That I may not overlook the personal interests of those to whom I speak, let me in conclusion say,
1. Take care that you experience these things in your own souls —
[In your natural and unconverted state, you are as far off from God as the Jews themselves. You are "in a world that lieth under the power of the wicked oner:" and you need to
come out from it, as much as they did from Babylon s
You need also to have " straight paths made for your feet," that you may advance the more easily towards the heavenly Jerusalem1. The same encouragements too you need, in order to induce you to embrace the proffered salvation. The excellency of the Redeemer, the riches of his grace, the ful- ness and certainty of his salvation, need to be set before you, and the honours and glories of the eternal world held forth to your view ; that so you may brave the dangers of a dreary wilderness, and seek your happiness in Zion. There is not, in fact, any thing to be done by a Jew, that is not to be done
by you Go forth then yourselves, and shew the way
to your Jewish brethren : and let them see in you the excel- lence of that religion which you exhort them to embrace.]
2. Endeavour to promote the experience of them in your Jewish brethren —
[I beg leave to repeat what I have before asserted, that it
is by the use of suitable means that God will accomplish their
conversion. See what means the Apostles used, in the first
ages of the Church. Such are we also to use in the present
day. If this be doubted, let any man tell us, Where has God
dispensed with them ? My text, even if there were no other
passage to the same effect, sufficiently shews, that he has not
dispensed with means, but requires them to be used by us in
an humble dependence upon him. Let the directions of the
text then be followed by us. Let us endeavour to shew them,
that God has now made a way for their return to him. Let
us labour by all possible means to remove from them the
stumbling-blocks that lie in their way, and by courtesy and
love to smooth their way before them. Let us encourage
them to the utmost of our power, by pointing out to them the
Messiah, of whom their law and their prophets have so fully
testified ; and by setting before them the great and precious
promises which God has given them of acceptance through him.
1 1 John v. 19. 'Ev rw Trovqpvb.
s 2 Cor. vi. 17. compared with Isr.i. Hi. 17. l Heh. xii. 13.
1012.] Messiah's triumphs. 597
I say, let us strive in earnest to convey to them the blessings, which, through the labours of their forefathers, we ourselves have received. " Freely we have received; let us freely give:" and, if but a single soul be given us as the fruit of our labours, let us remember, that that one soul is of more value than the whole world.]