The Missions. [UNDER the pressure of various engagements, a few of the Missionary Journals were handed to a young friend, for arrangement and abridgment. They were returned with the accompanying prefatory remarks, which may commend themselves to those who, like himself, are giving their morning thoughts to the cause of Israel.-ED.] On reading the reports of some of the London Missionaries, and marking the vicissitudes of a Missionary's life, with its hopes and its fears; on reviewing, now his most sanguine hours, and now his seemingly disappointed hopes, our reflections were upon the Divine nature in its competent desire, as it assists and cheers the labourer on; and we heard, as it were, a voice saying to ourselves and in their hearing, "Trust only in God." "Man's extremity (it has been said, and deserves to be often repeated) is God's opportunity." As we turn our eyes upon the countenances of men, we feel that, though they are often the indices of the hidden nature, there are changes passing over them which nought but a self-consciousness can know; and when we remembered that troubles unseen may be greater than those which are discerned-and that this is especially the case in a Christian's walk-we thought, and truly, how much deeper must be the concern of those whose avocation, from dawn till dusk, is the care of souls, and who, in opposition to the spirit of Cain, strive to be the "keepers of their brethren." We seem daily to experience, that where there is an unseen burden, there is also an invisible and potent Hand-that God is a present helpthat He lightens the darkness of all who trust in Him. Though the proud may despise it, the work of an evangelist is not a mean one. Though some may make light of a Missionary's labour, still does he deserve a tear, a thought, a smile-a prayer on his behalf from those who otherwise aid him not. In his approaches to the seed of Abraham, does he meet with less difficulty than he would experience with other tongues and tribes? Nevertheless, there are those that seek the Saviour's aid and guidance for him, and who would refresh and do him good; and it is by these and other means that God regards and supplies all his wants, according to his need. All is not cloud, all is not sun, that spreads above us; How often the Missionary speaks to the "tribes of the wandering foot!" How frequently it is the case that a few interviews are granted, which seem auspicious, and then the sail of the outward-bound emigrantship is lost, with its precious freight, on the hazed horizon,—or the pedestrian merchant's feet but for a day echo in the town, and then for years are heard no more. Thus he knows not the end of his labours-and tidings seldom come to tell him of the death or life, the weal or woe, of those with whom he has communed. As roots of life lie 'neath the drifted snow, And it shall be reaped, though not by you, And as we read Mr. GELLERT's report, it made us again reflect upon the light of the countenance of God, and how that when the spirits of His servants may be cast down within them, He has encouragement in store,and how that by manifestations of Himself which they appreciate, of which the world is unworthy, He revives and cheers them: A young Jewess, named Rosy, of whom I made favourable mention last year, from then until the other day, seemed lost to my view. On her first meeting me, she manifested her gratitude for the New Testament and books which on that occasion I gave her, and which she seems to have read very diligently, not regarding the open dislike of her present master and mistress to her so doing. Having no reason to doubt the sincerity of her expressions, as they are not affected by any unworthy motive, I was very satisfied with them. The following deserves mention, as it not only affords me an insight into the spiritual state of her mind, but even evidences to me the influence of this spiritual condition on her daily occupation, which may indeed be considered as the first visible fruit produced by the Gospel, being that of peace and consolation to the mind by the reading of the simple Word of God. I asked her whether she believed the New Testament to be a divine book? if so, what were her reasons for such be lief? Upon which she replied, "If it were not a Divine book, it could not certainly afford me consolation and peace upon the most unlucky and gloomy days," at which time she particularly made use of it. She then poured her heart out to me about her temporal concerns, manifesting at every pause sincerity, patience, and hope in that grace which will surely cause all to work for her best. I learn, that when in Berlin she was persuaded by her cousin, a Christian Jewess, to attend Protestant churches. I trust that the Word to which she has listened, both from my lips and from men of God in the fatherland, will not return until it has pervaded her soul and mind, and made her able to risk all for the unsearchable riches of Christ. And we would add She walks, perchance, as does her guide, within sequestered ways. And no romantic incident this narrative could raise, Truth no adornment needs; the name of God, the voice of love, And the thought that angels can rejoice in heaven above With us below-that truth. through Christ, makes constant way, Shall glast our heart, shall give us strength beyond the day. The following instances derive increased interest from the fact that they have occurred among Jews in LONDON, and of a class not so accessible as those in more dependent circumstances: Mr. BRUNNER thus recommends to notice the case of Mr. L- a merchant from Austria, with whom, he says, "I have been in the habit of intercourse for the last two years, on each occasion of his visit to this country. Being an intelligent and well-educated Jew, his opinions on religion were to a certain degree correct; but, while he was willing to admit all the rabbinical errors of Judaism, he excluded from his faith all those great and positive truths which point to the Gospel as the end and perfection of Judaism. In fact, Mr. L's views were rationalistic. He maintained that the moral code of the Bible was the only part by which man can make himself acceptable to his Maker, and secure his future salvation; and he was inclined to believe that the ceremonial part of the Old Testament-such as sacrifices, &c.—were not instituted by the Lord, as essential at the time, and typical of the great sacrifice which was to take away the sins of the world; but that they were merely customs borrowed from anterior or Egyptian habits, engrafted by Moses into his economy, and rendered subservient to the true service and worship of Jehovah. I often argued with Mr. L- from the Bible, and appealed to those auxiliary testimonies which history bears to the supernatural mission of Christ, and the divinity of Christianity; but, above all, I endeavoured always to awaken within him a sense of his guilty and depraved nature, and of the only remedy provided in the Gospel. Mr. L was never inclined to accord to our Saviour such a character as we claim for Him, and did not think that we needed a reconciliation or atonement, as the Gospel admonishes every one to believe. However, his state of mind did not di-courage me from preaching to him on every occasion until I succeeded in awakening some degree of earnestness within him about those things that appertain to his eternal peace, and he began to read the New Testament, and the other books I supplied him with, in a different spirit, not as one who would merely seek something for cavilling, but with a sincere desire to ascertain whether those things be so, and to arrive at the truth, whatever it may be, that his soul may be settled and quieted therein. From this period I had no more to combat disbelief and rationalism, but rather to do to him the part of Philip to the eunuch, and to lead him through his difficult way, explaining to hin questions and apparent contradictions, and leaving with him some new tract which I recommended to his diligent reading while abroad. In my recent interview with him, I have noticed a decided change in his state of mind, clearly indicating that work of grace which the Gospel operates within the heart of the sinner when his soul is awakened by the Holy Spirit to a lively sense of its guiltiness, and its need of a Saviour. Mr. Lto me with great reverence and earnestness of the truths of the Gospel, and of the person of Christ observing that he did, during the time he was at home, read at his leisure diligently the Old and New Testaments, and that his views on the subject were now different to what they always had been. What is most encouraging in his case, is his awaked sense of his guilty state He said that he never felt himself so much a sinner, and that his conscience was never so sensible to this matter, as since his reading the New Testament, and that he must therefore come to the conclusion, that what the Gospel teaches of Jesus is true-namely, that He was the true Messiah, who was to bruise the serpent's head, and be Himself the atonement for the sins of the world. Now, when it is borne in mind that these sentiments were uttered by one who is spoke rich in the things of this world, and has no earthly inducement to express to the missionary feelings that he does not realise, are we not justified to conclude that our work is making progress among the Jews? Mr L- will, while in England, attend the Christian service; and I trust that his fath will be strengthened by a blessing on the means of gracc. Another case, confirming my statement as regards the progress of our work, is that of Mr. E-, an orthodox Jew, with whom I have also been acquainted for the last twelve months. This individual is the author of several works in Jewish rabbinical literature, and from his position as a learned Jew, it was natural that I found him, at my first acquaintance, possessing a perfect knowledge of the system and teaching of Christianity. He was always opposed to the truth, and persevered in resisting my efforts to bring conviction to his mind. His argument was, that Judaism was unchangeable, and that its destiny was to bring ultimately all nations under its sway. As to the sinfulness of human nature, and the necessity of a redemption, he pleaded always the suffciency of good works and self-righteousness; and affirmed that, although the Jews had now no sacrifices and no means to atone for their sins, their prayers, and fastings, and praisegivings would supply the place of sacrifices and burnt-offerings, as David and Isaiah have declared. In my recent intercourse with him, however, I found that the light of the truth had begun to shine upon his mind, and that he now reads the New Testament with interest, and the deepest concern of soul. He first discovered that the time of the Messiah's advent was past, by which he was led to a serious examination of the Old Testament Scriptures, and his mind having been satisfied on that point, it is now turned towards the Gospel, and he is anxiously seeking in Jesus the promised Hope of Israel. I have frequent intercourse with this interesting individual, and watch his case with the greatest anxiety, as his decided conversion and faith might prove a blessing to many of his Jewish brethren and acquaintances. Mr. GINSBURG, of MULHOUSE, reports to us the conversion of three individuals, a Jewish husband and wite, and a youthful brother of the latter; and the baptism of the two former, with their children. In each case, no sooner was the design of the convert known, than efforts, multiform and strenuous, were put forth to frustrate their intentions, not only by a cruel persecution, but by stratagem and by bribes : The whole community seemed stirred. It was a costly and a sacrificing zeal; and were it not that it had been false, would shame many a so-called Christian, who sees one by one stray from the right communion with but little or no emotion, while of such an apostle could not write without weeping. But with regard to the three before us, it seems that nothing could separate them from the love of God. The ordinance of baptism was first received in the presence of a small assembly by the wife, together with her children. Her brother, of eigh teen years, at the time of the benediction being pronounced upon the youngest child, rose before the little gathering, and expressed his longing anticipations of the time when the like should be done unto himself. The husband was afterwards baptised, with his elder son, eleven years of age, in the French church, which was crowded to excess, multitudes of Jews and Jewesses waiting, both within and without the structure, to see the convert retire. The sermon, it is believed, made a favourable impression upon them. Mr. COHEN (MARSEILLES) speaks thus of one who, ashamed of some of the absurdities of the Talmud, had exchanged his rabbinical studies for the school of Christ and His apostles : One day last week I was introduced to a most respectable Jew, who came hither from Constantinople to buy merchandise for that place, with whom I had a long conversation; and after he had given me some account of the war, he said: "As you are a Christian, perhaps you can tell me where I could procure a New Testament?" I said: "What do you want with a Testament: you are not a Christian?" He said: "What makes you think that I am not a Christian?" I said: "Because you told me that you were a Jew." He said: "I told you that I was a Jew before I knew who you were; and I am a Jew by birth, but I hope a Christian through faith in Christ-I believe that Jesus is the true Messiah, who came to save mankind. I have read the New Testament, but I lost it on my way hither." I said: "How was it that the Lord opened your eyes to see that Jesus is the Messiah?" He said: "I must tell you that I am a native of Russia, but left when I was thirteen years of age, and have been twentytwo years in Jerusalem, studying the Talmud. About four years ago I began to doubt the inspiration of the Talmud; but I tried to divest my mind of this, and I did for nearly two years; but one day, as I sat in the Beth-ha-Miderash (the house of study), studying the Talmud, I read the following fable (for such I now consider the Talmud): When Moses refused to resign his life to the angel of death, God Himself paid him a friendly visit, and took his soul from him whilst in the act of kissing him; and immediately God wept, and said, Who will rise up for me against the evil doors?' A day or so after this, I read that God became unclean, when He buried Moses, and in order to cleanse Himself, He bathed in fire. I was so disgusted in reading this, that I closed the Talmud, and said, From henceforth I will never read it any more;' and as I left the Beth-haMiderash,I muttered to myself, 'the Talmud is not-it cannot be-inspired; for it robs God of His glory, and makes Him like one of us.' Shortly after this I left the Holy City for Constantinople, where I have been ever since, studying the Old and New Testaments, and it has pleased the Lord to bless me, and open my eyes to see that I am a sinner-that Christ is a sufficient Saviour." And he added, "I thank God for the moral courage which He gave me, by which I was enabled to renounce the Talmud; for I am sure that if I had remained studying it, I should have become a decided infidel." He bought two Testaments, --one for himself, and the other for a friend of his. There is a most intelligent Italian young man with me, who is determined to know the truth as it is in Jesus. He speaks the Arabic, Greek, and Spanish languages fluently, and has also a knowledge of French. He told me that about fifteen months ago he had been in the hospital at Jerusalem, and from that time his mind had been disturbed. One day he told me that he did not know much of the religion of Jesus, but he felt that it was of God; for it spoke to the heart. He has bought an Italian Testament, which, he tells me, he reads every evening. I see him almost daily, and have great hopes of him. Mr. STERN thus writes from FRANKFORT: In looking back on the Lord's guidance and mercy hitherto, I can only bless and thank Him for the marvellous way by which He hath led me; and say with Jacob, "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant." While I held my first situation as schoolmaster, among the Jews, in Hauk berg, for three years from January 1817, the morning star arose in many a Jewish heart, as evidenced in the conversions of Mr. J. F. H-, his two sons, and brother, noted in my Journal 1847. I often visited the parents of my pupils, and conversed with them on the importance of the Holy Scriptures, and the accordance of many passages in the Old Testament. Thus I frequently called on the orthodox rabbi, father of two of my pupils. At the yearly examination of my school, the chief of the government in Wurzurg presided, and was so satisfied with the answers of N. F― that he promised to help him on in his studies, which having finished to the great satisfaction of all the professors, he received an appointment as Doctor of Medicine in Bavaria. I kept up a correspondence with him, and have recently heard that he has been baptised, and married to the daughter of the Christian pastor of his country. R. F, the eldest brother of my wife, a citizen here and father of three children, died after a very short illness, in his 60th year. He came almost daily to us, and our frequent conversations with him about the one thing needful made, I trust, a deep impression upon his heart. A few days before his death, he said to us, "Do not believe that your words about the things of religion are lost. I am not in the wrong way. I am recollecting what you say to me." The funeral was conducted in the Jewish manner, and the relations gave me the honour to put a nail in his coffin, and to cast on his grave three shovels of earth. Mr. SCHWARTZ (BRESLAU) informs us of instances in which it seems easy to trace the influence of the life-giving Spirit of God : Where the Gospel is taken to the Jew, in how many instances does he become unconsciously impressed with its veracity! How often is it an impression which time cannot wear away, nor gathering years obliterate! It is about eighteen months since I first met an Israelite of respectability, the chaunter and teacher of a Jewish congregation in Upper Silesia. I perceived not only that he was to some extent acquainted with the right way, but also that the tendency of his heart was to the practice of the same. I placed the New Testament in his hands, and saw him no more until recently. On a Lord's day morning Dr. Goup, one of the few believing ministers of the place, was preaching, and I arrived at the church when it had become crowded, so that I stood in the doorway; and whilst intent upon the discourse, my attention was suddenly attracted by the entrance of two individuals, one of whom I immediately recognised as the teacher, accompanied by a younger Israelite. Placing themselves quietly by my side, they gave ceaseless attention to the discourse. The service concluded, he recognised me with much pleasure, and the more so as he was then on his way to Saxony, and perhaps for a permanence, in which event we might have been forgotten to each other. Both he and his companion willingly accom panied me home, where we emphatically spent a day of rest. That day stands before me now, it is embalmed in my memory; and though with the seasons past and dead, it lives. And from that time his desire for truth grew, the whole Revelation being made his study; and he not only satisfied his own mind with truth, but opened it to others. The young man in whose company I found him was one who, under his influence, was feeling after the light and life which they had now, though imperfectly, received. Had it been but an intellectual recognition of the truth, we might have wept for them still; but the one thing needful had been felt within, and their hearts opened to receive it. May the Lord, who still is drawing them, also guide our steps aright! It was no accident which brought us together, and with gratitude to the Lord we parted, each in duty's path, still led by Providence. Perhaps you still remember a Mr. Rwhose case I have before mentioned, and a letter of whose, which had been addressed to me, I then sent you, containing the warm expressions of his interest in the Saviour. It was the epistle of an awakened mind, from the receipt of which I formed a friendly connection with him. Young, and in a measure uncontaminated by a degenerate world, which so often deadens and destroys |