not to lift the veil. That is thy creed. But dost thou not see, that believing in God and keeping His commandments includes, at the same time, the belief in His words as revealed by His servants, the Prophets? And, if they predict a Redeemer for Israel, and a light that shineth to the Gentiles, how dare we contradict them? And still thou hast given up all hope? Then, of course, Christianity must be a truth, worthy of becoming acquainted with; for it is the system of redeemed humanity, the power of God unto salvation, the sublime realisation and fulfilment of blessed promises, the narrative of the message, office, and work of the Messiah who has come-it is the glad tiding of reconciliation to God by Jesus of Nazareth, Son of David, and King of Israel! Notices of Books. M. Self-made Men. By REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON, Member of the General Council of the University of Aberdeen, Pp. 312. SNow, London. Our old-fashioned theology was somewhat startled by the title of the book; but fears were soon dismissed, and we are prepared cordially to commend it The author, in pursuance of his design, had to clear his way between self-conceit and self-insignificance, between presumption and impotence; and we think he has done it well. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure," might be adopted as the motto, while each instance adduced of "self-made men" leaves the impression on our mind, "By the grace of God, I am what I am." We regard the appearance of this and similar publications as remarkably seasonable. We are believers in spiritual revivals, and rejoice in the number of well-attested facts from every quarter; but those facts are too important not to excite antagonism. The Spirit of God has sown and vivified the good seed, and the wicked one has sown tares. It is not for us indiscriminately to pluck up the latter; but we are to value at their highest price the former, to guard, to culture, to mature them, in dependance on the Holy Spirit. We want deeplyrooted, healthy plants, or to vary the figure, men in Christ and for Christ. We would not for a moment quench the fervour of love, or dry up the tears of godly sorrow; but we are anxious to secure the great end of spiritual awakening -deep feeling blending with evangelical principle-holy joy stimulating holy action-assimilation to Christ and meetness for heaven. We believe the handsome volume before us adapted to promote this great end, and regret that our very limited space will not allow quotations. The biographical sketches have much of freshness and point, and throughout the book will be found many healthful suggestions, especially for those who have the day before them, and the hill to climb. We think with affectionate solicitude of those who are just beginning to realise a Saviour's claims, and the dignity and liberty conferred on them as newborn sons of God. While admiring the grace of God in such ensamples as those here presented to them, may they by that grace rise to like eminence in consistent piety, may they too "by patient continuance in well-doing attain to glory, honour, and immortality," looking unto Jesus, and winning souls to Him We cannot close this notice without asking a prayerful concern for the young of Israel. Oh, that they would study such self-made men as Joseph, Joshua, Samuel, David, and Nehemiah! Oh, that they would sit down with us around the cross, and hear its wondrous story, and talk with us of the heaven to which the Saviour invites them! Very much is to be anticipated from Jewish youth, and perhaps there is no class so likely to exert a beneficial influence on them as the members of our Young Men's Christian Associations. To them we earnestly recommend this publication. It is a book for the young man's closet, for the parlour of every family, and for the Bible Class Library. The Lamp, the Light, and the Way of Life. Published for gratuitous distribution by the Jewish Association for the Diffusion of Religious Knowledge, at No. 7, Bevis Marks. 1d. each, or 6d. per dozen. We earnestly commend this tract to the perusal and distribution of our Christian readers; not only for its intrinsic excellence, but because, as the first of a series, it indicates an auspicious and happy movement in the Jewish community. Cordially agreeing as we do with the moral sentiments of the tract, we mourn over the fact that one thing-the one thing-is wanting. Oh, that our brethren may be led to seek and find the great motive to the morals here inculcated, and the only hope for the prospect of future happiness here suggested, at the cross of Jesus, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit! We have only space for the closing words: "Reader! have our words penetrated thy heart? Art thou indeed convinced that the commandment is a lamp, the law light, and that the reproofs of instruction are the way of life?' Then henceforth observe the commandment, study earnestly the law, and incline thine ear to reproofs of instruction. "Let not indolence induce thee to neglect any of God's precepts. Devote regularly some fixed portion of the time to meditation upon His word; for thereby thy mind will be enlightened, and thou wilt escape sin. Whenever and wherever God's word is expounded, be thou of those who regularly attend and eagerly listen. For 'he that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.' (Prov. xv. 32.) "Be not selfish in thy piety. If thou perceivest the blessings of instruction in God's word, induce thy relatives, neighbours and friends, to come and share this boon. Our Association earnestly desires to extend this blessing far and wide; to spread amongst God's own people the knowledge of His holy word. Surely thou art as much interested in the work as we; it is thy duty, no less than ours, to help thy brethren to find the road to everlasting happiness. Help us then, poor and rich, in the good work; and let us all unite in craving the blessing of our Heavenly Father upon our humble labours!" MEMORANDA. WE have been frequently refreshed and stimulated by the sympathy expressed by Christian friends in the humbler walks of life, and by the cordiality of their free-will offerings for the spiritual good of Israel. The following will interest all, and probably induce like-mindedness in this sacred cause : 66 The person who sends this has been led to observe the day of atonement more than one year, and sends these thirty stamps as the shekel to be brought on that day. The rich are not to bring more than the poor-nothing less; I am one of the poor. It comes to the friends of Jews as a tribute of thankfulness that I have not been redeemed with silver or gold, but by the precious blood of the Lamb of God, as the one without spot. "Desiring in truth and faithfulness to serve God, and to wait for His Son's coming without the remembrance of sin, I beg, Sir, to remain your humble Servant." "I have enclosed ten pounds for the good cause. "I am only a servant with sixteen pounds per year. Please to acknowledge the receipt of this. Your very humble servant. "May it please the Lord to open the hearts of those that are rich." TASMANIAN AUXILIARY. We have been favoured by an account of the very interesting meeting of the above Society, which was held in the Independent Chapel, Brisbane-street, Hobart Town, on Monday, September 10th, Henry Hopkins, Esq., J.P., in the chair. The meeting was addressed by ministers and others of different denominations, and a collection was taken amounting to £13 4s. 9d. The Rev. Mr. Downes, in seconding the closing resolution, observed, that Christians "ought to feel an interest in the work. The Jews were a strange people; a Jew was a miracle; in his face was a volume of Christian evidence; and, as they were told, during the last fifty years more Jews had been converted than during the 1700 years before; and now, for their encouragement, they heard that of the Jewish converts there were 300 preaching the Gospel. The gathering in of Israel was to be accomplished in the spirit of prayerful confidence, going in the footsteps of the Apostle to carry the lamp of Divine truth to Israel. The Jews had a glorious part yet to act; when converted they would make the best Missionaries the world ever had-there would be many Pauls among them. The Mortara case had wonderfully softened their antipathies towards Christians: The Christians owed a great debt to the Jews; let them do something towards its payment, and let them pray for Israel that they might be saved." The society has remitted us £30. THE Monthly Meeting for Prayer, with, and on behalf of the Jews, will be held at the Office of the Society, on Jan. 16, at 7 o'clock. The Annual Meeting of the Society will be held (D.V.) in the last week of April, and the Annual Sermon will be preached by the Rev. W. M. Punshon in Surrey Chapel, on the evening of April 9th. The Rev. Dr. Mayer will be publicly ordained to the office of a Missionary to the Jews in Italy, at the Presbyterian Church, George Street, Portman Square, on Monday evening, Dec. 31st, at 7 o'clock. Dr. Mayer will deliver an address, and other ministers will take part in the services. TO OFFICERS OF ASSOCIATIONS, COLLECTORS, AND OTHER FRIENDS.--The year's accounts close on the 31st March. We shall be thankful to our friends to forward their remittances, with lists, &c, as early as possible. All orders to be made payable to George Yonge; those on the Post-office at the chief office. CONTRIBUTIONS IN AID OF THE SOCIETY, ERROR IN DECEMBER "HERALD." The amount from Newark should have been acknowledged as under: DEAD AND ALIVE AGAIN! BY THE REV. SAMUEL MARTIN, OF WESTMINSTER, Being the Substance of the Sermon preached on the 26th of April, 1860, on Behalf of the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews London: HENRY JAMES TRESIDDER, 17, Ave Maria Lane, Paternoster Row, E.C. London: Published by JOHN SNOW, 35, Paternoster Row. Printed for the Society by Adams and Gee, at 23, Middle Street, West Smithfield, E.C.-No. 181.-Jan. 1, 1961. "PUBLISH YE, PRAISE YE, AND SAY, O LORD, SAVE THY PEOPLE, THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL." OFFICE:-No. 1, CRESCENT PLACE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON. No. 182.] FEBRUARY 1, 1861. [Price ld. Eighteenth Anniversary of the Society. THE Committee have pleasure in announcing that (D.V.) the ANNUAL SERMON will be preached by the Rev. W. M. PUNSHON, in SURREY CHAPEL, on TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 9th; and that the ANNUAL MEETING will be held in FREEMASONS' HALL, on FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 26. It is also proposed that the ORDINANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER be observed at the Rev. S. MARTIN'S, WESTMINSTER CHAPEL, to which Christian Israelites and Friends of Israel, communicants with Christian Churches of every denomination, are invited to be present. The Mission to Italy. On the last evening of 1860 a deeply interesting service was held in the Presbyterian Church, Upper George Street, Bryanstone Square. The Rev. Dr. Mayer was publicly set apart as the Society's first Missionary to that country where one of the greatest Jews that ever lived once preached the Gospel, and, though in chains, formed a Christian Church in the very household of Cæsar. The Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel delivered an address on Italy, with special reference to its features as a field of missionary enterprise among the Jews. After the Rev. J. Gill had stated the eircumstances which had led to the present appointment, Dr. Mayer gave utterance to his own views and feelings in the anticipation of the work before him, and was committed to the care and blessing of God, in prayer, by the Rev. J. S. Pearsall. The Rev. W. Chalmers, minister of the church, then delivered some affectionate and most valuable counsels to the newly ordained missionary; and after prayer by the Rev. W. Ritchie, the meeting was closed. Like the Apostle Paul at the feet of Gamaliel, Dr. Mayer received a rabbinical education, and thus became qualified to deal with those rabbinical commentaries VOL. XVI.-NEW SERIES, VOL. VII. |