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occasioned some reflections on the difference between the Jews and the Christians. Meditations upon the Messiah of the Jews, and that Jesus whom he heard of in his conversation with children educated in the Christian Religion, brought him so far, that he proposed several childish questions, which were the result thereof, to his Jewish master. The latter observing these doubts in his scholar, strove to prevent their increase, by informing him that he must not ask any questions about such things. "Whom am I then to ask? You are, at all events, my instructor," was the answer of the unsatisfied scholar. Upon this, the master first expressed his dissatisfaction; but observing that stronger means must be used, he put into his hands that infamous libel, called, my, or, The History of Jesus, in the Hebrew language, published with the intent of strengthening, through gross calumny, the prejudices of the Jews against our Saviour. This conduct of the master, and palpable malice of the said libel, increased suspicion, and excited curiosity more strongly to read the accounts of that Jesus in the books held sacred by the Christians.

,מעשה ישר

*

Some time after that he succeeded, with much trouble, in pro viding himself, secretly, with a New Testament, through the medium of a worthy Christian woman who worked at his aunt's as a sempstress. He perused it with the greatest cagerness, he soon found the amazing difference between its contents and those of the before-mentioned work, which caused him to peruse and re-peruse it with much pleasure, as frequently as it was possible for him to do it secretly. The more he read it, the more were his ideas of the religion of his fathers increased and strengthened. With redoubled devotion, and a new sort of curiosity, he began to search for further light, by reading the writings of the Prophets; with the intention of thereby bringing the expectations of his nation respecting the Messiah to the touchstone.

Having, by stealth, continued these researches in the more advanced period of his youth, he became more and more involved in a serious perplexity what to believe; which was increased by reason of his not daring to open his heart to others; and from those to whom he did discover himself, by hints, he received no proper instruction. His heart under all this was heavily depressed, as, by his increase in years, he began to feel the importance of the aflair; so that, by the uneasiness of his mind, he was often com pelled to pray fervently to God, who knew his heart; and that it was oppressed to know the truth, in order to enlighten him and relieve him out of this insupportable state of uncertainty, that he might arrive at that sound knowledge to which he might cleave as the truth.

With the increase of this seriousness, new objections and dif ficulties arose in his mind; he resolved, therefore, to begin anew

*This blasphemous book is generally read by the Jews on Christmas Eve; when they are not allowed to read any of their own religious books, but employ themselves in amusements.

CONVERSION OF MR. LAPIDOTI.

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from the commencement of his researches. With this, and the reading every thing out of the systems of the Jews, and their sacred writings, which throw any light upon it, a considerable portion of his leisure hours passed away. His reverence for the New Testament in the mean time greatly increased; and the lifeless devotion which he observed among his own people, struck him more and more; their ceremonies gradually lost their value in his esteem, and became contemptible to him. The great day of atonement, particularly, was air evident contradiction to the prevailing ideas of his mind and the serious sensations of his heart; for, through the little light he had already acquired of the truth of the Christian Religion, there remained nothing with which he could satisfy himself. After this, entering into a laborious and busy way of life, and obliged to take long journies into other countries, the opportunity and inclination to continue his researches were subject to accidental hindrances. He experienced the great injury which the calling of a merchant occasioned to the important duties of devotion; and he had often, in moments of serious meditation, to reproach himself with slowness or culpable indifference.

Afterwards, having enjoyed greater opportunities of conversing with Christians, and now and then attending their places of worship, he discovered a greater inclination towards Christianity; more especially when the bustle of business and the overpowering effects of prosperity exerted less influence in prejudicing the thoughts of his heart, which continually arose with fresh power. This inclination was at length so strong, that he firmly resolved not to marry any person, but one whose ideas on this subject accorded with his own. Several proposals of marriage being made to him by his friends, as is the custom among the Jews, he rejected them; and at length fixed his affections on his present wife, Sarah de Jonge, in whose heart, at that time, the like doubts began to arise. He considered, therefore, that he should have some one to whom he could confide these most important secrets of his heart, and who could share them with him. With thanksgiving he revered herein the direction of the Divine Providence; and the important discourses they had with each other convinced him more and more, that the same ideas and wishes filled her mind also. The spirit of enquiry was hereby sensibly encouraged, but continually met with impediments, in reflections on the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, on what Christians believe of the Trinity, and the complete purity and infallibility of the New Testament. His heart thereby much tormented; and he would have reckoned himself happy, if he could have believed that which as yet it seemed impossible for him to believe. Nevertheless he, as well as his wife, lost all inclination to the Jewish doctrine; and their ceremonies and form of worship even excited disgust; their manner

was

of living also, now began to differ much from that of the Jews.

Beside, in consequence of the prosperous course of his affairs, and the cares of a family, which were rapidly increasing, that sincere earnestness and entire resignation of heart which, amidst so many doubts, were in his situation necessary to arrive at the full light of truth and peace of mind, again became weak and faint. The liveliness of his disposition, how advantageous soever it might be in the serious moments of his life, threw many stumbling blocks in his way, and occasioned no small injury; it caused him often to do injury to himself. Hence, he often contradicted the convictions of his heart, and was brought into that whirlpool, which can be conceived of only by those who know by painful experience, the surprizing counteraction of our corrupt nature to that which is good.

The succeeding adversities of his life brought him, under the direction of the Divine Providence, into a school of experience. better fitted for his improvement. In consequence of extensive commercial connexions with France, after experiencing many other misfortunes, he became the sacrifice of the covetousness and tyranny with which the famed reign of terror (by means of the guillotine) appropriated to itself the property of the best commercial houses in the country; and his, till then prosperous, circumstances received such unexpected and fatal shocks as occasioned his complete ruin. His repeated efforts to recover himself, by undertaking other affairs, altogether miscarried, notwithstanding the best prospects, owing to the unfavourable circumstances of the times and the war; and every thing conspired together to give a turn decisively unfavourable to his worldly affairs.

However distracting these circumstances frequently were, they were notwithstanding, proper in themselves, and appear to have been made use of by a higher hand, continually to enliven his devout affections, and to give him, in seeking peace of mind in religion, strength according to his day. Not only did the pa rents feel this necessity for themselves, but the sensation of it had much influence also in the education of their children. Instructed both by prosperity and adversity, and more and more strengthened in an earnest solicitude to discover the true way to solid happiness, they endeavoured to impress similar ideas and sentiments on the minds of their children from their very infancy. They meant to let their understandings take their free course; but held it, at the same time, their parental duty, in proportion to their years and capacity, not to conceal from them their own real sentiments, and with all their power to impress on them the same. love of truth, and esteem for virtue and goodness, on which they themselves set the greatest value.

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Their manner of life, which began more and more to differ from that of the Jews, and the particular way of bringing up their children, became from time to time the more obvious, and led them to a more familiar conversation with Christians, by which they obtained a more distinct knowledge respecting the difficulties which they found in some principal points; they also became acquainted with some good and useful books adapted to their circumstances; and thus they were further strengthened in their conviction of the excellence of Christianity.

We scarcely need observe, that in proportion as these their views, and the manner of life resulting from them, became publicly known, it could not but occasion an unfavourable impres sion on the minds of their own nation and relations. However, as long as their conviction and sentiments had not arrived at such a maturity as that a final transition to Christianity was with much probability to be feared, this unfavourable impression was not so prejudicial with their rich relations, on whose sect, and their support, they, in their adversity, were entirely dependent; but, on the contrary, they were, by a well-regulated and liberal supply of their nearest relations, and by various promises, threats, and connexions of importance, together with their large family, deterred from taking that decisive step which the Jewish nation, as is well known, is accustomed to consider as the greatest scandal and infamy.

Notwithstanding this, their convictions increased, and became more firm. The nothingness of all sublunary things, of which their former life, in prosperity and adversity, had afforded such striking instances, sunk deeper and deeper into their hearts; their present situation gave now more opportunity and fitness of heart to feel the want of true peace of mind, and to seek it in better things; no wonder then, that by the further clearing up of objections, the desire of their hearts towards Christianity became more and more imperious.

After so much experience, and continual vicissitudes of external affairs and internal movements of the mind, but likewise with the heart ameliorated by all this, and a fixed resolution to go over to the Christian Church, Mr. Lapidoth, with his family, came, in the autumn of 1801, to Vianen to reside; and here his inclination towards Christianity soon became very apparent, in his indiffe rence towards the public ceremonies of the Jews, in his domestic management, and in his repeated attendance at the place of worship of the reformed Christians, all which greatly excited the hatred of the Jews, and must, in the sequel, have proved unfavourable to his outward concerns.

To be concluded in our next.]

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THE GOOD PASTOR.

WHERE can we find the original whose likeness we may sketch, except in the "Good Shepherd" and "Bishop of Souls" who laid down his life for the flock? But the design of this pa per is to pourtray the character of one of those sub-pastors, to whom the Chief Shepherd, when he shall appear, will award the crown of life, which fadeth not away." He is not one of those, who, having preached to others, shall themselves be cast away; for he first gave good evidence that he had obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, before he was sent into the ministry. The work of the regenerating Spirit on his own soul was so decisive, that his Christian experience gave a key to his hearers hearts, and enabled him to say, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ." When first the Spirit sealed to his heart the pardoning love of Christ, by sprinkling on it his precious drops of atoning blood, he felt his bosom glow with such an ardent zeal to serve the divine_glory, by proclaiming redemption to sinners, that

the word of the Lord was like a fire shut up in his bones." But, as a friend suggested to him, that this might not be without a dangerous thing, spiritual pride, feeding the notion that he was called to some great things, and leading to wrong steps, he took the alarm, and resolved humbly to abide "in the station wherein God called him," till his providence should open a door to the ministry. After a time, the concurring hand of God became visible; and with great satisfaction he reflected, "The Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him." While preparing for the ministry, he was a humble, diligent student, and not more anxious to increase in learning than in religion. It was his maxim, that, on entering the ministry, he, in a new and peculiar manner, gave himself away to Christ; so that in his fus ture settlement he only consulted his master's will, that he might labour in what part of the vineyard his Lord chose. Previously to his taking upon him, in a solemn, public manner, the pastoral charge of souls, he spent a day in secret devotion: and what 7 tongue could describe the transactions of that day? How deep his humiliation, under a consciousness of unworthiness and insufficiency for the work! how earnest his supplication for the anointing of the Holy Ghost, which maketh able ministers of the New Testament! How fervent his intercessions for his intended charge, for the Church of God throughout the world, and for all the ministers of Christ, that none might contract the blood of damned souls!

In all the ministrations of a good pastor, the Bible is not only the text-book, but the statute-book. He considers his own religion as the barometer of his church; and is therefore careful that his dulness should not be to them a savour of death," but that

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