term " Jezv" would afford us ample scope for the exercise of our malignity. Let it suffice to say, that even in this land, which, in respect of civil and religious liberty, stands unrivalled amongst the na- tions of the world, and where toleration is carried to its utmost extent, there has been, within the memory of many now living, as universal and disgraceful an opposition to the Jews, as could well be expected from any civilized community. When the govern- ment of this country had passed an act in their favour, such was the clamour excited throughout the whole land, not by the irreligious only, but, I am ashamed to say, the religious also, that the Parliament was con- strained to repeal, in the following year, the law which had been enacted ; when that law did nothing more than concede to them the common rights of humanity, the rights possessed by the meanest beggar in the land.
Nor is it in respect of civil rights only that they are so disregarded : their religious interests also are altogether overlooked. In behalf of the heathen there have been two venerable societies established in this land for above a hundred years : but who amongst us have united together for the benefit of the Jews ? Within a few short months, also, has there been sent forth, from the highest authorities in the state, a cir- cular letter6, to call forth the exertions of every mem- ber of the community in behalf of the heathen; but on behalf of the unhappy Jews, no such effort, yea, no effort at all, has ever been made ; no : they may be left to perish! " They are the Zion, whom no man seeketh after," or needs to seek after. What a striking illustration of our text is this ! and how ex- actly corresponding with the judgment which God, by his prophet, foretold, as assuredly to come upon them in their dispersion : " I will cause them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth : and who shall have pity on thee, O Jerusalem ? or who shall bemoan thee? or xvho shall go aside to ask how thou doestfV
But there is a point noticed in our text, to which
e In 1815. f Jer. xv. 4, 5.
1066. j THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS. 195
I wish to draw your more particular attention. The evil which called forth the animadversion of Jehovah was, that, whilst the enemies of Zion poured contempt upon her, they vindicated their conduct in that respect, and spoke of it as being precisely such as became them on the occasion : " I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord of Hosts, because they called thee an outcast ; saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after ;" this is Zion, respecting whom no one needs to give himself any concern at all.
And is not this the very way in which we have conducted ourselves towards the Jewish people ? We not only despise them, and disregard their welfare ; but we justify this habit, and see no reason for alter- ing it : we even feel a complacency in the thought of their degradation ; and, instead of rejoicing, that now, at last, a society has arisen to seek their welfare, we regard their attempts as visionary ; and are disposed rather to deride their efforts, than to afford them our active and zealous aid. Instead of praying fervently to God for this people in secret, and then going forth to exert ourselves for the conversion of their souls, we give them not so much as a place in our thoughts : and so far from being ashamed of, or even thinking it necessary to palliate, our neglect of them, I say again, we justify it ; and account any frivolous excuse an ample vindication of our conduct.
On this part of our subject we shall enter more fully, in another discourse5 : but we beg that it may be particularly kept in mind throughout this present discourse, because it is the main point on which the whole turns. Let it be remembered, that we speak not of persecuting the Jews ; no, nor even of neglecting them ; but we speak of that self-vindication which we cherish in the midst of this neglect ; and of the willingness which we manifest to catch at any thing, which may, with the smallest semblance of propriety, appear to justify that neglect. Perhaps, in our whole lives, we have never once imagined that we were sinning against God by this conduct, or that he