The prominent ideas of a Christian Jubilee, must be thankfulness for the past, and hope for the future. In promoting the observance of a Jubilee, these two things must be encouraged; and therefore we must endeavour to lay a solid foundation for both. Hence, the preparation for a Jubilee implies serious thought and diligent examination of our principles, of our practice, and of the results, whether successful or not, which have hitherto marked our progress. The collection of information respecting the history of our Schools, and of those who have received their education in them, becomes very important. Many things which, at the time when they happened, appeared of no consequence, afterwards assume an interesting aspect, when we look back over past years of God's providential dealings with us. Now, I want to help you, and I want you to help me, in preparing for this coming Jubilee, especially in reference to the Hebrew Schools.

You all know that God has said in His Holy Word, "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Prov. xxii. 6.) The practice of the Saviour, and the precepts of the Gospel, at once enforce the duty, and confirm the promise. None can have a clearer right to act upon this, than yourselves, your parents, and those Christian friends who have, during the last forty-seven years, endeavoured to bring you up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Now let us look back, and see how the promise has been fulfilled, and how far the work of instruction has been successful. We must take it as a certain truth that God's word cannot fail. The Scripture cannot be broken. But the best men will often fail of attaining to the measure of the Scripture rule for youthful training,-"the way in which he should go;" and the best plan of education will as frequently produce a harvest of disappointments, simply because it has been carried out with strong faith in its inherent excellence, rather than in simple reliance upon God's promise, and the power of His Spirit. Yet notwithstanding all these human infirmities and defects, the Divine faithfulness is continually manifested in the effects of early Christian education, ripening at some later period of life into "the peaceable fruits of righteousness." The child who has wandered far from

his Heavenly Father's house, until, perhaps in wasted manhood, he is ready to perish with hunger, both temporally and eternally, at last through grace resolves in humble penitence, "I will arise and go to my Father." Still there are many, once Hebrew Boys and Hebrew Girls, now men and women, who are walking in the counsel of the ungodly, and even sitting in the seat of the scorner. Let the coming Jubilee remind them of what they have often sung :

The year of Jubilee is come,

Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

But I must return to my immediate purpose. I wish to collect all the information which you can give me about yourselves, and about your old schoolfellows. If you can communicate any thing by letter, I shall be glad to receive it. Many of you are scattered as widely as your nation. I hear of you everywhere, in America, in Australia, in Africa, in Palestine, in the Crimea; and whilst of some I hear with sorrow that they are not walking as their best friends would wish, I have been occasionally much gratified by learning that others were by their conduct and conversation bearing witness that "the Lord hath visited His people." There will be time to write and to communicate with the most distant of your old friends, and the occasion is one which may well justify a renewal of mutual interest.

There have been so many changes-I may say, indeed, so many remarkable providences, in the history of the London Society's labours in behalf of your nation, that few persons are left who took any part in its commencement, or witnessed its early struggles. Your Schools had their share in those difficulties. I have heard many interesting particulars from some who are now elders amongst you. I desire to be furnished with accurate statements, such as would enable me to give you a faithful memorial of the first years of that wonder of the Christian Church-a Christian School for Hebrew Children. There are those who could give me interesting records of Brick Lane, of the Infant Establishment at Woodford, and of other wanderings, until the Hebrew Boys' and Girls' Schools were finally planted in Palestine Place in connexion with the Episcopal Jews' Chapel.

Whilst upon this subject of the past history of your Schools, I may mention a fact which I think gives me a claim to take a peculiar interest in it, whilst it awakens deep and affectionate feelings of responsibility in respect to you. It has been rather suddenly presented to my mind, in the course of those reflections which the thought of an approaching Jubilee suggests. I have been placed in circumstances, which, in the providence of God, have brought me to the knowledge, and even to the pastoral care, of a greater number of Hebrew Christian children than probably any other Christian minister can enumerate. On the day of your Anniversary, it will be exactly thirty years since I informed the children assembled on Sunday evening in my Sunday School, two hundred miles from this metropolis, that I was about to be absent for a time, with the probability of a permanent separation from them. They were Gentile children, and they had often looked with interest upon the first print of the "Episcopal Jews' Chapel and Hebrew Schools" issued by the Society. Many of those children will, I trust, meet many of you in the mansions which Jesus Christ is gone to prepare for His faithful disciples. I still retain a most affectionate remembrance of their early days; and, in the lapse of many years, have received many a hearty recognition from their maturer age. Many of you know what a bond of union I have seemed to maintain, in teaching you to learn and to sing the same hymns, which, so many years ago, I heard from the lips of Gentile children. It was on the Sunday following my thus taking leave of them, that I saw and heard, for the first time, the children of the Hebrew Schools. It was to me, as it has been to many others when present for the first time, a very affecting occasion. I remember well the deep impressions of that Sunday morning, on hearing, for the first time, so many Jewish children singing the praises of the Saviour. I wish that you all may be brought by God's grace to consider your own privilege and responsibility in the matter. In the evening of that day, I preached, for the first time, in the presence of Hebrew children. On reference to the Admission Book, I find that about two hundred and seventy children had then been admitted from the commence

ment of the Schools, including the number then present. I have since become acquainted with several who had previously left School: I can now, therefore, assert that I have been brought to the acquaintance, and into a responsible connexion with more than five hundred Hebrew children, through these Schools, brought up in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ; of whom I would rejoice to think as believing witnesses of the resurrection, knowing Him and the power of His resurrection-"five hundred brethren, of whom the greater part remain unto this day."

Let me, then, dear friends, thus "stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance." I have brought before you some past circumstances which ought to lead both you and me to very serious reflection and prayer. But we must not forget that when God calls us to remember His past dealings with us, it is for our future benefit-to do us good in our latter end. In this way, our preparation for a "Jubilee Year" will have an important influence on our hearts and lives, and will also tend to the prosperity and increased efficiency of the Hebrew Schools.

There are many things which combine to stir us up to earnestness and diligence in preparation for our Lord's return. The restored peace of the world promises to open up new opportunities of proclaiming "Peace "in the highest sense to the children of Israel. The great Potentates of the world have lately concluded a treaty with all international solemnity, by which, for the first time since Jerusalem was trodden down under the fierce assault of the Roman armies, it has been lawful and possible for an Israelite to possess land or even a dwelling place of his own, in his beloved country. The sympathies of the Church, and even the attention of the world, have been powerfully awakened to the signs of God's returning mercy to Israel. In our own little sphere, within the range of our Hebrew Schools' experience, it is no uninteresting fact that a correspondence has been carried on between Hebrew Christian Girls in Palestine Place, London, and Hebrew Christian Girls in Jerusalem itself. All this should encourage us. In those wonderful prophecies which tell us of the Restoration of Israel, God has been pleased not only to tell us of

His purposes to the nation in general, but also of His special care for the aged and the young. Provision shall be made for the comfort of both. He has not been unmindful of "Hebrew boys and girls" in restored Jerusalem, for "the streets of the City shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof." In the proper sense of the word, they will be " good children; for then "Jerusalem shall be called a City of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts the Holy Mountain." (Zech. viii. 3—5.

It is not for us to know the times and the seasons; but all that we see, and hear, and read, should excite us to watchfulness, prayer, and diligent exertion in the duties to which God's providence has severally called us. All the promises of the Gospel are ours now. Now is the accepted time for a sinner, young or old, Jew or Gentile, to seek the salvation of his soul. God will not forsake those who seek Him; and finally, He will accomplish all His great purposes of grace, to the glory of our once crucified Jesus: and "the children of Zion shall be joyful in their King."

LETTERS ON MISSIONS.

JERUSALEM.

DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

One of the most interesting institutions at Jerusalem in connexion with the Mission is the House of Industry. Its very name will show you that it is meant for those who are willing to earn their own bread. If idleness is the mother of mischief, then there can be nothing better than being well employed.

But if this is true in the various duties of life, it is if possible even more so, when it refers to Jewish converts. There are a certain class of people in the world-both Jews and Gentiles, who are anxious to get money without labourag for it. They like to eat the bread of idleness,