The Biblical Museum

"I omit nothing endurance of every trial and privation to which it may expose us; that may ennoble 3. With a cheerful making of every sacrifice necessary to its ful"Assert its dig-filment; 6. Cultivate habitual and solemn anticipations of its nity."-D. Brown. issues.h

it."-Bengel.

Ep. iii. 8. g He. x. 24.

It is better to be the credit of a mean post, than

Musical genius of the Jews.-Who composed "Il Barbière ?" Rossini-a Jew! Who is there that admires not the heart-stirring music of the "Huguenots" and the "Prophète?" The composer is Meyerbeer-a Jew? Who has not been spell-bound by "Die Jüdin," by Halevy-a Jew? Who has not been enchanted with the beautiful fictions of lyric poetry, and charmed with the It is said of graceful melodies, so to speak, of one of Israel's sweetest singers, Epaminondas Heine-a Jew? Who has not listened with breathless ecstasy to that, when he

the shame of a high one."-Leis. Hour.

was appointed by the music of the Midsummer Night's Dream," "Elijah,"

the opposite fac-"Paul," and "Stephen? Do you ask who created those tion to some me- wondrous harmonies? Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, who also Thebes, he said, was a Jew !i-The Jews, an amazing race:

nial office at

It is the man that dignifies the

office, not

the

office the man."

-J. Lee.

h Dr. R. McAll.

i Bentley.

k G. Crabbe.

world blessed by the restora

tion of Israel a Ro. xi. 11, 21; Re. vii. 9; 2 Cor. v. 19; Col. i. 21,

22; Ep. ii. 1. b Vaughan.

c Macknight. d Je. xi. 16.

e 1 Co. x. 12; Ro.

iv. 16.

"Every man is a

debtor to his pro-. fession, from the which, as men do

Amazing race! deprived of land and laws,

A general language, and a public cause;
With a religion none can now obey,
With a reproach that none can take away :

A people still, whose common ties are gone;
Who, mixed with every race, are lost in none.<

15-18. for if, etc.," "if the rejection of Israel has proved the reconciliation of a world to God, may we not expect fr. the future reception of Israel a state of universal blessedness only to be described as life out of death?" life. . dead ? it will occasion a revival of religion, aft. a great decay. firstfruit, the part of Israel already saved. holy, accepted. lump, the whole nation when they believe. root, the fathers. branches, their descendants. wild.. tree, a Gentile, so called to dis. fr. good, or cultivated, olive-the Jew. graffed in, ingrafted. them, the true Israel. partakest. . tree, share all the privileges of God's covenant and Church. boast.. branches, that are broken off. but if, etc., thou art only a branch, dependent for safety on being supported by that root-salvation is of the Jews.

The olive-tree.-I. Of what it is a symbol-1. Of God's faithful witnesses; 2. Of the Church as the channel of grace to men. II. of course seek to Why it was chosen by Paul as the symbol-1. From the holy receive counte- anointing oil produced by it; 2. From its beauty; 3. Its constant nance and profit, greenness; 4. Its fruitfulness; 5. Its usefulness; 6. Its long so ought they of duration.

duty to endea

vour themselves, The wild olive of Palestine.-There is a counterfeit olive-tree by way of in Palestine. It is called the wild-olive, or the oleaster. It is in amends, to be a all points like the genuine tree, except that it yields no fruit. help and ornament thereunto." Are there not many such in the Church? When I see one taking up a large space in Christ's spiritual orchard, absorbing a vast deal of sunlight and soil, pruned by chastisement and enriched by privilege, yet yielding no real fruit, "Ah," I say, "there is an oleaster."

-Bacon. fT. Robinson.

be not

19-21. that.. in, in order that. Whereas they were not high-minded broken off in order to make room for the Gentiles. because.. but fear off, their sin, not your goodness, caused the change in the tree. thou.. faith, by wh. a righteousness not thine own is imputed to thee. highminded," proud of your new position. fear, "lest through pride thou also be broken off." natural

a 1 Pe. v. 5; Ph. ii. 12; Re. xviii.

7, 8.

reknight.

branches, Jews, interested in the Abrahamic covenant. lest "Fear. thee, for illus. note the Seven Churches of Asia.

This

caution but ill

agrees with the

of Rome so arro

The natural branches broken, and the sinner for whose conversion claim to infallithings are working, spared for a time.-I. A fact stated: 1. These bility which the branches were broken off; 2. They were broken off for a double modern Church cause: (1) "That I might be graffed in; "2. "Because of un- gantly makes, belief." II. A caution given: against-1. Pride; 2. Indifference amidst all the to God; 3. Carelessness. III. An awful judgment implied. If absurdities with we take not heed, we too shall be broken off. Therefore, let us trine and her serve the Lord, and fear and love Him now.c

which her doc

ritual are load

and so be given

wrecked? Look

d 1. D'Israeli.

Bigotry towards the Jews.-"Had I to sketch the situation of ed."-Tillotson. the Jews in the ninth century, and to exhibit at the same time thec W. P. Taylor. character of that age of bigotry, could I do it more effectually "Take heed, lest than by the following anecdote, which a learned friend discovered you provoke His in some manuscript records: A Jew at Rouen, in Normandy, sparing mercy; sells a house to a Christian inhabitant of that city. After some up to His untime of residence, a storm happens, lightning falls on the house, sparing_justice." and does considerable damage. The Christian, unenlightened Bp. Medley. and villanous, cites the trembling descendant of Israel into court "Seest thou thy for damages. His eloquent advocate hurls an admirable Philippic brother shipagainst this detestable nation of heretics, and concludes by prov- well to thy tacking that it was owing to this house having been the interdicted ling."-Trapp. property of an Israelite, that a thunderbolt fell upon the roof. The judges, as it may be supposed, were not long in terminating this suit. They decreed that God had damaged this house as a mark of His vengeance against the property of a Jew, and that therefore it was just the repairs should be at his cost!'"d 22, 23. behold, consider attentively the lesson of. goodness, mercy in accepting you who were outside the covenant. severity, notwithstanding that covenant, and all His gracious dealings with them, casting out apostate Jews. continue..a Ex. xxxiv. 6, 7. goodness, remain grateful for, and sedulously improve thy advantages. and.. also, the fallen branches. if.. unbelief, if they repent and believe. God. . again, nothing too hard for Him. He is willing as well as able. Goodness and severity in the manifestation of God.-I. In every d T. Levi. revelation we have of God, these two phases of goodness and "This graffing severity appear. Look to 1. Nature; 2. Providence; 3. The in again' seems Bible; 4. The Cross; 5. The rejection of the Jewish nation. II. to import, that The display of these two phases is necessary to man in this world: 1. To keep the mind from extremes; 2. To induce sinners to repent.d God's character.-I. Erroneous views of God: 1. All goodness; 2. All severity. II. The evil results of these views: 1. They are partial; 2. The one leads to presumption; 3. The other to despair. III. His true character: 1. A sovereign; 2. A Father.

the goodness and severity of God

Jo. viii. 31; He. 2; 1 Jo. ii. 19, 27,

iii. 6-14; Jo. xv.

28.

c Zec. xii. 10.

the Jews shall be nation again, professing Christianity in the land

a flourishing

of promise; for

that is to be reinstated again in

the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

This Paul might, for good reasons,

The power of the Jews.-The Jews, although scattered over the face of the earth, yet maintain a secret and indissoluble bond of union and common interest. In every country they are, as it be withheld in were, the servants; but the time may come when they will virtually be the masters in their turn. Even at the present time here; but in the speaking out are they not, to a great extent, the arbiters of the fate of Europe? prophets there maintaining, on the one hand, the bond between the different are very plain states, by the mysterious power of wealth which they possess, it."-Locke. and on the other loosening the ties of social life, and introducing e W. W. Wythe. fostering ideas of change and revolution among various

intimations of

f Baron von Hax- peoples? In the Jewish nation stirs the Nemesis of the destiny of Europe.

thausen.

the wild and good olive

tree

a Ep. ii. 12, 13.

b Lu. xxi. 24; Ps.

xxii. 27.

"If they were cut

off, who crucified Thee in Thine humbled estate, what may we expect who crucify

Thee daily in Thy

"When God sees it necessary to vindicate the honour of His world, He doth it

justice to the

24, 25. cut.. tree, separated fr. thy idolatrous nation. wild.. nature," without spiritual culture. contrary. nature, contrary to previous belief, conduct, life. how.. more, as more easy, probable. natural branches, seed of Abraham aft. the flesh; with Jewish knowledge and training. own tree? the O. T. Church. ignorant, ignorance the mother of superstition, not of devotion. mystery, secret. The rejection of the Jews for a time, and their restoration aft. the conversion of the Gentiles, had been hitherto kept a secret, or only par tially revealed. wise.. conceits, puffed up by your own speculations and privileges, as though you Gentiles possessed a glory?"-Bp.Hall. monopoly of grace. part, a great part, yet not all. fulness.. in,' converted to Christianity. The Gentiles like a wild olive tree.-I. They are wild by nature: 1. Nations before Christ are without spiritual culture; 2. The Mosaic law was confined to Israel; 3. The times of this ignorance were winked at by God (see Ac. xvii. 30). II. They are Christianised with that severity contrary to nature: 1. Their whole national life was pervaded which may make with idolatry; 2. Their notions and practises were all opposed to us apprehend His displeasure; a Divine life; 3. It is contrary to every man's nature to be a and yet with that Christian; 4. This contrariety is increased by sin. mercy which may Let us pray for the restoration of Israel.-Oh, shall we not encourage us to lament the long rejection of the ancient people of God? Their unto the Lord." seventy years in Babylon was nothing to this; yea, their four -Bp. Stillingfleet. hundred and thirty years' bondage in Egypt was nothing to this. Alas! how long-how long shall God's anger last against that "Hath not a Jew people? How long shall they be under the guilt of the blood eyes? hath not a of Christ, which they imprecated upon themselves and their Jew hands, posterity, saying, "His blood be upon us and our children?" organs, dimensions, Oh! pray, pray for that ancient people of God! Oh! pray that affections, pas- the blood of Shiloh may cleanse them from blood-guiltiness! sions? Fed with When they were in favour with God, the believers among them had mind of us poor Gentiles, when we were the little sister that had no breasts; and now, when we are sucking at the breasts of subject to the Gospel ordinances and sacramental solemnities, oh! shall we not diseases, healed mind them when "their breasts are cut off," and we, that were of "the wild olive-tree, are grafted in to partake of the root and fatness of the good olive-tree?" Oh! let us not boast against the branches; "for if thou boastest, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee." Let us not boast, but let us beg that they may be grafted in; "for if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead?" The day of the return and conversion of the Jews will be a day of greater gathering to Shiloh, even among the Gentiles, than we have yet seen; and it would fare better with us if we were more employed in praying for them.<

repent and return

c T. Robinson.

senses,

the same food,

hurt with the same weapons,

by the same means, warmed

and cooled by the same winter and

summer, as a

Christian is?"
Shakspeare.
d Ralph Erskine.

the deliverer out of Sion

lix. 20.

a Ps. xiv. 7; Is. b Is. xlv. 17; liv. 7, 8; Je. xxxii.

26, 27. and so, ultimately, and in this way. as.. written, by the faithful promise-keeping God. Two passages combined." Deliverer, Redeemer. turn.. ungodliness, as the effect of their turning to Him. this.. covenant, this is what I have engaged to do. To save from sin, not in sin. 37-41; Ho. iii. 5; when.. sins," i.e., when they repent and believe the Gospel. Mi. vii. 19, 20; Is. lix. 20. The future salvation of all Israel.-I. The period allotted for

their present blindness (v. 25)—1. Their blindness is most awful; c Is. lix. 21. 2. It will last until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." II. d Je. xxxi. 31The event that awaits them at its termination-1. The event 34. itself; 2. Its certainty. Conclusion:-Concerning the subject, consider-1. Its aspect on the Jews; 2. Its proper effect upon your own minds.e

Beholding the deliverer.-On the occasion of President Lincoln's visit to Richmond, as soon as his arrival became known, the coloured people whom he had delivered from bondage crowded around him in wild enthusiasm. They gazed upon the wonderful man; they shouted, they danced, waved their handkerchiefs and hats; they cheered enthusiastically. Some cried, "Glory, glory;" others, "Thank you, dear Jesus, for this!" others, "God bless you, Massa Linkum!" others, "Bless de Lord!" What triumphal entry into Rome ever equalled this entry into Richmond by our delivering President? But, ere long, we shall all gaze on a greater than he, with even greater satisfaction than those redeemed ones experienced.

"Whether the conversion of the great body of the Jewish people to Christianity shall precede or follow their restoration to the inheritance of Abraham and his seed, is not, I think, distinctly foretold in Scripture."-Bp. Blomfield.

e Rev. C. Simeon,

M.A.

C. H. Spurgeon.

harmony

28–32. as . . Gospel, i.e., your relation to it. enemies, the doings of opposed to it. for.. sakes, it is offered to you since they have God in rejected it. but.. election," God's original choice of them. with His fathers', the patriarchs'. without repentance, God's deal- ancient ings to Jew and Gentile no evidence of change of mind in Him. purpose yet.. unbelief, bec. the Gospel is offered to you on their a De. vii. 7, 8; x. rejection of it. that.. mercy, the mercy shown to you on your repentance and faith. they.. mercy, encouraged to hope that, if penitent and believing Gentiles are saved, much more shall we, if also we repent and believe.d

15.

b Mal. iii. 6.
Is. lx. 10.
"They are so, in
respect to God
the Giver; He
never repents

In times past.-Remembrance of our former condition fitted to -I. Promote humility; II. Awaken gratitude; III. Soften our censures; IV. Strengthen our hopes of others.-Not believed. that He hath Not obeyed the call of the Gospel. I. The Gospel is-1. A testimony; 2. An invitation. II. As such, it is therefore to be-1. Believed; 2. Obeyed. Unbelief and disobedience are united in rejecting the Gospel.e

called His people into the fellow ship of His Son

sorry, whatever meets with, that He is brought to

Christ."-Flavel.

d Luther, in trial,

Jesus Christ; and they are so on Providence always at work.-God's work of Providence is "His the believer's most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing of all part, who is never His creatures and all their actions." It has no Sabbath. No afterwards he night suspends it, and from its labours God never rests. If, for the sake of illustration, I may compare small things with great, it is like the motion of the heart. Beating our march to the grave, since the day we began to live, the heart has never ceased to beat. Our limbs grow weary; not it. We sleep; it never sleeps. Need- by oft repeating ing no period of repose to recruit its strength, by night and day this text. it throbs in every pulse; and constantly supplying nourishment e T. Robinson. to the meanest as well as to the noblest organs of our frame, with measured, steady, untired stroke, it drives the blood along the bounding arteries, without any exercise of will on our part, and even when the consciousness of our own existence is lost in dreamless slumbers.

was comforted

f Dr. Guthrie.

33-35, 0.. riches," thus should we exclaim, instead of the wisdom finding fault with what we doubt, cannot fully comprehend. and mercy Treasures of goodness and mercy. wisdom, comprehending of God relations of all times and events. knowledge, acquaintance Ep. i. 7, 8; Col. ii. with each detail. ways.. out, cannot be tracedd (ill. foot-2, 3.

a Ps. xxxvi. 6;

b Ps. cvii. 31.

c Job. xi. 7-9.

prints of animals, etc., in the sand). who.. Lord? what angel or man can comprehend all God's reasons? counsellor, d See Cowper's adviser (ill. cabinet councils of earthly kings). who.. him? hymn, "God who has granted a favour to God? it.. again? if he can prove moves in a mys- the debt. terious way,

etc.

e 1 Co. iv. 7; 1
Ch. xxix. 14.
f W. Stevens.

"It remains for

and ways which

There is no

The deep things of God.-God reveals Himself to man in-I. The idea of the Deity: 1. Self-existence; 2. Immensity; 3. Invisibility; 4. Omnipotence. II. Nature. III. Providence. IV. Revelation. Application :-(1) Learn the decrees of God; (2) Listen to the whole truth as in Christ, and support it. us dutifully and The Divine fulness and faithfulness.-A relative one day said to reverentially to the late Rev. W. Day, of Bristol, "It is a comfort to you to see adore that in the your children round you." "Yes," he answered, with an allusion Divine counsels to the occasional dimness of his vision, "it is. It would be more we do not, and so if I could see them. But I can only see one now, and another indeed cannot, then." "You can, however, see Jesus by the eye of faith." His understand. countenance kindled with a smile of joy, and clasping his hands, government that he exclaimed with a loud voice, "He is my great, my only object. hath not its ar- O my God! my portion! my all! Blessed be Thy name, Thou hast cana; and it said unto me, Thou art mine.'" Then, with much energy, he would be very foolish for us to added, "The Bible is nothing to me; the Bible is nothing to me, imagine that but as it reveals to my soul a covenant Jehovah, Father, Son, there should be and Holy Ghost. There I see perfection. When I look at manbe when I look at myself, I see nothing but vileness :—a rent here, longing to the Divine govern- a chasm there. It would drive me to despair. Oh when," he ment."-Howe. wept profusely, "when shall I behold Christ as He is, and cast "Simplicity is a myself at His feet? He has offered me a pledge of this beyond pre-eminent all your imagination can conceive. I have seen Him rising before mode of the es- me in all the majesty of the Godhead. The world has shown me which He is void its favours, and has taken them away again. I have enjoyed of all composi- many tokens of the loving-kindness of my God, and I have at tion, and of com- other times been stripped of what I most valued. But, O my whether they be God, my Redeemer, Thou hast never failed me!" Then stretching long to the senses out his hands to his family around his bed, he cried, "O Lord, the under- shine forth, shine forth in Thy glory upon these dear onesstanding."Thou wilt never leave them-Thou wilt never forsake them." It was an affecting, a sublime scene. It was like a patriarch standing on the threshold of heaven, looking back to bless his family, and looking forward, earnestly longing to take his last step.

no secrets

sence of God, by

ponent parts,

Arminius.

all things are of, through, and to God

36. of him,a the source of existence; the fountain of all good. through him, He preserves, directs, governs. to him, His glory the end for wh. all things exist, and to wh. every event a1 Ch. xxix. 11-contributes. all things, on earth and in heaven. glory, the highest praise of the holiest nature. for ever, bec. for ever will reasons for praise be explored by, and revealed to, His intelligent and redeemed creatures. Amen, so let it be in the Church militant; so it shall be in the Church triumphant.

13; 1 Co. viii. 6;

Col. i. 16, 17; Ro.

xii. 1.

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