fears are only excuses for their own supineness : they have no compassion for their perishing fellow-crea- tures, no zeal for the honour of their God, and there- fore they cry, " A lion is in the way." But this is a very unworthy recompence for all the exertions which the Jews of former ages made for us. What if they had said respecting the Gentiles, " They are bowing down to stocks and stones, and it is in vain to attempt their conversion ?" we should have con- tinued in our ignorance and guilt to the present hour. It was by their unremitting labours that the Gospel was spread ; and to them we owe all the light and peace that we at this moment enjoy. Let us then imitate them : let us employ our talents and our in- fluence in their service : let us combine together for the purpose of promoting their welfare more exten- sively than we could do by individual exertion : and whilst we go forward in dependence on the promises of our God, let us remember, that " what he has promised, he is able also to perform."
As for the idea that the Lord's time is not come, who is authorized to declare that ? The great events that are going forward in the world give us reason to think that the time is come, or at least is very near at hand. The prophecies themselves, in the judgment of many wise and sober interpreters, appear to point to the present times, as the season for their approach- ing accomplishment. And certainly the attention now paid to the subject by the Christian world, and the success that has hitherto attended their efforts, are encouraging circumstances to confirm our hopes, and stimulate our exertions. We may add too, that the zeal that has been manifested of late for the uni- versal diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, and for the conversion of the heathen, is a call from God to the Christian world, to consider the wants of his ancient people : and the general expectation of the Jews at this time, that their Messiah will soon appear, is a still further call to us to point out the Saviour to them. Nor can I pass by without notice two most astonishing events ; one of which has lately occurred