THE MONTHLY PRAYER MEETING

The

Was held at the Society's office on Wednesday evening, July 15. attendance was not numerous, but the exercises were devout, and the presence of the Lord was felt. The devotions were led by Jewish and Gentile brethren. The 64th of Isaiah was read; and reports were presented from missionaries, present and absent.

At the close of the Prayer Meeting, the attention of those present was invited to the desirableness of meetings of young Christians for mutual information and excitement as to the Seed of Abraham, and the duties of the young in reference to them. It was proposed that the subject should be considered at the next Prayer Meeting.

The meeting welcomed with much thankfulness the return of Mr. and Mrs. Sternberg from a journey on the continent, partly with a view to follow up intercourse commenced at the Bible-stand at the International Exhibition, and partly in the hope of renewing the filial relations between the missionary and his father, whom he had not seen since his profession of Christianity had separated them. Both objects were attained, and the latter far exceeded hope, as Mr. S. and wife were received most affectionately, and such intercourse took place as left most favourable hopes as to the great change in the father, who was won to deep and serious thought by the female missionary, and could hardly be persuaded to part with his son.

We append a few notes communicated by the missionary :

I arrived at Paris on the 27th of June, and paid a visit to our worthy friend and fellow labourer, Mr. B——. He gave me a very favourable account of the work of the Lord amongst the Jews, and spoke to me of several families whom he had been made the instrument of bringing to Christ. I then visited those brethren whose addresses I had given to me at the Bible-stand at the time of the Exhibition, and I rejoice to say that to several the Word of God I had given them twelve months ago has already proved to them a savour of life unto life; two Jews in particular were able to bear their testimony as to the truthful words the New Testament contains, and they told me that they were fully convinced that the Messiah must have already come, and that they would make their public profession as soon as circumstances will permit. From Paris I went to Cologne and Dusseldorf, where there are about 3900 Jews. I conversed with several in the streets, and also in their houses; I found the prevailing evil was the great indifference they manifested about those things which make for their peace; only of one, a Jewish teacher, I can say a favourable impression has been made.

At Berlin I had the opportunity of meeting again Jews who came to the Biblestand, and although I cannot speak of any who were altogether decided, yet I am fully persuaded that there is a secret work going on among them, as is the case with many other families of the house of Israel. The truth must prevail, and as it is in the case of the sower, so is it also with the preacher of the Gospel-the blessed seed is cast on different grounds, but He whose eye is upon all, causeth it to bring forth fruit to the glory of His name. At Konigsberg the Lord hath blessed His own word and the preaching of the Gospel abundantly to a Jewish family, consisting of a mother and two daughters. Having been known to this family when still in my Jewish creed, I went to visit them, accompanied by Mrs. S. After our mutual recognition, I informed them of the change that had taken place with me. This information cast a gloom upon their faces for a time, but when Mrs. S―― began to

speak to them of the grace of God towards us, in sending the Messiah to atone for our sins, and in making us new creatures in Christ Jesus, and that there is none other salvation but that which is through Him, and after explaining to them what true Christianity was, they became so delighted with this message that they asked for a Bible, in order to search for themselves whether those things were so; and so attached did they become to me and Mrs. S that they asked us to make their place our home as long as we stay at Königsberg. I laid this case before the Rev. Mr. Jacoby, our worthy missionary there, who kindly gave them a Bible, and I have no doubt that we shall soon hear glad tidings of this family.

From Königsberg to Tilsit we went per steamer; here an effectual door was opened to us. The steamer had a great number of Jewish passengers on board, who came over from Russia and Poland in order to buy their merchandise at Königsberg and other places in Prussia. We soon entered into a conversation with one brother, to whom we made known the true riches which are in Christ Jesus. This was quite strange news to him-he never heard of anything like it before; but our conversation grew more interesting and lively, so much so, that first two more Jews were attracted by our conversation, then two more, and that number was swelled to more and more, until we had actually the whole number of Jews who were found in the vessel gathered round, every one paying the greatest attention to all we had to say; but nothing made such great an impression upon them as that when they heard that Mrs. S―― knew the Bible; they were astonished and joyful to find that a Gentile should know the Jewish Bible. We embraced this opportunity of explaining to them the true Christianity of the Bible, and showed them from Moses and the prophets that Jesus is the Christ. "Look at the Christians in Poland,” said one," how they fall down before images and worship them, and how they are brought up from their very childhood to persecute and hate us; but you have never told us about images, and we find in our Bible just the same things you have been telling us." "Oh, no,” said Mrs. S―, "we do not hate the Jews, but, on the contrary, we love them, and also pray for them." One Russian Jew offered to pay all our expenses to Russia, so that we may go and tell the other brethren of the piety and kindness of the English people. I then distributed a number of tracts, which they accepted gladly, and I am persuaded that much good will proceed from our twelve hours' work on that day. Will not some of our excellent Christian men, who have the means and the heart to do it, have compassion upon that remnant of the seed of Abraham in Russia, and engage true heralds of the Cross to go there and point them to the balm of Gilead and to the true Physician there?

Now I come to a part which is to me the most interesting and delightful event in all my life, and that is our meeting with our dear father.

This was one of my greatest objects since I was brought to the truth-to meet my father and to tell him personally what the Lord had done for me; but although three years had passed after my conversion, there seemed to be no opening for me to pay a visit to my dear father, whom I had not seen for six years, until by the good provi dence of God and through the kindness of a few Christian friends, I have been enabled to accomplish my long-desired object. We wrote for our dear father to come and see us, little thinking that he would consent to our invitation, but what was our delight when one day we saw dear father approach the hotel. Our hearts began both to rejoice and to tremble, not knowing what reception we should meet. At last he entered the hotel, and sent the servant to me asking me to come to him first into another room, and as I entered my father rose from his chair and fell upon my neck, bestow ing every token of fatherly love and affection on me. He asked me at once after Mrs,

S——, and if she was a Gentile.. I answered in the affirmative, and then he said "Come and introduce me to her." As he approached Mrs. She fondly embraced her, and said, "My dear daughter, my dear daughter." Soon after he began to converse with us about religion, but before he commenced I entreated him to do so in a calm manner, and if he found that I was on the right to yield, and I promised to do the same should he be on the right. We went on from topic to topic in a most delightful way until we came to the atonement; that was discussed, and had it not been for the Talmud, in which he is wrapped up, he would have made a profession of faith in Christ. My dear wife made the greatest impression upon him; being a Gentile he thought that she knew nothing of the Bible, and when she begun to converse with him out of the Scriptures he was quite overwhelmed, and I think I owe the reconciliation of my father to me to Mrs. S——, for he became so attached to her after their conversation that he said, "I must weep tears of joy whenever I look at my dear daughter." We spent two days with him in conversing about religion, and we hope that he will now give the New Testament a due consideration, and will, by searching it, find Him of whom Moses and the prophets [did write. I leave out particulars of our conversations, as they are too delicate for me as a son to give. Pray for his final conversion.

Mr. A-, who superintends the Bible-stand at the new station in the Crystal Palace, gave a very cheering statement of the distribution of Scripture portions among visitors of different nations, and of the sale of New Testaments to Jews. What does this indicate? Why is the study of the New Testament so evident? Not to refute Colenso's doubts of Old Testament Scripture, but to understand for themselves whither the Old Testament leads by studying the New Testament.

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE SOCIETY.

THE completion of the Annual Report has been unexpectedly delayed by illness and other circumstances. It is hoped that copies will be in course of delivery in a few days. Accounts more recently received from the missionaries are very similar in character to those comprising the report. They are all printed in nearly the words of the writers, and the Committee believe that they can vouch for the truthfulness of the statements, while there are others of an equally truthful and still more exciting character, the publication of which confidential feelings prevent.

The Committee trust that every effort will be used to sustain the mission, and to extend its field. And they earnestly solicit the exercise of secret and social prayer for those precious influences by which the labourers are to be fitted for their work, and the sphere of their labour rendered fruitful.

The Committee expect to be enabled very soon to publish an English version of a little volume entitled " Messiah, the Hope of Israel, and the Desire of all Nations," written by one of the missionaries, and extensively circulated in Germany.

A very interesting tract, intended chiefly for the young, and consisting of a Jewish youth's confession of Christ, has been published and may be had at the office.

THE MONTHLY MEETING for prayer and conference will be held (D.v.) on Wednesday evening, August 19, at 7 o'clock, in the Society's Office, No. 1, Crescent Place, Blackfriars.

DONATIONS and Subscriptions will be thankfully received at No. 1, Crescentplace, Blackfriars, by Mr. George Yonge, Resident Secretary, to whom it is desired that all orders for money may be made payable.

London: Published by JOHN SNOW, 35, Paternoster-row.

Printed for the Society by Adams and Gee, 23, Middle Street, West Smithfield, E.C-No. 211 –July, 1863.

"PUBLISH YE, PRAISE YE, AND SAY, O LORD, SAVE THY PEOPLE, THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL."-Jer. xxxi. 7.

No. 213.]

SEPTEMBER 1, 1863.

[Price ld.

Special Goncert of Prayer for Israel.

MANY of our readers will recall with satisfaction the fact, that last autumn there was a special season set apart by prayer, for the effusion of the Holy Spirit's influences on the house of Israel, in response to an appeal from this Society. We had reason to give thanks to our God and Father, that not only in London, but also in its neighbourhood, and at a distance, little bands assembled with one accord, to plead with Him who is "exalted a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance unto Israel and remission of sins." At the office of the Society, during the period embracing the Jewish New Year's Day, and the Day of Atonement, the meetings were truly refreshing and delightful. Their interest was enhanced by the presence of foreign Jewish converts, who had visited the Metropolis in connexion with the International Exhibition of 1862. Old converts were also attracted to the place, and Gentile friends unknown to us, drawn, by holy, Christ-like compassion, to unite in the cry, "O let the salvation of Israel come out of Zion." Our London Missionaries brought in gladdening reports, at the monthly prayer meeting in the month of October, and we had rejoiced and gave praise for the good and glorious work of the distribution among the Jews of the New Testament in Hebrew, then in full progress at the Bible stand at Kensington.

The Concert of Prayer in 1862, we believe, ought to be practically recognised as a precedent to be devoutly imitated and followed up. For surely, from the gracious answers vouchsafed, from the important additions made within the last nine months to the number of true converts, from the great financial deliverance wrought for the Society, in response to the loving challenge of our lamented Treasurer, Sir C. E. Eardley, from the evident growth of interest, zeal, piety, and liberality, and believing expectation-(and in referring to these, let us not forget how generously and nobly Scottish Christians, who have Jewish Missions of their own, have come to our help,)-from all these causes, we are bound to continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

Yes! let us gather once more around the mercy-seat, and begin with giving

VOL. XXIII.-NEW SERIES, VOL. IX.