duty to do it, more especially as it is God's avowed purpose, that " they shall be graffed in," as soon as ever they repent them of their former sins, and look with sorrow on the Messiah, whom they have pierced. In this respect we may regard the Jews of this gene- ration as the representatives of those of former ages, and discharge to them the debt which can no other- wise be paid to our original benefactors. If, not- withstanding their present degraded state, they are still " beloved by God for their fathers' sakes," much more should a regard for their fathers cause them to be beloved by us.
But if this illustration be not sufficient to convince us, then we will come to an express command of God, which cannot fail to carry conviction to every heart. It will be recollected by all who have paid any attention to the New Testament, that, in the 11th chapter to the Romans, it is said, that " through the fall of the Jews salvation is come unto the Gen- tilesp ;" — that " the fall of the Jews is the riches of the world, and the diminishing of the Jews the riches of the Gentiles q ;" — and, finally, that " the casting away of the Jews is the reconciling of the world r." But is this blessing which we inherit through them, to be engrossed by us, and no endeavour to be made on our part for their restoration to the Divine favour? No : it is committed to us as a sacred deposit, to be improved for their good : (I repeat these words; It is a sacred deposit, to be improved for their good :) it is delivered to us, not as proprietors, to use it as we please, but as stewards, to use it for the express pur- pose that our Lord and Master has enjoined : and this avowed purpose is, that by every means in our power we should bring the poor outcast Jews to the renewed enjoyment of their paternal inheritance : nor should we ever see a Jew without saying in our hearts, There is a man whose inheritance I possess, and to whom I am very deeply in debt. Let us hear the express declaration of God respecting it : " As ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now
p ver. 11. 'i ver. 12 r ver. 15.