themselves quite independently of the Bishop of Rome. He has left, as the fruit of his labours, several works; a book written against the errors of Judaism, besides commentaries, sermons, hymns, and sacred poetry, with a history of the wars of King Wamba. The life and praises of Julian were written by Bishop Felix, his successor in the see of Toledo.

Another Christian Israelite, of less elevated rank in the Church, Alvarus Paulus, of Cordova, flourished in the middle of the ninth century, and is principally known to us by his letter to Eleazar, who had passed from Gentile idolatry to Judaism. When taking up the defence of the Christian faith, he confesses at once his own Jewish origin, and his belief that Messiah was already come, and then continues, "Which of us has the most right to the name of Jew; you, who have passed from the worship of idols to the knowledge of one God, or I, who am an Israelite both by birth and faith? Yet I no longer call myself a Jew, because that new name is given to me which the mouth of the Lord hath named! Abraham is in truth my father, but not only because my ancestors proceed from him. Those who have expected Messiah should come, but who also receive him because he is already come, are more truly Israelites than those who, after long waiting for him, rejected him when he came, and yet cease not to expect his coming."

Rabbi Samuel Jehudi, of Fez, in Morocco, affords another instance of sincere conversion to the Christian faith.

An interesting letter of his remains to us, written originally in Arabic, and addressed to a Rabbi of the same country, named Dr. Isaac.

This letter, of which a Latin version, made by the Dominican Alfonso de Buen Hombre, in 1329, has been repeatedly published, contains an ample refutation of Jewish objections to the Christian faith, written in accordance with the views of that period. A Spanish translation of this letter still remains in manuscript in the library of the Escurial. Baptized in Spain soon after the taking of Toledo, by Alfonso VI., Rabbi Samuel appears to have returned to Morocco, and there to have held a conference on religion with a learned Mahomedan, of which his account, still in manuscript, is also to be found in the library of the Escurial.

To the eleventh century also belongs the birth of another Christian Israelite, who was afterwards distinguished for the testimony he bore to the truth and power of the Gospel.

Rabbi Moses, of Huesca, in Arragon, was born in the year 1062, and baptized in the year 1106, King Alphonso I. standing as his sponsor, after whom, and his brother and predecessor, he was named Pedro Alphonso. He afterwards wrote a defence of Christianity, and a refutation of Jewish incredulity, in the form of a dialogue between Moses and Pedro Alphonso; this work is spoken of in high terms, and has since been of great use in Spain. We have also by him a "Disciplina Clericalis," under the title of Proverbs," in which he seems to have borrowed from the Arabic writers, especially the tales and fables of Pilpay.

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Another learned and distinguished Israelite who received the Christian faith, and made known in his writings the ground of his belief, was Rabbi Abner, the physician in the early part of the fourteenth century.

While yet in communion with the synagogue, he wrote an explanation of Aben Ezra's treatise on the Ten Commandments. When converted to the Christian faith he wrote a refutation of Kimchi's work against Christianity, known by the same title, "The Wars of the Lord."

At the request of the Infanta Blanca, Abbess of the Convent Las Huelgas, at Burgos, he translated the work into Spanish. As a Christian, he is known by the name of Alphonso of Burgos, his native city, or of Valladolid, where, until his death in 1346, he filled the post of Sacristan to the Cathedral.

MISSIONS TO THE JEWS.

Conversation with Jewish Children.

ON July 5th, a Colporteur, employed by the Society in the North of Germany, had to pass through a forest, not very far from Labes, where he met with five children, three boys and two girls, about the age of from eight to eleven years. As soon as they had espied him, they came running to him, offering him their strawberries, which they had been gathering, with the greatest delight.

"Who are you, children?" asked the man with the knapsack.

"We are Jewish children;" was the reply. "But do you know me?”

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Yes, to be sure.

You made us a present of

those beautiful little books."

"And can you tell me any of their contents?" "Yes, they are all about the Messiah; that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah, and no man can be saved who does not believe in him?"

"And do you believe in him?”

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'Yes, we do;" they replied, as with one mouth.

But if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you must be baptized; for it is written, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.'” "Yes," they replied, 66 we intend to be baptized when we are grown up; for at present our parents would not permit it."

The Colporteur relates that he was moved to tears when he heard this confession and simple faith of these children. Here is a proof of the truth, that out of the mouth of babes and sucklings He hath ordained praise.

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WARSAW.

Rev. F. W. Becker's Journal.

Sept. 11.-After posting a letter, I had a pleasing conversation with an Israelite, whom I met with at the post-office. As he seemed to wait for some one, I began by observing, the Jews were waiting for the Messiah, but he had come already; for which I then quoted several proofs from Scripture, which were well received by him. On the whole, he appeared well aquainted with us and our object, and listened, in a quiet manner, to what I set before him.

"Sept. 14.-Being the Jewish New-Year's-Day, I saw an immense number of Jews proceed towards a pool of water, around which a crowd was stand

ing already, saying prayers, and having books in their hands. It would have been in vain for me to have attempted that moment speaking

of that multitude, as the street was crowded so far as my eyes reached; I therefore reserved this for the next day.

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He

Sept. 15.-Spoke to-day in the same street to a Jew whom I knew, observing that, if they truly repented of their sins, God had promised that He would cast their sins into the depths of the sea; instead of which they now turned their pockets, pretending to cast their sins into the water; it was just the same as what they did when crying, 'Hear, O Israel,' &c., when God required them to hear so they did just the reverse, &c. answered me very little, and there was another Jew and his wife present, who also kept silence. But two other females, I believe daughters of the former, took up the conversation, and one of them said she had read the paper fastened behind one of our windows, Ho, all ye that thirst, come ye to the waters,' &c., and asked what that meant; to which I replied, we wished to speak to them about the invitation given them, to accept, without money and without price, eternal life through the Messiah, promised under the sure mercies of David, &c. A little further on I addressed an elderly Jew, who was accompanied by two young men, also on the subject of their casting their sins into the water. He denied this altogether, saying, they only said prayers near the water; and seeing, he said, who I was, he declined having any conversation with me, and desired the young men also to leave me. On returning home, I found four lads standing before our house, asking for tracts. I took them