viously seen on board the steamer when he visited Danzig: to him he told his doleful story, and then it was that a spark of truth fell into his heart by the word which was spoken to him by this Christian. On reaching Africa he met one of our missionaries, who is now on this platform, and from him received the word of truth gladly; and, after he had been further instructed by him, when he got to Jerusalem he became a Christian, and, as our depositary there, has been usefully employed in circulating the Scriptures, and conversing with his own people about eternal things. But he was the first of the converts who, after my arrival in Jerusalem, was called away into eternity. Many a time have I sat by his bedside, talking with him about the hopes of Israel, and our Christian prospects; and I shall never forget the last time I took leave of him, when expressing the hope that we should meet again in the heavenly Jerusalem, how fervently he pronounced his Amen-be it so.'"

Another anecdote from Mr. Reichardt's speech will interest our readers, and illustrate the difficulties often thrown in the way of the poor enquiring Jews.

"Another individual who was led to the knowledge of Christ was a blind man, who had been brought up in all the superstitions of Judaism, but by intercourse with Christians, when aged and blind, was converted, and acknowledged his faith in the Saviour. He knew so much of the Old Testament, and of the leading doctrines of the Gospel, that when I first examined him he gave me very clear answers as to the hope that was in him. And after he had

often expressed his desire to be baptized, and I had become satisfied with regard to his knowledge of Christianity, I held out the hope to him that his desire should be accomplished. He thereupon grasped my hand, shed tears, and expressed his great joy that he should soon be received into the Christian Church. It was on Good Friday when this event happened. The church was filled with our own community, and strangers. The Bishop, who was present, requested me first to explain to the congregation what we were going to do. A dead silence prevailed in the church, as I related briefly the circumstances of the case; and then proceeded to admit this aged and blind son of Abraham by baptism, into the Christian Church. But though he was blind in regard to his external vision, I could testify to the congregation that his spiritual eyes had been long opened; that in heart and mind he saw the crucified Saviour as his only Messiah; and that be, upon true repentance and faith in His holy name, would now be received into the bosom of the Church."

Mr. Reichardt proceeded to give other instances of conversion, and also a general summary of the results of missionary work at Jerusalem. We have not space for these at present. Enough has been quoted to shew that as in other places, so also in Jerusalem, the Gospel is not preached to the Jews in vain. There, in the Holy City of the past, are Jewish hearts that love the Saviour, and Jewish children who learn to cry, "Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he that cometh.”

178

BANISHMENT OF THE JEWS FROM SPAIN.*

THE short-sighted hatred of the Inquisition had rather converted the Judaism of Spain into a festering wound in the body of the nation, than effectually combated or uprooted it. The unity thus obtained was only in externals, while in secret the Jewish religion was propagated with a system of dissimulation which could not but exercise a most pernicious influence on character, and become the source of most revolting blasphemies against God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Unanimous testimony is borne both by Jewish and Spanish writers to the fact, that there is scarcely a family of note in Spain or Portugal which is not descended, either in the male or female line from Jews, who had embraced Christianity by conviction or from other motives.

Is it then surprising that the religion their fathers had professed for so many ages should possess great attractions for their descendants while placed in the midst of a Church whose idolatry and saint-worship the Israelite was as much justified in condemning, as he was wrong in rejecting the suffering Saviour, who had been foretold by his own prophets? When, in addition to this, there sprung from the midst of the Papacy, and flourished in Spain, a sect whose doctrines inculcated "mental reserve,' "simulation," and "hypocrisy," in matters of religion, is it wonderful that the Jews of Spain should also have had recourse to rabbinical subtilties to reconcile an outward profession of Christianity with an inward love and secret perform

*From Da Costa's "Israel and the Gentiles."

Hence arose the

ance of the Mosaic worship? fearful evils which are said yet to exist in Spain, posts of dignity in the Church, the priesthood and the cloister occupied by men who in heart are Jews, and who meet at stated seasons to mourn over and abjure their outward profession of the Romish faith, and to curse, with fearful imprecations, the memory of Ferdinand and Isabella. No! it is "not by might nor by power" that Israel's conversion will be brought about, "but by my Spirit, saith the Lord," the God of Israel His Redeemer.

The Inquisition itself, however unscrupulously supported, seemed but a half-measure for carrying out the system which had given rise to it, as long as there remained a single Jew in the kingdom of Spain. And yet twelve years intervened between the introduction of the new Inquisition against concealed Jews and the edict of banishment passed upon those who were so, openly. During the interval the latter were always on good terms with the Government, and even admitted to high offices at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella. Yet they seem to have themselves given some cause for suspicion, for complaint, and even for fear. For example, in the year 1840, when the Cardinal of Mendoza had published a catechism for the use of baptized Jews, there appeared from the pen of a Jew a virulent attack upon the Roman Catholic religion, as well as upon the Catholic sovereigns.

The Israelites were also accused of endeavouring to make proselytes, not only among the new Christians, but among the old, whose descent could not be traced to Jewish parents, and seem to have succeeded in their efforts, especially in Andalusia.

They were at that time formidable by their number, their riches, their influence, and their relationship with the Conversos in all parts of the country, as well as by the influence they might acquire in allying themselves with an infidel or hostile power.

A Spanish author of Jewish race has remarked, that if the Israelites had not kept their eyes fixed on Palestine alone as their own country, they might successfully have overturned the Spanish government. The edict for their expulsion, which had long been threatened, was finally promulgated in the year 1492. This took place immediately after the reduction of the last Moslem kingdom in the Peninsula. From Granada, its capital, was dated the decree which forbade any Jew by religion to remain in the Spanish dominions after a period of four months. They were not to carry away gold, silver, or jewels, beyond a certain amount, but they might sell their houses and lands, and export the value in bills of exchange.

The news of this edict came upon the Jews like a thunder-clap. They were soon reduced to the verge of despair, when every appeal to the compassion of the King and Queen had been defeated by the opposition of Torquemada. They even offered immense sums of money, as a price for remaining in a country where they had already been established for so many centuries. But the merciless Torquemada presented himself before the King with a crucifix in his hand, and asked for how many pieces of silver more than Judas he would sell his Saviour to the Jews.

This barbarous mandate was put in force by equally barbarous measures. The permission