his labours. These will help to disabuse the minds of the Jews of the strong prejudice which they have imbibed against Christianity, and they may be expected to form a rallying point for those who become converted to the truth. In those countries every one appears to be swayed by the example of his neighbour, and the feeling of clanship (if the expression may be used), is so strong, that under present circumstances, he who at Bagdad, for instance, becomes a Christian, thereby gives up his nationality, and the act of his baptism exposes him to the cruel temptation to apostatize for a morsel of bread. These are the great difficulties which as yet seem to prevent our reaping, in this portion of the Society's field of labour, the fruit of that great change which is visibly taking place in the minds and feelings of the Jews towards Christianity.

Mr. E. R. Hodges, who has lately entered on the missionary work among the Jews in Jerusalem, describes their little Protestant community as being

"Surrounded by almost heathen darkness, accustomed to see no sabbaths reverenced, and to meet with none except the members of our own little Zion, who have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Here all is worldly, sensual, devilish; spirituality is an element which finds no place either in the lethargic Turk, the talmudical Jew, or the blinded followers of a so-called Christianity. There are, it is true, nominally three Sabbaths in Jerusalem, viz., Friday, which is only to be distinguished by the hoisting the Turkish flag on the tower of Hippicus, and the closing of the gates of the town from twelve till one o'clock, during which time the soldiers attend the

Mosque; Saturday, when the Jewish shops are closed, and their owners may be seen after their morning service standing listlessly about the streets; and lastly the Christian Sabbath, when our little flock meet and worship that Saviour who expiated our sins near the spot where I write, but whose professed followers deny him by their works. The shops of the Latins are generally closed, but only to allow their occupants an opportunity of gambling, drinking, shooting, or pleasure taking. These abominations, however, far from deadening us, ought, I confess, to stir us up to earnest prayer, that the Almighty would turn his hand upon Jerusalem, purge away her dross, and take away all her sin. These con

siderations ought to induce us to give him no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

And in the same spirit says Mr. Crawford, in a recent communication:

"I am thankful to find the aspect of the city, generally, and of the Jewish population in particular, a great stimulus to prayer and humilia. tion before God."

We conclude with a few short notices, taken from the Rev. J. C. Reichardt's communications, who is at present on a temporary mission to the Holy City. Respecting his opportunities for intercourse with the children of Abraham, Mr. R. says:

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In our work at Jerusalem we have, during the month of February, been on an improving scale, and our labours have been blessed. We are not only growing stronger from within, which is a matter of great thankfulness, but we have had some delightful opportunities of bearing our testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus.

We

have addressed the Jews in the streets and alleys of Jerusalem, visited them in their own houses, and conversed with them in their Synagogues.

"We have also paid an interesting visit to the Caraite Jews. They are a small community, and occupy a building in which is also their synagogue, under ground. They received us in a friendly manner, showed us their synagogue and sacred books, and entered with us, in the presence of their wives and children, into an amicable discussion on the subject of religion. Our conversation was in pure Hebrew, except that they sometimes spoke in Arabic with brother Nicolayson. They complained of the hostility, superstition and immoderate zeal of their talmudical brethren, and especially their wrong in tearing books when opposed to their views, and had themselves no objection to read books of a controversial character. As a proof of this, they said they had a copy of the New Testament, and they also cheerfully accepted of a copy of my Tract in Hebrew, 'Messiah the Son of God.' The Bibles they used in their synagogue were the 12mo. edition of our Society.

"I was anxious to see Hebron before Mr. Nicolayson left, and when weather and time were favourable, so as not materially to interfere with our duties at home, we started on a lovely morning, accompanied by Mrs. Reichardt and a friend. Our way led us by Rachel's tomb, the pools of Solomon, and through the hill-country of Judah, the old and usual path of the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, and of our Lord himself, and, after having enjoyed a most beautiful ride amid evergreens and vineyards in the valley of Eshkol, we

arrived after six hours ride in good time at Hebron, this noted town of Abraham and David. During our short stay we naturally visited the plains of Mamre, sat and read under the oak of Abraham, saw the tombs of Jesse and Othniel, and the building which covers the tombs of the patriarchs and mothers of Israel: but our chief objects were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who reside in this one of the four holy cities of Palestine. No sooner had we partaken of some refreshments after our journey, than brother Nicolayson and myself hastened to the Jewish synagogues, first the Polish, and then the Spanish, and had a lively and friendly conversation with a number of Jews,-with the former in German, and the latter in Hebrew, on various religious topics. They were very civil, and entered into the discussion with all life and zeal, until the time of service, when we naturally ceased; but we were afterwards and the next day visited by some Jews, who accepted gratefully our books and tracts. On Saturday morning we again visited the Spanish synagogue, and stayed during part of the service, and then took our departure for Jerusalem, where we arrived in safety about four o'clock in the afternoon, refreshed and rejoicing at what the Lord had enabled us to do. May He bless and water the seed that has been sown, that it may spring up and produce fruit unto everlasting life.'

Poetry.

DOES JESUS LOVE THE JEWS?

"I have loved thee with an everlasting love." (Jer. xxxi. 3.)

DOES Jesus love the Jews? We love
The land which gave us birth,
And Canaan was the sacred spot
Where Jesus dwelt on earth;
O'er Judah's circling hills he trod
In childhood's sunny hours;
He drank of Jordan's shining wave,
And gathered Sharon's flowers.

Does Jesus love the Jews? We love
Our own dear native tongue;
The accents of our first learnt prayer,
The hymns which first we sung.
And every word which Jesus spoke,
Holy, and pure, and true,
Was in the language Eden heard,
The language of the Jew.

Does Jesus love the Jews? We love

More than each other friend,

The sick one o'er whose couch we watch,
The little child we tend.

'Twas Israel's dead whom Jesus raised,

"Twas Israel's babes he blest,

'Twas Israel's weary burdened sons

Who came to him for rest.