Baptism at Stuttgart.

"In the good providence of God, the Christian life is chequered by sunshine and clouds, joys and sorrows. Nearly four weeks ago He saw fit to take from us our eldest son, aged 22, and thus to make us weep, though, through His infinite mercy, we do not sorrow as those that have no hope, as our dear son fell sweetly asleep, clinging to Jesus as his Friend and Saviour, and we know he is safe in His hands.

"Yesterday He smiled upon us, and rejoiced our hearts by giving us a dear brother, an aged Israelite, to be a fellow-pilgrim with us on the way to the heavenly Jerusalem, where Jesus reigns as King supreme. This dear brother, Dr. W. J., was a distinguished pupil of the well-known Dr. Luzatto, and received also a university education. Several times he has filled the office of rabbi, the last time in one of the precincts of Vienna. Many years ago he began to search for the truth, and became more and more convinced that the Old Testament is not complete, but rather is in want of the crowning glory which its whole tenor points to and teaches us to expect. Being a highly cultivated man, and well read in Talmudical and classical learning, he was able to search out all the pros and cons, and weigh well all the points constituting the controversy between Christ and the Talmud, the Word and Rationalism. Many years has he spent struggling onwards, often thrown back by inward doubts, startled sometimes, too, by the inconsistencies of Christians. The history of this long struggle is of deep interest, but cannot be related within the space of a letter; enough, that at last, when already in his fiftieth year, he has come to the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel, his Saviour, and that he has no alternative but to throw himself, with all his learning, and all his sins, upon the Saviour's mercy, lay it all down at the foot of the Cross, there to be washed and cleansed and made acceptable unto God the Father. For ten weeks past we have been for several hours daily engaged in prayer and Scripture-reading, and I have often been astonished at the deep insight that good brother has already obtained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. Yesterday was the day appointed for the initiatory rite. The Church of the Diasonissenhaus, where all of us Israelites that believe in Jesus usually worship, had been kindly granted again, as on former occasions, for the solemnity. It was soon crowded by a deeply-interested congregation. Our dear friend the Pastor Hoffman kindly assisted. The choir of the Sisters kindly sung sacred hymns during the service. The opening address was delivered by myself, on Genesis xii. 1 (I had previously read Jeremiah xxxi. 31, Ezekiel xxxvi. 25-27, and John iii, 1), a text specially appropriate in this case, upon which, on prayer and confession of his faith (the Apostles' Creed), I baptized him in the name of the Triune God. The celebration of the Lord's Supper immediately followed, of which Dr. J. with a great many of those present partook, the whole service concluding by a warm admonition of the good Pastor Cori to think of and pray for the remnant of Israel. A very solemn

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feeling pervaded the whole assembly, and I have no doubt many and fervent prayers went up to heaven, when this brother, at the ripe age of 50, bent his head to the Saviour's honour and his own salvation. His case is one of rare occurrence and of a peculiar nature. He has all his life long been highly respected by Jews and Christians for integrity and learning. Of course, as soon as he spoke out his doubts about modern Judaism and his seeking after truth, the Jews turned from him-his own wife and only son forsook him, took away all his possessions, and left him to struggle for life as best he could. Professor Delitsch at Leipzig, Dr. Biesenthal, Dr. Cassel in Berlin, think highly of him, and consider him their equal in erudition. Professor Boehl at Vienna also has expressed a very high opinion concerning his character and attainments. He has gone in faith, and without counting the cost the way that the Word of God and his own conviction pointed out to him, never asking what will become of him in the future.

"I must not omit mentioning that several very respectable Jews were present at the baptism, and stayed all through the service, expressing themselves much gratified, and also put in their gifts at the collection, the proceeds of which have been handed over to the Treasurer of our Temporal Relief Association." S. E. GOTTHEIL.

Levi Goldstein.

AN aged Christian Israelite has passed from the rest of the Home at Ferntower Road to the better rest with Christ. His life had been one of great vicissitudes. Fifteen years ago he was discovered bedridden in one room, and his wife in another. For two years the Lord found the needed funds for food and rent. The wife, dark at first, was led to trust in Jesus, and fell asleep in Hin. The husband recovered, entered into business, married again, became possessed of considerable property, and was lost sight of for several years. About twelve months ago he made application for admission to the Home, having now lost his property, except a few shillings a week, sufficient to render him eligible for admisssion.

The following brief account of his history and conversion, given in the last Report of the Home, will now be read with renewed interest :-" Levi Goldstein was a native of Russian-Poland. His father being a ruler of the synagogue, gave Levi a training strictly Jewish. At six years of age, his father took him at four o'clock in the morning to the Beth-hammidrash to study the Talmud. At sixteen his father was proud to say of his son, 'He knows by heart many pages of the Talmud, with comments.' His father was naturally ambitious to make him a rabbi. At twenty he was desirous of seeing England. For three years he travelled about in Cambridge and in Norfolk. The Sabbath was usually spent in Cambridge, and rabbinical laws observed, even to the eating of 'kosher' meat. He lodged with a private Christian family, the members of which became attached to him, and he to

them. The master of the house invited him to accompany him to church. He refused, regarding it as unlawful for him to enter a Gentile place of worship. He invited him again. Goldstone says he got angry, and said, 'I have seen idolatry enough.' He afterwards yielded and went, though he thought he had sinned against God in doing so. He feared the church would fall on him as a judgment from God. He looked around for images and crucifixes; seeing none he was somewhat relieved. After the prayers, during which he remained listless, he narrowly watched a gentleman in a black gown enter the pulpit, and was surprised and almost bewildered on hearing him pray to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He wondered what the minister knew of the God of the Jews, thinking the Gentiles called only on the name of Jesus. He got the minister's name and address, wrote to him, called on him, and had repeated and earnest conversations with him. This minister was the late excellent Charles Simeon, whose kindness, patience, and lucid exposition of Messianic truth led me to accept Jesus as the Messiah I was looking for, and to trust in Him as my Saviour. I was baptised in Liverpool, in 1844, on Good Friday, in company with one who is now a learned Jewish Christian Clergyman in London.' 'Since then,' he says, 'I have been a humble follower of the Crucified Jesus, Whom, whether in health or affliction, I have found to be a Saviour indeed. Now I am seventy-two years of age, I need Him more and more to be with me as I near the valley and shadow of death, through which I may soon pass, to dwell in His presence for evermore.""

He took a severe cold about the 26th of April, which he had not the physical strength to resist. The doctor was most attentive and kind, and Goldstein expressed his warm thanks for his kindness. He was conscious to the last, which he regarded as an answer to his prayers offered for years. He was comparatively free from pain till the last two or three days. His favourite chapter was John xiv., and his favourite hymns, Safe in the Arms of Jesus and Rock of Ages. He found great comfort from Psalm xxvii. 1-14. He told a friend he had a strong desire to say with his dying breath, "Come Lord Jesus." He made an effort, but strength failed, and friends about him thought he was saying this to himself, but the words were not articulate. The doctor spoke to him as to his safety, and he replied, "All that has been settled long ago, and I'm not afraid to die." He made a similar remark to the Hon. Captain Moreton, who kindly visited him the day before he died. He was taken care of in life and in death in the Name and for the sake of Him Who by and by will say, "Forasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me; come ye blessed of my Father."

Rev. John Wilkinsen.

IT having come to the knowledge of the Committee of the British Society, that misconceptions are current amongst their friends in reference to the

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separation of the Rev. John Wilkinson from their work, in which he has been engaged for many years, they have thought it necessary to give the following explanation, in order that misconceptions may be removed, and the exact truth of the case may be known. The two points the Committee deem it necessary for the friends of the Society to be informed of are:-First, that the Committee, after conceding much in friendliness of spirit, and with a view to retain a zealous agent of long standing, knowing him to be a favorite in many places, found it at length impossible to continue the relation, and to retain his services consistently with the retention by the Committee of their position as directing the affairs of the Society, and having important duties to fulfil for their constituents. The second important point to be borne in mind is, that notwithstanding the act of resignation was entirely Mr. Wilkinson's own, so that the responsibility of his severance from the Society rests upon himself. The resignation was unanimously accepted by the Committee when it was proffered, but it arose with himself, and no pressure was put upon him to resign. The Committee have confidence that this frank explanation will commend itself to their friends in all parts of the United Kingdom, and that they will see in the withdrawal of useful agents an occasion for increased and more earnest effort to maintain our old longtried and widely-blessed institution.

Our Missionaries.

THE leisure of the Jews during the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, has afforded to our missionaries valuable opportunities of conversing with them of Him Who, at that season, so poured out His Spirit that three thousand of their nation believed on Him. When the Apostle Peter, himself also a Jew, left his last words, "God hath made that same Jesus both Lord and Christ, Whom ye have crucified," like an arrow quivering in their conscience, they were pricked in their heart, and asked, "What shall we do?" Will not our readers pray that the same Jesus may give, by His Spirit, similar power to our missionaries, and conviction to the Jews?

HOME.

MANCHESTER.

MR. MOLLIS has had many interesting conversations with Jews, in various degrees of enlightenment. Some of these lost sheep of the house of Israel he had sought in the streets, or in their dwellings, or even in their ware houses, where, instead of making business an excuse for rejecting the Gospel, they resumed the discussion after frequent interruptions. Others, apparently still nearer the kingdom, have come to him in the mission-room or at his own house. A convert from Leeds gladdened his heart with the news that a Jew in that town had given his heart to Jesus. Mr. Mollis has closed the mission-room for the present, as it is chiefly frequented during the summer months.

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FOREIGN.

ADRIANOPLE.

In this city our missionary, Mr. Rosenberg, and the colporteur, have visited the Jews in their places of business and coffee shops. In these spacious oriental places of resort they have been permitted to preach Christ to as many as would hear, sometimes but few, sometimes as many as eighty.

The Jewish women in Turkey, though in a better position than their Mahommedan sisters, are yet so ignorant, so cut off from sources of improvement, and sometimes with such bigotry hinder their husbands from confessing Christ, that it is pleasing to hear that our missionary and his family find access to them. "In demeanour they are solemn, but they are very talkative, and very kind to us, and grateful for every kindness, and always ready to receive us at their houses." A small Bible class was often felt so interesting, that those attending it lingered till they were sent away. Meetings on Saturday, which continued nearly all day, Jews coming and going, continuing the discussion, were attended by from ten to thirty. Several inquirers have left for Constantinople, but three still remain. During times of sickness medicine and advice have been given to many Jews, accompanied by the Gospel remedy.

ALGIERS.

MR. LOWITZ writes that he has just returned from a mission tour among the Jews in the province of Constantine, on which he has had cheering opportunities of preaching the Gospel.

Christian travellers may do much for their Saviour and Master if, instead of being selfish health-seekers and sight-seers in foreign cities, they find out toiling missionaries, and strengthen their hands in God. They will thus secure a three-fold blessing, they will guard their own spiritual life from the distraction and isolation of travelling, cheer the hearts of missionaries in their trying work, and encourage those at home who have sent them forth. This has been done by a friend who recently visited Algiers.

He gives a pleasing report of the earnestness and spirituality of the work of our missionary, and of the mutually quickening and helpful intercourse between him and the French Protestant pastors and people. They have been stirred up not only to united prayer, but personal effort for their Jewish neighbours.

PARIS.

In the following letter, just received from Paris, our readers will see how the seed of the Gospel sown in Jewish hearts gradually germinates :

"My work amongst my Jewish brethren in this place is continuing steadily, affording, from time to time, proofs of divine favour and acceptance. The young Israelite, Mr. F., whom I mentioned before, seems to be favourably impressed by the truth as it is in Christ, evidently our intercourse has not remained fruitless. There are obstacles in his way, of the same nature as those experienced by most inquirers; but the Lord whom we serve is able to remove obstacles and to make his path plain. I met occasionally with a medical Jewish gentleman, before whom I endeavoured to bring the glorious theme of Christ and Him crucified.' 6 At first he did not conceal his contempt of it--as well as his ignorance of religion in general; but of late