pricking brier, and the grieving thorn," bid you arise and depart, and rest your soul on him, "who is altogether lovely." (Cant. v. 16.) "As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." (Cant. ii. 3.)

NEGLECT OF THE SCRIPTURES BY THE JEWS. WHEN Christians affirm that the Jews in general are not acquainted with the Scriptures, the statement is declared by the Jews to be untrue. But we have the highest authority for asserting that eighteen hundred years ago their wise men were ignorant of Moses and the prophets, for the lips of truth declared, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures." We know also, that from that time to the present, they have continued generally to make void the law of God, through men's traditions, or to follow their teachers who have done so. "The blind have led the blind." In our days we see various results from this. Part of the nation giving up the Talmud, and denying its authority, and because uninstructed in the Scriptures, becoming Infidels. Part of them through reading the writings of Moses and the prophets, and contrasting therewith the teaching of the rabbies, separating from their Rabbinical brethren and opening a new synagogue, where Jews assemble to worship God, acknowledging that only the writings of the Old Testament are of Divine authority; that for them " as Israelites there is but one immutable law;" and the remainder of the nation (excepting those who by divine grace are brought to the knowledge of the

true Messiah) in a restless dissatisfied state, yet determined to hold fast the traditions of their fathers.

Our authority for now asserting that the Jews, especially those in this country, neglect the Old Testament Scriptures, is the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Adler. In the "Jewish Chronicle" for June 12, 1846, we read, "on Sunday, 31st ult." (May); "and first day of Pentecost, the Reverend Chief Rabbi delivered a discourse at the Great Synagogue, Duke's-place, to a very numerous congregation. The Decalogue, which was the lesson of the day, formed the text of the Chief Rabbi's discourse, which was at once eloquent and pointed. The Reverend Lecturer exhorted his hearers to study the Word of God, and alluded in unmistakeable terms, to the neglect of the study of the Bible prevailing amongst our youth. 'I do not think,' said the Reverend Chief Rabbi, 'there are in this present numerous congregation, 'above six or seven young men who are well acquainted with our sacred writings.' We perfectly agree with the Chief Rabbi's observations, and no time should therefore be lost in coming out with a radical reform in the system of education in our public schools."

Whilst we have this high authority for the statement that the Jews have neglected their sacred writings, and cannot but mourn over the fact and its consequences, we are rejoiced to find that their ecclesiastical head in this country is exhorting the Jews to study the Word of God. We know that Dr. Adler has deeply interested himself respecting the education of Jewish youth, and our young friends, we are sure, will be glad to know that that education, judging from the

above expression of the Rabbi, will embrace the reading of God's holy Word. We entreat them to pray that many a Jewish child and youth, may so know the Holy Scriptures, that they may, like Timothy, be "made wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus;" that they may so read Moses and the prophets, that through them they may be led to him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write.

THE PASSOVER.

THE following interesting account of the cele bration of the Passover is taken from a recent Journal of the Rev. F. C. Ewald. On the 9th of April Mr. Ewald arrived at Bonn, and in the evening of the following day, GOOD FRIDAY, he visited the Jewish synagogue. It was the eve of the Passover. The Journal says:-" The synagogue was very small, and during the service very little order or devotion was manifested; some talked, others laughed; and others, whilst the prayers were being said, looked about them, notwithstanding the rabbi, Dr. Auerbach, was there. There were not above fifty Jews present. The rich Jews at Bonn, like their brethren at Cologne and Brussels, do not attend the synagogue. A pious aged Jew, with whom I conversed about the hope of Israel, was so kind as to invite us to his house, that we might be present at the Paschal Supper; and we most gladly availed ourselves of his kindness. When we arrived at his house, we met several young Jews, with whom we conversed. There was among them a particularly interesting and wellinformed young gentleman, who had read the

New Testament, the maxims of which he said were divine; and he spoke in such a manner of the Lord Jesus, that I believe he is not far from the kingdom of God. I also learned that, a short time since, an Israelite, who had studied at the University of Bonn, had become a believer in Christ Jesus: meanwhile night had set in, and the ceremony commenced.

"On the table there was a large plate, on which there were three matzoth, or unleavened cakes. The first was called Cohen, the second Levi, the third Israel, over which a cloth was put. There was also on that plate a cup full of salt water, a small plate of green herbs, a large piece of horse-radish, a plate containing a mixture made of apples, nuts, figs, almonds, and wine. There was also a large bone, on which there was

little meat, and an egg. The family, which consisted of the father, mother, and four children, took their seats around the table, lifted up the plate, and said with a loud voice :—

"This is the bread of affliction which our fathers used to eat in Egypt. Whosoever is hungry, let him come to eat with us; whosoever wishes, let him come and celebrate the Pesach (Passover) with us. This year we are here; next year in the land of Israel: this year we are servants; next year we shall be free.' These sentences are said in Chaldee. The reason given for saying them in that language, and not in Hebrew, is as follows:- All who are hungry are invited to come. If the invitation should reach the evil spirits, they would come and eat everything; but they do not understand Chaldee; therefore the invitation is given in that language.' After which the

youngest boy asked the father why this night was observed differently to other mights?

Why must we eat matzoth and bitter herbs ?" The father answered, I will tell you. We have been servants to Pharaoh in Egypt; but God delivered us from our slavery.' The father then related the history of the Jews from Abraham to the Exodus; mentioned the ten plagues which God brought upon the Egyptians, which all repeated; and as often as one of the plagues were mentioned, each put his little finger into the cup of wine which stood before them. Then it was asked why the bone, the matzoth, and the bitter herbs were before them? The father replied, The bone signifies the Paschal Lamb; the matzoth remind us that our forefathers were in haste when they left Egypt, so that they had no time to bake their bread; and the bitter herbs should bring to our minds the great affliction of our parents in the land of our bondage.' Then each present took the cup of wine in his hand, lifted it up, and said, 'Therefore it is our duty to laud, to praise, to adoré, to bless Him who has dealt so marvellously with our forefathers.' Several psalms were next sung; after which a prayer was offered for their return to the land of their fathers, for the building of Jerusalém and the temple, and for their eternal redemption. Each then took the cup in their hand, and the father said, Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe! who hast created the wine.' Each one drank a portion of the wine, and then received a small piece of matzoth to eat; but before doing so they said, Blessed be God; who has sanctified us with his commandments, and told us to eat