Another obstacle in their way is the contempt in which they are held. It had been foretold by Moses concerning them, that they should " become an astonishment and a proverb, and a bye-word among all nations0 ;" and such they have been ever since their dispersion by the Romans. There is not a quarter of the globe where this prediction is not veri- fied. Mahometans and Heathens of every descrip- tion pour contempt upon them, and load them with all manner of indignities. Nor have Christians been at all more kindly disposed towards them : on the contrary, we have been foremost in executing upon them the Divine vengeance, just as if our religion, instead of prescribing acts of mercy and love, had dictated nothing but cruelty and oppression. To this hour, the very name of a Jew is amongst us a term of reproach, a symbol of every thing that is odious and contemptible. And what is the natural effect of this ? Can we wonder that it should excite resent- ment in their breasts? Has it not a necessary ten- dency to embitter them against us, and to make them detest the principles we profess ? What can they think of Christianity, when they see such conduct uni- versally practised by its professors ? We complain of their blindness and obduracy ; but can we wonder at their state, when we ourselves have done, and are yet continually doing, so much to produce it ? And what effect has it on ourselves, but to weaken any kind dispositions which may be cherished in the hearts of a few towards them, and to make us despair of ever effecting any thing in their behalf? This effect, I say, it does produce : for, whilst we make extensive efforts for the conversion and salvation of the Heathen, we pass by the Jew with utter disdain, and deride as visionary all endeavours for his welfare. If we saw but a beast fallen into a pit, our bowels of compassion would move towards him, and we should make some efforts for his deliverance : but we behold millions of Jews perishing in their sins, and we never sigh over their lamentable condition, nor use any
c Deut. xxviii. 37.