CONTINENTAL JEWS.

THE REV. Mr. Lehner, of the Church of Scotland Mission to the Jews, reports the following conversation with a son of Abraham, at Dieburg, in Germany. It occurred after Divine service on the Sunday. "He showed me," says Mr. Lehner, "in Hebrew, Psalm ii. 12, and asked me to translate and explain it, which I did. He merely remarked, We understand it otherwise.' I referred him then to Psalm cx., where the same person is spoken of He then said, 'Our ideas regarding Christ have certainly changed for the better. I know the time when His name was mentioned with the utmost horror; but now we look on Him as a good and wise man, and a great reformer.' I then remarked, Human reason has brought you thus far; but to know His Divine character and mission, we want the light from above, the Spirit of God.' The Jew replied, Judge not of us according to outward forms; there is much going on in the hearts of those here present, which is known only to God; but it requires time for maturity. Moses, and those who came with him out of Egypt, were not allowed to enter the promised land, but their children did; and when I look on the experience of fifty years back, and on the progress made, I am inclined to believe that our children will behold what we are not allowed to do. But it requires time and patience; it must not be forced, and it will succeed.' I must confess I listened with surprise, for I did not at all expect it, and yet I have no reason to suspect his sincerity; and when, after the service, I entered into conversa

tion with others of respectable appearance, I heard similar sentiments expressed. On inquiry, I found they had occasional intercourse with Christian ministers, and received books and tracts, chiefly in foreign places, as Frankfort and Bavaria." Thus the seed sown bears fruit in dis

tant lands!

SCRIPTURE ENIGMAS.

I.

WE have received the following from a correspondent. We hope that many of our young friends will send us replies.

She who, of old, Jehovah's cause espoused,
And Israel's thousands to the battle roused,
By zeal supported in the glorious cause,
Led the bold van and gained deserved applause.
The last of three appointed to command,
In Judah's host against the rebel band,
When civil discord stalked throughout the land.

The Benjamite whose proud rebellious heart,
Caused kindred thousands from their Prince to part,
Became their leader, but so poorly sped,
That soon he paid the forfeit of his head.

The sire of him who smote the prophet's cheek,
Who stood alone when kings would counsel seek,
Though jeered and hated, still the truth would speak.

Another let us name, 'twas she who bore
His grandsire, who experienced trouble sore,
Through hills and mountains by an armed force
Hunted, and close beset, by foot and horse.

That generous Hittite, who, with noble mind,
And liberal heart, was to the stranger kind,
Kind to his dead, not willing to refuse

His substance, gratis, for the stranger's use;

He whom his skill first taught the forge to rear,
The brass to polish, and the iron to square.

He who from home and home's dear comforts driven,
Became the subject of indulgent Heaven;
Whose bow in Paran's wilderness supplied
The wants which by a parent were denied.

The man on whom a blessing was bestowed,
Whose house contained the sacred Ark of God.

With him who, washing, found a speedy cure
In Jordan's waters, and becoming pure,
Convinced by this, believed the prophet's word,
And vowed from henceforth he would serve the Lord.

Now of each person named, the initials take,
Placed in rotation, you will find them make—
Spelt at full length-a word of consequence,
Both in a moral and religious sense;
Which word if close attended-to will give
Strength to the mind;-and wisdom, thoul't receive
Through every trial, calm, and doubtful strife,
And safely guide thy steps through various life.
A fair solution of the word I claim,

Written at full length, with every person's name,—
Perhaps a pleasing study, and may tend
To thy improvement and oblige a friend.

II.

Where do we read of a poor woman being sent away from her home by her master, and with her child left to perish in the wilderness, but for the interposition of God? Of what race of people was that child the father?

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

WE beg to thank our various contributors for their kindness. If their questions do not appear so soon as they expect, they must not think they are laid aside and forgotten. We keep them for use at a future time, and for insertion as they connect themselves with any particular subject.

We omitted saying in our last that the answers to two questions proposed in February, are Jeremiah xxxvi. 20—26, and Matt. xv. 32—39.

I. ANSWERS.

1. The two kinds of wars mentioned in the Scripture, were:

(1) Those expressly enjoined by God, and

(2) Those entered upon by the prince for revenging national affronts, and for the honour of his sovereignty.

2. The kings commanded in person, till David being exposed to great danger, the people would no longer allow him to lead them. (2 Samuel xxi. 17.)

3. Solomon first employed cavalry.

4. The defensive arms of the Jews consisted of a helmet, breastplate, shield, military girdle, and greaves, or boots, to protect the feet and legs from stakes, which were stuck into the ground to impede the march of a hostile force.

The offensive arms were, the sword, spear, or javelin, bow, and arrows.

5. The Cherethites and Pelethites.

6. Eph. vi. 11-17, alludes to the various pieces of armour of the heavy-armed Roman soldier.

7. The Lord gave to the tribe of Levi the tithes, and thirty-five cities with their suburbs ; the priests had thirteen cities.

8. Three times :-Gen. xv. 6; Rom. iv. 3; Gal. iii. 6.

9. The burial-place of the Patriarchs was in the cave, in the field of Machpelah, before Mamre. Here were buried, Abraham, Sarah his wife, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah, and Joseph.

10. The seed of Abraham has proved a blessing to the nations

(1) By their preserving the Scriptures uncorrupted for many centuries;

(2) By Christ being of their seed;

(3) By their witnessing for God.

1. Why was the covenant of circumcision instituted?

2. Name the different sects among the Jews, in the time of our Lord; and state their origin; and what were their opinions?

3. How many times has Jerusalem been taken; and by whom?

4. What mode of life was best suited to the