living witnesses of the truth of God, and of the divine autho- rity of that book which they profess to have been inspired by him. They may be even said to be witnesses also of the truth of Christianity, which is founded on the Jewish Scriptures, and is altogether the completion of them. What therefore God said to them in the days of old, may with yet augmented force be applied to them at this time, " Ye are my witnesses, that I am Godg."]
2. What warnings they are to us —
[Who that sees the present state of the Jews, and com- pares it with the predictions concerning them, must not acknowledge that God abhorreth iniquity, and will surely punish it even in his most highly favoured people? Methinks the sight of a Jew should produce this reflection in every mind. The Jews, because they were descended from the loins of Abraham, and had been distinguished by God above all the nations upon earth, imagined themselves to be safe : but when they had filled up the measure of their iniquities in the murder of their Messiah, the wrath of God came upon them to the uttermost. Let not Christians therefore imagine that the name and profession of Christianity will screen them from the wrath of God. The sentence of exclusion from the heavenly Canaan is gone forth against all who reject the Lord Jesus Christ ; and it will assuredly be executed upon them in due time : for " how shall they escape, if they neglect so great salvation ? " Our inquiry must be, not, Am I instructed in some particular tenets, or observant of some particular forms ? but, Am I " circumcised in heart, so as to love the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart, and with all my soul?" This is the point to be ascertained; for "if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, he will be anathema maran-atha:" he will be accursed ; and God himself will for ever inflict the curse upon him.]
3. What encouragement we have to seek their
welfare —
[Notwithstanding God has given so many promises re- specting them, the Christian world for many hundreds of years have scarcely thought them worthy of the smallest attention. Christians have been anxious for the welfare of heathens, and have sent missionaries into every quarter of the world to in- struct them : but for the Jews they have felt no interest what- ever: they have left them to perish without so much as an attempt for their conversion. But what base ingratitude is this ! To whom are we ourselves indebted for all our privi- leges, but to Jews? Who wrote, and preserved with such
s Isai. xliii. 12.