trines its martyrs and reformers died rather than perpetuate; doctrines against which its symbols honestly construed, are one continued, earnest, and eloquent protest. This is a most destructive fact; it is Rome's proudest reason for her restoration in England, and the Church's greatest protest against her own continuance in her present privileges and possessions. Ritualistic vestments and nunneries are driving the masses from her communion, and the Popish dogmas which these represent are alienating the most pious and devout of her members.

As if this apostasy were not enough, others of her ministers, eminent in talent and position, are busy wasting away distinctive dogmatic truth, and denouncing the great doctrines of the Reformation as crude, injurious, and obsolete dogmas.

Rationalism lays hold on hard intellects, and commends itself to those who care nothing for the gospel, and Ritualism becomes immensely popular with that large class of people who are led by the senses. Statesmen, looking on and witnessing this conflicting state of things, ask, What use is there in keeping up such a Church? If we have endowed such opposite systems within the Church, why not endow the same without? If Dr Pusey can be a professor of divinity in Oxford, why not Dr Newman? Or if Archbishop Manning may not be enrolled in the Establishment, why should the Bishop of Salisbury or the Bishop of Oxford? Exclude all or embrace all is the growing opinion. The great body of Nonconformists, how

ever, will never acquiesce in or tolerate a Romish Establishment; the radicals hate every sort of establishment, and hence the compromise rapidly forced by the situation on statesmen will be adopted in England-the destruction of the Establishment. The Churches of England and Scotland both have played, it may be unintentionally, into the hands of their adversaries, and they will reap the consequences. "The cities of the nations fall" under the action of the seventh vial; thereby the fulfilment of prophecy, it is true, but themselves responsible for their ruin. They have a glorious heritage within them, and a no less glorious mission before them; but instead of gratefully treasuring the one and earnestly carrying out the other, they have wasted their opportunity in fratricidal and suicidal strifes, and thus they have given the strongest reasons to the world for its seeking their ruin; and so will be fulfilled the prediction of the seventh vial. But it is matter of comfort that the removal of things that are shaken, as of things that are made, is the introduction of things that cannot be shaken. The earthen vessel may be broken, but the glory it contains will break out elsewhere with imperishable splendour. The light does not fade because the candlestick is removed. The Sun of Righteousness does not set because the lights of earth go out. Visible Churches may have their rise, their noon, and their decay; but the Church of Christ covers an area that cannot be measured, and contains numbers no

arithmetic can count, and endures through periods of years that have no end. One Name endures for ever; one kingdom lasts like the sun.

"One army of the Living God

To his command we bow;

Part of the host has crossed the flood,

And part is crossing now."

It should be in these times our great concern to see that we are Christ's and that Christ is ours. This is the everlasting link that cannot be wasted or destroyed.

309

THE JEW.

Nor the least striking sign of the times is the increasing interest felt and displayed in all that relates to this race. Since I published "The Last Woe," wherein I traced the history, sufferings, and destiny of "this generation," I have noticed additional signs of his resurrection, or, as the apostle calls it, "life from the dead."

The Jewish Intelligence, printed in Constantinople, published a letter from Jerusalem, dated 1865, written by the Rev. W. Bailey :-" Jerusalem, which is generally so quiet at this season, has been all astir this week in consequence of an order from the PORTE that all the streets should be levelled and paved, and that all obstructions should be removed. This order has been executed in true Turkish style, and many a tale of loss and oppression can probably be told by the poor storekeepers and some houseowners, but the improvement to the city and public benefit will be great. We shall now have broad and airy streets where before we could scarcely move. When the work

is completed it will indeed be an advance in civilized effort and quite an achievement for Turkey. The Jews are very much concerned about this gathering up of the stones and making broad the ways in Jerusalem. They say, Now we are certain that Messiah's coming is very near."

This has reminded many of Isaiah lxii. 10—12, "Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people, cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they (we Gentiles) shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou (Jerusalem) shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken."

The writer further states-"You have, perhaps, heard that there is a telegraph at Jaffa, which connects Egypt with Beyrout. It is now decided, I believe, that a branch line is to be made to this city. I also find it is very probable we shall ere long have a carriage-road to Jaffa, as two engineers, one English, the other Turkish, report says, are to arrive here in a few days to make preparations for it. A survey for a railway has already been completed, and a plan, sixty-five feet long, to lay before the Sultan, left here about a month ago." The writer adds-"I do not think, however, that the time for a railroad in these parts has yet arrived." But we must deferentially