"The prefiding Rabbi, ufually called their High "Prieft, has delivered two public difcourfes on "this subject; abstracts from which have been "printed in Hebrew and English, and circulated 66 among the Jews. The following is a copy of "the firft paper:

"Abstract of an Exhortation delivered by the Rev. Solomon Hirfchel, at the Great Synagogue, Duke's Place, on "Saturday, Jan. 3, A. M. 5567.

66

66

"SON OF MAN, I HAVE MADE THEE A WATCHMAN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; THEREFORE HEAR THE WORD AT MY MOUTH, AND GIVE THEM WARNING FROM Ezek. iii. 17.

66

66

ME.

"The prophet is here properly entitled a watch"man, who is in duty bound to declare his prophetic "infpiration, and is guilty of death if he withholds "it. The Lord charges him likewife with the duty "of a watchman, who is to be on the look-out, as "one ftanding guard on a tower, whence he may "readily fee any danger approaching to the city; and "by his warning voice fave it from harm.

"Thus it is the duty of him who is placed at the "head of the house of Ifrael, to have a watchful eye 46 over occurrences of the times, and to calculate "their confequences; fo that any circumftance arifing, however excellent it may appear at the time, yet if

❝he

"he perceive therein any diftant danger, which may "in the course of time break out, and make its end

66

prove bitter, however fweet it feemed at the be"ginning, it then becomes his bounden duty to de"clare and forewarn the people, as much fo as if "God had actually fent him on fuch a particular "miffion, in order that they may not blindly fall ❝into a snare, like the deluded bird, who whilst joy"oufly feafting on the corn, is unwittingly caught in

"the net.

"I have placed thee as a watchman to the house of "Ifrael;' i. e. to look out on all occurrences, and "foresee their effects. • Hear the word at my "mouth;' i. e. understand by the gift of comprehen"fion given to you, all matters which fhall come to your ears; and if you forefee any evil likely to "follow from them unto the house of Ifrael, do not "hefitate, but boldly give them warning from "me;' i. e. you have my authority fo to do, and to "fpeak in my name.

66

"Now, behold, it has pleafed the Lord to direct me hither from afar, and placed me the "keeper of his vineyard; I muft, therefore, fend "forth my voice. Attend, O ye children of Ifrael! "A new matter has appeared from a fet of bene"volent gentlemen, of the Chriftian perfuafion, "who have propofed to open a Free School

for the benefit of the Jewish children, of both "fexes. Now, although according to appearance nothing can be more praifeworthy than fuch phi❝lanthropic

66

lanthropic kindnels on their part, yet, after well ،، confidering the circumftance, and the good likely ❝to arife therefrom to us and our pofterity (and every "man who feareth God will well examine it, for it is "no trifling thing) it appears likely to injure the prin"ciples of the Jewifh religion; and thus, instead of "producing fruit, we gather fhame.

66

"I, therefore, feel myfelf under the neceffity of "warning you, both male and female parents, or guardians, who own the name of Ifraelites, and "wifh to be esteemed members of our communion, 6 not too rafhly to embrace this plan, nor to fend your children to the school eftablishing by thofe "gentlemen, until we fhall have further and fa

66

66

tisfactory information, and clear proofs of its "utility, free from all idea of probable and diftant ❝ evil.

"Then will you obtain the reputation of wifdom "in the eyes of the lovers of truth and grace, among "the nations; and may it never quit you!"

Could words more appropriate, more dignified, or more liberal have been used? The venerable rabbi admits that it has proceeded from a benevolent motive, and he abftains from urging what he would have been fully juftified in urging, that the refult would be weakening the attachment of the Jewish children to the holy laws of JEHOVAH, their God; but he wifely and prudently waits until more perfect evidence can be produced. The fecond exhortation I extract from the Evangelical Magazine for July 1807.

"Abfiract

"Abstract of a Second Exhortation delivered by the Rev. "Solomon Hirfchel, at the Great Synagogue, Duke's "Place, on Saturday, Jan. 10, A. M. 5567, after a Difcourfe on Jeremiah xi. 18, 19.

66

66

As I

"Bleffed be the Lord our God, and God of our "forefathers! one fole and indivisible, from eternity ་ to eternity! who has not withheld his grace from ❝us fince we have been his chofen people; and who "has not fuffered any thing to efcape our vigilance "over the confervation of our holy religion. "have had occafion to exercise on the last holy Sab"bath, to forewarn every one of our nation not to "fend any of their children to the newly-established "Free School, inftituted by a fociety of perfons who "are not of our religion, until we had, by a proper "investigation, determined if it be completely free " from any poffible harm to the welfare of our re

ligion, as hath alfo been fully ftated in a printed "abstract published for that purpofe; and which, I "am happy to understand, as had a proper and good "effect.

"Now, having fince been fully convinced, through "the means of a printed fermon and address, pub"lifhed by the directors of the Miffionary Society,

viz. That the whole purpofe of this feeming kind "exertion is but an inviting fnare, a decoying expe-. "riment to undermine the props of our religion; "and the fole intent of this inftitution is, at bottom, "only to entice innocent Jewish children, during "their carly and unfufpecting years, from the ob

"fervance

"fervance of the law of Mofes; and to eradicate the "religion of their fathers and forefathers,

"On this account, I feel myself neceffitated to ❝caution the congregation in general, that no one do "fend, or allow to be fent, any child, whether male " or female, to this or any such school, established "by ftrangers to our religion; nor likewife into any "Sunday School of that nature.

"All fuch perfons, therefore, who shall act con"trary to this prohibition, whether male or female, "will be confidered as if they had themselves for"faken their religion, and been baptized; and shall "lose all title to the name of Jews, and forfeit all "claims on the congregation, both in life and death.

"Every one who feareth God, is hereby reminded

of his duty to warn every one who may be igno❝rant of these circumftances, and acquaint him "thereof, that he may escape the fnare laid to 66 entangle him. Thus may we hope to see the days "when the name of the only God will be hallowed, " and the Lord will be one, and his name one! " Amen.".

Where the conduct of an individual, or of a society, is open, reasonable, and dignified by dependance upon God, there is ftrong prefumption that the bleffing of the Almighty will attend it. No events have occurred to bring into question this reasonable and dignified conduct of THE REV. DR. SOLOMON HIRSCHEL, THE PRESIDING RABBI OF THE GERMAN JEWS IN LONDON. I honour, I greatly re

fpect