IGG 
for his learned works. I would also say, with reference to the Jews, 
that, if they have not shown a natural capacity for spiritual religion, 
they have, at any rate, displayed a great natural capacity in other 
respects. I would add, with regard to that race, that if we want 
to understand why they became the chosen people of God, we have 
only to look round at the present day and see what they have 
become amongst ourselves. When we remember that it was only as 
yesterday that one of those people was directing the destinies of this 
country, and when we find so many of this scattered race occupying positions 
of great influence and control in so many other countries of the world, 
I say that we have at this moment evidence of the superior capacity of 
the Jewish people, if they had chosen to use it in the light in which God 
had given it to them. But they have thrown God spiritually aside, and 
they have been thrown over by God themselves; but this has not been 
for any want of natural capacity, but rather through making too much 
use of their natural capacity, and forgetting their dependence on God. 
Kev. H. G. Tomkins. — My reply lo what has been said must be 
chiefly by way of congratulation on having heard so much, since I sat down, 
from so many distinguished sources. I have only to defend myself 
against the imputation of falsifying what St. Paul says about Melchizedek. 
It is true that St. Paul speaks of Melchizedek as King of Eighteous- 
ness and King of Peace, but not in the first instance, for it was 
notorious that Salem was the place of which he was King ; and in 
a similar way St. Paul says he was King of Eighteousness ; but that 
does not falsify the primary use of the word “ Zedek,” and therefore it is not 
at all illogical for a Christian man to suppose that “ Zedek,” as a divine 
attribute, may have been compounded in the name of Melchizedek, just as 
Salem, which does mean peace in the abstract sense, was yet the name of 
a place, and was adopted by St. Paul in a secondary manner for his 
argument. No doubt there are many other points one might follow up 
with the greatest interest, such as “ Aiijeh” and “Og,” which may have 
meant the crooked man ; but I am not responsible for this. I can only add 
that what has been said has been extremely interesting. 
The meeting was then adjourned. 
ADDITIONAL EEMAKKS BY THE AUTHOE. 
Since the foregoing discussion took place I have received from Professor 
Maspero a most obliging and interesting letter, of which the former part 
consists of critical observations on my paper. M. Maspero writes : — 
Boulaq, Ze 21 Mai , 1882. 
Monsieur, — Vous m’excuserez si je n’ai pas r4pondu plus tot a votre 
aimable lettre : les evenements politiques sont venus compliquer mes occu- 
pations journalim’es et m’enlever le peu de temps dontje disposais. Je 
