sad indifference even about their own souls. Too many amongst us have never truly sought salvation for themselves : how then could they seek the wel- fare of others ? If they have never " looked on Him whom by their sins they have pierced/' and never mourned for their own iniquities, how should they weep over the Jewish people, or labour to restore them to the favour of their God ? Here, it is to be feared, is the root of the evil with the great mass of nominal Christians: they have not laid to heart their own wickedness : they have not wept and prayed over their own perishing condition, nor fled to Christ for refuge from the curses of the broken law. It is no wonder, then, that they have left, without any re- morse, their Jewish brethren to perish in their sins. But shall we continue thus to augment our guilt; and to f* treasure up for ourselves, no less than for them, wrath against the day of wrath ?" In vain shall we attempt to justify this conduct : for, beyond a doubt, our God would have us like-minded with himself, when he speaks of them as still " beloved of him for their fathers' sake6;" and with heart-felt joy contem- plates their restoration to his favour. Hear how he speaks in the words following my text : " Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling-places ; and the city shall be builded on her own heap ; and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof: and out of them shall proceed thanksgiving, and the voice of them that make merry : and I will multiply them, that they shall not be few ; and I will glorify them, that they shall not be small .... and they shall be my people, and I will be their Godf." Such is the delight with which God contemplates these great events : and shall we be indifferent to them ? Shall we not endeavour to help forward this glorious day ? Shall not their ignorance move us, and their obduracy call forth our compassion ? Behold how the prophet bemoaned their situation in his day : " Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction
e Rom. xi. 28. f ver. 18, 19, 22. with Jer. xxiv. 7.