me was

superstition. But the only answer they gave 'God forgive you.' My conversation with them awoke several of the Jews, and I had a long discussion with them about him with whose stripes we are healed."

After giving this account of the superstitions practised at the Tomb of Maimonides, Mr. Lauria proceeds in his letter, thus :

"On the 28th, the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, I called on Raphael, and found with him two other Jews, who soon began to dispute with me about the object of the Messiah's coming. The two Jewish butchers, one of them well versed in Jewish lore, came in and joined the discussion; asserting that Messiah's work was nothing but to restore again the kingdom to Israel. One of my school boys who was there, ran and brought a Hebrew Bible, and said to me in English,Now show them Isaiah liii., there they will find the sufferings of Messiah predicted;' while saying this, he opened the Bible, and found that chapter, and added: 'Show them this, and let me hear what answer they will give.' The father of this clever boy, though he did not understand what he spoke to me, observed what he did; and therefore asked me, in an angry tone, 'Is that what you teach him in the school?' But the boy did not wait till I answered, but said to his father; now that I know English, I can myself read and understand the Bible; I hope you have no objection to my reading the prophets.' The father only answered him with a curse Ochrus' (be dumb), and went away. We, however, resumed our conversation, which lasted several hours. May God bless it, to prove beneficial to their immortal

6

souls. During the other days of their feast, I received visits from them every day, and therefore had only time to call on a few European Jews."

SWEDEN.

Often has the missionary to mourn on account of the cold indifference of those whom he addresses, or because of the opposition which they manifest to the precious truths of the Gospel. Thus Mr. Moritz, writing on Nov. 27, 1852, says :

"A few Jews and Jewesses at Stockholm, have now and then attended my lectures; and there were a few more at my last missionary prayermeeting, in which I gave a short review of the Society's labours among the Jews in various parts of the world, which was listened to with attention and interest. But in other respects, the Jews at Stockholm are as indifferent to religion as formerly, and become even more so every day; and they continue unwilling to enter upon a discussion about Christianity. The field of their hearts is as sterile, as the surrounding nature is there during the long winter."

At other times, there are cheering indications, and encouraging circumstances. Thus, in the same letter, Mr. M. adds:

“Under this dead scene, however, a green spot will sometimes peep through, to cheer the eye and heart. Thus the young Jew, L., whom I have mentioned in former communications, has been baptized at Linköping, by Bishop Hedren; and this prelate, who is an old friend of mine, writes that he baptized him himself, because he could regard him as a truly repentant sinner, who takes his refuge in Christ for the salvation of his soul;

and he adds that this change has been effected by the Lord's blessing on the words I spoke to him last year. The eldest of the two sisters, B., has now decided to become a Christian. She has already had to undergo many trials and attacks from the Jews, but she remains steadfast, and I hope she will in a short time receive the sacrament of baptism. Miss G., of whom I have frequently reported from Stockholm, and whose father was forced by the rabbi and the Jewish elders to forbid me his house, is engaged as governess in a Swedish family, in one of the provinces. A Christian friend at Stockholm saw her there, and conversed with her about Christ; she told him that the instruction I had given her at Gothenburg, in 1834, and the conversations she had afterwards had with me at Stockholm, have made an impression upon her mind which is not yet effaced, and that she much wishes to have further conversation with me. I intend to write to her, and trust she will be gained for the Lord.”

It must be cheering to the missionary who has laboured for many years in the field, to be recognized by those to whom he had preached the good tidings in former years. This comfort is often granted to Mr. Moritz. In his recent visit to Hamburg, he tells us of circumstances of this kind. He thus writes:

"I met there also the second time a young Hamburg Jew and a young girl, who were silent listeners to my discussions with the emigrants. The young Jew stood up and said to me: 'O how glad I am to see you again, my old teacher and friend; allow me to present to you my bride, and to ask the favour of your honouring us with your

presence on the 18th, which will be our weddingday.' I accepted the invitation, and when I came there at the appointed time, I found about sixty or seventy Jews assembled, who gave me a friendly reception. The company had to wait an hour for the arrival of the rabbi; and when he came at last, he began the ceremony at once, which consisted merely in reading the few formularies in the Hebrew and Chaldee languages, of which the bride and bridegroom and most of the guests scarcely understood a word. He delivered no address in German, as is customary in Hamburg. When the marriage ceremony was over, the rabbi congratulated the married pair, and hastened. away as quick as possible, without speaking to any of the company.

While we were waiting for the rabbi, a young Jewish girl stepped forward from among the crowd, and reaching me her hand, said, quite loud: 'O how glad I am to see you again, my old teacher and benefactor! for I have also been Mr. Moritz's pupil. Oh, those were golden times for me! Had I only taken better to heart the instruction I then received!' I answered, so that all might hear it, It is not too late yet, my good girl, to repent and to be converted, and to flee to the Saviour for salvation; he still stretches out his gracious arms after you.' All the Jews and Jewesses looked upon me, and the girl was lost in the crowd, so that I got no other opportunity of speaking to her. Before I left the dining-room I proposed a toast for the young pair: That their days may be blessed with the peace of the Prince of peace, and that they may have part in his, the true Messiah's kingdom in this world, and in the world to come!' They both thanked me, and the bride

groom said he understood very well what I meant, and would meditate on it."

ADRIANOPLE.

Letter from Mr. S. Mayer.

"I have had the privilege to make known the blessed Gospel of our Lord to a great number of the house of Israel, both by word of mouth, and by distributing books and tracts. There exists

great curiosity here amongst the Jews to enquire what Christianity is; they have heard of the existence of a Society, that sends forth Missionaries to all parts of the world where Jews are, to preach to them and to distribute books amongst them but they never had a full opportunity of being together long with a missionary. The following few narratives will give you an idea of the same.

"A young man called upon me one day, and asked me for a New Testament in Hebrew, but as he did not know that language sufficiently to understand what he reads, I refused to give it to him for fear he should burn it. He left my house, but in a few minutes returned again, saying that he wanted it for another person, who understood the Hebrew very well; and although he was very poor, he offered me two piastres (four pence) for it. I said I would give it to him, if he told me for whom he wanted it, and at last he confessed that his aged father sent him to me to get one for him. To convince myself of the truth of it, I went with him in the evening to the house of his father, as he would not take me earlier, for fear of the Jews seeing me go there. The venerable old man, hardly able to walk, received me