ART. VI.

Civil and Political Relations.

THE Grand Sanhedrin, penetrated with the utility which should result to the Israelites from an authentic declaration, which fixes and determines their obligations as members of the state to which they belong, and wishing that no person should be ignorant what are, in this respect, the principles which the Doctors of the Law, and the chief men of Israel profess and prescribe to their fellow-worshippers in the countries where they are not excluded from all the advantages of Civil Society, particularly in France and the kingdom of Italy,

Declare, That it is the religious duty of every Israelite born and educated in a state, or who shall become a citizen by residence or otherwise, to conform to the laws which determine the conditions of citizenship, to regard the said state as his country:

That those duties which flow from the nature of things, which are con formable to the destination of men in society, agree with the word of

God also.

Daniel says to Darius, that he was only saved from the fury of the lions, because he was equally faithful to his God and his King." Chap.

vi. 22, 23.

Jeremiah recommends to all the Hebrews to regard Babylon as their Country: "Concur with all your might to its welfare." Jer. xxxix. 7. We read in the same book the oath which Gedaliah administered to the Israelites: "Fear not," he tells them, "to serve the Chaldeans; live in the country, be faithful to the King of Babylon, and you shall live happily.”

"Fear God and your Sovereign," says Solomon. Prov. xxiv, 21.

That every thing prescribes to the Israelite to have towards his Prince and his laws, the respect, the attachment, and the fidelity, which all his subjects owe to him as a tri

bute:

That every thing obliges him not to separate his own interest from

or that of his family, from the destiny of the great family of the state : that he ought to be afflicted at its reverses of fortune, congratulate with its triumphs, and concur, with all his faculties, to the welfare of his fellow-citizens.

In consequence of this, the Grand Sanhedrim ordains, That every Israelite born and educated in France, and the kingdom of Italy, and treated by the laws of the two states as a citizen, is obliged religiously to regard them as his country, to serve them, to defend them, to obey the laws, and to conform himself in tions of the civil code: all his transactions to the disposi

And moreover, the Grand Sanhedrim declare, That every Israelite called on the military service, is freed by the law, during the term of his service, from all religious observances irreconcileable with his own tenets.

ART. VII. - - Useful Professions.

THE Grand Sanhedrim, wishing to inform the Israelites, and particularly those of France and Italy, of the necessity under which they are, and the advantages which will result from their devoting themselves to agriculture, of possessing landed estates, of exercising arts and callings, of cultivating the sciences, which admit of their embracing the liberal professions; and considering that for a long time the Israelites of the two countries have been under the necessity of renouncing, in a great measure, mechanical labour, and chiefly the culture of the ground, which was in ancient times their favourite occupation,-this disadvantageous renunciation must be at tributed to the vicissitudes of their state, to the uncertainty in which they were, as well with respect to their personal security as with regard to their property; as also to the obstacles of all kinds which the regulations and the laws of nations opposed to the free developement of their industry and activity:

That this renunciation is not merely the result of the principles of their religion, or of the interpretation

which their doctors, both ancient and modern, give of them, but rather an unhappy effect of the habits which the privation of the free exercise of their industrious faculties has made them contract:

That it results, on the contrary, from the letter and spirit of the Mo-. saic legislation; that manual labour was held in honour among the Children of Israel; and that there is no mechanical art which is interdicted to them by name, since the holy Scripture invites them and recommends to them to occupy themselves in this manner:

That this truth is demonstrated by the collection of the laws of Moses,

gion, favourable to good morals, and essentially useful to the country, which can only regard idle men as dangerous citizens.

Moreover, the Grand Sanhedrim invite the Israelites of the two states of France and Italy to acquire landed property, as a mean of attaching themselves more to their country, of enabling them to renounce such occupations as render men odious and despicable in the eyes of their fellow-citizens; and to do all which depends upon us to acquire their esteem and good-will.

Peasant in Austria.

Prov. xxviii. 29.- "He who cultivates his lands shall have abun dance; but he who lives in idleness is in famine."

Misna, Traile d'Abot, ch. i. "Love labour, and shun idleness."

That it follows eventually from these texts, not only that no honest calling is interdicted to the Israelites, but that religion attaches merit to the exercise of their callings; and that it is agreeable to the eyes of the Most High, that every one should follow some calling, and make it, as far as depends upon himself, the object of his occupations.

That this doctrine is confirmed by the Talmud, which, regarding idleness as the source of vice, positively declares, That the father who does not teach a profession to his child, educates him for the life of a rob

ber. Vide Kiduschim i.

Therefore the Grand Sanhedrim, in virtue of the powers with which it is clothed,

Order all Israelites, and particularly those of France and Italy, who nevertheless enjoy civil and political rights, to ascertain and adopt the most proper means to inspire a love of industry in youth, and to direct it to the exercise of arts and callings, as well as liberal professions; considering that this praiseworthy exercise is conformable to our holy reli

On that I could find words to express the great goodness of God, and magnify the holy name of the Lord of Zebaoth, who in this year again hath manifested himself in so many ways to us poor beings of clay, by his love and grace, patience and longsuffering, giving and forgiving, bearing us, comforting us, and providing for us! Throughout this whole year we have experienced the great faithfulness of our all-merciful Lord. Though every thing else come to an end, God's love endureth for ever! When I contemplated the state in which the greater part of the inhabitants of Austria were, to what a pitch luxury had risen,-how universaly levity, avarice, and profu sion prevailed, I thought within myself, this state of things cannot last; some judgment must come over us; God's faithfulness is too great; he has the welfare of mankind too much at heart to suffer it: and since many will not be led by God's goodhess to repentance, we have assur edly to expect that terror and dismay will come over us, in order to stay the farther progress of depravity, to chastise levity, to sweep away the hoards accumulated by avarice, and to impose restraint upon sensuality; and behold, ere we were aware, the fury of the enemy broke in upon our borders: — terror and dismay now reigned every where -the distress was great and universal; and yet it might have risen to a greater height. But why

did it not? This we have to attribute solely to the everlasting mercy of God in Christ Jesus, who hath dealt compassionately with us. The mighty hand of the Lord hath helped us through, that we have not been wholly consumed. There are in deed some who have lost all their possessions,---some, even their lives, or their healths; but whoever is a little in the practice of self-examination, must confess that we deserved far more than we had to endure: that we have been dealt with, not according to our transgressions, but according to mercy, Oh that God's wise purpose may now have been

66

They feel the force of the command, and of the gracious promise of Jesus, who said, ،، All power in Heaven and in Earth is given to me. Go ye, therefore, into all nations,preach the gospel to every creature; and lo ! I am with you always, even to the end of the world!" As taught, by the Lord himself, they pray to their Father in Heaven, 66 Thy kingdom come!" Their prayers are not the mere service of the lip: they are the ardent desire of their souls for things agreeable to the will of God. These desires, which constitute their prayers, regulate and excite their conduct, They are quick-sighted in discovering, and diligent and per.. severing in using the best means of promoting the object which they ardently desire. These exertions, how

ever arduous, and however expensive, afford them a pure and exalted happiness, because they are the gratification of their purified and ardent desires. It is God's kingdom which they pray may come, and which they exert themselves to extend over all the kingdoms of the world, equally for their spiritnal and temporal interest ; and they know that it shall come, because it is his kingdom; because he hath said it, and because his is the power, and his the glory."

"The nearer the times approach to that period fixed by the prophecies of sacred Scripture, when all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God, men will exert themselves in greater numbers, with more purity, unanimity, perseverance, vigour, dependence on God, and success, in sending that Bible and that gospel which are a light to the Gentiles, who are sitting in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death. '' *

Such have, for nearly twelve years, been the views, the desires, the exertions, and the prospects of the Missionary Society in London, whose late anniversary we now record. Numbers of ministers and Christians,

from various parts of the country, repaired, as usual, to the metropolis on this pleasing occasion, and, together with many of its inhabitants, thronged the largest places of worship, where the Missionary Sermons were delivered. The first of these was at

SURRY CHAPEL.

On Wednesday morning, May 13, Mr. Hill, the minister of the place, presented to the throne of grace

the fervent desires of the numerous assembly, in the words of the Established Church. After which, Mr. Kidd, of Cleek-Heaton, in Yorkshire, prayed in the pulpit. Mr. Newton, of Witham,in Essex, preach ed a sermon, from Ps. Ixxii. 17," All nations shall call him blessed." From wbich the preacher pointed out the state of the nations destitute of the knowledge of Messiah -the genuine effects of that knowledge where it is obtained the universal prevalence of it hereafter; and the duties incumbent on us who are favoured with it. The prayer after sermon was by Mr. Luke, of Alton. The hymns were read by Mr Hunt, Mr. Gauntlett, and Mr. Waller.

TABERNACLE.

were confirmed. A full report of the proceedings of the Directors, during the last year, was then read by the Secretary, and cordially received by the Society. This Report will shortly be printed, together with the Sermons preached at this anniversary! The increasing extent and success of the Society, as detailed in the Report, afforded sincere pleasure in numbers far beyond any former to the members, whose attendance, example, shewed the increased inte

rest which is taken in the concerns of the Society.

While the Committee, appointed to nominate new directors, instead

of those who retire by rotation, were withdrawn into the vestry, an interesting paper, containing extracts of an address from a number of protestant ministers at Hernhuth, in Germany, to the Missionary and Bible Societies in England, was read; and a letter in reply to their friendly communications was presented and adopted. Some observations on the utility of forming Auxiliary Societies, in aid of the funds of the institution, were made, recommending a plan for that purpose, which appeared in this Magazine for January last; printed copies of which were dispersed among the ministers for the use of their congregations.

Mr. Hill, one of the tutors of the seminary at Homerton, delivered a suitable and acceptable Address, ex• pressive of the great importance of Missionary undertakings. A hymn was sung, and Mr. Cooke, of Maidenhead, concluded with prayer. The perfect harmony with which the bu

HABERDASHERS' HALL.

The Society met in this place in the morning, at half-past ten o'clock, Mr. Hardcastle, the Treasurer, in the Chair. The Meeting was opened with prayer, by Mr. Bull, jun. of Newport Pagnell. The original plan ,of the institution was read, and the minutes of the last annual meeting

of this Meeting was conducted, Was peculiarly pleasing to the friends of the institution.

TOTTENHAM COURT CHAPEL

Was crowded, as usual, in the evening; and the service was commenced before the time proposed, the place being full. Mr. Huckwell read the prayers of the church. Mr. Codman, of Boston, in America, Mr. Griffin, prayed before sermon. of Portsea, delivered a discourse on Psalm cii. 13," Thou shalt arise, and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come."- In this discourse Mr. G. considered the signs of the times fa