been shown in Mr. Maitland's letter, published some years ago, and inserted in the preceding pages, nor has time made any change for the better. Mr. Bergfeldt, a missionary at Königsberg, relates the following circum

stance:

"About the middle of last month a young Polish Jew, who had been repeatedly with me, told me that he was tired of the study of the Talmud, and had learned to see that all the rabbinical doctrines were the invention of men, with which he could not be satisfied any longer. He then begged of me to take him under protection against the Jews, instruct him in the Christian religion, and put him into the way of getting forward in general knowledge. I stated to him the importance of the step he was going to take, and the difficulties he would have to encounter in this way; but he remained firm in his resolution. As he had a little property, which he intrusted to me, I got him a lodging with a pious family, and began immediately to instruct him. Thus I had an opportunity, for nearly three weeks, to represent to him the saving knowledge of the Christian religion; and, besides, he read almost the whole of the day in the New Testament, and other Christian books. I had every reason to be satisfied with him, and the family too, where he lodged, gave him a good testimony. His disappearing, however, among the Jews made a great stir; and although he never appeared in the street, and other precautions had been taken that his lodging should not be known to the Jews, they soon found out that I had taken care of him, and at last they spied out his lodging too. Every day the Jews that came to me inquired after him; but in general they gave him a very good character that he was of a very respectable family, and well instructed in rabbinical knowledge. They all were

of opinion that he was baptized already, which of course I contradicted; but it gave me many opportunities to explain to them the real grounds on which alone a Jew may be lawfully baptized, and what instruction and probation must precede it. Thus I seemed to hope everything would end well. The young Jew had for some time had visits from Jewish acquaintances, and resisted their allurements and threats; and it was expected that he would soon give up his retirement and come to me for instruction, instead of my going to him, as I had hitherto done. But the heaviest attack was still behind. The Jews had lost no time in informing the father that his son had been baptized. He therefore set out, and came these several hundred miles in the greatest haste, to rescue his son, if possible. The first interview was truly affecting; neither of them could speak much. The father had, however, some consolation in seeing his son still in the Jewish dress, and hearing that he was not baptized yet. He repeated his visit the same day, and told his son that he would not by force prevent him from proceeding in the course he had entered upon, only he should not do it in this place, where so many Jews continually come who know him and all the family. He begged of him that he would accompany him home again, and having stayed there a little time, he should then be at liberty to go to another place in pursuance of his plan; so much obedience he owed to him as his son. He did not promise his father anything without having consulted with me first. But what could I do in this case? I told the young man that his own soul was concerned, he should pray to the Lord earnestly to direct him in what he is to do, and what way to go; that if he believed in Christ from the heart, and was convinced that there is no salvation except in him,

he of course must confess him before men, but that such confession was not exactly necessary in this place. He must not, however, expect to enter the kingdom of Heaven anywhere without difficulty, &c. When he visited me again a few days ago, he seemed almost resolved to accompany his father home, but assured me that the instructions I had given him should not be lost upon him; that he saw clearly, from the Bible, that the Messiah was come in Christ Jesus, and that he certainly hoped what he had begun would be accomplished, though he might not be permitted to do it here in Königsberg. He also assured me that he would take the New Testament and other little books with him; and I endeavoured to impress his mind with the solemn truths of the Bible respecting our salvation, to the last moment. It was indeed not without heartfelt sorrow that I parted from this nice young man.

"Another Jew declared that he had no business here in town this time, but had come merely for the purpose of being baptized. He looked respectable, and was rather better educated in general knowledge than most of the Russian Jews. But he said, as his transition to Christianity must be a secret to the Jews, he would thereby be deprived of the means of his support during the time of his instruction, and consequently gave me to understand plainly enough that he expected it from me. Now, if I had been able to observe that a real work of grace was begun in his heart, I might, perhaps, have found it possible to procure the necessary maintenance for him during the time of his instruction. But as this was not the case, and his applying for baptism seemed rather to be the effect of discontent with Judaism, I did not feel myself at liberty to engage with him, but told him that he should remain a Jew till he had

made himself better acquainted with the principles of the Christian religion, and thus come to the conviction, that he must embrace the faith of Christ if he would save his soul. Thus, after having entreated me again and again that I would receive him as a candidate for baptism, he went away. I know well enough that, acting in this manner, we do not all that we ought to do as Christians, and, to say the least, do not afford to the Jews full opportunity of becoming acquainted with the truths of the Gospel, and giving them a trial, if they will receive them, with the heart, or rather make a trial with them to see if the Spirit of God will work upon their hearts under the instruction given to them, and thus being prepared, profess Christ as their Saviour. But as matters stand at present, and no provision is made for entering upon such a trial, I do not know how to act otherwise than I acted in this case, and in many similar cases.

26. "This evening Isaac M. came to me. He is a native of Wilna, and well instructed in Talmudical learning. He told me that he had never before been in Prussia, but that he had received a Hebrew New Testament, and the tracts Nos. 8 and 9, from a Jew in Wilna, who had brought them from Königsberg. He was thereby led to examine into the truths of the Christian religion, and was satisfied that the Messiah was come in the person of Jesus Christ, and was, therefore, come here to be farther instructed and baptized. I found him pretty well acquainted with the New Testament, and the difference between the Jewish and Christian religion, and, as far as I can judge, he is a sincere and well-meaning Israelite. But, like almost all the scholars and teachers of the Talmud, he is poor, and in want of everything. And as he is about twenty

seven years old, and, by much reading, short-sighted, he is unfit to learn a trade, and, consequently, his prospect of future subsistence very dark. But what shall I do? For one or the other reason I have sent so many away already this year, who applied for baptism; and shall I send this one again, who, in all other respects, seems indeed very promising, except that he will want considerable assistance? By the help of God, I will try to do what I can to him and for him.

"Nov. 20.-I. M. has come to me, since his arrival here, more than once every day. We have read together in the Old and New Testament, and I pointed out to him, as much as possible, the proofs concerning the Messiahship of Jesus, and represented to him what is necessary on our part to become personally interested in his salvation. I have seen no reason to change my opinion of him; on the contrary, I seemed to see more and more that he is a sincere character, and the Spirit of God working in his heart. But as I could not lodge him myself, nor point out to him a lodging in a Christian family immediately when he came here, he was obliged to go to an inn where other Jews lodge. His sentiments and intentions were soon known to them, and this brought him not only into present troubles, but threatened to prepare still greater ones for him. Some Jews from the same place with him have declared that they will immediately write to his father, informing him of the steps of his son; which, no doubt, will bring him here without delay. M. honestly confessed he should not mind it so much, if he was already more settled and strengthened in the faith; but as he is but a beginner, he is afraid that the temptation might be too great for him, and prove dangerous. He therefore asked me if he could not go to Berlin, where he would