ence to my faith. On leaving me, they shook hands with me most heartily; but their countenances expressed the sad and gloomy state of their hearts.

Though the power of the Gospel is able to subdue infidels, rationalists, or any other name, and it is ours to preach it to every creature around us without distinction, yet let us be thankful that there are still among Israel such who perseveringly resist the worship of the modern idol, called the religion of reason. My departure from Ibraila happened to be on New Year's day, when there were only two Jews on board-one a doctor, and the other a tailor. Both manifested by their conduct deep moral degradation; the former appearing to have got knowledge of my calling, entered frequently and freely into religious conversations with me, desiring me to make him acquainted with the principles of the Protestant religion; the second had but little patience for my subject, and listened only at intervals. The gospel preached to them seemed, humanly speaking, to have left but little impression upon them, though they were much pleased with the simplicity of its ceremonies, and the sublimity of its principles.

However, some little time after, many other Jews joined us at various stations, in Wallachia, Turkey, and the remoter parts of Hungary, where, as it appeared, the circle of onr former mission, connected with the Free-church, did not extend; for they had not any knowledge of Him who wept and yearned over their national welfare.

I am thankful to have succeeded in attracting the attention of three simple-minded Jews to my subject, while the pernicious book of "La Vie de Jésus," par Renan, was circulating amongst a party of nominal Christians. I did so by introducing Jesus to them in the quality of His all-surpassing love and compassion for their nation, quoting the memorable, all-comprising illustration, “As a hen gathereth her chickens," &c., and others. It was very hard for them, it seemed, to identify the Scriptural Jesus of whom I spoke with Him whom they knew to be adored by the heathenish Christians surrounding them, the so-called Serbs. I hope the salutary word spoken to these simple-minded men, who were curious and anxious to hear it on account of its novelty, cannot and will not be lost, though they said they would inquire of their respective rabbis about the explanation of the difficult passages mentioned, appearing to be still somewhat shackled by them.

Pesth, the metropolis of Hungary, under which name Buda and Old Buda are also comprised, is most advantageously situated on both banks of the Danube; it has become a magnificent town since I left it for England, containing-Buda and Old Buda—about 40,000 of the ancient people of God; every third individual of the population being a Jew. One large and splendid Reformed temple, and twelve synagogues, were crowded to excess on the Atonement-day.

Wherever one looks round, one meets Jews; they being the industrious, commercial, and wealthiest people in the land.

They are not only accessible to the missionary, but take pleasure in his conversation. One feature will suffice to prove this. The missionary-school connected with the Free-church was retained even throughout the gloomiest days, in spite of the efforts the rabbi and other orthodox Jews made to remove it, as the parents of several hundred children signed a paper required by the Government that they have no objection for their children to be instructed in the Christian religion. However, as there are numerous orthodox Jews, though enlightened, congregational institutions are strictly kept up. In short, it offers all advantage to the missionary. As for Prof. Davidson's and my own efforts in the place, we found it advisable to work separately, in order not to attract too much notice, except amongst my intimate friends, various medical

men, teachers, and other acquaintances, to whom I introduced Mr. Davidson, where he could freely speak on religious matters. Stranger as he may have been in Pesth. he was enabled, with prudence and care peculiar to our dear brother, to make known the name of the Lord, by the various opportunities the God of Jacob afforded him, during his stay in that populous city.

The Rev. Mr. Koenig and his wife received us with every possible kindness. He is at present pastor of a large congregation, and the only missionary to the Jews, to whom I am much indebted for the theological instruction I received for some time after my baptism.

Not being able to bring all the cases I had in view to a close, particularly those in common with Professor Davidson, I must postpone doing so till my next report.

I received two urgent letters from the pastor in Galatz, begging me to come over, there being a Jew, whose business does not allow his leaving, anxious to receive Christian instruction.

VII.

THE Rev. R. H. HERSCHELL has kindly undertaken to visit the Society's Mission in Italy, and at the last date was about to visit Naples with Dr. MAYER. We expect valuable results from this arrangement, and commend our beloved friends to the fervent prayers of our readers.

VIII.

Our agent at Manchester thus refers to the late "Feasts of the Lord":— As I have already communicated to you the report of the first part of the late and long holy days, permit me to submit to your notice the other part of the same. Now, as the New Year is just past, the days of penitence till the Day of Atonement are strictly considered; hence the conversation is purely on the conditions of good works; but then, as good works cannot be realised without keeping the whole law, I contended-What is there in the outward penitence when they have no means of keeping the law? And so we argued from time to time, and that with occasional and considerable numbers. I have also in the meantime distributed a number of tracts for their private perusal, and for the communication of their brethren. Then the Day of Atonement. The confinement of the whole day in the closed-up synagogue, and that with fasting and long and loud prayers, which affect both mind and body, so that they are obliged to leave the place of worship and ramble about for recreation and fresh air; thus in this their perambulation I meet with them, and at their own beginning we converse first on the subject of the day of their own atonement, then by inference I conduct them to an atonement of a higher efficacy, and compare and convince them of the great salvation of their souls, by a provision not made by the hands of men but by the will of God. Finally, the days of Tabernacles being the days of joy and rejoicing after the Day of Atonement, the minds of the people now being more cheerful, and their conversation more agreeable, hence they were both free and open for inquiring conversation, and willing to be convinced. Thus we conversed upon the joy of being forgiven by an atonement not with the blood of bulls and goats, but of a more intelligent, yea even divine sacrifice, and that by the Son of the living God, who not only taketh away the sin of the world, but sends to them also the Comforter, the spirit of truth, and peace, and joy. Then with the end of the feast came the end of their sojourn in Manchester, especially that portion of the migratory individuals; who are obliged to move as soon as the holy days terminate. Thus not a few of them are those who have heard the Gospel during

the long and tedious holy days, yea, and have almost became Christians or believers in Christ; and thus, though they have left this place, yet they have taken the Gospel with them; and may be taken by Christ and by His Church, elsewhere in another part of His vineyard, and there confess Christ before men.

Then, again, as I could not converse individually with all of them, the numbers being so many; I had recourse to speak to them, through the medium of our useful tracts, and that while I gave a goodly number to those with whom I had personal conversation, I have also through the same medium communicated indiscriminately a large number of tracts to those with whom I could not personally, either converse or communicate, so that whether they hear or forbear, yet they have it in their possession. Then, again, there were not a few inquirers with whom I had conversed many times before, and more especially during the long holydays, and as they could not remain in town on account of business, I was sorry to part with them; but then I had supplied them with Scriptures, both with the Old and New Testaments, and our useful tracts; and should they find the means to settle in any place with regard to their temporal interest, they are likely also to settle in one or the other of the Christian sections, of the Church of Christ; when our labour then will be found not to have been in vain; and in conclusion, I have here a number of a few and intelligent Hebrews, whose occupations are commission agents.

I have reported to you many a time, that my expectations of them is not so sanguine to see them baptised here in some of the Christian Churches as to realise their conversion to the Christian faith: first, in their own souls, and then being constrained to manifest their sympathy in behalf of the salvation of the souls of those who are dear to them by the ties of nature; and for this reason my conversation with them is more of the nature of instruction than of argument; hence, every available book that I get for them, they read with avidity; and I know that you would have been agreeably surprised and delighted to see them read the very usefully written book, by our dear brother, the Rev. Mr. Gottheil; and beautifully translated by the Rev. Mr. Gill; but then the number was scarcely large enough to satisfy them all, as the number of commission agents here are few, so that, dear sir, should it be your pleasure to send me a few more of the same very useful books, I shall be very much obliged to you indeed, because of my respectable inquirers, and my interest in the salvation of their souls. And now, my dear sir, let me once more ask your affectionate prayer upon my feeble and arduous labour, both on the bygone past and on that of the hopeful future, inasmuch as our expectations are in the happy result of our labour; since that neither he that planted, nor he that watered, is anything, but God alone that giveth the increase.

We are thankful to state that the Moorish orphan Jew conducts himself satisfactorily, and is making progress in religious knowledge. He is entirely dependent on Christian liberality. Received from Mrs. Bailey, £2; Mr. Gill, £1; G. Y., £1 12;.; Anon., 1s.

A Christmas Letter to Young Learners.

DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

I have been thinking of Christmas, and thinking of you. Many of you are looking forward to it with great delight, as the time when you will be welcomed by warm hearts to glad homes, made gladder by your young smiles and merry voices. I hope you have studied well, and enjoyed it, and if so you will be sure

to enjoy the pleasures that are before you. Some of you probably have not left your homes at all, but you too intend to make a little holiday of the season—and if we choose harmless and healthful recreations, there is no reason why we should not make merry. Christians, indeed, may well cherish in their hearts a sacred joy, when they connect the coming close of the year with the advent of Jesus, for however uncertain the date of His birth, there can be no impropriety in associating it in our minds with this period; and, indeed, there is something peculiarly acceptable to us in the union of so glorious an event with the solemn thoughts which are likely to be suggested by the running out of another portion of our time. I must say, I like the idea of Jesus coming at the end of the year, because it is something inspiring to set against the rapid flight of time, and it tells us that, while the course of nature leads only to decay and death, and just as the process is setting in, Christ brings life, life for all, life for ever. May God grant, dear young frionds, that when your days of training on earth close, you may find a blessed home open to you, and Jesus standing at the bright portal to receive you to joy everlasting.

Do you know that, when I think of homes, I cannot help a feeling of sorrow for a people of whom there are several millions in the world, that have no home. When I looked at the Bible-stand outside the Exhibition last year, and saw that, among the seven nations in whose languages the New Testament was there freely given away, the Jews only had no country to acknowledge them as its rightful owners, I sorrowed for them from my heart, because they have been so long deprived of their fatherland. But I thought how admirable a plan it was to offer them the Gospel of Jesus, because this points them to a heavenly inheritance" incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away," which every one of them is welcome to share, if he will only receive Jesus as all his hope, and all his salvation. No doubt it would make them very glad, if we could tell them that Palestine is now given up for them, as a people, at once to possess and cccupy. But oh, how much better tidings we have to break to them than these! We have to tell them that, if they trust in Jesus, whether they live to reach an earthly Canaan or no, He will " prepare a place" for them where He is, in the "many mansions" of the "Father's house," and when they are admitted there, they shall go no more out." That heavenly Canaan can never be taken from its glorified inhabitants, and they can never be expelled from it.

66

But my dear young friends, how many, many hundreds of thousands of Jews are homeless in both senses! They are at present debarred from possessing the country of their fathers, and-alas! alas !-through their ignorance of Jesus, or their unwillingness to believe in Him, they debar themselves from that "Kingdom of heaven" which He came to open to all believers. Oh! it is a fearful thing to have no home when we die; no city of habitation; no father's arms to fly to; nothing but the hopeless, helpless condition of one who has turned away from the " Prince of Life," and must contend alone with Death!

It is the object of Christian missions to the Jews, to persuade them, by the help of God's gracious Spirit, to cast themselves on Jesus, and so to become "heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ" of the heavenly Kingdom and its crowns of life. Many dear young people are aiding us in this; many Sundayschool children are giving their pence and halfpence to purchase New Testaments and to support missionaries. Many children in families have their "Mission Box" into which they put some of their own savings, and they hand it round after domestic worship on a Sunday morning, that all at home may give their portions. A little boy and a little girl, brother and sister, children of a poor person, came to me a short time ago, with a bag of copper coins amounting to

eleven shillings, which they had gradually saved in one year, chiefly in farthings and halfpennies, and they gave it as their offering of love to this cause. In a Mission School for poor Jewish children, in one of the darkest parts of Europe, the little scholars have formed, of their own accord, among themselves a Missionary Society, and they make a collection every month, to aid the Mission cause among the Heathen. Thus our Saviour is making use of many of the young in the flock, and I hope, dear young readers, you will ask Him to make use of you. Some youthful lips, I know, breathe loving prayers for the Jew. Let yours do so and while enjoying your Christmas-God grant you a very very, happy one!-think how you can turn it to account among your relatives and friends, to give the House of Israel the bread of life.

May "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," bless you all! is the prayer of your sincere friend.

F.

Small Collecting Cards for "NEW YEAR'S GIFTS" may be had at the Society's New Offices, No. 96, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury-square, near the British Museum, and they should be returned, with the amounts, to Mr. GEO. YONGE, at the above office, before the end of January.

TWENTY-ONE YEARS have elapsed since this Society commenced its course, at a meeting convened in the vestry of the National Scotch Church, in Regentsquare, stimulated to an effort for a united association for the spiritual good of the Jews, by a generous donation, for the purpose, of £500 from the Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Several of those who first hailed the proposal, and gave hand and heart to the work, have passed away. McCheyne and Henderson, Fletcher, Bennett, Bunting, Raffles, Wardlaw, and others, live in our recollection as cordial and efficient fellow-helpers to this section of the kingdom of God; and the little band has gone on gradually enlarging its numbers, and widely extending the field of its operations. "Cordially inviting the co-operation of kindred institutions," the Committee have endeavoured to realise the fellowship of Christians in presenting to the Jewish community the faith as it is in Jesus, in the spirit of fraternal affection. The Agency of the Society has been employed solely with a view to the spiritual welfare of the seed of Abraham in this country and through the world. It has consisted of the Word of God, and Scriptural publications, and the living ministry of pious and well-qualified missionaries, almost entirely of the Jewish race, and to whom, with scarcely an exception, the Committee bear grateful and satisfactory testimony. Of the measure and quality of the success that has attended the effort, it is perhaps impossible to form too high an estimate. Facts are recorded in Annual Reports, and in the monthly JEWISH HERALD which indicate indubitably the presence and the blessing of the God of Abraham on the course pursued by the Society. Many instances are, amongst our annals, proving that "one by one" the Great Shepherd has been gathering the lost sheep of the house of Israel to Himself, some of whom, having witnessed a good confession, and tested the sufficiency of the gospel of the grace of God, in severe affliction and in the dying hour, have joined the spirits of the ransomed in heaven; while many others are walking worthy of their Christian profession, recommending to those around them the truth they once contemned.

It does not diminish the claims of the Society, that many of the recipients of spiritual instruction at the hands of the missionaries are travellers through the wide world. They bear the truth with them; they scatter and nourish it