to them relating to their religion and to the present state of Jewish nations.

Let letters then be addressed to these three bodies of Israelites; not in the names of CHRISTIANS, but in the name of converted Jews, who compose a part of this society. Let Mr. Frey write to them, not in the rabinical Hebrew (for there are upwards of twenty dialects of rabbinical or commercial Hebrews in the world), but in the Hebrew of the Old Testament, which all understand; let him inform them of the great events that have taken place in the west, namely that Jews have become Christians; that the Christians are sending forth preachers to teach all nations; that the Messiah is surely come; and that the signs of the

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times encourage the belief that Israel is about to be restored, in a spiritual sense. Let him further direct their attention to particular PROPHECIES, and invite correspondence. And after Mr. Frey has exercised his ministry a year or two longer in this country, he may go forth as a missionary to the Jews of Cochin, with some of his brethren, that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." After preaching among them for a time, he may return again, and report what he has heard and seen.

But when you write these letters, a PRESENT must accompany them after the oriental manner. And let this present be the BIBLE. You need not, indeed, send the Old Testament to all; for the Jews of the East possess that book intire, with every jot and tittle that belongs to it. They are our LIBRARIANS. They are ordained by Providence, as it were, to be the official guardians of the perpetual purity of the sacred volume. But you must send them the NEW TESTAMENT in the Hebrew tongue : in the language and character of the Old Testament, which all understand and revere. And let it have the MASSORA, that the text may be settled by good authority, before it pass out of your hands. We Christians are, in regard to the New Testament, the Massorites; we are qualified to determine the sense. If the version be sent forth without POINTS, the words of our Saviour may be expounded by the eastern Jews in different ways.-The Arabic, Persian, Chaldaic, and Syriac languages, all have points. You may take them away, indeed, as has been done in the Old Testament Hebrew; but if you do so, you will not be able to understand what is written, unless you have got it previously by heart. All the children learn these languages in the east, with points; and they are constantly used by grown persons when the sense is doubtful. A letter, without points, on a new and difficult subject would be an enigma. It is commonly said in Europe, that "the points are not of Divine origin." But I do not understand the meaning of these words. If the CONSONANTS be of Divine origin, the VOWELS are of Divine origin. The consonants cannot be pronounced without the vowels. A conso

nant implies the presence of a vowel. The Hebrew consonants, which are said to be of divine origin, were changed in form by a heathen people. A child, in the time of Moses, would not have been able to learn the Book of Genesis without points. When he had got it by heart, indeed, the points would be of no use: and for this reason, and for no other, are they not used in the synagogue. It is sometimes the labor of ten years for the Hebrew reader in the synagogue to learn to read the scriptures without points. Had not providence ordained the Massora of the Old Testament, it is impossible to say how great our difficulty might have been in translating that volume at this day but the same providence which has preserved the coNSONANTS, has preserved the vowels also. Neither do we know that EVERY Consonant (which is thus said to be of Divine origin) is preserved. Nor is it necessary it should.

It is with surprise I learn, that as yet you have not obtained a version of the New Testament in the Hebrew language, for the use of the Jews. It is surely the very first duty of your society to execute this translation. You are beginning to work without instruments. How can you find fault with a Jew for not believing the New Testament if he has never seen it ? It is not to be expected that he will respect a version in English but give him the New Testament, in the language of the Old Testament, in the imposing form. of the primæval Hebrew, the character which he is accustomed to venerate and admire, and then you do justice to his weakness, and may overcome his prejudice.

How strange it appears, that during a period of eighteen hundred years, the Christians should never have given the Jews the New Testament in their own language! By a kind of infatuation, they have reprobated the unbelief of the Jews, and have never at the same time told them what they ought to believe.

I shall conclude with observing, that the chief difficulties which this society will probably meet with, will be from the opposing Jews at home. But when they see that your converts multiply in number, and when they hear that you are writing to other nations, regardless of their ignorance and opposition; when they

learn that you have discovered the ten tribes, that you have sent to them the New Testament in the Holy language; that you are discussing with them the sub. ject of the prophecies, and that Mr. Frey and his brethren are going forth as " ambassadors, in light ships, to carry the tidings of gladness to a nation scattered and peeled, terrible from their beginning hitherto," Isaiah xviii.; the hostile Jews will be alarmed, their spirits will sink within them, and they will begin to think that a great day in Zion is at hand.

Every time you meet here in this public manner, in the presence of the Israelites, your cause acquires strength. Every time that these annual sermons are preached, and the voice of prayer and supplication for the outcasts of Israel ascends to Heaven, it is like the blast of the rams' horns before the walls of Jericho : and so the enemy will soon begin to consider it: and I doubt not that before you have encompassed the walls seven times, an impression will be made.-It may be the will of God, that before the trumpet of your anniversary assemblies has been seven times sounded, the wall will begin to shake, a breach will be made, and Joshua, the spiritual Joshua, will enter and take the city.