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Here then are three great events hastening to their period; the extinction of the Papal dominion; the subversion of the Mahomedan power ; and "the accomplishment of the divine indig"nation against the holy people," or the return of the people of Israel" to seek the Lord their God, and David their king.”

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Our blessed Saviour has not left an event of this importance without notice. "The Jews," saith he, "shall be led away captive into all "nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down "of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles "be fulfilled." Luke xxi. 24. What these "TIMES of the Gentiles" are, our Lord has explained in his subsequent Revelation to St. John. "The court which is without the temple "is given unto the Gentiles; and the holy city "shall they tread under foot FORTY and Two "MONTHS;" or, in prophetical language, at a day for a year 1260 years. Rev. xi. 2.

The Apostle Paul hath also recorded this event. "I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, that blindness, in

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part, is happened to ISRAEL, until the fulness "of the Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel "shall be saved." Rom. xi. 25. The fulness of time for the conversion of the Gentiles will be come in, when the Mahomedan and Papal ob-)

structions are removed. Such events as the fall of the Pope in the West, and of Mahomed in the East, both of whom persecuted the Jews to death, will probably be the means of awakening the Jews to consider the evidences of that Religion which predicted the rise and fall of both.

But the grand prophecy of the Apostle Paul on this subject, is that which respects the consequence of the conversion of the Jews." The "receiving of the Jews," saith he, "What shall "it be to the world, but LIFE FROM THE DEAD?” Rom. xi. 15. Dispersed as they are in all countries, and speaking the languages of all countries, they will form a body of preachers ready prepared; and they need only say,

Behold the Scriptures of God, in our pos "session; read our History there, as foretold "three thousand years ago, and read the events "in the annals of nations. We are witnesses "to the world, and the world to us. Let the "whole race of mankind unite and examine the "fact."-"All ye inhabitants of the world, "and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when the "Lord lifteth up an ENSIGN on the mountains,

and when he bloweth a TRUMPET, hear ye." Isaiah xviii. 3:-Thus will their preaching be to the world "LIFE from the DEAD."

But if the conversion of Israel is to take

place when the Papal and Mahomedan powers have fallen, (and who does not see that these events are near at hand?) it might be expected that some signs of conciliation between Jews and Christians would now begin to be visible. And is not this the fact? Christians in all countries begin to consider, that "the indigna"tion against the holy people" is nearly accomplished. Many events declare it. The indignation of man is relaxing. The prophecies have been fulfilled regarding it. The GREAT CRIME at CALVARY has been punished by all nations: and we now hear the words of the Prophet addressing us, "Comfort ye, comfort, ye my people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and CRY unto her, that "her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity "is pardoned." Isaiah xl. 1. This is the divine command. And behold Christians begin now, for the first time, "to speak comfortably to Jerusalem."

While the author was in the East, the state of the Jews, who are dispersed in different countries, frequently occupied his thoughts. He had heard that they existed in distinct colonies in certain parts of India; that some of

them had arrived long before the Christian Era, and had remained in the midst of the Hindoos, to this time, a distinct and separate people, persecuted by the native princes, from age to age, and yet not destroyed; "burning like the bush "of Moses, and not consumed ;" and he had a strong desire" to turn aside and see this great

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sight." His mind was impressed with the conviction that their preservation, in such a variety of regions, and under such a diversity of circumstances, could be only effected by the interposition of the Divine PROVIDENCE, which reserved them, thus distinct, for some special and important purpose. And since the period of time for the accomplishment of this purpose was considered by many to be fast approaching, he wished to hear the sentiments of the Jews from their own lips, and to learn their actual impressions, as to their present circumstances and future hopes.

In his Memorial respecting the Syrian Christians, presented to Marquis Wellesley, the Author also noticed the existence of an ancient colony of Jews on the coast of Malabar, particularly at Cochin; and as this place had recently become a part of the British Empire, by conquest from the Dutch, Lord William Bentinck, then Governor of Madras, who had received letters

from the Supreme Government, was pleased to direct the civil officer, who had charge of the department of Cochin,* to afford him every aid in the prosecution of his Researches. His first Tour to Cochin was in November, 1806, and he remained in the country till February, 1807. He again visited it in January, 1808. He has only

room, in this present Work, to introduce a few notes from his Journal.

Cochin, Feb. 4, 1807.

'I have been now in Cochin, or its vicinity, for upwards of two months, and have got well acquainted with the. Jews. They do not live in the city of Cochin, but in a town about a mile distant from it, called Mattachery, and Jews'-Town. It is almost wholly inhabited by the Jews, who have two respectable Synagogues. Among them are some very intelligent men, who are not ignorant of the history of nations. There are also Jews here from remote parts of Asia, so that this is the fountain of intelligence concerning that people in the East; there being constant communication by ships with the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the mouths of the Indus. The resident Jews are divided into two classes, called the Jerusalem or White Jews; and the ancient or Black

*Thomas Flower, Esq.

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