bodies. The Perooshim (Pharisees), and Chasidim (Pious). Each of these possesses two synagogues, and is governed by a Chief Rabbi.

"Generally speaking, the Jews in the Holy City are learned men, whose chief occupation consists in studying Jewish writings. In fact, they are maintained on that account and for that purpose by the Jews over the whole world. Money is sent to Jerusalem from all quarters of the globe, and is divided among all according to established laws and regulations.

"The various synagogues send also their messengers from time to time, abroad to collect money. There are thirty-six Jewish colleges in Jerusalem, in which the professors who teach and the students who learn are paid. These colleges are maintained by certain funds which hav been left by pious Jews for that purpose.

"On this account few Jews in Jerusalem follow any trade, except those without which the Jewish community could not exist, as bakers, butchers, and grocers; for according to their law they must purchase their bread, meat, and various other articles of Jews.

"Having less care for the things of this world, they spend much time in devotional duties. They rise at midnight to perform the prayer appointed for that time.

"Wrapt in their talith (veil), and with dust upon their foreheads, they prostrate themselves on the ground, commencing their midnight devotion by a confession of sins, followed by a chapter from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, and five elegies on account of their dispersion, captivity, and the destruction of the Temple and the Holy City. Then they arise and say,

'Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.' After which they read several Psalms, and offer up prayer for the coming of the Messiah. In one of these prayers, the following remarkable passage occurs :

"In mercy, Lord, thy people's prayer attend;
Grant his desire to mourning Israel.

O shield of Abraham, our Redeemer send,
And call his glorious name Immanuel.'

"From which it is clear that they refer (Isaiah vii. 14) to the Messiah.

"When they have finished their midnight prayer, they begin reading Rabbinical books till daybreak, when they read the usual morning prayers. About three, they have their afternoon service, and when the stars appear on the horizon, their evening service.

"In each synagogue, towards the east is a shrine, called by the Jews 'the Holy Ark,' where they keep copies of the law written upon long rolls of parchment, without points and accents. These five books of Moses are divided into fifty-four sections, called by the Jews, Parashoth. Each section is again subdivided into seven parts. One section of the law is read as the first lesson every Sabbath-day in the following manner.

"At a certain part of the morning prayer the curtain which hangs before the ark is drawn aside, and the door opened, so that the congregation have a full view of the book of the law; upon seeing which they exclaim, And when the ark set forward, Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered, and

let them that hate thee flee before thee. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.'

"Then some one takes the roll of the law out of the ark, gives it into the hand of the reader, whilst he says, 'Blessed be he who gave the law to his people Israel. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Jehovah. Our God is one: our Lord is great: Holy and Reverend is his name.' The reader replies, Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.'

"Then the whole congregation join in saying, Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, for all that is in heaven and on earth is thine: thine is the kingdom, and thou art exalted. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and bow down at his footstool, for he is holy: exalt the Lord our God, and bow down at his footstool, for holy is the Lord our God.'

then taken to the

"The roll of the law is reading-desk, which is in the midst of the synagogue and there unfolded. Seven of the congregation are successively called upon to approach the reading-desk, to hear the words of the law in this order. First, a Cohen, that is a son of Aaron, then a Levite, next any Israelite. The reader calls upon the Cohen to approach, in these words :

"God will help, protect, and save all that trust in him, and let us say, Amen. Ascribe ye power unto our God, and give honour to the law. Cohen, draw nigh! Arise N., son of N. Blessed is he who has given his law to his people Israel in holiness. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of

the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes. The Lord will give strength to his people: the Lord will bless his people with peace. The way of God is perfect : the word of the Lord is tried: he is a shield to all those that trust in him.'

"Upon which the congregation replies, And, therefore, ye that cleave to the Lord your God are alive, every one of you, this day.'

6

"The Cohen then draws nigh to the roll, and places himself on the right of the reader, who points out to him the beginning of the lesson, which the Cohen touches with the fringes of his veil, then kisses the fringes, and says,• Bless ye the Lord, who is for ever blessed.' "The congregation replies, Blessed be thou O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast chosen us above all nations and given us thy law blessed art thou, O Lord, the giver of the law.'

"The reader begins now to read one part of the section to the Cohen; when this is done, the roll is shut, and the Cohen says:—

"Blessed art thou, O Lord, our God, King of the universe, who hast given us the law, and planted among us eternal life; blessed art thou, O Lord, giver of the law.' In the same way the other six who have been called approach, and hear the law.

"Fifty-four portions of the other books of the Bible have likewise been selected, one of which is read every Sabbath-day as the second lesson, after the reading of the law; then the roll is placed again in the ark."

Interesting as this account is, the young

believer in Jesus cannot help asking, where is the sin offering? No daily sacrifice is offered now. No yearly sacrifice on the great day of atonement. In their own city, in their own land: oh, where are Israel's offerings? Alas! they have neither altar nor offering, neither temple nor priest. They know not the true atonement-the "Great High Priest"-but year after year, in sadness of heart, using many prayers, observing many sacred days, entreating God to send redemption; these descendants of Abraham, beneath oppression and sorrow, in want and disease, remain and die unhelped and unredeemed!

WHAT SEEKEST THOU?

If it were given to thy soul to wander Free o'er the earth as doth a winged bird, 'Mid ruins of fair cities old to ponder,

On fields renown'd to have thy spirit stirr'd,

Where would 'st thou fly?-To seek all beautiful
That make glad the high places of the earth, [things
Where birds of Paradise flit on radiant wings
And rainbow streams in emerald woods have birth?
To rich Cashmere, that shineth forth in story,
With sunny island and rich fountain's play?
To old Cathay, that unknown realm whose glory
Streams like a sunbeam in the far-away?

Wouldest thou find the land of golden treasure,
The El Dorado told of long ago,

Sought for o'er tracts and spaces without measure,
But which man's eye was never given to know?
"Oh not these shadowy regions half unreal,
From memories shap'd of better things gone by,
These yearnings of man's soul for the ideal,
My spirit's vehement thirst could satisfy!