were the favoured people. St. Paul endeavours to guard Christians against this delusion of pride and self-love, by assigning the separation of the Jews to its true

cause.

Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

From these examples of the goodness and severity of God, displayed in the present state of Christians and Jews, the apostle leads us to reflect on the conditional nature of the favour and the punishment; the favour granted to the Christians depending on their continuance in faith and virtue, the punishment of the Jews on their abiding in unbelief. Restoration to the Divine favour is promised them, on the removal of this impediment, for God is able to graff them in again.

St. Paul next directs our attention to the impartial justice of God. If he vouchsafed to take the Gentiles, with whom he had made no covenant, into his favour, how much more likely was he to restore the natural branches, the children of Abraham, to their former privileges?

After reading the dreadful history of their crimes and punishment, it is right for us to reflect on our past obligations to them. To them we owe the Oracles of God, the Scriptures of the New Testament, as well as those of the Old. They were the chosen instruments for conveying the knowledge of Divine truth to mankind. The apostles and prophets were Jews: our blessed Lord himself appeared on earth as one of that nation. We should also recollect the gracious promises of the Almighty concerning them, even in their present state. Though they are now broken off, they are not utterly cast away: there will be a time when they

will be grafted in again, and again become the people of God.

Where, then, can be any excuse for contempt or unkindness on our part towards the Jews? We ought rather to aim at their conversion, by adorning the religion we profess by a blameless example. We should evince a spirit of active benevolence and charity towards them in their present state, and of Christian sympathy in the brighter scenes before them. We should also pray that the happy prospect may speedily be realized,—that He who alone can do it, may take from 'them all ignorance, hardness of heart, ' and contempt of his word; and so fetch 'them home to his flock, that they may 'be saved among the remnant of the true 'Israelites, and be made one fold under 'one Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord*."

* Newton, vol. i. p. 164, &c.

284

CHAP. VI.

ON THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF FAITH.

Difficulty of judging of our own feelings-Maxim of Chilo-What constitutes a belief in ChristianityThe nature of Faith-Evidences granted to the Patriarchs-Origin of Sacrifices-The translation of Enoch-Evidence of Tradition-Noah an example of Faith-Evidences after the DelugeFrom Tradition, from the preservation of the Ark -Testimony of Josephus-The call of Abraham -His faith-The sacrifice of Isaac-Conclusion.

As Mrs. Beaufoy and her son returned from their evening walk, they passed through a shady lane, where they saw an old man coming towards them. He walked slowly, and seemed to bend under the weight of a square black box, which was suspended by a leathern strap from his shoulders. As he came nearer, his keen and regular features, his aquiline nose and

long grey hair and beard, showed him to be one of that despised and persecuted. people who have survived so many calamities. Harry pressed his mother's arm with a very significant look, but said nothing. The old man appeared to be deep in thought, and Harry concluded he was meditating on the altered state of his nation. As he passed, he turned his piercing eyes upon them, with a hasty sidelong glance, but took no other notice.

When he was quite gone by, Harry turned to look after him. "Poor old man!" said he: "I dare say he is very tired with carrying that heavy box; but he is still more to be pitied, for he cannot live many years, and will probably die with all his Jewish prejudices, though he is living in a Christian country. How strange it is that those people should continue to reject all the evidences of our religion, when we cannot help believing them if we would!"