TRUSTING AND TOILING. all in accordance with the Old Testament. He honoured the law of Moses, and said, 'If ye believe Moses, ye will believe Me, for he wrote of Me.' 'He spake as never man spake.' How profound, yet how simple, is His teaching as He makes use in illustration of the fox, the bird, the tree, or the lily of the field! What do you think of Jesus as a miracle worker? Do you think that God would lend His power to a deceiver? Do you think that a man who was not sent of God could do the things He did? He made the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear; He cleansed the lepers, and raised the dead. How do you account for this if Jesus was not the Messiah? Oh, my friends, He is the very Christ! Will you not come now and believe in Him? "And you, little children, what think you of Christ? You have just been singing, 'Lead me to Jesus!' Do you know much about Him? Do you know that He was born a Babe in Bethlehem, and afterwards became a little Boy like some of you, only without sin, for He never did anything to displease His Father? And do you know that when He became a Man, He took little children in His arms and blessed them? Will you not come to Him, and learn to love Him? "Now I will tell you why I came to Him and accepted Him as my Saviour. Many of my Jewish friends frequently ask me why I committed so great a sin as to embrace Christianity. I will tell you. I was brought up in Poland. My father and mother, who are both still alive, are very religious. My dear mother has been ill in bed ever since she heard of my conversion. In early life my mind was often exercised with the thought, How can a man be justified in the sight of God? and how can two walk together except they be agreed?' I knew well that I was a sinner, that God is holy, and that 'the soul that sinneth it shall die.' I wished to know how I could be reconciled to God. My father told me 'by keeping the law.' I tried to do so. If there is one here who has worked hard for salvation and failed to find it, it is I. I was very strict in attention to my prayers, and in the study of the Talmud. I used to sit up sometimes all night, specially on Thursday nights, to study tradition, and did all I could to cover my sins with the filthy rags of my own righteousness. But my conscience was not at rest, and I feared death. Once when I was ill, and the doctors gave little hope of my recovery, I asked my mother where I should go to if I were to die. She said, 'To heaven, if you are a good boy.' 'Well, mother,' I said, 'I shall never get there, for I am not good.' I was in this state when, by the providence of God, I reached England. "I cannot relate all the details of the Lord's leadings with me, in the five or ten minutes I am given to-night. A short time after I arrived in Hull, I met a converted Jew. I did not then know what a Christian meant. I did not know who Jesus was. I had 217 some notions about Christianity being an idolatrous religion. I thought, as many of you think now, that no Jew could be converted. This man began speaking to me about the God of Israel, so I thought he must be a Jewish Rabbi, and I promised to write to him, and see him. I got into great trouble when the Jews found out that I was writing to him. They warned me against him, telling me he was a Meshummed (apostate) and a perverter of the Jews. After this, when I met him in the street, I used to avoid him and hide myself, fearing he might have power mechanically to convert me. And so the time went on till, in the providence of God, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Adler came to Hull; and there was a great stir among the Jews there about these missionaries coming to convert the people. The first time I saw Mr. Wilkinson, was in the carpenter's shop where I was at work. He stopped with me for about half an hour repeating and explaining Isaiah liii. in the Hebrew. I found Christianity was something different from what I had supposed it to be. I next went to see Mr. Wilkinson at the Temperance Hotel, and stayed three hours. Mr. Adler spoke to me from the Bible, and showed me that Jesus is the Messiah of the Old Testament, and concluded by saying, if we do not believe in the Son of God, we are 'condemned already.' I thought to myself' I know then that I am condemned, but must I believe in the despised Nazarene for the salvation of my soul?' I went home that night troubled in my mind, and had the Bible open before me till the morning, searching the Scriptures to 'see if these things were so.' I felt restless and unsatisfied. I left my place where I had worked for two years and went to Manchester, where I got employment in a large firm, but I could not rest. I wanted to know something more of this Jesus. I once asked the foreman of the shop if he could tell me something of Him, for I thought all Gentiles must be Christians; but he only laughed at me. I then left Manchester and came to London, and met with Mr. Wilkinson, who, with Mr. Adler, was used of God in bringing me to Christ. And now, my dear friends, I can speak well of this Jesus. I know now, and have known for two years past, what it is to have daily and hourly a personal living Christ. I know in my heart that He is 'the Christ, the Son of God.' Come to this Saviour and believe in Him. Search the Scriptures, and ask God to open your eyes to behold the wonders contained in His law, and He will show you that in the volume of the book it is written of Him." After these two brief and soul-stirring addresses, a son of our Jewish Bible-woman, Gustave Borst, repeated correctly the fifteenth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. A Jewish girl then sang a hymn, with the rest joining in the chorus; and a tiny child repeated the twenty-third Psalm. Mr. Adler and Mr. Halbmillion then gave testimony for Christ from their personal experience as Christian Israelites. Mr. Halbmillion said: “My dear brethren and sisters of the house of Israel, I have often had the privilege of speaking to you of Jesus and His love, for which I thank God; but I have never spoken to you of my conversion. I was much struck with the question put to you--'What think ye of Christ?' This question was asked eighteen hundred years ago, and has often been asked since, and will be asked till He comes again. To have a true knowledge of Christ we must first have some knowledge of ourselves. Had our nation possessed this knowledge of themselves they would not have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. The question, my brethren, after all is not so much what we think of ourselves, as what God thinks of us. As to myself I found that I was a guilty sinner before God. I will now tell you what I think of Christ. I shall ever regret to the end of my life the years I spent without Him. Since I have been brought by God's grace to the knowledge of Jesus as my sinbearer according to Scripture, and to realize that on Him was laid the iniquity of us all, I have had peace with God and rest for my soul, yea, joy and peace in believing. I must hasten to tell you how the Lord brought me in His own way to know Jesus. You have heard that our beloved friend, Mr. Wilkinson, gave me five minutes in which to speak to you. I assure you, my dear brethren, that I could speak to you for hours, and even days, of Jesus and His love, without telling all I know of Him. "Our father Jacob sent his sons into Egypt to buy bread, but with me it was the reverse. I lived in Egypt, and while there it pleased the Lord to afflict my wife, so dear to me. I said to her, 'I have heard that there is a skilful English doctor in Jerusalem, let us go up there and see him, that thou mayest live and not die.' We came to Jerusalem and received unexpectedly the warmest kindness from Dr. Chaplin and from other Christian friends. This kindness broke me down, and it was in Jerusalem that we found Jesus the true Physician for our souls, and in Him we have abounding grace. I therefore beseech you, dear brethren, to search the Scriptures, and pray with David, 'Lord, open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.'" Mr. Adler then gave his testimony in German as follows: My dear brethren and sisters, you have had the question put to you, 'What think ye of Christ?' I have to ask you three short, but very important questions. The Hebrew word for Christ is Mashiach, or Messiah. We, as Jews, make this confession every day in our morning prayers, that 'I believe in the coming of the Messiah; and although He delays to come, still I believe that He will come,' etc. Now the questions respecting the advent of the Messiah are these when, where, and what for? These are questions you should ask yourselves every time you repeat the above words. You may say we have only to believe that a Messiah will come as taught by our forefathers; but that would be only a blind belief, and God wishes us to have a reason for our faith. We do not ask you blindly to accept what the Christians or the missionaries tell you. The only authority by which we are able to decide these questions is the Bible, the Book of God. You and I agree that this book was given by Him, and that without it we have no means of knowing Him. "Let me direct your attention to two passages in the Bible. The Prophet Amos tells us, 'Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.' Again, the prophet Isaiah saith, 'Search ye out of the book of the Lord, and read, No one of these shall fail.' Now, all questions respecting the Messiah must be answered by the Bible, and it is by looking there that you will find the answers to my three questions. You will see in it that the Messiah was to come to save sinners such as we are, that He was to open a way for us to God, and that He was to come before the staff of government passed away from Judah. That, according to Micah, He was to be born in Bethlehem, and according to Isaiah liii. and Daniel ix. He was to suffer for our sins. Now, my dear brethren, if you will accept the advice of the prophet Isaiah, and search in the book of the Lord, you will find in it a perfect photograph of the Lord Jesus, in whom you may find rest and peace for your souls. We Hebrew Christians stand before you as living witnesses to the truth just uttered; it is through Christ, and through Him alone, that we can call God our Father. One more remark. You confess every day, ‘I believe in the coming of the Messiah; and although He delays to come,' etc. : thus you admit that the time of Messiah's advent belongs to the past. Now, why not accept Christ, who is undoubtedly the Mashiach-Jehovah-the Messiah of the Lord?" The united testimony of these four Christian Jews was listened to with the deepest interest, and we could not but hope as well as pray for blessing. The children then sang, "O come to Jesus now," which seemed to touch many hearts; after which Dr. Dixon, our Medical Missionary, and Mr. Mum mery, our Dispenser, offered prayer; then a closing hymn was sung, and the benediction followed. After this we again adjourned to the garden for an hour's play with the children. About 8.45, we gathered for a final hymn and brief prayer on the grounds. The children then entered the vans, and amid singing and shouting started on their return journey to Whitechapel, whilst their parents returned by train and tram. There was quite a scene at the Leman Street Station as Mr. Adler gave out the railway tickets, for representatives of the Jewish authorities were at the station, trying, by persuasions and threats, to prevent the people going. Several were frightened, and ran up the stairs, leaving their tickets behind them; others left the station, and came by tram another way. THE CONFERENCE HALL, MILDMAY PARK. He Amongst our guests were some well-dressed Jewish ladies, whom one of our Bible-women had induced to come to the meeting, and they seemed to enter into all the proceedings with mingled amazement and pleasure. Getting into close conversation with the very poor ones, some painfully interesting histories were related. Here is a young man twenty-one years of age sitting on a bench, let us turn aside and speak to him. He is a slipper-maker by trade; knows Hebrew well; has been a Chazan or reader in a synagogue; has attended Bible-readings in Liverpool; has heard something of Christ, and longs to know more. came a few days ago to London to try his fortune, but has failed to get work. A friend gave him sixpence yesterday, which he spent for a lodging in a public-house. "What have you eaten to-day?" I asked. "Nothing, I would rather starve than beg; I trust the Lord, and He will find me something. If I could only get a little material for making slippers, I could sell them, and get a living." "Here is a shilling for your immediate need. Come to my house to-morrow morning, and I will lend you a sovereign for material, which you must return by payments of one shilling a week." Poor fellow ! he was overjoyed at his brightening prospects. I found another Jew alone in a corner of the premises, afraid to come into the garden because he was so poor and badly dressed, although he possessed a ticket for the tea and a railway ticket also. He felt ashamed to join the company. He had left his family in South Africa, hoping to better himself in England. 219 I told him he had come at my invitation, and he should have a welcome and a good tea. The poor man paid close attention to the addresses and to the singing. The day was a bright and happy one. The children reached home in safety. One kind friend gave the use of the vans without charge, and another the tea and sugar. The deaconesses rendered loving service throughout the evening. We cannot doubt that, in answer to many prayers that went up for this meeting, our faithful God will give, yea, has already given, His blessing, and will bring glory to His own name by this annual gathering of our Jewish brethren. JOHN WILKINSON. Contributions for the "Mildmay Mission to the Jews" may be sent either to John Wilkinson, 79, Mildmay Road, N., or to J. E. Mathieson, Esq., Conference Hall, Mildmay Park, N. OBJECTS. 1. The General Mission Fund. 3. The Poor-converted and unconverted-spe- 4. Clothes of every description. 5. For Mr. Wilkinson's personal use. All sums intended for Mr. Wilkinson's personal use should be distinctly stated as such, otherwise the doubt will be given in favour of the General Fund. It is generally known that Mr. Wilkinson takes no salary from the Conference Hall nor from the Mission Fund, and has no private means. The Conference Hall, Mildmay TREASURER AND DIRECTOR.- 1, Finsbury Circus. Park. BANKERS.-Messrs. FULLER, BANBURY, NIX, & MATHIESON. Mildmay Park, London, N. SUBSCRIPTIONS & DONATIONS from 17th June to 15th July, 1880. FOR WORK IN DIRECT June CONNECTION WITH THE 19 G. W. CONFERENCE HALL. June 21 Collection (Hall)... 3 11 O Ls. d. Miss F. 17 M. A. W............. I O s. d. June o 29 M. H. S. ......100 O O Mrs. A....... s. ΙΟ 2 I 2 3 2 18 2 2 2 O O 2 I Col. (Balls Pnd. Rd.) o 8 10 A. G. L. Mrs. H. Mrs. C.... 2 22 Miss B... Ο ΙΟ о 5 0 I JO 0 15 o 23 Collection (Hall)... 70 15 O 3 II 18 Men's Class..... 0 15 3 E. B. Mrs. D. Class..... Bible Do. do. Boys' School Coll. (Balls Pnd. Rd.) o Per E. A. S. Thankoffering. "Christian" Balls Pond Mission School 0 24 Do. do. 22 5 2 46 17 W. B. Do. Do. do. do. ... ... Do. do. Miss G. (6d. Card) 7 Mrs. L. 40009 00000 19 Coll. (Iron Room) o 8 Do. do. 26 19 10 55 17 ...114 O ... 022580 54 5 26 Do. (Iron Room) o Miss F. REV. JOHN WILKINSON gratefully acknowledges the receipt of the following sums for THE READERS OF THIS MAGAZINE are particularly requested to promote its circulation by every means in their power. Their kind aid in making it widely known will be gratefully appreciated. PRICELESS are the gleanings concerning are the gleanings concerning the life and sayings of the Master gathered, apart from Gospel records, from the incidental and supplementary notices of His followers. "It is more blessed to give than to receive," handed down by His disciples as one among the golden sayings marking an intercourse of undying reminiscences, has, from age to age, been chronicled as the key-note of New Testament giving. In the "even Christ pleased not Himself," wherewith the apostle enforced the Christian service of every one's pleasing his neighbour "for his good to edification," we seem to hear the echo of a familiar password interchanged among the little band who, in desert wanderings and homelessness, were accustomed to behold their Leader among them as the servant, and to recognize, in His choice of the lowest place and the humblest fare, the living out of His own proclamation-" The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." But, not to enlarge upon this point, for the revelation of His daily watchword, of the saying recognized alike by friends and foes as that wherewith His course and conversation were, so to speak, identified, we turn to a prophetic picture so vivid in its imagery that in every detail we behold what still lay in the far future Calvary and the Cross. Our Psalm is, " To the chief musician ON THE HIND OF THE MORNING." Passing over this title, we lose the clue to the graphic portrayal of the victim quivering in its final agony, done to death by the enemies who, as bulls (Ps. xxii. 12), lions (vers. 13, 21), dogs (vers. 16, 20), bisons (translated unicorns, ver. 21), surround it with fury and triumph. And, enveloped in the taunt which, in the malignity of its selection, must, as involving the honour of His Father, have rung with more bitterness than any other in the ears of the forsaken One, we read the life-motto of the Redeemer. "They shoot out the lip, and shake the head. 'ROLL IT ON THE LORD!' Then let Him rescue Him if He will have Him." * "They taunt the Sufferer," writes the Hebraist from whom we borrow, "with a pious phrase He had been in the habit of using. 'He has got at last,' they mean, 'an opportunity of testing His maxim.'" "Roll it on the Lord!"-the Master's motto-word-that with which, before men, He met the daily griefs and difficulties, the isolation, the loneliness, the problems, the suffer * Literal translation. See Dr. Kay in loc. |