374 The Jew and his dying Daughter. He sion, he sat down in the door of his of his narrative was as follows: cottage to read. And such was the was a respectable man, of superior ecstasy of his feelings, that he arrest-education, who had lately come over ed the passing traveller with the ex- from London; and with his books clamation, "See here I have got the his riches and a lovely daughter of word of God now." seventeen, had found a charming rePersons in your refined and enlight-treat on the fertile banks of the Ohio. ened community, may regard religious tracts as unimportant-but not so they who sit and grieve alone in that night of moral wretchedness. To them, the crumbs that fall from your table are a luxury. He had buried the companion of his bosom before he left Europe; and he now knew no pleasure but the company of his child. She was indeed, worthy of a parent's love. She was covered with beauty, as with a mantle; but her cultivated mind, and her amiable disposition, threw around her a charm, superior to any tinselled de Sir, the patrons of your Society need but to learn the want and the utility of tracts to redouble their exertions. Let then your Committee of Corres-corations of the body. No pains had pondence be appointed. Let them gather intelligence from every dark and desolate quarter of our land. Let facts be communicated and funds will not be wanting to support you in your benevolent operations. I most cordiallyf second the motion before you. THE JEW AND HIS DYING DAUGHTER. been spared in her education.-She could read and speak with fluency several different languages, and her manners charmed every beholder. No wonder then, that a doating father whose head had become sprinkled with grey, should place his only affection on this only child of his love, especially as he knew no source of happiuess beyond this world. Being a Travelling lately through the wes-strict Jew, he educated her in all the tern part of Virginia, I was much in-strictest principles of his religion, and terested in hearing an old and re- he thought he had presented it with spectable clergyman give a short ac- an ornament. count of a Jew, with whom he had lately become acquainted.-He was preaching to a large and attentive audience, when his attention was arrested by seeing a man enter, having every mark of a Jew on the lineaments of his countenance. He was well dressed, his countenance was noble, though it was evident his heart had lately been the habitation of sorrow. He took his seat and was all attention, while an unconscious tear was often seen to wet his manly cheek. After services, the clergyman fixed his eyes steadfastly upon him, and the stranger reciprocated the stare.-The good minister goes up to him; Sir, am I correct; am I not addressing one of the children of Abraham? You are." But how is it that I meet a Jew in a Christian assembly?' The substance It was not long ago that his daughter was taken sick. The rose faded from her cheek, her eye lost its fire, her strength decayed, and it was apparent that the worm of disease was rioting in the core of her vitals. The father hung over the bead of his daughter with a heart ready to burst with anguish. He often attempted to converse with her, yet seldom spoke, but by the language of tears. He spared no trouble or expense in procuring medical assistance; but no human skill could extract the arrow of death now fixed in her heart. The father was walking in a small grove near his house, wetting his lips with his tears, when he was sent for by the dying daughter; with a heavy heart he entered the door of the chamber which he feared would soon be Wesleyan-Methodist Mission. 375 daughter had taken its flight, as I trust, to that Saviour whom she loved and honored without seeing or knowing. The first thing the parent did after committing to the earth his last earthly joy, was to procure a New Testament. This he read, and taught among the meek and humble followers of the Lamb. Christ. Herald. WESLEYAN-METHODIST MISSION. From the February unmber of the Wesley an Methodist Magazine, we collect the following particulars. BARBADoes. the entrance of death. He was now to take a last farewell of his child, and his religion gave but a feeble hope of meeting her hereafter. The child grasped the hand of her parent with a dead cold hand. "My child you know I love you;-that you are more dear to me than the whole world be-by the Spirit above, is now numbered side!" "But father do you love me?" Why my child will you give me pain so exquisite? Have I never given you any proofs of my love?" "But, my dearest father, do you love me?" The father could not answer, the child added, "I know my dear father, you have ever loved me; you have been the kindest of parents, and I tenderly Much excitement has been produc love you. Will you grant me one re- ed in the public mind, on account of quest, Oh! my father; it is the dying the insurrection of the slave popularequest of your daughter. Will you tion in this island, and many very ergrant it?" "My dearest child, ask roneous statements have been made in what you will, though it take every the public prints respecting the concent of my property, whatever it may duct of the Missionaries in reference be it shall be granted." "My dear to this very unhappy and melancholy father, I beg you never to speak a affair; some affirming that the insurgainst JESUS OF NAZARETH!" The gents are incited to their rebellion by father was dumb with astonishment. the exhortation of the Missionaries, "I know," continued the dying girl, who had accordingly been implicated "I know but little about thi Jesus, by the government of the island, while for I was never taught. But, I know others have affirmed that one or more that he is a Saviour, for he has mani- of the Missionaries was the direct infested himself to me since I have stigator of the insurrection. We been sick; even for the salvation of were soon informed that these things my soul. I believe he will save me, were so far from being true, that the although I never before loved him. Missionaries had acquitted themfeel that I am going to him; that I selves as became the ministers of God, shall be ever with him. And now, who, while they evinced an honorable my father, do not deny me. I beg zeal for his name, proved themselves that you will never again speak a loyal subjects to their king and coungainst Jesus of Nazareth I entreat ir-Every successive information in you to obtain a Testament that tells reference to this subject corroborated of him; and I pray you may know him; the truth of these statements; and the and when I am no more, you may then last news concerning the disastrous bestow on him the love that was for-affair, together with the desperate atmerly mine. tempt of an unruly mob to "put an The exertion here overcame the end," as the desperadoes expressed weakness of her feeble body. Sheit, "to Methodisin," by demolishing stopped, and the father's heart was the chapel. and forcing the Missionatoo full, even for tears.--He left the ry, Mr, Shrewsbury, to leave the Islroom in great horror of mind, and ere and, is contained in a letter from him he could again summon sufficient for-to the Mission Committee of London. titude the spirit of his accomplished "After detailing the circumstances 376 Conversion of a Learned Jew. which immediately preceded and ac- to abtain documents of my integrity. companied this gothic act of destroy-Political events in England, I fear, ing the Methodist Chapel, parsonage, the preacher's Library, consisting of more than three hundred volumes, he concludes as follows: "To trace the causes of these hostile proceedings is next my duty. This is very easy: for they will all be resolved into two; Ignorance and Wickedness.-But the alleged causes are these: 1: A letter of mine which is printed in the Missionary Notices for October, 1820. 2. Falsehoods daily circulated to my prejudice. For instance, having preached from this text; "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" it was immediately circulated that I had said, "As nothing is too hard for the Lord, it is not too hard for the Lord to make all the slaves free." will make against us West India Mis- From the Jewish Expositor. CONVERSION OF A LEARNED JEW. In lives a Jew, who, as director of a Jewish school, has an annual income of 700 dollars, ( 120.) I became acquainted with him in the following manner. He is a very learned man, versed not only in the Hebrew and the Talmud, but also in the Arabic, Syriac, and in the Latin and Greek classics; he has read Josephus, the Fathers of the Church, and all the ancient & modern christian commentators,and is a doctor of philosophy at the university of Heidelberg. In the year 1812, being at - -, I met with a publication of his on the Pentateuch. On the title page he had placed as a motto, John v. 39, 40, and this induced me to call upon him. I found him not only a good scholar, possessing a good 4. Earl Bathurst's despatches have library, but truly awakened, concernmade them very angry; their ire musted for his salvation, and engaged in a find vent; who so proper an object to display their hostility against, as the Methodist Missionary, who was almost universally hated and scorned by the people? 3. It is constantly affirmed that the Wesleyan Missionaries are al! Wilberforce's and Buxton's men; there is no such thing as convincing the Barbadians that we have no connexion with the African Insiitution, nor with any other political body. 5. The Demarara insurrection was laid to our charge. These causes combining in the hearts of the ed, have led to all our miseries. serious examination, whether Jesus is the Messiah. I told him he must become a christian and be baptized; upon which his eyes were filled with tears. His wife was at that time under stronger convictions than himself. She told me she much liked to hear wick-Christian sermons; but, alas! she said, there are but few Christian ministers On my arrival here I was examined here. Thus our conversation ended. before the Governor in council. His But in the course of last summer, Excellency treated me with kindness when I was at Warmbrun, in Selisia, and urbanity; but he advised me not his brother-in-law, a converted Israel to preach till something satisfactoryite, who, some years ago, was baptizhad been obtained of this Government ed together with his wife, and who as to my character; for, coming as I with great credit fills the office of prodid, circumstances rendered me rath-fessor of chemistry in the university er a suspicious character. What will of -, brought me a letter from be the end I know not: perhaps all the West India Governments will look upon me with suspicion. Brother Moses Rayne has gone to Barbadoes him, in which, having reminded me of our conversation in the year 1812, he informs me, that he had now arrived at the full conviction that Jesus of Difficulties of conducting a Periodical Publication. 377 tian, and we learn that he was con dially beloved by many true Christians there, especially by the worthy Dr. whom he formerly instruct Nazareth is the true Messiah, and that he loves him and worships him, believing in his atoning death; and that his wife is of the same mind. He adds, that he now feels anxious, pub-ed in the oriental languages, and also by Professor and others. He. also taught Professor Tholuck, of Berlin. What can be done, I leave for your consideration. Will it not be desirable to assist this Christian of the house of Israel. Your faithful brother in Christ. CARLISLE, JULY 2. licly to profess Jesus, and to be baptized with his wife; he is the more ready to do this, because for several years he has never attended the synagogue, and therefore is, hated and cursed by the Jews, who would assuredly divest him of his office, were he not appointed and protected by the authorities. With a wife and four children, and no property of his own, he could hardly support himself, if baptized; for then he must give up his In presenting the last number of our situation. To be a charge to others is what he cannot bear. His wish Miscellany in its present form, we would be to become professor of the cannot resist the inclination which we oriental languages in one of the Prus-feel, to direct the attention of our sian universities, but not to mention readers to some of the difficulties that that such an office must first be vamust be encountered by an Editor of cant, the appointment would excite a suspicion, that he had been baptized, a religious paper. It may be thought. not from an inward conviction, but by some, that the duties of an Editor merely to qualify himself for a good are both easy and honorable, but they office. He has, however, adopted an shall be found to be arduous and freexpedient, by which, without being idle or a burthen to others, he thinks quently calculated to irritate and prohe may provide for his present sup- voke. It is not an easy thing, in even port. He has begun to translate the a good writer to adapt himself to the new Testament from the Greek ori- capacities of all classes of his readers. ginal into Hebrew. Part of it is completed in manuscript, and the first He naturally rises above the level of seven chapters of the Gospel of St. many, and when he seeks to accommoMathew have been printed at his own date himself to their ignorance or expense, but without his name, as a weakness, he is in danger of offending specimen. This specimen I forwarded to you last summer by Mr. Samuel the taste, or the pride of others more Elsner, of Berlin, and I hope it has elevated. To clothe important truth come to hand. I have read it and in simple language requires much. think it excellent. It is pure He- thought and study. One of the many brew, and faithful to the original; but what is more of weight than any other singular proofs of the greatness of that opinion of mine, the great orientalist, eminently pious and learned divine-Dr. Bellerman, in Berlin, thinks high- Dr. Watts, was the admirable manner ly of it, and has pressed him to com-in which he adapted himself to the caplete the translation. In October I pacities of children. A very learned was for a few days with Count Reuss, at and we saw Mr. togeth- man has said that he was the only man We found him a sincere Chris- "of all his acquaintance that could do er. $78 Difficulties of conducting a Periodical Publication Another difficulty arises from the than that for which the work is speinjudicious remarks of a higher class cially designed. The pages of such papers not unfrequently fall under the observation of persons of highly cultifamiliar with the writings of Addison vated minds and correct taste. Being and his contemporaries, and with the best productions of the present age, they cannot relish any thing that does not smell of the lamp,' or that is not highly seasoned with the 'salt of the consider that an essay which would be Spectator and Rambler.' They do not it. The thing is difficult, and they the grave and the gay, "a portion in are difficulties of the same or similar due season." nature that the faithful Editor has to encounter. Besides, the very nature of a religious paper increases these difficulties. It is designed to convey Religious information, a species of information offensive and disgusting to many. The Editor must therefore be very careful in the exhibition of his facts, lest he should provoke the prejudices and opinions of some, and do them injury instead of good. He has to labor against the strong current of prejudice and opposition, that sets aa feast for their minds, would disgust gainst Missionaries, Revivals, and all the benevolent efforts of the church to reform and bless mankind. There are yet other difficulties that we could enumerate, but as we do not hope to offer any thing better or more to the point, of our own, we submit the foling extracts from a piece on this subject, in the Youth's Guardian, which we have ventured to alter in one or two places, to make it more applicable to our purpose. most of the readers of religious papers. They often speak of such works in the slightest terms in the presence of children, or of persons of less cultivation than they possess. As their opinion is much respected it operates to their disadvantage. Every one that is acquainted with the operations of the human mind well knows that the opinion of a superior in knowledge, goes far towards influencing the judg ment of those within his sphere; so that many will not give their sentiments respecting the merits of a work until they have ascertained the sentiments of others. They ought to consider how much injury they may do by a single unqualified censure; and tribute to their pages themselves, they should not intentionally injure their reputation in the estimation of others. Another difficulty in conducting a periodical work arises from the petulance of those who write for it. We The matter supplied for such papers is for the most part of a decidedly religious character. It is best that it should be so; and it probably best an-if they cannot stoop so low as to conswers the wishes of the largest portion of readers. But this fact renders it uninteresting to many others, who might be induced to read the religious pieces, if they could be rewarded for the penance by occasionally having an amusing thing. This cannot be attach-are apt to think that our productions ed to the editor. He can only select from the materials he receives, and this ought to stimulate men of genius and talents, who feel an interest in the improvement of society, to lend their aid to the pages of such papers, that from a copious variety, matter might be chosen which would give to should have a commanding place in the publication, and be inserted at an early period. If the editor should judge that a particular piece would not add to the credit of his pages; or that the spirit with which it is written is pposed to meekness; or that it would be prejudicial to his interests in a |