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النشر الإلكتروني

CHAPTER XXI.

LETTERS TO REV. T. THOMASON ON THE PROTOCOL IN FAVOUR OF THE JEWS-PROPOSED TOUR IN THEIR BEHALF TO SCOTLAND AND IRELAND-TO REV. MR. — ON THE AFFAIRS AT AMSTERDAM-ON POETRY IN SERMONS-TO THE SAME, ON TENDERNESS TOWARDS PARENTS-TO A PERSON SOLICITING PUPILS TO A CURATE ON HIS CONDUCT TOWARDS HIS VICAR-TO REV. T. THOMASON ON HIS TOUR FOR THE JEWS' SOCIETY—THE DIVINE PURPOSES WITH RESPECT TO THE JEWS TO MISS PRISCILLA GURNEY ON REGARD FOR HER HEALTH-MEMORANDUM RECORD

ING HIS SECRET EXPERIENCE.'

1819.

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

To the Rev. T. THOMASON.

"My beloved Brother,

"K. C., Jan. 12, 1819.

"Mr. Way has returned after an excursion of sixteen months. He had repeated interviews with the Emperor of Russia, who conversed with him as a Christian and a Brother. He went to the Congress at Aix-la-Chapelle, and there presented a Memorial to the United Sovereigns; and has gained from them a public Protocol, applauding his views, and engaging to exert themselves in their respective empires for the temporal and spiritual good of the Jews. The Emperor of Russia ordered Prince Galitzin to give a sketch of what the Memorial should embrace. It was to give a three-fold view of the subject; 1, Religious; 2, Political; 3, Administrative; comparing and contrasting the benefits to be conferred on the

Jews, with the benefits to be derived to each state from them, when their reform and consequent elevation in society should take place. I possess it all containing many sheets: and bless God that it was so favourably received. The Protocol was signed by Prince Metternich, Capodistrias, Richelieu, Wellington, Castlereagh and two others. Tell me; Is not God in all this?

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Throughout Poland and Germany Mr. Way met with much encouragement amongst the Jews. Mr. Solomon, the Jew-Christian, that is an ordained Minister in the Church of England, is left in Poland; and we are going to send him a fellow-labourer, (two and two was our Lord's plan;) we are about to send also a Jew-Christian (Friedenburgh), whom I hope to get ordained speedily, to another part in Germany, and for him too we have just obtained a most blessed coadjutor and director, Mr. Neitsche, with whose name you are already acquainted as a man of learning, piety, and zeal. I have also many other plans; but as I know not that they can be realized till I shall have seen the Bishop of St. David's, I say nothing of them at present. I leave this letter to be completed when I have been at Stansted (Mr. Way's), where I go next Monday to meet the Bishops of St. David's and Gloucester. I hope God will open the heart of the former to enter fully into my views. He has already shewn great kindness and done much; but I am not content with drops: I want, if it may please God, a shower. Here then I leave this subject for the present.

"I now go on to tell you some views which I have for the advancement of the Society, and the stirring up the Christian public. If I live to April, I expect to go all through Scotland, and then to Dublin, where

there are many saying, 'Come over and help us.' We must this year not only get for our ordinary expenses, but for our augmented expenses of foreign Missions; so I must put my poor weak hand to the plough, and do all I can. But God is with us; and I doubt not of a blessed issue. I shall hope to receive some good aid from your quarter also. . . .

"I perceive that this paper will not suffice for one fourth part of what I shall have to say after seeing the Bishop of St. David's; and therefore I shall add to this some other matters, particularly one most interesting, a copy of the Protocol before referred

to. ****

"Now, my Brother, if this do not give us encouragement, what can? Is not this a little like the times of Cyrus, especially when taken in connexion with what is doing amongst Christians and now looked for amongst the Jews? I account it a rich blessing to have been spared to see this day, and to be permitted to hold a trowel (and without a sword too) before my own door. Let every one do this, and the wall will soon be up. There were many female labourers then, and so there are now; and they put us to shame. Let us up and be doing.

"Ever, ever yours,

To the Rev. Mr.

"C. SIMEON."

at Amsterdam.

"My very

dear friend and Brother,

"1819.

"I do not promise to fill this sheet: but I do not shrink back from the sight of it as formidable for my soul is with you, and I long to prove that it is with you. I delight in your openness; and I wish you ever to continue it. Cardiphonia must be the title of all our correspondence.

"Mr.

delivered to me your kind letter, and I began to think that I should appear unkind in not having answered it before. But I scarcely considered that as anything more than a valedictory message by him. Lest, however, I should have been mistaken in that, I was purposing, as I told your brother yesterday, to write to you immediately: for I was afraid that instead of regarding me as the stork, (so much loved in your land,) you should look upon me as the ostrich, which having laid her egg, feels no more concern about it. . . . .

"Last week I went up to Town, with a heavy cold upon me, in order to arrange my journey to Scotland and Ireland; but chiefly to meet Dr. Pinkerton and Mr. Way, on the subject of Missionary exertions. The more I think of the state of the Jews throughout the world, and of the importance of putting the Hebrew New Testament into their hands with suitable tracts, the more I am convinced, that to send forth Missionaries among them is far more likely to be extensively useful, than to confine our attention to any one city, or any one kingdom in the universe. I feel that your station as a post of observation, a head quarters, or a point d'appui (which Buonaparte used to speak so much about), is of vast importance; but that its importance consists not so much in its reference to the Jews of Amsterdam only, as in its reference to the Continent at large, of which it is a most convenient centre. On this subject I was extremely anxious to hear their opinion; not because I have any doubt what their opinion is, but because I am extremely desirous not to express an opinion, which I do not previously know to be the opinion of better informed judges than myself.

"But my illness so increased, that on the very morning of the Meeting I was compelled to set off for Cambridge; it being very doubtful in my own mind when I should be able to go thither, if at all, if I neglected to move whilst I could. Thus I lost the opportunity for which I went. But, if I say the truth, it was rather from a desire to approve myself to you, and to Mr. A., than from any other thought whatever, that I went up at all. You know me pretty well; you know that versatility is no part of my constitutional or acquired character. You know that little things do not stop me. You know that if a thing is to be done, I do not count pence, or pounds; and at the same time, I fondly hope you know that to approve myself to God as a wise steward, and a faithful servant, is the only object that I account worthy of a thought. My dear friend Mr. A. knows but little of me; he has never had an opportunity of forming any judgment about my conduct towards God. To him I might appear to be fickle, or to shrink from a sacrifice; and the suggesting of a doubt about the purchase of the Chapel might lead him to say, 'Who can tell, but that he may not doubt about the maintenance of a Minister here?' You, my beloved Brother, who know more of my secret springs of action, will be in no danger of indulging any such surmises. You know whereabouts I am;-what I mean;-and what I purpose. You know that I am not like the world, suggesting one thought first in order to introduce another afterwards. You know that whilst I love openness in others, I would practise it myself. I pray you therefore not to suffer on dear Mr. A.'s mind for one moment the apprehension of versatility on my part, or the least idea that the Society will ever

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