have been graffed into their stock, and are with them at this moment partaking of the root and fatness of the olive-tree." This fact it is impossible to deny. They, instead of enjoying the ordinances of God's worship, as in former ages, are scat- tered over the face of the whole earth, and are utterly incapable of worshipping God according to their law. They have no temple, no priest, no altar, no sacrifice, wherewith to approach their God. But these blessings are transferred to us ; and we enjoy them in all their fulness. Through the one sacrifice once offered upon Calvary, we have the most intimate access to God, and a rich effusion of his blessings upon our souls whensoevever we draw nigh unto him in his Son's name. There is not a privilege that was ever enjoyed by the most favoured of God's saints in the days of old, but we possess the same, so far as our necessities require it.]
But mark the sad abuse of it that prevails —
[Instead of feeling compassion for the Jews in their pre- sent degraded state, we are ready to look down upon them with contempt, and to exult over them, as objects of God's merited indignation. Thus we " boast against the branches," and indulge a secret satisfaction in their fall. In fact, we treat them nearly in the way in which they formerly treated the Gentile world. They regarded the Gentiles as "dogs;" and actually designated them by that opprobrious term : and, though that term is not in use amongst us in reference to the Jews, the contempt expressed by it is as deeply rooted in our hearts as ever it was in theirs. But they, in comparison of us, had reason on their side : for the Gentiles, whom they despised, had no knowledge of God whatever, but were bowing down to gods of wood and stone : whereas the Jews are still worshippers of the true and living God ; and have been distinguished by him above all other people upon earth ; yea, and are still distinguished by his peculiar care, and are reserved as objects wherein he will yet be more than ever glorified ; and as instruments, too, whereby he will hereafter dispense his richest blessings to the whole world. Are these, then, to be treated with contempt? Are these to be regarded as " branches, against which it becomes us to boast ? "
Let us hear God's own correction of this abuse —
[In what have we any right to glory over them ? Have they ever been indebted to us, or received any benefits at our hands ? Have not we, on the contrary, received from them every blessing that we enjoy ? What knowledge have we of God, that has not been transmitted to us from them ? What hope have we towards God, that has not arisen from commu- nications made by them ? What comfort have we in life,