1 Rom. xi. 30, 31.
214.] BENEVOLENCE TOWARDS GOD's ANCIENT PEOPLE. 393
but left him to perish, when thou hadst in possession all that his soul needs ; and which thou couldest impart to him, to the full extent of his necessities, without feeling any sensible dimi- nution of thy wealth ; yea, when, strange to say ! thou mightest increase thy wealth by relieving him. Tell me, then, in this view of the matter, whether thou hast not special obligations to shew benevolence to the Jew?]
But I must go farther, and mark,
III. The more particular obligations which we have to exercise benevolence towards them at this time —
God, by his providence, called the Ammonites and Moabites to shew kindness to Israel ; and their guilt was greatly aggravated by their manifesting such unwillingness to co-operate with him in his designs of love towards them : and on this account was so heavy a judgment denounced against them, " even to their tenth generation." And is not God now calling us to concur with him in what he is doing for his ancient people ? Yes ; I think his call to us is clear and loud. Observe,
1. The interest which is now felt in the Christian world for their restoration to God —
[This interest is really unprecedented. There have been times when a few persons have laboured for their welfare : but now there is, throughout Europe and America, a very great and general increase of kindness towards them. They are no longer made the universal objects of hatred and persecution, as in former ages : even where there is no love towards them, there is a great diminution of hostility : and in many instances they have been treated with much liberality and candour by Christian governments, being raised by them to a measure of respect and honour that has not been accorded to them in former times. And for their conversion to Christianity, and their restoration to the divine favour, exertions are making to
a considerable extent And is not this of the Lord ?
Methinks, such a victory over the prejudices of Christians is scarcely less a work of divine power, than was the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Egyptians : and, as such, it is a call from God to concur with him in his labours of love towards them. See what is at this moment doing amongst the more religious part of the Christian community, in the circula- tion of the Scriptures, and especially of the New Testament ;