MISSIONS TO THE JEWS. JERUSALEM. From the Rev. F. C. Ewald. "IN my last report, I informed you that I had six sons and two daughters of Abraham under Christian instruction, preparing them for Holy baptism; some of them, I trust, will receive that Sacrament on Christmas next. The eight lost sheep of the House of Israel, who have been sought and found by the Good Shepherd of their souls, have also received instruction during the present month, till several were attacked by fever, when they entered our Hospital. Three of them are at present there under the care of Dr. Macgowan. Since the commencement of this month, I have had added to the above number another enquiring Israelite, Isaac M-, who came from Egypt. Soon after his arrival, he fell ill, and was taken into the Hospital, where he remained about a month; when he was restored to health again, he desired to be instructed in the truth as it is in Jesus, and I consequently commenced with him a regular course. The watchmaker, Mendel, has also left the Jews, and joined our community; we hope his wife will follow his example. Mendel had been established for a time at Jaffa, where he had been often visited by Mr. Sinyanki; the truth seemed to make impression upon his mind. Mr. Sinyanki took him for a month into his own lodgings in order to have a better opportunity to preach the Gospel of Christ to him. When Mr. S. left Jaffa, Mendel followed him soon to Jerusalem. Here I saw him, but particularly he was often visited by Mr. Rosenfeld, the Bishop's Scripture Reader, who brought him to my house. Though I have not yet taken him under regular instruction, still he frequently called on me, when I endeavoured to confirm him in his faith. I have also seen his wife several times, who is a very interesting Jewess. May the Lord open her eyes and understanding, and lead her to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Redeemer. 66 At the beginning of this month, there arrived here from Jaffa, David B- -, a young Jew, who expressed his desire of becoming a Christian. I have seen him and spoken to him several times, though I could not commence with him a regular course of instruction. As he is yet a young man, he will learn a trade, and has chosen that of shoemaking. 66 On the 18th inst., Joseph B J called on me, telling me that he and his wife had quite made up their minds to become Christians. I had often spoken to him, and have known him for about two years. I told him that I wished to speak also to his wife; he came the following morning with her, and she also confessed her belief in Jesus, I have since called on them several times. They have two children, a girl of five years old, and a baby a month old; the former will be placed in the school, where I hope she will be trained up in the fear of God, and be led to Jesus the Lamb of God. "Thus it has pleased God to bring under the saving influence of the Gospel, fifteen individuals of the house of Israel at the Holy City, who have heard the word of eternal life, and who have asked for the way of life, and to whom that way has been pointed out. We call now upon God's faithful people to pray for these sons and daughters of Abraham, that the Lord would look upon them in mercy, pardon and forgive them all their sins for Christ's sake, and make them true followers of the Lord Jesus. "My time has been chiefly taken up during this month, with the above mentioned enquirers and candidates for baptism; besides giving them instructions, there are also connected with them circumstances of a temporal nature which must be attended to, and which requires often much time. "On the 11th, in the morning, about four o'clock, died in peace, Mrs. Kiel, the wife of Doctor Kiel, after a long and painful illness. She had been brought to the knowledge of Christ Jesus in 1843, and was baptized, with her husband and daughter on Christmas-day that year, by the late Bishop Alexander; she was then already in ill-health, but for the last two years she was confined to her bed. During her illness, she had often been visited by the Missionaries and other Christian friends, she enjoyed those visits much, and was glad when the Word of God was read to her. We trust she has been taken from a world of suffering to an abode of bliss. 66 It has also pleased God heavily to afflict our Depositary, Mr. Lions, in taking from him one of his children, David, a promising boy of eight years of age, who was taken ill with the fever in the night of the 22nd, and died the following evening. The boy had been attended by Dr. Macgowan, and Mr. Sandford. What made the affliction still more painful to us all, was that the father himself, and another boy were ill of the fever, the mother and a baby also suffering from the same malady; but we trust that the Lord will give the needful strength to the bereaved family. It is now a very sickly season here, many of our community are ill. O Lord, so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!'" BAPTISMS OF ISRAELITES. Amsterdam. ON Sunday, Oct. 29, the holy rite of Baptism was administered by the Rev. C. W. H. Pauli, to a believing Israelite. His godfathers were also of the house of Israel. Mr. P. writes: " It was a refreshing season, for the Lord's presence was felt by many. There were but a very few Jews present, in one of the galleries, as we did not make it publicly known that there would be a Baptism. One of them, however, was seen in tears, throughout this solemn service; my friends and myself know him to be a believer in the Lord Jesus.' Bagdad. The Rev. M. Vicars has reported the Baptism of the Rabbi of Bushire, on the Lord's Day, July 23, after he had for upwards of two months been in the house, and under the immediate eyes of the Missionaries; during which time he showed by his life and conversation that the Holy Spirit exercised its influence in a very prominent manner. On Sept. 3rd, Eliahu, the son of one of the Jewish authorities at Bagdad, was received into the Church of Christ by Baptism, by the Rev. P. H. Sternschuss. He had, previous to his public profession, to undergo many trials, temptations, and persecutions; but by the grace of God, he was enabled to overcome all, through faith in Him that loved him and gave Himself for him. The wife of this convert is also receiving instruction from the Missionaries in Bagdad. The Jews made very favourable offers to Eliahu after his Baptism, to induce him to return to them; but his reply was: I am now a follower of Jesus Christ, and unless you believe in him too, I can have no communion with you." ISRAEL'S GLORY. Lo, the morning light is dawning, Scattered among every nation, All forgotten or unsung, Yet through all, thy God hath watched thee, |
