Some two or three years ago, amongst other inquirers, we had a very earnest young Jew who gave promise of becoming a very decided Christian. His mother, in Russia, having heard of the step her son was about to take, resolved to travel to England, even in the winter, to fetch her son. One of our missionaries, Mr. Adler, had quite a scene in his house on the arrival of the mother, whose tears and entreaties overcame the reluctant son. He must return with her, for he must take her home, as she would not go without him. He told the missionary, privately, that he was resolved to be a Christian, and should probably return to London.

We continued in prayer for him, and a few weeks ago Mr. Adler received the following letter :

'G——, Fast of Gedaliah, Sept. 8th, 1880. "MY DEAR MR. ADLER,-You have perhaps quite forgotten me by this time, and my letter will take you by surprise; but, believe me, dear sir, that I have by no means forgotten you. I often remember your great kindness towards me, and many a time I desired to write to you, but this seemed impossible. Since my return here, I am watched at every step; even when I am reading some book, it is examined as to whether its contents are strictly orthodox, and you well know our Jews-how they regard themselves as one community, and so each responsible for the other.

"When I first returned to G-, I was dreadfully persecuted wherever I went ; and even now they shout after me- Meshumed' (apostate), as much as if I had been baptized for ten years, and they look upon me as the leper who used to go about and cry 'Unclean, unclean!' I am not only persecuted by the pious, but also by the bad Jews; for the worst thinks himself better than I am, and by persecuting me, every one thinks he performs a meritorious act. But, believe me, dear sir, that all this serves only to confirm my faith in Jesus Christ as of a truth the Righteous Redeemer, because to His disciples He foretold that thus they (the Jews) would so treat His followers. But I can say, with King David, 'In my trouble, I cried unto the Lord, and He has heard my supplication.' In these trying times I read my Bible very much, and lift up mine eyes and my heart to God. Since I left London, I have read the New Testament very much, and I am now fully persuaded that Jesus of Nazareth is the true Redeemer, and that 'the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.'

"The Jews have now the 'fearful days,'* but they are not fearful to me. I know that I have nothing to dread, because I can say, 'I know that my Redeemer lives.' Since my return home, I have again seen the painted ones (Pharisees). I see much clearer how very far these people are from God, and we cannot wonder at it. They read the Gemarah, the Mishnah,

Days between the New Year's Day and the Day of Atonement.

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the Ein Jacobs, etc., and should they see anyone reading the Bible, they call him an Epicurean. My poor father is often asking me how I could do such a thing as to forsake the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and then I tell him that the Christians believe in the same God; but this he cannot understand, for he says the Christians worship stone and bone, for here we have only Catholics. I should very much like to return to England, but there are two obstacles in my way one is, that I am watched at every step; and the other is, that I cannot leave my poor parents, who are old and sick, and depend on me for support. I will remember the instruction you gave me, and what you said to me on parting. I should be very glad if the Lord sent you here as a missionary; you would have a large field of labour.

"Please write me a letter as to how you are getting on. My dear mother frequently speaks of you, and of the great kindness you showed to her. She is astonished that a converted Jew should be so kind towards his unconverted brethren; she does not know that Jesus Christ commands it in the New Testament. When you write to me, send-your letter to the Poste Restante. Remember me in your prayers. Give my kind regards to Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Halbmillion, and all dear friends.-Your grateful servant, "J. C."

This dear friend has a strong claim on the prayers of the Lord's people, that he may patiently bear reproach for Christ, prove a bright, consistent, and useful Christian, and be made instrumental in bringing many other Jews to Jesus, especially his aged parents.

Another case of deep interest. Mr. Adler says:

"In the early part of August, 1876, a registered letter from K——, in Galicia, bearing five seals, and the strange and indefinite address, 'To the praiseworthy Missionary Society in London,' arrived in our Metropolis. The postman, not knowing where to deliver it, gave the preference to the Church Missionary Society. It was found to be written partly in Hebrew, and partly in German. The outward seals were broken, but the contents seemed sealed still. The letter was passed on to one and another, till it found its way to the Secretary of the British Jews' Society. I was written to, and asked to translate it, and then to reply to it. I do not now remember the exact wording, of the letter, but from the copy of my reply which I still possess, I can recall to my mind that the writer found no heart rest in Judaism; and hoping he might find it in Christianity, he stretched out his hand to the Missionary Society for help. As a postscript there were four requests—(1) the reply should be written in Hebrew; (2) but if in German, with Roman letters; (3) it should be sent to some agent in Vienna, and from there to K——, in Galicia, in order that it should not bear the London postmark, and thus create suspicion, as London is noted as a place of missionary effort; and (4) that it should be registered.

"My reply was as follows:-'The Secretary of the

preachers of good tidings has requested me to reply to your letter, and to offer you some advice in your present perplexity. I have read your letter again and again, and am exceedingly glad that the Lord has poured out His Spirit upon you, that you may look on Him whom your forefathers pierced, and I trust that He will accomplish the good work He has begun in your heart. Our wise men say that "he who is desirous of being cleansed will have assistance from above." But allow me to tell you that your expression, "I should like to enter into a covenant with you, and to change my religion," pained me very much. We believe in the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and in His holy Law, given through Moses, His faithful servant, and through His holy servants the prophets. If you will read the New Testament, which contains the doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles, you will find that the difference between us and the rest of our Jewish brethren is, that Christ Jesus came in the flesh, not to enrich us with earthly goods, but to make an end of sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness (Dan. ix. 24). Our object is also to show to our Jewish brethren that the Talmud is not a ladder to heaven, and that it differs very much from the Law given to us on Mount Sinai. Like honey for sweetness are the words of the prophets to the soul, but bitter as gall and the waters of Marah is the Gemarah. Into the garden of God, amongst roses, the Prophets lead us; but amongst thorns and thistles the Rabbis. Therefore, my dear friend, you have not to change your religion, but to return to the true God, and the pure religion, and that is none other than the religion of Christ. If you will carefully examine the Law and the Prophets, you will find that I and all other believers in Jesus of Nazareth are in the right. Now let me say that if you earnestly and truthfully desire to find shelter beneath the wings of our Redeemer, why come to London? We think it would be much better for you to go to Lemberg or to Cracrow, places which are near to you, rather than to a place of which your forefathers did not know. In the abovenamed places you will find missionaries, and I trust that there also you will find rest to your soul. Should they not be able to shelter you, then you can come to London, and the Lord will surely not forsake you. I subjoin the addresses of the missionaries at Lemberg and Cracow.'

"From a letter I received from him a few months after, it appeared that he had applied to one of these missionaries; but as the missionary was about changing his station, he advised him to go to London. The persecution meanwhile became hotter every day, till it became unbearable. In that letter he says: 'As my family connections here are large, perhaps it is in your power to point me out a place of refuge where the Jews are not so numerous. I am thinking of selling my clothes, to get a hundred florins, which would defray

my expenses. Once more I pray you to help me to reach my object, that I may find help and salvation for my soul, and be sheltered under the shadow of our Redeemer.'

"In March, 1878," Mr. Adler continues, "I received another letter, from which I give the following extract - Dear Friend,-I cannot leave this matter unfinished. Once you wrote to me the saying of our wise men, that "if any one comes to be cleansed, a helping hand is stretched out to him." I have searched and examined the faith of our Messiah Jesus Christ thoroughly, and my heart is longing for that religion, not for the sake of obtaining wealth or honour (both of these I have tasted), but I am longing to find gladness of soul.'

"As I could not, at the time, see why he should come to England, I wrote again to him to dissuade him from coming, and since then I have heard no more of him till a few days ago.

"On Wednesday, October 6th, on entering my house, I found two young men waiting for me, and on asking them what they wished to say, one replied, 'My name is S―, from K—, to whom you wrote several letters. The Lord has at last brought me to London.' And pointing to his companion, he said, 'And this is a friend of mine who is of the same mind with me. Both of us desire to become Christians.'

"We had prayer together, and some conversation about peace and rest in Christ, and then, without a promise to do anything for them, I sent them away. The next day I received from them a letter as follows: -Influenced by the love of the Christian religion, which love is engraven on the altar of our hearts, we have forsaken everything, and have come to London, the fountain of living water, to knit our hearts to the religion of our Messiah and King, who is now standing at the throne of the Almighty, surrounded by seraphim; and now five days have passed, and we seem no nearer to the object of our heart's desire.'"

The following morning, October 8th, Mr. Adler brought these two sons of Abraham to my study, and through his aid I conversed with them for about an hour, setting forth the truth of God's Word respecting sin, condemnation, atonement, and the ground of a sinner's peace. They drank in the truth most eagerly, and then bowed their knees in prayer. Though respectably dressed, their money was all gone in getting here, and I could not refuse a helping hand. We at once put them into humble lodgings in Mildmay. They are now under Mr. Adler's instruction, and we ask earnest prayer that the Lord would bring them to Christ, and make them burning and shining lights. One is about twentyeight years of age, and the other twenty-three. The former has been in the business of an ironmonger and grocer, and the latter a teacher.

They have been received into the "Men's Night

School" at the Conference Hall, and have commenced

their lessons in English.

We ask the prayers of the Lord's people for blessing on the distribution amongst the Jews throughout Europe, of picture cards with passages of Scripture in Hebrew, others with the passages in Hebrew and English, and others in Hebrew and German. The passages set forth the way of salvation, and the pictures illustrate the truths taught. They are beautiful and attractive. We have a large quantity of the three kinds, and shall be glad to supply them at one shilling and sixpence per hundred. In this way many of the Lord's people, at little expense and trouble, can help on the Lord's work amongst Israel, by sending these cards by post to the Jews resident in their own towns and cities, not only in Great Britain but also on the Continent.

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It has been laid much on the hearts of some of the friends of Israel, that a Prayer Union for Israel" should be formed to seek by constant and united prayer to bring down awakening and converting power on testimony to Israel; to stir up Christians to seek out the Jews in their own localities, and speak to them of Christ; to beseech the Lord to lay Israel's interests on the hearts of Christian ministers and people, by leading them to a prayerful study of His revealed mind and of the Christian's duty respecting Israel. To inaugurate this Union a meeting for prayer and conference was held on Tuesday afternoon, October the

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12th, in No. 6 Room, at the Conference Hall, Mildmay Park.

An account of this movement, giving terms of membership, will shortly be given to the Christian public, and we pray that thousands of the "Lord's remembrancers" may be found frequently at the throne of grace responding to the Divine call, to "give Him no rest till He establish and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth." The Church has sadly neglected Israel, and as to prayer and effort is sadly in arrears. The debt should be cheerfully paid. A great awakening amongst the Jews would revive the Church, rebuke the infidelity of the Gentile, be a blessing to the world, and would bring great glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us then unitedly cry, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live." "O Lord, save Thy people, the

remnant of Israel."

At the suggestion of a Christian lady at the Westend of London, we are about to give two lectures to the higher classes of Jews, on the Messiah ship of Jesus, as proved from the Old Testament Scriptures, to be delivered at the Talbot Tabernacle, on the first and third Monday evenings in November; and we now ask the very earnest prayers of the Lord's people for abundant blessing on these efforts. Jews will be invited by private cards, but Christians may attend without tickets. "Our heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved."

JOHN WILKINSON.

FEMALE WORKERS' ASSOCIATION. The Quarterly Meeting of the Association was held on Oct. 7th, in Room No. 6; Mrs. Charlesworth presiding in the absence of Mrs. Pennefather, for whose complete restoration earnest prayer was offered. The subject," God's recompences in time and in eternity," was given in our last. Though Foreign Missionary work was less widely represented than on some occasions, interesting particulars were furnished by Mrs. Perkins, proving the value of the Association in India, where, from the isolation and sparse numbers of Christian workers, links of Christian fellowship are specially prized. The coming winter's work was earnestly commended to God, and prayer made for increased consecration on the part of the workers.

YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION AND INSTITUTE UNION. The Autumn Council Meeting was held October 13, in No. 6 Room, Conference Hall. In the muchregretted absence of Mrs. Pennefather, Mrs. Codner presided, and opened with prayer, after which she read Ps. cxxvi. The Secretary read the minutes of last meeting, and stated that in response to the appeal then made for a Deficit Fund of

£100, three members of the Council had collected about £23. Amongst the points discussed were, the great importance of providing more protection for young women, such as respectable lodgings near railway stations (a scheme already carried out in Manchester). The need of these is especially felt in London. Attention was called to a placard, published at the office of The Christian, of “Friendly Warnings to young women. It was resolved to get up drawing-room meetings in our large towns, with a view to promoting interest and raising funds for lodging houses, etc. The need for extending the work of the Home and Registry Department is increasingly felt. A paper from Miss Harford Battersby was read, reporting the progress of the Provident Department. Mrs. Darwin Fox spoke of the work of the Evangelization Department, and mentioned the need long felt, of a "visitor❞ among the "select classes," i.e., the young women connected with Sunday Schools in the Lancashire and Yorkshire manufacturing districts. A suitable person was mentioned; but for this, as well as for other branches of the work, extra funds are needed.-L. M.

earth of ours which are all the more remarkable because they have been at once the scene of the homeliest labours and the most heroic exploits. Like Hougomont, that Belgian farmhouse where raged the thickest of the battle of Waterloo-or an Italian inn, alive with waiters, omnibuses, and tables-d'hôtes, where the disfigured windows and shot-pierced walls denote one of Garibaldi's fiercest conflicts with the Austrians.

At Pas-dammim we find just such a combination of the homely and the heroic (1 Chron. xi. 13, 14). It is called Ephes-dammim in the margin, which leads us to compare 1 Sam. xvii. 1. There we find that in that neighbourhood, on a memorable day, the Philistines pitched on the one mountain-Israel on the other; and in a valley between, Goliath strode forth, and David, the solitary stripling, hastened to meet and slay him. Fifteen years later, in the same locality-perhaps in the same valley-David, the mighty man of valour, with Eliezer the mighty son of Dodo, fought against the Lord's enemies. What a homely spot a parcel of barley ground! Busy hands had dug and sown it-peaceful hands helped to reap it. But it was just "there" that the Philistines gathered; not on the

wooded slopes of the valley, but "there," in the patch of cultivated ground. From it, too, the people had "fled "-even the "men of Israel" (2 Sam. xxiii. 9). So Eliezer was left alone, with the one grand exception-" he was with David." "There," too, in the very midst of the barley, they "set themselves "(in the margin, "stood "); the word implying taking up a station deliberately for a purpose an idea well sustained by the contemporary statement, "they defied the Philistines," and recalling the "stand" or "set" of Ephes. vi. 11, 13, 14. They were not tempted out of this parcel like our brave soldiers at Isandula. They remained in the barley field till they delivered "it" and slew its invaders. No easy task for Eliezer, though he was "with" his anointed king. Yet, in spite of weary and cleaving hand, the deliverance came not from the mighty sons of Jesse and Dodo-it was "the LORD that wrought a great victory that day."

For the Christian worker the lessons of Pas-dammim are invaluable. Do any say, "Oh! we are workers, not warriors. These lessons are specially for spiritual warfare ?" There would be better Christian work, and more successful Christian workers, if each of