MISSIONARY TO THE JEWS; ADDRESSED TO ALL HIS JEWISH RELATIONS, COUSINS, NEPHEWS, SISTERS, NIECES AND separate the real believer from the love of God, MY DEARLY BELOVED SISTERS AND RELATIONS, -After, led by Divine grace, two brothers of mine and other relations had followed my example by embracing the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is over all Jehovah, blessed for ever, my dear brother Matthias Levy, late reader in the synagogue at Amonsgruen in Bohemia, also arrived at London, for the purpose of being admitted into the Christian church; and on the 25th of August, 1838, you might have witnessed that rare sight of a brother being baptized by his own brother. I baptized my brother Matthias Levy "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Three Persons, but one God-the thrice Holy One!" I then preached on the epistle of Paul to the Romans, the eleventh chap, ter; and Jew and Gentile had a visible demonstration and indisputable proof of the truth of the words of the apostle, that even at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of gracefor the person, who preached to them the Gospel as an ordained minister of the purest branch of the Universal Church, was one of the remnant according to the election of grace-and the person baptized his brother, surrounded also by many others of our nation, who, a long time before, had followed the same example. Oh! if only Rabbi Hirschel had been present, he would have been forced to confess that there must be an excellency in the Gospel of Christ! This happy event, dear brethren, took place in the Episcopal Jews' Chapel, at Cambridge Heath, when as godfathers were the two friends of our nation, Sir Thomas Baring, Bart., represented by the Rev. Mr. Cartwright; Sir George Rose, represented by the Rev. Mr. Hoare; and also the Rev. Professor Alexander, himself a Jew. Mylation. only son, seven years of age, was present, seeing his uncle received as member of the Christian church! Now, dear friends, if circumstances should permit, I intend to go to Germany, in order to baptize my brother's wife and five children; I then shall be also enabled to accept the invitation I received from many of you to visit you, and proclaim to you the tidings of salvation, remission of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is in Christ Jesus, whom I believe to be "my Lord and my God." I hope then, also, that my excellent cousins the Rev. Dr. Levy, Great Rabbi at Furth, Aaron Cohen at Munich, and Moses Cohen at Uhlfeld will, by God's grace, be enlightened with that same light from heaven, which shone round about Saul of Tarsus that he fell to the earth, and compelled him to ask, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" And I also do not despair to see our excellent Jewish brethren, the Rothschilds, setting an example by turning away their attention for a moment from the consideration of worldly riches, to the importance of trying to gain all the riches of heaven, which only can be acquired by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; for there is only one name given under heaven by which men can be saved, and this is the name of Him whose name is above every namethe name of Him, whose name from angels is adored-the name of Jesus Christ! My dear friends! there are two extremes of mistakes committed frequently by inquirers into religious truth. One extreme is this, that people frequently make of religion simply a matter of speculation, and consider it only a system: those who thus take up religion simply with the head become cold formalists. Others, again, assert that religion is simply a matter of the heart: this latter extreme leads to monstrous fanaticism, mysticism, or quietism! Religion ought to engage all the powers of intellect, and at the same time warm our hearts, and increase our affections towards God. But at the same time I must confess that the internal evidences of religion are, after all, the most powerful with every real believer: so, for instance, the clearest prophecies predicting and confirming the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth, may be cavilled away by people inclined to scepticism, but it can never be cavilled away that nothing can My dear friends! oh! that you would come to London, and see what the Gentiles are all doing for the Jewish nation. At London you will meet with your excellent brother HOGA, the greatest Hebrew scholar of the age, who may be justly styled SHASS POLAK by the Jewish nation, who has translated the heart-elevating psalms and hymns used by the Church of England into the finest biblical Hebrew. In Palestine Place at Hackney also, you would meet with a Gentile, born in Ireland, Dr. M'Caul by name, who has acquired the knowledge of the Talmud in a most remarkable manner, and who produces proofs from the Talmud and the Sohar in favour of the doctrine of the Trinity and the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth! You also would meet with Rabbi Alexander, who reads the Divine service of the Church of England in the Hebrew language, and advocates the cause of Christ with zeal all over Britain. You also might witness the baptism of a Hungarian Rabbi, dressed in his rabbinical robe, and without cutting off first his beard. Verily, if you, my friends in Germany, were to come to Palestine Place, London, you would move about your heads, and exclaim with astonishment, "These things are Seman hamma, Sheeah; that is, 'Signs of the speedy coming of the Messiah." You also would meet our dear German countryman, Mr. Reichardt, surrounded by twenty converted Jews, whom he instructs daily with zeal and energy, and teaches them also to be an industrious people, for you know, my brethren, that it is said, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread;" and, therefore, we ought not only to pray, but also to labour; in short, brother Reichardt is Director of the Operative Institution. There, in Palestine Place, you will also find a school for 200 children of poor Jews, in which those children are taught to sing, "Hosannah to the Son of David." On the 9th of September I myself shall also preach in the Episcopal Jews' Chapel on my darling subject, the conversion of St Paul. Farewell, my dear friends.-I am, with the greatest affection, dear brethren, yours truly, JOSEPH WOLFF, LL.D. Chaplain to Lord Viscount Lorton, Missionary for Palestine, Persia, Bokhara, and Abyssinia. Richmond, Surrey, Aug. 27, 1838. OF A MINISTER; RECOLLECTIONS or her; she resolved if spared, to return to Sketches drawn from Life and Charac-the ordinances and the service of God; ter. By the REV. J. T. BARR. 8vo. cl. price 3s. 6d. PP. 132. Snow, 26, Paternoster Row. THIS book records some of those occasions in a minister's life, which bring him (more probably than any beside,) acquainted with circumstances, that touch the deeper springs of feeling in the heart. The author assures us, that the strange incidents narrated by him really occurred, and we have no reason to doubt this statement; there is not that artificial connection and correspondence of motive with conduct, which we see very frequently in romances, but find to be often absent in real life; a careful observer of men will soon find real events "stranger than any fiction." she was spared, and her first visit on recovering was to a ball. A blow, however, had been struck, which was fatal to her constitution; she lived two years more, in delicate health, and in that fluctuating state of mind, which leaves Christian survivors in fearful doubt. The author was by her dying bed; "Do you feel,' said I to the dying woman, more comfortable in your mind, inthe prospect of death?" " "I do not,' she replied." "Then have you no hope, that God will for Christ's sake, restore you to the joys of his salvation?'" and exhorted her again to venture on His "I then endeavoured to point her to Jesus atoning blood. I repeated several of the promises of God to backsliders, in which He declares His willingness to receive them graciously and love them freely.' I also called her attention to some examples recorded in Scripture, to whom these promises were verified." "Alas!' she sighed, 'I am an awful exception. I fear the Lord has given me up ought to feel, the burden of my sins."" to the hardness of my heart. I cannot feel, as I of a Saviour, when you sent for me to converse "But,' I said, 'did you not feel your need with you about Him, and to encourage you to seek Him afresh ?"" The volume contains six short narratives. The first is entitled "The Disobedient Son;" it is the history of a youth, who was led into folly and vice by a fellowapprentice, and broke the hearts of both his parents. The second is "The Sunday School Boy"—an unruly disobedient lad, but brought in manhood to become an active servant of "the living and true God." To the third we will immediately refer more at length. The fourth is "The Converted Infidel;" and there is an interesting conversation with him, in a season when he could not perceive invitations in the Bible precisely including his own The fifth is entitled "My poor Schoolmaster"-a tale of heavy trials, which could be borne in calmness and Ah! these promises are not for me. patience only through a faith, which makes the chastened not to faint because There was a time, when I might have secured it discloses a Father's hand in the bitter- the favour held out to backsliders; but the ness of all the bitter. "The Two Or-illness, when brought to the brink of the grave, opportunity is gone for ever! In my former phans" are the subject of the closing nar-I vowed and promised my God, that, if He rative-children who meet with one, that would spare my life, I would immediately reis for a father to them in reference to their pair to His house, in order to express my sense eternal good. of His goodness. I declared in the face of case. "I did feel it, and I still feel it. But He will not regard so vile a sinner as I am. "But hear His own language, Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. The third history is entitled "The heaven, that the subsequent period of my exBackslider's Death-bed." Here we have istence should be devoted to Him. But I fled the sadly frequent case of a pious young to a ball, from the presence of the Lord, and lady, induced (partly by pecuniary advan-ever since I have been living according to tages and partly by willing credulity in a few tokens of respect for religion,) to give herself to one, who was a stranger to vital godliness. She became a worldly-minded wife, and religion was, utterly neglected. In a dangerous illness a consciousness of the guilt of her condition overwhelmed the course of this world. My days are num "I then knelt down by her bedside, and fervently wrestled with God on her behalf, and soon after took my departure. Alas! poor Ellen! I never saw her more. "The following week I had to preach in the village, when, just before ascending the pulpit, a person informed me that she had already passed into a world unknown.' Was there hope in her death:' I asked. He answered with a sigh, I fear not.' "Such is a brief history of Ellen. Lovely and happy in the morning of life, but wretched and hopeless in its decline." "I have seen the death-bed of the weeping penitent, while his stifled groans and dying cries for mercy have ascended to the throne of grace; and have rejoiced with him, when the voice of the Saviour has whispered in his ear, To day thou shalt be with Mein paradise.' I have seen tke death-bed of the Christian, when, in the very precincts of glory, he has cried out in an ecstacy- Now, Lord, lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.'-But never shall 1 forget the backslider's death-bed, when the expiring Ellen exclaimed, Never forsake the Lord; for if you do, you will feel a hell kindled within your breast, as I feel at this moment.' " We like this book, and think it will be very useful; each narrative is made the medium (as the author says) of conveyiug one or other of the leading truths of the Gospel, and the biographical sketches with which those truths are here connected attract the mind to them. Mr. Barr, we presume, is a Wesleyan minister; but there is not a word of sect or party in the work; when a Methodist chapel is mentioned as having been attended by the sons he writes of, it is evidently because his avocation brings him acquainted with such persons chiefly. The volume is a welcome and valuable addition to the class of religious narratives. per and grace of Christ, and on the evidences of His glorious Gospel. By P. DODDRIDGE, D.D. 18mo. cl. pp. 215. Religious Tract Society. WE have here an exceedingly valuable selection from the writings of a man "who would have been" (said an eminent metropolitan clergyman), any church." It contains some of his best sermons, abounding in striking thoughts and powerful appeals to the conscience, and rich in appropriate references to Scripture. To an awakened and inquiring mind this book is likely to prove an abundant blessing; and we commend VOL. X. it, with all affection and earnestness, to those who are anxious concerning the way to the celestial city. FRIENDLY COUNSELS, addressed to various characters; in twenty familiar letters. 24mo. cl. pp. 232. Religious Tract Society. dressed to real characters, well known to THESE are letters, which "were all adthe writer." They are on subjects of great interest, and their publication by the Tract Society is of itself a proof that they contain Christian sentiments on the matter to which they refer. In fact they they will be valued. The writer argues do but need to be known; when known fairly with his correspondents, remonstrates with point and energy, and supports his appeals by apt quotations from the book of God. We subjoin the list of subjects; the volume will be very useful to persons, who arein the cases there described. Letter 1: To a young person, who prefers evangelical preaching, but who expresses an opinion of sermons and preachers with levity and unconcern. Letter 2: To the same. Letter 3: To a young person of amiable disposition, in easy and respectable circumstances, whose family and friends are all of the same worldly character. to listen to the advice of pious friends, but who Letter 4: To a young lady, who is willing still continues to pursue the gaieties of fashionable life. Letter 5: To one who openly professes contempt for serious religion. Letter 6: To a young lady, of peculiarly amiable character, whose religious profession has never been tried by any circumstance of difficulty or discouragement. Letter 7 To one who has had a religious education, and who is considered by friends as confidence respecting himself. a real Christian, but who cannot cherish that Letter 8: To one, who is seriously impressed, but who, from defective views of Divine truth, is fearful of not continuing steadfast i a religious course. Letter 9: To an aged person, highly respected and useful in society, professing to disclaim all confidence in her own righteousness, and yet evidently not humbled as a sinner before God. Letter 10: To one who has but recently embraced the Gospel, whose partner in life is not secluded village, is deprived of all the advana pious character, and who, by residing in a tages of religious intercourse. Letter 11: To the same. 3 H Letter 12: To a young person professing to be religious, yet preferring the society of those who are irreligious and worldly. Letter 13: To the same. Letter 14: To a fastidious hearer of the Gospel. Letter 15: To the mother of a large family, deeply involved in worldly cares ; on the death of an infant. Letter 16: To a person who has had many afflictions, without appearing to profit by them -accustomed to seek relief from sadness in company and amusement, and whose nearest connections are all of a worldly and thought less character. Letter 17: To one who makes the inconsistencies of professing Christians an excuse for neglecting the means of grace altogether. Letter 18: To a young lady of intellectual character, and highly cultivated mind. Letter 19: To a sabbath-scholar, who has removed to a distance. Letter 20: To one who had been a sabbathscholar, who has not only left the school, but has almost entirely forsaken the house of God. STORIES ON THE COMMANDMENTS, or the Commandments explained; with short histories from the Bible. By FRANCES UPCHER. With five elegant engravings., Harvey and Darton, Gracechurch Street. MISS UPCHER presents us, in this book, with that which will do more than many excellent sermons to explain the commandments to the mind of a child, and to fix them in his understanding. We think that inspired summary of "all the law" is, in the education of very many, greatly neglected, while in other cases the words of it are known-and that is all that is known of it. We are sure this volume would correct both errors; and they are seriously important too. Most of the book is in the form of dialogue, written in a simple and interesting style, that much attracted us, and made us agree with Mrs. Hofland's remark in a letter to the authoress, (not ostentatiously, but, we think modestly, inserted in the preface,) that "it can hardly fail to elicit the approbation of parents and teachers, and become extensively useful to those for whom it is designed." It is adapted even for children of five years old, but would suit and interest one of eight or ten. It is, we collect, the first publication on which Miss Upcher has ventured; it deserves, and we hope will receive, the greatest encouragement. THE FATALIST, AN EPIC; with the Broken Heart, and other Poems. BY ROBERT THOMAS KINNAIRD. Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper. THE preface of this work informs the reader, that the author is an engraver; an animal here is designated by the appellation of a centaur of society-half artist, half mechanic." said on this subject; quite enough to A good deal is make it evident, that Mr. Kinnaird is, or fancies himself to be, quite out of his sphere. Of engraving he speaks in a tone of disparagement; as "of a thing by which he is doomed (to use the poor man's phrase) 'to gain a livelihood,' though an inglorious one;" and thinks he was born a poet, not an engraver." No doubt he finds the aspirations of genius very much checked and controuled, sion chains him to the table; and that during the many hours that his profeshe would rather be handling his pen than his burin. We confess, however, that we cannot sympathize in these gloomy views, which we are inclined to look upon as something morbid, depending on temporary depression of mind, instead of being the healthy effusions of intellect in a wholesome state. We can assure him, that if engraving, after supporting in ease and comfort the family of which he speaks, allows him to bring out such a handsome little volume as the present for his amusement, it does more for him than poetry, if he had been so misguided as to follow her erratic footsteps, would have been likely ever to accomplish for him; and having seen some of his performances in both departments, we can safely say, that, however his poetry may be admired, we give our decided preference to his engravings. In the present flourishing state of the art, we look upon him as in the bright road to a handsome competence, if not to fame and wealth; and we earnestly recommend him to break resolutely away from the depressing thraldom of despondency, and inhale to the full the invigorating breeze of hope. Let him, by all means, stick to his vocation, however" inglorious" he may consider it; being well assured, that to a man so unromantically situated as to have a wife and an increasing family, "solid pudding" is a great deal better than empty fame. It is quite plain that our author has met with ill-treatment; and so have most people. He speaks of a life embittered by "recollections of a sordid tyrant, to whom he served an apprenticeship of seven years," and of "renegade relations;" and he has allowed these unpleasant reminiscences to prey on his mind, till, in connection with "uniformly wretched health," they have given a tone of morbid melancholy to his feelings. Those who have treated him so unkindly must wince, we should think, under the severe castigation he has administered; but, as he well observes, "conscience" is a tormentor" that will "find them out;" and to the tender mercies of that tyrant he finally hands them over. After such a view of the author's state of mind, it will not surprise the reader to be informed, that the principal poem in this volume is announced as "the off spring of pain and hate." We certainly could have wished it had had a more amiable parentage. It was composed during the odds and ends of time "of eight years, and we have therefore to thank our au thor for not following the bad example of some authors, who pester the public with their crude effusions, and think they make an ample apology for their imperfections, by ascribing them to "the hasty manner in which the work was composed." We advise such precipitate authors to take more time. Their readers can well afford to wait. The public, they may rest assured, will brook any delay that may be necessary; and the only question of the slighest interest to any one but themselves is, not how fast, but how well they can write. The poem (entitled "The Fatalist") opens in a very spirited manner, with the joyous exclamations of a man, who has long been chained in a dungeon, but is suddenly restored to light and liberty. Our space will not suffer us to go through the poem; and we must therefore leave the reader to seek out its beauties for himself, by a careful perusal; contenting ourselves with announcing (as we gather from a well-written introduction) that its object is to show a great mind struggling with adversity in its various and most appalling shapes of bodily disease, friendlessness, and tyranny; principally supported by philosophy; led into partial error by the false light of pride; and finally triumphant over all, by the true light and power of religion." The second part of the volume is occupied by miscellaneous poems, many of which we think quite equal, if not superior, to the poem which holds the place of honour. This is especially the case with a piece entitled "The Broken Heart," written in the Spenserian Stanza. It contains many pleasing and poetical passages; but we can find room for only one. Prophets, evangelists, apostles, all "Hail, holy men, who liv'd in Judah's land! the more readily enumerate, as the voThe principal other poems (which we lume has neither a Table of Contents nor an Index) are "A Day-Dream," "Manand the other usual topics which make up kind," "Anticipation," "Ode to Spring,' a volume of poetry. We were much pleased with a " Sonnet to my Daughter We Fanny, when apparently dying." are happy to hear that the danger was only apparent, and that Miss Fanny has grown into a very engaging little girl. We join most cordially in the good wishes expressed in the closing lines, with which we take an appropriate leave of the work:: " Fair, death-like, slumbering child! thee should heaven spare Be thou a child of God; be this our prayer, MEMOIRS OF MR. JOSEPH ALLEN, of Mevagissey, Cornwall. BY SAMUEL DUNN. 12mo. cl. price 1s. 6d. pp. 174. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., Stationer's Court. THE indefatigable editor of the series of "Christian Theology" has here furnished a memoir of a fellow-teacher of his in a Sabbath-school, who was also his friend and relative. The book consists almost entirely of extracts from the diary and letters of Mr. Allen, so that he may be said to have been unintentionally his own biographer. He appears to have been (as Mr. Dunn says,) a faithful man, and one that feared God above many." No one can read the volume, without feeling that he is brought into converse with a man of God, who had "begun to bear the image of the heavenly;" it is well calculated 66 |