trollable energy in the pursuit of knowledge, such is their general character. They are an educated and highly intellectual people. A nation which has a learned language, besides the vernacular dialect, an extensive literature in this language, and which studies that language almost universally, such a nation must be regarded as an educated and intellectual people."

Christians, again, almost universally regard them simply as usurers; as money-loving to a degree unknown among other nations. Much of this estimate is the effect of hereditary prejudice. Amongst the Jews are many examples of noblest liberality and benevolence. Their charitable institutions, amounting to more than forty in London alone, rebut the falsehood, whilst the mammon-worshipping of professing Christians might well make them pause and reflect on the admonition, "Pull out the beam out of thine own eye."

The Jews have been, and are still, industrious in the acquirement of wealth; and we may easily account for their intense pursuit of it, which is affirmed to have characterised them. All other means of acquiring a transitory safety in Christian countries, save wealth wherewith to purchase it, were denied them. Every avenue by which their Gentile neighbours could obtain influence, or power, or respect, was closed against them. All those means were employed by their oppressors which, in any other nation, would have been the death of a noble ambition; every kind of profession was prohibited, their minds were forced, as far as minds can be forced, into one narrow channel; and then, because the stream necessarily flowed more deeply, their oppressors turned upon them, branded them as usurers, made their pursuit-forced and necessary as it was, as their only earthly means of safety-a proverbial reproach. Oppression made them what they were. For centuries her heavy hand pressed almost to crushing upon them; and it is a marvel greater than the history of any other nation can display, that all nobleness has not long since fled, and that the abject spirit of a timid slave, wasting and pining in the isolation of his soul from all noble things, has not taken possession of this Heaven-preserved, and therefore indestructible race.

Again; Christians often judge the nation from a few. They have been deceived perhaps; they have met with dishonesty; they have heard of more; and from this circumstance they judge and condemn a nation. As just would it be to condemn our own countrymen by the immoral and dishonest characters which abound. The Jews are a moral people. Vices, which are, alas! too common amongst ourselves, are seldom known amongst them; and we might quote the testimony of one who knows them well, to show, that, where they live in greatest numbers dwelling together, less mingling with their Gentile neighbours, they present the example of as pure a morality as any other people on the face of the earth. We have thought it right to bear this testimony; for we believe it is true. Yet Ichabod is written on Israel. Their glory is departed. The storm-cloud is over them still. The dark night of the captive hushes their joy.-From Reynolds' Lectures on the Jews.

GLEANINGS.

LET Christians be but faithful, conscientious, and consistent, their piety will not fall unheeded before the eye of the Jew. It is recorded of Mr. Moritz, a Christian Jew, employed by the London Society as a missionary at Hamburg, that when he first went to London, before his conversion, he lived at the house of a Jewess. On Saturday, instead of going to the synagogue, he spent the whole day in going about sight-seeing. Sunday came, and he was astonished at the quietness of the town. That the shops should be shut, amazed him greatly. Inquiring of his landlady, she explained: "The English are a God-fearing people: if we had kept our Sabbath as they keep theirs, Messiah would have come long ago." The reply sunk deep into his heart; up to this time, he had thought that Christians were idolaters. From that day, he never lost the impression which their Sabbathkeeping made.

5.

A converted Israelite thus writes:

My dear people having lost sight of the glorious Gospel, the glad tidings of salvation, through the all-atoning sacrifice of the Messiah, and still clinging to the holy, just, and good law, which, while allsufficient to condemn, is neither able to pardon the guilty, nor to cleanse the polluted conscience of the sinner, have found by sad experience, the force of that declaration of God's holy word: The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear?' Prov. xvii. 14. Hence, they are without spiritual consolation, under affliction, and without a joyful hope, in the all-important hour of death. For seven long years, whilst officiating rabbi in the synagogue, it was my painful lot to attend the sick and the dying: and, whilst I found all of them sensible of their being sinners, exposed to the wrath of Almighty God, I never found one saying, like good old Simeon, Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!' Oh! how painful the scene of a dying sinner, without the hope of salvation! How often did it bring to mind the following affecting story, which I had frequently read in the Talmud.

6

"When Rabbi Jochanan Ben Zachai was sick, and his disciples saw him weep, they said: 'Thou light of Israel, the right hand pillar, the strong hammer, why dost thou weep?' He answered, 'If they were carrying me before a king of flesh and blood, who is here to-day, and to-morrow in the grave: if he were angry with me, his anger would not last for ever: if he put me in bondage, his bondage would not be everlasting: if he condemned me to death, that death would not be eternal: him I could soothe with words: and bribe with riches yet, even in these circumstances, I should weep. But, now, I am going before the King of kings, the only blessed God, who liveth for ever and ever; if he be angry with me, his anger will last for ever; if he put me in bondage, his bondage will be everlasting; if he con

demn me to death, that death will be eternal; Him I cannot soothe with words, or bribe with riches. When, besides, there are before me two ways: the one to hell, the other to Paradise, and I know not to which they are carrying me, should I not weep?"" Talmud Berachoth, fol. ii. col. 12.

INTELLIGENCE.

BRITISH SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE
GOSPEL AMONG THE JEWS.

MISSIONARIES' JOURNALS.

From Mr. S.'s Journal, Frankfort.

Received a visit from Mrs. W., from G—. I spoke with her about the defectiveness of Judaism, and the blessings which are in Christ. She was not a little surprised at my calling Christ the "Holy One of Israel," in whom alone the Jews can be blest. She seemed impressed by what I said, and requested me to call on her at G

My nephew, -, came to see me. He came from Hamburg baths, and was on his way to Wiesbaden and Coblentz, in his profession as an artist. He was with me for a day, and I directed his thoughts to Christ. I know the difficulty there would be in my nephew's turning to the Saviour, through his fear of disobeying his mother so long as she remains opposed, yet I trust his heart is not wholly shut against the truth. May I be so happy as to find good ground in which to sow the seed of the kingdom in my native place, when I make my journey into Bavaria !

Again I received a visit from Mrs. W., from G- ; she remarked that she would not have the least objection to give her daughter in marriage to Christians, but she herself would never change her religion. This remark gave rise to a long conversation. May the Lord add his blessing!

and his wife, an

Spoke with the Jewish paper-merchant, Oaged couple, who said they could not believe that Christ was the Son of God, and asked me conscientiously to tell them if I believed it myself. After having assured them I did, I asked them how they understood the second Psalm, on the supposition that the Messiah was not to be the Son of God? They answered by shrugging their shoulders. We had a long conversation, in which Mr. Othe importance of studying the Scriptures.

Next, I received a visit from the Polish Jew A-

acknowledged

and his wife.

in a

I gave him a Hebrew Bible, advising him to read it without prejudice. I showed him how grievously the Jews are mistaken in regard to the Messiah, he being no other than Jesus of Nazareth. A- ―― was deeply moved; he became pale, and said, "It is just as if one, who deep sleep, should receive a blow on his head, and awake suddenly." On my journey to G- as well as at the place itself, I had many opportunities of proclaiming the word of God. One Jew, a shoemaker from Sshowed much attention to the truth, and lamented that he could not act freely, because of his relations, on whom he depended. I remonstrated with him, and invited him to call on me at Frankfort.

From Mr. L.'s Journal.

My first visit to-day was to Mrs. A., with whom I had a long and pleasing interview. After some conversation on the more general topics of religion, she closed her door, and in a private and confidential way began to ask me many questions, bearing on the subject of her belief. She began with this :

"Do you consider Mr. M— a Jew, now he is turned?" I answered in the affirmative.

"Is it possible, then, to continue in the customs of the fathers, while believing in the Lord Jesus Christ?"

"In order to embrace Christianity, is it quite needful to be publicly baptized ?"

To these queries I gave such replies as to lead her to the conviction that all external observances of the Jewish religion are now incapable of giving peace to an awakened mind, and can therefore be of no saving import, and if observed at all, it could only be as indifferent customs; because as to their religious character, the precepts of Moses cannot now, and in a land of captivity, be fully kept. While, on the other hand, the blood of Jesus is the only and sufficient atonement for sin, and He alone is our "faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God." At the same time, as this is the necessary fulfilment of the law of Moses, no one can be truly a Jew without faith in "the Lamb of God," the Redeemer of Israel.

To all this she yielded full assent, and then declared, in express terms, her firm belief in Jesus as the true Messiah, the only Saviour, and added, "If the law and prophets be true, the New Testament is true also; they must stand or fall together!" She also expressed her deep indignation at the conduct of the wise men, in concealing these things from the people, thus keeping from them the knowledge of their Redeemer. But I showed her that the wise and prudent were themselves deceived by the teaching of others, and thus "the blind lead the blind" from age to age.

My chief object with her now is to instruct her more fully in the way of a sinner's salvation by faith in Him whom she already confesses with her lips. May the Spirit of God seal his word on her heart, and lead her to life eternal!

Engaged in conversation with Mr.

whose friendly reception

gave me an opportunity of plainly applying the truth to him.

"I often think," said he, "that, if it please God, the time will come, that I shall have a little independent fortune; then I shall be more religious."

I replied, "The grounds of a certain man brought forth plentifully, and he thought within himself, What shall I do? for I have not room for my fruits and my goods." I repeated the parable to the end, and said, "Does not this teach you to be in earnest now, to possess that true faith, that will prepare you for an enduring inheritance?"

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But," replied Mr.

our rabbis are for ever teaching us, that, if we are charitable, we shall be rewarded with eternal life; and how can we be charitable without wealth?"

"You have often admitted that God looketh at the heart."

"He does: but, if a poor man wants five shillings to pay his rent,

and I can give him but a farthing, and Rothschild gives him a sovereign, which will do the poor man most good?"

66

It is not the largest gift, which is most acceptable in the eyes of God," I replied. "If this were the case, the rich would be more likely to be saved than the poor; but it is far from being so."

I could not, however, turn him from the great desire of his heartto be rich, that he might leave behind him, at least, one charitable action.

We had interesting conversation on other subjects: in the course of which, he told me that he had received my letter, (I had recently addressed a long letter to him on a former subject of discussion,) and that he had lent it to a cousin of his. Who can tell what may result from this simple effort to spread the truth, if it be accompanied by God's blessing? Lord! work as thou wilt, but, let the praise be

thine!

Met Mr.

From Mr. S.'s Journal.

who complains about his miserable state, saying, "The more I endeavour to escape from the wrath of God, the more I find myself a sinner against Him." I went with him to his home, and had, with him, a long conversation about redemption through the blood of Christ. I encouraged him to read the Holy Scriptures, and to pray like the Psalmist, Psa. cxix. 18. He, as well as his family, listened with great attention. I said, "If you are condemned by the law, flee to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." He appeared to derive much satisfaction from this delightful conversation, and begged me to visit him twice a week by night, which I promised to do. My heart was filled with joy to find him, who was once an unbeliever, now trembling and anxious to flee from the wrath of God."

To-day, I was led to Mr.

Both he and his wife received me in a friendly manner. I found there, two young Israelites from Russia, with whom I had a long discourse upon the errors of the Talmud, in which they agreed with me. They told me that a society. of respectable and learned young Israelites, about thirty in number, has been formed in a city in Russia, who, from time to time, assemble in a place of the greatest secrecy, and search the Holy Scriptures with respect to the coming of the Messiah. It originated with two young men of the house of Israel, who had had intercourse with some missionaries in Warsaw, and when they returned home, they formed this Society. When the young men, with whom I was conversing, left the place, the Society had advanced so far as to agree, unanimously, that the Talmud was false, and that the Messiah must have come. But they were not convinced whether Jesus was the predicted Messiah, or not. They said that the great difficulty was, to ascribe to Jesus the Divine nature.

Then, I was privileged to preach to them Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. They appeared satisfied by my arguments, and asked for some tracts.

Visited Mr. and Mrs. Both received me kindly. Mrs. and her daughter immediately opened their Bible, and requested me to read to them a portion as usual. After a long conversation, Mrs.

said, When we look upon the Christian dispensation, we see.