to his earnest inquiries; and then ask whether we are not reproved for our want of believing prayer, and fervent desire? There ought to be no doubt in our minds as to the salvation of Israel at last. The word is gone forth, and must be made good, that "all Israel shall be saved." And when we consider that "the receiving of them will be life from the dead" to the world, how should we wrestle that God would" arise and have mercy upon Zion ?" Lastly, if Darius was so moved by this proof of God's delivering power as regards Daniel, how ought we to be affected by all that He has done?" Thus the great king testified: "He is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth; who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." But we have a more complete knowledge of His character as the Lord God of Israel, and trace His various perfections in the history of that people. We know Him also as "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;" even Him who hath "raised up His Son from the grave," where wicked men had cast Him; and in doing thus, hath given us a pledge that all which He hath spoken, concerning Jew and Gentile, shall be accomplished. "We see not yet all things put under Him; but see Jesus crowned with glory and honour," and we know "that He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet." Then will the great King of Eternity, "the blessed and only Potentate," utter His decree; and will make His King, seated on His holy hill of Zion, become, in a more glorious and universal sense than He hath ever yet been, "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel;" and then that kingdom shall be established, which shall not be destroyed, while the "earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Then shall the sorrowful night of man's ignorance, sin, and misery, be succeeded b the joyful morning of knowledge, holiness, and joy. For He, who is as the light of the morning, even THE JUST ONE," shall rule over men, "ruling in the fear of God." Surely "the night is far spent, and the day is at hand." Notices of Books, J. C. The Apocalypse of St. John: a New Translation, Metrically Arranged, with Scriptural Illustrations. By Professor J. H. GODWIN, New College. Jackson and Walford, 18, St. Paul's Churchyard. Ir will be gratifying to those who love to have the share of the Jews in the New Testament prophecies recognised, to find that Professor Godwin thus arranges the Book of the Revelation. The first three chapters, and the last two, are plainly distinct portions. In the intermediate portion of the book prominence is given to three series of judgments connected with the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven vessels. These introductory and conclusory visions exhibit symbols of the Divine government, of the present safety and service, or the future glory and blessedness of the followers of Christ. The first series of judgments is shown to refer to Jews, by the statements which follow the sixth seal; and the second to idolators, by the statements which follow the sixth trumpet We give the contents of his volume:-Book I. Addresses to Christian Churches in the Present Life, chapters 1, 2; and 3. Book II. Judgments of God on the Jews, chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7; and these chapters are thus divided:-Part I. Introductory Visions: 1. Prefatory; 2. Worship of the Creator; 3. Worship of the Redeemer. Part II. Visions of the Sealed Scroll: 1. Symbol of Victory; 2. Symbol of War; 3. Symbol of Famine; 4. Symbol of Death; 5. Symbol of previous Persecution; 6. Symbol of National Ruin. Part III. Concluding Visions: 1. Sealing of Christian Jews; 2. Salvation of Christians of all Nations; 3. Seventh Seal and Silence. Leaving, possibly for a future period, remarks upon the work at large, it is presumed it will be gratifying to those who delight to sustain their regard to the Jews, and their hopes in reference to their destiny, to find one so able to judge, giving the weight of his opinion to this application of the commencement of the Book of the Revelation to the seventh chapter. Whether the presumption as to the date of the Book being prior to the destruction of Jerusalem is essential to that application may be questioned; the application is not to be lost through ignorance or mistake as to the date of the Book. Mr. Godwin and the venerable Dr. Henderson, it is believed, are not the only professors who allow to the Jew a mighty weight and consequence as in connexion with New Testament prediction. It is hoped that the above reference to this small publication will induce the perusal of it, and persuade to a more deep, prayerful, and active regard to a people so distinguished upon the New Testament as well as upon the Old Testament page of prophecy. The Earnest Minister: a Record of the Life, and Selections from Posthumous and other Writings of the Rev. Benjamin Parsons, of Ebley, Gloucestershire. Edited by EDWARD PAXTON HOOD. London: Snow. THIS is no ordinary biography-as is befitting-for Mr. Parsons was no ordinary man: We knew him as he is here represented, "an Earnest Minister," but having the reputation of being somewhat crotchety, and not a little stern in his attachments to what he believed to be truth. But we were not prepared for the genial glow, the loving tenderness, which appear to have been so characteristic of the man, and which Mr. Hood has so beautifully and touchingly delineated in these pages. His biographer says, with equal force of expression and happiness of illustration, "We sometimes hope that all men, certainly most men, would be better if they were looked at more at home, and seen more in their social and fireside relations. Mr. Parsons was quite unknown to you unless you saw him at home: his character sought that quiet shade to unfold itself. To most men he seemed only stern and rugged; yet he could defy tempests; he could raise storms, front them, and quell them. Sometimes he was like a hawthorn on a bleak and windy hill, but he was a hawthorn whose root was fringed with violets."-pp. 109, 110. We should like exceedingly to place this volume in the hands of those who liked Mr. Parsons for his bold and able advocacy of the civil and political rights of men, but who sympathised not with him in his religious emotions. They would then see that the Gospel they despise was the living root in this man's heart, from which sprang the fruits and flowers they so much admired, but the cause and origin of whose existence they either ignored, or did not want to know. We have said that this was no ordinary biography; and we mean by this remark, that the artistic character of the work, so far as Mr. Hood has had to do with it, lifts it up out of the range of common memoirs, lives, &c., which sometimes dreadfully try our patience, and test our faith in truth and honesty. We do not think more is said here of Mr. Parsons than was absolutely required; and what is said is given with a freshness and elasticity of thought and expression that prevents weariness. We heartily thank the editor for his valuable contribution to the biographical stores of the Church, and for his clear and impressive exhibition of a character that had stamped upon it most unmistakeably the noblest features of a true Christian manhood. It is a good and useful book. Missionary Intelligence, &c. From Mr. MANNING. BEYROUT. From accounts received here, of the state of the weather in England, this summer, you will be able to sympathise with us, though it must be taken into account, that instead of two or three weeks, we have at least five months, when scarcely a single cloud is seen to pass over the disk of the sun, to intercept his burning rays; and yet, very wonderful to think, vegetation continues green, and the fruits to grow and mature, and that, too, without any very perceptible dews, which are generally supposed to fall in abundance in these countries. We have also had it very hot here, but, through mercy, I have been able to remain at my post, both this summer and last, and that without making any change to the mountains. Indeed it would have occasioned me very much regret had I been compelled to be absent, even for a few weeks, from the increasing demand there is amongst the Jews for the Scriptures. Almost every day applications are made for unlimited quantities, and in the last two months I have disposed of more than 250 copies, besides some Pentateuchs and Psalms, and have received for them the sum of £12 sterling, which speaks well for the earnestness of the purchasers. I have lately written to Mr. Lowndes, the agent at Malta, to send me as many cases of the entire Hebrew Scriptures as he can, as they are preferred to having them in parts. If the demand continues, and there can be but little doubt that it will, the Bible Society will of course be obliged to put the Bible through another edition immediately, I have been much troubled lately by changes of assistants in the school, and am now without one; but, as is usually the case at this season of the year, our number is comparatively diminished, so that by husbanding my strength I have been enabled to get through pretty well the heat of the climate, with many other drawbacks that are not calculated to improve my nervous system. In a more recent letter, dated Sept. 29th, Mr. Manning thus writes: Were it not for t 11essing of God which seems to attend my labours, I should assuredly break down; but the daily increasing anxiety evident by the Jews to possess and read the Scriptures keeps me up. No sooner does a fresh supply arrive than my house is beset like a baker's shop in the time of famine, and long after they are all disposed of, many of the poor old people bring with them their little grandsons, and implore me, for their sakes, to find them a copy. Last week three cases arrived, containing 103 Bibles, 200 Psalms, and 10 Pentateuchs, which were all gone in a couple of days, and realised the sum of £10 sterling. BRESLAU. Mr. SCHWARTZ thus introduces some very interesting details. We have only space for one of the cases referred to: The annual wool fair, which took place here lately, brought me again into contact with numbers of Jews from the province, as well as from the duchy of Posen and the kingdom of Poland, with whom I had extensive and profitable intercourse, and again gave me an opportunity to witness that the truth is by degrees, and through the blessing of God, taking every day a firmer hold of the minds of Israel in many lands. The next case I shall mention, is that of a very learned Polish Jew, whom I have also known for some time, and who comes here regularly once a year to the wool fair. When I made his acquaintance, he knew but little of the nature and spirituality of the religion of the New Testament. He looked, as many other Jews still do, upon Christianity as a system of idolatrous ceremonies, and no wonder, therefore, that he cherished hostile feelings towards the Gospel, and especially against those of his nation who professed themselves adherents of Christ. The reception, therefore, I met with at first, was not calculated to encourage me; but still there was a sincerity in his deportment which I respected, and I gave him continually to understand that I looked upon his hostile disposition merely as the result of ignorance, and instead of blaming, I rather pitied him. This was entirely new to him, and by degrees I gained his confidence, so far as to enter more fully into the question at issue between us; and now and then, when he had leisure, he visited me at my lodgings. Ever since that time, the New Testament, before a closed book for him, began to open its rich treasures to his astonished eyes, and he read, and read over again, the immortal truths uttered and taught by the divine Redeemer. His sincerity and upright character, when still standing as an opponent to the truth, went over to the side of righteousness, and he now began to feel his true position in the sight of the law before God, and, in a word, he looked into the depths of his heart and conscience, and saw that with his boasted self-righteousness, and by" the deeds of the law," no man can be justified; and this was, in fact, the moment when the preaching of the Gospel began to wield its mighty influence; he was brought to acknowledge that salvation, complete pardon, and acceptance by God, can only be obtained on the ground of the work of redemption, as wrought out for us by Christ Jesus, and by faith on Him, and an implicit obedience to His holy will and commandments. In this state of mind he left me; and he was one of those whom I mentioned not long ago, who took with them various books for themselves and others into the neighbouring country of Poland. Lately, however, I had again repeated conversations with him at my own home, to the same effect, and I prayed with him, in which he seemed heartily to join with me, and when he left me I felt assured that a work of grace was being carried on in his heart. A day or two after I received a letter from him, written in Hebrew, and mostly in verse, in which, so to say, his feelings are reflected, which I shall translate here, and send you the original as well. The letter is to the following effect. He says: "Dear Friend,-Since I have seen you, I have found in you a man of faith-since I have become acquainted with you, truly a man according to my heart I have beheld-and my soul is attached to you according to the way and nature of truthful men and, therefore, I have composed this piece for you. The men of the world, who go after the pleasures of this world, their company is desolate, and their friendship is ruin. Without knowing each other, they make friendship over a cup of winethey converse, and when their hearts are heated within, they insure their friendship, but lo, when they separate, even this disappears. Men of understanding, that love knowledge and wisdom, that search after truth and righteousness, and inquire after faith, they too are soon drawn together by the cords of love; one that has never seen his fellow, with words of grace and righteousness is addressed, and imparts to him his thoughts-they join like brothers, and eternity shall not separate them. And now, dear friend, you know me. You know that it is not for lucre's sake, or for any other gain, that I love you; therefore, I beg of you to come under the shadow of my roof, and see me before I depart from here, that we may converse together, and that you might give me your blessing upon the way on which I go. Forgive my transgression, that I have ventured to address you with my pen, for true friendship hides transgression. These are the words of one who is sincerely attached to you, without any selfish motive, and come from the heart and go to the heart. Signed, J. S." Of course I immediately complied with his request, and proceeded to his lodging as he required me,where I found two other Jews in serious conversation on topics that were very agreeable for me to hear. I was soon in the midst of them, and took part in it. Mr. S then put a Bible before me, and begged me to acquaint his friends with the chief Messianic passages, and explain them in general to them, which I did for about the space of an hour, without the slightest interruption. I found afterwards, that these two individuals were from the same town with him, and that in consequence of some conversation which he had with them, after he left me the last time, and on previous occasions also, they resolved to have some further intercourse, and thus it happened just at the time when I came there. To all appearance, my address made a good impression upon them, and had the effect of removing some prejudices, and bringing before them the divine mission of Jesus, not as they were accustomed and taught to consider it, but in its glorious results as carried out by Christ, and as predicted by the Spirit of God through the mouths of His servants the prophets. Such confidential intercourse, where one is not assuming an air of authority, but that of a brother or friend, contributes much to conciliate and gain the confidence and affections of the parties addressed. I have found it so on other occasions, and am happy to say it was so on the present. The two persons in question, though they saw me for the first time, were, nevertheless, very friendly, and the attention they paid to the preaching of the Gospel makes me hope that their hearts were reached, and will be of lasting benefit to them. But they have still much to learn, and knowing how soon even the best impressions are erased by the influence of bad companions, and the world in general, I endeavoured to fix their attention on this subject, and exhorted them to seek God with all their heart, and search for the truth in the Word of God alone, and above all, to pray for light from above; after which, I prayed, in which they all joined, being evidently affected and moved. I gave them some books, for which they were very thankful, and I devoutly pray that the good Lord would follow with His blessing upon my humble labour, and preserve the precious seed thus cast upon the waters, and if it pleases Him, may we also be privileged to find it and rejoice with joy unspeakable. HANOVER. From the following extract from a recent journal of Mr. WM. BRUNNER, it will be evident that all is not unpromising in a locality which at first seemed almost to discourage effort. I returned yesterday from H, where I have been engaged on missionary duties among the Jews. It is inhabited by a goodly number of the house of Israel, whom I visited on a former occasion, when I had the opportunity of discharging the message of salvation to several individuals I mentioned to you in my report of that time; and my visit on this occasion was to renew my intercourse, and also to endeavour to extend my acquaintance and operations among the community. As I was going down towards the temple, where the Jews chiefly reside, with the intention of visiting again the family of the door-keeper, I was informed that he was no more, but that he had only recently departed this life, and thus been removed from the scene of our human means and ministrations. It was a serious thought, that I should, by divine Providence, have been brought into contact with, and have made known the way of life to, this aged son of Abraham so shortly before his departure. In coming from the temple, I entered into conversation with Mr. F I on the great truths of Christianity, and endeavoured to direct his attention particularly to the doctrine and need of atonement, with which subject the Jewish mind is, at this season, so pre-eminently familiarised. preached to him Christ, as the Messiah so long expected by Israel, and that it was He who came to give repentance unto Israel, and the remission of sins. I asked him how, without sacrifices, and without the ordinances of the Mosaic economy, they could now celebrate their approaching holy days as they were originally instituted? Mr. F could not satisfactorily answer this question, but expounded to me a peculiar creed of religion, which, indeed, is common among the greater portion of the Jews, and which consists of certain rules laid down by reason, however at variance with divine revelation, or unsupported by it. According to these rules, a man may do this and admit that, believe in a certain doctrine or not believe it, and yet it will not affect his salvation so long as he is persuaded so in his own mind. Although |