THE THREE JEWISH CHILDREN.

MORE than a century ago-it was about the 1 year 1717-there lived, at Berlin, a Jew whose name was Isaac Veits. He had three daughters, who, as they played about the doors, got acquainted with the children of a Christian, that lived in a garret above them. This Christian was a soldier, who, with his wife, feared the Lord; and when the little Jewish girls used to come upstairs, and listen to their family prayers, and their hymns of praise, they were made very welcome. At this time, the age of the

eldest girl was twelve, her name was Sprintz. Her two sisters were named Gattel and Esther; the one ten years of age, the other only eight.

One day they told the soldier's wife that they wished to be Christians. The Holy Ghost, who teaches savingly, had been opening their souls, and shewing them Jesus. Nothing would satisfy them but that she should take them to speak with Mr. Kahman, the Lutheran minister of St. Mary's church. She did so, and left them to talk with the minister. And now the fire which God had kindled began to burst forth.

The eldest girl, Sprintz, told Mr. K. how she and her two little sisters had come to be protected by him, "because they had a great desire to have part with Jesus of Nazareth, the true God who died for them." She said also, that it was sincere love to that crucified One that constrained them to leave their parents' roof. The minister, however, surprised at this extraordinary sight-three little girls of their own accord leaving all for Christ!!-began to think that they had been ill-used by their parents. He, therefore, advised them to go home again, and be very obedient. Upon this, all three flung themselves at his feet, beg. ging him to receive them "in the name of Jesus, whom they loved and adored." They said again, that nothing in the world had led them to leave home but their desire to

be Christ's children. They all declared, "We are resolved rather to die than to leave our Jesus."

The minister now agreed to take them into his house; and he then sat down and wrote an account of the matter to the king, who was in the city, asking if the parents should be allowed to interfere with their children. He had scarcely done this, when the parents, missing their children, began a search for them all over the town. After some time, they were directed to Mr. Kahman's house. No sooner did they enter than they demanded their children. But he calmly told them what had happened, and what he had done; and while the parents were still with him, there arrived from the king four ministers, whom he had sent to inquire into the matter.

It was now arranged that the children should be examined by these four commissioners, but that the parents should be so near as to overhear every word, without being seen. The three little girls were then brought in, and again told their desire not to go home, but to "become Christians, and children of eternal salvation." But what did they know of this salvation? They could not read; they never had been at any such school as our young people are privileged to attend; how could they know I about salvation? They were asked; and in reply repeated very solemnly, the Lord's Prayer, many hymns, and many passages

out of the New Testament. The youngest of them, little Esther, repeated the chief Articles of the Christian Faith. They said they had learnt most of these things when at play with the children of Christians. Yes, He who shall teach savingly "the boys and girls that shall play in the streets of Jerusalem," (Zech. viii. 5.) had taught them in the midst of their recreations.

They were then told that they would meet with very much to try them, if they became Christians; nay, that even Christians might despise and forsake them; and they would have to work very hard to procure a livelihood. Upon this they all said, that "they would work till the very blood spurted out of their nails, if only they might be made children of eternal salvation; and if they were not happy in this world, they would be so in the world to come. They were asked, " But would you not rather live comfortably? your father and mother will take you home, and they have fine clothes ready for each of you. They replied, "The clothes must remain in this world; but we wish to be children of eternal salvation."

Thus far had they stood unmoved. Their parents were now brought in: they spoke to their girls with tears, and kissed them tenderly, and asked them to come back. The children were amazed, and wept much; but still they were stedfast. Especially Gattel, whom her mother pres

sed very much to go home with her, answered, "No; but you, mother, ought rather to become a Christian too." They then sought to hide themselves behind the ministers ; but the ministers, in order to try them more, pushed them back, saying, they did very ill to be unkind to their parents. The mother then implored them to remember the duty they owed to her and their father. The father then began to sigh and to weep, and to lift up his hands to heaven, upbraiding them for their conduct. But the Lord, who commands us to obey our parents in the Lord," (Eph. vi. 1.) and who told us that if we love father or mother more than him, we are not his disciples," (Matt. x. 37.) that that same Lord, by his Holy Spirit, was keeping the hearts of these little ones. The mother, who was a talkative woman, at length burst out into threatenings on them for obstinacy and disobedience; and ended by actually pouring out her curse upon them.

All this was very terrible to these three helpless children; they said that they still loved their parents, and were sensible of their duty to them, but only they could not give up Christ by returning with them. O blessed children of faithful Abraham! They "endured as seeing Him who is invisible," (Heb. xi. 27.) and have their names put on the roll with the "elders who obtained a good report through faith."