knowledge which could have been acquired from it.  Indeed, I am convinced we are often in error about interruptions.  We have been interrupted; in what?—­in the fulfilment of our duty?  That cannot be; but in the prosecution of our favorite plan.  If the interruption was beyond our control, it altered our duty, but could not interrupt it.  Duty is the right course at a given time, and under given circumstances.

A subject, which has of late been very interesting to me, is that of the Jews.  I am convinced that much, very much, is to be done for them by Christians, and for Christians by them; but I think the interest excited in their behalf, in the world at large, is, in many cases, not according to knowledge.  An historical view of their points of contact with the professing Christian world, has long been on my mind; and I think it needs to be drawn by an independent hand,—­in short, by a Friend.  That “He that scattered Israel will gather him, and feed him as a shepherd doth his flock,” is confessed now on all sides.  The when, the where, and the how, are variously viewed.  But what will He gather them to? is a question not enough thought of.  One wishes them to be gathered to the Church of England, another to the Church of Scotland; but I am persuaded their gathering must be to the primitive Christian faith.  I say not to Friends; although I hold the principles of Friends to be the principles of primitive Christianity.  For I do think a vast distinction is to be made between the principles of truth professed by Friends, and the particular line of action, as a body, into which they have been led, (I doubt not by the truth,) under the circumstances in which they were placed.  My belief is, that the Jews are to be gathered to none but a Church built “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, of which Jesus Christ himself is the chief corner-stone;” and that to such a Church they are to be gathered immediately and instrumentally, by the Spirit of God himself.  A view of the manner in which they have been regarded and treated by professing Christians from the Christian era to the present time, and of their own feelings towards Christians and Christianity, if well drawn, would be valuable and useful.

This interest in the Jews led Eliza to devote much, labor, during several years, in collecting information relating to their history since the Christian era.  Had her life been spared, she would probably have made some defined use of the large mass of material collected, which, whilst valuable as an evidence of deep research, is not sufficiently digested to be generally useful.

7th Mo. 3d.  This evening I have finished copying the foregoing scraps, previously on sheets, into this book, that they may yet speak to me, in days to come, of His manifold mercies, whose “candle has ofttimes shone round about me,” and “whose favor has made me glad.”

7th Mo. 5th.  I desire gratefully