present scope. But the second of the parables above quoted will point the direction of

the final conclusions at which Rabbinism arrived. It is not, as in the Gospel, pardon and

peace, but labour with the "may be" of reward. As for the "after death," paradise, hell,

the resurrection, and the judgment, voices are more discordant than ever, opinions more

unscriptural, and descriptions more repulsively fabulous. This is not the place farther to

trace the doctrinal views of the Rabbis, to attempt to arrange and to follow them up.

Work-righteousness and study of the law are the surest key to heaven. There is a kind

of purgation, if not of purgatory, after death. Some seem even to have held the

annihilation of the wicked. Taking the widest and most generous views of the Rabbis,

they may be thus summed up: All Israel have share in the world to come; the pious

among the Gentiles also have part in it. Only the perfectly j st enter at once into

u

paradise; all the rest pass through a period of purification and perfection, variously

lasting, up to one year. But notorious breakers of the law, and especially apostates from

the Jewish faith, and heretics, have no hope whatever, either here or hereafter! Such is

the last word which the synagogue has to say to mankind.

Not thus are we taught by the Messiah, the King of the Jews. If we learn our loss, we

also learn that "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lo st." Our

righteousness is that freely bestowed on us by Him "Who was wounded for our

transgressions and bruised for our iniquities." "With His stripes we are healed." The law

which we obey is that which He has put within our hearts, by which we become temples

of the Holy Ghost. "The Dayspring from on high hath visited us" through the tender

mercy of our God. The Gospel hath brought life and immortality to light, for we know

Whom we have believed; and "perfect love casteth out fear." Not even the problems of

sickness, sorrow, suffering, and death are unnoticed. "Weeping may endure for a night,

but joy cometh in the morning." The tears of earth's night hang as dewdrops on flower

and tree, presently to sparkle like diamonds in the morning sun. For, in that night of

nights has Christ mingled the sweat of human toil and sorrow with the precious blood of

His agony, and made it drop on earth as sweet balsam to heal its wounds, to soothe its

sorrows, and to take away its death.